© Conservation Council of New Brunswick 2025
In this edition of EcoNews, we dig into a massive diesel spill in Woodstock that has raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability. Why are we still in the dark about key details? We’ll also take a close look at the latest provincial budget to find out if the government is stepping up or falling behind on addressing environmental issues in our province.
Also, see how our Learning Outside program is growing! Thanks to new funding, more kids will get to explore nature. Plus, don’t miss out on how you can stand with New Brunswick seniors on Earth Day! Read on for all the details, and let’s keep pushing for a healthier, greener New Brunswick.
Questions about Woodstock diesel disaster
A massive diesel spill in Woodstock has raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and environmental protection. Up to 100,000 litres of diesel leaked undetected from an Irving gas station late last year. But despite the severity, the public remains in the dark about key details, including how long the leak went unnoticed, what is being done to clean up the mess and the full extent of the contamination. Neither Irving nor the provincial government have provided clear answers.
We are calling for full transparency about what happened in order to prevent future disasters. We must demand better protection for our communities and environment.
Read the full op-ed by our executive director, Beverly Gingras, by checking out the links below:
Provincial budget falls short on environmental action
The provincial government’s 2025-26 budget falls short of the bold action needed to tackle New Brunswick’s growing environmental challenges. Instead of prioritizing solutions, the budget shifts funding away from a key climate change program while spending more on forest harvesting and mining infrastructure. While there are some positive steps, like increased support for energy efficiency, the overall plan lacks the ambition needed to protect our communities.
Read our full analysis:
Growing more green minds
Exciting news! The Conservation Council of New Brunswick has received NSERC PromoScience funding to expand our Learning Outside program, helping more kids connect with nature through hands-on outdoor learning.
Over the next year, we’ll train young adults from newcomer communities to lead fun, interactive science lessons in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton. Hundreds of students will get the chance to explore the outdoors, learn about nature and discover exciting career paths in science and engineering.
This initiative is all about making environmental education more inclusive—ensuring that every child, no matter their background, has the chance to experience the wonders of the natural world.
Stay tuned as we roll out this exciting program and help inspire the next generation of environmental leaders in New Brunswick! Find out more about our Learning Outside program by clicking below:
Stop Spraying N.B. needs volunteers
Our friends at Stop Spraying N.B. are looking for volunteers to help with an information table at the Moncton Sportsmen Show at the Moncton Coliseum. This is a great opportunity to engage with the public and support a healthier New Brunswick.
Show hours:
Friday, April 4: (after load-in): 1 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 5: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 6: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
If you can help for a few hours or more, please click the link below to contact SSNB and sign up!
Seniors taking a stand for climate action
This Earth Day, April 22, Seniors for Climate is celebrating with a powerful call to action: triple renewable energy by 2030. And you can join them this year in Fredericton.
At 11:30 a.m. at City Hall, Mayor Kate Rogers will read an Earth Day proclamation recognizing seniors’ leadership in climate action. At noon, Seniors for Climate will gather at the Legislature for inspiring speakers, music from the Raging Grannies and a shared vision for a climate-safe New Brunswick. Stay from 1–2 p.m. for a talking circle and to connect with groups like the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
Join them this year on Earth Day because later is too late!
Let your kids colour their dreams for a cleaner, healthier planet
In celebration of New Brunswick’s commitment to fully electrifying our school bus fleet by 2035, we’re inviting kids K-5 to colour a bus with their vision of a greener future. Submit by April 27 for a chance to win great prizes and have their artwork featured.
It’s a fun and creative way to start conversations about protecting the environment!
Submit their masterpiece for a chance to win exciting prizes. Winners will be announced on May 12, and we’ll showcase standout entries on our website and social media to inspire others.
Download the colouring sheet and enter today:
Talking climate action: Dr. Moe Qureshi at UNBSJ panel
What’s really being done about climate change—and what more can we do? That was the question at a recent panel discussion at the University of New Brunswick—Saint John (UNBSJ), where Dr. Moe Qureshi, our director of climate research and policy, joined a group of experts to discuss the realities of climate change and the actions needed to tackle it.
The event, led by graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences, drew a crowd eager to learn about the latest science, its impacts on communities and real-world solutions. Dr. Qureshi shared his expertise on policy changes that can make a difference in New Brunswick, from shifting to clean energy to protecting our land and water.
Support green burial in Charlotte County
A group of Charlotte County citizens is working to establish green burial options and is looking for help! A green burial allows the body to return naturally to the earth, using fewer resources and reducing environmental impact.
This group is hoping a local cemetery will create a dedicated green burial section, but first, they need to show community interest. So, they’ve launched a postcard campaign to gauge support featuring a print by local artist Helen Soucoup.
Find postcards at these places in Charlotte County:
Honeybeans Cafe
Wesley United Church
St. Croix Community Centre
Border Cafe
Bone Physio
Stationary Plus
For more info, contact the email below:
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
March 25, 2025 | There’s nothing in this budget that reflects transformative change from an environmental perspective.” That’s what our executive director, Beverly Gingras, told CBC’s Information Morning about the recent provincial budget. Bev explains where the budget missed the mark and why the environment is taking a backseat in the current political moment. Listen to the interview.
March 3, 2025 | Dr. Moe Qureshi, director of climate research and policy at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, tells the CBC he has mixed feelings about the Port of Belledune’s plan to become a “green energy hub.” While he welcomes the move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable technologies, he criticized the proposal to use biomass as a fuel source for N.B. Power’s Belledune generating station. Dr. Qureshi notes that burning wood is an inefficient way to generate electricity and that the rate of tree regrowth would not keep pace with the demand for wood pellets. Read more.
Feb. 25, 2025 | In this CBC story, Dr. Moe Qureshi questions whether the carbon adjustor actually reflects the cost of federal clean fuel regulations to producers. Dr. Qureshi wants the Energy and Utilities Board to investigate the true costs and make sure fuel producers, not consumers, are the ones footing the bill. He says he supports getting rid of the adjustor but says it should be replaced with a stronger carbon tax on industry to hold polluters accountable. Read the story.
Feb. 25, 2025 | In this story, the Telegraph-Journal covers Dr. Moe Qureshi’s presentation about the carbon adjustor to the standing committee on law amendments on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Dr. Queshi argued that legislators need to do the right thing and stop shielding big industry from the cost of cleaning up their act. Read more.