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A for Adventure conquers Mount Sagamook
Despite the declaration in last Saturday’s Telegraph Journal, there are several folks willing to declare that Mount Carleton is not the toughest trail to climb in Mount Carleton Park. The trail up Mount Sagamook is definitely a much more challenging hiking trail. The trail is steep and rocky for most of the distance, if you hike up the right hand trail to the outcrops that are most often featured in photos of the park.
On Friday, June 5th a group of hikers consisting NB Parks staff, a Friends of Mount Carleton representative and three members of a group named A for Adventure. “A for Adventure is all about inspiring people to get outdoors and experience adventure.” The members of the group endeavour to go on adventures, large and small, and by taking their message to the media, they hope to encourage others to get outside.
In August 2013, Jan LaPierre and Graham Carter had just finished a 200 km plus kayak paddle to Cape Sable Island. “Paddle to Sable” raised funds and awareness to create a camp for kids struggling with mental health issues at Brigadoon Village. “
On the trip home from their epic paddle, Jan began to recite a poem he was thinking up. He asked his friends if they could put together an adventure children’s book. They were all so enthused with the concept, that they stopped the car and went on a hike to discuss the idea. On that hike a book was born.
“A is for adventure, as you will come to see.
Like hiking or biking or climbing a tree,
Or taking a plane to a far away land,
Or a trip to the beach to play in the sand. “
The idea took flight and currently their group includes not only Jan LaPierre and Chris Surrette, but a recent addition is photographer Brad Sayeau. Christopher Hoyt agreed to illustrate their book, “A is for Adventure”, which is due out this month.
Meanwhile the group are taking in as many adventures as they can, in the hopes of encouraging folks young and old to get outside and see and experience the world around them. Many of their adventures are in our parks and last week they came to Mount Carleton Park, where they helped to paddle a large canoe on Little Nictau Lake and climbed Mount Sagamook. They agreed that the challenging climb was well worth the effort, once they took in the panoramic view offered from the iconic rock outcrops at the top of Sagamook. Despite the threat of rain, it held off until the group reached the parking lot at the foot of Mount Sagamook, insuring that all the camera gear was kept safely dry.
When asked for his opinion of Mount Carleton Park, Jan LaPierre summed up his experience there by saying;”Mount Carleton Park is one of those places that can’t be summed up in words. And I’m so grateful for that. It’s a place that needs to be seen, but more importantly, felt. Where, because of its authentic beauty you can” let go.”
Jan feels so passionately about his experiences in the park, that since his trip last Friday he has been talking about the park nonstop, to anyone who will listen. Jan’s only regret is that he had not come to the park sooner, but a return trip to the park is definitely in his near future.
A for Adventure advocates for a fitter population by declaring; “Get outside and do any kind of adventure, large or small. Adventure can be right in your own backyard.”
You may soon log on to their Facebook and website, to access more information and photos taken on their trip to Mount Carleton Park.
John Connell, Bernadette Michaud, Ian Smith and Brigitte Clavette
from NB Parks
Labrador tea
L-R John Connell, Jan LaPierre, Chris Surette, Brad Sayeau,Ian Smith,
Brigitte Clavette, Susan Mulherin
Little Nictau Lake
Paddle
Outlook on Mount Sagamook
Purple trilliums on the trail
Stunted birch near the top of Mount Sagamook
Sumi on the summit
Top of the Mount Sagamook Trail -
Cour doit poursuivre des audiences dans l’affaire du parc provincial Mont Carleton cette semaine
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE Le 12 juin 2017
Cour doit poursuivre des audiences dans l’affaire du parc provincial Mont Carleton cette semaine
Renseignements obtenus de l’APECA déséquilibre les déclarations du gouvernement
Selon la Cour suprême du Canada, le gouvernement doit agir «avec honneur et intégrité, et éviter la moindre apparence de ‘manœuvres malhonnêtes’» dans ses rapports avec les peuples autochtones.
«Pourtant, ce n’est pas comme ça que le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick agit», affirme le Grand Chef Ron Tremblay, un des auteurs de la demande de révision judiciaire dans l’affaire de la décision prise par le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick d’aménager un centre de services pour motoneiges au parc provincial Mont Carleton.
Au moment où ce projet a été annoncé, on y mentionnait des dameuses, un sentier désigné menant au sommet du mont Carleton et deux nouveaux ponts pour motoneiges.
