The Canadian government has allocated more than $2.3 million for 14 initiatives focused on rejuvenating and safeguarding the St. John River, known as the Wolastoq. Wade Grant, serving as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment, climate change, and nature, disclosed this development in Fredericton on Saturday.
During the announcement, Grant highlighted various stressors jeopardizing the river’s water quality and ecological balance, attributing them to urban expansion resulting in elevated levels of pollutants and contaminants in the water. He emphasized that over half of New Brunswick’s residents reside within the watershed, with around 20% relying on the river as their primary source of drinking water. Grant also underscored the profound cultural bond the Wolastoqey community shares with the river, having safeguarded it for countless generations.
A substantial portion of the funding will be allocated to the Maliseet Nation Conservation Council, amounting to $195,000 over a two-year period. This funding aims to equip Wolastoqey community members with the skills to conduct water quality monitoring within the watershed, particularly focusing on issues arising from excessive nutrients, harmful algae blooms, and pollutants.
Nature NB is set to receive $100,000 over three years for its Agricultural Edge Project, which concentrates on collaborating with local farmers to restore stream banks along the river. Vanessa Roy-McDougall, the executive director of Nature NB, lauded the announcement for its significance in freshwater preservation and sustainable agriculture within New Brunswick.
Moreover, the Belleisle Watershed Coalition will receive a portion of the funding to assess the presence of chemicals in the water. Colin Forsythe, the coalition’s executive director, pointed out that these chemicals eventually find their way into tributaries and the river water, posing risks to both human health and the ecosystem. Forsythe emphasized the need for research on the exposure risks posed by these chemicals and the subsequent formulation of recommendations.
The funding stems from the Canada Water Agency and forms part of the federal government’s $650 million commitment under its Freshwater Action Plan to safeguard and rejuvenate critical freshwater resources over a decade. Grant reiterated the vital importance of water for sustaining life, emphasizing its significance for people, nature, and the economy, asserting the necessity to protect water resources for the well-being of Canadians and the nation’s future.