Suzanne Fournier spoke on New Brunswick farmer opposition to potash mining as part of the St. Thomas University’s Environmental Praxis Lecture Series on March 16. The talk is now available for viewing here –
Though potash is a common ingredient in commercial fertilizers the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick (NFU-NB) is concerned about new potash mining exploration in the province, in part because farmers and others still see environmental impacts of the last potash mine in the Sussex area, today.
In 2022, the NFU-NB led the fight against Bill-75 which would have increased the rights of mining companies and prospectors, and reduced the rights of farm owners and all landowners in the province. Despite the prevalence of industrial agricultural practices, the NFU-NB advocates for agroecology and small-scale farming that can more easily adapt to climate change while reducing farm inputs and increasing farm income.
Suzanne Fournier is the Executive Director of the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick, a nonprofit accredited farm organization. The NFU-NB promotes policies that aim to revitalize agriculture in New Brunswick; on local, national and international levels, the NFU advocates alternative structures and government policies that resist corporate control of food. Suzanne studied Political Science at Carleton University in Ottawa, and has been working for the NFU-NB for 5 years. She is chronically ill and lives in Western New Brunswick with her two dogs.
The Environmental Praxis Lecture Series is supported by the NB Media Co-op (publisher of the talks) and RAVEN.
For more information, contact Tracy at tglynn@stu.ca.