Introduction to Geography of New Brunswick
New Brunswick, a Maritime province of Canada. New Brunswick is one of the nation's four original provinces. It is bounded by Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Maine and by arms of the Atlantic Ocean— including the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy. Offshore is Prince Edward Island. The total area is 28,355 square miles (73,440 km 2).
New Brunswick's provincial bird is the black-capped chickadee.Physical Geography
New Brunswick is one of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.LandNew Brunswick occupies part of the northernmost section of the Appalachian region of North America. It is sometimes called the Acadian section of the Appalachians. The province is primarily a flat to rolling land, only occasionally marked by features of fairly bold relief. As in New England, the surface was modified by continental glaciers during the last Ice Age. The ice sheets eroded and smoothed and in places leveled the land. On receding, they left vast amounts of debris throughout much of the province.
Uplands and low mountains cover the western part of the province. Here, the terrain varies from rolling to rough, and elevations are generally between 1,000 and 2,000 feet (300 and 600 m) above sea level. Mount Carleton, at 2,690 feet (820 m), is the highest point in the province. The southern part of New Brunswick is characterized by low hilly tracts overlooking the Bay of Fundy and several fairly broad river valleys. The rest of the province consists of relatively flat seaboard lowlands, curving inland between Moncton and Bathurst.
Along the coast, numerous islands, harbors, and river estuaries have been created through subsidence, or sinking, of the land. Grand Manan, Campobello, Deer, Lamèque, and Miscou are the largest islands.
WaterNew Brunswick has many rivers. The chief one is the St. John, which drains much of the west and the south. Among its tributaries are the Tobique, Nashwaak, Salmon, Canaan, and Kennebecasis rivers. Other principal rivers include the Restigouche, Nepisiguit, Miramichi, and St. Croix.
Small lakes dot some sections of the western upland; larger ones occur in the south and the southwest. Chief among them are Grand Lake, Oromocto Lake, Magaguadavic Lake, and the Chiputneticook group. Probably the most distinctive water feature is the Bay of Fundy's extremely high tides, which rise more than 50 feet (15 m) in some inlets.
ClimateBecause of prevailing westerly winds, New Brunswick's climate is like that of inland rather than maritime regions. Only the coastal areas experience some of the moderating influences of the sea. In the uplands, winters are much colder and summers slightly warmer than along the coast. At Saint John on the south coast, for example, average temperatures are 19° F. (-7° C.) in January and 63° F. (17° C.) in July; at Grand Falls in the northwest they are 10° F. (-12° C.) and 65° F. (18° C). Extremely low readings—as low as -40° F. (-40° C.)—sometimes occur in the uplands.
Precipitation ranges between 40 and 55 inches (1,020 and 1,400 mm) and is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Much of it falls as snow, which in places accumulates to considerable depths.
VegetationNew Brunswick's provincial flower is the purple violet.Forests cover about 80 per cent of New Brunswick. Coniferous trees, especially spruce, fir, pine, and hemlock, predominate in the north. Mixed forests, consisting of conifers and such deciduous trees as birches, maples, poplars, and elms, occur elsewhere. Nearly half the forest land is owned by the provincial government; much of the rest is in farm woodlots.
New Brunswick's provincial tree is the balsam fir.Economy
Until the mid-20th century, New Brunswick's economy depended heavily on lumbering, farming, and fishing. Today, the province has a relatively diversified, industrial economy. Notable growth has occurred in manufacturing—now the leading sector of the economy—and mining. The province also has a growing tourist trade.
ManufacturingMost of New Brunswick's manufacturing is based on the processing of local natural resources and agricultural products. Pulp and paper milling is the largest industry, followed by food processing. Other industries include mineral smelting and refining, metal fabricating, and the production of electrical goods and transportation equipment, mostly ships and railroad cars. Saint John and Moncton are the principal industrial centers.
