Nouvelles des groupes
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- Publié par : Conservation Council of New Brunswick
- Affichages : 8536
Without a Paddle
| Documenting the failure—and the potential—of New Brunswick’s Water Classification Program. Posted on December 8, 2014 in Water Canada’s November/December 2014 issue. |
| During the height offishing season in New Brunswick, as anglers lured Atlantic salmon on the famous Miramichi River and kids navigated through thickets to seek out their favourite summer swimming holes, a report came forth casting a stark and sobering reality for the rivers so enjoyed in the province. On August 15, 2014, Charles Murray, the New Brunswick ombudsman, an independent authority of the provincial legislature, released the details of his investigation into the Department of Environment’s handling of its Water Classification Program. The program was the first in Canada to take a proactive, watershed-based approach to river protection when it was introduced in 2002. But the ombudsman determined the program was, in effect, nothing more than an illusion, giving New Brunswickers a woefully false impression about the safety of their rivers for more than a decade. In the 12 years since it was established, not a single waterway has been protected under the classification system. The program was instead plagued by bureaucratic confusion, lacklustre political will, and misuse of power from the elected officials charged with overseeing it.  New Brunswick’s Department of Environment had all the required documentation to classify the Nashwaak River by no later than 2003—but classification never came. Credit: Paul McLaughlin, Nashwaak Watershed Association. “Like a smoke detector without batteries,” Murray wrote in his report, “[the regulation] appears to address and remedy a problem when in reality it does nothing of the sort.” The classification program, he concluded, “exists primarily as a mirage, misleading observers to their detriment.” That’s certainly a far cry from what was expected by conservationists and departmental officials alike when the program was first unveiled. The Water Classification Program was brought forth under Regulation 2002-13 as a progressive attempt to set water quality standards for New Brunswick rivers. The regulation allows community-based organizations to collect water samples, analyze water quality, and set goals to maintain or improve the water quality of rivers. It was the final piece of a progressive regulatory regime put in place by the provincial government, complementing the Wellfield Protected Areas Designation passed in 2000 and the Watershed Protected Areas Designation enacted in 2001. Over time, the department received 19 separate proposals for classification from groups across the province. Among them was an application from the Nashwaak Watershed Association, which had been exceptionally proactive on the file, having secured funding from the government to conduct water quality tests before the regulation had even been passed. In his report, the ombudsman noted the department had all the necessary documentation required to classify the Nashwaak by no later than 2003. What followed were years of correspondence between the department and the Nashwaak association, during which officials described the river and other provincial watercourses as being “provisionally” classified, giving the impression that full classification was just around the corner. Frustrated by the lack of movement on the program, the Nashwaak Watershed Association and its supporters, including the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, filed a complaint to the office of the ombudsman in February 2013, spearheading Murray’s investigation. “I think New Brunswickers were blindsided and even surprised to learn our rivers were not being protected,” said Stephanie Merrill, freshwater protection program coordinator for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. “And we should be. It’s a shame that in a province like New Brunswick, where so much of our culture, heritage, and recreation is based around our rivers, that we do not have fundamental protections for our waters. It’s so basic. New Brunswickers have assumed that’s covered.” In an interview with the Conservation Council for this article, the ombudsman said the most troubling finding from his investigation was simply that government gave citizens a false impression for so many years that watercourses were being protected. “That speaks to a really fundamental failure,” Murray said. “It can’t really be a larger failure than that.” His report offered some explanations—citing confusion within the Department of Environment over the legal authority of the regulation and the troubling misuse of ministerial discretion by successive ministers to avoid approving the applications—but above all else, Murray said a lack of focused political will is primarily to blame. But therein lies the hope for New Brunswick’s waterways moving forward. A new provincial government, under the leadership of Liberal Premier Brian Gallant, was sworn into power on October 7. During the fall election campaign, the Liberal Party of New Brunswick pledged to “take steps to help ensure the health of our rivers and drinking water.” What better opportunity, Murray said, then moving swiftly to approve the 19 rivers submitted under the Water Classification Program? “Why not be proactive and make yourself the champion of that change?” Murray said of the new government. “To me, this is an opportunity for the Minister of Environment to demonstrate competence, good faith, and to rebuild some bridges of trust between the department and the communities.” With some focused attention and priority, by the time New Brunswickers set out with their fishing rods or swimming suits to indulge in our waterways next summer, they’ll hopefully do so with the full confidence that regulations are in effect to ensure rivers will remain safe and healthy for them to enjoy. WC Jon MacNeill is the communications officer for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. This article appears in Water Canada’s November/December 2014 issue. |
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- Publié par : Marie-Pierre Poirier
- Affichages : 7395
un atelier pour les groupes sur les bassins versants au N.-B.
