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Since coming to office almost two years ago, our government has been working diligently to effect the changes that are required to enable New Brunswick to be self-sufficient by 2026.

To achieve this goal we are continuing to take steps to ensure that our province strikes a balance between economic development and environmental protection.

To this end, our government has announced new regulations pertaining to uranium exploration and mining that will serve to better protect drinking water supplies and improve the claims-staking process for property owners in New Brunswick.

Uranium exploration and extraction in designated watersheds and well fields, as well as in villages, towns and cities, is now prohibited. Also, uranium exploration is not allowed within 300 metres of a residence.

These changes are consistent with New Brunswick's public policy approach of being proactive in protecting designated drinking water supplies.

The method of acquiring mineral rights will also be changed from the current ground-staking method to an electronic online map-staking system. Exploration companies must contact landowners and come to an agreement before any work can be done on a property.

As for mining claims already staked, they will have to be identified electronically to convert them to the map-staking system. In general, these new policies will not affect existing claims unless they are intended for uranium exploration. These new policies have been designed to balance the concerns of private landowners with mineral exploration.

In addition to these measures, we have also committed to a full review of the Mining Act to ensure that these changes are reflected there in it. We will be undertaking this review to give the act more teeth in regard to compliance issues as well.

We are taking these actions in response to concerns that some New Brunswickers expressed to us in a number of recent public forums regarding issues around uranium exploration. All New Brunswickers may be assured that our government takes such concerns very seriously.

As minister of natural resources, I am confident that the measures we've announced will help our province to strike the balance between economic growth and environmental protection that is necessary for New Brunswick to be able to achieve self-sufficiency.

Last year alone, mining operations brought more than a billion-and-a-half dollars into our economy. The new regulations will allow this important part of our economy to continue to flourish and provide gainful employment to many New Brunswickers, while ensuring that the health and safety of all residents will not be compromised by any activity associated with uranium exploration or mining in or near their communities.

These changes demonstrate our government's commitment to be a responsible steward of the environment as we continue to implement our self-sufficiency agenda. Throughout this mandate and beyond we will continue to promote environmental sustainability with a view to ensuring that New Brunswick will be a self-sufficient province in which all residents will be healthy and safe.

n Donald Arseneault is the New Brunswick Minister of Natural Resources and represents the riding of Dalhousie-Restigouche East in the provincial legislature.