Coronavirus strain compromising ability to provide 'quality acute services,' says N.B. chief medical officer of health
9 hours ago
Duration 9:07
Hours before New Brunswick moves to Level 3 of its COVID-19 winter plan, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell said the province's health-care and long-term care systems are 'really strapped right now' due to the impact of the Omicron variant. 9:07
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Breakdown of new cases
Storm cancels some Moncton vaccination appointments
Horizon reminds patients most appointments postponed
Delta versus Omicron
Public Health reported four more COVID-related deaths Friday and 103 COVID hospitalizations, as New Brunswick prepares to enter a 16-day lockdown at midnight.
A person 70-79 in the Moncton region, Zone 1, a person 80-89 in the Saint John region, Zone 2, a person 70-79 in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, and a person 80-89 in the Edmundston region, Zone 4, have died as a result of COVID-19, raising the pandemic death toll to 182.
Of those in hospital, 11 are in intensive care and three are on ventilators.
New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health says the province is moving to the strictest level of its COVID-19 winter plan so doctors aren't forced to make decisions about which patients live or die.
Dr. Jennifer Russell says New Brunswick's hospitals weren't "doing super" before the pandemic and have been under extra strain throughout.
But the fast-spreading Omicron variant has "really compromised our ability to continue to deliver really quality acute services," she told CBC News Network on Friday, hours before the lockdown.
The biggest challenges, she said, are the increased number of hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 and the number of health-care workers who have tested positive and are isolating — 386, as of Thursday.
"So we're getting hit in two ways."
The Horizon Health Network alone has already postponed more than 500 surgeries so far, Russell said.
Earlier this week, the province released COVID projections that showed hospitalizations would reach nearly 220 by the end of the month, and new cases would peak at 5,500 a day, if current trends held and no changes were made.
"As you get closer to that number, that means that we wouldn't be able to offer those critical care services, and having to make a decision for somebody who had COVID or non-COVID acute care needs, whether it's a car accident or heart attack, making choices around life or death for those individuals would be what it would come to," Russell said.
Social gatherings are limited to single household bubbles
No public gatherings are permitted
Restaurants are limited to drive-thru, takeout and deliveries only
Non-essential retail will remain at Level 2 restrictions, which include operating at 50 per cent capacity and with physical distancing measures in place
Gyms, salons, spas and entertainment centres are closed
Faith services are allowed only outdoors, virtually, or in-car
Organized team sports are prohibited from games, competition and practice with people outside of a household bubble.
In addition, public schools have extended at-home learning for students until Jan. 31.
"I ask all New Brunswickers to do their part over the next two weeks, including booking their booster dose if it has been more than five months since their second dose — especially if they are 50 or older, since only 53 per cent of people in this age group have gotten a booster dose and they are at a higher risk of hospitalization," Russell said in a statement late Friday afternoon.
She also noted children currently make up the largest segment of the unvaccinated and under-vaccinated population.
"If you have not already done so, please book an appointment to get your children vaccinated, especially those aged five to 11, before in-person learning resumes."
Premier Blaine Higgs issued a call-out Thursday for medical professionals who could help administer COVID shots and says dentists are among those who have expressed an interest. (CBC News)
The province would not be moving to Level 3 if it could manage the hospital situation, said Premier Blaine Higgs.
"But we can't, and we've been told very clearly that we can't," he said on Information Morning Fredericton. "And the risk is that we would impact people that had a critical need that was unrelated to COVID but wouldn't be able to get the services they needed.
"And we've heard doctors say they may have to make a decision on life or death because they just don't have the capabilities to manage it. We can't allow that to happen."
Russell said it's "critical" to get as many people vaccinated or boosted as possible over the next two weeks.
We have faith in the population. They are resilient. We are counting on them.
- Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health
The province is in the process of increasing its capacity to administer about 90,000 doses a week, up from 40,000, she said, without elaborating.
On Thursday, Higgs called on anyone "with experience giving vaccinations," retired nurses with critical care experience, medical professionals from other countries living in New Brunswick, and other groups to step up to volunteer services.
Higgs also hinted mandatory vaccinations could be coming.
"We're going to do what is necessary to protect all of New Brunswickers and to compel people to get vaccinated," he said.
