New Brunswick's Protected Nature

New Brunswick is one of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories and is one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is Canada's only officially bilingual province, with French and English having equal status.

In 2021, 4.6% of land in New Brunswick was protected. The province has committed to increasing this to 10% by the end of 2023, with nearly 400,000 hectares of Crown land becoming protected. This aligns with the national target of increasing Canada's protected land to 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

How much of New Brunswick's land is protected

New Brunswick, located on Canada's eastern seaboard, is the country's only officially bilingual province, with French and English sharing equal status. It is one of the four original provinces that formed the national confederation in 1867 and is one of three provinces collectively known as the Maritimes.

New Brunswick has a surface area of 72,908 square kilometres (28,150 square miles), with approximately 83% of the province covered in forest. While the exact percentage of protected land in the province is unclear, it currently stands at around 4.6%, with a goal of reaching 10% by the end of 2023. This aligns with the national target of increasing Canada's protected land to 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

The protection of natural areas in New Brunswick is governed by the Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Management Areas Regulation and the New Brunswick Parks Act. The former prohibits hunting and trapping in designated wildlife refuges and management areas, while the latter protects provincial parks from environmental encroachment and activities such as mining, quarrying, and logging.

There are also Protected Natural Areas (PNAs) in New Brunswick, which are sanctuaries set aside for their ecological or cultural significance. Logging is prohibited in all PNAs, and they are classified into two categories: Class I PNAs allow access only for scientific research and education, while Class II PNAs permit activities such as hunting, fishing, and camping.

In addition to its provincial parks and protected areas, New Brunswick is home to two National Parks: Fundy and Kouchibouguac. These parks, along with the province's natural and cultural heritage sites, attract tourists, hunters, and sport fishermen who come to appreciate the province's relatively untouched natural beauty.

The status of New Brunswick's bilingualism

New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. English and French have equal status in the province, and residents have the right to receive provincial government services in the official language of their choice. This has been the case since 1969, when the province passed the Official Languages Act, and was further reinforced in 1982 when this right became part of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and, therefore, the Constitution of Canada.

The evolution of individual bilingualism in Canada appears to be slowing down, and even stagnating or decreasing in certain parts of the country, including New Brunswick. However, the promotion of personal bilingualism in English and French remains an important objective of official bilingualism in Canada.

In New Brunswick, about 35% of the population is bilingual, second only to Quebec. The right to receive an education and government services in either English or French is guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The province has a parallel system of Anglophone and Francophone public schools, and approximately 27% of students in the Anglophone system are enrolled in French immersion programs.

New Brunswick's variety of French is called Acadian French, and seven regional accents can be found. The Acadians are descendants of Acadia's French colonists, who developed a unique society characterised by dyking technology and tightly-knit independent communities. They were expelled by the British in 1755, and scattered throughout the Thirteen Colonies or returned to France. After the Treaty of Paris in 1763, those who returned found their lands occupied by several thousand immigrants, largely from New England.

New Brunswick's bilingualism benefits its economy. For example, the province has a customer contact centre and back-office industry generating $1.4 billion in export revenue annually and 15,000 jobs, thanks to its two official languages. New Brunswick also has the highest concentration of translators, terminologists, and interpreters in the workforce out of the ten Canadian provinces.

The promotion of bilingualism in the province continues to be a focus. In 2008, the provincial government reconfirmed its goal of increasing the percentage of bilingualism among graduates from 34% to 70% by 2012.

The province's natural areas and wildlife

New Brunswick's landscape is characterised by its hilly landmass, cut by an extensive river system. The province's natural areas are largely protected, with 4.6% of its land currently safe from industry and development. The goal is to increase this to 10%, which would align with the national target of increasing Canada's protected land to 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

The province's natural areas are protected by the Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Management Areas Regulation - Fish and Wildlife Act, which prohibits hunting and trapping in these areas. There are also Protected Natural Areas (PNAs), which are sanctuaries set aside for their local characteristics, where logging is prohibited.

The majority of New Brunswick is forested, with about 83% of the province under forest cover. Coniferous trees commonly found in northern temperate climates, such as balsam fir, red and black spruce, pine, and hemlock, constitute the principal growth. The forests support substantial herds of white-tailed deer, moose, and small animals such as porcupines and raccoons. The rivers and coasts lie in the eastern flyway of numerous migrating birds.

The province's beautiful natural areas, including its forests, rivers, lakes, and seashore, have long been attractions for tourists, hunters, and sport fishermen.

New Brunswick's population and demographics

New Brunswick is a province located along Canada's east coast. It is one of the three Maritime provinces of the nation and the only officially bilingual province (French and English) in the country. The population of New Brunswick is estimated to be 761,214 as of 2018, making it the 8th most populous province in Canada. The population has been steadily growing since the 1850s, with prosperous industries, beautiful historic sites, events, festivals, and a quality education system.

