https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies

Previous polling suggested the PCs were in a strong position amid the generally successful management of the outbreak in New Brunswick and economic recovery — something the Tories mentioned often in the past four weeks. 

Instead, the opposition parties are quick to praise Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, and the importance of the all-party cabinet committee struck to oversee COVID-related decisions. 

New Brunswick Votes 2020 Results: Watch returns come in live on our interactive results page.

The opposition

Third parties, like the Greens and People's Alliance, have routinely used that point to extol the virtues of minority governments. Alliance Leader Kris Austin, who offered support for the PC government, and Green Leader David Coon have said the arrangement allows for greater government accountability, while arguing Higgs can't be trusted with a majority.

Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers used that refrain at almost every opportunity on the campaign trail, warning voters of Higgs's "secret plan" to make deep cuts to public services, including health care in rural areas despite a PC pledge not to do so.

Vickers, the first-time leader who is seeking his first seat in the New Brunswick legislature, isn't discussing a minority as the party hopes to flip enough seats to regain power and extend the run of one-term premiers.

 

The informal partnership between the PCs and the People's Alliance, a party that has criticized the implementation of bilingualism in New Brunswick and called for a "common sense" approach, in the previous legislature appears to have deepened the divide. In the days after the 2018 election, the Alliance pledged to prop up a PC minority government for 18 months.

As CBC poll analyst Eric Grénier notes, the paths to victory for both Higgs and Vickers are narrow.

CBC News coverage 

CBC New Brunswick brings you election night coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. 

Join host Harry Forestell with expert analysis from Jacques Poitras, Rachel Cave and reporters in communities across the province. Polls close at 8 p.m. and we will have continuing coverage until the results are in.

Watch or listen on: CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio, CBC Listen, CBC News Network, cbc.ca/nb and on the CBC New Brunswick Facebook page. 

About the Author

Colin McPhail

@colinmcphail

Colin McPhail is a web writer with CBC New Brunswick. He is based in Saint John. You can reach him at colin.mcphail@cbc.ca.

With files from Gail Harding

 

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies




David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks the circus was in really fine form when the liberals changed their mind about a conservative turncoat and allowed him to take on Higgy's pal the former NDP leader N'esy Pas?





 #nbpoli#cdnpoli

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/liberal-collapse-sparks-reform-calls-1.5725537

Liberal collapse in anglophone ridings sparks calls for party reform

15 Liberal candidates finished 3rd or worse in their ridings Monday night

Robert Jones· CBC News· Posted: Sep 16, 2020 6:00 AM AT |

Kevin Vickers announced Monday night that he would step aside as Liberal leader. (Radio-Canada)

Last year Jen Smith was president of the provincial Liberal association in New Maryland-Sunbury and on Monday as a candidate she finished second in the election in that riding — for the Green party.

"I'm very very proud of myself and pleased for coming in second place," said Smith.

"It's sad in a way to see because I love that (Liberal) party and I love the people but I saw this happening last year." 

Smith's defection is part of what turned out to be a widespread collapse of the Liberal machine in English New Brunswick on Monday night.

The party finished third or worse in 15 anglophone ridings and lost its last two central and southern New Brunswick footholds in the legislature with defeats in Saint John Harbour and Fredericton North and a key upper St. John River valley seat in Carleton-Victoria.

Vote totals for Liberal candidates in the eight ridings in and around Saint John fell to a combined 10,694, one third fewer than 2014, the last election Liberals won in New Brunswick.  

In the eight ridings in and around Fredericton, three Liberal candidates finished third and three came fourth with the combined vote total of all eight candidates dwindling to 9,549, barely half the support of 2014.

Further south in the once firm Liberal stronghold of Charlotte County, it was even worse news for the party as it polled just 1,127 votes in the area's two ridings, down a stunning 85 per cent from six years earlier.   

Liberal troubles in the area were exaggerated by the controversy surrounding its candidate John Wayne Gardner in Saint Croix. Gardner was disavowed by leader Kevin Vickers mid campaign for old Facebook posts about straight and rainbow flags and bilingualism, but he remained on the ballot as a Liberal choice for voters to the end.

In all, Liberals who won five of the 18 Saint John-, Fredericton- and Charlotte County-area seats in 2014, and two in 2018, took none this year and posted an historic low 15.7 per cent of the vote. That was third behind the PCs and Greens.

The area has become such a political desert for the party the nearest Liberal seat to St. Stephen is now 230 kilometres north in Grand Falls or 260 kilometres east in Moncton.