"Life will become increasingly uncomfortable and more difficult for those who are able to be vaccinated but choose not to be."
Russell said she could not comment on what any government policies might look like but did say the province is "definitely going to explore opportunities" to increase vaccination rates.
New Brunswick Nurses Union president Paula Doucet said asking COVID-positive health-care workers to come back to work is asking too much. (CBC)
The province is also considering allowing health-care workers who have COVID-19 to return to work.
"These are not ideal situations or circumstances with respect to risk, but it's about balancing those risks, again, at this critical point in the pandemic and in the Omicron surge," she said.
The president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union is not in favour of putting COVID-positive nurses back to work.
Paula Doucet says it would be too stressful, physically and mentally.
"I don't think that's an ideal situation at all, simply because we don't know what the long-term effect of COVID may be. So if you're a health-care provider who's contracted COVID, you need that rest to recoup. You need that time away to potentially, you know, get yourself well."
Doucet said she understands that New Brunswickers need care and the system is strapped. But she doesn't think asking those who are COVID-positive to come back into the system is the answer.
"We need to look at other avenues and other health-care providers to help support nursing and frontline staff to provide the best care possible."
Russell said there are protocols regarding when COVID-positive workers would return to work, what protective gear they would wear, and how they would interact with patients and other staff. These would be "very strictly adhered to," she said.
"And again, it's out of necessity. We certainly don't want to put people at risk unnecessarily."
Asked whether a two-week lockdown will be enough to slow the spread of the virus and ease the strain on the health-care system, Russell replied: "Well, New Brunswickers have done this before. They know how to do it, and they know how to do it well.
"We have faith in the population. They are resilient. We are counting on them.
"The health-care system and the health-care workers and critical infrastructure folks, we are counting on the good will of the population at this point in time, understanding that they're tired, understanding that they're frustrated, and this is, again, not an ideal situation, but out of necessity because of the serious nature of it, we have no choice."
Breakdown of cases
Fifty-two of the 103 people hospitalized with COVID were already admitted for other reasons when they tested positive, Public Health said. That's up from 47 Thursday.
It's unclear if or how many of them contracted the virus in hospital or were infected before they were admitted.
Of those in hospital, 82 are over 60 and two are 19 or under.
Of the 11 people in intensive care, seven, or 64 per cent, are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or it has been more than six months since their second dose.
There are 426 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test-confirmed new cases of COVID-19, putting the active caseload at 6,213, but that doesn't include the people testing positive on rapid tests.
An additional 756 people aged two to 49 with symptoms tested positive on rapid tests and registered their results online.
These numbers "are not intended to be taken as a true representation of the total number of cases in the province," Public Health has said.
The regional breakdown of the 426 new PCR-confirmed cases reported includes:
Moncton region, Zone 1 — 145 cases
Saint John region, Zone 2 — 97 cases
Fredericton region, Zone 3 — 50 cases
Edmundston region Zone 4 — 23 cases
Campbellton region, Zone 5 — five cases
Bathurst region, Zone 6 — 81 cases
Miramichi region, Zone 7 — 25 cases
A total of 649,735 PCR tests have been conducted to date, including 2,933 on Thursday, putting the positivity rate at 14.5 per cent.
As of Friday, 29.8 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received a booster dose, up from 28.7 per cent, 83.3 per cent have received two doses, unchanged, and 91.1 per cent have received one dose, up from 91 per cent.
New Brunswick has had 21,979 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 15,582 recoveries so far.
Storm cancels some Moncton vaccination appointments
People who have COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the old Moncton High School on Saturday morning will need to reschedule, the Vitalité Health Network announced via a social media post late Thursday afternoon, citing the "impending weather."
Appointments scheduled between 9 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. will be cancelled, it said.
The clinic will operate between 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., with extra appointments added between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., it said.
A larger share of the COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick requiring hospitalization are non-Omicron than in the general population, figures provided by the Department of Health on Friday indicate.
"The screening undertaken on hospitalized patients, where possible, suggest 65 per cent were the Omicron variant," department spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane said in an email.
On Thursday, for example, only 21 of 37 hospital admissions who were screened positive for COVID were Omicron, he said.
