HARTLAND – Green Party leader David Coon stood by the exposed bottom of the St. John River in Hartland to address the disproportionate impacts of the current drought on rural New Brunswickers. The majority of New Brunswick is experiencing "severe" or "moderate" drought according to Agriculture Canada.

“The water table is so low that families with young children are rationing their water, skipping laundry and dishes. And the farmers I have talked to are very very worried,” said Coon. “Water levels are at their lowest in over 50 years. That’s not just some statistical oddity. It’s the modern, climate change reality that rural New Brunswickers are facing.”

Coon announced that a Green government would create a Department of Rural Affairs to ensure that social, economic and environmental issues of concern to rural New Brunswick are given the priority that they deserve. 

“When I listen to Mr. Higgs, and Mr. Vickers, they don’t get rural communities. They don’t seem to understand farmers. They just don’t get that rural people are bearing the brunt of the consequences of the climate crisis,” said Coon. “I am proud of the rural nature of our province.  It is who we are. Rural New Brunswickers can count on my MLAs and I to stand up for them.”