Some MPs return to Ottawa today to deal with an emergency bill to spend billions of dollars to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 0:00
Shortly after House of Commons proceedings began Tuesday, the chamber suspended itself while the Liberal government and opposition parties negotiate the finer points of a bill to deliver aid to Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Opposition Conservatives have said they are not willing to vote for the bill as it is currently written. The Tories have concerns about provisions in the legislation that grant unprecedented spending authority to Finance Minister Bill Morneau during this crisis, with an ill-defined role for Parliament.
Part 4 of the draft bill the government presented to the opposition on Monday ahead of today's sitting would allow Morneau access to "all money required to do anything, including making payments to provinces and territories." Such broad terms are raising red flags with opposition MPs.
The negotiations between the parties are still going on and the Commons will be suspended until there is a deal reached to define the powers Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet can use to spend public money during this crisis.
The Liberal government has backed away already from one controversial proposal in the bill — part 2, which would have given the government sweeping new powers to spend, borrow and tax Canadians for 21 months without parliamentary approval. The Tories criticized the move as an ill-fated attempt to get Parliament to sign a blank cheque.
While agreeing to drop part 2, Trudeau defended the bill Tuesday, saying the government needs to get assistance to the Canadian people as quickly as possible and Ottawa must plan for all eventualities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the nation Tuesday, touching on legislation to help Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing the need for social distancing and touching on his conversation with premiers about the federal Emergency Measures Act. 21:55
"Passing this bill today means getting you the support you deserve as soon as possible. When you're trying to help get money out to people, speed is of the essence, especially in an unprecedented situation like this one," he said today during his daily morning exchange with journalists.
"But I want to make it very clear. I believe in our democratic institutions. All of us in Parliament must work together."
'Power grab provisions'
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, the party's finance critic, said the Tories would be willing to pass the aid part of the legislation — additional money for Employment Insurance and the newly created Emergency Care and Emergency Support benefits— "without any of the power grab provisions that they tried to sneak in."
"If they do that, it will be a happy day for Canadians," Poilievre said in a video posted to Twitter. Poilievre cannot be in the Commons today because is waiting for COVID-19 test results.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said he agrees that "urgent action is needed to support Canadians who are struggling" and parliamentary squabbling shouldn't hold those funds up.
"Today, we are focused on getting that support out the door and into the hands of Canadians so that no one has to worry about putting food on their table or paying their rent. Any conversation about new government powers should not get in the way of passing this much-needed assistance," Scheer said.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says his party will not grant the government unprecendented new powers during the COVID-19 crisis. 0:44
Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez tweeted a plea for swift action.
"Canadians need support to get through this. Fast," he wrote. "The negotiations with other parties are still ongoing and the House will resume later today. We all need to come together and get this done. Canadians are counting on us.'
Later today, Morneau will table a bill to spend up to $82 billion in financial supports and deferred taxes. About 33 MPs, including deputy House Speaker Bruce Stanton, are expected to be there. CBCNews.ca will carry the special sitting live.
Rogue Tory MP vows to delay proceedings
Conservative MP Scott Reid was in the Commons Tuesday despite an order from his party's whip to stay away from Parliament — and he promised to delay proceedings to protest how the chamber is operating.
Each party sent only a handful of MPs to ensure that politicians could practice social distancing and sit far enough apart to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19.
In a letter to constituents, Reid said it was unreasonable for his party to dictate who can and cannot appear in the Commons, adding that he was motivated to attend the sitting because of concerns about the legislation the government has proposed.
Conservative MP Scott Reid asks a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, May 5, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
Reid said he would deny the unanimous consent needed to quickly pass the proposed aid package because he said such consent would trample on the rights of parliamentarians to properly review legislation.
He said spending bills passed earlier this month, before the Commons rose for an extended break, were equally problematic, as MPs voted on bills not yet tabled. Those bills granted Morneau interim spending powers for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Once the emergency aid legislation passes in the House, it will move on to the Senate for more debate, which is expected tomorrow.
The proposed aid package includes:
A temporary boost to Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering about $2 billion in extra support.
A new Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 biweekly, for up to 15 weeks, to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, who have to stay home and don't qualify for paid sick leave or employment insurance. The measure could disburse up to $10 billion.
A new Emergency Support Benefit to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
A six-month, interest-free reprieve on student loan payments.
A doubling of the homeless care program.
An extension of the tax filing deadline to June 1.
A policy change allowing taxpayers to defer until after Aug. 31 tax payments that are due after today and before September.
$305 million for a new Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities.
I implore all opposition parties to keep a close eye on this Liberal government. They are not to be trusted. Don't let them fool you. Safeguard our democracy and Parliament please!
David Amos
Reply to @Phil Petersen: I agree
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: WOW
"The Liberal government has backed away already from one controversial proposal in the bill — part 2, which would have given the government sweeping new powers to spend, borrow and tax Canadians for 21 months without parliamentary approval."
Scott Cameron
If this doesn't concern you as a free citizens from all sides then you have been completely lost in the game of politics
The outrage if a Conservative did this would be off the charts
David Amos
Reply to @Scott Cameron: Welcome to the circus
Tyler Jukes
This is a party that didn't even get the most votes in an election that was held less than 6 months ago. The notion of them grabbing for dictatorial powers during a crisis is absurd and reprehensible.
David Amos
Reply to @Tyler Jukes: Methinks many folks in Fundy Royal would agree with me now if they recalled I said during the last election N'esy Pas?
Who is covered and who is left out when it comes to COVID-19 financial relief
Employees have several programs available; self-employed and small business owners worry about their futures
Jennifer Sweet· CBC News· Posted: Mar 24, 2020 9:00 AM AT
James Couture is a self-employed French-English interpreter, whose jobs have dried up due to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Submitted by James Couture)
A number of financial assistance programs are available to people who aren't working due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but some say more needs to be done for those who work for themselves or run a small business.
"I don't think I'm eligible for anything," said James Couture, who operates a simultaneous French-English interpretation service, based in Fredericton.
The federal government's COVID-19 economic response includes employment insurance benefits, an emergency care benefit and an emergency support benefit.
"None of that is going to help me," said Couture.
"There's going to be a lot of people falling through the cracks on this."
Couture had booked jobs on about 20 days per month, from March through June, but the cancellations are piling up.
"That's just going to be wiped off the map."
Couture said he has enough money set aside to hold out for a few months, but he expects it will be quite a while before anyone is gathering in large groups for meetings again, which is the type of event he relies on for work.
"It's going to hurt. There's no doubt about that."
Opposition politicians at the federal and provincial levels are also zeroing in on the absence of a specific income support program so far for the self-employed.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling for HST refunds for small businesses that are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (CBC)
Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling for the refunding of GST remittances to small businesses that collected them over a minimum of the last six months
Tax relief
Couture said he would welcome some tax relief.
"Taxes are due. HST is due. I'd like to see them tell business owners they don't have to pay their HST for the next quarter."
"That would be great," said Couture. "That would help, absolutely it would help."
The federal government has already announced that it's deferring income tax payments until September.
Wage subsidies and business loans
The Conservatives are also advocating for a significant increase in the wage subsidy as a way to help small businesses.
The federal government is proposing a three-month wage subsidy that would be available to small businesses, as well as non-profits and charities.
It would be worth 10 per cent of an employee's pay to a maximum of $1,375 per worker and $25,000 per employer.
In order to make it easier for small businesses to get their credit extended, the federal government has reduced the rate of capital that banks are required to hold to protect themselves against vulnerabilities.
That measure is expected to inject $300 billion in lending into the economy.
And another $10 billion will flow through the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada, mainly to support "credit solutions" for small and medium-sized businesses with private sector lenders.
No provincial programs
Provincially, the opposition Liberals are calling for the Progressive Conservative government to introduce some kind of help for small businesses and the self-employed as soon as possible, especially for those who have had to shut down due to the state of emergency.
Provincial Liberal finance critic Roger Melanson says small business owners are worried about how they are going to pay their bills and the provincial government should announce an assistance program soon. (CBC)
"It's an issue of cash flow," said finance critic Roger Melanson.
"They don't have any money coming in," he said.
"They are obviously worried about feeding their families and paying their basic expenses."
Andrew Harvey, the Liberal critic for economic development, suggested the province adopt a program like the one Prince Edward Island has announced.
PEI is offering $500 per week for self-employed Islanders who are significantly affected by the pandemic and emergency financing for small businesses through a loan of up to $100,000 with a fixed interest rate of four per cent.
Harvey acknowledged that Premier Blaine Higgs has indicated the province is looking at what gaps need to be addressed before announcing its support programs.
"I think people would like to hear from the province very soon," said Melanson. Couture agreed.
"I'd like to see something. You know, rent and everything is going to have to be paid."
Employment Insurance
People who are laid off due to work closures can apply for federal employment insurance benefits.
That's if you have worked a minimum number of hours in the past year, which varies from region to region.
In the EI region known as Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John, where the unemployment rate is 6.3 per cent, a minimum of 665 work hours in the past year is required.
In Madawaska-Charlotte, the unemployment rate is 7.2 per cent and 630 hours are needed.
The Restigouche-Albert region's rate is 11.2 per cent and it takes 490 hours of work in the past year to qualify for EI benefits.
In order to get this type of EI benefit you also need a "record of employment" document from your employer.
That ROE should be completed in a specific way in order to expedite the application process.
If any comments are written in Box 16, Reason for Separation, the application gets taken out of the automatic processing system and is flagged for review by an agent.
Service Canada has asked people to use the following codes:
Code A - a shortage of work or shutdown due to COVID-19
Code D - the employee is sick or quarantined.
Code E - the employee quit because of COVID-19
Code N - the employee has taken a leave of absence due to COVID-19
People who can't work because they are self-quarantined can also apply for EI sickness benefits.
A minimum of 600 hours of work in the past year is required to qualify for this program.
A record of employment is not required, nor a doctor's note, and the normal one-week wait period has been waived.
This program pays out 55 per cent of your insurable earnings to a maximum of $573 a week for a period of up to 15 weeks.
Emergency Support Benefit
People who have been laid off, but don't qualify for EI are going to be able to apply for a new Emergency Support Benefit.
But there's no word yet on what it will take to qualify and how much it will pay out.
Federal officials say applications will open next month via the Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada.
Emergency Care Benefit
People who are self-quarantined and don't qualify for EI, will be able to apply for the Emergency Care Benefit.
It's intended for people who are sick with COVID-19, caring for a family member with COVID-19, caring for children due to school closures, or otherwise quarantined.
This is currently the only benefit available to people who are self-employed.
The benefit will be worth up to $900 biweekly for a period of up to 15 weeks.
As with the Emergency Support Benefit, applications aren't open yet. They are expected to be available sometime next month.
Workers' compensation
Provincially, workers who contract COVID-19 through workplace exposure can apply for WorkSafe benefits.
Claims will be adjudicated case-by-case, said WorkSafeNB.
Evidence has to show infection arose out of and in the course of employment and that the risk of contracting the disease through the employment was greater than the risk associated with contracting it through daily life.
WorkSafe benefits are not available to workers who don't go to work for preventive reasons.
Other proposed measures
MPs are reconvening Tuesday to vote on other proposed COVID-19 measures. Proposed measures include:
increasing GST credit payments and Canada Child Benefit payments.
setting up an Indigenous Community Support Fund.
implementing a six-month interest-free period on student loans.
reducing the required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds and registered pension plans while the markets are down.
funding equipment such as beds and barriers to implement social distancing and reduce overcrowding in homeless shelters and women's shelters.
David Amos Methinks there are many New Brunswicker's who would have a very hard time finding empathy to support Mr Couture and his lament N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Another example of why bilingualism is so expensive to a poor province.
Dan Lee
Reply to @Lou Bell: yes and feeding tax dollars to all Fredericton is just too costly for Moncton and area.................
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: Yet, I still have empathy for you who do not have a Medicare card.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Dan Lee: Moncton and area has been fed tax dollars for decades ! They just missed out on another 130 million undisclosed dollars from the Liberals before the last election ! And we thought 30 million to Saint John was too much !!!
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Very generous of you to be ready to give up your mother language make New Brunswick a unilingual French-speaking province!
Marguerite Deschamps
It should not be a problem for you given that you made 86 on your French exam, I might add.
Gordon Edwards
Reply to @David Amos: Why? Because there is no support in NB for small business? Because it is a translation service? Because Mr Couture ate your cookie? Your incessant ramblings and half statements only make sense if you provide the context for them. Insider jokes only work if the audience goes beyond the voices in your head, n'esy pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Gordon Edwards: Too Too Funny Methinks you don't understand because so many of my words explaining matters go "Poof"
Perhaps you should ask Higgy and his buddies Vicky, Krissy and Davey what I am talking about They are the party leaders making backroom deals Better yet if you truly are curious you can simply Google Dominic Cardy Butter Tarts and start reading or give me a call Nesy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Pure D BS
David Amos Methinks this is some news I have been alluding to for days that Mr Jones has yet to reveal for some strange reason. Anyway trust that the EUB just decided to adjourn both the following matters "Sine Die" just like I predicted much to the chagrin of many political pundits N'esy Pas?
Matter 452 - NB Power Application for Approval of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure Capital Project
Matter 458 - NB Power 2020-2021 General Rate Application / Instance no 458 - Énergie NB Demande générale de tarifs pour 2020-2021
Roger Richard
Reply to @David Amos: To postpone the smart meters is good because it will give time for the population to get informed. Most people do not realize the harm those devices are doing to our health.
David Amos
Reply to @Roger Richard: C'est Vrai Mon Ami
Roy Nicholl HST refunds are not going to help residential landlords (they do not collect GST/HST) and are not eligible.
The word from the province (NB) thus far is no deferrals on property tax bills (due in May);
Similarly, our initial enquires to the banks for details about their offers on mortgage payment deferrals have thus far indicated they are only for owner-occupants.
Naturally, evictions for non-payment have been frozen in most jurisdictions. While this is a necessary measure for those tenants who are suddenly out of work/school, property owners are going to be squeezed in a month or two.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: "Though business property taxes must be paid by May 31, late penalties will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to see if the penalty can be waived due to undue financial challenges, such as having to close a business due to COVID-19." - NB government news release 20 Mar 2020.
Roy Nicholl
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Yes ... and when you inquire further, there are only crickets
Gordon Edwards
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: Understood & agree. The key here for most business is remaining liquid through the crunch so employees have a job to return to. Tax payment deferrals, be it HST/GST or property taxes, represent direct and immediate liquidity funding into businesses.
The alternative is ugly ... wait for the government to clarify what is available, waddle through the "application" process, wait for the response ... respond to request for more information ... wait for the funds to be dispersed if you actually are approved. Oh, yes, you won't receive the full amount because the banks will take their slice of pie as well as they shuffle money from the government to, hopefully, your business.
David Amos
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: Methinks you know all the crickets on a first name basis N'esy Pas?
Lindsay McCluskey I fear the negative economic impacts from this massive global shutdown more than anything else right now. We have just created our next economic crisis with our response. I genuinely hope it was worth it.
Lindsay McCluskey
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: Let me be clear, as much as I worry for my father in this time, I am far more worried about the world we are leaving our kids. Climate crisis wasn't enough? Let's just crash the economy for them as well.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: The economy will recover. People who die of COVID won't.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: My parents were born in 1926 and 1931. That means they grew up during the Depression. They turned out fine. Your kids will be fine.
Lindsay McCluskey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Well, hindsight is 20/20. Hence your optimism. And I'm not worried about my child specifically, I'm worried about the quality of life for all children around the world. The implications of halting the global economy are far reaching and not fully understood. This may well be worse than the Great Depression.
Lindsay McCluskey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: You're also comparing two events nearly 100 years apart. Our government and the economy have changed drastically since then. Global trade was not an important cog on the wheel yet. And your grandparents still lived in a time where they had reasonable expectations not to see their children grow up. The times have changed. This is more complicated now.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: Lindsay, I'm in my early 60s and have a slightly low white blood cell count. For me, the measures that are being put in place to control the spread of COVID are worth it. I decline to be sacrificed for the sake of your children or anyone else's children.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: I would also note that not everyone who's died of COVID has been elderly. Some of the dead have been children. Your children have *no* future if they're not alive.
Lindsay McCluskey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: I did not debate the precautions taken. However, I will point out that the quarantine could arguably be as effective if it only applied to the high-risk groups, including the young immuno-compromised population. I will also argue that we all have immunological profiles that benefit from the exposure of new viruses to keep the collective healthier. I will also argue that work in a grocery store and live in a small town and the ABSOLUTE WORSE offenders of these safeguards are people your age and above...putting me and all my colleagues at higher risk of exposure.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: You'd have preferred the Great Plague over the Great Depression it appears .
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: Then whine to them . I live in the city and the people don't appear to be so entitled as in your Community !
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lou Bell: So you'd prefer to be a part of the problem than the solution .
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: No one is being required to quarantine *unless* (1) they've recently returned from another country, and (2) they have or are presumed to be infected. The current economic situation is not due to the relatively small numbers of people being required to quarantine. Everyone *is* being required to practice social distancing. The Emergency Act requiring this was only imposed after it became clear that people were not doing so voluntarily.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: I'm not responsible for the behaviour of all people my age and above any more than you're responsible for the behaviour of your entire age group. I can only be responsible for my own behaviour. I assure you, I *am* practicing social distancing and other measures.
Greg Smith
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: You nailed it.
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Smith: Methinks many would agree that the lady stood her ground very well against the two other women whether they agreed with her or not. Perhaps she should run for public office N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Lindsay McCluskey: Hint Hint
Google Fundy Royal Debate to listen to an old dude who agrees with you
Gary Melanson I thought the Emergency Support Benefit covers the self employed who have no source of income ?
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Gary Melanson: Per the federal government's website, the Emergency Support Benefit will cover self-employed folks on the same basis as other workers. The details haven't been released yet.
ROB CLARK
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: From what I understand in order to be entitled to income replacement,one must be able to prove you actually had an income ,be it from self employment or ROE's etc. The problem is there is a relativity significant segment of society whose income is derived from a variety of sources.We live on credit cards and a line of credit all year,and in December we sell some of our investments ,or some land, firewood,etc to pay off those credit cards et al.I am doubtful we will be receiving any benefits but who knows.I ,unlike others on here that look for the negative in everything, believe our various levels of government are doing the best they can in a never before seen situation.I also thank my lucky stars i happened to come out my mothers chute into the finest country on our earth ,and repeat daily that no matter how bad things are there are ALWAYS someone worse off than I.Be safe everyone we will get through this!
Gary Melanson
Reply to @ROB CLARK: Maybe last years tax returns will be used to judge monthly income averages. You are right income varies for many self employed people, seasonal fluctuations, etc.
David Amos
Reply to @Gary Melanson: Methinks it all just political rhetoric We shall see what works out best for whom when we are counting our mony months from now N'esy Pas?
ROB CLARK 55 year old male ,left job at 50 to take care of ailing wife with MS.Have been living on retirement savings for 5 years at about $25,000 per annum ,which after the last month are worth about 60% of the month before.As far as we can see there isn't anything for us except perhaps a boost in GST rebate of a couple a hundred.
But we have some provisions ahead,and we will get through this.Things are gonna be difficult for a while but remember everyone we will get through this !
Life is the only true wealth.
David Amos
Reply to @ROB CLARK: True and Good Luck to you and yours
Matt Steele Not to mention all the folks whose EI is about to expire , and their is no work to return to ; and all those folks who were counting on banking EI hours now , so that they could receive EI benefits through the winter when seasonal jobs are shut down . Many govt. employees are classified as casuals ; and they have been sent home with nothing to fall back on.....sounds like a lot of folks are about to lose everything , but the politicians will ensure that their own pockets are filled .
Richard Cyr
Reply to @Matt Steele: I tried that yesterday but my effort was thwarted my Moe and his inseparable friend Ron.
I'm one of those people who can't skip 2020. I won't last until May/June 2021. The mistake I made yesterday was to use myself as an example so lets forget that.
I'm honestly far more worried about my coworkers who are now in their 50s and have been short order cooks in this small town their entire lives. What are THEY going to do? As you correctly pointed out, most are probably already running on fumes this time of year or they will be soon.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Richard Cyr: And yet you tried to blame the province for your predicament. This is a world problem and your plight is at the National level , not the Provincial and it appeared you wanted some kind of an exemption in your case. Most of those shown positive have been people COMING INTO THE PROVINCE . Would be suicide to open the doors to them right now. Nice to be able to serve the tourists IF WE LIVE TO DO IT . You're not alone , there are millions out there with similar problems , some that were suffering even before this crisis .
David Amos
Reply to @Matt Steele: Methinks you are preaching to the choir again N'esy Pas?
Methinks Catherine Tait and all her lawyers should have answered hard copy sent by courier in 2002 and definitely not ignored my emails over the years since and certainly returned my phone calls N'esy Pas?
'We totally understand the frustration': CBC president defends local TV news suspension amid pandemic
'Local news is absolutely at the core of what we do,' says Catherine Tait
CBC Radio· Posted: Mar 24, 2020 1:58 PM ET
Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, says the decision to suspend local TV news amid the COVID-19 pandemic was not taken 'lightly.' (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
CBC/Radio-Canada President and CEO Catherine Tait says Canadians will be seeing more of their local television news hosts during the supper hour starting Tuesday.
The public broadcaster came under fire last week after announcing evening and late-night TV newscasts would be temporarily suspended in favour of consolidated news coverage from CBC News Network during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local radio and digital news were unaffected by the change.
"We were basically managing an unbelievable volume of incoming news feeds from across the country and central control, as it were, was overloaded. So we took a decision in real time in order to preserve our core service," Tait told The Current'sMatt Galloway on Tuesday morning.
"We had to do it to stabilize the systems, and since that date [March 17] ... we have been restoring more and more local news each day."
In a release published Tuesday afternoon, CBC announced that it would offer "an expanded 30-minute local news segment on CBC News Network" starting Wed., March 25. The public broadcaster added that over the course of this week and next, "we will make every effort to have all of the dedicated local shows back up on the main network."
CBC News' editor-in-chief Brodie Fenlon said in a note published on CBCNews.ca Friday that on March 16, the broadcaster carried 37 live press briefings from across the country.
"A typical day would see us broadcast about eight of these 'lives,'" he wrote.
On the same day, CBC also faced a staffing shortage with employees out sick and isolating or working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, he added.
Tait spoke with Galloway about the decision to suspend local supper-hour TV newscasts, how it affects Canadians and what changes are now being implemented. Here is part of that conversation.
Do you understand the anger that people felt across the country when this decision was made?
Oh, absolutely. There is nothing more important than the services we provide to local communities. It is raison d'etre of the public broadcaster, Matt, and we totally understand the frustration.
You can imagine the strain that we were feeling as we took that decision. We didn't take it lightly. We were really trying to preserve the core service so that we would really be able to continue to operate.
This has been an unprecedented time not just for the CBC, but for all Canadians, and we're all dealing and adjusting to the pressures as they come in.
The unprecedented nature of it, though, would lead some people to expect that their public broadcaster would be able to give us comprehensive coverage to this as possible. The Premier of P.E.I. Dennis King said that CBC News Compass is the only local daily TV news program in P.E.I. Our mandate is to inform people.
How can we inform people if, for example, folks on P.E.I. don't have local news to be able to digest — to be able to learn about what's happening in their own community?
Well, I should just say ... since you mention it, we do provide news on a whole lot of other platforms — as you well know, radio being number one, but also on digital platforms. So we've supplemented local information and local news on those platforms. And as I said, we are restoring local television supper hours as I speak to you now.
You have said, and this has been pointed out by a number of people, that local is in many ways at the heart of the organization. These are your words: "There is nothing more important than local stories and local news. If Canadians aren't reflected in where they are, wherever they are, we aren't doing our job."
We've heard that MPs from across the country have apparently been receiving feedback on this, have been facing incoming pressure from their constituents of all parties. We've heard, as well [from] viewers, also listeners who say that we as a public broadcaster aren't doing our job. Have you been surprised at the outpouring of support for these programs?
Well, I have to say, of course we understand the frustration and we understand the disappointment. But I think we've been very clear we did not take this decision lightly. It was taken as we our systems were possibly failing us.
And so, again, they were not designed for managing the volume of news that we were trying to to manage.
So, of course, we're back. Local news is absolutely at the core of what we do.
Do CBC News Network and The National really have the resources to cover local news about COVID-19 in the kind of detail that that families and communities and individuals would need in those communities to stay safe.
Well, as I said, we have — I'm not sure I can fully understand your question, Matt — we have these amazing CBC journalists and technicians on the ground in those communities.
And even though many have gone home — we follow the directives of the government; about 40 per cent of our workforce is at home right now — but they're filing stories remotely on radio and online. So just to be clear, we still have our people in the communities covering those stories and reporting back to to their communities and reflecting their community.
The lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is saying that the real problem here isn't an individual issue. It's not about what's happening during this pandemic. It's that technical resources are centralized in Toronto because of chronic underfunding and generations of CBC management teams that regard local news as expendable. What would you say in that?
Well, I'm sorry, I just simply think that's not a correct interpretation. We as a broadcaster, like many broadcasters, I would say probably like most broadcasters, have automated our systems not because of cutbacks but because it's more efficient to do so.
We have an amazing system and it's worked impeccably for the last 10 years. Nobody — and I have to say to friends — nobody could plan for an unprecedented event like this coronavirus crisis.
So as I said earlier, we've adjusted, we've stabilized the system and we're back.
CBC/Radio-Canada are making both English and French 24-hour news services available for free online and via TV distributors during the coronavirus pandemic. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)
We've seen other public broadcasters — you take a look at what the BBC is doing in the midst of this, and they're in some ways expanding programming.
They have coronavirus podcasts, they have science programming, they have a programming about how to speak to kids and how to answer the questions that kids might have.
How does what we are doing here compare to what other public broadcasters are doing in the midst of this crisis?
I should say we've been talking to our colleagues across the planet, and we've done many of the same things. So we've mobilized our units on all platforms.
We've got dedicated COVID-19 information. We've also made our services free and accessible. So working with our amazing cable companies: Bell, Shaw, Cogego and others. CBC News Network and RDI are available free to all Canadians.
We've opened up our educational platforms — you might not know, it's called Curio.ca, which normally just delivers programming to educational institutions and libraries. We've opened that up so all Canadians with kids at home can be looking at that more educational content.
We've turned around our morning schedule from 7:00 a.m. to noon [with] ad-free kids programming to help families deal with a lot of kids at home.
Some really great local initiative, speaking about the importance of local. Our Ottawa station here has invited kids to report from home. So we've got a whole lot of kids that are now training as correspondents. We've also added about 250 hours of new kids content on [CBC] Gem.
Also importantly, we're helping our creators. You know, this has been a huge impact on the cultural community coast to coast to coast, so we've turned our radio weekday shows to 100 per cent Canadian music to support Canadian artists and musicians. We're looking at replacing hours and hours of hockey programming with more Canadian cultural programming.
So, you know, we're responding, as our colleagues are, to not just to bring the most important news and information on the virus and on what's happening and how our government is responding, but also helping to provide much needed entertainment and, you know, hopefully some relief the stress of this this event.
Just before I go, journalists don't want to be the story, they want to tell the story. We're now the story in some ways. And you have people, again, of all political stripes who are criticizing the CBC for this decision. Do you worry that this adds fuel to the fire of those who want to do away with the CBC entirely?
I am convinced — and I think the numbers show it — Canadians are coming to the CBC in numbers like we've never seen before. Whether it's The National, whether it's our .ca digital news, whether it's your show, Matt. We can see Canadians using our services like they never have before. And I count on that, and we stay focused on that. That's the most important thing we can do is to continue serving Canadians.
Q&A edited for length and clarity. Written by Jason Vermes. Produced by Julie Crysler.
38 Comments
Tony Nobula so this is the face of sensor ship
David Amos
Reply to @Tony Nobula: BINGO
David Amos
Methinks this lady who just got a big backdated pay raise and all her lawyers should have answered hard copy sent by courier in 2002 and definitely not ignored my emails over the years since and certainly returned my phone calls by now if they were remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
Roch Comeau
Reply to @David Amos: Sorry, but if I got a bunch of emails, all bookended with "methinks" and "N'est Pas?" with usually difficult to understand rambling in between, I'd ignore them too. As a taxpayer, I'd want my civil cervantes to spend their time open more productive work.
David Amos
Reply to @Roch Comeau: Methinks you should learn to Google people before you insult them N'esy Pas?
Roch Comeau
Reply to @David Amos: Wha is google going to teach me?
David Amos
Reply to @Roch Comeau: Methinks your children should show you how to Google Catherine Tait and your name along mine in about 30 minutes or so and perhaps you may learn something N'esy Pas?
John Smith When CBC got rid of their TV Transmitters, they became irrelevant & no longer Canada's National Broadcaster.
Roch Comeau
Reply to @John Smith: Really? I have not used an antenna in years and get tons of useful content from the CBC. I am 54 and I suspect many younger people get their news off the net, either web or streaming. Antennas are old school.
David Amos
Reply to @Roch Comeau: Methinks old school folks such as I are at least clever enough to know how to use the Internet to our advantage for reasons of litigation when CBC fails to obey its mandate N'esy Pas?
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday there has been another confirmed case of COVID-19 in the province. (CBC)
People entering New Brunswick from another province must now self-isolate for 14 days, the chief medical officer announced Tuesday, as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to 18, and two patients have required hospitalization.
The province is also ramping up testing to include anyone exhibiting symptoms of the virus, even if they have no connection to recent travel, said Dr. Jennifer Russell.
Premier Blaine Higgs continued to call Tuesday for a "national plan" to deal with the pandemic, including interprovincial travel, but was outnumbered by his provincial and territorial counterparts during a call Monday night.
A sign in Keswick Ridge, a small community west of Fredericton, advising people to stay home. (Photo: David Coburn/Submitted)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said most don't think it's necessary to invoke the federal Emergencies Act to deal with the pandemic "at this time."
Higgs maintained enacting a national state of emergency is the "best tool to ensure consistency across our country in the level of health care, safeguarding our supply chain, and mitigating the economic impact."
But he also announced provincial aid for workers or self-employed people in New Brunswick who have lost their job because of the state of emergency.
Grocery stores like Sobeys are scrambling to keep shopping carts clean to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Maria José Burgos/CBC)
This one-time $900 income benefit will be administered through the Red Cross and will help to bridge the time between when people lose their employment or close their business and when they receive their federal benefit, he told reporters during the daily update in Fredericton.
Further details on how to apply will follow in coming days, he said.
Here is a roundup of other developments.
New case confirmed
The newest confirmed case in New Brunswick is a woman in her 20s in southeastern New Brunswick who recently returned from international travel, said Russell.
The two people who have required hospitalization include someone in the south, who was hospitalized "briefly" and has since been discharged, and someone in the central part of the province, whose condition is being evaluated, she said.
There are 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick after a new case was announced on Tuesday in Zone 1, the southeastern part of the province. (CBC)
All of New Brunswick's cases to date are related to international travel or close contacts to a confirmed case that has travelled outside the province.
But "we expect to see community transmission very soon," she said.
Premier Blaine Higgs announced Tuesday that Opportunities New Brunswick has put in place new measures to help small businesses during the pandemic. 2:20
"We are working to increase the number of COVID-19 tests to effectively capture those who may have the disease, those who have been in contact with cases, and those who are most vulnerable to its effects," she said.
There have now been 1,237 tests that had negative results. The province has eliminated any presumptive cases on its website because it is now able to confirm test results locally.
Sweeping powers
On Monday, Higgs said he favoured the federal government invoking the Emergencies Act in response to COVID-19 to provide a consistent, national approach to stopping the spread of the virus.
A shopper washes their hands at a supermarket in Fredericton, N.B., on March 24, 2020. (Maria José Burgos/CBC)
Triggering the act would give the federal government sweeping powers to regulate or prohibit travel, requisition and use property, order qualified people to provide essential services, regulate the distribution of goods, resources and services and establish emergency shelters and hospitals.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell said Tuesday more testing will be done in the province. For now, health officials will keep testing people who have travelled internationally or have come into contact with any cases of COVID-19. 2:03
The Emergencies Act, which came into effect in 1988, replacing the War Measures Act, has never been invoked by the federal government.
You're in isolation. What do you have to do?
If you're self-isolating, chief medical health officer Jennifer Russell says you should stay in a separate room from family. If possible, you should also use a separate bathroom. They should stay two metres apart from family and keep interactions brief.
If self-isolation, you should also:
Avoid sharing personal items like toothbrushes, towels, bed linen and electronic devices.
Ask others to get groceries and supplies.
Go outside for fresh air without putting anyone in danger. This can include standing outside on your deck.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently used, like telephones, bedside tables, remotes, toilets, sinks, doorknobs, counters.
Avoid contact with people with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems and older adults.
Not staying home? You could be charged
The government has set up a toll-free information line and email address to answer non-health related questions, including questions about non-compliance with the state of emergency.
Premier Blaine Higgs says a lot of people called the line, and he was concerned about some of the reports, which were investigated.
Some businesses have continued to operate without ensuring social distancing practices, he told the daily briefing.
"That's a serious problem, and a violation of the emergency declaration," he said. "Additionally, it puts us all at risk."
The province has found a 94 per cent compliance rate from businesses required to close, he said.
Fredericton MP Jenica Atwin is representing the Green caucus in the House of Commons today. (Jean-Francois Benoit/CBC News)
"Not being in compliance will either result in penalties related to fines or a shut down of the facility." The province also received reports of travellers returning to New Brunswick and refusing to self-isolate. Some of those people have returned to work or headed to social gatherings like parties.
"This shows incredibly poor judgment and disregard for your fellow citizens and neighbours," he said.
Officers will follow up on every complaint that has been emailed or called in. Anyone who is in violation of the emergency declaration risks being charged.
Some of those fines could range up to $10,000.
Flooding and COVID-19
Premier Blaine Higgs the Emergency Measures Organization is closely monitoring water levels, and he'll take flooding. action "as required" during the coronavirus outbreak. Right now, melting conditions are typical for the month of March.
The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse Moncton is closed to the public. (Photo: Shane Magee/CBC News)
But the province is prepared "to do what's necessary to protect citizens."
The province has seen severe flooding over the past two years.
Higgs hopes the province won't need to call in the military to help with flooding, but "it's nice to know they're there when we need them."
Atwin in Ottawa
Fredericton MP Jenica Atwin is representing the Green caucus in the emergency session of the House of Commons today.
The MPs are returning to vote on measures to spend billions on aid for families and businesses struggling to cope as the coronavirus outbreak hammers the economy.
If the St. John River sees major flooding, the premier said the military will be called in. (Corporal Brett White-Finkle/5th Canadian Division Headquarters/Reuters)
"The most important thing we can do today is enable the government to get money flowing to Canadians," Atwin said in a news release.
Atwin is one 32 debating the bill being brought forward by the Liberal government. She drove from Fredericton to Ottawa on Sunday, which is about 1,000 kilometres.
Elsipogtog sets up checkpoints
A First Nations community is taking action to protect residents against the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Elsipogtog council says checkpoints will be established at the edges of the community about 90 kilometres north of Moncton. Only community members and essential staff are allowed to enter the Elsipogtog territory.
Gaming centres and other establishments are closed, and if they open or if people continue to gather at those locations, they could be reprimanded.
The checkpoints are for monitoring only. Searches will not occur.
If residents don't follow the new measures, a curfew could be implemented.
The Trudeau government announced last week it's spending $305 million to help Indigenous communities deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Indigenous communities can draw from a $100 million set aside to help them build stocks medical supplies and develop a response plan.
Indigenous people are believed to face a higher risk because of health inequities and higher rates of underlying conditions. A lack of clean drinking water is one of the factors that makes Indigenous communities disproportionately vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.
What about breakfast and lunch programs?
School districts and community organizations have been working to get things in place so students and families that relied on school breakfast and lunch programs will receive help.
In Moncton, Anglophone East School District has partnered with a number of non-profit organizations.
The first lunches were handed out Tuesday at three locations in the city at different times and will continue each weekday.
The lunches can be picked up at:
The Westbrook Circle Park at 11:45 a.m.
White Frost Village Park at 12:15 p.m.
Marsh Street Park at 12:45 p.m.
Officials are asking that only one person should pick up the lunches for elementary, middle school and high school students.
Last week, the Fredericton Community Kitchen began its first pantry delivery system to get emergency food boxes to students and families of the School Hunger Program.
They've partnered with 10 schools in Fredericton.
The Saint John Youth Ministry began distributing bagged lunches to children in need last week.
Snowmobile season closed
The New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Inc., has cancelled the snowmobiling season as of Sunday at midnight. The announcement was made in a Facebook post over the weekend.
The season legally ends in New Brunswick on April. 15.
Ross Antworth, general manager of the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, said the season has never closed this early.
"It's unprecedented."
But the federation wanted to align itself with the provincial government and support its state of emergency.
He said it's the right thing to do.
Snowmobile trails across the province are now closed. Typically, the season ends the middle of April. (Photo: Elizabeth Fraser/CBC News)
"When you step back and be an adult about it, you understand it had to happen."
When government announced earlier this month, that residents need to stay home and avoid social gatherings, he said snowmobilers were still gathering in warming huts along the trails.
"It was a problem," he said. "We knew people were [congregating] in the warming huts … putting us all at risk."
There are at least 150 warming huts along the 8,303 kilometres of trails across New Brunswick.
Hotels almost empty
Gerald Normandeau, president of the Moncton Hotel Association, expects the hotel industry will lose millions of dollars because of COVID-19.
"In the last two weeks we've basically had no reservations," Normandeau said.
