On January 23, 2026, New Brunswick’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health released a final report concluding it found no evidence of widespread exposure to environmental substances linking industrial activity to a cluster of undiagnosed neurological illnesses, prompting renewed calls for transparency from residents in Bathurst, New Brunswick.
The report said testing did not show levels of herbicides (including glyphosate) or metals among most patients that would indicate exposure as a cause. The provincial investigation analyzed cases submitted to public health; it included 222 complete and validated patient reports. Dr. Yves Léger, New Brunswick’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said the review found no new or unknown brain disease, and autopsy reviews identified known conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.
Local advocacy groups and families are questioning the findings, pointing to years of delays in health assessments and a lack of granular, real-time air-quality data. They say the investigation did not go far enough to examine environmental conditions in industrial and forestry areas where many affected patients live.
Transparency concerns have also focused on Irving Oil after the company temporarily removed sustainability content from its website, citing uncertainty around new federal anti‑greenwashing rules (Bill C‑59). Irving is proceeding with a $100‑million upgrade to its Saint John refinery announced in 2025; residents say they want more direct, local reporting on how operations may affect community health.
Premier Susan Holt, who campaigned on a promise to launch an open scientific review of the situation, has said the government will continue to pursue next steps. Many residents remain frustrated by the report’s conclusions and are calling on provincial authorities and industry leaders to provide better environmental monitoring and more frequent public updates to rebuild trust.