«Les deux nouveaux ponts pour motoneiges sont les pièces maîtresses de ce projet; c’est ce qui fait le lien avec le reste du projet», affirme Jean Louis Deveau, l’autre demandeur de révision judiciaire.
Une demande d’Étude d’impact sur l’environnement (ÉIE) pour ce projet a été déposée en septembre 2016. A l’époque le gouvernement a soutenu que les ponts n’étaient pas considérés comme faisant partie du projet.
Cependant, des renseignements obtenus récemment de l’Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique (APÉCA) en vertu de la Loi sur le droit à l’information et la protection des renseignements personnels indiquent que la demande de financement faite à l’APÉCA par la partie requérante incluait des fonds pour construire les deux ponts qui sont au centre de la controverse. Et il est de fait que le financement pour les ponts figure dans le contrat conclu entre les requérants et l’APÉCA.
Le Grand Chef Tremblay conclut qu’ «à la lumière de ces nouveaux renseignements, c’est évident que le gouvernement n’agit pas avec honneur et intégrité».
La cour doit poursuivre les audiences dans cette affaire le 13 juin à Woodstock. Une campagne de financement participatif (https://www.gofundme.com/27ru624) a été entreprise en juin 2016 pour aider à payer les frais juridiques.
La Loi sur les parcs (2014) stipule qu’avant que l’on puisse procéder à tout développement dans un parc provincial, celui-ci doit être doté d’un plan de gestion basé sur un plan de zonage. Or pour le parc Mont Carleton, il existe un plan de zonage mais pas de plan de gestion. -
Le Grand conseil malécite obtient un ajournement
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE Le 15 juin 2017
Le Grand conseil malécite obtient un ajournement
Le Grand conseil malécite a obtenu un ajournement des audiences, cette semaine, en cour, dans sa tentative d’empêcher le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick d’implanter un centre de services pour motoneiges au parc provincial Mont-Carleton, un lieu sacré pour les Malécites.
«La première chose que notre avocat, Gordon Allen, a faite, ça été de demander un ajournement des audiences prévues pour l’avant-midi pour nous allouer plus de temps pour une audition complète du cas. On avait aussi besoin d’un ajournement pour apporter des modifications à notre demande initiale», a dit le Grand Chef Ron Tremblay, qui se trouvait au palais de justice de Woodstock mardi de cette semaine.
«Ces modifications vont expliquer comment le centre proposé pour l’entretien de motoneiges va affecter le lien spirituel que notre peuple a avec cet endroit et le rapport avec les promesses qui nous ont été faites dans le Traité de 1725-26», précise Tremblay.
L’avocat de la province s’est opposé à l’ajournement demandé, mais le juge Richard Petrie a accepté la demande après avoir entendu les arguments de Me Allen. Il a aussi fixé des échéances pour certaines tâches dont les deux parties doivent s’acquitter pour s’assurer que l’audience se déroule plus rondement et efficacement.
Dans les 60 prochains jours, les parties devront mettre la touche finale aux modifications et régler certains problèmes quant à la preuve qui sera présentée en cour. Aussi, une conférence préparatoire à l’audience aura lieu pour fixer une nouvelle date pour l’audition complète et tous les points importants qui s’y rattachent.
Une campagne de sociofinancement pour appuyer la révision judiciaire a permis, jusqu’à maintenant, d’amasser plus de 20 000 $ provenant de 145 donateurs. -
Les groupes d'amis des parcs sont inquiets des dommages potentiels que pourrait causer le sentier de motoneige proposé au Mont Carleton
Communiqué de presse
le 10 septembre , 2015
Fredericton – Le plan d'élargissement d'un sentier pédestre qui remonte le plus haut sommet aux Maritimes et de l'ouvrir à l'usage par la motoneige au sein du seul parc sauvage désigné au Nouveau Brunswick : tout cela inquiète fortement la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada, section du Nouveau-Brunswick (SNAP NB) et les Ami(e)s du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton.
« Ce n'est que récemment que nous avons appris ce projet de sentier pour le Mont Carleton, qui fait partie d'un plan d'augmenter les sentiers de motoneige dans le nord du Nouveau-Brunswick. Le gouvernement semble être prêt à accepter cette proposition sans une analyse environnementale ou sans consultation publique. On verrait donc un sentier pédestre remontant le Mont Carleton et dont la largeur serait doublée à 12 pieds et dont la voûte forestière au-dessus serait coupée à une hauteur de 12 pieds, » déclare Roberta Clowater, Directrice générale de la SNAP NB.