An empty parking lot outside the Chateau Moncton hotel on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo: Shane Magee/CBC News)
Some hotels in the Moncton area only have three rooms occupied each night, and many have already cancelled bookings for July and August.
Normandeau, who's also the general manager at the Crowne Plaza Moncton, said he's been forced to lay off 60 to 70 per cent of staff.
"It's hard times ahead," Normandeau said. "I've been in this business for quite a few years and worked through SARS and 9/11 and all those other disasters that have happened and nothing comes close to this."
President Cup playoffs cancelled
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League officially cancelled the 2020 President Cup playoffs on Monday.
The league has three New Brunswick teams: the Saint John Sea Dogs, Acadie-Bathurst Titans and Moncton Wildcats.
The QMJHL had already cancelled all remaining regular season games.
Shoppers are still coming in and out of the NB Liquor store in Moncton. (Photo: Shane Magee/CBC News)
The Canadian Hockey League, a governing body made up of three regional leagues including the QMJHL, has also cancelled the Memorial Cup, which would've crowned an overall champion between the three leagues.
Saint John helps customers with water bills
Saint John Water announced Tuesday that it has set up a payment deferral program for customers who need it.
The program has immediately gone into effect, where residents and businesses experiencing financial hardship can defer water and sewer payments for two months.
Greg Miller International travel: hindsight is a great telling view but it's next to useless. However, I wish people took this threat more seriously 6 weeks ago and I wish the Federal Government had come down hard on international travel earlier.
Brian Robertson
Reply to @Greg Miller: Yes, the Feds should have. But, you know how Justin hates to offend any of his international elites. How can he rub shoulders with the globalists if he's ticked them off. So what's a few thousand Canadians thrown under the bus for a good cause.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Brian Robertson: All the while the elusive Higgs Bozon is sitting on his posterior doing nothing.
Bob Smith
Reply to @Greg Miller: Remember when the Sussex schoolers were going to head off to Italy and their parents supported the trip? Yeah, that was the pov of far too many in the public.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks its rather obvious that you SANB dudes enjoy Higgy's circus as much a I N'esy Pas?
Saint John mayor cites COVID-19 crisis in attempt to spike labour deal
Don Darling presses for 'zero' increases for next four years
Connell Smith· CBC News· Posted: Mar 24, 2020 7:32 AM AT
City of Saint John Outside Workers, members of CUPE Local 18 reached a tentative contract deal with the municipality on March 13. (CBC)
A motion by Saint John Mayor Don Darling that would have spiked a tentative contract deal with city outside workers has failed.
The tentative deal was reached March 13 with CUPE Local 18, representing 278 employees who work for Saint John Water, City Works, and the recreation department.
Darling cited the COVID-19 crisis in his motion, saying he would not support any collective agreements unless they include a wage freeze "at minimum."
"We have to look at our operations through the eyes of the taxpayer that just lost their income and can't pay their rent," said Darling who described the situation as an unprecedented economic crisis.
Had it been successful, the mayor's motion would have undermined the municipality's own negotiating team which had entered the contract talks in January with a wage escalation policy approved by council in the fall.
The policy limits salary increases to a level no greater than the rate of property tax assessment growth in the city, using a formula that averages growth over the past three years — 1.3 per cent.
CUPE Local 18 represents 278 employees who work for Saint John Water, City Works, and the recreation department. (CBC)
Councillors rejected Darling's motion in an 8-2 vote.
"To make this kind of blanket decision without knowing more information, I can't go in that direction," said Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary.
"I want to make sure we take a sound practical approach that is rooted in evidence," said Coun. David Hickey."
Coun, David Merrithew and Greg Norton supported the mayor's motion.
The actual terms of the tentative deal with Local 18 have not been revealed.
A contract ratification vote by union members that had been scheduled for Monday was cancelled following the province's declaration of a state of emergency.
The two sides were to ratify the deal on the same day.
Local 18 president Chris Patterson is saying little about Darling's move, which the mayor made public in an online blog Friday.
"We have a tentative deal," said Patterson. "There's a process to be followed and he [mayor Darling] needs to follow that process."
The proposed wage-freeze policy would have applied to all city employee groups for four years.
Saint John Mayor Don Darling, Coun. David Merrithew and senior city staff attended Monday's council meeting in person. Nine other councillors were asked to participate by phone. (City of Saint John.)
City manager John Collin told council the existing wage escalation policy and other measures recently approved by council give the municipality the tools it needs to deal with the problem without imposing the terms set out in the mayor's motion.
Because of the COVID 19 crisis Mayor Darling, Coun. David Merrithew, and a handful of senior city staff were the only people present in the council chamber Monday. Nine other councillors participated by phone.
Speaking after the meeting Darling said he was disappointed his motion did not pass. He said he believed it offered a "lot of latitude" and he would have been open to amending it to meet the concerns of some councillors.
Along with outside workers the city is attempting to reach agreements with both the police and fire departments.
Salary and benefit costs for the city amount to about $82 million in 2020.
The city must also pay $9.5 million a year to make up for a deficit that was allowed to grow over many years prior to 2012 in its employee pension fund.
I don't know the Mayor at all. Maybe he should just resign and say the Heck with it, if its affecting his Health. No position is worth that. I see the Deputy Mayor or Council Members were in favor of pay cuts.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Donald Smith: He already decided not to run for another term. He thought he'd be free of the job come May 12. Now it's been extended indefinitely. He's trying to hang in there.
SarahRose Werner I feel for Don. He'd already decided not to run for another term and now his current term has been extended indefinitely until elections can be held safely.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Say Hey to your "Not So Little" Darling for me will ya?
Matt Steele Mayor Darling is probably right on this issue as the national media is reporting that Canada is set to move into a major recession , or maybe even a depression , once the Covid-19 crisis is over . All levels of govt.will have to do some cuts if they ever want another balanced budget ; but Saint John City Council seems to have a hard time grasping that concept , and that is probably why the city needed the bailout a few months ago from the province in order to keep the city afloat .
Jef Cronkhite
Reply to @Matt Steele: No wonder he won't run for another term. Can't get any support from council....
Therese Benoit
Taxpayers in Saint John are paying for the mismanagement of Saint John that started more than 50 years ago. there are two sides, one that is part of the problem, the other that is trying to solve the problem. City employees are greedy and part of the problem. Some Cops in the city make 100K a year or more, Fire Fighters too, Outside works with not even a grade 12 education are bringing home $30 an hour +. Saint John is near bankruptcy and instead of taking a break from their greed, they demand more. Well I think if they want to make big city wages they should go to the big city and leave the jobs for people living in Saint John who want to be here. We are a safe community, things are somewhat affordable and you can have a good quality of life for way less than in the big cities. If council doesnt have the guts to rein in the overspending and the insanely high salaries, then maybe we will have to vote in members who has! Cant wait for Election Day in Saint John!
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 15 new cases confirmed, province's total rises to 66
Health officials continue to look for evidence of community transmission
Hadeel Ibrahim· CBC News· Posted: Mar 29, 2020 3:48 PM AT
New Brunswick has 15 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. (NIAID-RML/The Associated Press/The Canadian Press)
New Brunswick sees the largest increase to date in COVID-19 cases Sunday.
The province announced 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 66.
In a news release Sunday, the province said two people have recovered from the illness, and they are conducting "further analysis" to find more details about the new cases, "including whether community transmission has occurred."
In a statement, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said her recommendations haven't changed: people should keep frequently washing their hands and staying at home. "Only go out for essential services like buying food, getting prescriptions, or attending medical appointments, and return home immediately after," she said.
"It is important to continue to practise physical distancing. These practices will save lives." This is the list of cases and where they are located:
Zone 1 (Moncton Region): 17
Zone 2 (Saint John Region): 15
Zone 3 (Fredericton Region): 23
Zone 4 (Edmundston Region): 4
Zone 5 (Campbellton Region): 7
The province conducted 2,931 tests as of Sunday. Its website says these numbers include people being tested more than once.
Province asks low-income seniors to apply for benefit online, by mail
New Brunswick's low-income seniors are encouraged to apply for their $400 benefit online or through the mail this year.
In a press release Sunday, the province said applications for the 2020 Low-income Seniors' Benefit will be posted online on April 1.
Because of concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the release says New Brunswickers are "strongly encouraged" to apply online, and applications forms will not be available at Service New Brunswick Centres.
Instead, people can apply online or print the application and mail it to Finance and Treasury Board. The deadline for the application is Dec. 31, 2020. More information is available from Finance and Treasury Board, Revenue Administration Division, at 1-800-669-7070.
SarahRose Werner I'd suggest that if you're reading this and you know a senior who doesn't have the means to download the form at home, you might do that for them. :-)
Monsieur Rioux
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Ever since I first knew about it (from browsing that Prime magazine) I've been doing it for my mother in law. It would be useful if the province actively notified people rather relied on the media. It's passported by GIS and OAS (if 60-64) and this is already known by the province from tax returns. Indeed the prescription coverage for seniors is renewed every year based on the same thing. Other provinces issue the payment automatically without the need for an application for something that many don't even know exists.
Joined up thinking is a good thing :)
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: I did it online in in December of 2018 ain't received the $400 benefit yet When I called about the same benefit Christmas and tried to apply online again the form they offered had the wrong dates on it and could not explain why. They also claimed my benefit from year before had been sent but had no proof that the cheque had been cashed. Methinks I should give up on Higgy's minions N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: BTW Higgy still has a "Stay"on my Medicare Card as well
"To request the replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged New Brunswick Medicare card please visit your local Service New Brunswick (SNB) office or send New Brunswick Medicare a cheque or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance in the amount of $10.00 for each replacement card. To inquire if you are eligible for a replacement or to verify if your New Brunswick Medicare card has expired, call 1-888-762-8600.
Exempt from the $10.00 replacement card fee are: seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, income assistance recipients, and individuals who received damaged or misprinted cards."
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday there has been another confirmed case of COVID-19 in the province. (CBC News)
111 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Greg Miller International travel: hindsight is a great telling view but it's next to useless. However, I wish people took this threat more seriously 6 weeks ago and I wish the Federal Government had come down hard on international travel earlier.
Brian Robertson
Reply to @Greg Miller: Yes, the Feds should have. But, you know how Justin hates to offend any of his international elites. How can he rub shoulders with the globalists if he's ticked them off. So what's a few thousand Canadians thrown under the bus for a good cause.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Brian Robertson: All the while the elusive Higgs Bozon is sitting on his posterior doing nothing.
Bob Smith
Reply to @Greg Miller: Remember when the Sussex schoolers were going to head off to Italy and their parents supported the trip? Yeah, that was the pov of far too many in the public.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks its rather obvious that you SANB dudes enjoy Higgy's circus as much a I N'esy Pas?
Greg Miller
Reply to @Greg Miller: Now they are telling us that the Federal Government has no testing available for people who are coming home on flights from heavily infected areas. Some of these air travelers are getting on these planes with corona virus symptoms. Totally irresponsible of the Federal Government to allow these "Trojan Horses" land in Canada.
New Brunswick RCMP say the confirmed case of COVID-19 within their ranks 'is not believed to be related to frontline interaction.' (CBC)
A member of the RCMP in New Brunswick has tested positive for COVID-19, the RCMP said Saturday.
In a media release, the RCMP said the police officer in the West District is isolating at home after being diagnosed with the respiratory infection.
RCMP spokesperson Cst. Hans Ouellette said there was no interaction between the police officer and member of the public while they were conducting their duties.
"I can assure you that this case is not believed to be related to any frontline interaction," he said. "And there's no anticipated impact on frontline policing at this time."
This release comes hours after the province announced three new cases of COVID-19 Saturday. All of the new cases are in the Fredericton area, bringing the total infections to 98.
This was not unexpected for us
- Cst. Hans Ouellette, RCMP
Ouellette said privacy concerns prevent him from sharing what duties the officer had, how they contracted the disease and when they were diagnosed.
The police officer is part of the west district detachments, which starts at the border in Edmundston all the way down to St. Stephen and St. George, Ouellette said.
Ouellette said one other employee was placed in isolation "as a precaution" because they had contact with the officer who tested positive. He could not say if the second employee was displaying symptoms.
He said the New Brunswick RCMP has been prepared for a COVID-19 diagnosis among its workers.
"This was not unexpected for us," he said.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, says the province continues to look for community transmission. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Ouellette said the RCMP is allowing some office staff to work from home and is implementing physical distancing for people who continue to work in offices.
All frontline officers have personal protective equipment, he said.
"You will see some of our police officers wearing masks, for example, or gloves or goggles when responding to certain calls that may involve possible exposure," he said.
Ouellette said when getting calls, dispatchers ask callers questions like if anyone has been out of the country, or have been exposed to COVID-19, before sending officers out.
Province investigates transmission mode of six cases
On Saturday the province provided an updated breakdown of how most cases were transmitted.
Of the 98 total cases, 57 are travel related, 31 are close contacts of confirmed cases and four cases are from community transmission. The province is still investigating how six cases were transmitted, including the most recent three.
As of Saturday, six patients have been hospitalized and two have been discharged. Four patients remain in hospital, including one person in the intensive care unit, the release said.
April 4, 2020: A message from Dr. Jennifer Russell
The new cases have been confirmed with testing at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre lab in Moncton. As of Saturday, the province has conducted 5005 tests, but that does not mean 5005 people were tested. One person could have been tested more than once.
The release says 28 patients have recovered so far.
The new cases are:
A person aged 20-29 in Zone 3 (Fredericton region)
A person aged 30-39 in Zone 3 (Fredericton region)
A person aged 50-59 in Zone 3 (Fredericton region)
"We are at the point where we are going to see more community transmission,'' said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health in the news release.
"We are adapting daily to this changing health-care crisis. But the one thing that has not changed is the importance of people staying home."
11 Comments David Amos "The RCMP says "the case is not believed to be related to frontline interaction," but does not say how the officer contracted the disease."
Surprise Surprise Surprise Terry Hughes Went to Super Store today. Waited in line to get in. Employees doing a good job. Aisles are marked with arrows to keep people going in the same direction. One lady was going the wrong way in an aisle and when I politely told her, she looked at me and gave a snive remark. YIKES.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Terry Hughes: There's a few rotten apples in every barrel.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Terry Hughes: Methinks nobody should be surprised by your actions N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks a few rotten apples went "Poof" N'esy Pas? Jim Cyr: Even during the worst pandemic of the last 200 years, the censors on here are still on the job. Can you believe it?...
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: YUP
SarahRose Werner Reply to @Jim Cyr: Censorship thrives during times of crisis. The 1918 Influenza Pandemic was known as the "Spanish flu" because WWI censors wouldn't allow reports of deaths to be published in Germany, the UK, France and the States. Spain was neutral and Spanish newspapers reported freely, so people in other countries assumed that's where the pandemic had started. By the way, I'd say 100 years rather than 200.
Liberal MLA Francine Landry is backing away from harsh online criticism of Premier Blaine Higgs and the government's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. (CBC)
A Liberal MLA has backed away from strong criticism of Premier Blaine Higgs, Dr. Jennifer Russell and their handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Francine Landry, the member for Madawaska-Les-Lacs-Edmundston, now says New Brunswickers need to "put our faith" in Public Health officials during the pandemic.
The former cabinet minister said more information has come to light since last week, when she ripped Higgs and Russell for the provincial response to COVID-19, an effort that Landry's own party leader, Kevin Vickers, has been praising.
At the time Landry slammed Higgs as "an accountant," accusing him of holding back on widespread testing for the virus to save money.
"When all decisions are based on what it's going to cost, that's what we end up with," she tweeted on March 28 in response to someone asking her if the low number of tests in some regions was a cost-saving measure.
"Higgs is an accountant, don't forget," she added, incorrectly. The premier is an engineer.
It has since emerged that the province has been cautious about its testing levels because it has a finite supply of test kits. Higgs told CBC's Power and Politics on Thursday that the province could run out in a week if it "ramped up a bit" on testing.
Landry's criticism contradicted the message from Vickers, one of the three leaders of opposition parties invited to sit with Higgs and key ministers on an all-party cabinet committee that meets daily. Vickers told the CBC New Brunswick Political Panel podcast Friday that he wanted to "congratulate the premier" and said Higgs's regular consultations with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers represent "the leadership Canadians are looking for and New Brunswickers are looking for."
Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday the province could run out of tests in a week if it ramped up testing. (Submitted by Government of New Brunswick )
The Liberal leader also said the level of testing shows the province is "being strategic with the resources that we have." He said he was "exceptionally impressed with our public service and Dr. Jennifer Russell and the manner in which they're running this."
Landry also criticized Russell on March 27 for not releasing the number of tests being done by health region in the province.
Elle a déjà été demandé cette question quelques jours passés. Elle avait dit s’informer... Elle ne veut clairement pas donner cette statistique. Et une chance que j’ai insister pour que le 1er cas du Nord-Ouest soit déclaré communautaire https://twitter.com/roycomeau/status/1243602606376828929 …
She said on Twitter that the first case in northwest New Brunswick had been wrongly classified as a travel-related case at first and was later treated as a case of community transmission.
Landry said the woman in question couldn't get a test until she said she had made a quick trip across the border to Maine to get gas, allowing her to meet the testing criteria as an international traveller.
Le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick refuse de publier les chiffres sur le nombre de tests de dépistage de la COVID-19 par région. Il est donc impossible d'évaluer ce qui se fait en région.
La 1ère COVID-19 dans le NO n’a pas voyagé. Elle avait des symptômes et la SEULE raison pour laquelle elle a pu obtenir un test est qu’elle a dit qu’elle avait été mettre du gas à Madawaska Maine USA à 10 km de chez elle. Elle a passé comme un cas relié voyages, non communautaire
Bell-Aliant is one of five companies given a six-month extension by the CRTC to go on-line with the new national public alert system. (Deborah Irvine Anderson)
Bell Aliant is facing criticism from customers in New Brunswick for planned price increases for internet service in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company says it notified customers of the increase in December, but some of them are only seeing it show up on their most recent bills.
That has prompted angry social media posts.
"How dare you take a price increase in the midst of a global pandemic with thousands laid off," said Tanya Clark, a Toronto woman with elderly parents in New Brunswick. "You ought to be reported. … Absolutely disgusting."
Former New Brunswick energy minister Craig Leonard tweeted facetiously that he wanted to thank Bell "for selflessly providing a case study under the 'don't do this' category for future PR trainees."
Should be interesting to see the reaction of @bell_aliant customers when they see this month's bill and realize the company has gone ahead with price increases for internet during a pandemic...
I see that @Bell_Aliant's PR strategy defending increasing prices during a global pandemic is to tell people "we informed you of this in December". I for one, want to thank them for selflessly providing a case study under the "don't do this" category for future PR trainees.
People responding to Leonard cited increases of $5 to $15.
Fredericton customer Ben Pollock called the increases "beyond unreasonable" at a time when many people have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus. He said he had cancelled his landline and satellite service in protest.
Bell Aliant spokesperson Katie Hatfield said the company told customers about the increases in December 2019.
"Customers saw the increase on their February bills, though some saw it on their March bill because of where they fall in the billing cycle and may have believed it was a new increase," she said.
"We also announced after the COVID-situation began that any new price changes on any service would be postponed indefinitely."
Rogers Communications, Bell's main competitor in New Brunswick, announced last week that rate increases announced in February and scheduled to take effect at the end of April were being postponed until later this year.
Usage cap fees waived
Hatfield also pointed out Bell has waived additional internet charges until April 30 for customers who don't have unlimited data plans, to accommodate people working from home and children being home from school.
Rogers has done the same until the end of May.
Bell has also waived roaming fees for anyone travelling.
Hatfield said overall, internet use on Bell's network is up 60 per cent during the day and 20 per cent in the evening but the network is "performing well."
Rogers spokesperson Heather Robinson said her company was also seeing a spike in online use. "We are continuing to add capacity and manage traffic in real time," she said.
Mr. Amos, I confirm that I have received your documentation. There is no need to send us a hard copy. As you have said yourself, the documentation is very voluminous and after 3 days, we are still in the process of printing it. I have asked one of my lawyers to review it in my absence and report back to me upon my return in the office. We will then provide you with a reply.
Martine Turcotte Chief Legal Officer / Chef principal du service juridique BCE Inc. / Bell Canada 1000 de La Gauchetière ouest, bureau 3700 Montréal (Qc) H3B 4Y7
Executive Assistant / Assistante à la haute direction: Diane Valade Tel: (514) 870-4638 email: diane.valade@bell.ca
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks the crickets speak volumes when Bell's critics say nothing N'esy Pas?
Michel Jones It is easier than ever to reach your Member of Parliament by email, I just did and have been contacting him whenever I deem necessary... Everybody should do the same..
David Amos
Reply to @Michel Jones: Try running against him and see how fast he answers you
Michel Jones
Reply to @David Amos: I've already had multiple answers from him in the past.. What's your point or are you just trying to be funny?
David Amos
Reply to @Michel Jones: Say Hey to him for me will ya?
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball issued a personal plea to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help the province escape a perfect storm of events that threatened to leave the province unable to borrow in the face of a pandemic. (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)
His province was reporting just four cases of COVID-19 when Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball wrote the prime minister to warn that his province was about to go under.
It wasn't the health crisis that had Ball so concerned — though that clearly was a major worry. It was a financial crisis that had him reaching out to Justin Trudeau for help.
In the March 20 letter, Ball warned that Newfoundland and Labrador had "run out of time," according to sources with knowledge of the events.
The province with Canada's worst balance sheet had just been told that nobody wanted to buy Newfoundland and Labrador bonds. The government's attempts to finalize both its short- and long-term borrowing programs had failed.
In other words, Newfoundland and Labrador couldn't get the money it needed in the face of a pandemic.
Sources say the provincial government was on track to run out of cash by the middle of April. "There is a point coming soon when this province will not be able to pay its public service," a senior provincial government official said of the situation at the time.
Newfoundland and Labrador was spared that fate just days later, when the Bank of Canada stepped in with a plan to buy short-term provincial bonds to "support the liquidity and efficiency" of provincial funding markets.
"This should ease those financing constraints for the provinces, and at least give them predictability for their near-term cash flows," Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz told reporters in Ottawa Friday.
It was a move to help all provinces deal with the coronavirus fallout. But the combined impact of COVID-19 and the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia was hammering resource-dependent provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan especially hard — and their borrowing costs were rising as a result.
Poloz's move was a lifeline for Newfoundland and Labrador. Before Poloz stepped in, Ball's minority Liberal government was just days away from an emergency session of the House of Assembly to get approval to borrow $2 billion it wasn't sure it could raise.
'We can make payroll'
At a press conference in St. John's Wednesday afternoon, Ball confirmed that he wrote the letter, telling reporters he thought it was appropriate to draft some correspondence to reflect conversations he's had with the prime minister.
The premier said the province's borrowing picture has brightened somewhat since March 20.
"We've had some success this week in the markets — of course, supported with the Bank of Canada by the changes that they had made to help provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador with their borrowing requirement," Ball said.
"So essentially, we can make payroll. We will continue to provide the services."
Newfoundland and Labrador was in a weakened financial position even before the crisis. Its plight was only compounded by the collapse in oil prices and COVID-19. And as the virus spread around the world, economic contagion spread throughout the provincial economy. Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz spoke with reporters on Parliament Hill on Friday 3:31
Newfoundland and Labrador's most recent budget (this year's fiscal plan has been delayed indefinitely) was betting on US$63 oil. On Monday, it fell below US$23.
That price slump means hundreds of millions in revenues expected from producing fields are likely to evaporate in the coming year. And future offshore projects — including the $6.8-billion deepwater Bay du Nord prospect — have now been put on hold.
As many as 500 jobs were lost with the mothballing of Come By Chance oil refinery, which itself accounts for five per cent of the province's gross domestic product.
The global slump also has lowered demands for the other key provincial exports — including fish, the backbone of the province's rural economy. The upcoming tourism season, with its cruise ships and conventions, is in peril. Construction work has been suspended on the Muskrat Falls hydro project and Vale's nickel mine expansion in Labrador.
It all combines to create a cash-and-jobs crisis in a province that already had double-digit unemployment and no obvious floor under its free-fall in revenue. Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't receive equalization payments. Its balance sheet is completely exposed.
The cash situation is so bad, Ball warned publicly last week that his government might not be able to participate in any cost-shared programs Ottawa may use to help spur the economic recovery.
"You cannot compare Newfoundland and Labrador to other provinces," he said. "We are unique."
In the hours after the provincial legislature swiftly passed five pieces of legislation to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ball warned about a looming "economic crisis" expected to follow the public health emergency — a crisis that almost certainly would require another plea to Ottawa for help.
"I think every single industry — every single key industry that's driving this economy right now — is having difficulty," Ball told reporters in St. John's.
"The federal government will have to be there to help provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador."
Read March 20 letter from NL Premier Dwight Ball to PM Justin Trudeau
547 Comments Before the page was refreshed Now tally is 532 Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Surprise Surprise Surprise
Marguerite Deschamps So-called leaders gambling and banking on the antiquated fossil fuel business oblivious to the technological breakthroughs right before their nose that will soon see this polluting source of energy go the way of the dodo bird.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks its interesting that you are now talking about Dodo birds too However if you truly believe that oil was created from dead dinosaurs etc you should read more of my words N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps And I thought all along that the poorest province was New Nouveau-Brunswick all because of bilingualism. This is all we read all the time on here.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks everybody knows why the folks on the Rock fell upon hard times only recently The Hard Times in New Nouveau-Brunswick has been happening over the course of 40 years or so thanks to the questionable actions of you SANB dudes N'esy Pas?
Steven Clerk Canadians generally are in for a bit of an economic reckoning soon and this pandemic is likely going to speed things up by a few years. Its unfortunate that we need to go broke first before change is implemented, especially at the government and public service level.
David Amos
Reply to @Steven Clerk: Methinks you should check my work Trust that many people know that there is still time to stop this madness. Just a few ethical words from Trudeau The Younger, Boris Johnson and Trump and a lot of our economic woes would be over in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
Jerry Brett Phew ! That was close. But everything is fine again now, isn't it? I wonder what's on TV besides that same old boring virus stuff.
David Amos
Reply to @Jerry Brett: Try Googling "Harper and Bankers" for a little tragically true comic relief
Rick James oil war between saudis and russians is hurting canada
David Amos
Reply to @Rick James: Nope Methinks everybody knows the Banksters are and have been since Trudeau the Elder and his pals in the Privy Council began ignoring the mandate of the Bank Of Canada in 1974 N'esy Pas?
Rick James
Reply to @David Amos: please elaborate...are you saying what happens on the commodity markets has no bearing on the price of a commodity that canada sells?
David Amos
Reply to @Rick James: Methinks you should Google DavidRayAmos find my Twitter account in order to check out the document I offer in the link called checktheevidence after the words "Go Figure" then read my lawsuit Federal Court File No T-1557-15 before you attempt to claim that I said something I did not N'esy Pas?
John Monroe
Reply to @David Amos: Claims the Bank of Canada began ignoring its mandate or stopped lending to the government in 1974 are false. It still lends to the government the same way it did before 1974.
Methinks if Trudeau the Younger can compel the provinces to house all the illegal immigrants he welcomed into the Canada in return the least he can do is take good care of their health care staff N'esy Pas?
Ottawa nurse Kathrine Slinski says she's struggling to find a place to live because no one wants to rent to her in the middle of a pandemic. (Kathrine Slinski)
Health care workers are already facing added stress and personal danger because of COVID-19. Now, one Ottawa nurse says fear of the disease has also left her homeless.
Kathrine Slinski told CBC News she was almost done moving house on Tuesday when she got a text from her new landlady.
"Please call me asap. I'm really sorry. I have some bad news."
Slinski said the woman told her she no longer wanted to rent her a room in her home because of her job — despite the fact the nurse had signed a lease the week before and paid her first and last months' rent.
"She was concerned that I would expose her to the COVID virus and since she was considered a high-risk person, she just couldn't rent the room to me," she said.
'I have nowhere to go'
Slinski is a community care nurse who deals frequently with palliative care patients. She said she'd already discussed with the landlord all the precautions she would take when arriving home from her job — washing her hands thoroughly, removing her work clothing and ensuring it's properly cleaned.
She said she feels some sympathy for the landlord.
"I can absolutely understand her point of view and agree with her concerns," she said.
"I'm just upset because she chose the day I was supposed to be moving into her home when I've already made all the arrangements and paid her all the money. And now I have nowhere to go."
Her job has continued to frustrate her hunt for another place to stay, Slinski said.
She said she convinced the landlord to let her stay one night and is now spending a few days with a stranger who reached out after hearing about her through Facebook. But Slinski said she's learning that no one wants to rent to a nurse in the middle of a pandemic.
'Saddened and upset'
Slinski said she's been open about her job when reaching out to prospective landlords. Several have told her they "just don't want to take the risk," she said. She did view one room up for rent, but said she was told afterward the other tenant was uncomfortable with the idea of living with a health care worker.
"I do understand that they're concerned and I would be, too," she said. "But as a human being who serves my public and serves my community and puts a lot of life into it, I'm really kind of saddened and upset that I have no place to go and no one to help me."
CBC News spoke with the landlord who changed her mind about renting to Slinski. The woman, who didn't want her name used, said she has emphysema and still takes medication in the wake of cancer treatment.
'I'd rather be strapped for money ... than be dead'
"I was crying just trying to make the decision. I do have a good heart. It's unfair for her."
She said she refunded the first and last month's rent Slinski had already paid.
"I feel so bad. I couldn't apologize enough to her."
For the time being, she's not going to rent the room to anyone, she said.
"I'd rather be strapped for money and be safe than be dead."
The story brings back memories of the way health care workers were treated during the SARS epidemic, said Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
A hospital worker wears a mask during Toronto's SARS outbreak at North York General Hospital, on May 29, 2003. (Kevin Frayer/Canadian Press)
She said back in 2003, those who worked in health care in and around Toronto were sometimes "shunned" by friends — even family members — who feared they would spread the disease.
She said Slinski's case is the first concrete example she's heard of during the current outbreak.
Health care workers across the country are working long hours to save lives, said Silas, and it only adds to their stress and hurt when they encounter fear in the community.
"That is just plain sad," she said.
Around the world and in Canada, health care workers are falling ill with COVID-19. But Silas said the public should trust nurses and others to know what to do avoid spreading the virus.
"When we walk out of hospitals and long term care facilities, we make sure we are well-protected to protect others."
Try to negotiate, lawyer suggests
While there is an eviction freeze in Ontario right now, Slinski's case is more complex because renting a room in a house isn't covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, said Ottawa tenants' right lawyer Daniel Tucker-Simmons of Avant Law.
He said in cases like this, one issue would be how serious the medical risk is to the landlord. An assessment of that risk would need to be based on expert medical advice, not just the landlord's opinion, he added.
He said such cases rarely wind up in court and encouraged the parties to try to work something out.
"Is there somewhere the landlord could stay, at least on an interim basis, to avoid ... making this tenant homeless? Are there options available?" he asked. "Is that landlord in a position to open another space?"
Slinski said she wouldn't stay where she's not wanted — but she is keen to find a place to live so she can concentrate on work.
To deal with pandemic, Slinski said, hospitals are keeping more patients in the community — and she needs to be at work helping those people.
Methinks it fairly obvious that Ottawa's propaganda machine has its minions working overtime editing free speech N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks Trudeau the Younger has many minions who can simply pick up the phone and book the lady a room at a hotel until they can find her proper accommodations After all he compelled the provinces to house all the illegal immigrants he welcomed into the Canada. In return the least he can do is take good care of their health care staff N'esy Pas?
Louis Pelt Content disabled Doctors, nurses, and other front line workers take on all the risk for sustaining our society. They are being met by a terrified general public who is largely not willing to reciprocate for their sacrifice.
Gregory Lastman
Content disabled
Reply to @Louis Pelt: singing from their balconies is about as good as it gets.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Louis Pelt: Welcome to the circus
Guy Stone
Content disabled
Reply to @Louis Pelt: I think this is an extreme case... those front line workers can easily afford a nice place anywhere in Ottawa unless they have some other financial issues. I feel bad for her as she was clearly discriminated against but she should find a place fairly quickly... I'd sue the owner for moving costs, breach of contract, and all that stuff if I was her.
Michael O'Flaherty "Ottawa nurse says pandemic panic has left her homeless" Key words in the headline "pandemic panic".
David Amos
Reply to @Michael O'Flaherty: YUP
Red Forneri Schools are empty...motel hotels are empty, it's time to step up!
David Amos
Reply to @Red Forneri: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
keith rodgers Good thing she is not laid off like the 2 million other Canadians who by the way were to be woken with another Carbon Tax Hike.
Danny Proulx
Reply to @keith rodgers: The carbon tax is your biggest concern this morning, is it?
Bob Joe
Reply to @Danny Proulx: he's a conservative
Danny Proulx
Reply to @Bob Joe: 'nuff said.
David Amos
Reply to @keith rodgers: Oh So True
Mark Wood
Reply to @keith rodgers: I could have spent 10 years trying to guess your comment without seeing it and still would not have come close. She is lucky to have a job and the carbon tax, that is your take from this?
David Amos Reply to @Mark Wood: Methinks you do not wish to try to understand his point N'esy Pas?
Kevan Cleverbridge Someone from the Ottawa area step up and get this lady a place to live, it's the least that should be done for her. A Canadian embarrassment if you ask me.
Rob Grizwald
Reply to @Kevan Cleverbridge: seems to me having a nurse in your house could be a lot better than not if she takes all the precautions! If (when) you do get sick, you've got someone at hand to help you make the proper health decisions.
David Amos
Reply to @Kevan Cleverbridge: Doesn't Trudeau have a few vacant spots in Ottawa the could house nurses for awhile?
Guy Stone
Reply to @Kevan Cleverbridge: if she was in Vancouver, I'd let her stay at my place. nurses make some big coin (they should)... she should easily be able to find an apartment or condo to rent... hope she is ok. Seems she was renting just a room - not a full apartment. I went to craiglist and you can get a nice apartment there with insuite laundry and all the latest stuff... for $1200 per month. fairly cheap for what she would make at her job (even if she turned down all OT)
Nouzha De
Reply to @David Amos: Wake up, Trudeau cannot do everything. He has more important issues to deal with.He humanly can't micro manage every details of every ministry and provinces in the country
David Amos
Reply to @Nouzha De: Yea Right
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Nouzha De: Methinks he has many minions who can simply pick up the phone and book the lady a room at a hotel until they can find her proper accommodations After all Trudeau the Younger compelled the provinces to house all the illegal immigrants into the Canada. In return the least he can do is take good care of their health care staff N'esy Pas?
Methinks I should thank Premier Doug Ford for at least acknowledging that he has been receiving my emails since he got elected. However I bet he has not read even one of them yet N'esy Pas?
The pandemic numbers out of Ontario are horrifying — and we needed to hear them
The story here isn't just how many people could die. It's how many lives could be saved.
Aaron Wherry· CBC News· Posted: Apr 04, 2020 4:00 AM ET
Ontario Premier Doug Ford holds a media briefing on COVID-19 following the release of provincial modelling in Toronto, Friday, April 3, 2020. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)
A half-hour into his presentation, Dr. Peter Donnelly reached slide 13.
"I want to turn now to perhaps what might be the most disturbing slide in this deck," the president of Public Health Ontario said, speaking evenly. "I think it's important that we all are robustly realistic about the scale of the challenge that we face."
Slide 13 was a simple bar graph indicating that between 3,000 and 15,000 Ontarians might die as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic over the next 18 to 24 months — a death toll and a time frame that had not previously been publicized.
In the short term, 1,600 Ontarians could be dead by the end of this month. Eighty thousand people may have contracted COVID-19 by then.
Everyone knew (or should have known) before Friday that lives are at stake and that this could be a long, hard struggle. But Canada's most populous province has now provided an official projection of just how tragic and difficult this could be.
Knowledge is safer than ignorance
These numbers are undeniably grim. But knowledge is supposed to be power. And it's possible for Ontarians — and all Canadians — to come away feeling empowered by what Premier Doug Ford's government laid out for them on Friday.
There may be some haggling now over the specifics of the model that Ontario has used, the assumptions that underpin it and the accuracy of the projections it produced. Those projections also will fluctuate as the days go on and new data are added, and special attention will be paid to a projection of how many ICU beds might be needed.
Other provinces are likely to release their own projections in the days ahead. Those projections might show significantly different situations from one province to the next.
There have been demands in recent days for these projections, but there is a case for at least some caution on the part of governments. There is, for instance, already a dispute over the accuracy of the data released by President Donald Trump's administration in the United States.
Keeping trust alive in a climate of fear
The public might lose trust in their elected officials if governments seem not to be transparent. But deeply flawed or confusing projections run the risk of diminishing trust in governments, health officials and experts to an even greater degree — at a moment when maintaining that trust is more important than ever.
As Zeynep Tufekci, the Turkish writer and academic, wrote recently for the Atlantic, there is also a risk of getting bogged down in a debate over whether any given model is "right."
More important is what these projections might tell us about the impact of our own actions.
"The most important function of epidemiological models is as a simulation," Tufekci wrote, "a way to see our potential futures ahead of time, and how that interacts with the choices we make today."
In that respect, the most significant numbers released by Ontario were not the currently projected mortality or infection rates. Beyond those possible outcomes, the Ontario projection looked at two alternative scenarios.
Taking our neighbours' lives in our hands
In one scenario, no measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 were taken. In that case, Ontario's model projects that 300,000 people would be infected by the end of April and 6,000 people would die.