Mercredi, le 21 janvier, 2015, Killarney Lodge, 9 h à 16 h
(Veuillez noter : la date en cas de tempête pour cet atelier et le 12 février)
Au fil des ans, les groupes des bassins versants du Nouveau-Brunswick ont beaucoup travaillé pour mettre en place les fondations et faire progresser la protection, la restauration et la gestion de ces régions. À ce jour, les réalités politiques, économiques et environnementales ont créé une opportunité pour les groupes à accroître leur rôle dans la création d’un Nouveau-Brunswick durable. Rassemblons-nous et créons un élan pour faire progresser les travaux concernant les bassins versants de la province!
Cet atelier va être l’occasion de créer des occasions pour partager des informations à propos des enjeux des bassins versants dans notre province et sur les travaux en cours ici au Nouveau-Brunswick.
Intéressé? Venez à l’atelier et:
- Partagez des renseignements sur la restauration des bassins versants
- Apprenez les enjeux des bassins versants et les succès déjà réalisés au NB;
- Apprenez les mesures coercitives, la gestion et la gouvernance des bassins versants;
- Collaborez et reseautez avec les autres groupes des bassins versants de la province;
- Déterminez comment aller de l’avant.
- Détails
- Publié par : Conservation Council of New Brunswick
- Affichages : 8309
MEDIA RELEASE
60+ Groups Call for a Climate Review of Energy East
Leading environmental organizations & community groups call for the National Energy Board to consider the upstream climate impacts of the pipeline
Montreal, QC – Today, more than 60 environmental and community groups from across Canada sent a letter to Peter Watson, head of the National Energy Board, demanding that the NEB include climate change in its review of the Energy East project. This letter comes in addition to 60,000 messages sent from people all across Canada to the NEB calling for a climate review.
“By failing to consider climate change, the National Energy Board is overlooking what should be Question One for a review of the pipeline — does it even make sense in a world trying to reduce its dependence on oil and make deep cuts in carbon pollution?” says Lois Corbett, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
The Energy East project would release 30 to 32 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, the same as adding seven million cars to Canada’s roads. This is more than any single Atlantic province, and bigger than the emissions saved in Ontario’s entire coal phase out. In comparison, the Keystone XL pipeline, which now faces a climate test from U.S. President Barack Obama, would increase emissions by 22 million tonnes.
“The best scientific minds on the planet are telling us that we need to rapidly transition off of fossil fuels to address climate change, and Energy East would be a step in the exact opposite direction,” says Patrick Bonin, Climate & Energy campaigner with Greenpeace Canada. “Without considering the upstream climate impacts of Energy East, the NEB’s review will be incomplete and illegitimate.”
“If we can’t talk about tar sands expansion and climate change at the NEB, where can we?” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Justice Campaigner. “Pipeline infrastructure is nearing capacity in Alberta. Adding 1.1 million barrels every day, Energy East will absolutely spur tar sands expansion and significant carbon pollution.”
In late November, the NEB’s refusal to consider the climate change impacts of tar sands pipelines came under even more intense criticism as over 100 people were arrested on Burnaby Mountain. Many of those arrested protesting the proposed Trans-Mountain project cited climate change, and that the NEB had refused to hear climate concerns, as the reason for their actions.
“The tar sands are Canada’s fastest growing source of emissions, and building projects like Energy East will only make that worse,” says Catherine Abreu, Energy Coordinator with the Ecology Action Center. “If Canada is going to be a part of the solution when it comes to climate change, we need to apply a climate test to projects like Energy East, and reject them if they will make climate change worse.”
