Parlee Beach plagued by poor water quality this summer
The water quality at Parlee Beach in Shediac had a poor rating again on Thursday, resulting in an advisory for children and the elderly to stay out of the water.
The water quality was rated poor more days than it was rated good during the peak of the summer tourism season, leading to some people calling for the local MLA and health minister to do more.
Four signs are posted in the provincial park at Shediac that indicate the quality of the water.
Cottage owner Brenda Ryan has been collecting data on water quality at the beach for years and wants Health Minister Victor Boudreau to look into what is behind the poor water quality ratings this summer.
"They should be posting on the beach when the bacteria count hit 30," said Ryan. "And they should be posting a No Swimming sign and the bacteria count so that the public understands that they shouldn't be swimming in the water because of the risk of illness."
Tourists head elsewhere
Some tourists who saw the water quality sign at the beach entrance on Thursday decided to head elsewhere.
"We're going to carry on down the road until we get to another beach that we can swim in safely," said Angela Chisholm, who was visiting from Nova Scotia with her sons.
Chisholm said she will think twice about visiting Parlee again.
"This was one of our main stops," she said. "It's a provincial park.
"I would have expected that we were able to come here and spend the day, and I'm going to ask for my money back at the gate."
Mayor not worried
Shediac Mayor Jacques Leblanc says the poor water ratings don't worry him.
There have been questions whether the town has allowed too much development in the area and Leblanc says he feels some people might be trying to put a black mark on the town's top tourist attraction.
The beach is getting ready to host the Canadian surf lifesaving championship, drawing lifeguards from all over the country for a competition that begins Friday.
The event is going ahead as planned despite the water quality.
"[You're] always hoping that when you go everything is in pristine conditions, but this won't stop us from doing the competition," said Gabriel Roy, a lifeguard from Montreal.