In other words, by taking action and continuing those actions through the next four weeks — closing schools and businesses, telling people to stay home and practise physical distancing — 4,400 lives might be saved and 220,000 fewer people might be infected. Ontario Premier Doug Ford pauses during a press briefing at the Ontario Legislature on the pandemic. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
If anyone was tempted to believe that the events of the last few weeks were an overreaction to a small threat, they should be thoroughly chastened by such numbers.
Ontario's model also projects what could happen if further measures — stricter closures, more testing — are implemented. In that scenario, the death toll might be reduced to 200 people, saving the lives of another 1,400.
"These numbers tell a story of Ontario's fight against COVID-19," Premier Ford said shortly after the presentation by the province's top medical experts. "But what matters is the ending of our story is still up to us."
What's a life worth? What about 4,000 lives?
The actions of individuals and governments, Ford said, can change these forecasts.
"Over 1,600 people could be dead by the end of April," Ford continued. "Each one could be your brother, your sister, your mother, your father, your grandparents or your friend …
"And we all have to ask ourselves, what is the cost of a life? Is a life worth a picnic in the park? Is a life worth going to the beach? Is a life worth having a few cold ones with your buddies in the basement? The answer is no. None of those things is worth as much as a life. So to everyone in Ontario, we need to listen — we need to listen to what the data tells us."
The greatest value in any set of numbers is in the story they can tell. And the story told on Friday was one of how lives are being saved and how even more lives might be saved in the weeks ahead — and that every resident of Ontario has a part to play in that.
There's still a conversation to be had about how long and how hard this struggle might be. But the stakes, at least, are much harder to ignore now.
"There are 1,600 people out there who need us to do everything we can in the next 30 days to help save them," Ford said.
We hear a lot of war imagery when people talk about the pandemic. But rarely, if ever, have wars come with a clear sense of the number of lives that might be lost, the number of people who might be harmed, or by how much we — citizens, civilians — might lessen that loss and that hurt.
If numbers can reinforce the seriousness of this crisis and persuade us to take action to limit its damage, they will have served their purpose.
Aaron Wherry has covered Parliament Hill since 2007 and has written for Maclean's, the National Post and the Globe and Mail. He is the author of Promise & Peril, a book about Justin Trudeau's years in power.
David Amos Methinks I should thank Premier Doug Ford for at least acknowledging that he has been receiving my emails since he got elected. However I bet he has not read even one of them yet N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks its very interesting that desperate Conservative Spindoctors get special dispensation if they slander me N'esy Pas?
Philip Carson Oh please, save the editorials for the editorial section... let the readers decide if it is “horrifying” to predict 15,000 premature deaths over a period of time when 300,000 people will die of other causes (assuming none of the 15,000 would have died during those 2 years). Or is it more horrifying that our economy is dead?
Bartholomew Palmer
Reply to @Philip Carson: ask yourself if what we have SEEN so far is out of line with any other flu season (not what the fortune tellers are PREDICTING, I mean the 277 deaths so far), and also keep in mind that of those 277, some of them died WITH COVID, not FROM COVID. That's an important distinction to make.
Lou Parks
Reply to @Philip Carson: > ... let the readers decide if it is “horrifying” ...
Correct
> ... to predict 15,000 premature deaths over a period of time when 300,000 people will die of other causes ...
Your "300,000 people will die of other causes" is incorrect.
Over two years, in Ontario, it's 224, 000 people who will die from all causes combined.
> Or is it more horrifying that our economy is dead?
It's not "dead". If we had tried to maintain it as much as possible, we'd be getting way more than 15,000 premature deaths over two years from COVID-19, and we'd be overloading our health care system
Lou Parks
Reply to @Bartholomew Palmer: > ... ask yourself if what we have SEEN so far is out of line with any other flu season ...
It is. We're seeing a fatality rate many times greater than for a typical flu virus.
We have measures in place to keep infection numbers low and *still* our health care system is threatened. That doesn't happen during any other flu season.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks you know the comment below is about you N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @David Amos: Another one goes "Poof" Methinks I should take the hint and quit for the night N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks much to Conservative Spindoctor's chagrin some folks may enjoy checking out the thread with the most replies N'esy Pas?
David Amos Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: I must Say I am rather impressed at CBC's sudden fit of Integrity to allow most of my posts to stand the test of time for a few hours at least. (: Rest assured that I have been saving digital snapshots just in case they delete and block me as usual :)
In return here is an old scoop about CTV that CBC and everybody else and his dog has been ignoring for 16 very long years after I ran in the election of the 38th Parliament against the aptly named lawyer Rob Moore.
Mr. Amos, I confirm that I have received your documentation. There is no need to send us a hard copy. As you have said yourself, the documentation is very voluminous and after 3 days, we are still in the process of printing it. I have asked one of my lawyers to review it in my absence and report back to me upon my return in the office. We will then provide you with a reply.
Martine Turcotte Chief Legal Officer / Chef principal du service juridique BCE Inc. / Bell Canada 1000 de La Gauchetière ouest, bureau 3700 Montréal (Qc) H3B 4Y7
Executive Assistant / Assistante à la haute direction: Diane Valade Tel: (514) 870-4638 email: diane.valade@bell.ca
Colin Johnston 3,000-15,000 people out of 13 million over two years. Hmm well cigarettes and Mc doubles are still more dangerous.
stefan caunter
Reply to @Colin Johnston over 200,000 people will go in two years.
Beatrice Darlene
Reply to @Colin Johnston : Except it could be 100,000 or more if we do nothing.
William Hughes
Reply to @Colin Johnston : A lot more dangerous.
Lou Parks
Reply to @Colin Johnston : If you take 15,000 deaths, in Ontario, then cancer and heart disease kill more in one year
Terry Granger
Reply to @Colin Johnston : you really don't get how this works.
you think its gonna be 15K over 2 years... :D
you are in for some surprises I suppose.
Terry Granger
Reply to @Lou Parks: ya and upwards of 30K die annually due to medical malpractice...not the point looey
Lou Parks
Reply to @Terry Granger: It *is* the point ... for Colin. It's an adjustment of *his* commnet
Lou Parks
Reply to @Terry Granger: > ... upwards of 30K die annually due to medical malpractice ...
Where did you get *that* belief from?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: "Hi'y'amigo Amos !! Que pasa? What's this story of false arrest "on both sides of the 49th"?"
Methinks days after your question made my thread go "Poof" you must have figured out why I was falsely arrested by now N'esy Pas?
Terry Granger Reply to @Lou Parks: belief... I think you should read the CMJ a bit more frequently and look back at CBCs own reporting. In the US its also the 3rd leading cause of death. Funny thing I know you didn't research this before you replied to my comment. I let you sort out your own mind on that eh
William Hughes
Reply to @Beatrice Darlene: highly unlikely
William Hughes Reply to @Terry Granger: yep, its far more likely to be 1000 over two years
Terry Granger Reply to @William Hughes: nope... you don't understand what the intent is of all of this eh?
Gary Cormier
Reply to @Colin Johnston : If you eating a McDouble can affect my health, I'd call for Mcdistancing then, too.
David Amos Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks the cat must have your tongue again N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos:
Heyyy'amigo Amos !!
Que pasa? What happened?
I tried to read your response, but it was no longer there!
> Methinks days after your question made my thread go "Poof" ...
My question did that?
> ... you must have figured out why I was falsely arrested by now N'esy Pas?
Not really. I didn't.
But also, what's with that "N'esy Pas" stuff again?
Lou Parks
Reply to @William Hughes:
> ... its far more likely to be 1000 over two years
No waaay! No chance of that!
That's an *impossibly low* number.
There will be 1000 deaths in Ontario in one to two months
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos:
> Methinks the cat must have your tongue again N'esy Pas?
Never.
Usually, it's either work hours or my intermittently busted laptop — forcing me to browse and respond with a cell phone
BobbyTaylor
Reply to @Colin Johnston : - but you don;t catch obesity or cancer sitting next to a smoker or a Big Mac addict. You get a virus from sitting next to an infected person.
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks you knew how to Google David Amos Federal Court and simply read N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks Reply to @Terry Granger:
Reply to @Terry Granger:
> I think you should read the CMJ a bit more frequently and look back at CBCs own reporting.
Oh, I get it. You're not referring to what we normally mean by "medical errors".
Your figure is very high because it's from an advocacy group and it includes other causes of death such as infections acquired in the hospital.
> In the US its also the 3rd leading cause of death.
Well, that's the U.S.
Lou Parks
Reply to @Terry Granger:
Reply to @Terry Granger:
> I think you should read the CMJ a bit more frequently and look back at CBCs own reporting.
Oh, I get it. You're not referring to what we normally mean by "medical errors".
Your figure is very high because it's from an advocacy group and it includes other causes of death such as infections acquired in the hospital.
> In the US its also the 3rd leading cause of death.
Well, that's the U.S.
> Funny thing I know you didn't research this before you replied ...
Oh, I didn't need to. I already knew the numbers from *medical errors*. It's *very much* lower.
I thought you were referring to *medical errors*
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: > Methinks you knew how to Google David Amos Federal Court and simply read N'esy Pas?
I only vaguely remembered some kind of story about your member of parliament.
I'll look again when I have a chance.
But what's with that "N'esy Pas" nonsense again?
Lou Parks
Reply to @Terry Granger: > Funny thing I know you didn't research this before you replied ...
Oh, I didn't need to. I already knew the numbers from *medical errors*. It's *very much* lower.
I thought you were referring to *medical errors*
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Yea Right Why play dumb?
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos:
> Why play dumb?
About what? Your "N'esy Pas" nonsense?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Parks: Bank Fraud, Tax Fraud, Securities Fraud and Murder
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks you should not be surprised that my reply went "Poof" just like the other night N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Lou Parks: However methinks you do know I blog and tweet about everything N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos:
> Methinks you should not be surprised that my reply went "Poof" just like the other night ...
Oh, it's *your reply* that went "poof"
I thought it would be possible to word it in a way to get through.
I didn't expect any problems.
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos:
> However methinks you do know I blog and tweet about everything N'esy Pas?
Nope. I don't know about your blog, and I'm not on Twitter
So, what's with that "N'esy Pas" nonsense again?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: You know as well as I that the thread was deleted. Do tell what sort of Conservative dude plays politics on CBC on Saturday night unless he is paid to do so? Whereas you are oh so knowledgeable how many times did I run for public office against whom and why?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks everybody knows that they can read Tweets without joining in just like in here. If you truly don't know of my blog you should Google your name and mine sometime soon N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks after waiting for 10 hours or so for a reply from you the crickets have proven my point about you for me N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos:
> You know as well as I that the thread was deleted.
I didn't know for sure. I was using a cell phone. That makes it harder to figure things out.
> Do tell what sort of Conservative dude plays politics on CBC on Saturday night unless he is paid to do so?
I'm not a Conservative dude, and I don't play politics. I typically just bust faulty statements, beliefs, and attitudes.
> Whereas you are oh so knowledgeable ...
In the public interest
> ... how many times did I run for public office ...
Definitely too often
> ... against whom and why?
Don't know. I'll check later.
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos:
> Methinks everybody knows that they can read Tweets without joining in just like in here.
It seems to me we can't read *all* of the tweets.
> If you truly don't know of my blog ...
I don't
> ... you should Google your name and mine sometime soon N'esy Pas?
Alrighty then.
Oh! You have an earlier picture of me! When I was younger and cuter!
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks desperate Conservative Spindoctors do write desperate things N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos: Does your blog explain what your "N'esy Pas" nonsense is all about?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks you know the answer as well as I N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks its too bad so sad that the wannabe politcal pundit in you wishes to pretend that you don't understand how Twitter works in light of the irrefutable fact that nearly every politician on the planet uses it since your hero Trump made it the place to be N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos: > Methinks you know the answer as well as I N'esy Pas?
Firstly, youthinks wrongly. I can't remember the answer you gave.
Secondly, the public reading this doesn't know the answer, so in *its* interest, you could always explain it again
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos:
> Methinks its too bad so sad that the wannabe politcal pundit in you wishes to pretend that you don't understand how Twitter works in light of the irrefutable fact that nearly every politician on the planet uses it since your hero Trump made it the place to be N'esy Pas?
> ... you wishes to pretend that you don't understand how Twitter works ...
It's not pretending. You assume falsely a lot of things, I see. I can see how that would eventually get you in trouble.
> ... in light of the irrefutable fact that nearly every politician on the planet uses it ...
Doesn't matter. I don't read what politicians say unless it's the odd statement here and there in the mass media
> ... your hero Trump made it the place to be ...
Trump's not my hero, but the mass media isn't my hero either so when they attack him I look at whether they have a valid argument.
For a very long time, most of that time, they didn't
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks who can twist things and play dumb all you wish.You cannot deny that it was you who pounced on me a couple days ago teasing me and calling me your amigo.You acted like you knew everything and evaporated as soon as the thread went "Poof" CORRECT? Hence I figured that turnabout is fair game with a Conservative Spindoctor particularly before I sue the Crown again N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Lou Parks: "you could always explain it again"
Yea Right Methinks you hope I will go for your bait and this thread will go "Poof" too and save you some embarrassment N'esy Pas?
David Amos Content disabled Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks that should lay odds betting on the fact that you have Googled your name and mine by now N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos: > You cannot deny that it was you who pounced on me a couple days ago teasing me and calling me your amigo.
Correct. Your name is two letters short of "amigos", and that makes it irresistible to me, amigo Amos
> You acted like you knew everything ...
I don't see how you got *that* idea
> ... and evaporated as soon as the thread went "Poof" CORRECT?
I have no idea. Wasn't it late in the evening? I had to get up early the next day. And I had no idea your thread would go poof. Was it really *your* thread? You wrote to the *main* thread and a branch developed from there? I agree that it's upsetting when that happens. If someone else wrote to the main thread, then the erasing of the thread could be due to *their* text
> Hence I figured that turnabout is fair game with a Conservative Spindoctor ...
I don't see how you figure I would be a "Conservative Spindoctor", according to you
> ... before I sue the Crown again ...
Good luck. I typically support the little guy
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: > Methinks you hope I will go for your bait and this thread will go "Poof" too ...
Well *this* thread is a branch under Colin's text so it's unlikely to be entirely erased along with Colin's text. His text is fine.
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: FYI Two of my replies within this thread have gone "Poof" Methinks I am wasting my precious time to continue dicing with a desperate conservative spindoctor after having proven my point about you N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: > FYI Two of my replies within this thread have gone "Poof"
Oh. Sorry to hear that.
> Methinks I am wasting my precious time ...
Not necessarily. I got the chance to read them.
> ... continue dicing with a desperate conservative spindoctor ...
What makes you think I'd be a "conservative spindoctor", according to you?
> ... after having proven my point about you N'esy Pas?
Nope! You didn't prove any such thing.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Parks: BS Methinks nobody can be a dumb as you pretend to be You know exactly who I am and why I sued the Crown in 2015 (Federal Court File No. T-1557-15) You can't deny that simple fact That info was in the comment section of the CBC article I posted a link to found above N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Lou Parks: Two more just went "Poof"
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos: Sorry to hear that
We *are* wildly off-topic
Mine should've gone poof too
It looks like you have an angry follower flagging your texts — and that I've luckily been spared so far
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: NOPE Methinks you know who is doing it and why as well as I N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: BTW 2 more about you went the way of the Dodo Bird
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos: > Methinks you know who is doing it and why as well as I ...
Youthinks again wrongly — as I've come to expect from you
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: > BTW 2 more about you went the way of the Dodo Bird
Did I get to read them? Or were they captured straight off by the system?
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: You know, amigo Amos, you need to differentiate between your texts that trigger the AI right away and those that become visible for some time before going poof.
In the second case, it's either someone flagging, or perhaps the "controllers" come back to your texts at a later time — but I doubt that
Jack Smoles The 5-15,000 range over two assumes that "current measures" are enforced, i.e. total lock-down. It is not credible to believe that Ontario could stay in lock-down for such a long period, meaning that the realistic number is between 15-100,000 depending on how long the lock-down could be tangibly enforced.
Jack Smoles
Reply to @Jack Smoles: That's two years
Lou Parks
Reply to @Jack Smoles: > assumes that "current measures" are enforced
Not for the full two years.
They will probably switch approaches in the summer
Jack Smoles
Reply to @Lou Parks: That is not what was indicated, "current measures" are mentioned both in the graph itself and was stated several times by presenters.
Lou Parks
Reply to @Jack Smoles:
> "current measures" are mentioned both in the graph itself and was stated several times by presenters.
Yes but other outcome-equivalent measures will no doubt replace the current ones
Jack Smoles
Reply to @Lou Parks: Exactly, meaning, breaking the model or essentially making useless as a predictive tool. The very reason Tam doesn't want to release anything.
Lou Parks
Reply to @Jack Smoles:
> ... meaning, breaking the model or essentially making useless as a predictive tool.
Not during the coming months.
But when the measures get changed, in the summer, new projections will be made whose outcome will still fall inside the current range
> The very reason Tam doesn't want to release anything.
One reason they don't is they don't want to discuss the eventual changes in measures at this stage. Ford would not want to either.
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks I should not be surprised that the cat has your tongue again N'esy Pas?
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: Wrong again! I've been here the whole time, but slowed down by using a cell phone
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Yea Right you claimed that hours ago
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos:
I have an intermittently busted laptop. When it crashes, I switch to my phone. Recharge laptop, go back to laptop. Stuff like that
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks that feeble excuse does not fly anymore because you made a pile of comments AFTER you challenged me 10 hours ago N'esy pas Mr Conservative Spindoctor?
wayne rendell stay home peoples! Its not worth taking the chance of killing yourself or risking someones life
Lou Parks
Reply to @wayne rendell: We need more peoples to understand that
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Methinks Trudeau can teach peoplekind to understand what Conservatives need N'esy Pas?
William Whittingham (The Phantom) In some of the progressive forums I've been on, people are openly talking about "biowarfare"...
Well, CBC forum, any responses, hmmm?
Steve Bottrell
Reply to @William Whittingham (The Phantom): You aren't seeing that on progressive forums.
Lou Parks
Reply to @William Whittingham (The Phantom): War tactics don't usually include activating a grenade in your own house
Sally Casswell
Reply to @William Whittingham (The Phantom): " progressive forums"? Seriously?
Jack Smoles
Reply to @Lou Parks: Unless you are a New York realtor...
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: Say Hey to Rob Moore for me will ya? Methinks he can explain N'esy Pas?
Nighty Night
Ron Morrison
Reply to @William Whittingham (The Phantom):
What are 'progressive' forums? I know that there's Reformer forums & tv shows like Breetbart & Fox but I've never heard of a 'progressive' forum. What are progressives anyways? Progressive conservatives? Tell us more.
Steve Blast Reply to @Lou Parks: 2 words: "plausible deniability", not to mention beta testing...
David Amos
Reply to @Steve Blast: Trust that little Louie don't care about such things
Lou Parks
Reply to @Steve Blast: Plausible deniability doesn't include sinking your own economy, nor nuking your own cities, nor getting the world mad at you
Lou Parks
Reply to @David Amos: Big Lou *does* care about such things, and checked it out, and found only evidence of a natural origin for this virus
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: BS
Lou Parks Reply to @David Amos: Well, what's your ridiculous evidence of bio-warfare?
I have evidence of a natural origin for this virus
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: As the risk of being redundant Say Hey to Rob Moore for me will ya? Methinks he can explain who I am and what I do N'esy Pas?
Nighty Night
Nick Foley Is Wherry still telling stories?
Lou Parks
Reply to @Nick Foley: What do you mean?
David Amos
Reply to @Nick Foley: Methinks its just one of those things he does many fail to appreciate N'esy Pas?
Methinks Higgy et al already know that this is by far the most comical article about my neighbourbood that I have read on this topic yet Ya gotta love Fundy Royal N'esy Pas?
'There are risks' to going to rural areas and cottages, chief medical officer says
Local businesses bracing for a slow summer season
Hadeel Ibrahim· CBC News· Posted: Apr 05, 2020 10:00 AM AT
The Kingston Peninsula general store is preparing to see a lot less traffic in the coming months. (Courtesy of Kingston Peninsula Heritage Inc.)
Hospital facilities, ambulance wait times and possibly spreading COVID-19 are a few things Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health says people should consider before deciding to open up their cottages or travelling to rural areas.
"We are a small province, in terms of trying to maximize our resources to help get us through this pandemic," she said. "There are risks for people to move around in that way and to go to those rural areas."
Russell's national counterpart Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said last week people who live in urban areas should not travel to their camps or cottages or summer homes.
"Urban dwellers should avoid heading to rural properties, as these places have less capacity to manage COVID-19," Tam said.
Health experts agree the best way to battle COVID-19 is to stay put, and that might mean keeping away from camps and summer homes.
Expecting a lower turnout
Kingston Peninsula store manager Ed Larsen says he was already concerned about cottage owners bringing the infection. He says this is a good recommendation, if it will help shorten the lifespan of this pandemic.
"We just want to do whatever the health department is recommending and try to do more if we can," he said. "We gotta flatten this curve and make it go away."
"Would it affect us? It would, because a lot of folks come out here in the summer" he said. "But what we want to do is look after our folks that are out here, to keep everybody safe."
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said Friday people should think about the risks before heading to their cottage or any rural area. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Larsen's store is open every month of the year to serve locals who live on the peninsula year-round. He said some people aren't even getting on the ferry to the mainland out of fear of spreading the virus when they come back.
Larsen said inter-provincial and international travel restrictions meant he was already preparing for a large decrease in the number of people he sees.
Christine Burt runs a grocery store, restaurant and gas station in Jemseg near Grand Lake, where many people travel to spend their summers.
She said the possibility of cottagers and tourists bringing the virus is "in the back of your mind" for sure, even before they land in the province.
"I make sure I keep my distance … step back while the customer pays their bill," she said. She said it's going to be tough for anyone to be travelling for leisure if the restrictions don't get loosened by the summer. And if they do come, there might not be much to do.
"What are you going to do? Parks are closed, any amusement or entertainment, there's nothing going on," she said.
She said she's already had to lay off some staff, and she's hoping this doesn't go on for much longer.
"It's something we've never been through before and hopefully never have to go through again."
David Amos Methinks Higgy et al already know that this is by far the most comical article about my neighbourbood that I have read on this topic yet Ya gotta love Fundy Royal N'esy Pas?
Robert L. Brown you know i think i understand but when our leaders do not seem to get it i have a hard time believing any thing that comes out of there mouth . i do not under stand why i cannot get in my truck drive directly to my camp and keeping social distances from others who might want to stop in while driving by although who would be driving by a camp in the woods 2 miles from any houses
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Robert L. Brown: Where do you buy groceries when you're up at your camp? Where do you buy gas for the truck?
Danny Devo
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: You need a brain to stop spreading the virus. Unfortunately a lot of these summer camp jokers don't have one. They come to spread the virus in the coutryside.
Mac Isaac
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Some people think they understand Ms Werner but do they? Do they really? Do they understand if they're asymptomatic now but become ill after being at their camp for a while that they might not be able to get help because they're in "a camp in the woods 2 miles from any houses."
Danny Devo
Reply to @Mac Isaac: Next he'llbe at the corner store infecting people and contaminating countertops and door handles. These people are a disgrace. Stay home. Do not go to your gd camps
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: FYI This crybaby nonsense is about the area where I live. Methinks if this keeps up it seems that I may have to take my truck to Fat Fred City or your neighbourhood for milk and bread and then gas up to get back home N'esy Pas?
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Danny Devo: We don't obey you Mr. Devo. We have received a suggestion of sorts of we'll all do with it what we please.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Justin Gunther: *and we'll
Justin Gunther
Reply to @David Amos: I couldn't care less David because I wash my hands and practice distancing. Have a nice day.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Justin Gunther: I recommend a drive down Waterloo Row, it's very picturesque. Nice houses, riverfront, etc.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Methinks earlier you claimed to be on welfare and could only ride the bus to get groceries if you could afford it N'esy Pas?
Danny Devo
Low info summer camp no minds seem to think it is fine to come out to the country and risking the lives of people who live here year round. Spreading the virus in our stores, gas stations and overloading our frail rural medical system. Anyone, any non resident, who shows up at their summer camp should be given a 10,000 fine for every day they are there.
Nicolas Krinis
Reply to @Danny Devo: You're hysterical. Get help.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: Mass-psychosis, from coast to coast. Caused by our elected and appointed representatives.
Donald Smith
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: good one lolololol
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Surely you jest about the folks who take care of your welfare so well.
Danny Devo
Is Higgs asleep again? What about Russell? Why is there not a directive to stop these summer camp zombies and weekend warriors from infesting the countryside at their camps and at local stores open for people who live here year-round, doing eveything they can to avoid getting this virus. These urban rejects need to stay in their towns and cities. Is Higgs too senile to lead? Sure looks like it. What is he waiting for this joker?
Dan Lee
Reply to @Danny Devo: Whoaaaaaa man.....where were you and Higgs and Russell when all them vacationers where on their way back......dint seem to worry too much them.......oh just go home and isolate............Bull...........
Lou Bell
Reply to @Danny Devo: Because You people in the country aren't doing a very good job supporting your country stores ! If it wasn't for the people from the urban centers in the summer months many would be out of business !! There's no monopoly on where people are / are not allowed to go in the province , although you somehow don't seem to understand that !!
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you hero Higgy and all his buddies in Forest City are welcome back to their camps on the Yankee border N'esy Pas?
Donald Smith
Isn't our PM'S Wife and children currently in their Summer Home ?? If so, a rule for some and not others lol.
Nicolas Krinis
Reply to @Donald Smith: Leave it to government to screw thing up.
Donald Smith
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: lolololo
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @Donald Smith: Oh sure, but the kids go back and forth and she and he won't be meeting again that much!
Gil Murray
Reply to @Donald Smith: There are always different rules for the privileged. Canadian's seem to believe this is only the case to the south of us. Few are more privileged in this country than the Trudeau family.
David Amos
Reply to @Donald Smith: Good Point
Michael durant
ah... summer at the lake...finally. got to get outta this place to the lake. Mental health deteriorates if we do not. Besides the wife says, don't start arguing with the wife, not good.
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @Michael durant: LOL
David Amos
Reply to @Michael durant: Methinks whereas Higgy and the RCMP claim I am crazy and the shrinks can't get paid to check to see it it is true or not because their has been a "Stay" placed on my Medicare Card Its best that I just sit back and enjoy the circus going on and on and on while waiting for the Federal Court to open again and begin some more important litigation about taxation etc N'esy Pas?
Justin Gunther
Why, what will happen,? If you get some respiratory symptoms are you going to insta-keel over? Is that your medical opinion? Can't they or their SO just drive them to the hospital? Or maybe they can just call 811 and be told there's no test and to shelter in place?
Fearmongering nonsense.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Well put sir
Les Cooper
Reply to @Justin Gunther: really eh.Ill take my chances! Lol They should be thinking of all the suicides that are going to happen with all the isolation and job loses! And boycott China to avoid all their dirty diseases!
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: the self-professed lawyer and now doctor has spoken.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you know as well as I that I am a very Proud Layman without a Medicare Card who loves to sue lawyers particularly ones who support the SANB and Higgy's denial of my right to Health Care N'esy Pas?
Nicolas Krinis
Α lot of the directives we hear from these experts is devoid of sense. If a person or a family self-isolates for 2 weeks and goes to their cottage and stays put, how can this put them or the rural community at risk, especially if they are following social distancing rules?
Marc Bourque
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: But how many will self isolate.....thats the issue.There are moronic people who live among us.....
Robert Brannen
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: This can put the rural areas at risk because the urban have a higher population density, therefore those going to the rural areas have had a higher probability of having been exposed to the virus.
Mandel Rooney
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: The healthcare facilities in rural communities are not designed to handle peak load, especially at this time of year. If you self-quarantine for 2 weeks then wander out in public you could get the virus. The you will put more burden on the limited health facilities there. If you self quarantine in an urban centre and get sick, the facilities are much more capable of handling an influx of patients.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Marc Bourque: So the question becomes; Where do you want the moronic people to be? In a highly populated area, or in a remote woodland setting?
David Amos
Reply to @Nicolas Krinis: Methinks common sense is not supposed to be employed in the this wicked game. Just obey the rules of Higgy's police state or you will be fined bigtime N'esy Pas?
Graeme Scott
I don't see this as being quite as much of an issue here in NB as places like BC or Ontario where people own vacation property 100's of kilometers from home.. Many cottages here are less than 30-40 minutes from people's main home. Very often people use the same grocery stores, same healthcare facilities etc etc. as they do when living "in town"
David Amos
Reply to @Graeme Scott: BINGO
Canuckguy NB
Reply to @Graeme Scott: Exactly, for example people who have their homes and cottages in the same geographical health area(think of Bathurst NB and the cottages at Youghal which is even in the city limits), I don't see any problem, same goes for people with cottages along Salmon beach, most of whom are from Gloucester County.
Robert Brannen
There might not be much to do? That is the whole point of going to the cottage, getting away from it all.
David Amos
Reply to @Robert Brannen: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir You are paying the double taxes on it hence methinks you might as well enjoy getting away from it all as the Nanny State goes crazy. Just stock up with groceries and bring extra gas etc before you go then stay away from the local crybabies as you you enjoy the spring season that has finally upon us N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Even as it appears the Premier and Chief Medical Officer are doing a GREAT JOB in handling the virus and with the ADVICE they're giving re summer homes and cottages , there are (and always will be ) those who THINK ( and it appears with what I'm not sure ! ) they could do a better job ! As the saying goes , " better to keep ones mouth shut , say nothing , and let people THINK your an i di o t than to open, it say lots , and let them KNOW you're one " !
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Lou DumBell: How about you follow your own advice?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander too N'esy Pas?
Dan Armitage
Heres an eye opener for you all. So while we are the soldiers and supposedly majority of our army are following orders our great two health care system showed its ugly head. This is sad. Horizon health Vitalit'e health are in the process of turning the Moncton coliseum into a make shift hospital for hopefully not an increase in cases at the apex of the virus. During the set up Vitalit'e Health decided that they no longer wanted to join hands with Horizon health at the coliseum insisting they want to have thier own section of the coliseum so now after they stomped thier feet we have a section A horizon health and a section B Vitalit'e health. “a leopard never changes its spots”
"This is a big WOW you got to be kidding me"
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Dan Armitage: amit it, the virus is not the war you're fighting at all. Your obsession is showing.
Canuckguy NB
Reply to @Dan Armitage:
Canuckguy NB
Reply to @Canuckguy NB: Well of course, you can't have the English speakers infecting the French speakers. Must not socialize and mingle the language groups.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks your fancy red SANB knickers are in quite a knot and they are showing bigtime as well N'esy Pas?
Michel Forgeron
Reply to @Dan Armitage: Makes sense to me, they are two distinct entities. Having two sections will ensure all patients get to communicate in their own language. Plus not one of the two organizations is going to allow the other to run their affairs.
Michel Forgeron
Reply to @Dan Armitage: "During the set up Vitalit'e Health decided that they no longer wanted to...". Evidence please ??
Sources say B.C. Premier John Horgan was forcefully against the Emergencies Act on a call with other premiers, calling it a distraction. (Mike McArthur/CBC)
The Council of the Federation can be divided on partisan and regional lines, but yesterday Canada's 13 premiers came to a quick consensus on a key message to the federal government: don't push the Emergencies Act on us.
On Thursday, the federal government sent a letter to provincial and territorial governments consulting on the never-before-used act, a necessary step if Ottawa wanted to pull the trigger on declaring a public welfare emergency amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This whole idea of the letter was pretty quickly shut down," said one source close to the talks, speaking on the condition they not be named.
The premiers talked among themselves after the letter was sent out and ahead of their call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Thursday evening. Opinions ranged from deep frustration to indifference, according to provincial officials.
B.C Premier John Horgan — whose province has shown progress in flattening the curve of its coronavirus outbreak — was so angry he used an expletive and called the ordeal a waste of time, said sources.
On the call with the prime minister, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, chair of the Council of the Federation, questioned why the federal government keeps raising the act, which the provinces consider a non-starter.
Trudeau repeatedly told the premiers he doesn't want to invoke the act and was looking at it as a contingency measure, not because the federal government sees a need for it, said sources.
"Nobody wants to see this," said one source.
Act gives federal government sweeping powers
The Emergencies Act — which replaced the War Measures Act in 1988 — gives the federal government sweeping powers to regulate or prohibit travel, requisition and use property, order qualified people to provide essential services, regulate the distribution of goods, resources and services, and establish emergency shelters and hospitals.
In recent days there has been talk of using it to ensure supplies and equipment are deployed to where they're most needed across the country. One of the federal government's concerns has been about allocating supplies for Indigenous communities.
Under the act, Ottawa could redirect medical supplies — masks, ventilators and COVID-19 testing devices — to regions in dire need.
The premiers pushed back on that notion on the call and said supply chains have been secured as more Canadian companies gear up to make personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators domestically.
Economy, support for essential workers raised
The provinces and territories have already taken extraordinary steps in calling states of emergency to restrict movements and close businesses in the bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
No one can think of anything the federal government would use the Emergencies Act for that would do more good than harm, said one source.
WATCH |Trudeau lays groundwork for never-used Emergencies Act:
Sources tell CBC News that the federal government has sent a letter to provinces and territories as part of the consultation period — a required step before triggering a public welfare emergency. 6:21
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Trudeau talked about the importance of having discussions regarding the Emergencies Act.
"He encouraged premiers to share their views on how the act could be used, if required. However, he noted that current measures and the great collaboration between governments are helping Canada fight the pandemic," says the readout of the call.
The two-hour phone call between the premiers and the prime minister then shifted to concerns about the economy and what happens when the health pandemic ends, especially in the oil-dependent provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Sources said there was also talk of sending money to the provinces to support benefits for essential workers, but the details still have to be hammered out.
6010 Comments I refreshed the page and the tally has shrunk to 5041 Comments
5072 Comments
David Amos WOW I refresh the page and the change in the tally says nearly 1000 opinions went poof. Methinks lots of folks must be upset by this news N'esy Pas?
David Scott Barclay Imagine if everything the Provinces needed had to pass through the tangled, convoluted Ottawa bureaucracy, and get lost in dead-ends?
David Amos
Reply to @David Scott Barclay: Methinks that happens every day of the week all day long for we the little people the bureaucracy purportedly serves N'esy Pas?
Rae Nilsson The Quarantine Act has already given the RCMP power to enter your home and arrest you WITHOUT a warrant according to the G&Mail.
David Amos
Reply to @Rae Nilsson: Methinks if the RCMP ever tried to pull such nonsense there will be some very interesting litigation in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
Henri Hudson Glad to see the provincial premiers send a clear message to this drama instructor. United they stand.
Mike Morris
Reply to @Henri Hudson: As apposed to the failed insurance salesman Scheer who lost an election he might have won, but did't.
robert plant
Reply to @Mike Morris: But, but Scheer. This is all on the failure of the liberals.
Kat Burd
Reply to @robert plant: Failure? As the Federal Government's handling of this crisis gains support across the country and the CONnedgretaion here stays in denial?
Henri Hudson
Reply to @Kat Burd: From illegal blockades derailing the economy, to an anti oil agenda to pandering to climate radicals this government has only begun to sink our country into a abyss that I’m not sure we’ll recover from.
James MacKinnon
Reply to @Henri Hudson: 2020 price tag for Justin's solution (sarcasm) is $100 B of added on deficit for 2020...those are LIB numbers folks. That, Henri, should be more than enough to ensure the collapse of Canada as you envisioned.
Andy. Radtke
Reply to @Mike Morris: Paid for by the LPC or the Trudeau Foundation?
David Amos
Reply to @Henri Hudson: Methinks Trudeau the Younger is way behind the eight ball in this wicked game. Higgy et al already have their own little Police States N'esy Pas?
Elton Elm Reply to @Henri Hudson: “molon labe” day the premiers to the feds
Lou Parks
Reply to @Henri Hudson: The premiers probably have 30-60 days to come around on this. The Emergency Act will probably be needed
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Parks: So says a liberal spindoctor
Robert Jones Reply to @Kat Burd: "As the Federal Government's handling of this crisis "
Oh, you mean watching what Donald Trump does and then duplicating it a week or two later?
Yeah...that's not very impressive, really...
David Amos
Reply to @Robert Jones: Methinks its rather obvious you are not the Robert Jones I know. Perhaps if you want a little chuckle sometime you should Google your name and mine. Other folks should too N'esy Pas?
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province sees 1 new case, recoveries reach 60
Three people remain in ICU, 10 hospitalized in total
CBC News· Posted: Apr 10, 2020 1:39 PM AT
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, announced in a statement Friday there was one new confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswick has one new case of COVID-19, bringing the total to 112, the provincial government said Friday.
A news release says the new case is a person 60 to 69 years old in Zone 2, or the Saint John region. The release said of the 112 cases, 63 are travel-related, 35 are close contacts of confirmed cases, six are the result of community transmission and eight remain under investigation.
Sixty people have recovered since the outbreak began, the release said. Ten people have been hospitalized in total, and five were still in hospital Friday. Three of them are in an intensive care unit.
In the release, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell reminded people how important it is to stay home this long weekend.
"It is difficult to not visit our parents, other family members and friends but it would be more difficult to see them become sick because of a decision that was made not to stay home," she was quoted as saying in the release.
Premier Blaine Higgs echoed the recommendation in the release.
"By staying at home and practising physical distancing, you are making a difference," he was quoted as saying.
Lack of enforcement clarity
Local police forces and the RCMP will be out this long weekend enforcing the physical-distancing rules related to COVID-19, educating residents and handing out tickets or fines to people found violating orders related to the province's emergency declaration.
