GOVERNMENT OF CANADA RESPONDS TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PETITCODIAC CAUSEWAY SPECIAL ADVISOR

Moncton, N.B. - The Government of Canada today accepted the spirit of the recommendations of a Special Advisor on how to restore fish passage at the Petitcodiac River causeway in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Herb Dhaliwal, Environment Minister David Anderson and Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw congratulated and thanked Eugene Niles for his excellent work on an extremely important matter.

"It is clear that the issues surrounding the causeway are complex and that there is no quick and easy solution. That is why the Government favours a step-by-step approach as the most environmentally responsible and practical method of restoring fish passage at the causeway," said Mr. Dhaliwal.

Mrs. Bradshaw said, "I commend Mr. Niles for his efforts, and I particularly appreciate that Mr. Niles conducted an open and transparent consultation process with local stakeholders and that their views are clearly outlined in his report."

The Ministers said they are ready to move forward with Mr. Niles' report. The Government of Canada is committed to working with the province and the people of the area in assessing the effects associated with the proposed implementation of any of the options recommended in the report.

Specifically, the Ministers said that if the province initiates a project to restore fish passage at the Petitcodiac River Causeway, the federal government is willing to enter into an agreement with New Brunswick on an assessment of the options outlined in Mr. Niles' report as well as cooperating on an analysis of the costs, benefits and risks of the options in the report.

" We have a long history of close cooperation with the province of New Brunswick on this issue. We have every reason to believe this productive relationship will continue" Mr. Dhaliwal said.

"As Regional Minister for New Brunswick and as a resident of Moncton, I can tell you that the issues surrounding the causeway are important to the citizens of Moncton and the surrounding area," Mrs. Bradshaw said. "The federal government will ensure that if an environmental assessment is done, it will be open, transparent and will include the full participation of residents, as Mr. Niles has recommended."

Mr. Dhaliwal appointed Mr. Niles in August, 2000 to review all information, reports and scientific studies on the causeway and the Petitcodiac watershed, to consult local stakeholders, and to examine the short and long-term viability of various options for restoring fish passages. "I congratulate and thank Mr. Niles on the excellent work he did gathering and integrating 40 years worth of reports and varied opinions on this issue."

(LINK TO NILES' REPORT ON WEBSITE
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e/reports/PetitcodiacReview-e.htm

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• PETITCODIAC RIVER CAUSEWAY

FOR MORE INFORMATION:



André-Marc Lanteigne
Regional Director, Communications
Maritimes Region
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(902) 426-3550

David Klug
Communications Assistant
Office of the Minister of Labor
Hull, Québec
(819) 953-5646