A government-organized explanatory meeting on uranium exploration in New Brunswick drew a hostile audience on Wednesday night in Fredericton.

More than 250 people attended the public information session held at the John Flemming Forestry Centre.

Experts from the Natural Resources Department and the Environment Department, as well as nuclear safety and health experts, attempted to explain what rules and regulations are available in the province to protect people and the environment.

But with the session barely underway, the moderator was almost shouted down by the crowd and some of presenters were heckled.

The technical talk the presenters were providing at the meeting was frustrating, said Harvey-resident Deana Stewart.

"We wanted answers from elected officials," Stewart said. "We wanted to know what the process is going to be. We want to know why we're not being listened to? Why we are being basically silenced and being told 'The whole world is in favour of uranium mining. It's just you loudmouths that have something against it.'

"I don't think that's true."

Natural Resources Minister Donald Arseneault attended the information session but did not speak to the crowd.

"This is not an opportunity to do some grandstanding; this is not about politics," Arseneault told reporters after the meeting. "I have a role to play to listen to the public, and that is what I've been doing tonight."

The government has called for public input on tidal and solar power energy projects in the province, said attendee Randy Nason.

"Why is the province not taking a similar approach to uranium mining by initiating a comprehensive consultation?" Nason asked.

Exploration for uranium is occurring south and west of Moncton, and smaller companies are also looking for other deposits in the province.

The Conservative Opposition has called for a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in the province. When the Liberal government voted against the motion, it then asked that the government put the question of whether uranium exploration in the province should be allowed to the public in a referendum. The government said there was no need to do that.

Environmental groups have also been calling for a ban on uranium exploration, and so has Moncton's city council.

There is concern that the mining of uranium in the province could affect watersheds, and that its long-term impacts would outweigh any short-term economic gain.

The government, however, has said that even the exploration for uranium in the province would bring huge economic benefits to New Brunswick.

The speakers at the presentation told attendees that it is only uranium prospecting that is currently occurring and that when the actually mining becomes a possibility, the consultation and environmental reviews would take effect.

As second public information session is scheduled for Thursday night at Moncton's Capitol Theatre.