The majority of the population, about 65%, resides in New Brunswick's 107 municipalities. There are three major urban areas: Greater Saint John, Greater Moncton, and Greater Fredericton, which together are home to over 300,000 people. The largest city in New Brunswick is Moncton, while its capital is Fredericton. The population is predominantly urban, with about 63.2% living in urban areas as of 2021.

In terms of demographics, the population of New Brunswick is diverse. The most commonly reported ethnic origins in the province are Canadian, Irish, and English. Approximately 5.8% of the population belongs to a visible minority group, while 4.4% are Indigenous (including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). The First Nations in New Brunswick include the Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet). Additionally, about 60% of the population has roots in the British Isles, while 31% are French Canadian or Acadian. Other ethnicities in the province include Asian Canadian, Scottish, and other European nations.

Language is an important aspect of New Brunswick's demographics. As the only officially bilingual province in Canada, both English and French are recognized as official languages. The right to receive provincial government services in either English or French is guaranteed. Approximately two-thirds of the population are English-speaking, while one-third is French-speaking. Interestingly, about 34% of the population speaks both languages.

Religion is another demographic factor in New Brunswick. According to the 2021 census, the religious groups in the province included Christianity (67.5%), Irreligion (29.7%), Islam (1.2%), Hinduism (0.4%), Sikhism (0.2%), Buddhism (0.1%), Indigenous Spirituality (0.1%), Judaism (0.1%), and other (0.5%). In 2011, 84% of residents reported being Christian, with 52% as Roman Catholic.

New Brunswick has a rich history, with early settlements dating back to Indigenous societies and European explorations in the pre-1600s. The province was officially created in 1784, separating from what is now Nova Scotia. The name "New Brunswick" was chosen to honour George III, King of Great Britain, who was also the prince-elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg in what is now Germany.

The economy of New Brunswick is diverse, with important industries including agriculture, forestry, mining, fisheries, and tourism. Agriculture plays a significant role, with over 13,000 New Brunswickers working in the sector and generating over $1 billion in revenue. Forestry is also a key industry, with about 83% of the province's land under forest cover. Mining has grown in importance since the 1950s, with valuable minerals such as zinc, silver, and lead being extracted. Additionally, tourism accounts for 9% of the labour force, with popular destinations including Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park, and Magnetic Hill.

The economic and industrial landscape of the province

New Brunswick's economy is largely controlled by the Irving Group of Companies, which has significant holdings in agriculture, forestry, food processing, freight transport, media, oil, and shipbuilding. The province's economic landscape is also influenced by its natural resources, including its vast forests, rivers, and coastline.

The province's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2002 was derived from the following sectors: services (including government services and public administration) at 43%, construction, manufacturing, and utilities at 24%, real estate rental at 12%, wholesale and retail at 11%, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, oil, and gas extraction at 5%, and transportation and warehousing at 5%. Tourism also plays a role in the economy, accounting for about 9% of the labour force.

New Brunswick has a powerful and talented workforce due to its strategic location in Atlantic Canada and its status as the country's only bilingual province, with English and French being the official languages. The province offers a low cost of doing business, a skilled and motivated workforce, world-class communications infrastructure, and a competitive corporate tax structure.

The primary sector of industry is important in New Brunswick, with over 13,000 people working in agriculture and shipping products worth over $1 billion. The province is also home to McCain Foods, one of the world's largest manufacturers of frozen potato products. In addition, New Brunswick was the biggest producer of wild blueberries in Canada in 2015.

The province's mining and quarrying industry has grown since the 1950s, with a GDP of $299.5 million in 2015. Mines in New Brunswick produce lead, zinc, copper, and potash.

New Brunswick's forestry industry employs nearly 12,000 people and generates revenues of around $437 million. The pulp and paper industry developed in the 1920s and continues to be a significant contributor to the economy.

The sea fishery is of greater significance than the freshwater fishery, with sea landings valued at $200 million in 2012, ranking New Brunswick third among the Atlantic coast fisheries. Lobster is the most valuable catch, accounting for over half of the total landed value.

Manufacturing industries in New Brunswick are largely based on the processing of primary products, particularly forestry and food products. The Irving oil refinery in Saint John is a significant contributor to this sector.

The province also has a growing tourism industry, with popular destinations including Fundy National Park, the Hopewell Rocks, Kouchibouguac National Park, and Roosevelt Campobello International Park. In 2015, spending on non-resident tourism in New Brunswick was $441 million, providing $87 million in tax revenue.

New Brunswick's two largest cities, Moncton and Saint John, play a crucial role in the province's economic landscape. Moncton has long been a headquarters for transportation and distribution facilities, as well as a centre for Acadian media and financial institutions. Saint John, on the other hand, has an industrial urban status based on its oil refinery, pulp and paper mills, nuclear power plant, dry dock facilities, and major container port.

In summary, New Brunswick's economic and industrial landscape is diverse and dynamic, with a mix of natural resources, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and service sectors contributing to its economy. The province has a skilled workforce, a competitive business environment, and natural attractions that draw visitors and support various industries.

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