Alex Scholten, who ran provincially for Liberals in 2018 in New Maryland-Sunbury and won double the votes the party managed in the riding on Monday, said there are significant problems the party needs to overcome.

"It was a disappointing night," said Scholten in a message to CBC News about Liberal results all through central and southern New Brunswick.

"Obviously the party is not selling what the constituents in those areas are looking for."

Scholten blames a breakdown in internal party communications in recent years between ridings and central leadership for some of the problems but also believes the province itself is becoming increasingly fragmented.

"The wants and needs of various parts of the province are not homogeneous making it extremely difficult for a party to generate support province wide," wrote Scholten.

Has party learned from results?

Smith left the Liberal Party in a dispute over its treatment of René Ephestion, who she feels was pressured to abandon his bid for the party leadership in 2019 by insiders to clear the field for Vickers to be acclaimed leader.  

Ephestion filed paperwork to run for the leadership but was convinced to withdraw in April 2019.

Smith feels Liberals need to become more democratic internally and avoid recruiting and anointing new leaders, like Vickers, who party members have no role in selecting.

"I hope they learn a lesson out of this," said Smith. "They treated him like a rootin' tootin' gun slinging hero that would save New Brunswick and obviously he couldn't even secure his own seat. I saw this coming." 

'A tough evening'

The good news for Liberals is as poorly as it fared in southern New Brunswick, it was the opposite in francophone ridings.  

The party piled up huge winning margins and added to past vote totals in a number of places from Edmundston in the northwest to Caraquet and Shippagan in the northeast.

Those rising vote totals helped the party paper over some of the collapse it suffered in the south, and after Vickers announced his departure Monday night, a new leader will inherit the task of fixing whatever is wrong.

"It is a tough evening,"said Vickers. "Obviously we'll be in a building process.

"It's time for another leader to step up and take the party forward." 

About the Author

Robert Jones

Reporter

Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006. 

 

231 Comments  

David Amos 

David Amos                                                                                                                                    Methinks the circus was in really fine form when the liberals changed their mind about a conservative turncoat and allowed him to take on Higgy's pal the former NDP leader N'esy Pas?  

David Amos                                                                                                                                          Reply to @David Amos: When I saw Higgy's pal featured in the news riding around the Hanwell on a silly new/old yellow bike I wondered if he bought it because it reminded him of his favourite butter tarts.

Robert Langue                                                                                                                                       The Liberals could run a farm animal in certain ridings, and still win (Shediac Beaubassin Cap-Pele for example).                                                                                                                                                        

Claude DeRoche                                                                                                                                  Reply to @Robert Langue:
Spread the COR Party H8!

Al Borland                                                                                                                                             Glad that this outlet is finally pointing this out. Just look at the complete collapse in rural anglophone ridings. In a lot of ridings it's a two way between the PCs and the PANB. 

Guy Richard                                                                                                                                   Surprising that the English have put up with abuse from SANB for so long, the writing was on the wall. 

Mack Leigh                                                                                                                                         Reply to @Guy Richard:
All funding both federally and provincially to groups the likes of SANB should cease and desist immediately. They have their own devious agenda and it is not to " promote " their language and culture among Canadians.

Thomas Imber                                                                                                                                          The Liberals have essentially become the political wing of the Acadian society, so it shouldn't be a surprise that their support in most parts of NB has dropped.

A few terms in the political wilderness would do them good, and it would also allow the Greens to replace the Liberals as the second main political party in NB 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-chris-duffie-dominic-cardy-1.5664736

Once rejected by 2 political parties, Chris Duffie set to take on Dominic Cardy for Liberals

The Liberal candidate will run in Fredericton West-Hanwell

Premier Blaine Higgs has been dropping hints that he may call an early election by this fall.

In 2017 Duffie, a Progressive Conservative supporter at the time, took the party to court, arguing it tried to prevent him from challenging incumbent PC MLA Carl Urquhart for the party nomination in the riding of Carleton-York.

Duffie had missed the deadline to file his paperwork but argued it was because the party didn't properly publicize that the nomination was coming up.

After a judge ruled that the PC party hadn't broken any of its rules, Duffie decided to run for the Liberals.

But the Liberals also rejected him, refusing to let him seek their nomination.

New leader helped

This year Duffie got the green light to run from the party's vetting process, but in a different riding.

