WETLAND: NB Wetland Interests collide.

The New Brunswick Wetland Conservation Policy has been guiding wetland protection since 2002. This past January, the Department of Environment released the operational guidelines that outline how this policy is implemented. As part of the guidelines, a predictive mapping tool has been created. Immediately after this map was released by the DENV, there was pushback by municipalities and developers, claiming that a "new" wetland policy is stifling development across the province. In response to this outcry, the Minister of Environment, Margaret-Ann Blaney, announced a round of public meetings on the topic of wetlands. NatureNB 

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Image by WarriorMare via Flickr

Environment minister to engage New Brunswickers on the topic of wetlands11 February 2011

FREDERICTON (CNB) – Environment Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney will participate in public meetings across the province to engage New Brunswickers on the topic of wetlands.


"Wetlands continue to be a topic of discussion in our province and are of particular interest to developers and environmental groups," said Blaney. "This tour will give the government the opportunity to communicate with New Brunswickers and to hear their concerns and comments about wetlands in our province."

The meetings will be held between Feb. 28 and March 10 in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Miramichi, Tracadie-Sheila, Campbellton, Edmundston, Grand Falls and Woodstock.

"I encourage New Brunswickers interested in the issue of wetlands to participate in these meetings," said Blaney. "I also invite individuals interested to visit the Department of Environment's website for information about what wetlands are, the benefits they provide to our province and the regulations that government has in place to protect them."

The public is also invited to send comments by way of e-mail, env-info@gnb.ca.

The following meetings are scheduled:

Saint John
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
Monday, Feb. 28,
Lily Lake Pavilion, Wallace-MacMurry Room,
55 Lake Dr. S.

Moncton (Dieppe)
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday, Feb. 28,
Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, Dieppe campus, auditorium,
505 du Collège St.

Miramichi
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
Tuesday, March 1
Rodd Miramichi River Hotel, Cains Room
1809 Water St.

Tracadie-Sheila
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 2,
Town hall,
3620 Principale St.

Campbellton
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 2,
Campbellton Civic Centre, Banquet Room,
44 Salmon Blvd.

Edmundston
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.,
Thursday, March 3,
Université de Moncton, Edmundston campus, Amphithéâtre Louis-A.-Lebel,
165 Hébert Blvd.

Grand Falls
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.,
Thursday, March 3,
Town hall,
131 Pleasant St., Suite 200

Fredericton
10 a.m. to noon,
Friday, March 4,
Killarney Lake Lodge, Rotary Room,
1600 St. Mary's St.

Woodstock
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
Thursday, March 10,
Royal Canadian Legion,
109 Carleton St.

LINK:● Department of Environment: www.gnb.ca/environment

More information on the sessions: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2011.02.0147.html The new guidelines and maps can be found at http://www.gnb.ca/0009/Wetlands/index-e.asp More information is also available at www.nben.ca/

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