« Ce type de développement va fragmenter l'habitat de la faune sauvage, y compris celui de l'orignal, du polatouche (écureuil volant) et de la martre d'Amérique. Un accès continu aux motorisés sur ce sentier va probablement compacter le sol, causant un ruisellement pluvial accéléré et de l'érosion. Le surfaçage des sentiers va encourager un accès accru par les véhicules motorisés qui pourraient les mener à continuer à monter jusqu'au sommet fragile de cette montagne. Cela est complètement inapproprié dans un parc désigné à l'état naturel, » ajoute Clowater.
« Depuis plus de huit ans, les Ami(e)s du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton Inc. ont travaillé avec diligence afin de promouvoir, préserver et protéger le milieu sauvage naturel et les écosystèmes du Parc. Nous avons travaillé pour développer ce que nous pensions être une bonne relation de travail avec le Ministère du Tourisme, du Patrimoine et de la Culture. L'annonce de l'infrastructure d'un carrefour pour la motoneige est arrivée sans avertissement, ni consultation avec notre groupe, » déclare Susan Mulherin, Présidente des Ami(e)s du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton Inc.
« Les Amis se sont engagés à travailler en collaboration avec le Ministère, tout en s'assurant que l'on maintienne l'intendance du parc, et que la protection de l'environnement, de l'habitat des animaux et le patrimoine soit reflétée dans toutes les politiques et programmes. Nous sommes préoccupés que dans ce cas-ci, cela ne se produit pas. Assurément, un compromis peut être réalisé qui respecte nos aires protégées et qui répond aux intérêts des motoneigistes, » ajoute Mulherin.
Aucune discussion publique à savoir si un sentier de motoneige est compatible avec les sections les plus sauvages d'un parc à l'état naturel
Le Parc du Mont Carleton est le seul « Parc provincial à l'état sauvage » qui a été classifié ainsi dans les révisions à la Loi sur les parcs en 2014. Ces mêmes révisions mandataient le Ministère du Tourisme, du Patrimoine et de la Culture à mettre au point des Plans de gestion des ressources pour les parcs provinciaux, faisant état des utilisations récréatives qui seraient compatibles avec la conservation des aires naturelles de ce parc.
« Nous sommes très préoccupés que le Ministère pourrait considérer de prendre une décision irréversible, telle que celle-ci, avant que le Plan de gestion des ressources et le zonage connexe soient discutés publiquement et approuvés. Le Ministère est donc prêt, par le fait même, à décider que les véhicules motorisés sont permis dans les aires de conservation dans un parc à l'état naturel, ce qui va créer un précédent duquel il sera difficile d'en revenir.
« Permettre des loisirs motorisés dans l'une des parties les plus sauvages d'un parc à l'état naturel n'est pas cohérent avec la gestion normale des zones sauvages dans ce type de parc à travers le Canada et les États-Unis. Si le sentier qui monte le Mont Carleton est surfacé pour utilisation par les motoneiges, cela va empêcher son utilisation par les gens qui veulent vivre une expérience de qualité en milieu sauvage en faisant de la raquette ou du ski de fond dans cette partie du parc, » affirme Clowater.
« Il est important pour les touristes, qui sont attirés par les zones sauvages, que le marketing du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton en tant que destination de nature sauvage soit appuyé par une gestion qui soit cohérente avec l'expérience de qualité en milieu sauvage, » ajoute Clowater.
« Il s'agit d'un des premiers tests de la Loi sur les parcs révisée, que notre organisation avait applaudit comme étant un pas dans la bonne direction pour la modernisation de l'approche du Nouveau-Brunswick envers la gestion des parcs. Si le sentier est approuvé sans processus d'engagement du public ou d'analyse environnementale, selon nous le gouvernement aura échoué ce premier test de notre nouvelle législation, » explique Clowater.
La SNAP recommande que le gouvernement provincial prenne le temps d'évaluer les impacts potentiels de ce projet, d'entamer des consultations avec le public et les parties prenantes, et ensuite déterminer si le Mont Carleton est un endroit approprié pour un tel développement.
