Sunday 6 February 2022

200 Tracadie residents call for halt to blueberry farm project

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tracadie-residents-blueberry-farm-crown-land-1.6341666

 

200 Tracadie residents call for halt to blueberry farm project

March organizers say the project would disrupt local wildlife, nearby rivers

The New Brunswick government has plans to build a blueberry farm on a 20,000-hectare plot of Crown land that previously housed a military shooting range.

Deforestation work for the project began last Thursday. That prompted anger in the community. 

About 5,000 Tracadie residents out of a population of 15,000 have signed a petition to call for a stop to the project. They want public consultation.  

Mathieu Allard, the president of Club Chasse & Peche and one of the march organizers, said the public should have been consulted from the start because this land has become an integral part of community living. 

Mathieu Allard is the president of Club Chasse & Peche and one of the march organizers. (Yves Lévesques/RADIO-CANADA)

"There's a lot of blueberry fields around and we don't want any more," he said. "We're angry because that's the only piece of land left around for hunting, fishing and to do outside activities." 

Allard said the deforestation involved in the project would disrupt local wildlife and the nearby Big Tracadie River.  

He said the community first learned of the blueberry farm project last June and only heard back from the province two weeks ago. 

Allard said he has since spoken with Agriculture Minister Margaret Johnson, but no solutions have been found. 

He hopes the march Saturday makes it clear to the province that the community will not back down. 

"Hopefully the message is being heard by the government," said Allard. 

     A large group of protesters marched in Tracadie on Saturday. (Yves Lévesques/RADIO-CANADA)

As of Sunday afternoon, Allard said he hadn't heard from any government officials in response to the march. 

He said hopes to get some sign of hope in the coming days. 

Johnson said conversations about this development are ongoing. 

"In recent weeks and months my office has been in conversation with a number of individuals and organizations in the region, including the local MLA, the municipality, blueberry industry representatives, as well as hunting, fishing, wildlife and ATV groups," she said in an email. 

She had no further comment. 

Tracadie mayor says most community members against project

Tracadie Mayor Denis Losier said the community needs to be consulted before the project moves forward. 

"It's on our territory," he said. 

Denis Losier is Tracadie's mayor. (Yves Lévesques/RADIO-CANADA)

"When you're going to implement a major project like this, you need to involve your partners." 

Allard said while Johnson has consulted with the group of concerned community members, he wants to speak with a wider range of government officials on the matter. 

CBC News requested comment from the premier's office, but did not receive a response.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story said blueberry development was planned for 20,000 hectares that once housed the Tracadie range. In fact, the development would be for about 1,900 hectares. Decontamination work now underway is not being done in the area of the planned blueberry development and is not related to it.
    Feb 07, 2022 10:24 AM AT

 

70 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
 
 
 
David Amos
I wish the folks up in Tracadie the best of luck dealing with Higgy et al
  
 
 
 
 
David Amos
Methinks the folks up north should have listened to me years ago but better late than never N'esy Pas?
 
 
Harry Ballsagna 
Reply to @David Amos: Your nuttier then crunchy peanut butter.
 
 
David Amos 
Content deactivated
Reply to @Harry Ballsagna: Perhaps but trust that Mathieu Allard and I just had a good laugh at your insult
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @David Amos: Too Too Funny Indeed  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
danny rugg
Content deactivated
Boo hoo , don't own the land.....it happens every day. Suck it up buttercup.
 
 
David Amos 
Content deactivated
Reply to @danny rugg: Its all our land
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yves Savoie
Content deactivated
Can't get rid of the folks up north.....might as well trying to poison them all.It's a disgrace what they have let the companies do the NB forest.Then they all start charging us a carbon tax....
 
 
David Amos
Content deactivated
Reply to @Yves Savoie: They already are 
 
 
Carroll Cameron 
Content deactivated
Reply to @Yves Savoie:
This is a gov. plan, not a forest companies. And, cant get rid of "the folks up north" so might as well try poisoning them! You are full of it. That is one asenign thing to say. Shame on you!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David Sampson
Yet another effort by Higgs to dump on the French. Shameful, just bloody shameful.
 
 
Toby Tolly
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Sampson: I agree
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Toby Tolly: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder However....

Methinks its best to allow Mother Nature to reclaim the land and restore it for the benefit of all our children N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tom Curry 
So the question is: which politician is going to personally make a shitte-ton of money from this little venture?
 
 
Dave Jones 
Reply to @Tom Curry: I would be looking at the feds as well not just NB .
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Dave Jones: I am
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Roger Richard 
As a society, our decisional process is flawed. In any societal decision, the economic factor is the only factor taken into consideration. Jobs and money trump any negative health arguments on ourself or on our natural environment. Smart meters and 5G are good exemples.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Roger Richard: Amen Mon Ami
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laurie Savage
Why on earth is the NB Government in the blue berry industry?? ENOUGH
 
 
David Amos 
Content deactivated 
Reply to @Laurie Savage: Good question but only the crickets will answer it
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Crickets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Johnny Jakobs
Clear cut for a blueberry farm but can't use the maple trees for syrup production... well that there don't make no sense to me
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Methinks common sense is a rare thing to be found within governments N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dave Jones 
Where are the studies of the amount of possible lead contamination and the interaction of lead on food (blueberries ) . What happened to the studies of water contamination from the spraying of blueberries and the use of fertilizers .
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Dave Jones: Go Figure
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
lins bolan 
it is gov land ,they can do what they want. and it would help wildlife as they probably like blueberries.
 