ForestryLumbering is a vital part of New Brunswick's economy, providing raw materials essential to the province's manufacturing industries. New Brunswick usually ranks fifth among the Canadian provinces in volume of wood cut and contributes about 5 per cent of the nation's total production.
AgricultureAlthough farming is hindered by the rocky terrain and generally poor soils, agriculture is an important activity. Dairying, centered in the lowlands along the Bay of Fundy, and the growing of fruits and vegetables in the St. John Valley account for much of the agricultural production. Beef cattle and hogs are raised in many areas. Potatoes are the leading cash and export crop. Most other farm products are consumed locally.
MiningThe area around Bathurst is the province's chief mining district. Lead and zinc are the principal minerals produced, accounting for most of the production by value. Sizable amounts of copper, silver, and coal are also produced.
FishingThe rich fisheries off Canada's east coast were largely responsible for New Brunswick's early settlement, and commercial fishing and fish-processing remain important to the province's economy. Lobsters and herring are the most valuable catch. Sport fishing, especially for trout and Atlantic salmon, attracts many visitors to the province.
TransportationNew Brunswick has an extensive railway system, mainly lines operated by Canada's two transcontinental systems. The coastal areas and the south are well served by roads and highways, including part of the Trans-Canada Highway. The interior of the province has few paved roads. Air Canada and several smaller carriers provide domestic and international air service. Saint John is the province's chief seaport, handling both coastal and foreign trade. Ferries link New Brunswick with Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
The People
Nearly all of the people were Canadian-born. About 50 per cent were of British origin, and 35 per cent of French Acadian descent. There are also many Indians. New Brunswick's population is heavily concentrated in the St. John Valley and the coastal lowlands and is about evenly distributed between rural and urban areas.
Language and ReligionEnglish is the first language of two-thirds of the population; French, of one-third. Both languages are equal under the constitution. Almost half the population is Roman Catholic; the other major denominations are Baptist, Anglican, and United Church of Canada.
EducationSchool attendance is free and compulsory in New Brunswick. Although there is no legal provision for parochial schools, Roman Catholic schools are incorporated into the public school system where the population is overwhelmingly of that faith, such as in Edmundston.
The University of New Brunswick at Fredericton began as a small academy of arts in 1785. It received a royal charter in 1819 and was given university status in 1823. Other institutions of higher learning include Mount Allison University at Sackville and the Université de Moncton.
Government
New Brunswick's Legislative Building is in Fredericton, the capital since 1785.The government of New Brunswick is based on the British parliamentary system. The head of the province is the lieutenant governor, but this is a mainly ceremonial office. The lieutenant governor is appointed by the federal government to represent the British sovereign. The real executive power is exercised by the premier and cabinet. The premier of the province is an elected member of the Legislative Assembly. The premier is usually the leader of the majority party in the Assembly.
The Legislative Assembly has a single house of 55 members elected by the people. Any person 18 and over may vote after six months' residence. The normal term of the assembly is five years, but elections are held earlier if the assembly is dissolved. Cabinet members are chosen from the assembly and are responsible to it. The cabinet can hold office so long as it has the support of the majority of the assembly.
The highest court in New Brunswick is the Court of Appeal, which consists of a chief justice and five other judges. A panel of three judges hears most appeals, but some cases are argued before all six judges. The Court of Queen's Bench has a chief justice and 20 other judges. The court has two divisions: the Trial Division and the Family Division. The Trial Division hears civil and criminal cases. The Family Division hears cases related to family matters, including divorce. The governor general in council appoints judges of the Court of Appeal and Court of Queen's Bench. The Provincial Court has a chief judge and 25 other judges, all appointed by the provincial government. The court hears criminal matters, including cases involving juveniles. Lawyers may appeal Provincial Court verdicts to the Court of Queen's Bench or, in some cases, directly to the Court of Appeal.
The province has 15 counties. It has 10 members in the federal Senate and 10 in the House of Commons.