Groups signed on: 350.org, Alerte Pétrole Rive Sud, Alternatives, Association québécoise de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique (AQLPA), Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Center for Sustainble Economy, Centre de recherche en éducation et formation relatives à l’environnement et à l’écocitoyenneté de l’UQAM, Citizens Climate Lobby Montreal, Citizen’s Climate Lobby Canada, ClimateFast, Coalition québécoise pour une gestion responsable de l’eau Eau Secours, Coalition vigilance oléoducs, Collectif scientifique sur la question du gaz de schiste au Québec, Comité de vigilance environnementale de l’Est de Montréal, Concerned Citizen's Coalition - North Bay, Conseil Central du Montréal Méopolitain-CSN, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Council of Canadians, Council of Canadians - Fredericton Chapter, Council of Canadians - Halifax Chapter, Council of Canadians - Montreal Chapter, Council of Canadians - Moose Jaw Chapter, Council of Canadians - Ottawa Chapter, Council of Canadians - Regina Chapter, Council of Canadians - Saint John Chapter, Council of Canadians - Thunder Bay Chapter, Council of Canadians-Winnipeg Chapter, Ecology Action Center, Ecology Ottawa, Environnement Jeunesse, Equiterre, Fondation David Suzuki / David Suzuki Foundation, For Our Grandchildren, ForestEthics Advocacy, Fossil Free Lakehead, Friends of the Earth Canada, Green 13, Green Neighbours 21, Greenpeace Canada, Greenspiration, JustEarth- a Coalition for Environmental Justice, Lakehead University Environmental Law Students' Association, Leadnow.ca, Making Peace Vigil - Regina, Natural Resources Defense Council, New Brunswick Anti Shale Gas Alliance, Non à une marée noire dans le Saint-Laurent, Polaris Institute, Regroupement national des conseils régionaux de l’environnement du Québec, Regroupement vigilance hydrocarbures Québec, Sacred Heart School of Halifax Environment Committee, Saskatchewan Eco Network, Saskatoon350.org, SaveCanada, Sierra Club BC, Sierra Club of Québec, Stop the Energy East Pipeline Halifax, Toronto350 org, Transition Initiative Kenora, Voters Taking Action on Climate Change
More info:
- 350.org/EnergyEast
- http://canadians.org/energyeast
- http://bit.ly/MOOWmP
Media contacts:
Jon MacNeill – Conservation Council of New Brunswick, [email protected], 506-458-8747
Cameron Fenton - 350.org - [email protected], 604-369-2155
Andrea Harden-Donahue - Council of Canadians, [email protected], 613-793-5488
Ben Powless - Ecology Ottawa - [email protected] - 613-601-4219
Patrick Bonin - Greenpeace Canada, 514-594-1221
Geneviève Puskas - Equiterre, [email protected] 514-792-5222
Conservation Council of New Brunswick
180 St. John Street, Fredericton NB E3B 4A9
506.458.8747 :: www.conservationcouncil.ca
- Détails
- Publié par : Conservation Council of New Brunswick
- Affichages : 7542
MEDIA RELEASE
Conservation Council pleased to see government raising bar on accountability and transparency around public forests
(Fredericton, N.B.) — The Conservation Council of New Brunswick is commending the provincial government for releasing the details of the forestry agreements signed last year by the previous government.
“We’re pleased this government has cast some transparency and light on deals New Brunswickers should know about,” says Lois Corbett, Executive Director of the Conservation Council.
“The documents that came out today are a good first step toward fulfilling the new government's promise to review both the unfair contracts and the unsustainable forest management plan released in March.”
The Forest Management Agreements, signed by industry and the former provincial government last July, drew widespread criticism from biologists, conservationists, hunters and fishers who said the deals give industry an unsustainable amount of public forest and allow companies to clearcut in areas that were previously off-limits.
The Conservation Council is confident Minister Landry will soon release another series of forestry planning documents that will clearly show where the increased logging will occur.
“We’re certain that with that information in hand, and in the public domain, the provincial government will revise the plan to ensure the new strategy will never put the environment or the sustainability of the public forests at risks,” Corbett says.
CCNB says a revised plan would protect sensitive areas like along riverbanks and streams, preserve old growth stands, protect areas that are important for deer, lynx and other woodland creatures, and discontinue herbicide spraying like governments in Nova Scotia and Quebec have done for years.
