© Conservation Council of New Brunswick 2025
In this edition of EcoNews, we take a look back at some of our amazing work this year. If you read our newsletter regularly, you know this is just a fraction of what our fantastic team has accomplished. From major wins for accountability and climate responsibility to urgent fights to protect our forests, waters and communities, 2025 was an incredibly busy year for the Conservation Council. Our small but mighty team showed up again and again, in hearings, in communities, in the media and to government officials, to stand up for New Brunswickers and the places we all depend on.
What follows is just a snapshot of the impact we made together this year. And while we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, we know there’s much more ahead in 2026. If this work matters to you, please consider making a donation before year’s end. Public support is what makes our biggest wins possible, and what will power the work still to come.
Proposed Sisson mine is no 'nation-building' project
True nation-building comes from investing in clean energy, efficient homes, sustainable forestry, watershed restoration and nature-based tourism, not massive mining pits and toxic waste. The proposed Sisson Mine — a massive open-pit tungsten and molybdenum project planned for the upper Nashwaak River watershed — made the federal government’s so-called nation-building projects list, despite being far from one.
The project would create one of the largest open pits in Atlantic Canada and a tailings waste site so large it would cover all of downtown Fredericton. This enormous facility would sit upstream from critical cold-water habitat for wild Atlantic salmon and trout, and above communities that depend on clean water for drinking, recreation, fishing, tourism and local business.
We called out this project following the federal government’s announcement this year. Now, we are organizing a coalition to put a stop to this poor plan.
Want to get involved? Fill out our survey below:
A win for accountability and climate responsibility
N.B. Power is trying to avoid an Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) review of its proposed 500-megawatt gas and diesel plant in Tantramar, even though the deal would leave ratepayers on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars.
Late this year, our team celebrated a key win for accountability, ratepayer protection and climate responsibility in New Brunswick. The Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) rejected N.B. Power’s attempt to skip an EUB review of the proposed Tantramar gas and diesel plant, ensuring the project will face more public scrutiny.
We worked incredibly hard to intervene at these hearings. But this is unfortunately only the tip of the iceberg in the battle against this shortsighted fossil fuel plant.
You can still have your say. Let the New Brunswick government know that this shortsighted fossil fuel plant needs a comprehensive environmental assessment. Click below to send your letter today:
The massive diesel disaster in Woodstock
When more than 180,000 litres of diesel spilled from the Irving gas station in Woodstock, many nearby residents and New Brunswickers were left in the dark about the seriousness of the situation.
This may be the largest spill of its kind in Canada, and when we heard what happened, our team sprang into action. We took to the media, demanding transparency and accountability, demanding to know what is being done to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Our executive director, Bev Gingras, wrote to Premier Susan Holt demanding better for our province.
We called on the government to be open and honest with the public, hold Irving Oil accountable and show leadership in protecting our environment. You can read Bev’s full letter by clicking below, along with an op-ed published following the spill:
Glyphosate has got to go
Earlier this year, we met with Ministers LePage and Herron to discuss the widespread public concerns about glyphosate spraying in our forests. Recently, we followed up by asking the government for updates on the progress made since the 2021 committee report on pesticides and herbicides, including glyphosate. New Brunswickers have clearly spoken: thousands have signed petitions against glyphosate spraying, demanding safer, healthier forests.
We’re urging the government to phase out harmful herbicides like glyphosate and explore safer, effective alternatives already proven in other regions. It’s time for New Brunswick to catch up.
We’ll keep pushing for action and transparency on this critical issue and share updates as we get them. Read more below:
Belledune biomass isn’t the answer
N.B. Power wants to convert the Belledune coal plant into Canada’s biggest biomass-burning station, calling it a cleaner energy solution. But this report, which we worked with Juniper Law to publish, finds that this plan would damage our forests, increase carbon pollution and hurt local communities.
The report finds that running the plant full-time would need more wood than our forests can provide, forcing N.B. Power to import fuel and drive up emissions. Local forests would be stripped of trees and ground material supporting soil, wildlife and long-term forest health. Even though wood pellets burn cleaner than coal, the carbon released would take decades to be reabsorbed, undermining New Brunswick’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals.
