In June 2023, New Brunswick's opposition Liberals brought forward a thoughtful motion regarding updating the Clean Air Act in New Brunswick to reduce airborne disease transmission. The motion passed unanimously.

In October 2024, the New Brunswick Liberal party ran on a platform that included a new Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Instructions to pursue clean indoor air were given in several ministers' mandate letters. The commitment reads as follows: "Update the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to guarantee that everyone in New Brunswick has the right to clean air and water. Our government will require that all new schools, hospitals, long-term care homes, and other public buildings have modern air filtration, heating, and cooling systems, following ASHRAE 241. For existing infrastructure, we will add suitable air filtration and cooling units."

Tragically, in March 2025 the public learned that a child under age 5 died in hospital while infected with COVID. This is the very circumstance that clean air advocates have been fighting to prevent in New Brunswick for years. Given the Liberal party's clear understanding of the importance of clean air and the scientific consensus regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, we the undersigned demand a prompt update from the New Brunswick government regarding progress towards this promised air filtration in existing infrastructure, and progress towards adopting ASHRAE 241 for new buildings. 

It is close to 2 years since the party brought forward their original motion supporting clean indoor air. Our government knows how important clean indoor air is. The urgency for clean indoor air is still present. New Brunswickers deserve to know what progress has been made on this file. 

We also demand that government stop feigning ignorance regarding airborne transmission. The healthcare system does not treat SARS-CoV-2 as a hazard requiring airborne precautions. Current healthcare policies and procedures do not adequately protect against healthcare-acquired infection, and New Brunswickers die from hospital-acquired COVID which could be prevented with the use of additional HEPA filtration in rooms and the requirement for staff to wear respirators. Currently healthcare staff either do not wear masks, or they wear surgical masks which are not true respiratory PPE. Surgical masks are not adequate protection against spreading or acquiring an airborne-transmissible disease. Current hospital practices, policies, and procedures are ignorant of the scientific consensus of the inhalation nature of transmission. 

People in New Brunswick continue to die from COVID infections. These infections can be prevented by providing clean air in public places and by educating the public on the actual mode of transmission. This government knows better. It is time they update the public and update workers on how COVID spreads and what measures are actually effective in reducing transmission. 

This petition has been written by POPNB. You can see our history of work and advocacy at https://protectnb.ca/