Meanwhile, Public Health recommends limiting non-essential travel within the province. It's not something that is clearly outlined in the state of emergency order, leaving some residents confused as to what they can and can't do.
"What is actually a violation of the order versus what's just not following Public Health
recommendations can sometimes get a little bit muddied," said Jamie McConnell, a constitutional lawyer based in Saint John.
McConnell said the lack of clarity raises questions about what police are being told they can and can't do, too.
"There can be concerns over increased police powers when you have a state of emergency in effect," said
McConnell said police are allowed to pull motorists over anytime under the Motor Vehicle Act, but there's nothing in the state of emergency order that requires people in the car to answer questions, unless they are coming from out-of-province.
"There's nothing in the mandatory order that says police can stop you and you have to answer questions related to COVID-19," he said.
RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouelette has previously said that officers' first impulses will be to educate, rather than hand out tickets and fines.
McConnell said that doesn't mean people shouldn't use their common sense or not take recommendations about staying home seriously.
He also expects the mandatory order will be continuously updated, as Public Health figures out the best practice for certain situations, such as carpooling to work.
Hunting, fishing season delay doesn't affect treaty rights
The delay in the recreational hunting and fishing seasons will not impact First Nations and their Aboriginal and treaty rights, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development.
"However, everyone is asked to stay home and to only go out for work or essentials, avoid any non-essential travel, and practise physical distancing," Kelly Cormier said in an email Friday.
The provincial government announced Thursday it was imposing a two-week delay at minimum before re-evaluating the situation on April 30.
Should garden centres be deemed essential?
Farmer Brown's owner Lisa Brown says she believes garden centres should be deemed an essential service because of the demand for vegetable seeds and plants.
"We've had so many calls from people wanting to start their first garden, to pre-order their vegetable plants, it's just through the roof."
Brown said many people are concerned about food security.
"People want to grow their own food and they need the advice, they need the seeds, they need the starter plants, all those things."
Brown added that to date, she has sold close to 300 vegetable planters.
"That's how much people are concerned about food."
Because of the demand, Brown has hired someone to deal with the phone calls and keep an inventory of what has been ordered.
What is usually a busy time for planting has turned into a busy time for sales. "We're trying to do both at the same time."
Brown is now seeking clarity on whether garden centres can be considered essential and able to open during the state of emergency declared to control the spread of COVID-19.
New Brunswick has felt like a virtual ghost town since the state of emergency was declared and renewed. But who decided what had to close and what workers had to go home? 2:27
Brown said if garden centres were open so people could purchase flowers and shrubs for their property, people could more easily stay home.
Brown said her MLA toldl her garden centres could open as long as they maintained social distancing, but she wants the province to make this clear.
Calls to delay lobster fishing
Maritime and Quebec lobster processors say Ottawa should immediately delay fishing in all spring lobster fishing zones in the Gulf of St. Lawrence amid concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak and the cratering markets.
Twenty-four processors from the four provinces signed a letter to the premiers and Fisheries and Oceans Canada that also calls for financial aid for the industry.
The group called for a minimum two-week delay two weeks ago, but processors now say the situation has deteriorated.
"Unfortunately, the crisis has taken a significant turn for the worse and market conditions have degraded even more," the letter dated April 9 said. "A perfect storm is gathering in Canada's lobster industry."
Lobster processors want Ottawa to delay the start of the spring fishing season in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (CBC)
Processors say they're concerned about being able to provide safe working conditions for their 10,000 workers.
"Our Canadian workers and their families are justifiably concerned about being called to work on May 1."
The group is also calling for a "significant industry contingency plan with a broad suite of support measures," including extending employment insurance benefits.
Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday he wants the federal government to delay spring fishing.
"But I think if we had a choice it would be delayed at least for a few weeks and maybe maybe a little longer."
If the season is delayed, and especially if it's cancelled, Higgs said he would expect the federal government to provide compensation to fishers.
The federal government has postponed snow crab fishing in the gulf after consulting industry representatives.
N.B. farmers want action plan
Provincial farmers want to see an emergency plan on local food developed to improve market access and public food security, according to the president of the New Brunswick division for the National Farmers Union.
Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson told CBC News this week there are separate conversations happening in the province around helping farmers bring their products to market and what needs to be done to ensure households in need can put food on the table.
"We need to bring those conversations togethera and use New Brunswick farms to feed New Brunswick people," Frazer-Chiasson said.
Information Morning - Moncton
New Brunswick farmers call for emergency plan on local food
Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson is president of the National Farmers Union New Brunswick division. 5:54
In the weeks since restrictive emergency measures were ordered, food banks have described the deficit they're facing in supply and funding, and gaps in food security could widen in a prolonged lockdown.
Frazer-Chiasson said with government assistance, local farmers could help fill those holes. She proposed changes to regulations and quotas for small-scale operations as well as ensuring direct-to-consumer access so more products can reach the public.
She said local farms could also develop agreements with food banks, nursing homes and hospitals . Some local farmers face serious economic hurdles during the pandemic, from labour issues to cash flow, and the government aid packages are not tailored to farms.
For instance, the federal wage subsidy program requires businesses to show a 30 per cent loss of revenue, a tricky situation for farmers to report in the short term. Disruption to operations on the farm will result in lost revenue months and months from now when produce is ready to sell, she said.
With files from Hadeel Ibrahim, Danielle McCreadie, Gail Harding and Colin McPhail
96 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Methinks most importantly the people who are employed to be concerned about our investments and pensions etc should have asked Higgy et al why the lawyers working for the Yankee SEC were calling me last week N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks Higgy et all should at least agree that is one many clever lawyers I predicted would step up to the plate N'esy Pas?
"Meanwhile, Public Health recommends limiting non-essential travel within the province. It's not something that is clearly outlined in the state of emergency order, leaving some residents confused as to what they can and can't do.
"What is actually a violation of the order versus what's just not following Public Health recommendations can sometimes get a little bit muddied," said Jamie McConnell, a constitutional lawyer based in Saint John.
McConnell said the lack of clarity raises questions about what police are being told they can and can't do, too.
"There can be concerns over increased police powers when you have a state of emergency in effect," said"
john smith Reply to @David Amos: it is what ever the population allows the mounties do thats why its ambiguous
David Amos
Reply to @john smith: True
David Amos Methinks some of Maritime lobster processors must recall our conversation last week N'esy Pas?
Jim Cyr We could certainly begin to very gradually lift the lockdown right now. But here’s the problem with that: people are generally idiots who are not very responsible. So the second you loosen the lockdown a little, 20% of the population will rush right out and wreck the whole war on Coronavirus. And we will be right back where we started. That’s why Higgs and other leaders are going so slow in loosening things.
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Methinks many would agree that Higgy has no clue what to do and when or why. Thats why he keeps claiming to follow Russell's advice N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks its interesting that Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson the current president of the National Farmers Union New Brunswick and her partner a former president of the SANB don't call or write since Janet Matheson and I first crossed paths with them many years ago N'esy Pas?
Justin Gunther Let's completely wreck the economy because the generation that got $30 unionized labor jobs right out of high school, and who have all of the retirement savings and own their houses mortgage-free are scared and want to stop the world for 18 months. Again I'm not trying to be insensitive but let's get real, who really wants to wake up and smell the commmiesocialism?
Let's get real NB it appears things are trending downwards and it wasn't even that bad to begin with.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Justin Gunther: $30/hr
Gil Murray
Reply to @Justin Gunther: You keep saying you don't want to be insensitive and yet here you are. Why are you targeting people who have paid off mortgages as if that is a bad practice? Perhaps focus your innate criticism on the many people across all generations who have built or purchased homes far beyond what they ever needed or could really afford, purchase multiple vehicles every 3 or 4 years, have massive LOC and CC debt, etc. They are the ones experiencing hard times trying to meet their massive debt payments on a very generous pandemic EI benefit because they spent far beyond their means.
David Amos
Reply to @Gil Murray: Good Point
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Well put too
David Amos Reply to @Gil Murray: Perhaps folks should Google "Harper and Bankers"
john smith Reply to @Justin Gunther: i dont think the people want that i am very confident that this is top down driven and on recomendations by the same folks that want this to last until we are mandated to inject their medicine
Shawn McShane You can't catch the same cold twice. Corona virus. We need antibody test. There is no vaccine for the common cold/corona. This is a fools game. Get the antibody test and lets get to work. Those with underlying illness and the elderly stay home. We will work and pay taxes to support you.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Shawn McShane: The method Sweden has chose to deal with this. But the antibody test is a must as soon as available for all
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Ray Oliver: So you say EH Mr Jones?
Ray Oliver
Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Who?
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Ray Oliver: You
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: And its Constable Oliver to you. You should start CCing me in all your fascinating emails you send to anyone who will listen
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks its illegal to impersonate a cop N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Me thinks.. tell me more law dog. How many of these big cases you filed you actually won?
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks I will call this dude to see what he thinks of you N'esy Pas?
The RCMP is starting a new way of issuing summary offence tickets.
As of Monday, RCMP Traffic Services in North Eastern Nova Scotia, including Bible Hill, the South Shore, Bridgewater and Cape Breton have been using a new electronic, or ESOT, system. Nova Scotia is the first province in Canada to implement the program.
"Today I had the opportunity to try this out and this system will improve the speed and the performance of our officers," said Insp. Ray Oliver, officer in charge of traffic services for the province.
"This will improve the safety of the public and our front-line officers."
Oliver said the system will help officers reduce the time spent writing tickets on roadsides. He said it can take upwards of 20 minutes for one ticket to be written and inputted into the computer. However, with the new system, that number can be down to about six minutes.
"Instead of manually writing everything down, the officer can take a driver's license and swipe it into a reader in the car and all the information is automatically uploaded," said Oliver.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: I bet with you he will pick right up on the first ring. Glad to know I've got you all worked up in that shack in the middle of nowhere your hiding in
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks you are the dude who should be nervous N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Sometimes I go by Inspector Gadget too or Lieutenant Dan. Give them a ring will you?
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Ray Oliver: Just yesterday you were Mr Jones Methinks desperate people do desperate things N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: Terrified. Between your knowledge of the law and close friendly contacts in law enforcement I'll be tossing and turning all night!
Ray Oliver
Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: No I think bored people are having too much fun with someone like yourself who always has to have the last word and usually those words are as backwards as they come.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks you are trying to get my goat but you dudes know there is no goat to be had. In my humble opinion only a cop can have his ID changed while his comments remain the same Johnny Jakobs noticed that yesterday as well N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @David Amos: BTW All the Feds on both sides of the 49th know that I blog and Tweet as i post
Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: My guess is if they even track you that closely my tone is clearly sarcasm to wind a guy up right. In no way did I use a joking tone of being a constable to gain leverage from it. They're smarter than you.
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks the real question is do you really think I am that dumb N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Ray Oliver: Trust that RCMP are very well aware of my connection with Staff Sgt Jones
Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: All that unnecessary typing of methinks and nesy pas. Give the thumbs a little break!
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks if you had bothered to notice I already did N'esy Pas/
Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: You're fun. I like you.
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: BS Furthermore things are already going "Poof" Methinks it was wise of me to blog it all first N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks the editing is desperately comical N"esy Pas?
Johnny Jakobs Delay the lobster season till summer, after they molted. The foreign buyers will love the soft shell, no meat bugs and will probably pay top dollar.... Total sarcasm. Delay it to long and the fishers may miss it.
Andrew Clarkson
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Maybe they could give all the lobsters to the food banks? They are going to need a lot of food!
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Andrew Clarkson: Bugs and all send them to China as a THANK YOU at top dollar!
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Notice Mr Jones is bacK?
David Amos Reply to @Ray Oliver: Nighty Night Mr Jones
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Later Gator!
Johnny Jakobs
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: no jimmy jones sightings here
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: His comment is above yours
David Amos Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Methinks you should review our words N'esy Pas?
Chantal LeBouthi Have a great weekend NB poeples the majority are staying homes and doing physical distancing even if is hard especially for teenagers and young adults
To seniors like the Queen said we will meet again don’t worry
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I believe Chantal was not comparing seniors to the Queen. She was quoting what the Queen said earlier in her address to the country and wishing the same kind thoughts for our seniors.
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Queen of the greatest Commonwealth in the world ! So mant great countries , England , Ireland , Scotland, Canada, Australia , you know all the biggies ! And their Commonwealth Games are 2nd to none ! Not like some wannabes with small countries ( and even provinces ) trying to buy relevance !
Lou Bell
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: No , not your God , hers !
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Then you admit there's more than one? - All fabrications, just like the the monarchy, aka the malarkey. Someone believing that someone has a god-given right to rule over us trying to judge my intellect. Good one!
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Lou Bell: I wouldn't count on God ;)
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Louu Bell Bell I'm an idiot: Worry pas, she can't.
David Amos
Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: Methinks nobody cares if you can count or not N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks not one soul is worried about you N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: Keep guessing.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks I don't have to guess when there is nobody to name N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: Guess again.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks if you don't have a real name you don't exist N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: For the record I did not bother with the circus today until I noticed mean old Fred made your words go "Poof" Methinks that was unusual of him to do with one of his pen pals N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps Reply to @Lou DumBell: Why should I try to keep up to what an old lady said on the other side of the pond? Which god should save her? - Zeus Bacchus, whatever? There, I posted it again just for you!
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Too Too Funny Indeed
Methinks you SANB dudes must have enjoyed the fact that I sued that lady while running in the election of the 42nd Parliament N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks your fellow Quebecker talks just like our Queen N'esy Pas?
"Quebec's schools could still reopen in early May, Premier François Legault said Friday, citing the latest numbers on the coronavirus pandemic as further evidence the first wave is stabilizing.
"When Quebec is united as one, nothing can get in our way," he said, in perhaps the most positive remarks since his daily press conferences on the pandemic began.
"We Quebecers know one thing: In the heart of winter, we still know that spring will follow. We know better days are coming."
David Amos Reply to @Toby Tolly: Methinks I made decent use of your tip N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Methinks the cat must still have your tongue N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you must enjoy going "Poof" too N'esy Pas?
Chantal LeBouthi Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I will take our Majesty kind words any days of the week That you prefer a republic like the US is your choice
Im sticking with the monarchy
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: I despise the separatists. I want a united bilingual Canada, from coast to coast to coast. "Ad Mari Usque ad Mare".
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: nope, more like Germany, Ireland and many more better examples than the charade next door.
David Amos Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks it would not be wise to believe anything you claim until you get a real name N'esy Pas?
Premier Blaine Higgs has been providing daily news updates throughout the work week since the outbreak started last month. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
Police and Public Safety officers have the power to pull vehicles over during the COVID-19 state of emergency to check whether the occupants are complying with the rules, Premier Blaine Higgs said Wednesday.
"We are in unusual times right now," he told reporters during the daily update in Fredericton.
"And although the directive is not to say, you know, you can't go from point A to point B within our province, the directive is, we encourage people to stay home and use their common sense and go for essential travel only."
Higgs said he personally commends the initiative being shown by officers to understand where people are going and why because that information will help the government make better decisions about what changes are required to limit possible exposure to the virus.
"The more the safety officers can glean from people, I'm not going to complain about it."
New Brunswick has three new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the province's total to 108, the chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell announced on Wednesday.
Six COVID-19 patients remain in hospital, including four in the intensive care unit.
The new cases include:
Zone 3, the Fredericton region: two people in their 60s.
Zone 6, the Acadie-Bathurst region, one person in their 80s — the first case in that region.
Three new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Wednesday, including the first case in the Bathurst region. (CBC)
Higgs said officers might pull over carloads of people, for example, to ensure the occupants are all members of the same household because otherwise they would be in violation of the requirement to keep a physical distance of at least six feet or about two metres.
"If someone … [drives] around their community, they don't get out of the car, they're family, they're not friends and neighbours, just travelling — you know are we going to fine them for that? No, we're not going to find them for that.
"But there is a common sense element here," he said. "Don't take anything for granted, don't take any chances."
He believes there have been instances of people travelling through different communities — and even attempting to cross New Brunswick borders — for something as basic as a cup of coffee.
Why would you put yourself at risk or why would you put others at risk at a time like this?
- Blaine Higgs, premier
"That's not an essential service. Maybe some think it is, but basically right now it's not." The province has also been getting questions from "different communities" about what to do about unwanted visitors, Higgs said.
Although he doesn't want to put up borders between communities, people have to start using their judgment and stop making unnecessary visits to communities they don't live in.
"Why would you put yourself at risk or why would you put others at risk at a time like this?"
Here is a roundup of other developments.
Weekend could be 'turning point,' Higgs says
Of the 108 cases, 60 are travel-related, 33 are close contacts of confirmed cases, six are the result of community transmission and nine remain under investigation.
The province continues to do better than many jurisdictions in terms of the number of cases and hospitalizations, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell told reporters during the daily update in Fredericton.
It would be tragic to see an upsurge in cases next week if New Brunswickers ignore the advice of Public Health to stay home and choose instead to gather over Easter weekend, she said.
"You may think, 'It's just my family,' or 'It's just my friends.' But the COVID-19 virus may be an uninvited guest at your table, brought along by someone who has only mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. Do not let that happen."
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, held a briefing with reporters Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Government of New Brunswick)
In-person religious services and recreational events are also prohibited, but Premier Blaine Higgs said he is aware of at least two ATV rallies planned for the weekend.
He called them a "mistake."
"A rally exposes you to friends and neighbours unnecessarily," he said.
Fifty of the 108 infected people have recovered to date, "which shows we are gradually improving," said Higgs.
But "that could all be lost this weekend," he said.
He cited the example of a funeral in Newfoundland, where one person with no evident symptoms quickly multiplied to 143 cases.
"This long weekend could be the turning point," he stressed. This is not the time to be complacent.
"We must stay strong, stay focused and stay home."
Enforcement officers will be out over the weekend, Higgs said. The goal continues to be to educate, he said.
"Ideally, no one will be ticketed. Ideally, everyone will be following the rules."
Passover Seder will be different
For the Jewish community, Passover starts Wednesday at sundown and lasts for eight days.
Most Jewish families celebrate Seder, where they retell the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Then, they take part in a special meal.
Afterwards, families sing traditional songs.
But this year might look a bit different.
"The fact that we cannot gather as a family anymore is going to be hard," said Francis Weil, president of Tiferes Israel Synagogue in Moncton.
New Brunswick pharmacists imposed a 30-day limit to prescription refills last month. (Elise Amendola/The Associated Press)
"Only the family [who] lives together can do it. But brothers and sisters cannot get together and that's going to be very hard this year."
Typically, observant Jews aren't supposed to use technology during this holiday, but Weil said it's a way for family to still be together during the traditional holiday.
He was celebrating Passover over Skype on Wednesday afternoon with his daughter and her family, who live in France.
"The important thing is to remain safe."
Pharmacists urge people to respect 30-day prescription rule
The New Brunswick Medical Society and New Brunswick Pharmacists' Association are urging residents to respect efforts to limit prescriptions to 30 days.
The 30-day limit on prescription refills was imposed by pharmacists in late March to protect the province's drug supply.
"We understand that this is a challenging, frustrating time for New Brunswickers," the two groups said in a news release Wednesday.
"Please do not direct your frustration on the health-care professionals who are doing their best to take care of your needs and those of your families while risking their own health and safety, as well as that of their loved ones."
All 233 pharmacies in the province have stayed open during the pandemic, medical health officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said Wednesday.
In the last few weeks, New Brunswick pharmacists have seen a surge in demand for medical supplies and medications as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Francis Weil, president of Tiferes Israel Synagogue in Moncton, talks about Passover in a Skype interview with CBC News. (Photo: CBC News)
The news release said health-care professionals are working together to try to ensure medications are available for all patients.
Once the pharmacy regulatory authorities across Canada are confident in the security of the drug supply, pharmacies will be able to return to normal practice.
"By limiting supply to 30 days, pharmacists are taking a proactive step to ensure their patients continue to have access to their medications," she said.
Expiry date for lotto tickets extended
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation has extended the expiry date for winning tickets.
In a release issued Tuesday, the corporation granted players an extra six months to claim prizes for tickets that have an expiry date from March 17, 2020, to Sept. 17, 2020.
ALC closed its prize claims offices to help curb the spread of COVID-19, but it "recognizes that these measures have affected some players' ability to claim prizes."
In addition to draw-based games, the extension also applies to scratch tickets.
Tech group develops COVID-19 tracking tool for Saint John food program
A volunteer tech group in Saint John is developing a tracking tool to help a local food program see who their employees are coming into contact with.
Civic Tech, a group that tries to come up with solutions to community problems, has created a tool to assist in tracking who relies on the Greater Saint John Emergency Food Program.
COVID-19 has led pharmacists to limit prescription refills to a 30-day supply. (NIAID-RML/The Associated Press/The Canadian Press)
This will help the non-profit organization track the potential spread of COVID-19 in the area.
"You want to be able to track who's touched what in an infectious disease situation," said Lorna Brown, a member of Civic Tech.
About 10 people are involved in building the tool, which could be used by Public Health for contact tracking.
Before Civic Tech came up with the idea, the Greater Saint John Emergency Food Program was using an Excel spreadsheet to track who had packed food bags, who delivered them and who received them.
Civic Tech is hoping to deploy the tool in the coming weeks.
RV company donates vehicles to health-care workers
An RV dealership in Moncton is donating motor-homes to frontline health-care workers needing to self-isolate.
"I just feel like it's something that we have to do," said Matthew Brown, general manager and owner of Pine Acres Moncton.
Brown saw a Facebook post from another RV company in Canada that was offering up its RVs to health-care workers, and decided he should do the same.
So far, 40 people have expressed interest in acquiring an RV.
Brown plans to restrict distribution to people living in the Moncton area.
The RVs come equipped with fridges and a bed.
Any cloth covering that fits snugly works as a face covering, said chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell on Tuesday, but she reminded people to wash after every use. 1:31
"All they need to do is have a hot water hose and some power hookup for us."
The company will drop off the RV and set it up, without coming into contact with the person receiving the vehicle. It will also send a video via text giving a quick tour of the unit and how to use it.
There's no time limit on how long people can keep the RV.
"As long as this pandemic is still going and they're working in the health-care system, then obviously we're going to make sure that they're protecting themselves as well as their family."
The difference between allergy symptoms and COVID-19
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said there are many similarities between COVID-19, seasonal allergies and the flu.
Although COVID-19 has many symptoms, a cough and fever are still the main symptoms health-care workers are looking for.
"Most people with allergies would have burning eyes and runny nose and sneezing," she said.
What to do if you have symptoms?
Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough or breathlessness. In this case, residents should:
137 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
Meghan Clark My fiance and I still technically live apart. Are we going to be fined for walking or driving together? We are both socially distancing but law enforcement can't take our word over what it says on our licences.
David Amos
Reply to @Meghan Clark: Methinks whereas Higgy's buddy Chucky Leblanc can drive all over the province with his lady friend whom he does not live with in his welfare abode and brag of it within his blog and Facebook etc You and your fiance should not be harassed by the cops N'esy Pas?
Pat Holland Reply to @David Amos: You have seen Higgs and Leblanc driving together with an unknown woman?? Sounds like a conspiracy at the highest levels.
Johnny Almar Good. Now the cottage goers can be fined. Thank you Premier Higgs. Make them stay home.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar:Methinks you should say Hey to Higgy and your RCMP buddies for me as you snitch on your neighbours N'esy Pas?
Jim Johnston Reply to @Johnny Almar: ??? I didn't see anything about that. If someone owns two homes, a summer and winter home, and they keep to themselves regardless which house they are in, they are not breaking any of the regulations.
Jim Johnston Maybe the warning should be if we find a car load of unrelated people they will all be walking home. For many that would be enough to stay out of that situation.
David Amos Reply to @Jim Johnston: A friend called last evening to tell me about what happened to him in Higgy's Police State. He is a retired military guy who lives in the hills outside of Sussex. He does not have the Internet. Yesterday he did what he has often done for years when he comes to town. He pulled into Tim's and parked and began checking his email and the news etc byway of their free WiFi. Lets just say the RCMP pounced on him and threatened that all kinds of mean nasty ugly things would happen to him his did such a thing again. Methinks many folks know why I am grinning as I hear Higgy yapping on radio right now about property tax etc. Trust that I don't care that desperate conservatives claim I am unknown or vague or a failure as a politician Vicky et al know why Higgy and the RCMP should not enjoy an email from me later today N'esy Pas?
Terry Hughes Reply to @David Amos: Koo Koo, Koo Koo
Robert Buck Reply to @David Amos: You know there are two sides to every story.
Robert Buck Reply to @David Amos. Just read the second paragraph. That gives the authority. Do you want me to post the link for the Emergency Measures Act?
Murray Brown
There is disease referred to as hysteria and another referred to as paranoia .. Our politicians and media appear to have a very sever case of both.
David Amos
Reply to @Murray Brown: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
Edward Andrews Did I miss something here? Higgs is saying its ok to go from point A to point B within the province but we should stay home? Higgs its ok to go to C, D, E, F as well and I don't need permission and I don't need police to be asking me about my business as they only information they will get is what they are entitled to under law. The won't get any information about where I'm going, where I have been, what my purpose of travelling is. I'm good with distancing and not gathering as means to slow the spread but the cure is quickly becoming worse than the virus. I'm not good with Higgs suggesting there are rules in place that don't exist or that suddenly charter rights have been fully suspended.
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to @Edward Andrews: And not much transparency
Pat Holland
Reply to @Edward Andrews: You may want to read the government’s power during a state of emergency! It is exactly that, your charter rights are suspended and you can be charged as they wish if you don’t follow the rules set out.
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to @Pat Holland: It doesn’t mean trying to create your own marshal law
The only poeples who can declare marshal law is the federal government
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to @Pat Holland: And this isn’t a state emergency
Is a public health emergency
Edward Andrews
Reply to @Pat Holland: You may want to read the actual declaration and the laws regarding the declaration of a state of emergency and mandatory order. Our charter rights are not suspended, some right may be limited and only in 14 day increments as the declaration must be renewed every 14 days. Yes you can be charged for not following the order under the limits prescribed within the declaration. Nothing in this order prevents movement within NB. Higgs continually infers that powers have been enacted that have not. Limiting travel into the province is indicated, (doubt it would survive a charter challenge except in the most flagrant cases) social distancing of 2m is indicated travel in and around NB is not discussed at all.
Edward Andrews
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: It is a state of emergency, the declaration and mandatory order has been issued and renewed most recent as April 2nd. It will need to be renewed on Apr 16 and every 14 days with the Lt Governors consent and approval. Government does have broad powers under a state of emergency but as well meaning as they may be the people will limit those powers by ignoring rules that don't make sense and this is where the sword cuts both ways. Government cracking down will lead to social disorder and breakdown as people will tolerate having they right limited for a limited time and in limited ways that serve the greater good. I have no issues with limiting this but if I'm minding my own business driving around to get out of the house I don't expect to be interfered with by police and therefore have someone breathing into my car window that has higher risks of exposure than me.
David Amos
Reply to @Edward Andrews: BINGO
Pat Holland Reply to @Edward Andrews: Because it is clear you haven't read it I thought I would put the section that applies there for you it is quite clear they can limit travel
Emergency Measures Act (R.S.N.B. 2011, c.147)
Pat Holland Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: March 19 as per GNB website " state of emergency declared in New Brunswick" In response to a health crisis. So yes this province is under a state of emergency
Edward Andrews Reply to @Pat Holland: Oh Pat, one thing that is clear is you have not read the actual declaration and seem to believe the Act and the declaration are one and the same. The Act enables such declarations and the content of the declaration must be both reasonable and based on facts to respond to the immediate threats. Dig a bit deeper for your education Pat. I agree a SoE, as allowed under the Emergency Measures Act, has been declared. I agree the government "can" suspend charter rights under such a declaration. The fine point is "can". Now go read the actual declaration and mandatory order, its right there on the NB gov page. You'll see what powers and orders Higgs has put in place and that have been approved by the Lt Gov, as is required. If you read it you will see what rights are being limited. Those limitations not expressly included in the declaration are not limited in any way and remain intact and available to all. Higgs is making personal appeals sound like orders (not included in the declaration) and needs to not blur the two at this time and endanger the public through over zealous police enforcement.
Marguerite Deschamps Hogwash! Trumps said it would be business as usual by Easter.
Pat Holland
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: You are mis quoting that. He said it would be nice to see things open by Easter followed by wouldn’t it be nice to see people back to work by Easter and churches full of people celebrating Easter
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Pat Holland: He may have said that later. I heard him with my two ears state that he intended to have the country opened by Easter. This is how you recognize Trump, he flip flops all the time.
Pat Holland
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I tried sending the link to the actual video as well as the politico transcript where it it clear in his speech from the rose garden he said he would “love to open” the economy again not he was going to. It would not allow me to upload it.
Edward Andrews
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Hey ah, you do realize this is Canada and Trump isn't the PM here, right? We have our own flip flopping, character challenged politician to muse about.
David Amos
Reply to @Edward Andrews: Methinks the SANB dudes want folks to ignore those facts N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps Reply to @Pat Holland: That's the flip flop you were looking for.
Pat Holland Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Not looking for flip flop at all, But when people misquote things to push a narrative or stoke fear and hate for another it becomes troubling and not very helpful in times like these.
David Amos
Reply to @Pat Holland: Methinks you should learn to read before you attack people N'esy Pas?
Chantal LeBouthi Quebec will test every seniors in nursing home to protect the seniors
Lou Bell
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: They better ! Quebec's a mess !!!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: Too late ! That's already been compromise ! La Bigly !!
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to @Lou Bell:
?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Alberta is much more of a mess right now! And how would you know about Quebec if it's lost in translation?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: at least their Premier is able to address his minority in their language as opposed to your hero here.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you should checkout the Anglophone webapages you are commenting on a little closer even though this is the English side of CBC Higgy is clearly speaking French on occasion N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: I listen to both the English and French side and his French, which is improving, I admit, is almost nonexistent.
David Amos Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you SANB dudes flip flop just like Trump and Trudeau N'esy Pas?
Health Minister Patty Hajdu's office said reimbursement of the $140,000 penalty is temporary. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
The federal government took away $140,000 in transfer payments to New Brunswick as a penalty for not providing adequate abortion access.
But then gave it back.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, the government found New Brunswick was violating the Canada Health Act by not covering out-of-hospital abortions under Medicare.
As a result, it deducted $140,216 from the annual health transfer payments that were paid out in March. That's how much money New Brunswickers spent out-of-pocket on abortions at a clinic in 2017, when they were supposed to be covered.
However, because of the pressure on the health system caused by the novel coronavirus, the federal government has decided to reimburse that amount, according to a statement shared by the Minister of Health Patty Hajdu's office.
Health Minister Ted Flemming said the Health Act has a dispute mechanism that the federal government can use, but he believes New Brunswick is compliant. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The statement said the reimbursement was "temporary", but it did not provide a timeline.
"As the prime minister has said, we will ensure that the New Brunswick government eliminates patient charges for abortion services outside of hospitals," said Hajdu's spokesperson Cole Davidson.
The statement said discussions about reducing barriers to abortion are continuing.
During the daily COVID-19 news conference Thursday, Premier Blaine Higgs said the province's position has been clear from the beginning: "that we're not funding a private clinic in New Brunswick."
"We're meeting the Canada Health rules and the Canada Health Act," Higgs said.
Dr. Adrian Edgar, medical director of Clinic 554. (CBC)
Minister of Health Ted Flemming said the Canada Health Act is a funding statute that has a dispute resolution mechanism.
"We believe that the procedure is not in violation of the Canada Health Act ... And the ball is entirely in the federal government's court with respect to dispute resolution."
New Brunswick provides abortions in two hospitals in Moncton — the Moncton Hospital and the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre — and the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst.
In late February, Hajdu said "Obviously there is an inequity in terms of access to services, and under their proposed regime women are not covered in very specific regions."
New Brunswick received $860 million in health transfer payments in 2020.
Barriers remain
Dr. Adrian Edgar of Clinic 554, New Brunswick's only abortion clinic, said COVID-19 has thrown up even more barriers to people seeking abortion services.
He said travelling to get abortions in hospitals is riskier now because of COVID-19. He said allowing abortions in clinics would make the process safer.
"If they would just fund everything we do, including abortions, patients in the southern part of the province wouldn't have to travel during a pandemic and they wouldn't be asked to enter a hospital when we're trying to limit all unnecessary hospital visits," he said.
Geri Geldart, vice-president clinical at Horizon Health Network, said abortion services continue and the process has not changed since the pandemic reached New Brunswick.
"Patients accessing abortion services at Horizon's The Moncton Hospital will be screened before entering the hospital," she said.
Vitalite spokesperson Thomas Lizotte said surgical abortion services in Chaleur Regional Hospital and Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre are still operational despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
49 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Methinks Health Minister Patty Hajdu's office should review their emails ASAP N'esy Pas?
Jef Cronkhite
Reply to @David Amos: After months of seeing this, I'm sorry, I have to say something. FIRSTLY it's "n'est pas" NOT "n'ecy pas""N'ecy pas" does NOT exist in English NOR French SECONDLY the same as every word in a sentence in English does NOT need to be capitalized, we also DO NOT capitalize every word in French, either. THIRDLY Perhaps you think ending EACH AND EVERY post with this incorrect phrase makes you appear pithy and fresh, PLEASE believe me when I tell you - IT DOES NOT....
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: Thank you. Glad to see a direct response to that particular poster whose comments never add anything except various forms of "Look at me".
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: or should I have said: "Regardez moi". And actually I thought what the other poster uses all the time was a fake form of "n'est-ce pas?" meaning "Is it not?"
David Amos
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: Methinks you dudes forgot to ask me if I cared what you think about my choice of lingos However no doubt you know why I am honoured by the the fact that you hate me N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: "Remote Complex Technical Support Analyst"
Yea Right Methinks you should learn how to use Google N'esy Pas?
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: Hands down the best post I've read on this forum to date. Keep up the good work!!
David Amos
Reply to @James Jones: Methinks its and interesting day for you to pick a fight with me N'esy Pas?
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Why is this day any different than the previous ones? Did my RCMP buddies or best bud Higgy do something you want to tease me over? Please use material others will understand also not just you
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @James Jones: boing
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @James Jones: er
David Amos
Reply to @James Jones: How much of my work have you Higgy/RCMP fans already refused to read? Federal Court File No T-1557-15 is a pretty good example. Methinks everybody knows you partake of too much blue kool aid to bother arguing with and its impossible to fix stupid anyway N'esy Pas?
Harvey York
Reply to @David Amos: take a hint man. If you actually were as awesome as you think you are , you would have been elected by now...but alas, you are something out of this world for sure
David Amos
Reply to @Harvey York: Methinks I should feel honoured that you hate me N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @David Amos: Methinks I should ask people who hate me so much is that any reason to justify why both Health Ministers would deny my right to Health Care? Imagine if such a time happened to you I bet you would complain N'esy Pas?
Tim Biddiscombe We were lucky to get that money back..
David Amos Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: Methinks you have no clue how deep the rabbit hole goes N'esy Pas?
David News It is a shame that in NB our health system across the board is substandard compared to the other Canadian provinces. The government rations so many services that are generally readily available for free in the rest of the country. Lets see, blood tests, full medicals on an annual basis, oh the ability to actually go to a clinic and discuss and address more than one issue with the doctor, or better yet actually get a family doctor. Why is it a surprise that the province ration's medical services that are protected by the charter of rights for women. Only in NB eh! Shame on the current and previous provincial governments for not investing in a rigorous health system that actually address's all of the needs of N Bers
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @David News: It was $140k out of out over $1B and we got it back.
David Amos
Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: Methinks on Good Friday I bet you and a lot of beancounters in Beantown recall how many beans I sued Cardinal Bernard Francis Law for in 2002 N'esy Pas?
eddy watts What about other provinces who follow the law....will they get extra $$?? Yes it's ($$) needed in NB, but not at the expense of women's rights.
David Amos
Reply to @eddy watts: Methinks everybody knows that is the problem THERE IS NO LAW N'esy Pas?
Mike Morton Liberals playing politics during the pandemic again...
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Mike Morton: Maybe you should ask the Sheer incompetent about that too?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks even Lou Bell and you SANB dudes know why I am playing politics to the max with the mindless Health Ministers N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps Methinks your buddy Lou Bell just made and interesting statement N'esy Pas?
:"With the GREAT daily updates we're getting it has sure stifled the Liberal naysayers going after Higgs .They must be really , really be keeping their fingers crossed for some type of negative news. Marc , Maggie , and others have been pretty well muzzled . Need new orders I guess from melanson and the Shediac 5 ".
Bruce Sanders "adequate abortion access" Why should any Canadian have their hard earned taxes given to people for a life choice they have made. Well, Morgentaler would be so proud.
eddy watts
Reply to @Bruce Sanders: yes and lets make sure that smokers have no access to cancer treatment....people that drink no access to treatment.....people that eat too much (obese) no heart treatment etc etc...punishing women (only) for life choices smacks of "hate" to me.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @eddy watts: Very good point!
David Amos
Reply to @Bruce Sanders: Methinks some seated politicians should finally step up to the plate and defend the unborn. Just because there is no law pertaining to abortion and its claimed that they have no rights until they breathe air it does not excuse the evil actions of Morgentaler and his many cohorts against them over the years N'esy Pas?
Axel Roosevelt How was 140k supposed to be any kind of punishment? $140,000 is less than a rounding error in government money terms, it's more like the equivalent of dropping a nickel somewhere.
David Amos
Reply to @Axel Roosevelt: Methinks if our duly elected but very mindless biased beancounters looked after our nickel and dimes then the big buck budgets would balance themselves N'esy Pas?
