News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following statement was issued by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage:

An environmental impact assessment is ongoing for the proposed expansion of the Spruce Lake Industrial Park in Saint John.

The environmental impact assessment process helps ensure that each project is given the thorough assessment needed to be implemented effectively. Project reviews are undertaken by a technical review committee of experts from provincial and federal agencies, regional service commissions and local governments. No decision is made until all relevant technical issues have been addressed.

Although government ministers are not directly involved in the environmental impact assessment, there may be a perceived conflict of interest with my dual roles as minister of environment and climate change and the minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.

It’s clear that, in the interest of accountability and transparency, the best course of action for me as the minister of environment and climate change is to recuse myself from the environmental impact assessment process. I want to assure residents all potential impacts of the project will be appropriately reviewed. The deputy minister of environment and climate change will act on my behalf on this file going forward.