News Release

SAINT-QUENTIN (GNB) – The provincial government is providing $16,500 under the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) for the Five Fingers watershed group to hire a project co-ordinator for their environmental activities.

“With the support of ETF, community groups across the province are able to create jobs for New Brunswickers to undertake excellent environmental initiatives,” said Restigouche West MLA Gilles LePage. “With these investments we are protecting the environment, but also helping to grow the green economy and create jobs.”

LePage attended the event for Environment and Local Government Minister Serge Rousselle.

The Five Fingers watershed group will use the funding to hire a project co-ordinator to look after the day-to-day activities of the group as it promotes good water quality. Projects will include outreach activities in schools and in the community.

"Providing water is the most important service we offer to our residents and, to ensure its sustainability, we must protect its source,” said Jocelyne Querry Bossé, deputy mayor of Saint-Quentin. “The town council is proud of the expert panel it created in 2002, which has the task of managing, protecting and cleaning up the watershed Five Fingers Brook."

The ETF provides assistance to community groups, organizations, municipalities and institutions for projects that produce tangible, measurable benefits to the environment.

A total of 207 projects valued at $6.5 million have been approved for funding in the following areas:

• protecting the environment;

• increasing environmental awareness;

• managing waste;

• addressing climate change; and

• building sustainable communities.

More information, including the list of approved projects and initiatives, is available on the Department of Environment and Local Government’s website.