NR-HQ-00-73E

EUGENE J. NILES NAMED TO STUDY PETITCODIAC RIVER CAUSEWAY

August 10, 2000

OTTAWA -- Fisheries and Oceans Minister Herb Dhaliwal today announced that Eugene J. Niles has been appointed as a Special Advisor on issues surrounding the Petitcodiac River causeway and fish population restoration.

Mr. Dhaliwal said, "The proposal to open the gates at the causeway has provoked strong opinions for and against in the community. It has also raised questions about environmental and other impacts of such an action. Before any decisions are taken, we need to do a thorough review of all issues and existing information, and we need to attempt to build consensus within the community on the best course of action."

Specifically Mr. Niles will:

• examine and consolidate existing fish passage, environmental, social and economic information on the causeway and the Petitcodiac watershed;

• examine the short and long term viability of all options considered;

• provide a general range of cost estimates for all options evaluated;

• present all this information to stakeholders and consult them on the full range of issues surrounding the causeway;

• report and make recommendations to the Minister.

Mr. Niles was born in Cap-Pele, New Brunswick, and began his career with the Armed Forces, serving for 25 years in various capacities across Canada. After retiring from the Armed Forces in 1978, he occupied various positions within the federal government. In 1988, he was named Chairman of the New Brunswick Mental Health Commission.

"As a former Regional Director-General for the Gulf Region at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mr. Niles has extensive knowledge of the New Brunswick fishery. This, combined with his other wide ranging career experience, makes him eminently suitable to take on this demanding task," Mr. Dhaliwal said.