 
Dave Jones 
Reply to @lins bolan: This is taxpayers land and do you understand the effects it will have on wildlife and birds
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Dave Jones: I concur
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @lins bolan: Its OUR land 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Geoff MacDonald
I’m surprised there isn’t more support for this project. More jobs equals less people on EI.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Geoff MacDonald: Yea Right
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Buford Wilson
We can't stop progress.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Buford Wilson: Who is we?
 
 
lins bolan
Reply to @David Amos: who are you.
 
 
lins bolan
Reply to @Buford Wilson: these people can they always get their way if they complain enuff
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @lins bolan: Google me
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Greg Windsor
Hey, Johnson Mills, Dorchester Cape would love to have it, we already are producing beautiful, blueberries here. Sweetened and naturally watered with the Fundy fog ...
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Windsor: I was talking of blueberries, Dorchester Cape and old Studebakers to the fella up north at suppertime
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
mark roy
wonder if there would be this much fuss if it were a pot growing plants
rather than blue berries.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @mark roy: Keeping wondering
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heather Steeves
Is the government now going to compete in the blueberry market?
 
 
David Amos
Content deactivated
Reply to @Heather Steeves: Nope
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Too funny 
 
 
 
 






 
 
 
Wilson Rose
Maybe they will start a Blueberry Convoy of Freedom?
 
 
David Amos
Content deactivated
Reply to @Wilson Rose: Why is nobody laughing???
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Oh My My 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matt Steele 
Pretty weak reporting in this article . Who now owns and controls this 20,000 hectare former shooting range . Is it federal crown land controlled by DND , or is it now provincial crown land . How much is the land being leased for , and by who ; as 20,000 hectares is a pretty sizeable chunk of property . If it is a lease agreement , how long is it for ; or was the 20,000 acres sold to a private company ?
 
 
David Amos 
Content deactivated 
Reply to @Matt Steele: Cry me a river then call Trudeau The Younger and tell him I said Hey will ya?
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Bingo 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marcel Belanger 
In 2014 Alward and Higgs ignored all the local producers and gave it all to Oxford Frozen Foods, take one guess who’s in line for these lands.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Marcel Belanger: BINGO
 
 
David Amos 
Content deactivated
Reply to @Marcel Belanger: 3 words

Harper and Bankers
 
 
David Jones
Reply to @Marcel Belanger: Maybe oxford is still getting gratuities for helping out after the riots in Shippagan .
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Why is it I was not surprised
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jake McKay 
If this is an abandoned military shooting range then that makes it Federal and the local Indigenous might have something to say about it. Were they consulted?
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Jake McKay: Survey Says???
 
 
Julie Robichaud 
Reply to @Jake McKay: I doubt it ! They need to be involved before it's too late !

 
Jake McKay
Reply to @David Amos: You just know HIggs did NO consulting. Where have you been David? You relegated to the bad boy bin?
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Jake McKay: YUP Need I say I felt honoured?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman
Mike Holland doesn’t care. He has no friends up there to impress.
 
  
David Amos 
Content deactivated
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: C'est Vrai
 
 
Marcel Belanger
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: He’s minister in name only, it’s not his place to say.
 
 
David Amos 
Content deactivated
Reply to @Marcel Belanger: Who did Mikey give the wood to?
 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks 2 out of 3 ain't bad but perhaps a hat trick is in my future N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dan Armitage 
Good luck Tracadie stand your ground!
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Dan Armitage: Ditto
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James Johnstone 
CBC, it is not like you to only post half the story. Who are the owners of this farm project, where are they from, where is the product packaged, etc. How many farms do they already own in New Brunswick, where are these farms. Please post the whole story on this and other news article.
 
 
Dan Armitage 
Reply to @James Johnstone: Thanks for the yuk funniest thing I heard all day
 
 
Dan Armitage  
Reply to @George Stenson: ssssshhhhhhhhhhh
 
 
Theo Lavigne 
Reply to @James Johnstone: It says at the beginning of the story The New Brunswick government has plans to build a blueberry farm....
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @James Johnstone: Does the name Bragg ring any bells???
 
 
Ian Scott 
Reply to @Theo Lavigne: Governments not do private industry. Its who is gonna get fed tax dollars to try to start something. Lot of good questions and piss poor article with no real answers. Then again it may be typical north shore , more EI , NIMBY. Seasonal employment by TWF's? Lots more work to do here to figure it out.
 
 
James Johnstone
Reply to @Theo Lavigne: WE shall see who is building this farm and you can be sure it is NOT the government of New Brunswick. Stay tuned
 
 
Theo Lavigne  
Reply to @Ian Scott: Seasonal Empoyment what do you expect, that is all the government throughs our way.... lol 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steph Soltesz
PLEASE Stop ! This was a Shooting Range and therefore Very Contaminated with Lead/ Similar projects for berry & other fruit production was considered on former Ranges and once the Toxicity test came back, there was absolutely no point. Some of these ranges have had to be sealed off and some even had to be remediated prior to being sealed off because they were leaching so much out. I also goes Very Deep so it isn't just a matter of scraping off the top 6" of soil.

Growing food stuffs on Contaminated Land or using Contaminated Water results in Contaminated food stuff's.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Steph Soltesz: Oh My
 
 
danny rugg
Reply to @Steph Soltesz: are you trying to tell a story that the blueberries will have lead in them? Got any proof of such a wild story?
 
 
Ian Scott 
Reply to @Steph Soltesz: So they are going to be hunting and "fishing" in there?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lorelei Stott
good size group considering size of the community, hope they get heard and compromise can happen on a portion of the land maybe
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Lorelei Stott: Perhaps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Neil Murphy
The people have spoken! 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Neil Murphy: You don't say
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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