Pictured above is Marie Aucoin, John Hart, and Neal Livingston in a The Inverness Oran newspaper clipping of them celebrating the Barrens decision.
In 1996 – 1998, Livingston and the Margaree Environmental Association (MEA) enjoyed one of their biggest successes, which came from working with many groups in Nova Scotia, especially with Ray Plourde of Ecology Action Centre in Halifax. Ray organized a province-wide coalition to win back one of the 31 new wilderness areas, the Jim Campbell’s Barren; an area that the province suddenly gave away to mining interests. The MEA was the first group to demand this area be reinstated, to not accept this government decision. At first other groups thought the MEA should be happy we got other areas protected, and not fight to get this one back.
Their victory came after an 18-month battle, during which they mobilized the media, and embarrassed the government. Neal Livingston garnered national media attention by using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIPOP). He discovered that the date on the Cabinet documents to remove this wilderness area was altered, which is a federal criminal offence. The RCMP got involved, and the issue was front-page news for weeks. In the end, the scandal over Jim Campbell’s Barren was one of the reasons the Premier at the time resigned. Livingston wrote an unpublished book about it called Robber Barrens.
This incredible win was achieved before the internet was widely available. The fax machine was a powerful tool, along with the telephone, and press conferences.