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Pour plus d’information:
Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org; 506-452-9902
SNAP est la voix pour la vie sauvage et les parcs pour Nouveau-Brunswick. Pour plus d'information sur SNAP NB et notre travail de conservation, s'il vous plaît visitez : www.cpawsnb.org -
Maliseet Grand Council wins an adjournment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2017
Maliseet Grand Council wins an adjournment
The Maliseet Grand Council obtained an adjournment (postponement of proceedings) in Court earlier this week in its efforts to stop the Province from developing a snowmobile grooming hub at Mount Carleton Provincial Park, an area sacred to the Maliseet.
“The first matter presented by our lawyer Gordon Allen was to adjourn the proceedings scheduled for the morning to give us for more time for a full hearing of the matter. We also needed an adjournment to amend our original application,” said Grand Chief Ron Tremblay, who was at the Woodstock courthouse on Tuesday.
“The amendments will define how the proposed snowmobile grooming hub would affect the spiritual connection our People have with this place and how that relates to the Promises that were made to us in the Treaty of 1725/26,” adds Tremblay.
The Province’s counsel opposed the proposed adjournment, but after hearing Allen, Judge Richard Petrie considered the submissions and agreed to the request. He also issued timelines for both parties to complete certain tasks so that the matter may proceed before the Court in a more efficient fashion.
Within the next 60 days, the parties will finalize amendments and deal with issues regarding evidence before the Court. A pre-hearing conference will also be scheduled to set a new date for the full hearing and all the important issues it raises.
A gofundme campaign has so far raised over $20,000 from 145 people in support of this judicial review.
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Mount Carleton court case to resume this week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2017
Mount Carleton court case to resume this week
Right to information request from ACOA discredits government statements
In dealing with Aboriginal Peoples, the government must act with “honour and integrity, avoiding even the appearance of sharp dealing,” says the Supreme Court of Canada.
But, that is not how the New Brunswick government is acting, says Grand Chief Ron Tremblay, one of the applicants seeking a judicial review of a decision made by the New Brunswick government to develop a snowmobile grooming hub at Mount Carleton Provincial Park.
“We’re being told one thing, only to find out through Right to
Information that the opposite is true. The government
is clearly not acting with honour and integrity.”
- Wolastoq Grand Chief Tremblay
When first announced, the project consisted of groomers, a designated trail up the side of Mount Carleton, and two new snowmobile bridges.
“The two new snowmobile bridges are the most essential elements of this project as they tie everything else together,” says Jean Louis Deveau, the other applicant in the judicial review.
The project was registered for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in September 2016. At the time government argued the bridges weren’t being considered part of the project.
Yet information recently obtained from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency through the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act indicates that the proposal submitted by the applicants for funding from to ACOA included a request for money to build the two bridges at the centre of this controversy. And in the contract made between the applicants and ACOA, bridge funding is included.
“We’re being told one thing, only to find out through Right to Information that the opposite is true. The government is clearly not acting with honour and integrity,” says Grand Chief Tremblay.
The court is scheduled to continue hearing this matter on June 13th in Woodstock. A crowdfunding campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/27ru624) was started in June 2016 to help pay legal fees.
The Parks Act (2014) stipulates a management plan based on a zoning system must be completed prior to any development in Provincial Parks. Mt. Carleton has been zoned but doesn’t have a management plan. -
Opponents push alternative to Mount Carleton gas bar and snowmobile trail on mountain
Opponents push alternative to Mt. Carleton gas bar and snowmobile trail on mountain
Fredericton -A perfectly good alternative to developments being proposed for within Mt. Carleton Park exists outside the wilderness park, say people dead-set against an enlarged snowmobile circuit and gas bar being promoted by the Province.
Jean Louis Deveau is spokesman for a group of citizens concerned about the expanding presence of snow machines in the Park and their impact on wildlife. The group is advancing alternative locations to keep the park free of new infrastructure and what they view as incompatible use by motorized vehicles in New Brunswick’s only designated wilderness park.
Governor's Lodge at Popple Depot, located east of the park, is one such alternative and is at the centre of a proposed snowmobile ‘hub.’ “From my understanding, Governor’s Lodge has the space for sled gatherings and it also sells gas,” Deveau, a former manager at Mt. Carleton said Tuesday.
“Why build new infrastructure to enable sleds to gas up in a wilderness park when there are already private establishments in the area offering the services they want?” Deveau asks. Taxpayers would pay for the gas dispensary being proposed for the park, whereas the gas dispensary at Popple Depot was paid for by the private sector.