Duffie doesn't live in Fredericton West-Hanwell but says he did in the past, for about 15 years, and has "a great footprint" in the area.

Chances are 'pretty good'

About the Author

Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

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. 

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David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos  @alllibertynews and 49 others                                                           Data Mining???                                                                                                                                Methinks anyone can type names such as Jonathan Vance and David Amos into a search engine and find out lots of things Mr Dion knows N'esy Pas?

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/09/freeland-vance-and-several-federal.html

#cdnpoli#nbpoli 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/palantir-macnaughton-ethics-1.5726443
 

Freeland, Vance and several federal officials barred from official dealings with ex-ambassador

Former ambassador broke law by offering officials pro bono assistance on behalf of Palantir

Catharine Tunney· CBC News· Posted: Sep 16, 2020 2:02 PM ET 

David MacNaughton, then the ambassador to the U.S., looks out of his window at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. Monday August, 12, 2019. Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion launched a probe into MacNaughton’s interactions with senior Trudeau government officials in his new role as Palantir Canada president back in June. (Jason Burles/CBC)

Canada's ethics commissioner has ordered nine senior officials — including two Liberal cabinet ministers and the chief of the defence staff — to have no official dealings with Palantir executive David MacNaughton for one year after his office found the former ambassador and Liberal adviser broke the Conflict of Interest Act.

Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said MacNaughton, who was named president of Palantir Technologies Canada more than a year ago, spoke with or arranged multiple meetings with several public office holders for the purpose of offering pro bono assistance on Palantir's behalf.

The controversial company builds data mining technology for its clients and is used by intelligence agencies, banks and some of the biggest companies in the world.

While the offers did not result in any contracts being awarded to Palantir, the former ambassador to the U.S. "has acknowledged, with the benefit of hindsight, that these communications and meetings, to the extent they could have furthered the interests of Palantir, were contrary to [the act]," Dion wrote in his findings.

The act prohibits former public office holders from "acting in such a manner as to take improper advantage of their previous public office."

If the commissioner determines that a former reporting public office holder violated that rule, he can order current public office holders to have no official dealings with them.

The nine officials include:

• Chrystia Freeland, current deputy prime minister (and minister of intergovernmental affairs when MacNaughton's communications with government officials took place)
• Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of defence staff 
• Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and industry
• Rick Theis, director of policy and cabinet affairs, Prime Minister's Office
• Ryan Dunn, chief of staff to Bains
• Leslie Church, chief of staff to the minister of public services and procurement
• Jody Thomas, deputy minister, Department of National Defence
• Bill Matthews, deputy minister, public services and procurement
• Simon Kennedy, deputy minister, innovation, science and economic development

Freeland and MacNaughton, who worked closely on negotiating the updated trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico back in 2017–2018, had three general discussions about the novel coronavirus in March during which McNaughton talked about what Palantir was doing to help other governments on a pro bono basis, said Dion.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

@EthicsCanada

 

Nine senior officials, including ministers and DMs, have been ordered by #EthicsCommissioner Dion, under subs. 41(1) of the #COIAct, not to have official dealings w/ former ambassador David MacNaughton for one year. Details here: https://bit.ly/3mqDsbd

 

                         2:11 PM · Sep 16, 2020

 

That same month, MacNaughton also talked to Vance twice and offered Palantir's help if needed. 

"From my part there was no conversation on the matter of pro bono work," Vance told CBC News. He recently announced his retirement but remains Canada's top soldier until his replacement is named.

"It was offered, noted and not acted upon."

MacNaughton's March contacts with Bains involved arranging a meeting between Palantir staff and Public Service and Procurement Canada, according to the ethics report.

News of MacNaughton's interactions with government officials was first reported by The Logic back in April. The outlet reported that the longtime Liberal told a business audience during a teleconference that Palantir was in discussions with the federal government and several provinces.

Dion announced he was investigating MacNaughton back in June after NDP MP Charlie Angus asked the commissioner's office to take a closer look at the former ambassador's conversations with government officials.

"Here we see a senior Trudeau Liberal nailed for breaking conflict of interest laws, while working for a dark and controversial surveillance giant," said Angus in a statement on Wednesday.

"Trudeau's former U.S. ambassador should have known better, but it seems that Mr. MacNaughton didn't think the rules applied to him as he used his former status to pitch his new employers. Hasn't anyone in Trudeau's team read the law?"

