The New Brunswick Environmental Rights Caucus is Profoundly Disappointed by the Provincial Government’s Failure to Advance Bill 23 Toward Legislation, Failing to Protect Human Rights

Posted by Alya Nouasri
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 30th, 2026

The Environmental Rights Caucus of the New Brunswick Environmental Network wishes to thank all those who supported Bill 23: An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment through the years. 

There were 115 devastated witnesses to the Government’s failure to protect our right to a safe place to live. The diversity of New Brunswick was represented in the stands. Everyone there, child, university student, parent, elder, started with high hopes after witnessing the moratorium on shale gas be upheld. 

Yet, once the tabling of Bill 23 happened, we saw the tides quickly shift. Both Liberal and Conservative parties voted unanimously against the Bill. 46 of our MLA’s decided the bill should not advance to the Committee Phase and third vote, while the Green Party stood proudly at two votes for the future of this community.

This second reading was a vote to support in principle with referral to the Committee Phase where all members from both parties who had concerns could bring forth amendments to address their objections. It was hard to understand and accept that they could not agree in principle with the fundamental purposes of the act. It begs the question: What influencers and lobbyists were at work that denied this Bill from moving forward?

We are obviously very disappointed and frankly somewhat astonished that the Legislators of New Brunswick have chosen not to pass the 2nd reading vote that would allow Bill 23 to move forward to the Committee Phase for further study prior to the 3rd and final vote. This refusal to work to adopt this legislation in a form that would guarantee that all current and future generations can count on them to act in a way that maintains a livable and safe environment, calls their priorities in question.  

The Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment did not become law at this time, but the failure to act to guarantee this right in the present will not make the problem go away. The citizens of New Brunswick expect better from their Legislators. For more than 20 years, a small group of New Brunswick citizens worked tirelessly to get this law passed. Young people now understand what is at stake, for them and their children. They will carry on, and eventually a law like this one will pass.

We therefore have every hope that, in the near future, the right to a healthy environment will be acknowledged and legalized.

Submitted by: 

The NB Environmental Rights Caucus of the New Brunswick Environmental Network: 

Samuel Arnold – Sustainable Energy Group, Carleton County

Bonnie Hamilton Bogart – Voices for Sustainable Environments and Communities

Gordon Dalzell – Citizens Coalition for Clean Air

Denise Melanson – Council of Canadians, Kent County Chapter

Marg Milburn, Caucus Chair – The Climate Reality Project Canada 

Saadia Hara – UNBSJ Medical Student

Alyse Wilton – NB Lung

Media Contacts 

  • Marg Milburn, Chair, Fredericton

  • Gordon Dalzell, Saint John

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