New Brunswick is blessed with forests, rivers, wetlands, lakes, coastlines and an incredible variety of wildlife. From the smallest songbird in the backyard to the moose moving through our forests, the natural environment is part of what makes this province home.
That is why, as a Nature and Wildlife Advocate, I believe we need to take a serious look at the environmental record of Premier Susan Holt’s government.
This is not about attacking a person simply because of their political party. It is about asking whether government decisions are protecting New Brunswick's natural environment strongly enough.
And increasingly, I believe there are reasons for concern.
Promises Made to Protect Nature
Before taking office, the Holt Liberals made significant environmental commitments.
The party promised to work toward protecting 30% of New Brunswick's lands and waters by 2030, with an initial goal of increasing conservation from 10% to 15% during its first mandate. The platform also promised action to protect wetlands, floodplains, marshes, forests and coastlines.
The government also promised to update the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and establish a right to clean air and water.
Those are commitments I can support.
But promises are only the beginning.
The real test is what happens when environmental protection comes into conflict with development, industry, energy production and economic priorities.
Protecting Nature Cannot Be Just an Election Promise
New Brunswick is already facing enormous environmental pressures.
Our forests are under pressure.
Wetlands are disappearing.
Wildlife habitat is being fragmented.
Climate change is increasing the risks of flooding, extreme weather and other environmental impacts.
At the same time, governments continue to face pressure to develop natural resources, build infrastructure and expand the economy.
There is nothing wrong with economic development.
But development should not come at the expense of the natural systems that support our communities.
A healthy economy needs healthy forests.
It needs clean water.
It needs functioning wetlands.
It needs wildlife.
It needs a stable climate.
Faster Environmental Reviews Raise Questions
One area that concerns environmental advocates is the move toward a “one project, one review” approach between New Brunswick and the federal government.
The intention is to reduce duplication and make environmental assessments more efficient.
But environmental assessment is supposed to protect the public and the environment by identifying risks before projects move forward.
If reviews become faster, New Brunswickers need reassurance that they will not also become weaker.
Efficiency should never mean cutting corners.
Major projects can affect forests, wetlands, wildlife habitat, waterways and communities for generations.
Those impacts deserve careful consideration.
What About Wildlife Habitat?
As a wildlife photographer, I see firsthand how important habitat is.
A photograph of a bird may look simple.
But behind that photograph is an entire ecosystem.
The bird needs insects.
It needs food.
It needs nesting habitat.
It needs clean water.
It needs trees and vegetation.
It needs places where it can raise its young.
Destroy one piece of that system and the consequences can extend much further than the area that was cleared.
This is why environmental decisions cannot focus only on the immediate footprint of a project.
We need to consider habitat connectivity and cumulative impacts.
A forest doesn't have to disappear completely to become a problem for wildlife.
Fragment it enough and the wildlife living there can suffer.
The Environmental Rights Question
Another issue that deserves attention is the defeat of a proposed Environmental Bill of Rights.
In March 2026, reporting indicated that Premier Holt would not commit to allowing Liberal MLAs a free vote on the proposed legislation, which sought to establish a right to a healthy environment.
For an environmental advocate, this is difficult to ignore.
The Holt Liberals had previously promised to update environmental laws and guarantee New Brunswickers a right to clean air and water.
So the public deserves to ask:
Where is that promised environmental right?
If New Brunswickers have a right to clean air and clean water, that right should mean something.
It should not simply be words in an election platform.
Conservation Needs More Than Announcements
The government has also spoken about conservation and nature protection.
The Nature Trust of New Brunswick reported that Susan Holt's party committed to developing a plan to reach 30% protection of New Brunswick's lands and waters by 2030 and to increase conservation lands and waters from 10% to 15% during the first mandate.
That is an important commitment.
But conservation targets need measurable progress.
How much land has actually been protected?
Which ecosystems are being prioritized?
Are old forests being protected?
Are wetlands being protected?
Are wildlife corridors being maintained?
Are Indigenous communities meaningfully involved?
Are protected areas actually being managed effectively after designation?
These are the questions that matter.
Money for the Environment Matters
Environmental organizations cannot protect nature without resources.
Community organizations monitor waterways, restore habitat, educate the public and work directly with wildlife and ecosystems.
The Environmental Trust Fund has supported this type of work across New Brunswick.
Recent funding announcements are welcome, but concerns about the fund's long-term financial future deserve attention.
If organizations are expected to help the province achieve its environmental goals, they need predictable support.
You cannot ask communities to protect nature while making it increasingly difficult for them to afford the work.
Crown Land and Public Access
There is also a balance to be found between protecting Crown land and allowing New Brunswickers to enjoy it.
During wildfire emergencies, restricting access can be necessary.
Protecting forests from human-caused fires is important.
But New Brunswickers should also be able to experience their public lands responsibly when conditions allow.
Hiking.
Fishing.
Birdwatching.
Wildlife photography.
Camping.
Nature education.
These activities help people develop a connection with the environment.
And people who develop that connection are often the people who become the next generation of environmental advocates.
The Environment Should Not Be the Price of Growth
The Holt government has placed considerable emphasis on economic development and positioning New Brunswick for future growth.
Economic development is important.
But we need to ask what kind of growth we want.
Do we want growth that leaves behind polluted waterways?
Do we want development that fragments wildlife habitat?
Do we want short-term economic gains followed by long-term environmental costs?
Or do we want a province where economic development and environmental protection work together?
I believe New Brunswick can do better.
Holding Government Accountable
As a Nature and Wildlife Advocate, I don't believe criticizing government means opposing everything government does.
When the government makes a good environmental decision, I will support it.
When it funds conservation, I will recognize it.
When it protects habitat, I will welcome it.
But when decisions put nature and wildlife at risk, I believe advocates have a responsibility to speak.
That is what advocacy is.
It is asking uncomfortable questions.
It is demanding transparency.
It is standing up for people and species that cannot speak for themselves.
My Concern for New Brunswick
The Holt government came into office with promises of stronger environmental protection.
The province's own environmental platform recognized that New Brunswick faces gaps in nature and wildlife protection and committed to addressing them.
That means the government knows there is a problem.
Now we need to see the action.
New Brunswick does not have unlimited forests.
We do not have unlimited wetlands.
We do not have unlimited wildlife habitat.
And once an ecosystem is destroyed, promises to protect nature in the future cannot necessarily bring it back.
The Holt government still has time to demonstrate that its environmental promises are more than words.
It can strengthen conservation.
It can protect wildlife habitat.
It can properly fund environmental organizations.
It can ensure environmental assessments remain meaningful.
It can work with First Nations.
It can protect wetlands, forests and waterways.
And it can make environmental protection a fundamental part of New Brunswick's future rather than something considered after economic decisions have already been made.
As someone who photographs and advocates for New Brunswick's wildlife and natural places, I want to see this province succeed.
But success should not be measured only by how much we build, how much we extract or how quickly we develop.
Success should also be measured by what we leave standing.
The forests.
The rivers.
The wetlands.
The coastline.
The wildlife.
And the natural places that future generations of New Brunswickers deserve to inherit.
— Keith Dennis Brewer
Nature and Wildlife Advocate
Comments
Post a Comment