 

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

1439 Comments 

 

 

 

David Amos 

Data Mining??? Yea Right Methinks anyone type names such as Jonathan Vance and David Amos into their favourite search engine and find out about lots of things that the lawyer Mario Dion won't tell you N'esy Pas? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Amos

Methinks Mario Dion' the former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner should review our email exchanges and all the documents on file with the Commission since 2007 then review the letter and the emails I got from his predecessor Madame Dawson in 2016/17 N'esy Pas?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron Morris

Imagine all the stuff that we don't know about. Jeesh.

 

 

Normy Crow

Reply to @Aaron Morris: We have no choice but to imagine because CBC refuses to report it. AND as we all k now, if CBC didn`t report it, it didn`t happen.

 

 

Bradley Clinton

Reply to @Normy Crow: 2 points for C bC reporting this latest NINE scandals.

 

 

Normy Crow 

Reply to @Bradley Clinton: Sure.After it was reported elsewhere for days.

 

 

Normy Crow 

Reply to @Bradley Clinton: AND scandals aren`t the only news left out of the news. If this audience actually read ALL the news,they`d know better. But they prefer just being lambs at pasture.

 

 

Stephen George 

Reply to @Normy Crow:
and some want to be Rams.

 

 

Carson Brook

Reply to @Aaron Morris: Conservative-chosen witness Duff Conacher of his self-named Democracy Watch, which denies oversight requests to reveal full financial record, stated in WE committee hearings that Ethics Commissioner did break guidelines and rules in middle of investigations - then wrote in changes and new rules not previously there - in order to find Justin Trudeau in ethics violation.... (anyone can listen to his testimony in committee). Conacher is accurate about that - thing is, he and presumably those who called him as a witness, think that kind of seemingly unethical conduct by a commissioner is a really good thing for Canada and that the commissioner should be doing more of the mid-review rule changing more often. There - more of the stuff we don't know about.... the conduct of the commissioner.... Jeesh

 

 

David Amos

Reply to @Aaron Morris: Data Mining???
Yea Right Methinks anyone can type names such as Jonathan Vance and David Amos into their favourite search engine and find out about lots of things that the lawyer Mario Dion won't tell us N'esy Pas?

 

 

David Amos

Reply to @Carson Brook: Methinks the lawyer Duff Conacher need to study all the document and listen to the CD I snt him in 2004 then ask Mario Dion the former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner if he should review our email exchanges and all the documents on file with the Commission since 2007 then review the letter and the emails I got from his predecessor Madame Dawson in 2016/17 N'esy Pas?

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David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos  @alllibertynews and 49 others 

Content disabled 

Methinks it would be a good day to remind folks of the ERRE Committee coming to Fat Fred City N'esy Pas? 

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/09/ndp-apologizes-for-saint-john.html

#cdnpoli#nbpoli 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ndp-courtney-pyrke-profane-remarks-higgs-long-1.5726796 

NDP apologizes for Saint John candidate's 'profane remarks' directed at other politicians

Courtney Pyrke could face discplinary action for tweets aimed at Blaine Higgs, Wayne Long

Jacques Poitras· CBC News· Posted: Sep 16, 2020 6:46 PM AT 

Courtney Pyrke, NDP candidate for Saint John Harbour, could face disciplinary action from her party over tweets directed at Blaine Higgs and Wayne Long. (Submitted by Courtney Pyrke)

The interim leader of the New Brunswick NDP is condemning election-night comments by one of the party's candidates and says he is looking at "disciplinary action."

Mackenzie Thomason apologized for what he called "wholly unnecessary and profane remarks" by Courtney Pyrke aimed at Saint John-Rothesay Liberal MP Wayne Long and Premier Blaine Higgs.

At 9:57 on election night, Pyrke, the NDP candidate in Saint John Harbour, tweeted a photo of a bottle of wine next to a paper cup with the words "F--- Blaine Higgs."

Later that night Pyrke tweeted a crude anatomical pun about Long's name while comparing him to an NDP MP who represented the federal riding where they used to live in Hamilton, Ont.

In a press release, Thomason condemned the "outbursts" and said they didn't reflect NDP values and were made without his consent. 

"We have our differences, we have our passions, but when you attack personally, and use comments such as that on a personal level, that's something that contravenes the political process, contravenes good will and it's not promoting dialogue," he said in an interview.

Thomason said such behaviour would not be tolerated and the party was "exploring disciplinary action for these and other remarks," but he said he wasn't aware of the details of the NDP's internal process, which he said would be confidential.

