N.B. minister recuses himself from assessment of Saint John industrial park expansion

Gilles LePage, minister of Environment and Climate Change, has recused himself from an assessment of an industrial park. (Source: Facebook/Gilles LePage)

Gilles LePage, minister of Environment and Climate Change, has recused himself from an environmental impact assessment of a proposed expansion of the Spruce Lake Industrial Park in Saint John, N.B.

The expansion of the park has sparked debates and multiple public hearings in the last month with several residents of Lorneville speaking out against it.

The City of Saint John says the expansion – which would potentially transform 1,500 acres of land into use for heavy industry – is needed for industrial land growth.

“This is a once-in-a-generation industrial growth opportunity,” Ian MacKinnon, general manager of the industrial park, said at a public meeting last week. “Time is of the essence; we have serious interest now.”

LePage said there may be a “perceived conflict of interest” with his dual roles as environment minister and the minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation when it comes to the assessment.

“It’s clear that, in the interest of accountability and transparency, the best course of action for me as the minister of environment and climate change is to recuse myself from the environmental impact assessment process,” LePage said in a news release. “I want to assure residents all potential impacts of the project will be appropriately reviewed.

“The deputy minister of environment and climate change will act on my behalf on this file going forward.”

Another public hearing on the industrial park will be held at Saint John City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

-With files from CTV Atlantic’s Avery MacRae and Nick Moore

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