News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following message was issued today by Environment and Local Government Minister Serge Rousselle:

Each year, during the third week of March, communities across the country celebrate Canada Water Week, which coincides with World Water Day on March 22. It is an excellent opportunity to remind New Brunswickers about the importance of protecting our province’s most important natural resource.

The theme for World Water Day 2018 is Nature for Water. It explores how we can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century, such as planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains and restoring wetlands.

We take seriously our responsibility to protect our province’s water sources and the environment. That is why, following our commitment in the 2015 Speech from the Throne, we developed a water strategy, based on the input of New Brunswickers.

The strategy highlights how the needs of aquatic life such as fish, plants and other wildlife must be considered in decisions about water use. A goal of the water strategy is to preserve and enhance aquatic ecosystems and the water on which they depend so that New Brunswick’s lakes, rivers, wetlands and coastal areas remain healthy, resilient and biologically diverse.

During this week, and throughout the year, we encourage New Brunswickers to learn more about water-related issues, discuss them with others, and take action to make a difference. We all have a role to play in protecting water to ensure its quality and availability for future generations and to help ensure that the needs of ecosystems are respected.