April 2025 Newsletter

The Green Party of New Brunswick made history last month, as David Coon successfully called for the first emergency debate in the Legislative Assembly in 40 years to discuss the unjustified and costly tariffs proposed by the Trump administration. Our Green MLAs, representing over 50,000 voters in the last provincial election, continue to bring not only bold ideas, but action, accountability, and meaningful change to New Brunswickers.

On March 25, David tabled the long-anticipated Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment in the Legislature for its first reading. The new law, if enacted, would combine human rights and environmental laws to empower citizens to defend their right to clean air, water, and safe food. This is especially important to protecting the health and safety of children who are more vulnerable to pollutants. The bill aims to improve access to the courts and establish an environmental rights commissioner who will advocate for the health and well-being of all New Brunswickers. 

Below is a photo of some of the advocacy groups who came to the Legislature in support of the bill, including members from the NB Environmental Rights Caucus, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, CUPE NB, East Coast Environmental Law, and NB Lung. 

We need your help to get our bill through the Legislature and passed into law. You can help by signing our petition and sharing it with your friends, family, and coworkers. 

Thank you all for your continued support,

 

Sincerely,

your Green Team

 

In This Issue:

  • Appreciating our Employees
  • The Holt Liberal Cuts Result in Staff Layoffs for Green Caucus Staff
  • A Note About Membership and Donations
  • Upcoming Events
  • MLAs in Action
  • Press Releases
  • Petitions

 

Appreciating our Employees

March 7 was Employee Appreciation Day, and we want to give a shoutout to David’s staff by highlighting this post from last month:

“I want to take the opportunity to express my deep appreciation to my incredible hard-working staff at both my Legislative and Constituency offices. I could not be the Leader and MLA that I am without their heartfelt commitment to serve New Brunswickers and to support Megan Mitton and myself in our work. The hours are long, the work can be intense, but they step up everyday and deliver.

You might recognize my Executive Assistant Lindsay DeMerchant (right), who is constantly by my side at the hundreds of events I attend, managing my schedule, and driving me around the province so I can work as we travel. Usually she's the one taking the pictures.

When New Brunswickers call our Legislative office looking for help, the first voice they hear is our dedicated Administrative Assistant Liane. She's always willing to go above and beyond to help. She's behind the camera in this photo.

Jill Mersereau is our Communications Coordinator (second from right), who deftly manages journalists' requests, orchestrates media scrums, drafts news releases and crafts our viral social media posts.

Erickson Miranda (not pictured) was our Legislative Coordinator until he started Law School at UNB this past fall. Despite his busy schedule, he still comes into the office on Fridays to carry out research to support our Legislative work.

Josh O'Donnell (second from left) is my hardworking Chief of Staff who expertly quarterbacks our entire team, and is the brains behind the operation here at the Legislature.

Also in the photo is Taeyon Kim (left), who is always there to help the residents of Fredericton Lincoln when they hit brick walls in trying to navigate government services. We also want to acknowledge Megan's constituency coordinator Heather Delaney who helps her serve the people of Tantramar.

From the bottom of my heart I cannot thank you enough for your tireless work and your unwavering commitment to make life better for the people of our beautiful province. I am forever grateful to have the chance to work with you all.”

- David Coon

 

The Holt Liberal Cuts Result in Staff Layoffs for Green Caucus Staff

Did you know that a formula has existed since 2018 to establish a minimum budget for elected leaders of third parties in the Legislature. It was unanimously agreed by the Liberals, PCs, Greens and PANB that this amount would be $250,000 with $25,000 added to it for each MLA elected.

This formula, with adjustments for inflation, was followed for the past six years. Following the 2020 election, the People’s Alliance returned with one fewer MLA, so their budget was cut by $25,000. Following last October’s election the Green Caucus budget was also reduced according to this formula.

Now, the Liberal government has abandoned the formula and cut the Green Caucus budget by $150,000, or 40%, while increasing the Government Members Office budget by a similar amount. This can be seen as nothing more than a self-serving and anti-democratic attempt to weaken our role as an opposition party. It is unacceptable.

Now more than ever, we depend on the support of regular donors like you to grow the Green Party from the grass roots. Every dollar adds up to help us offset these Liberal cuts and prepare to elect more Greens in the next provincial election.

Make a one-time donation here

Become a monthly donor here

If you are already a monthly donor, thank you so much for your support! If you would like to increase your monthly donation amount, contact our office today.

 

Did You Know?!

If you made a donation to the Green Party of New Brunswick, it does not automatically make you a member of the party.  There are a few reasons for this.  The two most important reasons are:

  • Some folks want to donate, but do not want to be a member of any political party so we cannot assume membership is desired.
  • Membership fees are not tax deductible according to legislation, so they must be recorded specifically and separately.

The good news is that membership is only $10 and if you feel that’s a financial block or if you don’t believe a fee should be charged, we will waive the fee, no questions asked.  Simply reach out to the office and request a free membership.

 

So, what are the benefits of membership, you ask?  As a member of the party, you have a voice and a vote within the party.  You are eligible to vote on issues at the party’s Annual General Meeting, but you are also entitled to vote in your local Registered District Association and participate in decision making.  Membership also entitles you to run for a position on either the local RDA executive or on Provincial Council, the body that governs the Green Party of NB.

 

Become a member today


Not sure if you’re a member in good standing?  Ask us!  Send an email to Maria at [email protected].

 

Upcoming Events

Thursday, April 3

  • Fredericton Book Tour with Jo-Ann Roberts “Storm the Ballot Box” - see details here

Friday, April 3

  • Moncton Book Tour with Jo-Ann Roberts “Storm the Ballot Box” - see details here

Monday, April 14

Thursday, April 17

  • Riverview RDA AGM and Pancake Supper with special guest Megan Mitton - 6pm at St. Paul's United Church. Please RSVP here

Monday, April 22 EARTH DAY

  • Seniors for Climate Action Now Rally 11am to 2pm at the Legislature.

Saturday, April 26

Thursday, May 1

Sunday, May 4

  • Run for Women Moncton Join the Green Party of New Brunswick Team to support the Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre - Please contact [email protected] to join our team.

May 31 - June 1

 

MLAs in Action

Driving Change: David Coon & Megan Mitton

This month, David and Megan stayed busy with constituency work, public events, and representing their ridings in the Legislature, which resumed sitting the third week of March.

Early in the month, David urged the government to hold a public inquiry into NB Power’s financial issues, rather than handling them behind closed doors. With U.S. tariffs looming, David made history this month by successfully calling for an emergency debate on the issue, New Brunswick’s first in 40 years. He called for a stronger local food system in light of these tariffs and pushed for a Public Health Agency of Canada investigation into potential environmental links to rising cases of neurodegenerative diseases in New Brunswick.

As the Holt government tabled its budget, David pushed for investments in a sustainable future and criticized the lack of funding for primary care providers. On March 25th, he reintroduced An Act respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment, a bill aimed at securing citizens' rights to clean air, water, and safe food. The bill will be debated later this spring.

Megan started the month by speaking on a panel about women in politics and leadership for International Women’s Day and participating in community town halls, engaging with her constituents as they expressed their concerns. 

In the Legislature, Megan raised concerns about the government’s reduced road maintenance budget, which will lead to worsened road conditions in rural areas. Megan also drew attention to the fact that the new budget doesn’t do enough to address New Brunswick’s healthcare crisis and criticized the government's narrow investigation into the neurodegenerative disease, highlighting experts' calls for broader environmental testing and for an independent investigation led by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

 

Press Releases

 

Petitions