Candidate at odds with party officials

Pyrke, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they and them, said the criticism was "fair" but the party had not contacted them to discuss the tweets before issuing the press release. They learned of the statement from CBC News.

Pyrke also said the party was upset about Pyrke's questioning of how party officials were controlling Thomason's schedule and how they were "running the show", instead of the interim leader himself.

"I had basically been shut down and told I didn't understand," Pyrke said. 

"Every time I asked these types of questions, they treated it as if I was attacking them, and that I wasn't being understanding, and that I was new so I don't get it."

Thomason said a "very professional" team of people came forward to help the NDP campaign and "it was made very clear to the candidates that this was what was going on, and it seemed to not sit well with certain candidates.

"Differences arise and differences are okay. We have to have those conversations, but they have to be respectful."

Pyrke would not commit to staying involved with the NDP. "This is not the party that I support from my home town in Hamilton." 

Long surprised by apology

Long said he was surprised by Thomason's apology "but I was happy to see it. I don't think personal attacks of that nature have a place in politics."

On Monday, Pyrke finished fourth in Saint John Harbour, a one-time NDP bastion, with 5.9 per cent of the vote.

That's the lowest total for the NDP in the riding since it was created before the 1995 election. 

However, that result far exceeded the NDP's province-wide 1.6 per cent share of the popular vote and the 1.3 per cent Thomason received in Fredericton North.  

About the Author

Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

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. 

 

125 Comments 

https://openparliament.ca/committees/electoral-reform/42-1/39/david-amos-1/

Terry Tibbs

If a speck of dust breaks wind in the forest does anyone care?

David Amos 

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David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos  @alllibertynews and 49 others

 https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/09/pc-party-members-diverge-on-language.html

 #cdnpoli#nbpoli 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pc-party-higgs-francophone-voters-new-brunswick-eleciton-1.5725581

PC party members diverge on language split after Higgs shut out in northern New Brunswick

PC candidate says party leader a liability among francophone voters in northern riding

Jacques Poitras· CBC News· Posted: Sep 16, 2020 5:00 AM AT

Blaine Higgs and the Progressive Conservatives will form a majority government in New Brunswick. (Andrew Vaughan/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Look no further for evidence of a language divide in New Brunswick politics than the differing views emerging among Progressive Conservatives about whether that divide even exists.

And newly elected PC MLA Daniel Allain said while there may be a "divide," there isn't an "issue." 

The numbers don't lie: in Tracadie-Sheila, a riding held by the PCs from 1994 to 2014, Carey won 23.2 per cent of the vote compared to 69.5 per cent for Liberal winner Keith Chiasson.

Higgs was a liability among voters, Chiasson said. "He didn't represent who they were and what their priorities were."

In Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston, another area long held by the PCs, the party got 25.6 per cent of the vote while the Liberals won 66.5 per cent.

Higgs says north 'doesn't accept me'

This sweeping francophone rejection of Higgs constitutes the one major asterisk on his remarkable electoral triumph on Monday — the first time a New Brunswick government has been re-elected in 17 years.

He has only one francophone in his new expanded caucus, Moncton East MLA-elect Daniel Allain. He's without any representation from the francophone north.

"It wasn't a failure of me accepting the northern part of the province," Higgs said Tuesday on CBC Radio's As It Happens. "I guess it was a case where the northern part of the province doesn't accept me."

The premier has francophone advisors, but they're not visible and accountable the way ministers and MLAs are. 

"The connection with the francophones is not good," said University of Moncton political scientist Roger Ouellette. 

He attributed it to Higgs's involvement as a young man with the anti-bilingualism Confederation of Regions party and his winning of the 2016 PC leadership race with scant francophone support — and an inability to converse in French himself.

Then throw in his two-year co-operation agreement in the legislature with the People's Alliance, which Higgs relied on to prop up his minority government and which opposes aspects of official bilingualism.

"If we put everything together, the perception from the north is not good for him," Ouellette said. 

Chiasson added there's a need for "making everybody feel welcome in the province, that they have a place at the table, that they have say, that they can be who they are." 

Political, not language split, Higgs says

Higgs himself doesn't see it that way.

"It wasn't a language split," he said on CBC's Information Morning Fredericton Tuesday morning. "It seems more of a political split that has been there for some time and has been taken advantage of."

He was referring to northern ridings that he said have been Liberal "for a long time." Brunswick News quoted Higgs saying that "you could run a lampshade" in those ridings "and you'd get a Liberal."

