News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) - Six new members have been appointed to the New Brunswick Wildlife Council, and a new chair has been named. Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup made the announcement today.

The new members are:

•    Don MacPhail of Rothesay (for two years);
•    Robert Chiasson of Beresford (new chair);
•    Daniel Gautreau of Edmundston;
•    Michelle Maillet of Irishtown;
•    Gilles O'Brien of Cap Pelé; and
•    Robert J. Peters of Fredericton.

Other than MacPhail, each will serve three-year terms expiring in September 2013.

"I welcome each of these newest members to the council," Northrup said. "Protecting New Brunswick's wildlife is an important responsibility, and I commend and sincerely appreciate the hard work of the council volunteers as they tackle various projects."

Northrup thanked outgoing council members Harry Collins, Stanley Donovan, Gordon Gallant (the outgoing chair), Gilles Girard, Jacques Héroux and David R. Oley for their time and effort during their tenure.

The other council members are André Carrier, Stephen Clayden, Gerald Hallihan, Karle Scott and Ron Wilson.

The council, established in 1997, is responsible for the distribution of the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund. Since its inception, the trust fund has distributed more than $12.7 million to support 1,113 projects undertaken by many of the province's non-profit groups and associations. Projects have included inventories of endangered species, deer habitat evaluation, education programs and watercourse rehabilitation.

The trust fund is made up of revenues received from conservation fees added to the cost of hunting, angling and trapping permits as well as fees for conservation licence plates. More information about the trust fund is online.

LINK:

●    Department of Natural Resources: www.gnb.ca/naturalresources