Stephen McNeil says MV Miner clean up a priority

Nova Scotias premier-designate says his government will finally take care of a crumbling bulk carrier that has been a worry for people in Cape Breton for more than two years.

The MV Miner ran aground on Scaterie Island after it broke from its tow line on Sept. 20, 2011. The ship was heading to Turkey to be scrapped.

Ever since, the MV Miner has been deteriorating as the provincial and federal governments have scrapped over who should foot the bill to clean it up.

Premier-designate Stephen McNeil said his government will go ahead with the salvage.

Weve said all along we would be removing that, said McNeil. We would do it as a province and be looking for the federal government to be reimbursing us.

A New York-based salvage company was supposed to clean up the wreck in Nov. 2012, but the head of the Bennington Group walked away from the project when the province refused to cover insurance and equipment costs.