This update gives you a heads-up on an important public lecture taking place tomorrow in Fredericton, and brings you up to speed on the discussion surrounding water protection policy in New Brunswick, efforts to improve fisheries habitats and nuclear safety in Canada, and a look at Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s first budget.
Moving forward with reconciliation
Giller Prize-winning Canadian author Joseph Boyden, whose work focuses on First Nations history and culture, is in Fredericton tomorrow to deliver a public lecture as part of the fourth annual Canadian Symposium on Indigenous Teacher Education. Of Anishnaabek (Ojibwe), Irish and Scottish roots, Boyden will speak on the importance of moving forward with reconciliation in Canada. The public talk starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6 on UNB campus in Fredericton. Get the full details here.
Talking water protection with the press
Executive Director Lois Corbett was interviewed by local and regional media late last month to talk about the government’s plans to build a provincial water protection strategy. Corbett spoke with CBC Information Morning Fredericton host Terry Seguin about concerns being raised over the process government is using to develop the strategy. While noting that the concerns are valid, Corbett says she would “encourage folks to try to get past the process snarl-ups and concentrate on what we really need — a system that protects and classifies rivers and lakes, a system that prevents pollution being dumped into our rivers in the first place, and a really good action plan to address how we’re going to protect groundwater.” Listen to the full interview here. Earlier in the week, Corbett told CTV News Atlantic that it’s high time New Brunswick put strong water protections in place, noting that Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec have comprehensive strategies. “If you’re going to come out of the gate last — like New Brunswick has — it better be better,” she said. “And now we have an opportunity to get one of the best in the country, and I have every expectation that the government can deliver on this promise.”
#Act4Fish
The Conservation Council added its name to a letter sent to Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo urging his government to reform the Fisheries Act. The letter was organized by Northern Confluence and was signed by 47 groups representing conservationists, First Nations, scientists, waterkeepers and lawyers. The letter was sent to Minister Tootoo on March 14 and an accompanying campaign, #Act4Fish, launched on March 24. Learn more.
Modernizing Canada’s nuclear safety laws
In the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Conservation Council joined with more than a dozen environmental groups asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to strengthen Canada’s key nuclear safety law. The letter, sent March 8, asks Trudeau to start a public review and modernization of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. Signatories say changes are needed to address weaknesses exposed by the Fukushima disaster and public concern regarding the independence of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Green spending in federal budget
The federal government demonstrated its commitment to act on climate change and begin transitioning the country to a low-carbon economy with its budget released March 22. The budget included significant investments in clean energy research and development, energy efficiency, and green infrastructure projects such as electric vehicle charging stations. It also creates a Low Carbon Economy Fund, providing $2-billion over two years to support provinces and territories in reducing their carbon pollution emissions, something the Conservation Council has long called for. Read more on the budget.