FREDERICTON — Lois Corbett, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, issued the following statement regarding Premier Gallant’s cabinet shuffle.
“We congratulate the Premier as well as the new and returning cabinet ministers after today’s shuffle. We look forward to seeing this government take bold and innovative measures to protect our air, land, and water.”
We welcome the Hon. Serge Rouselle (MLA – Tracadie-Sheila) as he takes over the role of Minister of Environment and wish to thank the former Minister, the Honourable Brian Kenny for his dedicated public service. Minister Rouselle will no doubt quickly tackle a number of pressing environmental policy areas, including:
- championing a water protection strategy through cabinet, which would include acting quickly to get our river systems classified and a new system to ensures groundwater is not polluted; and,
- moving forward on climate change and ensure we put in place a plan that reduces carbon pollution, positions NB as a regional leader on action to green our electricity system, and creates new, green jobs in renewable energy and efficiency.
We welcome the Hon. Rick Doucette (MLA – Fundy-The Isles- Saint John West) to the newly created Department of Energy and Resources. Doucette will be maintaining his role as Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries. Minister Doucette has been a strong partner of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s “Buy Local” food program, and has developed a positive working relationship with CCNB’s Fundy Baykeeper. We anticipate continuing and expanding our relationship.
Several issues face Minister Doucette. Among them will be making changes to the Crown forest management strategy to ensure long term ecological sustainability for our forests while creating new green jobs, and announcing a new local food strategy for New Brunswick.
We also congratulate the Hon. Donald Arseneault (MLA – Campbellton – Dalhouise), the Hon. John Ames (MLA – Charlotte -Campabello), and the Hon. Bill Fraser (Miramichi) on their respective appointments to Post-Secondary Labor and Training; Tourism, Heritage and Culture; and Transportation and Infrastructure.
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick would like to thank the Hon. Denis Landry for his efforts while serving as Minister of Natural Resources.