By comparison, screening of overall COVID-positive cases suggests more than 90 per cent of samples completed are the Omicron variant, Macfarlane said.
Dr. John Tobin, the head of the family medicine department in Zone 4 for the Vitalité Health Network, said as of Wednesday, all Omicron patients in Edmundston's hospital have been admitted for other reasons and their positive COVID status showed up when they were screened. (Government of New Brunswick )
The Delta variant is more severe but not as transmissible as the now-dominant Omicron variant.
Delta patients tend to be sicker and need more specialized care, but vaccines protect better against the variant, Dr. John Tobin, the head of the family medicine department in the Edmundston region, Zone 4, for the Vitalité Health Network, has said.
With Omicron, vaccines don't protect as well against infection, but they do reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
And Omicron symptoms tend to be less severe, not ending up in intensive care and not dying of COVID, Tobin said.
Although Omicron is less severe generally, officials anticipate the sheer number of cases predicted over the coming weeks will still put enormous strain on hospitals because some share of those cases will need hospital care.
Horizon reminds patients most appointments postponed
The Horizon Health Network is "strongly urging" patients not to attend their previously scheduled hospital appointments unless they're contacted directly by a hospital representative.
"Elective surgeries and non-urgent appointments for Horizon's ambulatory clinics, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services are being postponed as health care workers are being reassigned to areas where staffing support is most urgently needed," Horizon said in a statement Friday.
Oncology services are continuing.
Anyone who is uncertain about the status of their appointment should call ahead to the corresponding department, Horizon said.
"We fully appreciate the patience and understanding of the public while we work through these challenges."
The Village of Minto says it wants at least six affordable housing units to go up on the land. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
A New Brunswick village is offering cheap land to any developer who promises to offer cheap rent.
The Village of Minto will sell a plot of land for just a dollar to whichever developer pitches the best plan to build at least six affordable housing units in the community this year.
The village has issued a request for proposals for the project, which includes the offer for the 9.8-acre plot, provided "the successful applicant enters into a development agreement that satisfies the Village of Minto."
The piece of land is accessible via Bridge Street, and is registered under PID 45079191 and PAN 00965218. Provincial records show it was last assessed as being worth $12,500.
Mayor Erica Barnett said the village did an online survey of housing needs among residents last year, and found that more than 46 people were in need of more affordable rental options.
She said those respondents included young families, immigrants and seniors who were looking for safe and affordable places to live in the community, which is located about 50 kilometres east of Fredericton.
Barnett said councillors got to work on ideas to entice developers to help fill some of that need, and decided to sell the lot, with the caveat attached.
The muncipally owned land for sale in Minto will be accessible via Bridge Street. (Submitted by the Village of Minto)
"So the property that we're offering up is, is quite large... and we're hoping that, you know, once the six [units] go up that we can get commitment that there will be, you know, more built kind of yearly as the need keeps rising."
When it comes to what will constitute affordable, Barnett said there's no stipulated dollar figure being set by the village, but discussions about "fair" rent costs will be had with developers.
Beyond a commitment to creating six units, Barnett said applications will be judged based on the design of the units, their energy efficiency, and the applicants' interest in building additional affordable units in later years.
"So we'll be looking at it as a full-scale project and what we see will benefit, you know, our community in the most positive way."
Minto Mayor Erica Barnett said the village did a survey last year, which found there was great demand for more affordable housing in the community. (Gary Moore/CBC)
A similar initiative was launched by Village of McAdam, which in 2018 announced it would sell 16 housing lots each for a dollar, in a bid to lure new residents and stimulate growth.
Elizabeth Mills is the president of the Minto Community Resource Centre, which operates a food bank, thrift store and manages four public housing units.
She said there's a great need for more affordable rental units in Minto, which is exemplified by the wave of inquiries they get whenever one of the units they manage becomes available.
She applauded the village's initiative to increase that supply of affordable housing and said she hopes it's a success.
"I think it's a great initiative," she said. "Obviously the council is recognizing the need and that's what they feel is a justified effort to reduce that need."
No guarantee it will attract developers, group says
The incentive by the Village of Minto to attract developers is a good start, said Gerry Webster, president of the Saint John Apartment Owners Association.
However, he said it's no guarantee it will attract developers to build in a smaller community like Minto, on top of committing to make the units affordable.
