A large crowd gathered in front of the New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton to protest the government’s new forestry strategy, which they say will lead to an increase in clear-cutting and a reduction in government monitoring of forestry companies. The 10-year plan announced in March will allow the forestry industry to harvest an additional 660,000 cubic metres of softwood a year — a hike of 20 per cent from existing levels.

The Conservation Council of New Brunswick, is concerned by the increased clear-cutting and its impacts the population of various wildlife.
Natural Resources Minister Paul Robichaud has said the forestry strategy will see the addition of 500 new jobs in the woods and generate more than 1,200 construction jobs as 40 mills in the province.