New Brunswick election: Greens promise to guarantee right to a healthy environment

FREDERICTON — The leader of New Brunswick’s Green Party is promising to pass a law that would guarantee the right to a healthy environment if his party is elected to govern on Oct. 21.

David Coon was campaigning in Saint John, N.B., on Wednesday. He announced the pledge while standing outside a scrapyard where a fire in September 2023 burned for two days, its hazardous smoke drifting over the city as emergency officials urged people to stay inside and wear a mask.

“Over the years, we have seen government after government cover up environmental contamination to the detriment of the health of New Brunswickers,” Coon, a former environmental activist, said in a statement.

“In my 40 years of experience dealing with toxic chemicals and pesticides that pose a risk to the health of New Brunswickers, Liberal and Conservative governments have almost always taken the side of industry against public health,” he said.

The Green leader then cited the Progressive Conservative government’s refusal to revoke the scrapyard’s licence to operate in Saint John.

He also called attention to the case of Eilish Cleary, who served as the province’s chief medical officer until she was fired in 2015 by the Liberal government led by Brian Gallant. Coon suggested Cleary lost her job because she investigated the spraying of glyphosate, a herbicide used extensively in New Brunswick forests.

At the time, the provincial government repeatedly stated Cleary’s termination was not related to her work.

On Wednesday, Coon said he would revive an environmental rights bill the Greens tabled in December.

Earlier in the day, the Liberals promised to improve how the province supports seniors if elected to govern.

Liberal Leader Susan Holt was campaigning in Neguac, N.B., when she announced eight proposals, including a pledge to offer $250 a month to unpaid and informal caregivers who are looking after aging family members.

“Our team will ensure that seniors receive the support they need in a way that promotes well-being and independence,” Holt said in a statement.

Holt says a Liberal government would improve home care by investing in the wages for personal support workers and resident attendants, as well as expanding programs that help seniors stay in their homes as long as possible.

As for nursing homes, Holt says the Liberals would improve wages and fill staffing gaps to ensure all nursing home beds are being used.

Holt says there are 1,108 people on waiting lists for long-term care and 550 are in hospital beds waiting for a place in a nursing home.

The Liberals also pledged to raise the “comfort and clothing allowance” for seniors from $150 to $200, and develop a strategy to improve support for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

“Seniors and their families deserve the ability to make informed decisions about their care and to live with dignity,” Holt said. “The lack of long-term care support is a constant source of stress for them and for the care professionals delivering services.”

Nominations for candidates closed on Tuesday at 2 p.m., and Elections New Brunswick confirmed Wednesday that the Tories and Liberals are each running a full slate of 49 candidates.

The Green Party has 46 candidates, having failed to nominate anyone in three districts in northern New Brunswick.

The New Democrats have 23 candidates. The NDP has never won more than one seat in the legislature, and the last time that happened was in 2003.

Meanwhile, the Libertarians — who are running candidates for the first time — have 18 candidates.

The People’s Alliance of New Brunswick are running 13 candidates, and there are two other fringe parties that each have less than 10 candidates nominated, which means those parties will be deregistered.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.

— With files from Michael MacDonald in Halifax

Hina Alam, The Canadian Press