“By putting a new gas bar in the park, the Province may well disadvantage or even handicap Governor’s Lodge and other privately owned gas distributors in the area. Won’t that defeat the Province’s goals of trying to create new jobs with this project?” Deveau said.
Park advocates including Deveau have launched a legal challenge to force the government to abandon the scheme to infringe on the Park, and to follow its own legislation. A crowdfunding campaign on gofundme.com was launched in June to help cover legal fees. The court is scheduled to hear the case on September 2nd in Woodstock.
The Parks Act (2014) stipulates a management plan based on a zoning system must be completed prior to any development in Provincial Parks. Mt. Carleton has been zoned but doesn’t have a management plan.
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Parks groups concerned about potential harm to Mount Carleton by proposed snowmobile trail
NEWS RELEASE
September 10, 2015
Parks groups concerned about potential harm to Mount Carleton by proposed snowmobile trail
Fredericton – A plan to widen a walking trail up the Maritimes’ highest peak and open it for snowmobile use within New Brunswick’s only designated Wilderness Park has the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB) and the Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park deeply concerned.
“We’ve recently learned about this trail proposal for Mount Carleton, which is part of a plan for increasing snowmobile trails in northern New Brunswick. The government appears to be ready to agree to this proposal without an environmental analysis or any public consultation. It would see a walking trail up Mount Carleton cleared to double its width to 12 feet wide, and the canopy over it removed to a height of 12 feet,” says Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB.
“This type of development will fragment the habitat of wildlife species including moose, flying squirrels, and American marten. Sustained motorized access on this trail is also likely to compact the soil, causing fast rain runoff and erosion. Grooming the trail will encourage increased motorized vehicle access that could lead to them continuing up to the fragile mountain top. This is completely inappropriate within a designated wilderness park,” adds Clowater.
“For over eight years, the Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park Inc. has worked diligently to promote, preserve and protect the Park’s natural wilderness setting and its ecosystems. We have worked to develop, what we thought, was a good working relationship with the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. The snowmobile hub infrastructure announcement came without any forewarning or consultation with our group,” says Susan Mulherin, President of Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park Inc.
“The Friends are committed to working cooperatively with the Department, while also ensuring that stewardship of the Park is maintained, and the protection of the environment, animal habitat and heritage is reflected in all policies and programs. We are concerned that in this case, that is not happening. Surely a compromise can be found that respects our protected areas and meets snowmobilers interests,” adds Mulherin.
No Public Discussion Whether Snowmobile Trail is Compatible with Wildest Parts of Wilderness Park
Mount Carleton park is New Brunswick’s only “Wilderness Provincial Park”, having been classified as such in revisions to the Parks Act in 2014. Those same revisions mandated the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture to develop Resource Management Plans for the provincial parks, outlining the recreational uses that would be compatible with conservation of the park natural areas.
“We are very concerned that the Department would consider making an irreversible decision such as this before the Resource Management Plan and the associated zoning are discussed publicly and approved. The Department is poised to, by default, decide that motorized vehicles are allowed in conservation zones in a wilderness park, setting a precedent from which it will be hard to back away.
“Allowing motorized recreation in one of the wildest parts of a wilderness park is inconsistent with how wilderness zones are generally managed in this level of park across Canada and the US. If the trail that goes up Mount Carleton is groomed for use by snowmobiles, it will prevent its use by people who want a wilderness experience of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in that part of the park,” says Clowater.
“It’s important to tourists who are attracted to wilderness that the marketing of Mount Carleton Provincial Park as a wilderness destination be backed up with management that is consistent with a wilderness experience,” adds Clowater.
“This is one of the first tests of the revised Parks Act, which our organization has been applauding as a good step forward for the modernization of New Brunswick’s approach to parks management. If this trail is approved with no public engagement process or environmental analysis, in our view the government will have failed this first test of our new legislation,”adds Clowater.
CPAWS is recommending that the provincial government take the time to assess the potential impacts of this proposal, undertake public and stakeholder consultations, and then determine whether Mount Carleton is an appropriate location for such a development.
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For more information, contact: Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org; phone: 506-452-9902
Founded in 1963, CPAWS is Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to protecting our public land and water, and ensuring our parks are managed to protect the nature within.Learn more at www.cpawsnb.org. -
Plants and Animals Take New Brunswick Government To Court
Plants and Animals Take New Brunswick Government To Court
Fredericton - When push comes to shove, as it has in the case of pending developments in New Brunswick’s only wilderness park, it’s always good to have allies with deep pockets.
