Province looking for new managers for Parlee, Murray Beach

The province's tourism ministersaid his department is lookingfor new managers for two popular New Brunswick beaches for the upcoming summer.

John Ames was asked Tuesday outside the legislature whether anyone was reprimanded or held accountable for staff errors that resulted inbeachgoers being unaware of poor water quality during an almost three-week period last summer at the province's most popular beach, Parlee.

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"What I can tell you is for Parlee itself, and Murray,we are seeking a new manager for that area," said Ames.

"When we find that new manager, then that individual will certainly be tasked with knowing exactly what we expect of him when it comes to this issue."

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Ames said the manager at ParleeBeach last summer, Pierre Niles, had other opportunities he decided to go after, andhis departure was unrelated to controversy around water quality at Parlee Beach.

"Grey area"

Earlier this month, environment minister Serge Rousselle said a "breach in procedure" had happened, resulting in the incorrect water quality rating being reported to beachvisitors on several days last summer.

"We need to focus on solutions. We can't pretend that we're going to find solutions by pegging it on one individual or one department, or one source," said Ames when he was asked whether the breach was really an error, and how it could have not been noticed by other individuals within the department.

Ames went on to refer to a "grey area" between federal and provincial standards.

"We need to hone in on that and make sure that we're all on the same standards and make sure that those best practices are being developed for everybody," he said.

Canadianrecreational water quality standards, which are widely used in most provinces, including Nova Scotia, Ontario and B.C.,state that a beach should be closed to swimming if fecal bacteria levels exceed 35 enterococci/100ml of water.

However, the unique New Brunswick guidelines say a bacteria level above 30 enterococci/100ml warrants a "poor" signto be posted. The beach remains open to swimming, but young children and the elderly are recommended to stay out.

A beach in New Brunswick is only closedto swimming in the event of an industrial or chemical spill, or a widespread communicable disease outbreak.