'Hourglass is empty' in Petitcodiac causeway fight: environmental group

An environmental group hastaken itsfight to forcethe federal andNew Brunswickgovernments torestore the Petitcodiac River to Federal Court.

Petitcodiac Riverkeeperon Thursday has filedcourt papersdemanding that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans force New Brunswick to do something about a provincial causewaythat impedes the passing of fish.

The grouporiginally gave the province aJune 10 deadline to address its concerns, but decided to giveboth levels of governmentmore time.

However, with noannouncements in sight, Riverkeeper spokesperson Michel Desjardins said the matter has dragged on far too long.

"The time is up you know, the hourglass is empty and we have basically lost patience with this whole thing," he said Thursday.

Desjardins said the provincial government promised last December that it would plan a course of action by June to improve the flow of fish in the river. The province said it would need a lot of financial help from the federal government to work towards that goal.

The Department of Supply and Services said the two levels of government are still in talks.

But Desjardins said it's time to make a decision.

"What's so frustrating to us is that despite all of the time that has gone [by], by it seems like they're still using stalling tactics, which has been a hallmark of this case for the last 40 years."

The Petitcodiac, in southeastern New Brunswick, was rankedfirst on environmentalists' list of the most endangered rivers in the country in 2003.

Failure to remove the provincially owned causeway built between Moncton and Riverview in 1968, and replace it with a bridge, has clogged the river's powerful tidal bore, the accompanying report said.

The continued situation is a violation of the federal Fisheries Act, said Desjardins.

Hesaid if the federal and provincial governments come up with a solution soon, Riverkeeper would be prepared to back away from its legal action.