Frank Ward In the Last Days, Good will be called Evil . And Evil called Good.
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @Frank Ward: ?
Matthew Smith
Reply to @Frank Ward: and bread will be called butter and butter bread, fish will be called fowl and fowl fish.... I see the game you're playing now!
David Amos
Reply to @Matthew Smith: What game are you playing?
Johnny Almar Taxpayers should not have to pay for little Suzy's night of fun.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: So you say but what are you doing about it?
Donald Gallant
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Same for little Johnny.
Arish Moogadoo You'd think that in the middle of a pandemic that the federal government would have better things to do than to continue to persecute New Brunswick.
David Amos
Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: Exactly
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: More importantly to me is why do both Heath Ministers deny my right to Health Care?
David Amos
Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: Methinks its very interesting when and why things go "Poof" N'esy Pas?
Arish Moogadoo Canada has been knee capping our province since 1867 and then telling us to be grateful for the money they give us, all the while telling us how to run our province. Time to keep the borders in place once this crisis is over and get back our traditional New England trade routes. So sick of the way these Canadians treat this province and how they keep telling us what to do! Anyone notice how the national networks cover every other province but pretend New Brunswick doesn't exist? It seems we're in a federation who doesn't like us.
Jef Cronkhite
Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: Unfortunately, those "traditional New England trade routes no loner exist. YES, it sucks they way we are treated, but we're here, now, and we have to be adults about it. We can't go throwing hissy-fits, and threaten separation, like the Western Provinces, or Quebec. Like it or not we ALL live in a Global Economy, and closing borders would make matters WORSE, not better. I'm with you that we are NOT treated well compared with other regions, but we combat that by PROVING our worth, not whining and crying about it
Arish Moogadoo
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: Yes they do exist, our forestry and petroleum sectors are very integrated. I'm not threatening separation, I'm wishing for it.
Jef Cronkhite
Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: YES, we have forest connections, but those are owned and operated by Irving and their subsidiaries. You think they're just going to hand them over to us? We DO NOT have an petroleum sectors. 100% of the oil processed here in Saint John comes from overseas. Not a single DROP of Canadian oil is processed here. What we REALLY have is fishing and farming and, although great for feeding the masses, neither is an industry we can stand alone on. I don't like it any batter than you do, but we are dependent on the rest of Canada for our survival..
.
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: We do not have a petroleum sector because Canada lacks leadership and knowledge as well as a weak constitution that the SC ignored that basically gave those with certain birthrights an invitation to intervene on anything they have time for; which seems like all the time.
David Amos
Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: Me Too
Johnny Jakobs Reply to @Arish Moogadoo: the point powers most of new england...
Premier Blaine Higgs said, depending how the next weeks and months, New Brunswick could begin rebooting the provincial economy this summer. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday there's a chance New Brunswick could begin jump-starting the economy and regain a sense of normalcy within a matter of months.
"There is hope New Brunswick can return to normal in some form this summer," Higgs declared during the regular afternoon media briefing after the province announced three new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
That brings the provincial total to 111, a number that officials and researchers say shows the restrictive measures in place are working — so far. But hauling back restrictions, or non-compliance, could have devastating and deadly consequences for New Brunswickers and their health-care system, according to new projections released Thursday.
Higgs said his government is considering the steps it would take to allow businesses to reopen. That includes maintaining physical distancing practices in the meantime and testing for potential carriers returning to the workplace.
"Then we look at each business and we say, 'OK, how can this one operate, how can it meet the social distancing required in the situation, and how can we allow it to start up," he said.
Opportunities New Brunswick, which is co-ordinating the program for working capital loans between $100,000 and $1 million, is now assisting 1,200 businesses.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it will take months of Canadians'"continued, determined effort" to follow pandemic measures such as physical distancing to overcome COVID-19. 1:55
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasn't as optimistic in his remarks Thursday, saying "this is the new normal" until a vaccine is developed, which could be a year or two away.
Higgs said any move to reopen businesses would depend on how the next weeks and months play out and the economy won't be fully restarted until there is a vaccine.
But the premier is concerned about the financial fallout.
"We believe there is a balance here because if people don't have a job, if they don't have income, if they don't have a future that they can see and a livelihood, they can become more stressed, we can have social situations that become unbearable and we don't want to see that happen," he said.
More than 64,000 people applied for the province's one-time $900 payment for affected workers.
In an interview Thursday morning with CBC News, Higgs also explained how the provincial government coffers have been hit by the pandemic. The province is losing out on $40 million in revenue per month, and Higgs said he's concerned about equalization transfer payments with Alberta's economy "devastated."
It raises questions about how the government will maintain critical services in a prolonged shutdown.
Information Morning - Fredericton
An update from the Premier
Premier Blaine Higgs talks about the pandemic, the economy, and the budget. His message to people, 'don't give up hope'. 18:41
"We're saying, 'Are we going to be able to borrow money?' We need to maintain critical services and be able to supply everyone what they need," said Higgs, who even raised the notion of applying for federal disaster funding.
"So, how we get businesses up and running and contributing again is a focus because we need that source of revenue."
Here is a roundup of other developments.
3 new cases include child, two adults in same family
The province announced three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
All three cases are in the Fredericton area. Cases include a person under the age of 10, a person between 30 and 39 years old and a third 40 to 49 years-old. All of the cases are in one family after one family member travelled from Ontario more than a week ago, Premier Blaine Higgs said.
"I want it to be clear how easy it is to not only have your family impacted, but how easy it is to spread to other members of the community," he said.
These new cases bring the total number of cases up to 111.
There are 111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick. (Photo: CBC News )
The number of COVID cases continues to rise, but slowly, said Dr. Jennifer Russsell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health.
Fifty-three people have recovered from the virus.
Government releases COVID-19 projections
COVID-19 could kill between 550 and 1,750 New Brunswickers over the next 18 to 24 months, until a vaccine is available, projections released by the provincial government Thursday reveal.
"These aren't just figures on a graph. These are people. These are New Brunswickers," Premier Blaine Higgs said.
Had there been no public health measures, as many as 5,600 New Brunswickers could have died, said Flemming.
The number of people in intensive care could hit a peak of 84 on any given day this month, under the worst-case scenario model, which was based on northern Italy's data, he said, and acute care hospitalizations, 194.
Caution tape hangs over chairs at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital that aren't allowed to be used by patients to promote physical distancing. (Photo: Elizabeth Fraser/CBC News)
At least another two weeks of data is required to be able to project a peak of the pandemic.
Some other provinces, such as Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, previously released their projections.
Higgs said New Brunswick's relatively low numbers to date make accurate projections challenging.
"And that's been kind of the focus here is how accurate can we be?
"We want to make sure people realize this is very, very real. The potential is very, very high. And so the situation that we present … needs to be as accurate as possible."
Virus consistently turns up less frequently in New Brunswick
As of Tuesday, when New Brunswick had 105 cases of COVID-19, it had the fewest cases per capita of all the provinces.
And while New Brunswick has tested less for COVID-19 than most provinces, in testing that has been done, the virus consistently turns up less frequently in New Brunswick than elsewhere — once in every 58 tests since the beginning of the pandemic last month.
By comparison, in neighbouring Nova Scotia the virus has shown up once in every 35 tests and in Quebec, once in every 13 tests.
New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said she supports making the province's projections public.
The modelling is important, she said, so the province can be prepared and adjust plans, if required.
Province delays hunting and fishing season
The province will delay the opening of recreational fishing and hunting season for a minimum of two weeks.
This position will be evaluated again on April 30.
According to the government's website, all Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development have been ordered to close until further notice.
Stay home over Easter weekend
This week, Premier Blaine Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell have been urging people to stay home and to avoid family gatherings and church services over the Easter weekend.
Right now, Higgs said, New Brunswickers are doing what Public Health is asking of them to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19.
But he made it clear all that could change if people take part in social gatherings.
"If we continue to follow the rules closely, we can be a game changer in New Brunswick," Higgs said.
Earlier this week, Higgs said he was aware of at least two ATV rallies planned for the weekend, but on Thursday, Higgs said organizations like the New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation have made it clear they aren't going to sanction any rallies.
Police and RCMP officers have the authority to enforce the rules against gatherings of any kind, Higgs said.
"Will they proceed with that enforcement? I hope it won't be necessary. But if it is, yes they will. We must adhere to the rules for our own health and safety."
Province's income benefit program ends Thursday
The deadline for the provincial emergency income benefit has come to a close. The $900 was meant to help New Brunswickers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
Despite concerns raised around access to the benefit, Premier Blaine Higgs remained strong that there would be no extension.
"It was very, very clearly a stopgap until the federal government benefit was going to come into play," said Higgs of the $900.
According to government's recent projections, COVID-19 could kill between 550 and 1,750 New Brunswickers over the next 12 to 24 months. (Photo: Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswickers were told they would have until 8 p.m. Thursday night to register for the benefit. But that wasn't the case for some New Brunswickers, like Samantha Williams. The Sussex woman called the line Thursday morning, and after waiting for just over an hour, was told registration for the benefit was already closed and it could not be reopened.
"I'm definitely a little disappointed. I mean I was really counting on that money. It's a scary time for sure and you never really know what's going to happen," she said.
On Thursday morning, Higgs told Information Morning Fredericton that there were "technical issues" on the GNB website, which resulted in them closing online registration earlier than expected.
On Tuesday, Higgs said more than 60,000 people applied for the benefit to date, and more than $20 million had already been paid out.
Liberal MLA for Moncton Centre Robert McKee called on the government to extend the New Brunswick workers emergency income benefit for people who lost their jobs or had to close their business because of the COVID-19 outbreak
But McKee said members of the Liberal caucus have received "many" calls in recent days from people experiencing problems with online applications and in trying to reach someone on the phone.
Premier hopes to delay fishery
Premier Blaine Higgs says he wants Fisheries and Oceans Canada to delay the spring fishing season in New Brunswick.
The government is in discussions with other provinces about what it would mean for them, he said.
"But I think if we had a choice it would be delayed at least for a few weeks and maybe maybe a little longer."
If the season is delayed, and especially if it's cancelled, Higgs said he would expect the federal government to provide compensation to fishers.
What to do if you have symptoms?
Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough or breathlessness. In this case, residents should:
74 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Methinks the photo is a a telling thing. In order for folks to uphold Higgy's law perhaps the hospital should put tape on two chair between each seated client before the cops opt to ticket everybody N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell With the GREAT daily updates we're getting it has sure stifled the Liberal naysayers going after Higgs .They must be really , really be keeping their fingers crossed for some type of negative news. Marc , Maggie , and others have been pretty well muzzled . Need new orders I guess from melanson and the Shediac 5 .
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you are not reading all the comment sections N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Lou Bell: BTW Methinks you already know that I quoted you to Maggie in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
Sean Pendragon Small business = non-essential. Walmart = essential
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Sean Pendragon: Not true. Some of the small businesses in the Saint John City Market have remained open because they sell produce or meat or because they're able to operate on a take-out/delivery basis. "Taste of Egypt" on King Street has a sign board out on the sidewalk advertising its take-out and delivery services.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: WRONG I get my groceries at Walmart
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @David Amos: I wasn't saying that Walmart wasn't essential. It is. But Sean seemed to think that *all* small businesses have been deemed non-essential and this simply isn't true.
Fred Dee Sadly... do not break a tooth.... Dentists will not be back till much later!!! They need PPE"s to work!!
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Fred Dee: I'm more worried about the possibility of breaking my glasses, as I'm pretty much blind without them and the optometrists and opticians are all closed.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks a lot old folks such as I are far more concerned about our toothaches to care about your fear of breaking your glasses N'esy Pas?
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @David Amos: Plenty of "old folks" (like myself) wear glasses.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: I don't but most of us get toothaches like the one I have right now and my friend Dr Roger Richard can't do a thing about it legally particularly while Higgy and NB Power are trying to have me arrested.
john smith why would you delay fishing and hunting thats ridiculous you can purchase everything online and you defitely practice social distancing in those activities that sort of decision makes people go hmmmm
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @john smith: Only anadromous fish are federal jurisdiction. The rest is a provincial call. Don't know if higgs knows that or not.
Lou Bell
Reply to @john smith: Many don't fish alone . And it's not an essential service. And it's more than just buying a licence . We all know how fishermen / hunters like to blame their equipment for their futility on the water !
David Amos
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Methinks Higgy don't know as much as he thinks he does N'esy Pas? (BTW Thanks for the vote of confidence)
eddy watts ummm Canada will open when the States open.....N.B. will open when Ontario opens....You have to love Higgs ("on the world stage")
Lou Bell
Reply to @eddy watts: Everything has worked so far ! Leading in stats doesn't equate to being a follower ! Tell us how those so called leaders are being followed by Higgs ! Pay attention !
eddy watts
Reply to @Lou Bell: "leadng in stats" where are you getting this stuff?...right NB government. You need to pay attention to the countries that actually are in the center of the battle not Blaine Higgs...ok the world is a big place for you ..have a look at PEI...140,000 people you can do the math.
David Amos
Reply to @eddy watts: Methinks Little Lou thinks she knows everything N'esy Pas?
Kris Boucher Perspective
Cancer Nearly 80,000 people died from cancer in 2018, according to Statistics Canada.
Cardiovascular disease In 2018, more than 53,000 Canadians died from heart disease, according to Statistics Canada.
Accidents, including a car crash Nearly 13,300 people died from unintentional injuries in 2018, according to Statistics Canada.
The flu Influenza and pneumonia killed 8,511 people in 2018, per Statistics Canada figures.
Suicide In 2018, 3,811 people died by suicide, according to Statistics Canada.
When you cut through the hysteria and see the facts, such as the elderly and those with a compromised immune system are the ones at greater risk from the covid virus. Perhaps we should be isolating these people, but don’t shut down the country our economy will take years to come back. So far there is over 500 deaths from this virus, but over 5206 people have recovered out of the 20,682 cases in Canada.
Perspective is everything.
June Arnott
Reply to @Kris Boucher: I understand your stats. But with Covid 19, it could wipe out more people than all that put together. What has been unleashed on our world is like a bio chemistry attack. Unprecedented. We are screwed and lots will die if we don’t stop the spread.
David Amos
Reply to @Kris Boucher: Obviously I Wholeheartedly Agree
Methinks Nobody Should Deny That Is What I Have Been Harping About Since The Nonsense Began N'esy Pas?
Kris Boucher Reply to @Kris Boucher: You do need to realize that none of these causes of death with the exception of the flu are spreadable through community transmission. It's like comparing apples with oranges. And comparing the flu with COVID-19 is again incomparable, since we do have vaccines for the flu, but none with COVID-19, which is why the number of deaths from the flu are so low. We are currently in a honeymoon phase with COVID-19, where we don't know the full impact of the virus as of yet, but we are projecting over 11,000 to 22,000 deaths by the end of the year with strict measures according to experts. Without any measures, it could end up between 50,000 and 100,000.
Kris Boucher
Reply to @June Arnott: if more people are recovering than dying in Canada then it’s not the monster everyone is making it out to be. It is deadly for the elderly and those with a compromised immune system, but for folks that have strong immune system this is nothing more than the seasonal flu. Which by the way hundreds of thousands of Canadians recover from without ever getting a vaccine, their own immune system fought it off. If there were more people dying than recovering I could see your point.
Kris Boucher
Reply to @Gabriel Boucher: my point that you obviously missed, is that you could die from heart disease or cancer or the common flu before covid 19 gets you. Unless you have a compromised immune system or are elderly. Better to have hope than to live in fear, if the ratio of recovered to fatalities changes I will change my stance. But in Canada so far more people have recovered than died.
Georges Saint Yves Reply to @Gabriel Boucher: But, vaccines for the flu is incidental depending on the virus. One flu vaccine doesn't prevent all flu strains. What is needed is a herd immunity. Although one death is too many, if you look at the percentage of deaths to the people infected and the percentage of deaths to the population it is extremely low. Perhaps if we had received the actual data from China for the Wuhan flu, the projected numbers may be more accurate. Nevertheless, after the panic that Trudeau continues to preach everyday and his foolishness about not reopening the economy for abundance of months, the amount of deaths from suicide will far outnumber the amount of deaths from this virus. There is a solution if a politician is brave enough to put it forth. Trudeau's solution is to continue to raise panic so that he can move his vision of destroying an already weak economy. Canadians will start to question and there will be the possibility of anarchy in the streets.
David Amos
Reply to @Kris Boucher: I continue to agree with you. FYI I am a senior with a heart condition who has been in and out the emergency rooms for tests etc. without a Medicare Card since the last federal election Hence I have to pay for the Doctor fees and test etc out of pocket. Two scheduled visits to the hospital have been canceled because of this panic. However I don't minds because I self isolate anyway because for about 10 years or so while I was homeless if I caught a bad cold I was at death's door and had no access to health care with no money at all. Now that the economic collapse I have been predicting is upon us I have to put a stop to the New Brunswick Health Care System consuming my CPP and Old Age funds coming from the Feds. I will sue the Crown to recover lost funds etc because Higgy and Flemming have continued with their "Stay" on my Medicare Card to this very day. Methinks its obviously because I ran against their political parties and embarrassed them in public N'esy Pas?
Sean Pendragon
Reply to @Kris Boucher: You should demand an emergency meeting with the WHO and CDC to inform them of your rational perspective.
Lou Bell Reply to @Kris Boucher: New York city and other American cities were like you . DID NOTHING and look at them now ! Isolating and social distancing has paid off BIGLY !! Pay attention and comprehend if you can where all would be without following the strict parameters ! Look at Italy / Spain .You want perspective , then take off the blinders .
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you should take your own advice N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell Reply to @David Amos: 15 to 20 votes while running in any election . Not even those signing your nomination papers voted for you . We know how much faith people are putting in your revelations !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you should check the data from all 7 elections like your hero Higgy does N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: There is a reason no one listens to your harping . Time to do a 180 !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks your hero Higgy needs a far smarter lawyer than Flemming if they wish to continue to deny my right to Health Care N'esy Pas?
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: Sounds like they've done a pretty good job withholding it so far to me
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks that may be the understatement of this comment section My question to you is what if such things had happened you? I wager you would not find it so funny then N'esy Pas?
Johnny Almar I just discovered the mute button. Good bye Mr. N'esy Pas. Rant to yourself.
Jeremy Allain
Reply to @Johnny Almar: your above comment made believe in miracles again. Lol!
David Amos
Reply to @Jeremy Allain: Dream on
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @David Amos: yes he was. He was on a roll today. Typing under a pseudonym...
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Out of that gate every word of his first foray under his new ID last weekend went "Poof" as soon as I asked a very simple question remember?
Methinks desperate people do desperate things N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Methinks desperate people do desperate things N'esy Pas?
Johnny Almar So a person returned to New Brunswick from Ontario last week and infected three people in their family. One being a child.
1) This person traveled unnecessarily. 2) The should of self-isolated for two weeks when returning. They did not. 3) This person was very selfish and I hope that they are going to be charged for breaking the law.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Cry me a river
Jeremy Allain
Reply to @Johnny Almar: agree one thousand percent. They willingly took a non essential trip cross border and put family members in harms way. If anything, heaven forbid; happens to those family members, they should be held responsible. Full stop.
Johnny Almar Ignore whatever worst-case scenario they say. Look at the best-case scenario divide it in half and call that the worst-case scenario because governments have over-estimated this virus from the getgo.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Methinks everybody wants to know how many tickets did your cop buddies serve today N'esy Pas?
Theo Lavigne:
Reply to @Johnny Almar: I think it is better to over estimate in the case of a virus we never seen before
Denis LeBlanc
Reply to @David Amos: Looking at these 3 new cases, obviously not enough.
Julianne Mcnamara
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Very true. Thanks.
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Nope , you're in your own little world on that one !
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Maybe run on that in the next election !
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: I thought they were my cop buddies last week. Sure is alot of cops on here isn't there. Disagreeable cops always a buzzkill to David!!
David Amos
Reply to @James Jones: Wrong again. Methinks Lou Bell and everybody else knows that I love exposing the cops' dirty deeds to all N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Denis LeBlanc: Methinks somebody should follow the money dudes such as Urquhart and Steeves while you chase the ambulance dudes such as Higgy and Flemming N'esy Pas?
Higgs optimistic about COVID-19 trajectory — if we don't blow it this long weekend
Normal life is a while away, but premier is already thinking about economic recovery
Sarah Morin· CBC News· Posted: Apr 09, 2020 10:36 AM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs said New Brunswick could flatten the curve within a month or two, so long as people follow the rules. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswick is on track to being a model for the rest of the country in terms of its response to COVID-19, but only if people aren't reckless over the long weekend, Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday.
"This may be our first big test," Higgs said in an interview with Information Morning Fredericton. New Brunswick's success depends on people following the rules, which include staying indoors and not spending time with people other than those who live in your home, Higgs said.
As of Wednesday, the province had 108 cases.
I do think with continued measures we can be talking weeks instead of months and months.
- Blaine Higgs, premier
Higgs is optimistic the government will flatten the curve in a month or two.
"I think it's hard to tell. This weekend will be telltale. We've seen our numbers decline over the last few days, but you can't jump on that and say it's getting over.
"I do think with continued measures we can be talking weeks instead of months and months." Until a vaccine is found, which may not be for a year or two, certain precautions will remain in place, Higgs said.
Higgs did not specify what those precautions could look like but said it will depend on testing for the virus.
"It'll depend on the conditions we find at the time."
119 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Methinks its amazing how many people claim that they are not associated to certain parties today N'esy Pas?
Johnny Almar
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks & N'esy Pas have worn out their welcome.
Brian Decker
Reply to @Johnny Almar: AMEN TO THAT!!!
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Methinks its your words that keep going "Poof" N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Decker: Methinks you know where you can find your words against me N'esy Pas?
Alison Jackson
Reply to @Johnny Almar: I was thinking the same exact thing,lol.
Alison Jackson
Reply to @David Amos: He stole it from the "et voilà" guy anyway.
David Amos
Reply to @Alison Jackson: Methinks Higgy and I are not surprised There are no coincidences when it comes to the actions of conservatives and their gang N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Alison Jackson: BS
Johnny Almar
Reply to @David Amos: Funny you keep going on about us reporting people endangering lives by doing unnecessary things, yet spend you time reporting threads on here because they do not suit you.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: BS
Bo Zam
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Glad it not just me..
Johnny Almar
Reply to @David Amos: How much does the RCMP pay you?
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Ask them
Tom Simmons
IF WE DON"T BLOW IT! The FEDS AND PROVINCIAL BLEW IT ALREADY!
David Amos
Reply to @Tom Simmons: Yup
Peter J Hickey Reply to @Tom Simmons: How did they blow it?
Tom Simmons
Reply to @Peter J Hickey: The pandemic was evident in late January. Federal minister of health was briefed on it then. Did nothing, kept quiet in order to save political face because they knew we didn't have enough PPE to deal with what was coming and we are in bed with the Chi Comms and can't do anything to upset them like banning flights. The only person I've seen do anything pro active from government anywhere was Dominic Cardy who cancelled schools early on.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Tom Simmons: They blew it back when china warned us, um, when was that? December?
valmond landry
@JAMES JONES your going to change your mind and wake up in a couple of weeks from now
David Amos
Reply to @valmond landry: Of that I have no doubt
valmond landry
MR HIGGY SHOULDN'T BRAG Too MUCH ABOUT A SO Called Success THE WORSE IS YET TO COME AND THAT'S ONLY Being REALISTIC
David Amos
Reply to @valmond landry: Oh So True
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @valmond landry: I think you might need a new keyboard you're all over the map Valmond. The worst isn't yet to come we are in decline. People keeping their distance and playing by the rules along with our provinces population density has got us in a positive place
David Amos
Reply to @James Jones: FYI I am talking about the economy not a dumb bug
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: Yeah that'll be in the toilet for a while no argument on that front!
Lou Bell Reply to @valmond landry: Praying won't get you the answer you're seeking !
David Amos
Reply to @James Jones: However you decide to insult me anyway??? Methinks you are just another Higgy fan N'esy Pas?
Michel Forgeron Reply to @valmond landry: It's simply a list of possibilities, not predictions. Unfortunately not everyone will see it that way.
Alison Jackson
As per usual religion will probably ruin everything.
David Amos
Reply to @Alison Jackson: You should know
June Arnott
Reply to @Alison Jackson: yup, those creationists don’t believe in science.
Bo Zam
Reply to @Alison Jackson: Watch Fox news much?
David Amos
Reply to @June Arnott: True but methinks whether they be religious or not they all worship money N'esy Pas?
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Alison Jackson: Stop being so bigoted, Alison. It's distasteful.
Tom Simmons
Reply to @Alison Jackson: Religion is the fundamental reason humans crawled out of the muck.
David Amos
Reply to @Tom Simmons: Methinks many would agree that they were just looking for something to eat N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell Reply to @David Amos: Use that in your next platform . Nothing else worked !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks deciding what folks should eat is your forte N'esy Pas?
Jeff LeBlanc
People will blow it. That's why I'm going to drive around on Sunday snitching on people. If you live in southeast NB be warned, I'll be out there looking for lots of cars in people's driveways, etc. Enjoy your Easter!
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: You can drive to places you have no essential business in. So make sure to rat yourself out too.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Johnny Almar: You *can't* drive to places you have no essential business in. So make sure to rat yourself out too.
June Arnott
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: um, you are not suppose to be driving around!
David Amos
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Methinks it makes for very interesting days when French dudes brag of being a snitch in Conservative territory N'esy Pas?
Bo Zam
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Snitches get stitches..
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Be sure to tell that to an officer once he stops you for aimlessly driving. Good old vigilante attitude wont get you anything but trouble.
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @June Arnott: um yes I can if I don't get out of my car. Nothing illegal about a Sunday drive. So make sure you don't plan a gathering or I may rat you out.
Tom Simmons
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Go back to east germany
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @Tom Simmons: I'd need a time machine, you got one?
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @James Jones: nothing illegal about a Sunday drive to Tim Hortons (essential service) apparently. And while on my Sunday drive if I happen to see a gathering expect a visit from the police. There is no law against that.
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @David Amos: methinks your first mistake was assuming I'm french.
David Amos
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Methinks your name defines you N'esy Pas?
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Someone sounds like their loneliness on Easter is going to feel the wrath of a wannabe rent a cop. Use the hotline for over the top blatant abuse of the emergency order not tying up the lines with your nonsense afternoon entertainment.
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @James Jones: of course I'm not going to waste my Sunday on this. But I got a lot of you worked up so much you felt the need to reply. Hopefully someone who reads this will realize there are people out there who WILL rat them out and they will think twice about hosting that Easter supper.
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @David Amos: so if my last name was Goldberg I'm automatically Jewish? No wonder you never get voted into office. Also Coronavirus lives in long gross beards so you might wanna shave. You are an odd duck man.
Donald Smith
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Take Chill Pill Jeff. It'll be ok
Donald Smith
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Yes I have one, its the Jack D Special
David Amos
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Methinks your words further prove your blatant malice. Clearly you ain't no Hillbilly from my neck of the woods. Furthermore I suspect no dude named Goldberg would be so dumb as to brag that he is a snitch like the nasty French dude you definitely are N'esy Pas?
Tom Simmons Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: We are in a time machine right now with your actions.
JC Cormier
Reply to @David Amos: Me thinks you've got a chip on your shoulder against the French, n'est-ce pas?
David Amos
Reply to @JC Cormier: Methinks everybody knows I hate nasty French men but love nice French ladies So that does not make me a bad guy just an honest one N'esy Pas?
Johnny Almar
What is being done to stop the 2 ATV rallies this weekend? Higgs said it was a bad idea but one of the groups out of Sussex is saying that the government okayed it.
Very confusing information.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Methinks it doesn't take much to confuse you particularly in light of the fact that you claim I work for the RCMP N'esy Pas?
Johnny Almar Reply to @David Amos: Where did I claim that?
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Look up
Johnny Almar I have backside intel coming in on Transponder 9 from the Fandango Rangers that the emergency declaration will not be lifted until two months of little to no infections. That will take us into November. Newfoundland is factoring that in. New Brunswick is not.
Arish Moogadoo
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Newfies probably counted wrong and thought November was 2 months out from April.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: How much are the RCMP and Higgy paying you for the Intel?
Renee Garry
Reply to @David Amos: Et voila!
Johnny Almar Premier Higgs is beginning to sounds like President Trump with his optimism.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Methinks that must have made your day N'esy Pas?
SarahRose Werner Higgs is taking a very pragmatic attitude. It's a bit startling to find myself agreeing with a Conservative!
Lou Bell
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: I'm not affiliated with either Libs or Cons , and yet after the stunts the liberals pulled off and attempted to pull off it'll be a long time before they get my vote again . And i did vote for them , both provincially and federally last election. Thought Trudeau was doing a decent job but have come to realize both he and Scheer are pathetic.
David Peters
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Expanding gov't to this degree is the opposite of Conservatism.
Gabriel Boucher
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: It's a good thing that we currently have a minority government to guide our way through this. If it wasn't for that, we would've been in the same boat as other provinces that acted out late. Higgs is being pressured by the other parties to do the right thing, and it's been successful so far.
Terry Hughes
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Higgs is doing a great job. I said in the past. Let our ELECTED leaders handle this. I also said I'm not a JT fan but he is our ELECTED leader. Let him do his job !!!!!!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Gabriel Boucher: We would have been starting with 130 million dollars less in our pockets if the Liberals had gotten elected !
Lou Bell
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks your hero Higgy should not be surprised by anything people say anymore N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Yea Right Surely you jest.
Methinks the SANB and everybody else knows there is no bigger fan of Higgy than you N'esy Pas?
Saint Andrews asks visitors to stay away during COVID-19 pandemic
Increasing vehicle traffic prompts resort town to ask tourists to stay home
Jordan Gill· CBC News· Posted: Apr 08, 2020 7:18 PM AT
Mayor Doug Naish is asking tourists to stay away from Saint Andrews during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Saint Andrews Mayor Doug Naish is used to welcoming visitors to the seaside resort town, but now he's urging them to stay away.
The town issued a statement reminding people looking to ease their boredom that traveling to the community isn't the best option at this time.
"We don't want to send anybody away, but at this point in time it just seems that the additional risk of having people of unknown backgrounds coming here at a time when we've managed to convince our vulnerable population to take care of themselves just somehow doesn't seem fair," said Naish.
"Frankly, we don't know whether someone who's coming here to walk on our beach is supposed to be quarantined where they live. You know, we have no idea of knowing that or controlling it."
Naish said during warmer days earlier in the spring town officials noticed a lot of vehicle traffic in the community from visitors.
It was this that prompted the request.
The town of St. Andrews continues to get out-of-towners during the pandemic despite the rules, and they're looking to the province for additional law enforcement. 1:58
"It just got us thinking that perhaps as the weather gets better this may get worse," said Naish.
"There actually may be some people who are just not thinking that there's any problem with [visiting]."
Attractions shuttered
Naish said because of the COVID-19 pandemic there isn't a lot to do in the town at the moment anyway.
Most businesses are closed, except for those deemed essential.
Local beaches and parks, including the St. Andrews Blockhouse, are also closed.
The town has closed local parks to curb the spread of COVID-19. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"We've got barricades up because again that was one of those places where two weeks ago on a sunny Saturday there were a dozen or 18 cars there and they weren't local cars," said Naish.
In the province's daily COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Premier Blaine Higgs said there have been talks about how to regulate travel between some tourist communities and the idea of checkpoints has been raised.
"Do we have the ability and is it a necessity to put that same kind of connection around communities, because that will be very difficult," said Higgs.
Tourist season concerns
The ongoing pandemic has business owners in the town anxious, said Naish.
The local economy is largely based on tourism, an industry that has already taken a hit in the community.
"We have a big music and outdoor festival called Paddlefest … that takes place in the middle of May," said Naish.
"That's already been cancelled and that's really the kickoff of our tourist season."
Visit, 'but not right now'
The town is also home to many summer properties.
Naish said these property owners can still come into the town, but he asks they also think about staying away during the pandemic.
And if these part-time residents do choose to go to their summer homes, Naish asks they inform the town first.
"Not just because we want to control what you're doing, but because if you're going to be there in residence, if we know about it, we've developed a good volunteer system here in the crisis and we're checking on people who are vulnerable ... in our community," said Naish.
The mayor said he hopes people will continue to visit the picturesque community, when appropriate, after the pandemic is over.
"We appreciate their business and we want them to come, but not right now," said Naish.
"There is, we believe, a significant risk ... particularly when we don't know where people are coming from."
44 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
Danny Devo Seems a lot of folks here do not understand the rules. Let me help. 2 meters = 6 feet (the distance you may find yourself under ground of you don't heed the rules) Do not engage in non essential travel. Translation: seek help for your hopeless addiction to timmies; make a list before you go shopping for once in your life; do not pleasure cruise; do not go to your cottage to have an awesome adventure unless you enjoy paying heavy fines. Does that help?
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Methinks you should "Premier Higgs Butter Tarts" then review the rules again N'esy Pas?
James Jones aka Ray Oliver Reply to @Danny Devo: I'll pleasure cruise alone all I want come and get me
David Amos
Reply to @James Jones: Methinks if you told the cops you were fetching Butter Tarts for Higgy et al they would likely assist you on your emergency mission N'esy Pas?
Danny Devo
Reply to @David Amos: He needs some energy. Currently looking totally exhausted, sleepy and cranky. When this is allver he'll get his butter tarts and all the health care cuts he ever wanted. That's what conservatives do. Give massive tax breaks to the corporate buddies and scrap services for citizens. Still the same ol Higgy.
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Higgy still has a "Stay" on my Medicare Card as well
Danny Devo Reply to @David Amos: Maybe you should have voted for the Green Party. Guess you learn the hard way N'est pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Methinks I should ask how many times should I run against your beloved Green Party before the people who support them listen to what I have been saying instead of merely jerking my chain to hear me bark N'esy Pas?
James Jones aka Ray Oliver Reply to @Danny Devo: Not sure the fear mongering you've been saying about the "COVID death sentence" and comparing it to drunk driving thru playgrounds is something they'd be spreading if in power either. This is any politicians first run thru something of this magnitude. Leave the party platform out of it. Youd hate Higgs even if he was the guy who found the cure for COVID
Danny Devo
Reply to @David Amos: So who would you recommend then?
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: There are no elections being held right now but i may run in the by election in St Andrews if Higgy get around to having the writ dropped.If so then you could pick the vegetable in mean old me. In the "Mean" time methinks the Green Meanies have the governments they deserve since laughing at me since 2004 N'esy Pas?
Danny Devo Reply to @James Jones: I don;t hate anyone. I do not appreciate what his party stands for. They are a disgrace. The libs are almost as bad. Both are corporate parties that leech from the public.
Ben Haroldson Reply to @David Amos: I wish I was in that riding. You'd get mine.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @James Jones: Methinks its and interesting day for you to pick a fight with me N'esy Pas?
Danny Devo Good idea. Keep the reckless zombies out. Higgy says this pandemic may last a long time in this province. Is he talking about his government or covid 19?
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Methinks you must be a retired cop who truly enjoys Higgy's Police State N'esy Pas?
Danny Devo
Reply to @David Amos: Have not had any bad experiences with the police personally. All I know is that conservatives are the enemy of the people.
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Methinks Vicky and his old RCMP pals, the FBI, the Fat Fred City Finest and many other PDs on both sides of the 49th cannot deny that I have many bones to pick with them but I must confess that I am very surprised that you are not a fan of Higgy N'esy Pas?
Danny Devo Reply to @David Amos: The only rational choice are Greens
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Now thats truly funny
Danny Devo Reply to @David Amos: Since when is rational funny?
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Methinks you should ask the mindless lawyer who was the federal leader of your beloved party why I hung up on her 3 times in 2007 and sent her hard copy byway of tracked Canada Post after she did a hostile takeover of the aforementioned party N'esy Pas?
Johnny Jakobs Stay Home. That's what the whole world is advocating for. Why give St. Andrews flack when many other communities have already done so? Getting in a car, going for a drive and setting up lawn chairs to talk in the greenspace is not staying at home. This confuses me too.... if you dont like St Andrews and what is has to offer(when open for business), what's it matter to you? Other than spreading negativity.
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @James Jones: I've lived in the bubble for many decades. Born in the Steve and love what Charlotte County has to offer.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: It appears that Mr Jones went "Poof" Was he nasty with you too?
Ben Haroldson Only in st a. eh.....
Johnny Jakobs
Leaders lead.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Yea Right
Gerry Ferguson I'm pretty sure the police have better things to do than stop all cars going for a drive to St Andrews and tell the occupants to stay away please.
David Amos
Reply to @Gerry Ferguson: Methinks you should not bet the farm on that opinion The RCMP's buddy Higgy needs to have a win in the upcoming by election in that neighbourhood N'esy Pas?
Murray Brown Went to St. Andrews once... Have stayed away ever since. Glorified tourist trap.
David Amos
Reply to @Murray Brown: Methinks you are not alone in that regard N'esy Pas?
James Jones aka Ray Oliver There are lots of home owners down there with summer places and the mayor states hes only "suggesting" they stay put during the pandemic. How do you know they just landed and haven't been around for a while? Primary residence is a suggestion not a law
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @James Jones: More like a loophole, because it is a law.
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @James Jones: Knowing someone there, this full time resident said that there "if there are any "summer place" residents here, which primarily from Ontario, I have not seen them". And since at the NB border they are turning away people coming to stay in NB, just because they have a vacation home, I'd think there are very few. And just landed? well, the St John airport has no commercial traffic, and hasn't for a week now.
