Bill 23: An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment

Any business operating in New Brunswick that handles contaminants, affects air or water quality, or is subject to provincial environmental permits and regulations could be affected. This includes manufacturers, resource extraction companies, construction firms, agricultural operations, and energy producers — essentially anyone whose day-to-day operations touch the natural environment. The bill gives residents the right to sue businesses directly in court for environmental harm caused by contraventions of provincial law, and employees now have protected status if they report or participate in environmental enforcement. Agricultural operations have a partial carve-out requiring them to go through the Farm Practices Review Board first, but they are not exempt entirely.