Such allies are being courted by concerned citizens who are taking the Province of New Brunswick to court over its management of Mount Carleton Wilderness Park near Nictau, N.B.
The proposal entails extending a network of snowmobile trails to the summit, park electrification and a gas bar, things the group opposing the project believes will damage the natural area and its wildlife.
“We’ve turned to Go Fund Me, a crowd-source fundraising website, to gather the $15,000 needed to stop this development in court,” said Jean Louis Deveau, former park manager at Mount Carleton.
“The plants and animals cannot speak for themselves,” Deveau said. “With everything around the Park being clear cut, we cannot stand by and let this sanctuary be destroyed. We've raised over $13,000 in the past week so this clearly resonates with people.”
Grand Chief Ron Tremblay of the Traditional Maliseet Government has reached out to media outlets to cover this story. In an interview on CBC radio this week he argued strenuously that snowmobiles should not be allowed to expand their range in the park.
“The commodification of this wild place through snowmobile tourism is not only incompatible with our values, tradition, and culture but will inevitably lead to conflicts between those who, like the Gallant Government, see the park as a place of business and those who, like us, see it as sacred,” said Tremblay.
A provincial court justice will hear arguments at the end of June in Moncton. Donors are urged to go to GoFundMe.com and search for ‘Plants & Animals Take on NB Gov’t’ to contribute towards the group's court expenses.
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Public consultation on snowmobile development at Mount Carleton
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB) is encouraging New Brunswickers to get involved in a public consultation on the provincial government’s proposed construction of snowmobile trails and hub in Mount Carleton Provincial Park. The provincial Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture has released an environmental assessment report on the proposal, and has invited members of the public to submit comments before November 21.
“CPAWS NB is very concerned about the impact of this project on the wilderness and wildlife of our iconic and wildest provincial park,” says Roberta Clowater, CPAWS NB Executive Director. “Unfortunately, the environmental assessment report does not do a good job of identifying the potential environmental impacts of such a trail. We encourage all New Brunswickers to share their views on this proposed project with our provincial government.”
CPAWS New Brunswick has reviewed the Environmental Assessment report, and developed a summary of comments that it hopes will contribute to the public discussion around this proposed development at Mount Carleton Provincial Park.
Our review found that:
• The provincial government has apparently not done surveys to determine if there are habitats for species at risk, such as bald eagles, Canada lynx, or Gaspé shrews along the proposed development route, especially the new snowmobile trail up the side of Mount Carleton.
• The report dismisses the potential impacts of snowmobile noise and compaction of snow on wildlife, ignoring a significant body of research that indicates snowmobiling can negatively impact moose, bald eagles, hibernating bears and small mammals over the long term.
• The report also ignores evidence that snowmobiles and groomers can reduce winter survival for small mammals by compacting snow or collapsing the tunnels they use to search for food, which could affect food sources for owls, hawks, Canada lynx, foxes, and American marten – resulting in impacts up the food chain.
“Mount Carleton Provincial Park is one of our most treasured landscapes and the provincial government is supposed to protect it as a beautiful wild place for all New Brunswickers to enjoy, now and in the future. The significant gaps in the assessment report reinforce CPAWS NB’s belief that the proposed new snowmobile trail up the side of Mount Carleton should not move forward. It is difficult to see how the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture can undertake this part of the project in a way that avoids or mitigates the potential impacts on wildlife and trail erosion. We hope the environmental assessment process gives serious consideration to all of the missing information related to this project, especially given the public expectation for higher scrutiny of development proposals in a provincial park,” Clowater noted.
The public can submit comments on or before November 21 to: lynn.white@gnb.ca or mailed to Lynn White, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1. -
Still Time to Submit Comments - Snowmobile Trail Development up Mount Carleton
You can still send in your comments until end of day Nov 21 (Monday) on the environmental assessment report about the proposed snowmobile trail at Mount Carleton Provincial Park. If you're not sure what to say, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - NB Chapter has summarized some of our key messages here: http://cpawsnb.org/images/upload/key_messages_EIA.pdf
Please send comments or questions to: lynn.white@gnb.ca or mail to: Lynn White, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1.