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @Ben Haroldson: St. Andrews is always one of these places that's got it's own set of rules. Their parks are no different than any other ones nor should they be. People going for drives to get out a little if they're practicing the social distancing set in place then what's the difference?
James Jones
aka Ray Oliver Reply to @Bruce Sanders: Landed in town I meant. And if they drove recently they'd be subject to mandatory self isolation. So maybe they've been there and just out for the first time now. People see other plates alot in this Province especially Alberta ones from time to time. Practice the distancing and give people space and use common sense. NB is doing great so far but some people are taking this to the total extreme
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @James Jones: Saint John has closed all their parks et al like many other places.
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @James Jones: "some people are taking this to the total extreme" no argument there!
David Amos
Reply to @Bruce Sanders: FYI Mr Jones just took it to the extreme with me today
Johnny Almar Yet I saw 2 vehicles from Ontario pull into town today. Go figure.
Arish Moogadoo
Reply to @Johnny Almar: I've seen a few licence plates from away. It's been a good 2-3 weeks now that people have had to get home and get where they're going, it's really time to stop letting people through. The fact is our province needs to be closed to passing through at this point because we can't trust that those people are strictly passing through. Time for transport trucks and medical workers only.
The province has ramped up enforcement of orders for physical distancing, and has made staying two metres away from people mandatory. (Fredericton Police Force/Twitter)
The first weekend under new physical distancing rules saw both residents and law enforcement figuring out how to adapt to the new normal.
On Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the province would be cracking down on violations of the physical distancing order.
Staying two metres away from another person is mandatory, except in the case of members of the same household, and in some cases at work.
People found breaking the two-metre distance rule, or gathering in large groups can now be charged and fined between $292 and $10,200.
Keith Gagnon of Caraquet found out about the new enforcement rules the hard way.
On Saturday, he was handed a ticket for $292 for driving with a friend he doesn't live with. The two were on their way to get a car wash.
Keith Gagnon plans on contesting a $292 ticket for breaking the physical distancing order, because he says he didn't know the rules had changed. (Submitted by Keith Gagnon.)
Gagnon said he plans on contesting the ticket, since he doesn't feel it was fair for the officer to fine him without giving him a warning first.
"I was just finishing a night shift and never knew about that law," said Gagnon in an email to the CBC.
Despite the incident this past weekend, Gagnon said he is taking the outbreak seriously, and has been practising physical distancing as best as he can.
"I never left my home," he said. "I don't want my family to get this disease."
Education first
New Brunswick RCMP spokesperson Const. Hans Ouellette couldn't give any specifics about new ticketing practices but said it's something officers across the province are taking seriously.
"We're asking people to do what New Brunswickers do so well, which is we look out for one another.
So our primary focus still remains working with the communities to do everything that we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19."
Ouellette wouldn't give details of what officers might be on the lookout for, as each case is different, but said they are basing their response on advice from Public Health.
"That may include tickets or other enforcement actions for people who are not following the directive aimed at keeping everyone safe," he said.
RCMP are urged to educate people about new physical distancing rules before handing out tickets and fines. (CBC News)
He added that ticketing is at the discretion of each officer, but not adhering to a self-isolation order after entering the province or being within two metres of someone you don't live with are things that could potentially bring fines.
Ouellette said the officers' first reflex should be to educate rule-breakers.
"Are you going to see police officers out there with yardsticks measuring how far apart everyone is? Probably not. … Are we going to be stopping every car we see with more than two people in it? No.
"Our main goal out of all of this, before the enforcement action comes into play, is to have that collaborative work, that educational piece to really be able to help people make the right decisions."
A runner and walker keep their distance from each other on the Charlottetown boardwalk. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
No numbers for tickets or fines issued have been released by the RCMP or the province.
The Saint John Police Force said no tickets have been issued under the compliance order so far.
"The SJPF is encouraging and promoting compliance," said spokesperson Jim Hennessy in an email.
Kennebecasis Regional Police Force spokesperson Inspector Anika Becker said the force did not issue any tickets on the weekend for physical distancing violations.
Other local police forces have yet to provide comments.
David Amos Methinks a clever lawyer will see this as a ticket to the Supreme Court and the history books N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks Higgy knows why Keith Gagnon and I should have a long talk sometime soon N'esy Pas?
Marc Bourque People have to learn a lesson the hard way,when it hits your pocket book you will pay attention.Talking with an individual the other about what can happen.He said I will not pay any fines....I said no problem 30 days in prison would do you some good,and dont forget your soap on a rope either!
Hank Hanrattey
Reply to @Marc Bourque: You are not even remotely funny.
David Amos
Reply to @Hank Hanrattey: I concur
Mandel Rooney Ignorance of the law is no excuse. I hope the judge upholds the fine. He says he was upholding the distancing rules "as best as he can". Do better. Why was your buddy in your car with you if you were doing "your best"?
David Amos
Reply to @Mandel Rooney: Trust that I would love to meet your judge
John Grail
Reply to @Mandel Rooney: Laws that infringe on the most basic rights shouldn't be even tolerated.
Mandel Rooney
Reply to @John Grail: Fundamental human right: crusin with the bud during a pandemic. Not sure that qualifies.
John Grail
Reply to @Mandel Rooney: Freedom of association...I see authoritarianism is in vogue this season
Terry Tibbs $292............. that's a tidy little moneymaker right there.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: BINGO
rayma allaby would the police not have to have a reason to stop you in a vehicle. something isn't being told here or adding up.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @rayma allaby: Sure it adds up, $292 a time, easier than enforcing the seat belt law. You see 2 in a vehicle you stop them, it's up to them to prove they are related/connected, 2 X $292.
David Amos
Reply to @rayma allaby: Methinks in Higgy's new police state the coppers have carte blanche to do anything they wish as they pass out more lucrative tax tickets for his benefit N'esy Pas?
kelly sherrard Part of the problem is that people in this province are being bombarded with information, misinformation, new regulations, new news reports of latest cases to the point that our heads are spinning.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @kelly sherrard: The real "problem" is we are not being told the truth. We are getting our doses of fear in 2 week doses, and have been getting them since around March 15th, for the first 2 week period we were told to stay home and isolate ourselves, only going out if we can maintain distancing. Sooner, or later, this will get old, my vote is for sooner. So, here we are, into the second 2 week period of huddling in our huts living in fear. How many times will they be extending this 2 week period? The Ontario prediction is 2 years.
David Webb NB
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Until there is herd immunity or there is an effective vaccine. Could be quite a while coming. You can bet that Canada will be far down the list obtaining said vaccine when it does become available.
David Amos
Reply to @kelly sherrard: YUP
John Grail Who didn't see this coming. Our most basic freedoms are being eroded. This is happening all across the country.
Bob Smith
Reply to @John Grail: Basic freedoms do NOT include the right to infect others with a potentially lethal virus. If experts are correct, North America will see more Corona deaths than before. Be safe and stay away as asked.
Bill Hamilton
Reply to @John Grail: Maintenance of our freedoms demands personal responsibility.
David Amos
Reply to @John Grail: Ask yourself why
David Amos
Reply to @Bill Hamilton: I concur Methinks Higgy knows thats why I ran for public office 7 times and sued the Crown as well N'esy Pas?
John Grail
Reply to @Bob Smith: Freedom of person and association are probably some of the most fundamental freedoms. If people get within someone's personal space, and they don't like it, apply the law at that point. But if everyone is willing to accept the risk, why are you fining people?
John Grail
Reply to @Bill Hamilton: Yes, like being accountable. If people choose to get close to one another, they accept that risk. It's not up to others to decide that. If you don't want to get close to people, don't, and tell them that. If they still do at that point, then I have no problem charging people.
Canada Pension Plan board president says the retirement fund is safe, despite economic downturn
‘This is one thing they should take off their list to worry about,’ says Mark Machin
CBC Radio· Posted: Apr 03, 2020 5:41 PM ET
Mark Machin, president of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, says that the CPP is safe from economic turmoil thanks to a diversified portfolio. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global economy, the president of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board says Canadians' CPP contributions are safe.
"This is one thing they should take off their list to worry about," said Mark Machin.
"The fund is in strong shape. It was designed to weather these types of significant market downturns once in a while."
The pandemic has stunted the global economy as governments order workers to stay home and shutter businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus.
But Machin says that thanks to a diversified portfolio, will overcome a projected recession. Here's part of Machin's interview with The Current's Matt Galloway.
The economic fallout is already being felt. So how is it that the CPPIB would be insulated by that?
The money we manage isn't completely insulated. So obviously as markets go down, it's likely that the funds that we have will go down. But we do a number of things.
First of all, we diversified the monies. We haven't got all our eggs in one particular market or one particular type of investment, and that provides some cushion.
For example, generally when the stock market goes down, the government bond market will strengthen. That provides some offsets.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says parliament will be recalled to pass new legislation to deliver enhanced COVID-19 emergency aid measures. 2:11
How much of our money is invested in oil and gas? Because we've seen the price of oil, again, drop lower and lower and lower. The gas sector taking a huge hit as well.
Not so much. About 3 per cent of the fund overall is exposed to that sector. So it's not a huge amount.
Where are you investing the pension money of Canadians?
So it's invested broadly around the world, which helps.… We're invested in the rest of North America, Russia, South America, Europe and we're invested in Asia. We're invested in bonds and we're also invested in private assets like infrastructure — relatively safe things, generally on the infrastructure front, like roads and ports and electricity and those types of things.
What are [the] industries that are doing better now than others? Because it seems as though, from a distance, that everybody is taking this hit.
There are industries that are doing fine. For example, anything to do with our delivery and logistics, particularly at-home ordering.
One company we've invested in Europe is a flavour and fragrance company that's benefited from two things. One is the rise in the buying of toilet paper and tissues because it puts the fragrance in that, and also canned soup.… The flavour that goes into that also came from this company.
So there are certain companies that are doing well. But it is a narrow slice of companies.
And generally there's lots of companies, whether it's in travel or leisure or sports, etc., that are obviously going to suffer quite a lot. And then there's a lot in between that are going to just have dampened demand and dampened ability to do business, because all the economies in the world are shut down.
Are you predicting a recession?
Yes. So we're predicting that for the world for this year, we'll be down about 2.4 per cent growth, and Canada is going to be particularly badly hit in the second quarter of this year. So over 20 per cent decline annualized for GDP growth. So it's going to be a very steep recession.
But we think by the fourth quarter, it should be growing strongly again. And by next year, we see the world rebounding. So the world growing almost 7 per cent next year is our current number, and Canada growing over 4 per cent for next year.
But I think we've got months ahead of us to get through this. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. Written by Justin Chandler. Produced by Samira Mohyeddin.
59 Comments
David Amos Methinks nobody should be surprised by Machin's opinion about the job he has done playing with our money N'esy Pas?
The province recently released its COVID-19 projections, estimating between 550 and 1,750 people could die in the next 18 to 24 months. (NIAID-RML/The Associated Press/The Canadian Press)
There are no new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, according to the province's chief medical officer of health.
The number of COVID-19 cases remains at 116 in the province.
"We're definitely moving in the right direction but we haven't reached our final destination," Dr. Jennifer Russell said at her regular briefing on Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, and infection control epidemiologist said New Brunswick could be on the verge of peaking in COVID-19 cases.
Colin Furness, a professor at the University of Toronto, said New Brunswick is managing to flatten its curve "incredibly well," but the province will likely see some deaths related to the virus.
"When death starts to happen and the proportion of cases that end up in deaths goes up, that means you're getting toward the end," Furness said.
There's a lot of confusion about face masks now. Here are your top questions answered by chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell. 4:39
But New Brunswick could be unique, in that it has managed to avoid community spread relatively well, he said.
"It looks like you're through the peak and that you never got high community spread. And that although you can expect to see a few deaths, it's not going to be anywhere near what the provincial modelling numbers were saying last week."
Between 15 and 132 people could die this month alone, the projections suggested.
What happens over the next month will depend on how well the province restricts travel.
In the large-impact scenario, New Brunswick could experience up to 132 deaths by the end of April. (Government of New Brunswick)
"How New Brunswick handles new cases coming into [the province], I think is the big determinant," he said.
But Furness also said it's difficult for Canada, or any country, to determine how low numbers need to be so governments can lift restrictions.
The acute care hospitalizations, illustrated here, and other projections, show potential outcomes up to April 30, beyond which the government says modelling become less reliable. (Government of New Brunswick)
About one-third of all cases never show symptoms, which makes it difficult to know when it's safe to ease emergency measures.
"It's cause for concern that we're testing in a way that doesn't match the way the virus works."
Here is a roundup of other developments.
Why Saint John reinstated bus and parking fees
The City of Saint John says it has been forced to reinstate bus fares and parking regulations, after they were suspended last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic . Mayor Don Darling said Tuesday that bus fares had to be reintroduced because the city's financial situation is impossible to maintain otherwise.
"Fare collection was suspended because we didn't have a mechanism to collect it in a safe way," Darling said.
Beginning Tuesday, bus fares will be collected through Plexiglas barriers.
"We simply cannot afford to not collect some level of fare for the bus," Darling said.
Potential financial losses from transit alone would have reached up to $1 million if the fare had continued to be free.
Plexiglas barriers are still being installed on all city buses. On buses with barriers, passengers must enter through the front door to pay the fare.
Premier Blaine Higgs said a total of 17 tickets were issued over the past week to people not complying with the province's emergency order. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
Passengers are not required to pay a fare on the buses that don't have Plexiglas. On those buses, passengers should enter through the rear door.
March bus passes are valid for the month of April.
There are 116 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick. (CBC)
The Saint John Parking Commission has started enforcing on and off street parking regulations, including alternate-side parking, accessible parking, and monthly parking.
Market Square and Peel Plaza are operational and fee collection has also resumed.
Students transitioning to online learning
Teachers are reaching out to students this week to lay out the final 10 weeks of classes, if they haven't already.
The Anglophone West School District conducted a telephone survey to find out how many students don't have access to reliable technology or stable internet for online learning. About 200 of the 8,600 people who responded don't have adequate access.
David McTimoney, superintendent of the Anglophone West School District, said the district will stay in touch with those students over the phone.
He said he has been working on preparations for online coursework with teachers and collaborating with other superintendents.
"We're ready to roll ahead with that continuity of learning and looking forward to it," McTimoney said.
"We want to make sure students aren't disadvantaged when it comes to rolling out [the work]."
What to do if you have symptoms?
People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment on the government website. Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, a new or worsening cough, and breathlessness, as well as sore throat, headache and runny nose. People with two of those symptoms are asked to:
David Amos Methinks Higgy was very foolish indeed to allow his buddy to tease me about my not having a Medicare Card during his pandemic scare N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: Do you get denied service? But you get a bill. And you promptly pay I'm sure. Last time I checked half of nothing is still nothing N'esy Pas? A leech on the system but hate it all the way to the grave, how warm am I??
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: A leech on the system??? Oh My My
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks you should ask Higgy et al if I have ever taken one dime of welfare or EI and whether or not I pay my Health Care bills, my property taxes and my NB Power bills in a timely fashion N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks we should not forget the"Poofed" thread in which you bragged that I had taken your bait today or the one yesterday in which I said about why you were not TJ because of you Freudian Slip As I said 2 days ago anyone can Google "T.J. Burke letter played like a fiddle" to review how I love playing corrupt cops and lawyers like a fiddle N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks it is interesting that Higgy answers the French questions in English I bet that upsets Mr Comeau and his cohorts N'esy Pas?
Rob Sense
Reply to @David Amos: if your english question was answered in french i bet that would upset you.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Rob Sense: everything upsets him. Hopefully it won't trigger an episode and start into a govt emailing fury.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Sense: Methinks some folks would understand why common sense is telling me that you are not whom you purport to be Hence you are not being sincere N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks just yesterday you begged me for an email and admitted that you enjoyed reading them N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver They're a riot. You play that game totally the wrong way. They won't take someone serious who uses nicknames and the tone you take. Be polite. Be concise. Lay out the facts. Get them were you want them then put the screws to them smiling the entire time. Name calling will just get your hunt for justice thrown in the Spam folder whether you have the "goods" or not.
David Amos Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks the RCMP and Higgy can't deny you read them N'esy Pas?
David Amos Yea Right Tell me another one Higgy
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos: Isn't that what politics is all about? The guy with the best "story" is a hero?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: I know one thing he will never tell ya. Here is your Medicare card David! Haha
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: I doubt your hero Higgy finds it not so funny anymore
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: No I'm sure hes having a good laugh. I know I am
James Risdon Canada has already passed the peak of this pandemic and I expect 95 per cent of this to be wrapped up by June 24.
Bob Smith
Reply to @James Risdon: Nothing is wrapped up until there is a viable vaccine available. Relaxation of certain measures may be coming but other parts of society may stay changed for some time...
June Arnott
Reply to @James Risdon: not according to the experts of the WHO. But thank you for your thoughts Dr.
Chris McNee
Reply to @James Risdon: Nope. As long as theirs no vaccine it’s around. HIV still has no vaccine
James Risdon
Reply to @June Arnott: I never purported to be physician. I am just someone who can read and think.
Of course, an appeal to authority is a logical fallacy. If you disagree with my conclusion, it would be more logical to address the specific points with which you disagree rather than attempt to suggest that my conclusion is invalid simply because I am not a medical authority.
James Risdon
Reply to @Chris McNee: I never claimed Covid-19 would be wiped out by then. I said it would be 95 per cent over.
Read carefully.
John Holmes
Reply to @James Risdon: With as many as 1 in 3 being carriers that never manifest symptoms, this won't be over until we test every single citizen and develop a vaccine or it will just keep looping again and again.
James Risdon
Reply to @John Holmes: On what basis do you conclude that one in three Canadians is a carrier of Covid-19?
Gabriel Boucher
Reply to @James Risdon: I'm not sure where you're pulling these numbers from. I'm assuming that June 24th is referring to the summer days ahead and you're hoping that the virus will be killed by exposure to heat. What I will say to that is to look at countries south of the equator like Australia and New Zealand. Heat did not save them from transmission.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: On what basis did you select 95% and by the very specific date of June 24th? You think pretty highly of yourself dont you
James Risdon
Reply to @Gabriel Boucher: I am looking at the numbers for the daily increase in cases of Covid-19 in Canada, as reported by the CBC and Macleans magazine. Both of those graphs show the rate at which new cases are appearing hit a peak on Wednesday last week and is now declining.
That's the leading indicator of this pandemic. The total number of cases is a trailing indicator, but it's the one number everyone freaks out over. The reason the total number of cases is a trailing indicator is because it takes time for these people to either heal or die.
The rate of new cases, however, is a leading indicator. Roughly two weeks after we see a decline in the rate of new cases, we will see a drop in the total number of cases as the people who heal or die after being infected outstrip the number of new people being infected.
Working on the assumption that the distribution of the cases is essentially a bell shape and projecting forward from the number of weeks we've already had Covid-19, I predict the total number of cases reach the low, trailing levels on June 24
James Risdon
Reply to @Ray Oliver: If you look at the reply I just wrote for Gabriel Boucher, it should answer your question.
And, yes, I suppose I do. I'd be a fool to think otherwise.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: How modest and humble of you. Must be such a pleasure to be around. LOL people probably have no problem socially distancing around you
David Amos
Reply to @James Risdon: Methinks I see see two fools who deserve each other N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: You see see them do ya? Who's a smart boy
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Not you fool
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: A genius in his own mind. The voices tell him so EH!!!
James Risdon
Reply to @Ray Oliver: I am not everyone's cup of tea. But, then again, who is?
James Risdon
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Ray, if you have an intelligent objection to anything I have stated, I am happy to consider it. It does not you any favours to come across as mocking people simply because you disagree with them without so much as putting forth a rational, reasonable statement for your disagreement.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: Well until a vaccine is developed this will linger. Herd immunity for healthy individuals not in the risk category is the only way to return to some sense of "normalcy". The emergency was placed so as not to overwhelm the health care industry. NB has been successful to date. Loosen restrictions and start antibody testing but keep those borders closed. Our efforts in NB should not be nullified by Ontario and the likes still struggling. There, my view minus the sarcasm.
Chris McNee
Reply to @James Risdon: I did read carefully. So we currently have 116 confirmed cases, therefor by your figure we will have only 5 or 6 cases by June 24th?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: I can't put dates and percentages on it. Even the experts are guessing. Our predictions in NB last week had a wide wide scope. I found it comical actually. Polling numbers on such a fickle virus where one funeral alone in NFLD passed it to what, 100 others? How does one put some accurate numbers behind something like that. Ya can't.
James Risdon
Reply to @Chris McNee: My prediction is for Canada as a whole.
James Risdon
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Have you read the explanation I provided to Gabriel?
David Amos
Reply to @Chris McNee: Methinks you should ask Higgy and his cohorts what happened at Chucky Leblanc's beloved "Old Maison" in Fat Fred City on June 24th, 2004. I trust that we may rest assured that a former Irving journalist who later ran under the banner of the KISS Party in the last election never will N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: All it takes is one person to blow it all wide open again. But I hope your math is right. Heck even sooner be great
James Risdon Reply to @David Amos: I have no idea what it is that you're yammering about.
Chris McNee
Reply to @James Risdon: I agree, if one disagree and raises a different point of view that’s decent, but no need for people to offer unneeded rude replies.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: I think he thinks he knows you and you should remember him. Hes a big time player in the political uprising, you didn't get the memo?
James Risdon
Reply to @Ray Oliver: I must be out of the loop. ;-)
David Amos
Reply to @James Risdon: Methinks If you wish to continue to play dumb after all these years why not ask your former Party leader or your former Irving bosses or your new pen pal N'esy Pas?
Johnny Almar
We will open back up when Donald Trump says so. Yes we will follow the US lead on this.
Brian Decker
Reply to @Johnny Almar: I personally have WAY more faith in Canadians than that!
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Decker: Your hero Higgy knows why I don't
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Because an individual leans a certain way politically for party values doesn't mean "Higgy" is his hero. You dont have faith in anything except your theories
Brian Decker
Reply to @David Amos: I'm sure Premier Higgs knows that you are from another solar system and what you feel about Canada is irrelevant.
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Decker: Who are you really???
Brian Decker
Reply to @David Amos: Someone who is proud of New Brunswick and no matter what my political leanings are, can give credit where credit is due and appreciates the way that our elected officials et al are handling this situation. I'm also quite proud of most of my fellow New Brunswicker's for the seriousness with which they are treating this situation and trying to bring this to some sort of eventual end or at least retreat. I am not a person who finds fault with absolutely everything. I try to do my part and contribute to the solution. Now let's talk about you.........nah
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Brian Decker: Well said! Awaiting an intelligent rebuttal but I won't hold my breath
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Decker: Why don't you use your real name???
Brian Decker
Reply to @David Amos: I am DS
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Decker: BS
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Decker: DS has more class than you
mike huffman
This is just the beginning! Stuck in the house over 30 days and getting crazy! This is a result of Globalization, Greedy Corporations and Short minded self serving Politicians in charge of world affairs! We deserve what we get, as we elect these people .Stuck in the house over 30 days and getting crazy.As a result of Globalization, cheap useless short life span goods and staggering high profits for corporations! The world is changing more and more with faster speed than we expected! More disaster and natural events are happening more rapidly and often than ever expected! As people have very short memories It will repeat itself over and over again. After this is over new diseases will come again and we are not prepared to face new challenges. Politicians should stop taking money from corporations to get elected! Stop running Corproment (Corporate Controlled Governments)! Stop putting big corporations before the peoples lives! Stop destroying the environments in the name of the economy!
Ray Oliver
Reply to @mike huffman: You should meet David. I feel like you'd become fast friends
Carlos Urtubia
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Well...it's not totally wrong...we should be more self sufficient than bringing everything from China. Good thing that in NB not a lot of people comes.
June Arnott
Reply to @Ray Oliver: he is right though. Sad you can’t see that
Ray Oliver
Reply to @June Arnott: I do it was his delivery. Rant style. David's specialty.
June Arnott
Reply to @mike huffman: true but people are like zombies and forget what life is, that we need clean water to live, and balance.
Tom Simmons
Reply to @mike huffman: Unless that is the plan, to destroy western world and enslave us all...or worse....Georgia Guide Stones..
June Arnott
Reply to @Ray Oliver: oh ok, thankful. Ya, Amos does tend to rant. Pretty funny.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @June Arnott: I posted something very similar but mine went "poof" to quote a certain person
June Arnott
Reply to @Ray Oliver: too funny
Ian Scott
Reply to @mike huffman: Another Greta bring it all to a halt . People have short memories alright. Floods have always been here, storms happen. Idiots build on flood plains and put trails where they get torn up and boardwalks right on ocean edge. Corporate donations are already limited, you should look at union directives to members as to who says what and where to personally donate . They fly on the who is giving us more money hell with everything else.So maybe take a look at public service just as much as corporations.There are only a few big ones. The rest are small business , the best at employment and innovation.
David Amos
Reply to @June Arnott: Why is it I am not laughing at your malicious nonsense?
David Amos
Reply to @mike huffman: How do you do
Jim Cyr
Reply to @mike huffman: Spot on. We got our cheap TVs, alright........Unfortunately, those cheap TVs (as an example) ended up costing us a total shutdown of society for three or four months, and thousands of deaths.
Paul Estey
Reply to @Jim Cyr: dont forget everyone the goods that go to those overseas markets from Canada....we are in a Global network and that is only going to increase in the years to come....without this trade think where we would be...in worse shape than we currently are...
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Paul Estey: Globalism and One-Worldism benefits the Elite............hugely. It crushes every one else, in the end. A little coronavirus, scarecrow??........
Jim Johnston Reply to @Jim Cyr: For you information tvs have not been made in Canada since the early 70s. They were all being made in the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Kevin Chaulk Seems a little odd, are they testing many people there. NB surrounded by Quebec (14,248) NS (517) and Maine (734) all with much higher cases...so what gives?
David Amos
Reply to @Kevin Chaulk: Methinks you should ask Higgy's buddy Ray Oliver because he thinks he knows everything N'esy Pas?
Reply to @David Amos: I do know one thing. You take the bait every single time.
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver:" I know one thing he will never tell ya. Here is your Medicare card David! Haha"
Methinks if you did not have a Medicare Card you would not be laughing N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: I'm sure there is a very valid reason for it. You're not the sole individual in NB I'm sure in this position and it's of your own creation
Carlos Urtubia
Reply to @Kevin Chaulk: The areas closer to NB almost don't have cases. Maine's counties around NB had 1 case each. The QB areas on the north are also miles away from any bigger city...you need to go hours from Edmunston to Riviere du loup... QB cases are mainly in Montreal, Maine cases are mainly on the south....
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: BS
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Carlos Urtubia: A lot of it has to do with US & provincial border shut downs. If we had of done the same to air traffic & cruise ships earlier we may have done even better.
Still though, we know we are in this for at least another two weeks. So time to hammer down and stay away from people
Bo Zam
Reply to @Ray Oliver: And i thought they banned fishing season... Seems the big mouth bass are biting :)
June Arnott
Reply to @Kevin Chaulk: correct,they were not testing many, now that might change with the new guidelines
Kevin Chaulk
Reply to @June Arnott: Several provinces with low numbers are doing very little testing, NB, NL, MB, and SK. Especially in areas outside of the cities and larger towns.
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Kevin Chaulk: Good leadership from the start. On the other hand, my state, Maine, has a liberal governor who appointed a terrible state CDC director (with a very checkered past.............When he was in a similar position in Illinois, he failed to contain Legionnaire's Disease when it spread through The State Veteran's Nursing Home for years, while trying to cover it up and not let even families know it was happening. 13 people died....) The governor and Maine CDC director both made it clear from the start that they would NOT do anything as "draconian" and "mean" as what Higgs did................it was more important to be "nice and welcoming" than to attack the pandemic. (They actually said that). SMH. So we ended up importing tons of cases from Massachusetts and NY......but we did make a polite request to "PLEASE don't go around other people.....". Sometimes I wish that my part of the start (northern Maine) was part of NB.............
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Carlos Urtubia: Correct. My county in Maine has had two cases for the last week. And it's a huge county.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Kevin Chaulk: Population is a large factor. Nb, with 15 cases per 100,000 people, looks like PEI (16 per 100,000) or Manitoba (18). Saskatchewan has 26, Newfoundland & Labrador 47, Maine 47 and Nova Scotia 54. Quebec is a disaster, with more cases than Ontario even though it's got a smaller population.
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Who should care about Yankees when they don't care about us???
David Amos
Reply to @Bo Zam: Who has the big mouth?
Vernon McPhee Reply to @Carlos Urtubia: And I finally saw some detail numbers on NS and Cumberland Health Authority had no cases as well. Being far from Halifax has finally paid off.
Speaking of fear and loathing during a purported pandemic in in the Maritimes methinks Higgy doesn't need enemies with Little Lou and Rotten Ray for fans N'esy Pas?
Former head of library service alleges job ad worded so non-librarian could fill post
Sylvie Nadeau calls on Premier Blaine Higgs to review controversial appointment of Kevin Cormier
CBC News· Posted: Apr 14, 2020 5:32 PM AT
Sylvie Nadeau served as provincial librarian and executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service for 20 years until her retirement at the end of December. (Submitted by Sylvie Nadeau)
The former head of New Brunswick's Public Library Service has written a letter to Premier Blaine Higgs, alleging the wording of the ad for her position was designed to let the province replace her with a non-librarian. Sylvie Nadeau, who served as the provincial librarian and executive director for 20 years until her retirement at the end of December, said she recently returned from a two-month vacation in Spain and learned Kevin Cormier was put in charge of the province's 64 public libraries, despite an apparent lack of library training or experience. "As a citizen, this appointment gives me grave concerns that this might be the new way that the government is going to fill positions anywhere in government in the future: by manipulating the recruitment ads (beyond their officially approved requirements) to 'tailoring' them in order to facilitate particular agendas, political appointments, favouritism, friendships, and what else," she wrote.
Nadeau said she knows of at least two "highly qualified" internal candidates who were interviewed for the job, which comes with an annual salary of up to nearly $114,000.
Appointment 'flawed'
She is calling on the premier to order an in-depth independent review of the "profoundly flawed" recruitment process, including the writing and approval of the ad, the screening of candidates, the interviews, the composition of the panel that conducted the interviews, the linguistic assessment, the use of the Corporate Talent Management Program to appoint Cormier, as well as the appointment itself.
If the review finds "due processes were not followed or that there were flaws," she contends Cormier's appointment should be rescinded.
Higgs could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
The Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour, which the public library service falls under, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nadeau said the executive director ad published by the government last fall did not meet the qualifications and level of experience laid out in the position description questionnaire, known as a PDQ, that was submitted and approved by the office of human resource's classification committee when the position was classified at pay band level nine about 10 years ago.
Kevin Cormier was appointed the executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service, effective Feb. 18. (Kevin Cormier/Facebook)
The minimum requirements in that document are: "MLIS (master of library and/or information studies) with 9 years of progressive experience, including management and supervision of library operation. Knowledge of large network library system is essential."
But the job posting stipulated a master's degree in library and/or information studies from an American Library Association-accredited program, "with a minimum of (8) years of progressively responsible related work experience, including at least three (3) years of management experience in a complex operational environment involving responsibility for human and financial resources. A combination of education, training and experience may be considered."
Whoever directed this must have felt quite powerful, untouchable and invincible to think this would go unnoticed and unchallenged.
- Sylvie Nadeau, retired executive director of provincial library service
"By removing the 'library management' experience component, and adding the broader wording and the equivalency clause, it opened the door to all kinds of interpretations to allow a wide range of equivalencies," said Nadeau.
"This obviously had a direct impact on the screening process to select the candidates who would be invited to an interview. As a next step, it allowed the appointment of a candidate without a master of library and/or information studies and the library management experience."
Nadeau questioned why the wording of the ad would "stray so far" from the qualifications described in the approved PDQ.
"This had to be intentional. But again why? What was the agenda behind this?
"Whoever directed this must have felt quite powerful, untouchable and invincible to think this would go unnoticed and unchallenged."
'Incomprehensible'
Nadeau said she felt duty-bound to write to Higgs to alert him to the situation and give him the opportunity to "correct this unfair, unjustifiable and incomprehensible decision."
"As the retired provincial librarian/executive director, I see it as a misguided disrespect to the public and against a profession and generations of professional librarians and library staff who have built New Brunswick Public Library Service," she wrote.
The legacy of generations of professional librarians who managed the public library system to make it what it is today have been "trampled on."
Nadeau contends the classification of the position would never have been approved as a pay band level nine if the description of the qualifications in the PDQ had not indicated the necessity of a master's degree in library and/or information studies as well as nine years of progressive experience, including management and supervision of library operation.
"From an administrative point of view, once approved, the position description questionnaires are to be used to create job specifications ('specs'), job descriptions and recruitment ads. All these documents work together and are supposed to be aligned," she wrote. "This is how it is supposed to work."
Labour Minister Trevor Holder has declined to discuss Cormier's qualifications, instead asking New Brunswickers to give him 'time to prove himself.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Based on media reports, Cormier does not even have the basic qualifications to be considered for a library manager position of a small library at a pay band level two, said Nadeau, "because these positions require at least a bachelor's degree."
Cormier's LinkedIn profile lists his education as a single year at York University's Schulich School of Business in Toronto in 2005 and two years at the Moncton Flight College, from 1998 to 2000.
He spent the past year as a strategic adviser in the Executive Council Office, working on corporate governance and accountability with agencies, boards and commissions of the public service. He was previously the chief executive officer of Kings Landing Corporation.
Nadeau said she knows at least three "talented" professional librarians who have been working within New Brunswick Public Library Service in senior management roles for many years were considering applying for the position because they asked if they could put her name as a reference.
At least two of them were interviewed for the position, but she did not receive any call to provide a reference for any of them, she said.
Cormier was appointed the head of the library service through the Corporate Talent Management Program, which provides current and aspiring executives in the upper pay bands with opportunities to further develop their competencies within or outside their current department.
"This program, to my knowledge, was not designed or intended to be used to appoint unqualified candidates to positions," wrote Nadeau.
"However, I have to point out that I believe that its design opened the door to this type of abuse." She cited the small number of government employees registered in the program.
Talent program under scrutiny
The government is reviewing the program, Post-Secondary Education, Training an Labour Minister Trevor Holder announced in the legislature last month in response to questions from Green Party Leader David Coon, who said he was "appalled" by the appointment of Cormier.
Holder reiterated at the time that he has "complete confidence" in the controversial appointment made by his former deputy minister Sadie Perron under the program.
"It has been used throughout the years to move people around throughout government and that's exactly what happened here," Holder said.
"Now having said that, I understand there's some public concern here, and that's why the premier [and] myself have spoken to the Department of Human Resources and we're actually currently having a review of the talent management program just to make sure that it does what it's supposed to do.
"And if there can be any improvements made to that program, we will do that."
David Amos Methinks Higgy's and everybody else's hat should be off to Sylvie Nadeau for speaking up N'esy Pas?
William Nelson Ahh, yes, the Maritimes. This is heard of! Loved the beauty, but loathed the B...S.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @William Nelson: This kind of thing only happens here?
David Amos
Reply to @William Nelson: Methinks you must live on the moon if you don't think there is just as much BS where you are N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @William Nelson: Speaking of fear and loathing during a purported pandemic in in the Maritimes methinks Higgy doesn't need enemies with Little Lou and Rotten Ray for fans N'esy Pas?
John Smith Yes, Blaine will make changes as soon as he hires all his friends, political and otherwise. Lets not forget about his Irving hires and the neighbor from Quispamsis that all got $100,000 jobs. .
Lou Bell
Reply to @John Smith: Twice !
Ray Oliver
Reply to @John Smith: Its hardly ever been based on what you know so much as who you know. This is rampant in all employment sectors. No surprise here whatsoever.
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Say Hey to Higgy for me will ya?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Cry me a river Methinks Higgy is still your hero N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Got him on the line right now, he says "Hey" back.. the Medicare card's in the mail keep an eye out!
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks your buddy Higgy won't find that even remotely funny N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: He was laughing so hard he had to hang the phone up. Oh Higgy you kill me every time!!
Lou Bell Hiring an unqualified person who was terrible at their last management job usually doesn't qualify them for another management job ! Apparently patheticism rewards patheticism !!
David News
Reply to @Lou Bell: Apparently whining and complaining puts smiles on peoples faces. Go figure
t c
Reply to @Lou Bell: you would be an expert on, on unqualified
David Amos
Reply to @t c: aka Ye With No Name
Methinks that may be the understatement of the year N'esy Pas/
Lou Bell This is the same process used to illegally award a Liquor outlet on the Hanwell to a NON EXISTENT Convenience store !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were parameters to be met and somehow THE NON EXISTENT convenience store was awarded the outlet ahaead of ALL OTHER APPLICANTS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Melissa MacDonald
Reply to @Lou Bell: who were the other applicants
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lou Bell: Scholtens on the Hanwell ! Certainly well qualified !! The people who were awarded the outlet were well establihed in Grahams Government ! Political Patonage 101 by all meanings of the word !!!
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you need to get your facts straight N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Trust that I know
t c
Reply to @Lou Bell: you think that you know so much, making comments on everything that's in the news on how it should be done, so step up and fix the world's problems !! Mouth peice!!
William Nelson
Reply to @Lou Bell: one exclamation mark works.
William Nelson
Reply to @t c: they gave it to an unqualified candidate.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Dont trust anything he knows. The man thinks his cows were killed by laser beams. I wish I was kidding
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks even Higgy must be embarrassed by your nonsense by now N'esy Pas?
Brian Robertson Well, if a part time drama teacher can be Prime Minister, that pretty much throws the door wide open for any other government jobs.
Les Cooper
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Look where that got us!!
