‘I just refuse to move’: Codroy Valley outfitter says he’s not interested in buyout 

Some say World Energy GH2’s proposed wind farm will be the greatest thing to ever happen in the Codroy Valley, but Art Ryan is not convinced of that.

Ryan lives in Searston and is the owner of Mountain Top Outfitters. He’s been in the outfitting business pretty much all his life, but said that could end if the wind farm goes ahead.

“It’s a terrible thing,” said Ryan.

He has camps located in three big-game management areas, and the two that would be affected right away are in Area 9 in the Anguille Mountains where World Energy GH2 is proposing to locate a wind farm as part of its Project Nujio’qonik.

Ryan says the project, with the final windmill possibly located about a kilometre from one of the camps, will shut down his business.

“You’d be walking by there every morning,” he said, quickly adding, “I guess you wouldn’t be allowed; you’re not allowed to hunt around them.”

‘I’m not taking a buyout’

Even if hunting around the windmills was allowed, clients wouldn’t want to hunt with giant windmills above them, and there would be no moose there because they would be bothered by the windmills, Ryan said.

Ryan says there are other outfitters who may be looking for a buyout, but that’s not for him.

“I’m not taking a buyout and I’m not moving. If they shut me down, they shut me down. I’ll take the loss.

“It’s principle more than anything else,” he said of his reasoning.

The principle

His father started the business in the early 1960s.

“And I’ve been at it since I was a kid and I just refuse to move. It’s going to hurt in the pocket no doubt, but the principle is the main thing for me.”

If his Area 9 operation is shut down, Ryan said, he will continue operating in the other areas, but his future in the industry depends on if there is more development.

“If they get this one, they’re going to have them all over, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Windmills could be installed in moose management area 9 in the Anguille Mountains of the Codroy Valley if World Energy GH2s proposed wind energy project goes ahead. – Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

Ryan said the Codroy Valley will be destroyed if the project goes ahead.

“The tops of those mountains, you’re not allowed to put a bike track on it, and now they’re going to go in with dozers, excavators.”

Not taking sides

Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association executive director Cory Foster told SaltWire there are a variety of opinions in terms of projects, like the wind farm, where outfitters are involved.

“Some are completely against the projects and fighting against them and hope they never happen. Some are willing to work with the companies to make changes to their businesses, if necessary, as long as they’re compensated for any financial loss. So, you’ve got outfitters that are hopeful of that.”

Foster said there are also members who are saying they are ready to be done with the business and if it’s going to be affected in its entirety, there needs to be a discussion about buying them out and shutting down.

Given the variation in how members feel, Foster said, there’s no way the association could take sides and instead is focusing on protecting its members.

“We’re of the opinion that some of these projects are going to happen and we need to be working with these companies and our members now ahead of the game before development begins and impacts start to happen,” he said.

“Realistically, it all comes down to the final project and location of the windmills that will determine the level of impact to our members.”

Good relationship so far

In the area of the World Energy GH2 project, there are about seven outfitting operations that could be affected by the project directly or indirectly.

Directly means the development, including the location of the windmills, will be within an outfitter’s operational area.

“So, where they hunt, where their lodges are located, where their spike camps are located. Basically, within the wilderness that they identify as the area that they operate, the project will be literally located to some degree in that area.”

Foster said the association will ensure that a plan or partnership is in place with the company that protects members for any degree of impact.

It could involve the company helping them to relocate a spike camp, or compensating them for a loss, right down to buying them out.

How big or how small of an effect the project has on members will depend on how well the company works with them, said Foster.

“A lot of this stuff is going to come down to individual working relations between the outfitter and the company.”

Foster said the association will be there from a protection standpoint to ensure they get what’s owed to them, but would not be party to one-on-one confidential conversations.

To date, Foster said, the relationship has been a good one, with the company meeting with and working with outfitters.