The evidence shows that biomass isn’t a solution. It’s nearly time to retire the Belledune plant and invest in small, local renewable energy instead.
A clear path for electric buses in New Brunswick
A new feasibility study for the Atlantic provinces, which we’ve been pushing to see released, shows that New Brunswick is well-positioned to make major progress in electrifying its school bus fleet.
This change would significantly cut pollution, protect children’s health and lower long-term operating costs.
New Brunswick currently operates the largest school bus fleet in Atlantic Canada, producing more than 21,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The study found that up to 79 per cent of New Brunswick’s bus routes could be electrified with a combination of overnight and mid-day charging, and that switching to electric buses would reduce emissions by more than 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Over time, the province would also save money on fuel and maintenance compared to diesel buses.
This transition is a clear, practical, achievable step toward cleaner air, quieter neighbourhoods and healthier communities. You can check out the full study below
Expert tips to save energy & make comfort affordable
Shifting away from polluting fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy is a fantastic opportunity to ensure our energy economy benefits everyone, not just a few. That’s why our team has submitted detailed recommendations to the federal government for its four-year sustainable jobs plan.
Our submission calls for a fair transition that creates good, green jobs while ensuring no one is left behind in the shift to a low-carbon economy. We urged the federal government to focus on community-based climate solutions, housing retrofits and regional training programs that prepare workers for careers in renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
Our plan also stresses the need for more support for Indigenous, rural and underrepresented workers, and proposes a National Youth Climate Corps to engage young Canadians in meaningful climate work.
By embedding fairness in every part of Canada’s clean economy, we can build an energy workforce that powers a healthier, better future for all!
'There’s still every reason to have hope’
In this clip from episode four of Jimmy Saves The World, Jimmy MacKinley heads to the Bay of Fundy to learn how local action is protecting marine life and preserving coastal ecosystems. Featuring our very own marine program director and Fundy Baykeeper, Matt Abbott, this episode is a reminder that real change is possible when we stand up for the places we love. Watch the full clip by clicking below, or subscribers can check out full episodes on Bell Fibe TV1.
Huge shoutout to Steam Powered Studios Inc. for this amazing episode!
Ending the year together
To end this year, we wanted to share that we had a great day at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s Annual General Meeting and Conference on Saturday, Dec. 6.
We’re so excited to welcome our new board members: Robert Jackson, Dr. Judah Bunin, Holly Burke, Morgan Bulman and Meghan McClure!
We also want to send a heartfelt thank you to our departing board members — Hannah Grant, Frank Johnston and Peggy Woolsey. Your care and leadership have made a real difference for our communities and our environment.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to support environmental leadership in New Brunswick.
We work hard to ensure a strong environmental voice is heard in New Brunswick’s print, radio and television media. Last year, our staff appeared in the media more than 50 times to shed light on ongoing environmental issues and success in New Brunswick. Here are some of the biggest stories Conservation Council staff have been called upon for expertise, analysis and commentary this year:
Conservation Council in the News
Dec. 16, 2025 | When the New Brunswick and federal governments agreed to a “one project, one review” approach to environmental impact assessments, the media turned to us for analysis. Our executive director, Beverly Gingras, raised concerns that streamlining reviews could come at a real cost to environmental protection. She pointed out that federal assessments are far more thorough than New Brunswick’s, especially when it comes to climate impacts, and that only a small number of projects in the province ever receive a full review. Rolling these systems together risks weakening oversight instead of strengthening it. Bev also flagged that the province already lacks the resources needed to properly assess major projects. That said, she noted the agreement could be a step in the right direction, if it brings more expertise, capacity and scrutiny into New Brunswick’s environmental review process. Read the story in Brunswick News. Watch Bev’s interview on Global News. Read the NB Media Co-op story. Read the Radio-Canada story (French).
Welcome new members!
We’re always so excited to grow our Conservation Council community. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest members:
Meghan, Morgan, Robert, Holly, Edna, Nick, Jennifer
Not a member? Join us today by clicking below!