Melissa MacDonald
Reply to @Brian Robertson: anyone can be a prime minister, its a popularity contest.
David Amos
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Oh So True but you need the crooked dudes in the backrooms to support you first
David Amos
Reply to @Les Cooper: Cry me a river
June Arnott Nice to see someone who has experience calling out the government on this. Fishy things always going on.
David Amos
Reply to @June Arnott: Maybe someday you will learn to read instead of making fun of people EH?
David Raymond Amos@DavidRayAmos Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others Content disabled Methinks its not safe for me to visit emergency room of the Moncton Hospital in light of the fact that Horizon Health want the RCMP to arrest me. Best I stick with the Vitalité people N'esy Pas?
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: It's still safe to visit ERs in a pandemic, Moncton doctor says
Dairy farmers in New Brunswick were forced to dump 10 tractor-trailers of milk last week
CBC News· Posted: Apr 15, 2020 12:03 PM AT
Dr. Serge Melanson, an ER physician at the Moncton Hospital, is reminding people that it's still safe to visit emergency rooms for urgent medical care, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (CBC)
A Moncton physician is reminding residents that emergency rooms are still a safe place to go if people are in need of immediate care — despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Moncton Hospital has seen a 50 per cent decrease in the number of ER visits since the pandemic started.
"Hospitals have taken a lot of precautions at keeping people suspected of having COVID-19 … out of our hospitals by testing at testing sites," said Dr. Serge Melanson, an emergency room physician at the Moncton Hospital.
"And those that do come to our ER department are isolated, and there's lots of precautions to keep them from the general public."
Although people might be apprehensive about visiting the ER, Melanson said people should visit the hospital if they're feeling an unfamiliar pain in their body.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick is also urging people to seek emergency care if they experience symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
Hospitals across the province are admitting fewer people with symptoms of heart attack and stroke, the foundation said in a news release.
116 cases of COVID-19
There are still 116 cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick after no new cases were reported Tuesday. Premier Blaine Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, will be speaking at a daily news conference at 2:30 p.m.
There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in New Brunswick on Tuesday. (Photo: CBC News)
Of the 116 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 66 are travel-related, 40 are close contacts of confirmed cases, eight are the result of community transmission and two remain under investigation.
To date, 75 people have recovered.
A total of 12 people have been hospitalized during the pandemic, but seven have been discharged.
Dairy farmers forced to dump tractor trailers of milk
Dairy farmers in New Brunswick were forced to dump 10 tractor-trailers loads of milk last week because of a downturn in the market.
"When you bust your butt to try to produce it, it does break your heart," said Paul Gaunce, chair of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick.
Once businesses, schools and hotels shut down because of COVID-19, there has been a drop in demand for milk products.
"One of our biggest losses right now is cream because of the loss of coffee shops and restaurants and hotels," said Gaunce, who represents 172 dairy farms across the province.
"The processors have had to change their lines to make sure they're producing the products that consumers are using at home."
Some retailers also faced a shortage of milk because of panic buying in late March.
Although there was enough milk available, retailers weren't prepared for the sudden increase in demand.
But Gaunce said the supply is now stable again.
Fredericton postpones 2 construction projects
The City of Fredericton has postponed two construction projects until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien said construction on Regent Street, between Queen Street and King Street, and Union Street will no longer take place this spring and summer as scheduled.
The projects involved upgrading the water and sewer systems in those areas.
"We decided last night we're not going to do that, hoping that our businesses can open in the near future," O'Brien said.
There's a lot of confusion about face masks now. Here are your top questions answered by chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell. 4:39
"The last thing they would need is shovels and backhoes in front of their business again."
Both projects are being replaced by two smaller projects that will have less impact on residents and businesses looking to reopen.
One project will take place on St. Mary's Street, between the Northside City Works Depot and Two Nations Crossing. The second project will take place on Terrance Street, between Brookside Drive and Harley Avenue.
The St. Mary's Street and Terrance Street projects are expected to cost $1 million — the same price as the Regent Street and Union Street projects.
City staff have also analyzed the 2020 capital construction plan and have identified $4 million in projects that could be put off to help bridge revenue shortfalls because of COVID-19.
The city will go ahead with $10 million in infrastructure projects that address safety concerns.
Printing company begins mass-producing face shields
A Fredericton printing company has switched from creating brochures and signs to building face shields for front-line workers.
Instead of laying off staff, Scott WIlliams, CEO of Taylor Printing, did everything he could to keep them on the payroll.
But he needed to find a new source of revenue.
"I come up with silly ideas all the time, and usually about one in 99 are good," said Williams.
Eventually, he was able to figure out to construct masks out of printing equipment.
What visits look like now between Riverview's Debby Warren and her mother Bessy Brown. 3:03
Taylor Printing is making the shields from plastic supplied by a company in Ontario.
The company will begin printing plastic face shields today and is anticipating it will be able to make between 5,000 and 6,000 masks a day.
The company has already received an order for 40,000 masks from the Department of Public Safety. "We never dreamed that this is what we'd be doing. But it's part of business and you take the hand that you're dealt and make the best of it."
Some workers are forced to work in close proximity
Premier Blaine Higgs said he understands there are some risks that come with certain jobs.
He uses the example of paramedics, health-care workers and child-care workers in close proximity with one another in their jobs.
"We're asking obviously that the right precautions are taken and the right equipment is worn," he said.
"But this is part of the job and we accept there are certain risks to that."
He said the province provides instruction and necessary equipment to do so.
"We need them to get through this."
Although some of these workers might be forced to work in close proximity, Higgs said it's important people avoid it if they can.
"That's the challenge, it's kind of a common sense thing."
What to do if you have symptoms
People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment on the government website.
Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, a new or worsening cough, and breathlessness, as well as sore throat, headache and runny nose. People with two of those symptoms are asked to:
David Amos Methinks all things considered concerning the Crown's MO two out three ain't bad N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks some Dairy Farmers will be recalling our conversations over the years today N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks its not safe for me to visit emergency room of the Moncton Hospital in light of the fact that Horizon Health want the RCMP to arrest me. Best I stick with the Vitalité people who taken very good care of me thus far even though I have no Medicare Card. At least Higgy knows the French folks are not delusional and very happy to take my money N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks Fredericton Mayor Mikey O'Brien should finally get around to asking the Fat Fred City Finest why I sued the Queen in 2015 and where the Yankee wiretap tapes and my old Harley are N'esy Pas?
Rob Sense Reply to @David Amos: easy on the edibles.
David Amos Reply to @Rob Sense: Methinks just because you enjoy your dope and beer it does not follow that I partake of such things N'esy Pas?
Terry Hughes
Reply to @David Amos: Koo Koo, Koo Koo !!!!
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Hughes: Methinks you are supposed to be extinct like the Dodo Bird but I was wrong N'esy Pas?
Rob Sense Reply to @David Amos: I do not drink beer or take drugs.
David Amos Reply to @Rob Sense: Yea Right
Rob Sense
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: I guess it was a more noble way to explain you loss of contact with reality. the alternative cannot be corrected without stronger means...if at all.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Rob Sense: Does your Mother know write such things?
Rob Sense Good to know that our ER congestion problems can be cured by a simple pandemic! Maybe people will be less addicted to ERs after this?
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Sense: Methinks your hero Higgy knows why my Doctors ORDER me to go the ER for tests on my bum ticker Even you cannot deny that I deserve the best of service since I am compelled to pay for it in cash because of the Police State placed a "Stay" against my Medicare for illegal reasons N'esy Pas?
SarahRose Werner Reply to @Rob Sense: "Sometimes they've had a more complicated medical situation to deal with because of that delay." - I'm not sure that waiting too long to come in for *true* emergencies is a cure. We need to find the middle way between people waiting too long and people coming in with hangnails.
James Risdon
Reply to @David Amos: Are you alleging the premier of our province is personally intervening to prevent you from getting your medical care covered by Medicare?
David Amos
Reply to @James Risdon: Bingo
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Justin Time: Methinks the RCMP and the FBI know Federal Court File No T- 1557-15 is far from over particularly since Whitey met with his untimely demise and I am still kicking Perhaps you should read the complaint if you are truly curious N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James Risdon: The absolute definition of "libel" right there. A published false claim or statement detrimental to ones reputation.
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Not if it is TRUE
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Justin Time: Methinks you know what usually comes after this notice "Awaiting moderation" N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@Justin Time: Methinks you should know by now that you are not permitted to ask such questions N'esy Pas? His questions about my Harley and lawsuit etc went "Poof" before I could save it
Rob Sense Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: You have serious issues not related to any pandemic
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Rob Sense: I also have a real name
Heather Michon Perhaps the reporters should be asking Higgs why he refuses to increase funding to long-term care homes. He has continually ignored the healthcare crisis in the province, cutting funding and recently trying to close ERs. He appears to be allowing his personal vendetta against nursing home workers to cloud his judgement and put our most vulnerable at further risk. His excuse that we are not as bad off as other provinces is ridiculous and short sighted. Apparently our most vulnerable are not that important.
David Amos
Reply to @Heather Michon: Methinks just as a leopard cannot change his spots Higgy will continue to do what is best for Higgy N'esy Pas?
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos: David: you are being overly generous.......... Higgy will continue to do what Higgy *thinks* is best for Higgy no matter how wrong he is N'esy Pas?
James Risdon
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: What's with the "N'esy Pas"?
Paul Estey
Reply to @James Risdon: I too have wondered why those 2 words are continually being used...
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @James Risdon: In this situation I *thought* it more appropriate than "Nestle's Quick", though to be honest, it came with the cut and paste, and I was too lazy to delete it.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks Marc and Maggie would affirm that you have been known to make the odd faux pas because I am not worth knowing N'esy Pas?
Premier Blaine Higgs and Cheryl Hansen, who oversees the provincial civil service, speak on opposite sides of the room to observe physical distancing. (Louis Leger/ premier's chief of staff)
As he arrives each morning at the Department of Health, deputy minister Gérald Richard gets his temperature checked, usually around 6 a.m. He hasn't had a day off since March 11.
Cheryl Hansen calls her mother every morning before sunrise as she drives from Mactaquac to Fredericton, where she oversees the provincial civil service from Chancery Place.
Dr. Jennifer Russell arrives at work by 7:30 a.m. More than 12 hours later she tries to have a cup of tea and a hot bath to unwind after another day on the front line.
For the officials overseeing the provincial government's COVID-19 war room, fighting the pandemic is an all-consuming job: an exhausting, stressful but exhilarating experience.
'The mission is saving lives'
They say the greatest challenge of their careers is also bringing out the best in the people they work with.
"For us, the mission is saving lives, as much as the front-line health-care workers," says Hansen, who, as clerk of the executive council, is the province's top civil servant.
Public servants staffing New Brunswick's health emergency operations centre. (Photo: David Coon/Green Party Leader)
"The more we can support, get things up, gets things structured, that's our singular mission, and that gets you out of bed every day and keeps you working hard."
Higgs's chief of staff, Louis Léger, says the Progressive Conservative minority government has had to put aside all its other plans.
"The only agenda right now is to manage this," he says. "There's no other agenda."
A typical day in a pandemic
Non-partisan civil servants like Hansen and political staffers like Léger rarely speak publicly. But the premier's office gave them permission after a request from CBC News to describe a typical day during the pandemic.
It's a dizzying amount of work, and it means 12-or-more-hour days, seven days a week, for those in the "war room."
"Going home and just having a regular supper with the family is, unbelievably, a very special experience now," says Hansen, who was appointed to the top role only two months ago.
The staff at Public Health "are giving what I would call a Herculean effort," Russell says. "Everybody is lifting above their weight. They're going above and beyond the call of duty.
"They are working seven days a week in rotations, and those days are not normal days. They are 12 or 14 or 16-hour days."
Léger is remaining in Fredericton rather than commuting home to Kent County as he normally does on weekends.
"I can't put myself in a position where I would possibly infect others. … If I get sick, then Cheryl Hansen will get sick or the premier will get sick."
The command post is actually in three locations: Chancery Place, where the premier's office and the executive council office are located; HSBC Place, home of the Department of Health, and the Victoria Health Centre, where the Emergency Measures Organization has offices.
'Guess the temperature'
Like everyone else entering the three buildings, Richard's morning temperature check is a requirement. Anyone with a temperature isn't allowed in.
Higgs says EMO staff have started "a little contest down there called 'guess the temperature.'" He came within 0.4 degrees of guessing correctly when he visited Monday.
Richard's daily routine begins with a 7:30 a.m. meeting of the top officials in his department, followed by one with the new COVID-19 task force at 8 a.m.
During the pandemic, Gérald Richard, deputy minister of health, starts his day at 7:30 a.m., meeting with the top officials in his department. (Photo: Jacques Poitras/CBC News)
Russell attends both meetings.
"I definitely hit the ground running every morning," she says.
The deputy minister's day continues with a briefing for the emergency operations centre staff on their tasks for the day at 9 a.m.
The centre is staffed by public servants in the Health Department who, sitting a safe distance from each other, field different calls from across the system and send out word of new protocols for issues ranging from elective surgeries to face masks.
They normally work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a designated list of tasks.
"They go through the whole thing to make sure everything was resolved, and if not they have to stay until it's resolved," Richard says.
It's an environment that is actually quite good in terms of working together for one cause, and it's the cause of our lifetime, really. - Louis Léger, premier's chief of staff
After that briefing, he calls the CEOs of the two regional health authorities to let them know what the task force has decided.
He also speaks to Medavie Health Services NB CEO Richard Losier and to Eric Beaulieu, his counterpart at the Department of Social Development.
Nursing homes and special care homes are normally regulated by Social Development, but are now under the authority of the four-person task force.
At 12:30 p.m. the same group that met at 7:30 a.m. huddles again.
By afternoon Richard usually has some time for non-pandemic tasks, such as reviewing the departmental budget or signing contracts.
And later in the day there are often cabinet meetings to support, conference calls with his counterparts in other provinces, or meetings of the all-party committee Higgs set up that includes leaders of the Liberal, Green and People's Alliance parties.
He says the enthusiasm from his departmental staff motivates him to keep coming to work.
"That keeps me from going crazy, because they want to be here and I want to support them."
Looking at post-pandemic economic recovery
Down the street at Chancery Place, Hansen oversees a similar, non-stop sequence of meetings. She designated the deputy minister of public safety, Mike Comeau, as the lead official on the COVID-19 response and he has moved from his office in Marysville Place to Chancery.
They've put working groups in place for different aspects of the pandemic.
One focuses on "business continuity," ensuring other government functions, like the recent mail-out of cheques for low-income seniors, continue. Another is now planning for post-pandemic economic recovery.
Higgs says he'd obviously prefer not to be dealing with a pandemic but he's in his element thanks to his career at Irving Oil.
"I came from an operational background," he says. "So for me being focused on operations, and the details behind that, is second nature. I just inherently ask questions about the details. A lot of people don't expect that from someone in this role, but that's how I'm wired."
The nature of working at Chancery Place has changed because of the virus.
"The floor where we're spending most of our time has a few core people, spaced out so that we're not putting each other at risk but close enough to call out to each other when that becomes desirable," Comeau said.
There's a lot of intensity to every conversation. It has the kind of seriousness with it that I associate with flood situations. - Mike Comeau, deputy minister of public safety In meeting rooms, distances are marked on the floor in case officials are tired and forget how far to stay away from each other.
Protocols are constantly updated. A new one at Chancery Place last week says only one person can ride an elevator at a time.
On the political side, a phone line has been put in place for all 47 members of the legislature and the province's 10 federal MPs, regardless of party affiliation.
MLAs are often the first to hear from New Brunswickers about problems with how a new, hastily designed program is working, Léger said.
The phone line "has helped a lot in managing the flow of information in, and managing the flow of information out.
"It's an environment that is actually quite good in terms of working together for one cause, and it's the cause of our lifetime, really."
Pandemic energy similar in flooding season
Comeau compares the pace and nervous energy to spring flooding season. Flood response is overseen by EMO, which is part of his department.
"There's a lot of intensity to every conversation," he said. "It has the kind of seriousness with it that I associate with flood situations."
That experience has also taught him and his staff how to avoid getting too stressed out.
"We do have some experience and we've taken some advice over the years on how to keep perspective, remain calm and take care of oneself during those times."
Public Safety Minister Carl Urquhart, Mike Comeau, deputy minister of public safety, and Hansen taking part in a meeting to tackle COVID-19 in New Brunswick. (Photo: Louis Leger/ premier's chief of staff)
That means spelling each other off if anyone is tired or visibly close to burning out and needs a day off.
Russell has advised New Brunswickers to look after themselves and not allow stress levels to get too high, advice she tries to heed herself after she gets home.
"When time allows I do go for a walk. At the end of the day I do try to get in a cup of tea and a hot bath. I try to spend time doing a little unwinding with a bit of music."
Dr. Jennifer Russell and the premier speak at daily news conferences in Fredericton throughout the work week. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
Léger says he's avoiding watching too much news when he returns to his apartment at night.
"You've got to take a break from it because it's overwhelming."
Russell herself, however, finds herself still immersed in COVID-19 at home.
"Reading around all the latest things that are coming out on a daily basis, I don't have a problem with. It doesn't scare me in the sense that, for me, it's all information that helps me do my job better."
Higgs gets home to Quispamsis once or twice a week, driving straight to his house without stops and observing physical distancing guidelines.
He and his wife Marcia had an Easter rendezvous with one of their daughters, who lives nearby, but it was at a safe distance on the sidewalk.
"It was a fully isolated weekend," Higgs said, "You've got to do what you ask others to do."
To relax, the premier also spent part of the weekend on a springtime ritual, removing the battery from his motorcycle to charge it and checking the tires.
The trips home also give him a chance to eat better than he does during the week in Fredericton. "Let's just say that it's good that fast food restaurants are still open," he says.
The premier sees his role as keeping tabs on what urgent issues need high-level decisions, including changes to the emergency order regulating behaviour.
Higgs says he's been relying heavily on fast food while dealing with a major pandemic. (Photo: Louis Leger/ premier's chief of staff)
Any changes go first to the all-party cabinet committee. Decisions requiring full cabinet approval go there next.
"My role is then communicating that [at daily briefings] along with managing the expectations of the public," he says.
The premier says he's excited to see officials breaking down traditional barriers between departments and making decisions quickly.
"That's what you do in management in a crisis," he says.
It's also something he's long wanted government to do.
Improving public service after the pandemic
Hansen says officials have "kind of blown up the typical hierarchy," she said. "We had to become a lot more agile and solutions-focused than ever before" to cope with the requirement for physical distancing.
Some court proceedings are being done by phone or videoconference. With the sign-on of the New Brunswick Medical Society, doctors are meeting patients over the phone.
Hansen says government officials have learned new ways of operating that could last beyond the distancing requirements. (Photo: Louis Leger/ premier's chief of staff)
"This was something we wanted for a long time, but in the space of about a week, we were able to work with the NBMS and make sure we had protocols in place to start tele-care," Richard said.
Hansen says one legacy of COVID-19, whenever the pandemic does end, is that government officials have learned new ways of operating that could last beyond the distancing requirements.
"We do not want to come up the same way as we went down, with the same type of offering in the same kind of way," she said.
"We're really looking here around how do we move out of this event with new and improved public services."
Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC political podcast Spin Reduxit.
David Amos Methinks whereas I was blocked out of the gate I have every right to call this drivel exactly what it is propaganda practiced by Higgy's Police State on dimes for his benefit not ours N'esy Pas?
James Risdon Reply to @David Amos: Why do you keep writing "N'esy Pas"?
David Amos
Reply to @James Risdon: Ask Higgy
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks Higgy et al should take a little time to read their emails and the comments sections of the corporate media beginning with right here N'esy Pas?
'Someone has to know': Prisoner sends plea for help from Dorchester
Prisoner fears for his safety as COVID-19 hits penitentiaries across the country
Over the course of several collect calls from prison, Aaron Daigle dictated a plea for help to his mother.
He spent all of the previous night writing a letter and asked his mother to share it with whomever she could.
He's afraid for his safety, and as COVID-19 infects more and more prisoners in the country, he feels this is the only way to be heard.
His mother Audrey Daigle read the letter to CBC News.
"We don't have a choice to stay safe, or to self–isolate, or to use hand sanitizer or to self–distance," she read from her Sussex home.
"Words can't describe the effects on a person mentally and physically under these unprecedented circumstances."
"The consequences of not taking action fast and waiting until it's too late will be devastating and irreversible."
Correctional Service Canada says it has been in talks with the Parole Board of Canada about the possibility of releasing prisoners. (Pierre Fournier/CBC News )
Aaron Daigle, 32, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to non-violent drug charges in 2019. He was moved from jail to prison and has been spending his sentence at the Dorchester Penitentiary.'
He was granted parole in early March but hasn't been released, Audrey Daigle said.
In his letter, he says prisoners are not given hand sanitizer, guards don't have masks or gloves, and it's difficult to keep enough distance from others. He says he feels like he's facing a death sentence.
"We're not looking for a get-out-of-jail-free card, we're asking for a fighting chance to make it home to our family and to our loved ones," Aaron Daigle said in the letter.
"We were ordered to serve a sentence by a judge, but at this point Correctional Service Canada has sentenced us and our family to a much more severe sentence."
They're all clustered together with no cleaners, no hand sanitizers, no nothing, like it's not right. Someone has to know. People have to know what's going on.- Audrey Daigle, mother
Correctional officers in the Maritimes have said Correctional Service Canada is slow to make changes to protect inmates and staff from COVID–19.
Advocates have been calling for the release of non-violent inmates, citing the risk of COVID-19 spreading exponentially in the close quarters of prison cells.
Audrey Daigle choked up when talking about her fear for her son.
"They need to realize that these lives are precious. They have family," she said. "He made a bad mistake. Yes ... But now, I mean their lives are valuable"
She said his four children are worried about their father.
"I don't uphold crime, I never did. It's not that, It's just that I just want a little the mercy here, and this pandemic, we don't know where it's going to take us."
In a prison to actually achieve the physical distancing means you have to have space, the only way to make space is to actually to get some of those people out of there.- Kim Pate, senator.
She said this letter "isn't just for himself," but for his prison mates who are feeling the same fear. In an interview with Information Morning Moncton, Sen. Kim Pate said it would be a good idea to release all inmates who don't have much time left on their sentences, and inmates who have health issues that put them at higher risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.
"Most of the these prisons are in small communities," she said. "And if in fact there's an outbreak in the prisons then that could overload the local health-care system."
She said the risk comes not from the population itself, but from "staff coming in, moving through the entire institution and discovering that they tested positive but were asymptomatic at the time," she said.
Senator Kim Pate worries if COVID-19 reaches prisons, it will spread faster than in the general population. (Senate of Canada)
And physical distancing is nearly impossible in some cases, especially in a crowded facility.
"In a prison, to actually achieve the physical distancing means you have to have space, the only way to make space is to … get some of those people out of there," she said.
According to the Correctional Service Canada website, there have been 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in prisons in Quebec, eight in Ontario and 36 in British Columbia. This doesn't include dozens of cases confirmed among corrections officers and infections in provincial jails.
In an emailed statement, Correctional Service Canada spokesperson Stephanie McGlashan said visiting, temporary absences, work release and transfers have been suspended to prevent the spread of the disease.
"Other options are available to inmates to connect with their family and support networks such as video visitation or telephone," she said.
She said when an inmate tests positive, they are isolated, as is anyone who has been in contact with them. Prisons have also ramped up cleaning and educating inmates on how to monitor for symptoms.
She said Correctional Service Canada is "working closely with the Parole Board of Canada to examine all options with respect to the safe release of offenders into the community," but did not say if any inmates have been released.
Closer to his children
Audrey Daigle said the youngest of her son's children is a four-year-old who's been diagnosed with epilepsy. She said he was supposed to be released on parole mid-March but that hasn't happened yet.
"Her dad called when she was here … she held the phones to her heart and said 'I just miss you so much, Daddy,' and he didn't hear, I don't think. She was pushing the little phone into her chest."
"Those people are valuable too, they have lives. … They're all clustered together with no cleaners no hand sanitizers, no nothing, like it's not right. Someone has to know. People have to know what's going on."
Barry Humberstone has spent the last six months in Florida with his American girlfriend, Michelle Williamson. (Submitted by Michelle Williamson)
A Canadian snowbird who just drove from Florida to Prince Edward Island says he is now driving to Ontario to quarantine with relatives after being turned away by officials at the Confederation Bridge because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Barry Humberstone has owned a home in Northport, P.E.I., for less than a year, after moving there from Georgetown, Ont., but has spent the last six months in Florida with his American girlfriend, Michelle Williamson.
Humberstone, 60, said he was denied entry to the Island on Tuesday — twice, in fact, because he turned around in New Brunswick and tried again — because his driver's licence, car registration and health card are still from Ontario — things he admits he should have changed sooner.
"They seen the Ontario plates, I have Ontario plates on my car and an Ontario licence, and they started asking a bunch of questions and I said 'this is my principal residence' and they said 'you can't prove that.'"
Humberstone said he has a truck at his P.E.I. home that is registered on P.E.I. He showed officials that, as well as the taxes he paid last year on his P.E.I. property, he said.
Anyone coming onto P.E.I. from the Confederation Bridge must stop at a COVID-19 checkpoint, where officials ask if they have a self-isolation plan and gather contact information. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
He said he was told the documents were not proof he lives on P.E.I. full-time.
"I'm a snowbird, I should be treated like a snowbird not like a cottager. They're penalizing me because I live in Florida six months? And that doesn't make me a full-time resident in P.E.I.? Of course it does! That's my home!" Humberstone said in a conversation with CBC News from his car. He said officials argued that his residence was a cottage, not a house.
"Well, it's not a cottage for me — that's my principal residence," he said.
Checkpoints were put in place at Confederation Bridge and the Charlottetown airport on April 1.
Travellers are being asked about their reasons for coming to P.E.I., and those not on the list of essential travellers are turned around. Residents are allowed to return to their homes but the province has been discouraging cottagers from coming to their summer homes.
Barry Humberstone mows the lawn at his property in Northport, P.E.I., last summer. (Submitted by Michelle Williamson)
Humberstone said his mother was from P.E.I. and he has family here. When reached at her home in Alberton, his cousin Debbie Murphy confirmed she had prepared Humberstone's home with supplies for a two-week self-isolation period. She also vouched for his status as a permanent resident.
"I feel really bad for him," Murphy said. "He should have been allowed in."
Humberstone said he sold his home in Ontario two years ago and describes himself as a semi-retired home builder. He said he slept in his car Monday night.
"I was devastated, where am I going to go? That's what I said to them, 'Where do I go? I have nowhere to go,'" he said.
Humberstone said he and his girlfriend, who remains in Port St. Lucie, Fla., have contacted provincial officials and were told someone would check into his situation, but have yet to get a reply.
'Very confident in the plan'
Transportation Minister Steven Myers said late Tuesday he doesn't know the specifics of Humberstone's case, but has faith that officials at the bridge checkpoint acted properly.
'We've been asking officers to err on the side of caution,' says P.E.I. Transportation Minister Steven Myers. (Julien Lecacheur/Radio-Canada)
"They have to make a decision very quickly because the car comes, it's right there," Myers said.
"We've been asking officers to err on the side of caution ... we're very confident in the plan we are executing at entry points."
Myers said Humberstone can email P.E.I.'s highway safety division of the Transportation Department to help him meet requirements. Those who are approved can use the email as "a quick way in," when they reach P.E.I.'s checkpoint, Myers said.
Those requirements are to have a self-isolation plan, supports in place such as people to help you, contact information, and proof of somewhere to stay during your self-isolation period, Myers said.
"It goes against our very nature as Islanders not to be welcoming ... but sometimes you have to make tough decisions," Myers said. "These are different times that we're in and we're trying to do our very best to keep Islanders healthy and safe."
So far 36 people have been turned away, he said.
Humberstone said he will email the province and head back to P.E.I. as soon as he is permitted.
Sara is a P.E.I. native who graduated from the University of King's College in Halifax. N.S., with a bachelor of journalism (honours) degree. She's worked with CBC Radio and Television since 1988, moving to the CBC P.E.I. web team in 2015, focusing on weekend features. email sara.fraser@cbc.ca
New Brunswick in 'very significant deficit territory' just two weeks into fiscal year
Virus-related job losses, business closures threaten $3.8B in New Brunswick sales and income taxes
Robert Jones· CBC News· Posted: Apr 17, 2020 5:00 AM AT
A popular restaurant in Fredericton, like many others, is closed because of the state of emergency in New Brunswick. The COVID-19 crisis is expected to cause severe recessions in each province, according to the Royal Bank economic forecast. (Mike Heenan/CBC)
Two weeks into the new fiscal year New Brunswick's planned budget surplus has been transformed into a hefty deficit by the COVID-19 crisis and although Premier Blaine Higgs is not ready yet to reveal how big the financial troubles will be, all signs point to something large — perhaps historic.
"We are certainly now in very significant deficit territory and I don't see that changing anytime soon," said Higgs on Thursday during his regular afternoon news conference.
"A surplus and debt payment are now no longer even an option of any kind."
Higgs said both the cabinet and special all-party cabinet committee overseeing the province's response to the pandemic have been briefed on New Brunswick's deteriorating finances and said the public will be updated soon.
Premier Blaine Higgs announced Thursday the state of emergency was extended for another two weeks. (Edwin Hunter/CBC News)
Still, a growing consensus of private-sector forecasts suggest the impact of the pandemic on New Brunswick's economy will be historically severe, even if mercifully short.
Provinces to slip into 'severe recession'
Earlier this week, the Royal Bank forecast New Brunswick's economy will shrink by 4.5 per cent this year and temporarily shed 43,000 jobs before recovery begins toward the end of summer.
"We now project all provinces will slip into a severe recession," wrote bank economists Robert Hogue and Ramya Muthukumaran in a report looking at the prospects of each province coping with the virus.
"Business closures, massive layoffs and drastically reduced working hours for those still employed generate additional knock-on effects for other sectors — leading to further job losses and deepening the economic contraction. The end result will be for 2020 to mark the steepest one-year decline in GDP for all provinces."
The Conference Board of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto-Dominion and National banks have each recently projected a severe economic contraction in New Brunswick this year of between 3.2 and 4.1 per cent.
That's significantly worse than the banking crisis and recession of 2008 when New Brunswick's economy declined by a combined 0.6 per cent over two years.
That downturn had been unforseen in the province's 2009 budget and the deficit that year ballooned $170 million higher than expected, mostly due to increased spending to deal with the recession.
$100M in unbudgeted spending
The New Brunswick Department of Finance has said little so far but does hint the 2008 experience will be at the low end what the province's finances are likely to encounter this time.
"There is an increasing consensus that this crisis will be as bad as the 2008 financial crisis or worse," said finance department spokesperson Vicky Deschenes in a statement to CBC News.
The Higgs government has already authorized unbudgeted spending of more than $100 million to help individuals and businesses survive the pandemic financially. But it's the potential effect on provincial revenues that is likely to pose the larger threat to New Brunswick's budget. Thousands of New Brunswick businesses, like the Saint John Bowlarama, have laid off employees and closed because of the COVID-19 virus. That is cutting off tax revenues to the province that is threatening to turn provincial government budget surpluses into deficits. (Robert Jones/CBC)
Last week, the federal government's independent Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux published an updated "scenario analysis" of the potential effect of the pandemic on Canada's finances.
That modelled a 23 per cent decline in projected revenue from GST and 10 per cent reductions in projected revenue from personal and corporate income taxes flowing from job losses and business closures across the country.
"We stress that this scenario is not a forecast of the most likely outcome. It is an illustrative scenario of one possible outcome," said Giroux's office about the analysis. Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux projected severe drops in revenue from GST as well as personal and corporate income taxes. (CBC)
Although speculative and not directly applicable to provinces, superimposing similar effects on New Brunswick's projected $3.8 billion in HST and personal and corporate income taxes this year would trigger revenue reductions of $580 million.
That's unlikely since Giroux's analysis is based on a national economic contraction of 5.1 per cent, which is larger than the contraction expected in New Brunswick, but it is illustrative of how much government tax revenue is under threat by the economic upheaval being caused by the virus. Premier Blaine Higgs announced Thursday the state of emergency in New Brunswick has been extended for two weeks. 1:54
Higgs has said for weeks he will worry about the province's finances after the threat from COVID-19 passess but Thursday did acknowledge restarting the economy and solving the fiscal problem the virus leaves behind will be daunting.
"That's why I'm pleased and excited to be working with the other three leaders because you know this is a situation where fighting the virus is one thing, but managing our path forward collectively so that we all recognize the challenges we're facing is extremely important."
David Amos Content disabled Methinks folks can bet thin Canadian dimes to fat Yankee petrodollars that I called the Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux first thing this morning and talked to two of his people about doings between Giroux and I over the years Trust that nobody called back to deny the obvious N'esy Pas?
David Amos Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Methinks Higgy and Vicky and many other people should know how many times the Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux and I have crossed paths in the past N'ey Pas?
Rob Sense
Reply to @David Amos: Did you set up camp on his street?
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Rob Sense: Far more than that However methinks your boss should ask Giroux or his buddies Higgy and Vicky if what I say is true because political tr o lls are well paid to tell folks to never believe anything I say N'esy Pas?
The position of the Parliamentary Budget Officer was created in December 2006 as part of the Federal Accountability Act.
It was a response to criticisms surrounding the accuracy and credibility of the federal government’s fiscal projections and forecasting process. At the time, some economists and parliamentarians were concerned that successive governments in the mid-to-late 1990s through the mid-2000s had shaped fiscal projections, overstating deficits and understating surpluses for political gain.
In September 2004, Ralph Goodale, the then Minister of Finance, commissioned a review of the federal government’s fiscal forecasting accuracy. Among the review’s recommendations was the creation of “an agency within government with a mandate to focus on the medium- to long-term fiscal implications of structural economic and demographic factors”.
The Conservative Party of Canada’s 2006 election platform went beyond what was proposed in that report. It committed to creating “an independent Parliamentary Budget Authority to provide objective analysis directly to Parliament about the state of the nation’s finances and trends in the national economy” and “ensure truth in budgeting”.
The proposed authority, renamed the PBO, was included in the Federal Accountability Act with a mandate that exceeded that outlined in the Conservative Party’s 2006 election platform. The Act included the costing of proposals falling within Parliament’s jurisdiction when requested to do so by a parliamentarian or committee, likely reflecting concerns about cost overruns in major government programs in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Senate further extended the PBO’s mandate to include analysis of the estimates at the request of committees mandated to study the estimates.
The Liberal Party of Canada’s 2015 election platform committed to making the PBO “truly independent of the government” and “accountable only – and directly – to Parliament”. The platform also committed to expand the PBO’s mandate to include “the costing of party election platforms”.
pbo-dpb@parl.gc.ca Yves Giroux was appointed by the Governor in Council to serve as Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), effective September 4, 2018. Mr. Giroux entered the federal public service in 1995. Over the course of his 23-year career, he assumed progressively senior level positions and increased responsibilities, joining the executive ranks in 2003. Mr. Giroux has in-depth tax, fiscal and financial, and social policy knowledge and expertise, and considerable experience with stakeholder relations, and the management of large teams and multi-million dollar budgets. For more than 20 years, he has been closely involved in the federal Budget process in various capacities and is highly regarded as an expert on federal budget making and the Government’s expenditure system. Since 2015, Mr. Giroux has been serving as Assistant Commissioner and Chief Data Officer, Strategy and Integration Branch, with the Canada Revenue Agency. Prior to this, he was Director, Operations, Liaison Secretariat for Macroeconomic Policy at the Privy Council Office, for four years. From 2005 to 2011, he served as Director and Senior Chief, Social Policy Division, Finance Canada. Mr. Giroux is a graduate of the Université de Montréal, where he earned a Master’s and a Bachelor degree, both in Economics. He is married with two children: an adult daughter and a teenage son.
Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
Nasreddine Ammar
Nasreddine.Ammar@parl.gc.ca Nasreddine Ammar is an Economist with the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). Nasreddine has worked as a research assistant at Laval University’s Centre de recherche en économie de l’environnement, de l’agroalimentaire, des transports et de l’énergie (CREATE), and as an economist at the Quebec Ministry of Finance. Nasreddine has completed his PhD in Economics.
Philip Bagnoli
Philip.Bagnoli@parl.gc.ca Philip is an Advisor to the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). Prior to joining the PBO, Philip was a Senior Economist with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in both the Environment Directorate for 6 years and the Economics Department for 8 years. Before that Philip had been with the Economic Studies and Policy Analysis Division at the Department of Finance for 5 years, and the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC for 5 years. He has also done brief stints at the Bank of Canada and started his career in the private sector with Shell Oil. Philip holds a PhD in economics from the University of Toronto, and an Honours BSc in Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario.
Nancy Beauchamp
Nancy.Beauchamp@parl.gc.ca Nancy Beauchamp is the Office Manager for the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). During her 15-year career in the federal public service she has held administrative positions in a number of government departments and organizations, including Canadian Heritage, Public Works and Government Services Canada and the House of Commons.
Robert Behrend
Robert.Behrend@parl.gc.ca Robert Behrend is a Senior Financial Analyst with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to joining PBO, Robert worked at Employment and Social Development Canada in the Canada Student Loans Program and at the Department of Finance Canada in the Federal-Provincial Relations Division. Robert holds an MA in Economics from Carleton University, and a BSc in Mathematics from Brock University.
Étienne Bergeron
Etienne.Bergeron@parl.gc.ca Étienne is an Economist with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Étienne just completed a master’s degree in economics at the University of Toronto, and has a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Laval University. He participated in an internship with the economic and fiscal analysis team at the Caisse de depot et Placement du Québec (CDPQ).
