This edition of EcoNews includes great news for the Petitcodiac River, Louise Comeau on making the NB government carbon neutral by 2030, the Fundy Baykeeper on protecting the Bay of Fundy from the Lake Utopia pulp mill, and a charming video of the Conservation Council’s Learning Outside program. We end this EcoNews with more news to keep you warm: the unmuzzling of Canada’s scientists!
Let the fish flow: Petitcodiac River bridge to replace causeway
The Conservation Council is celebrating moves to restore the Petitcodiac River and fish habitat by replacing the causeway with a new bridge. A healthy Petitcodiac River is essential to a healthy Bay of Fundy. Matt Abbott, the Conservation Council’s Fundy Baykeeper, told Canadian Press that he expects the Petitcodiac River will be able to recover with the removal of the causeway and the building of a bridge in its place: “With the first phase of the restoration — the opening of the gates — we saw really impressive natural activity bounce right back from that. I think we’ll see more from the Petitcodiac going forward with the removal of the causeway and the building of the bridge. It really is exciting.”
Louise Comeau on making New Brunswick carbon neutral by 2030
The Prime Minister and Canada’s premiers struck a climate deal in early December. The agreement includes creating new opportunities for clean electricity generation, transmission, storage and sharing; enhancing energy efficiency programs; and supporting industrial emission reductions through clean technology and energy efficiency. Comeau described the long-term costs and savings associated with the provincial government’s pledge to go carbon-neutral by 2030 to CBC: “When we generate carbon pollution, it’s really because we’re wasting energy and that means we’re spending money we don’t need to spend.”
Fundy Baykeeper wants estuary protection included in Lake Utopia Mill upgrade
J.D. Irving is seeking approval to install a new effluent treatment system at its Lake Utopia pulp mill in Saint John. The Conservation Council and others are worried that the upgrades may not improve conditions in the Bay of Fundy estuary that receives the effluent. Matt Abbott, the Conservation Council’s Fundy Baykeeper, told CBC that he hopes the provincial government considers improving existing conditions in the L’etang estuary in the environmental impact assessment process.
Kids learning outside with the Conservation Council
What’s better than watching your young ones splash about their summer swimming hole, roll-around in a colourful and crisp pile of freshly raked leaves, and appreciate New Brunswick natural heritage — now, imagine your child’s classrooms experience took place in nature? Enjoy this short video created by our talented intern, Sam Phillips, giving you a inside-look at our Learning Outside Program, where the Conservation Council’s Nadine Ives helps children re-connect with nature by developing creative ways to integrate nature into the teaching of school subjects.
Union victory on unmuzzling scientists
A historic union win last week will unmuzzle government scientists, allowing them to defend the scientific integrity of their research. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) won the inclusion of enshrining scientific integrity in their new collective agreement with the federal government. Susan O’Donnell, a Fredericton-based federal researcher at the National Research Council, is a member of the union’s science advisory committee. She told CBC that the clause in the collective agreement is important because as scientists who work for the government and the public, “we need to make sure that the public has confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of our research.”
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