While that was true for most of the twentieth century, over the last four decades PC premiers Richard Hatfield, Bernard Lord and David Alward all managed to varying degrees to capture many ridings in the francophone north.

Higgs acknowledged that on As It Happens but said those previous premiers had won the ridings with expensive commitments he was unwilling to make. 

"You can see different models in terms of how it works. I presented a model for an entire province," he said.

He added that some people in some areas of the province were looking for costly commitments during the campaign but they should be "prepared to look at new ideas, be part of a new process and be part of a bigger goal." 

Higgs spoke some French Monday night in his victory speech but did not address francophones as a community about their concerns.

Instead he spoke of geography, promising to be "inclusive and collaborative" with the north and the south.

"He has no ambition for the cultural side, for the Francophonie," Ouellette said. "It's not his cup of tea." 

No language issue, says Allain

Allain is defending his leader, saying "there are a lot of things that divide us in New Brunswick at times," including language, but "I don't think there's a language issue.

"There's platforms elaborated by different parties and people had the chance to vote on that. There is some 'ethnic vote' sometimes that happens … and the premier has given us his direction, that he wants to lead and make sure he's inclusive and collaborative." 

Allain also brushed off the premier's lack of direct reference to francophones in his victory speech. "The premier addressed New Brunswickers. First and foremost we are New Brunswickers."

175 Comments

Commenting is now closed for this story.

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David Raymond Amos   

Replying to @DavidRayAmos  @alllibertynews and 49 others

Methinks Higgy et al know why I just chuckled as CBC kept deleting my comments as I picked up the phone etc N'esy Pas? 

 https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/09/residents-livid-with-glyphosate-say.html

 #cdnpoli#nbpoli 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/residents-livid-with-glyphosate-spray-helicopters-brockway-1.5726748

Residents livid with glyphosate say they'll chase spray helicopters out of their communities

Foes of controversial herbicide attempted to intercept spray helicopters Tuesday morning

Shane Fowler· CBC News· Posted: Sep 16, 2020 6:58 PM AT

Residents near Brockway says they tried to confront crews piloting helicopters like this one that were destined for glyphosate spraying over Crown land Tuesday morning. (James Steidle/CBC)

On Monday night, Peter Ganong noticed a pair of helicopters had landed just across the road from his house in Brockway, about 56 kilometres north of Saint Andrews. 

Ganong lives by the Brockway airport. The patch of pavement on Route 3 is riddled with strawberry plants and may not seem deserving of "airport" as a designation, since it's only used occasionally. 

But Ganong said the arrival of those helicopters was no less concerning than if military jets had landed. He ducked into the nearby woods and started to photograph workers preparing to spray the herbicide glyphosate the next morning. 

"I've strongly considered moving out of New Brunswick because of this," Ganong said. 

Peter Ganong says he's not an activist but may change that after watching the forest ecosystem around his home in Brockway degrade for decades. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

He sent the pictures he took to friends and neighbours, who shared them on social media. The next morning about a dozen people showed up at the Brockway airport to confront the pilots and workers. 

But the clash Ganong and his neighbours were expecting never materialized. All they heard was the sound of the helicopters leaving just before the group arrived. 

That left a runway of people seething. And they're vowing to run any more spray operators out of their community. 

"Year after year, there's less fish, there's less birds, there's less bugs, there's less bees," said Ganong. "It's just not the forest it used to be." 

"I just see it gradually disappearing. It's screwing up the ecosystem." 

Ganong has lived in Brockway for two decades, and had a family hunting camp for years before that.  

He doesn't consider himself an activist, but when surrounded by like-minded strangers Tuesday morning, he admitted that might be changing. 

"It's the first time I've met most all these people," said Ganong

Community backlash 

Among those outraged by the spray operation are people from different backgrounds and nearby communities.

"This is not right, it's not fair," said Cynthia Howland, a grandmother from the Passamaquoddy First Nation. "Politics aside, end of the day, it's wrong. It's absolutely wrong."

  

Cynthia Howland of Passamaquoddy First Nation says she's fed up with glyphosate being sprayed on her ancestral homeland. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)

She became tearful as she thought of how the spraying had disrupted her hopes for this year.

"This was going to be the first year that I harvested traditionally. This was going to be the first year that I was going to go out and gather my own food. I will not do that now; I will not feed that to my grandchildren." 

The land being sprayed is unceded territory, she said.

"This is the territory that my ancestors walked on. This very dirt is my ancestors." 