Govindadeva Bernier
Govindadeva.Bernier@parl.gc.ca Govindadeva Bernier is an Advisor-Analyst to the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to joining the PBO, he worked as an economist for Emploi-Québec at the Lanaudière Regional Office, as a Project Manager for Invest Quebec in the Tax Measures Division and as a Tax Policy Officer at the Department of Finance in the Evaluation and Research Group within the Tax Policy Branch. Govindadeva holds an MSc in economics and a BSc in economics and finance, both from the University of Quebec in Montreal.
Tessa Devakos
Tessa.Devakos@parl.gc.ca Tessa Devakos is a Research Assistant with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Tessa earned a BA (Hons. in Econ.) from the University of Victoria. She previously worked with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Eskandar Elmarzougui
Eskandar.Elmarzougui@parl.gc.ca Eskandar Elmarzougui is an Economic Analyst with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Eskandar has worked as an economist at the Quebec Ministry of Labour and the Quebec Ministry of Finance. Prior to joining the public service, Eskandar has worked as an assistant professor of economics and teaching assistant at Sousse and Laval Universities. He also worked as a professional of research in many academic research centers. Eskandar holds a Ph.D. in economics from Laval University and a M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in economic, finance and Banking from Tunis Elmanar University.
Carol Faucher
Carol.Faucher@parl.gc.ca Carol Faucher is an administrative assistant and receptionist with the PBO. Over the past 16 years, Carol has worked in various administrative rolls in the private sector including in health, fitness and nutrition.
Jamie Forsyth
Jamie.Forsyth@parl.gc.ca Jamie Forsyth is an Economic Analyst with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Jamie holds an MA in Economics from Queen’s University and an Honours BA in Economics with Subsidiary in Mathematics from St. Francis Xavier University. Prior to joining the PBO, Jamie worked as a Teaching Assistant at Queen’s University and as a Research Assistant at St. Francis Xavier University.
Jill Giswold
Jill.Giswold@parl.gc.ca Jill Giswold is an Economic Analyst with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to joining the PBO, she worked as a Policy Advisor for the National Research Council Canada. Jill holds an MA in Economics from Queen’s University and a Joint Honours BSocSc in Economics and Political Science from the University of Ottawa.
Kristina Grinshpoon
Kristina.Grinshpoon@parl.gc.ca Kristina Grinshpoon is the Fiscal Coordinator in the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to this, Kristina worked with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and the Ontario Ministry of Finance. Kristina holds an MA in Economics from the University of Ottawa and a BA in Economics and International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Jason Jacques
Jason.Jacques@parl.gc.ca Jason Jacques is the CFO and Director General of Costing and Budgetary Analysis with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to joining the PBO, he worked with the Privy Council Office, Finance Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat and Bank of Canada. Jason holds an MA in economics from Queen's University, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA), and a CFA Charter holder.
Raphaël Liberge-Simard
Raphael.Liberge-Simard@parl.gc.ca Raphaël Liberge-Simard is an Economist at the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to joining the team, he worked as a Teaching Assistant at HEC Montréal and as a Research Assistant at the Bank of Canada’s International Economic Analysis Department. Raphaël has a Master’s degree in applied economics from HEC Montréal and a joint Bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Laval University.
Sarah MacPhee
Sarah.MacPhee@parl.gc.ca Sarah MacPhee is an Economist with the Parliamentary Budget Office. She earned a Master’s of Arts in Economics degree from Queen’s University, as well as Honours BA in Economics and an Honours BBA in Finance from St. Francis Xavier University. Sarah previously worked with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Mark Mahabir
Mark.Mahabir@parl.gc.ca Mark Mahabir is General Counsel for the Parliamentary Budget Office and Director of Policy for the Costing and Budgetary Analysis team. Prior to joining the PBO, Mark worked as an Analyst in the Library of Parliament within the Economic and Trade Policy Section where he then provided assistance to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, in addition to other parliamentary committees that benefitted from his work, as well as other parliamentarians that benefitted from his competencies and effort. Prior to joining the Library of Parliament, Mark worked as a Legal Counsel to an important medical device manufacturer. Mark has an Honours B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Waterloo, a M.Sc. in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto, a LL.B. with a specialization in taxation from Osgoode Hall Law School and a LL.M. in Law and Technology from the University of Ottawa. Mark is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Carleigh Malanik-Busby
Carleigh.Malanik@parl.gc.ca Carleigh Malanik is a Financial Advisor-Analyst on the Expenditure and Revenue Analysis team. Prior to joining PBO, Carleigh worked as an economist at Health Canada within the Applied Research and Analysis Directorate. Previously she was employed with the Rural Secretariat at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, providing analysis on issues facing Canada’s rural and urban areas. Carleigh holds an MA in Economics from McMaster University, and from the University of Manitoba an Honours BA in Economics and a BA in History.
Sloane Mask
Sloane.Mask@parl.gc.ca Sloane Mask is the Director of Parliamentary Relations and Planning. Prior to joining the PBO, she worked with various Parliamentary entities and departments of the Government of Canada, including the Library of Parliament, the Senate, Statistics Canada and the Bank of Canada. Sloane holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA).
Chris Matier
Chris.Matier@parl.gc.ca Chris Matier is the Director General of Economic and Fiscal Analysis. Prior to re-joining PBO in November 2014, Chris worked diligently at the Bank of Canada as a Senior Research Advisor in the Canadian Economic Analysis Department. Chris was the Senior Director at PBO from August 2008 to August 2013 and previously worked for more than 14 years at the Department of Finance Canada in the Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, serving as the Senior Chief in the Economic Analysis and Forecasting Division prior to joining PBO.
Katarina Michalyshyn
Katrina.Michalyshyn@parl.gc.ca Katarina Michalyshyn is an Economist with the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Before joining the OPBO, she worked at the Office of the Chief Economist at Global Affairs Canada. She was previously a Teaching Assistant at the University of Ottawa and a Page at the House of Commons and at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Katarina holds an MA in Economics and an Honours BSocSc in Economics and Minor in Life Sciences from the University of Ottawa.
Salma Mohamed Ahmed
Salma.MohamedAhmed@parl.gc.ca Salma is a research assistant with the Parliamentary Budget Office. She holds an Honours Bachelor degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa. Before joining the PBO, Salma was a research assistant at the University of Ottawa, and at the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy. Chris has a Master's degree and an Honours BA in Economics from Queen's University.
Nora Nahornick
Nora.Nahornick@parl.gc.ca Nora Nahornick is an Economist with the PBO. Nora holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto and a BSc Specialization in Mathematics and Finance from the University of Alberta. Prior to joining the PBO, Nora worked in public equities.
Caroline Nicol
Caroline.Nicol@parl.gc.ca Caroline Nicol is an Economist with the PBO. Caroline completed a Master’s degree in economics at the University of Toronto and also has a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Concordia University. Caroline previously worked in telecommunications and industry.
Christopher Penney
Christopher.Penney@parl.gc.ca Christopher is a Senior Financial Analyst with the PBO. Prior to joining the PBO, Christopher worked as an Operations Research Scientist at the Department of National Defence. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Queen’s University.
Martine Perreault
Martine.Perreault@parl.gc.ca Martine Perreault is Communications Advisor at the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Over her 20-year career, Martine has held various communications and project management positions in a number of federal and provincial government organizations. Martine holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Laval University.
Nathalie Potvin-Buckler
Nathalie.Potvin-Buckler@parl.gc.ca Nathalie Potvin-Buckler is the Coordinator, Administrative Services for the Office of the Parliamentary Budge Office. During her 15-year career in the public service she has held administrative positions in a number of government departments and organizations including Industry Canada, Correctional Services Canada, and National Defence Canada as a Staffing Coordinator.
Tim Scholz
Tim.Scholz@parl.gc.ca Tim Scholz is an Advisor-Analyst to the PBO. Prior to joining the PBO, Tim worked with Finance Canada on international policy analysis and economic development. Tim holds an MA in economics from the University of Guelph and a BSc (honours) in economics from the University of Windsor.
Jocelyne Scrim
Jocelyne.Scrim@parl.gc.ca Jocelyne Scrim is an administrative assistant with the PBO. Over the past 25 years she has worked in administrative positions including municipal, non-profit, private sector business and academic environments.
Tiberiu Scutaru
Tiberiu.Scutaru@parl.gc.ca Tiberiu Scutaru previously worked as an macro research analyst in the International Monetary Fund’s European Department where he worked in several units that covered the Scandinavian and the CESEE economies. Prior to the IMF, he worked in development consulting contributing to reports on use of mobile money in Côte d’Ivoire (for IFC), access to finance in Sub-Saharan region (for GIZ) and on mobilization of remittances in Moldova (for ILO and IOM). He has also worked in commercial banking with Société Générale in Moldova and in academia in the US and Moldova (teaching courses in economics and business). Tiberiu has a PhD and a MA in Economics from American University, a M. Sc. in EU Business and Law from Aarhus University (prev. Aarhus School of Business) and a BA in Political Science/Public Policy from Bucharest University.
Ben Segel-Brown
Ben.Segel-Brown@parl.gc.ca Ben Segel-Brown is a Financial Analyst with the PBO. Ben holds a Juris Doctor Degree from Queen's University and an Honours Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management with a minor in Economics from Carleton University. Prior to joining the Office of the PBO, he worked as an Analyst with Statistics Canada, Environment Canada, and Transport Canada.
Trevor Shaw
Trevor.Shaw@parl.gc.ca Trevor Shaw is the Director of Fiscal Analysis. Trevor began working at PBO as an analyst in 2012. He also worked at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and in the federal public service, including positions at the Privy Council Office, Finance Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat. Trevor holds a Master's degree (Economics) from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor's degree (Economics) from the University of Winnipeg. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Diarra Sourang
Diarra.Sourang@parl.gc.ca Diarra Sourang is a financial analyst with the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Most recently she worked at the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario in the Financial Analysis team. Previously, she was employed as an economic analyst at TD Economics, and at the Ontario Ministry of Education. Diarra has a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Finance from CESAG Management School, and an MA in Economics from Laval University. She holds the Professional Risk Manager (PRM™) Designation.
Varun Srivatsan
Varun.Srivatsan@parl.gc.ca Varun is a recent graduate from the International Economics program at the University of British Columbia. He has had experience in management consulting, impact investing, microfinance and advertising.
Jason Stanton
Jason.Stanton@parl.gc.ca Jason Stanton is a Financial Analyst on the Costing and Budgetary Analysis Team. Prior to joining the PBO, Jason worked as an analyst at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in the Expenditure Management Sector. Jason has a Bachelor degree in International Business from Carleton University. He has passed all three levels of the CFA Program and will be eligible for the charter upon completion of the required work experience.
Julie Sullivan
Julie.Sullivan@parl.gc.ca Julie Sullivan is the Manager, Human Resources Services for the PBO, as well as the Chief Human Resources Officer. During her 19-year career in the federal public service, she has held senior administrative, functional and managerial positions in Information Management and in the field of Human Resources in a multiple number of critical government departments, including the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO, Treasury Board Secretariat) and National Defence (ND). Julie holds Bachelor degrees in Criminology and in Psychology from the University of Ottawa.
Rémy Vanherweghem
Remy.Vanherweghem@parl.gc.ca Rémy Vanherweghem is a web publishing and quality assurance officer at the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Prior to joining the team, Rémy was an e-commerce product manager. Rémy holds a Master’s degree in E-Commerce (management) from HEC Montréal, a Master’s in Political Science from the Université de Montréal and a Bachelor’s in Communications and Politics from the Université de Montréal.
Ryan E. Watson
Ryan.Watson@parl.gc.ca Ryan E. Watson is the Human Resources Advisor for Staffing and Classification. Prior to joining the PBO, Ryan worked in the private sector as a HR leader responsible for recruitment, talent acquisition and training for various leading international companies.
Nigel Wodrich
Nigel.Wodrich@parl.gc.ca Nigel Wodrich is a Financial Analyst on the Costing and Budgetary Analysis Team. Prior to joining the PBO, Nigel worked with the Jean-Luc Pépin Research Chair, Kevin Page, and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on economic and fiscal analysis. Nigel has a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor’s degree in economics and politics from the University of Ottawa.
Aidan Worswick
Aidan.Worswick@parl.gc.ca Aidan Worswick is an Economic Analyst with the Parliamentary Budget Office. Prior to joining the PBO, he worked as a research assistant at Queen’s University under Professor Charles M. Beach. Aidan has an MA in Economics from the University of Toronto and an Honours BA in Economics from Queen’s University.
Xiaoyi Yan
Xiaoyi.Yan@parl.gc.ca Xiaoyi Yan is Director of Budgetary Analysis. She leads the PBO’s analytical work on government budgets and Electoral Platform Costing. Prior to joining the PBO, she worked in various policy departments and agencies including the last 6 years at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada as Director of Policy Research. She also worked at Health Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Revenue Agency and Statistics Canada in various capacities responsible for research and analysis. She served as a member and National Correspondent for Canada at the OECD’s Expert Group on Migration from 2015 to 2018 and taught Economics for many years in universities in Canada and China. Xiaoyi holds a PhD in Economics from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday he was 'disappointed' to hear ATV trails in New Brunswick will reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (CBC)
After reopening for two days, QuadNB is again shutting down the province's all-terrain-vehicle trails. Jacques Ouellette, development coordinator with the provincial association, said it was a "bad decision" to reopen the trails to begin with, and was the result of community pressure and mixed messaging from the province.
On April 9 QuadNB decided to close all the trails. Ouellette said the decision was partly made because the association heard rumours of people gathering for rallies over the Easter weekend. But 500 people signed a petition for them to reopen, and Mike Holland, the minister of natural resources and energy development, condoned the opening of the trails as long as people maintain physical distancing.
On Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs said he was "disappointed" with that move.
"When I heard the word 'disappointed' I said ... we can't afford to work against the government with all the positive things they're doing for our industry for now," Ouellette said.
Jacques Ouellette of QuadNB says closing the trails is the responsible move as New Brunswick waits for a COVID-19 vaccine. (CBC)
Ouellette said Higgs called the association's president Saturday and asked him to close the trails.
Once QuadNB receives an official written request from the premier or minister of transportation and infrastructure, 100 per cent of the trails will again be closed.
"QuadNB wishes to apologize to any people that it might cause problems [for]," Ouellette said. "We have to look for the community at large.
"Everything else has stopped. So we shouldn't see ourselves as being punished because our trails are closed."
On Saturday afternoon, public safety minister Carl Urquhart said it's not possible to keep the trails open and stay in compliance with the Emergency Measures Act.
The mandatory order says every owner and occupier of any building or land on which people may gather must take all reasonable steps to prevent gatherings, and to ensure that people on their premises do not come within two metres of each other.
"We know that the majority of trail users are safety-minded and respectful of the rules, but we also know that it would be impossible to ensure that people stay two-metres from each other and not gather in groups along the thousands of kilometres of trails," Urquhart in the release.
'It's a safety issue'
Paolo Fongemie, mayor of Bathurst, said he's happy with the decision to close the trails. The Chaleur region has the biggest ATV and snowmobile club in the province, he said, with 1,200 members.
But everyone in his community understands that they can't go on the trails until COVID-19 is under control.
"All people feel that this is unique what we're going through," he said. "And it's a safety issue." Fongemie says people should keep in mind that off-roading is a hobby not a neccesity.
"I'm sure that people that lost their jobs want to have a return to normal,' he said. "The businesses that have to close their doors and they're losing money right now because of this pandemic. want everything to return to normal.
Mayor of Bathurst Paolo Fongemie, says the decision to close the trails is a good one. (Radio-Canada)
"The ATVers, it's a hobby so they can have patience."
He said he hopes the premier can have better communication with his team to make sure this kind of mixed messaging doesn't happen again.
"I hope the premier convenes his cabinet and makes sure that everybody is on the same page in regards to the state of emergency," he said.
He said most of the province's trails are already closed because April and May are slow seasons. Off-roaders tend to take a break over these two months and wait for the snow to melt and the ground to dry.
The organization will see if it can reopen in two or three weeks, but it all depends on if the state of emergency order will be extended, and if the number of cases remains small.
"It's not a punishment, it's contribution to this crisis to help make maintain what we have now, almost zero cases," he said. "We have to be patient."
210 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Yea Right Methinks words were spoken just like a typical card carrying conservative would opt to say N'esy Pas?
"On Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs said he was "disappointed" with that move. "When I heard the word 'disappointed' I said ... we can't afford to work against the government with all the positive things they're doing for our industry for now," Ouellette said.
David Amos At the risk of being redundant Methinks this is just another smoke and mirror show at the circus. Higgy and Holland want folks to argue about ATV riding and Turkey hunting while ignoring the doings of two elephants in the woods NB Power and the Irving Clan whose operations Holland oversees N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @David Amos: Methinks everybody knows that the EUB follows the orders from the government in power at the time. That is why they held the second go around for "Not So Smart Meters" If folks wish to recall the EUB even allowed NB Power to apply for a a rate increase late but just as soon as after the PANB supported Higgy's takeover and Mikey became the Minister overseeing NB Power and all its malicious nonsense N'esy Pas?
Samual Johnston Some perspective fairness and common sense is needed here. To those who just hate ATVers well sorry about your luck this in not about that. People who do not follow the rules participate in all sorts of activities that are not necessary to do. So stop and think before banning one activity and allowing another. Ban ATVing then ban bicycles, jogging, motorcycles. Close the ATV trails then close all the bike, walking, hiking trails in the Province.
David Amos
Reply to @Samual Johnston: Methinks if you wish to employ common sense ask Higgy why I sued the Queen in 2015 or about our argument about investments and pension plans etc in front of many witnesses after he had attended a debate in Fundy Royal while Trudeau was in the area N'esy Pas?
Paul Bolton Reply to @David Amos: Sorry David, but no one cares why you sued the Queen.
Samual Johnston So do we ban motorcycles on the road now? They are recreational vehicles often seen in groups of two or more whose riders are known to stop and congregate.
David Amos
Reply to @Samual Johnston: Methinks you just struck a nerve with me the RCMP and most importantly Higgy and his buddy George Smith cannot deny that I was the Crown's go to motorcycle expert back in the eighties N'esy Pas?
Terry Tibbs Reply to @Samual Johnston: Actually Sam, it has been suggested that motorcyclists give this riding season a bit of a rest/pass, due to the fact that when you fall off (and become part of the landscape) the medical resources won't be available to heal you due to this virus.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks you must recall the bikers being consumed by a huge pothole in my neck of the woods a few years ago N'esy Pas?
Injured motorcyclist criticizes state of Kars road Four motorcycles involved in weekend accident after pothole encounter on Route 124 Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: May 25, 2016 3:36 PM AT
Samual Johnston Reply to @Terry Tibbs: a suggestion is not a ban. I wonder if our resources are stressed at this point in time? I am not calling for an end to distancing by any means just some common sense and fairness
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos: Just this AM I was out Juniper way and there are potholes capable of consuming cars. I *think* anyone travelling the roads of NB in/on anything that is not a vehicle with tracks takes their chances.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Samual Johnston: I *think* it is stating, in a roundabout way, a stark reality that exists in NB at ANY time.
BruceJack Speculator
How could anyone with 1910 motorcycle technology be an "expert", even 30 - 40 years ago?
Kate LeBlanc Wow! ATV trails are now considered an "essential service"? Caving,pandering to pressure from ANY group that is NOT an essential service in curbing the spread of Covid-19 is not my idea of good governance and begs the question of how senseless Mike Holland really is. Just because they were bored and it was outdoors and in the woods ?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @Kate LeBlanc: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." That's the advice Mike needs. You should see him go on FB after he's had a few drinks on a Friday night. Arguing with people on FB for all to see is not what I expect out of a minister of the crown. He's an embarrassment to the office he holds.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Kate LeBlanc: no one said it was a service. It is an activity like going for a drive or riding your bike or going for a hike. All not necessary in this day and age.
David Amos
Reply to @Kate LeBlanc: Methinks Higgy wants folks arguing about our right to ride ATVs in the woods instead of paying attention on how he is putting many businesses in jeopardy and a lot of people out work. In the "Mean" time while the economy collapses worldwide his buddies in the Irving Clan are busy mowing down our forest N'esy Pas?
Fred Garrett Do we shut things down just for the sake of shutting things down, or did we shut things down when social distancing couldn't effectively be done. For the life of me, I don't get what the issue is with opening trails up, where social distancing could be done with ease.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @Fred Garrett: You need to think harder.
Fred Garrett
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: OK, enlighten me. Tell what the issue is with opening up these trails. We are aloud to walk on the sidewalks, as long as we practice social distancing. Are we afraid that people will have social gatherings someplace where we won't be able to see them?
Pat Holland
Reply to @Fred Garrett: Thank you totally agree
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Fred Garrett: The issue is that the majority of ATVers have absolutely intention of adhering to social distancing and many use it as an excuse to go off into the woods with their buddies so that they can socialize and drink. The issue is that it would be impossible from an enforcement point of view to insure that rules were followed. The issue is that numerous accidents happen every month re ATVers and at this time our front line workers along with first responders are and should be focused on the pandemic.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Should read " absolutely no intention of adhering to social distancing ".
David Peters
Reply to @Mack Leigh: If the public health monopoly is not able to look after NB's healthcare needs(which has been the case ever since it was established), it's time to open this sector up to free market solutions.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @Fred Garrett: In a nut shell, ATV's in NB causes on average 1 death per month in the province. Add all the other non fatal accidents on top of that and you can see how it's a burden on the healthcare system. During normal times, the system can handle these accidents, but given current circumstances, it would be irresponsible to place that burden on the system. If you don't believe me, ask a nurse or doctor because that's what they're telling me. I tend to believe the word of medical professionals over a hunting gear salesman during a global pandemic. See how that works.
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Cry me a river
David Amos
Reply to @Pat Holland: Say Hey to Mikey for me will ya? Methinks whereas he don't call or write me back he don't love me N'esy Pas?
Shawn McShane Reply to @Mack Leigh: Doctors are so focused on the pandemic that they are warning against ignoring heart problems as hospital cardiology visits plummet: It's speculated patients don't want to risk being infected or overburden the health system CBC News · Posted: Apr 16, 2020
Kyle Woodman Mike Holland need to be put on the back bench. If he stays on as minister the whole province will be overrun with turkeys and wild pigs. He needs to be stopped Higgs, before it's too late.
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Higgs can sure take care of that coffee pot, he's in charge of the coffee pot detail, that's what's left of his Premier's duties and responsibilities.
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Methinks many folks would agree it would be a hoot in this circus if Northrup were to replace Holland and get in hot water with the Irving Clan again N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Methinks after his time as a provincial Minister Mikey could always find work selling pork belly futures. Higgy can't deny that no matter how far down the stock market goes folks always need bacon and beans to get by N'esy Pas?
Kyle Woodman Reply to @David Amos: hahaha. Oh boy they would almost have to bring on a second ringmaster if that were to happen.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @David Amos: You know it!
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Methinks you would not laugh so much if Urquhart had you falsely arrested and Higgy denied you the right to Medicare N'esy Pas?
Johnny Jakobs If Minister Holland thought it was Ok to open the trails for ATVers in a time when EVERYTHING else is in lock down than what other idiotic decisions is he making?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: It's just the tip of the iceberg. Trust me
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Who voted for him? He got in on the turkey hunt idea, turkeys?
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Methinks folks should pay attention to Mikey's oversight of NB Power rate increases and the "Not So Smart' Meter Nonsense (Which was on hold because of a virus) or Higgy's buddies in the Irving Clan mowing down what is left of the woods that Mikey is also supposed to be protecting N'esy Pas?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @David Amos: He hired his buddy who used to work at Cabellas to run F&W. It's a gong show. Alot of babysitting going on.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: everything else is on lock down? Tell that to the boys at the vape shops...to the 5 guys on bicycles....to the que at the liquor store.
Ben Haroldson I'm a biker, and a hunter and IMO , holland needs to be fired. He's giving us all a bad name.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Right now.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Without wages.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Same here. I agree. He's a loose cannon.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: His name should be richard.
Terry L. Sisson
Reply to @Ben Haroldson:
David Amos
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Thanks for speaking in my defense Georgy Boy made it abundantly clear that I should no longer consider him a friend
Carroll Cameron Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Hardly!
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @David Amos: Not a prob.
George Smith There are still so many ATVer's and others that just don't get it, but at least their association seems to grasp the seriousness of our situation. I congratulate them on their common sense. I know many still believe they have a right to do as they please and care little about others who are suffering through this pandemic. Get on board and we'll probably get back to some normality quicker.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @George Smith: Their common sense? They goaded the minister into opening the trails.
Kyle Woodman Put mini Trump in the penalty box until the next election.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Holland the Twit-er, just like the twit-er who dwells at the White House.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks Mikey makes the circus more enjoyable to watch N'esy Pas?
Christopher J Cusack Perfectly OK to take a drive in a car for leisure but not ok if it involves a different mode of transportation? Bikes are ok but not quads? What about those of us who RELY on their quad as only means of transportation? This just goes to show that our government has no clue what ATVs are and what they are used for. City dweller mentalities...
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: Take a bike then.
Christopher J Cusack
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: cant go same places. Need power and big wheels. Also do you want to get chased by a bear on a bicycle? Or do you want us country folk to go into your cities and walk through all your man-made parks? You're not going to convince people to live a different lifestyle just because it suits you. We have a completely different lifestyle out here that has nothing to do with you and will never affect you
Liam Vance
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: How many people live in a place where an ATV is their only means of transportation, I am curious? This isn't Alaska and there's virtually no snow.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: I was born and bred in the country. And bears are more afraid of us that we are afraid of them. It is safer in the woods than it is in the city, more so just after the bars close.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: but we are being asked to not drive in a car for leisure right now. Roads are empty and car accidents are down so much people are getting rebates on their car insurance.
Personally I've been spending hours in the woods, but avoiding any dangerous activity like cutting down trees or using a chain saw. Right now is the absolute worst time to get hurt and end up in the hospital, whether it be by car accident, bike accident, cutting a tree down with a chainsaw related accident, or ATV accident.
In NB there is roughly one death a month from ATV's or snowmobiles. That is just deaths, not injuries. Stay healthy out there.
And no, I'm not a city dweller. I live in the middle of nowhere too.
And enjoy the woods! We are so lucky in NB to have so much open forest and green space in rural areas. Use it, just be careful and be well.
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Hmmm "I was born and bred in the country"
Methinks I should ask the obvious question who would breed with you and how many kids and grandchildren do you have N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps Let the fauna be at peace from these noise and air polluting machines for once. Let sleeping fauna l'ail. The animals must be even happier than I am.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: there is lots of room for both
Christopher J Cusack
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: the fauna are perfectly fine with ATVs going through the random Trail. You people seem to think that the trails take up the entire Forest when they don't they just take up an 8-foot wide stretch through the trees where train tracks and ild horse paths used to be. And in fact where I'm living here now because of the lockdowns a lot of deer are coming out into people's yards and they're having a harder time finding food because they're not staying where they belong. And because of that I now have a coyote going through my backyard at night looking for these deer.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: They are too noisy for one.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: Can you send that coyote over my way please?
David Amos
Reply to @Samual Johnston: Methinks there is no room for Anglo folks Deschamps SANB world. Furthermore the dude wishes to be alone in the woods because he is aggravated by the fact that most folks in his neighbourhood support Higgy and Holland N'esy Pas?
David Amos Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks I should ask do you find all the trucks hauling our logs out of the woods noisy too? I bet you don't if if driven by one McKenna's buddies or a remember of the SANB N'esy Pas?
ATV trails will reopen despite premier calling decision 'premature'
QuadNB received blessing from cabinet minister to reopen trails earlier this week
Colin McPhail· CBC News· Posted: Apr 17, 2020 7:43 PM AT
QuadNB, the association that manages ATV trail networks across New Brunswick, says it's reopening trails after receiving the blessing of Minister Mike Holland this week. On Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs said the decision was 'premature.' (CBC)
The provincial association that manages thousands of kilometres of trails for all-terrain vehicles says the trails will reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic until the New Brunswick government delivers an official directive.
Roger Daigle, president of QuadNB, said Friday afternoon he wants to see "specific guidelines" on how to proceed during the state of emergency after receiving mixed signals from the government this week.
In a memo to his 24,000 members issued Thursday, Daigle announced he was reversing his April 9 decision to close the network of trails across the province. That original order had raised the ire of riders itching to get out of the house. The memo included a quote from Mike Holland, the minister of natural resources and energy development, condoning the move while urging caution to follow physical distancing precautions.
Premier Blaine Higgs struck a different tone Friday during the daily briefing, expressing how he was "disappointed" by the decision and felt it was "premature."
Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday he was 'disappointed' to hear ATV trails in New Brunswick will reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (CBC)
"I know the pressures and I know what they're facing, certainly the club presidents, I know the ATV riders themselves, I know they want to get back to normal, and I'm just saying let's not lose what we have because the whole province could be affected by it," Higgs said.
Public Health announced no new cases of COVID-19 for the second consecutive day, leaving the cumulative total at 117 — 83 of whom have recovered. Provincial officials say it's critical to maintain the emergency measures in place for at least another two weeks to reduce the chance of a significant resurgence.
Many outdoor recreational activities have been delayed or banned or must adhere to strict physical distancing restrictions in order to curb the spread of the virus, and the spotlight was thrust on ATV riders before the Easter holiday weekend when the premier cautioned against gathering in the woods for rumoured ATV rallies .
Daigle said the rallies were not being held by QuadNB clubs.
However, he said he had to act fast and clear the air, but couldn't reach his board members and decided to act unilaterally.
That led to his decision to call on the 56 member clubs to close the roughly 6,000 kilometres of managed trails. He thought it would be fine since many trails are already closed for the spring thaw.
The directive, issued the day before Good Friday, was not well received, he said.
Holland intervenes
On Wednesday, Daigle said he received a call from Holland asking about the situation. The two decided that, with the proper warnings about following safety measures, the trails could reopen but the shelters would remain closed.
"We feel that the ATV community understands the significance of what we are dealing with here in NB with the current Covid-19 crisis," Holland is quoted as saying in Thursday's QuadNB memo.
"We also feel confident that the province–wide social conduct rules can and will be followed when the federation resumes activity on the trails."
Mike Holland, minister of natural resources and energy development, said he is confident riders will follow health guidelines on ATV trails. (Radio-Canada)
QuadNB was previously called the New Brunswick All-Terrain Vehicle Federation.
Higgs suggested Friday his cabinet minister was not on the same page.
"There does appear to be some discrepancy there. I appreciate that," he said, adding Holland was under pressure from riders.
"The messaging got a little offside here and those things happen. I just don't want anyone to read any more into that than a bit of a different communication."
Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday actions of cottagers and ATV riders could be a risk for the rest of the people in the province. 3:08
CBC News has requested comment from Holland, but he has yet to respond.
The premier said the province does not sanction reopening the trails, but there was no explicit order to do otherwise. Daigle said until he receives something "in writing", the trails will be open.
What's the risk?
Many riders, including Daigle, are skeptical about the risk of spreading or catching the virus on an ATV in the woods. He trusts his members will follow health guidelines and said they're already wearing protective gear that covers their face and hands.
He declined to comment on why other outdoor activities enjoyed by many — the delayed fishing and hunting seasons, for instance, or heading to the cottage — must comply with provincial guidelines, saying it was not his jurisdiction. Higgs advised cottage-goers to stay home during the lockdown.
Roger Daigle, president of QuadNB, says the trails could close again if the emergency measures aren't followed. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The premier said he isn't naive to the fact individuals are trekking into the woods, but his concern lies with signalling that it's business as usual. "That's not the situation," he said.
Higgs asked the association and all riders to "recognize that we cannot have large groups, we cannot have five to 10 people, two or more people, that are travelling and congregating no matter where they do it in the woods because that could bring the virus back to their respective homes."
Daigle said it's possible the trails could close again if the rules aren't followed.
"They got the message. If they continue grouping with one another and not respecting the distancing … and gathering in shelters," he said, "they know these trails will be closed again."
136 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Too Too Funny Indeed
David Amos Methinks this is just another smoke and mirror show at the circus. Higgy and Holland want folks to argue about ATV riding and Turkey hunting while ignoring the doings of two elephants in the woods NB Power and the Irving Clan whose operations Holland oversees N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps Reply to @David Amos: I can appreciate a good point when it is made.
George Smith Like a bad commercial played over and over I think it' time "Methinks N'esy Pas" came up with something new and different. It's getting old.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @George Smith: At least he's trying to make a difference. Dave is grating when you first hear him, but he is right.
Toby Tolly and Holland needs demoted
David Peters
Reply to @Toby Tolly: ...for not stopping the spraying and clear-cutting of the forests, maybe, but on on this issue, imo.
David Peters
Reply to @David Peters: -but, not on this issue.-
David Amos
Reply to @Toby Tolly: Methinks many would disagree In my humble opinion some other folks would agree that the 3 Stooges Cardy, Holland and Urquhart are the most comical clowns in Higgy's circus N'esy Pas?
Michel Forgeron I didn't vote for Higgs the last election, but because of his performance during this pandemic I've changed my mind, I had decided to support his government in the next election. Now I am looking at it again, this decision is just totally wrong. He's the Premier, he should not allow Holland to do this. If he thinks it's "premature", why doesn't he act on it?
Greg Miller
Reply to @Michel Forgeron: Your right but it's a thing called minority government. Hopefully after another election Holland is toast!
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Greg Miller: This riding is tainted blue through and through.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks it must rot your socks to live there N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks Higgy and you must know the tally of CORservative MLAs who live within the riding of Fundy Royal who hate me every bit as much as you SANB dudes do. However at least they sent me butter tarts before the last provincial election. So in return for fun I ran against Bruce Northrup in order to embarrass the soldier McKenna had anointed to run against him Lou Dumbell teases me about how few votes I got in 2018 but Higgy never will for obvious reasons N'esy Pas?
Billy Joe Mcallister I have a couple of questions for MIKE HOLLAND and ROGER DAIGLE. Are the contraptions known as "side by sides" where two people are sitting side by side where the separation is closer to 6 inches than 6 feet going to allowed as well? How about when these vehicles meet each other on the trail and maybe a hiker or a cyclist iat the same time? Is one way travel going to be a requirement and condition of trail usage for motorized vehicles in order to maintain physical distancing requirements?
Doug Cochran
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: If 2 people in the "contraption" they have to be from same residence and if you pass someone hiking on trail it would be no different than meeting someone if you were both walking and if you stop your machine then social distancing is to be followed. I mean come on people, stop trying to find something to whine about and give people some credit. Some people will whine even if there was no virus going on. There is always going to be a bad apple no matter what, but the vast majority of people given this chance to get out on their atv will follow the guidelines.
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @Doug Cochran: It seems to me that the ATV'ers are the one's whining that they couldn't go out and play with their toys. If two people meet on the trail There is plenty of room to pass and maintain the distance. ATV's not so much. And as for the side by sides, how can anybody tell if people are both from the same household?
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: Give people credit? I don't think that the state of emergency was called so people could stay home from work and go four wheeling at the tax payers expense.
David Amos
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: Methinks Bobby Gentry claimed that you jumped off a bridge in the deep Yankee south a long long time ago N'esy Pas?
Jack Straw Mike Holland...what happens when you inhale too many ATV fumes. Captain Clown of the month award. Step up to the plate Premier and slap him down or stop telling us what to do. I'm not holding my breath.
David Amos
Reply to @Jack Straw: Methinks Mikey and Higgy have far bigger problems with their oversight of NB Power but nobody wants to talk about that BS N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps For once that the fauna had peace of mind. Leave the fauna in peace.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Cry me a river
Marguerite Deschamps Reply to @David Amos: I am really impressed by the originality of your remark!
David Stairs as adults we all know how to play by the rules, but to allow a bunch, to get together, out in the woods, out of sight and out of mind, is ridiculous...come on guys..get the wheelers and the booze and let's go wheeling...this is exactly what will happen at all the warming huts...there are things that we don't need to happen and this is one of them...and yes I do own a wheeler...and yes I have seen the abuse that takes place by a select few who think the rules do not apply to them...
Pat Holland
Reply to @David Stairs: and those people are going to do that regardless of what the government says. The people who will break the rules were not waiting for the government to green light it. Don’t be naive. Most good folks will appreciate it and follow the rules.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @David Stairs: I am an avid wheeler as well and agree 100%.
John Pokiok
Reply to @David Stairs: well I disagree with you tomorrow me and my wife are going for ATV ride just us we have not invited any of our friends that go with us normally. So it's not business as usual I respect the rules and social distancing and will obey the rules. And we're are really appreciative of opportunity to leave a house for a bit and do something.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @John Pokiok: aren't you special.
Brad Bendler
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Aren't you just a fun vampire.
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @Pat Holland: But now the people who break the rules will be on the trails in far greater numbers.
David Amos
Reply to @Pat Holland: Methinks you must be related to Minister Mikey N'esy Pas?
Liberal MLA Francine Landry is backing away from harsh online criticism of Premier Blaine Higgs and the government's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. (CBC)
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During the pandemic, Gérald Richard, deputy minister of health, starts his day at 7:30 a.m., meeting with the top officials in his department. (Photo: Jacques Poitras/CBC News)
yes and feeding tax dollars to all Fredericton is just too costly for Moncton and area.................
Perhaps you should ask Higgy and his buddies Vicky, Krissy and Davey what I am talking about They are the party leaders making backroom deals Better yet if you truly are curious you can simply Google Dominic Cardy Butter Tarts and start reading or give me a call Nesy Pas?