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To arrange an interview, contact:
Jon MacNeill, Communications Officer | 458-8747 | 261-1353 | [email protected]
Conservation Council of New Brunswick 180 St. John Street, Fredericton NB E3B 4A9506.458.8747 :: www.conservationcouncil.ca
- Détails
- Affichages : 7467
Jusqu’ici, les célébrités canadiennes Raffi Cavoukian et David Suzuki, ainsi que des chercheurs réputés, des physiciens, vingt-quatre organisations et plus de 200 personnes au Canada et d’ailleurs ont authentifié leur appui à cette historique déclaration des droits.
Récemment en septembre, la Fondation David Suzuki a présenté le projet de loi proposé lors d’un évènement tenu à Saint John et faisant partie de la Tournée transcanadienne du point bleu qui fait la promotion d’un environnement sain pour tous les Canadiens. David Suzuki a déclaré : « Il est temps que le Canada se joigne à plus de 110 nations qui reconnaissent le droit des citoyens de vivre dans un environnement sain. La proposition de la Déclaration des droits pour protéger la santé des enfants des menaces environnementales est un pas positif et marquant vers la reconnaissance des droits environnementaux à tous les niveaux des gouvernements au Canada. »
Pour sa part, en juin dernier, Raffi Cavoukian, chanteur, auteur et fondateur du Centre pour le respect des enfants et champion du Collectif pour la santé des enfants et l’environnement au Nouveau-Brunswick a aidé au lancement du projet de loi au Centre des ressources régionales pour la famille de Fredericton.
« Présenter ce projet de loi au gouvernement pour son adoption est la prochaine étape logique, » confirme Raffi. « Cette proposition d’une déclaration des droits confirme le devoir de la société de nourrir et de protéger les jeunes au meilleur de nos capacités. Ce projet de loi encourage nos efforts pour créer des collectivités bienveillantes qui appuient le développement sain des enfants. Et cela renforcit nos efforts pour fournir des environnements salutaires à la fois à l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur, partout où les enfants vivent, apprennent, jouent et grandissent. C'est pourquoi nous avons besoin de cette Déclaration des droits. »
De son côté, Sharon Murphy de PEACE NB a souligné qu’il existait maintenant suffisamment de preuves que l’exposition à la pollution de l’air et de l’eau, à la contamination de l’alimentation et l’exposition aux produits chimiques toxiques dans les produits de consommation sont des causes de maladies chroniques chez les enfants, notamment l’asthme, la leucémie, les anomalies congénitales, l’obésité infantile, le diabète de type 2, le cancer du cerveau ainsi que les lésions cérébrales qui se traduisent en retard de développement, en difficultés d’apprentissage, en QI plus faibles, en déficit d’attention et en troubles d’hyperactivité avec déficit de l’attention.
Murphy poursuit en déclarant que : « En protégeant la santé de nos enfants, nous nous protégeons aussi. Les enfants sont beaucoup plus vulnérables aux produits toxiques et aux effets des changements climatiques que les adultes. Nous avons le devoir comme adultes de protéger nos enfants parce qu’ils sont incapables de se protéger eux-mêmes. Et la protection de la santé des enfants et de la salubrité de l’environnement va économiser d’importantes sommes destinées aux soins de santé. Des écosystèmes salubres bénéficient de plusieurs manières aux générations actuelles et futures. »
Ce projet de loi a été initié par le Collaboratif sur la santé de l’enfant du Nouveau-Brunswick en 2009. Il a été rédigé en consultation avec le Bureau du défenseur des enfants et de la jeunesse du Nouveau-Brunswick, Écojustice et l’Association pour le droit environnemental de la côte Est, avec des contributions et de l’appui de la part du Centre pour le respect des enfants l’Association des troubles d’apprentissage du Nouveau-Brunswick, le Centre de ressources familiales de Fredericton, PEACE-NB et l’Association Pulmonaire du Nouveau-Brunswick.
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Contact:
Céline Surette
[email protected]
858-4854
- Détails
- Publié par : Marie-Pierre Poirier
- Affichages : 8152