Also among the protesters were two candidates from separate political parties, who ran unsuccessfully in Monday's provincial election.

"We've had enough of the spraying," said John Gardner, who ran for the Liberals in Saint Croix before being dropped from the party slate. "So we came out here this morning to not just support the people in this area, but people around the province." 

Kimberly Reeder, who ran for the Green Party, said there are better ways to manage forests.

"We can do that with [forest] thinners, which would create way more jobs than spraying ever has."

Several in the group questioned the timing of the spraying, taking place the morning after the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government. They were the only major party that didn't promise to ban the spraying of glyphosate. 

Those who found themselves at the Brockway airport Tuesday morning were stressed about going another four years without a ban being considered. 

Some believe the election may have served as a cover for the spray operation near their home, but those working with the forestry industry say that's not how the process works. 

Industry response 

It takes months to apply for and approve a section of Crown land for spraying. 

"It's mind-boggling that they would be outraged that this treatment was happening when it's been advertised for months and [went] through all the regulatory requirements," said Mike Legere of Forest NB, an organization that represents some of the forestry companies that commission the spraying by Forest Protection Ltd. 

"But what concerns me more is how ridiculous this interpretation of the timing of the spray. To suggest that it's some sort of conspiracy plot to try and match our desire to manage forest land with some political platform

"It's absolutely ridiculous."

Who is spraying

Signs in the area did state that the area was scheduled to be sprayed Tuesday with glyphosate by FPL, or Forest Protection Ltd., for AV Nackawic.

Forest Protection owned in a partnership with the province and several forestry companies. Directors include Mike Holland, New Brunswick's minister of Natural Resources, Tom MacFarlane, the deputy environment minister, Jason Limongelli, vice-president of J.D Irving Ltd., Kevin Topolnski of Acadian Timber Corp, Kevin Larlee, vice-president fibre supply and government relations with AV Group, Andy Barrieau with the Fornebu Lumber Co., Terry Noble of Twin Rivers Paper Co., Mike Legere of the New  Brunswick Forest Products Association, and several Natural Resources Department staff.

Escalating encounters

Legere said anyone has the right to peacefully protest spraying, but he cautioned against letting things escalate.

The glyphosate opponents who were unable to confront workers on Tuesday said they're preparing themselves for next time.  

"It's time to get prepared," said Reeder. "So once we're done today, well, one of the things we decided to do now is have go bags ready."

About the Author

Shane Fowler

Reporter

Shane Fowler has been a CBC journalist based in Fredericton since 2013. 

 

100 Comments

Commenting is now closed for this story.  

Denise Leblanc                                                                                                                                  Content disabled                                                                                                                                   Reply to @David Amos:
And the result... You had contacts. WOW! You are the first person ever to have contact with another person ever. 

Rick Randal                                                                                                                                                  I haven't seen a dog fight since Sky-Charlies came at us back in 68'

Denise Leblanc                                                                                                                                            I wonder where he is going to move to in order to avoid glyphosate. 

Jos Allaire                                                                                                                                                     I feel for the good folks of Saint Croix, a swing riding, who unfortunately voted against their interest this time. Next time, Higgs, hope they remember. A combination of the Green and Liberal vote would have obliterated the CORservatives. It's high time for these two parties to get together.

Bill Hamilton                                                                                                                                                I agree that the Province does nor generate enough revenue from the Crown and corporate freehold lands. I also think we are too focused on conifer monocultures in our forest management strategy. But the concern over the current level of glyphosate use in forestry is misguided. Too many people with too much time on their hands. Better to focus on lawn care phenoxy herbicide use in residential areas, or agricultural sprays on our food.
There I've pisssed-off everyone in one single post!?

Terry Tibbs                                                                                                                                               And so it begins, 4 more years of nothing government, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

Kim Reeder                                                                                                                                                   I must say that in the above article the only quotes with extreme or radical language are those of Mike Leger. Those who were on the tarmack were there gathering and discussing issues important to all of New Brunswick, talking about families, fishing, wildlife - New Brunswick values. It is Leger’s who uses the words, ‘mind-boggling,’ ‘ridiculous’ and ‘confront’ and then warns US not to let things escalate. It’s laughable. The large corporations, along with the Conservative party have a choice, we can talk in the boardroom, or I can grab my go-bag and meet them to talk out in the woods. I know my preference - I WANT to be having conversations outside, in common spaces, with common goals...but we should likely check the spray schedule before we go - don’t want to get wet out there! 

David Amos                                                                                                                                          Reply to @Kim Reeder: Methinks your politcal party leader have should checked my work as I argued Bayer Corp's lawyer and the NB AG among many others way back in 2004 N'esy Pas?

Ben Haroldson                                                                                                                                        Year after year, there's less fish, there's less birds, there's less bugs, there's less bees," said Ganong. "It's just not the forest it used to be." Add to that " and more cancer ".

 https://www.facebook.com/pete.ganong.16

Pete Ganong

• itShSellpputaeomsobnterstds e15 oart 6mS:4rimui2o fcAedhM

   ·

  Spraying the whole Trout Brook road today starting this morning! Two choppers and support crew spent last night at the Brockway airport, signs all along The Trot Brook road, makes me sick!! Should converge on the area. Shame a lot of feed, moose in area, gone soon, forever.

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  31 Comments

  20 Shares

  Comments

  Shawn Matheson

  Make me sick thinking about it !!!!!!!!

   

  Pete Ganong

  Working? 

   

  Shawn Matheson

  I am for bit yep

   

  Pete Ganong

  That whole area is full of feed and moose!!! Bye bye

  .

  Mike Scott

  if i didnt have too work i would be their for sure

  
  

  Greg Hatt

  This is fucked

   

  Jeffrey Haslam

   

  Pete Ganong

  Working?

   

  Jeffrey Haslam

  Pete Ganong

  yes

   

  Corey Beach

  sick

  
  

  Jasmine Mclaughlin

  
  

  Pete Ganong

  Good one!!

   

  Pete Smith

  Irving, as ugly as ever!!

   

  Twyla Chadwick

  Can you make this post shareable Pete..?

   

  Pete Ganong

  It says it is but not sure how to check if you can. Will see. Thanks

   

  Pete Ganong

  It sais good for public

   

  Danny Hatt

  Better off to set fire.

   

  John Ross McLaughlin

  Pisses me off but PC government

   

  Jerry Howland

  When they are done were next

   

  David Raymond Amos

  Too too Funny All said was Hmmm in CBC and they l;ocked me

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-election-glyphosate-1.5702655

Anti-spray group gives 4 political parties failing grades on glyphosate

Stop Spraying New Brunswick group hands out 4th annual report card

Kate Letterick· CBC News· Posted: Aug 27, 2020 7:37 PM AT 

Caroline Lubbe-D'Arcy, chair of Stop Spraying New Brunswick, says the group is asking political candidates to sign a pledge to work toward a ban on spraying glyphosate. (Pierre Fournier/CBC)

The group Stop Spraying New Brunswick handed out failing grades Thursday to the four parties that had seats in the legislature, suggesting even those opposed to spraying glyphosate and other herbicides on Crown land were not dogged enough.

The group handed out its fourth annual report card in Petitcodiac.

The grades are based on the parties' performance in the house before it was dissolved earlier this month for the Sept. 14 election.

The Progressive Conservative, Liberal and Green parties, and the People's Alliance all got an "F" for on the issue of banning herbicides. The New Democratic Party had no seats in the house.

The group's marks for efforts to change regulations or table a motion or bill varied.

The Green Party earned a B-plus, while the Liberals received a D-minus

"We have seen steadily year after year that there is much more legislative motion going on," said Donald Bowser, vice-chair of the anti-spray group. So the parties know this, they know that the public supports it.

"They try to do enough to appease the public, but yet we still don't have a ban on glyphosate."  

The group said the Green Party did table a motion to ban glyphosate on Oct. 24, 2018, but it didn't reach the debate stage.

The Green Party also tabled a bill in November 2019 that dealt with a ban on spraying, along with other forestry issues, but the party did not pursue it further.

The group said the Liberal Party tabled a motion in November 2019 to study glyphosate, which was debated and voted on in December 2019.

During that process, the Green Party proposed an amendment to ban spraying on Crown land, but it was defeated after only getting votes from the Greens and the People's Alliance.

The group said the Progressive Conservative government announced a 30 percent reduction of spraying in 2019, but hasn't provided details to confirm this has happened.

Caroline Lubbe-D'Arcy, chair of Stop Spraying New Brunswick, said she would like to see the political parties follow through.

Lubbe-D'Arcy said 35,000 New Brunswickers have signed a petition calling for a stop to spraying in the province.

The group is asking political candidates to sign a pledge showing where they stand on the issue. 

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