Webster said one-quarter of the entire cost to construct a building — the purchase of land included — is typically spent on taxes and permits.
He said the land itself typically costs developers about 10 per cent of the total cost.
He said the deal could be sweetened if the village also offered to waive things like building permits and other municipal fees.
"Offering the land for a dollar on a proposal is a great start. It sends out all the right signals and everything else. And in some areas, it goes very, very well," Webster said.
"But I just don't see an apartment building going because you can get the land free. I just don't see it."
J.D. Irving considered stakeholder
The second page of the request for proposals contains a paragraph titled "Private meetings with village staff and stakeholders."
It states the Village of Minto will arrange one-hour meetings with respondents March 7-11 to address any questions and comments.
Participants will include representatives from the Village of Minto, Peter Corbyn, a housing consultant, Dominic Aube with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Robert Fawcett from J.D. Irving.
Barnett said the company is a large employer in the region, referencing the sawmill in the neighbouring community of Chipman, and said many Minto residents travel there every day for work.
Minto Mayor Erica Barnett said part of the increased need for more housing is that J.D. Irving has been hiring more and more people to work at the sawmill located in the neighbouring community of Chipman. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
With the company planning to hire more workers in the coming years, Barnett said having them at the table will show applicants that the housing needs in Minto will continue to increase.
In an email, J.D.I. spokesperson Anne McInerney said the company is recruiting to fill vacancies in key positions caused by retirements and an aging workforce, which includes bringing newcomers and their families to the province.
At the same time, people in communities across New Brunswick, including newcomers and their families, are experiencing challenges finding housing in the province, she said.
"Improving the availability of housing in rural New Brunswick will require a collective effort and cooperation from all partners," McInerney said.
"Communities, developers, employers and government all have a role to play to help address the housing challenges in rural New Brunswick."
Plots are generally much smaller and located in a cemetary. The word is lot.
David Amos
Reply to @Laura Smith: LMAO
Les Cooper
Banjo country!
David Amos
Reply to @Les Cooper: Your point is???
Jim Cyr
My grandfather's family was from Ripples..........wonder if any one even knows where that is any more........
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: I do
Ripples housed a World War Two internment camp, from 1940 to 1945.[1] This camp held internees of many different nationalities. The most famous prisoner was Camillien Houde, mayor of Montreal at the time, who was interned for encouraging resistance to military conscription
Kyle Woodman
Irving has already built staff accommodations in Chipman. All that's missing is the company store.
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Kyle, maybe you could go to Chipman/Minto, and open a big company. And pay people who work at your big company a really good wage. That would give the people of the are a real leg up and a chance to escape from their slave master. Why don't you do that, Kyle??
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Say Hey to Higgy et al for me the next time you are allowed back across the Medicine Line
Bryan Jones
It's a big plot but only six units? If the land is being given away they should be able to make all the units affordable. And if the developers aren't able to make quick money on affordable rental units then some of them could be for new buyers.
David Amos
Reply to @Bryan Jones: Dream on
T MacMillan
Where I live, 'affordable rental units' are 30% of your income. It is a reasonable way of having shelter but not to many new developers are going to build on that promise. If the Irving's are in need of housing for their new recruitments...let them start the ball rolling and start building. I might add, with legal documents forcing them to take the 30% of the renter's income and no more.
T MacMillan
Reply to @Lou Bell: Whoa...I struck a nerve didn't I? I was just responding to the quote, " Minto Mayor Erica Barnett said part of the increased need for more housing is that J.D. Irving has been hiring more and more people to work at the sawmill located in the neighbouring community of Chipman".
David Amos
Reply to @T MacMillan: Methinks I missed something nasty N'esy Pas?
Johnny Jakobs
You mean an Irving employee needs affordable living?
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Good question
Eddy Jay
Landlords with existing units are gouging renters now. Who do you think it is will build from scratch and charge cheap rent ???
Laurie Savage
Reply to @Eddy Jay: Someone that gets free land
Eddy Jay
Reply to @Laurie Savage: Right. With the cost of materials/labour to build land price is the least of any developers worries.
Philip Hutchings, pastor and founder of His Tabernacle Family Church, is accused of contempt for violating an agreement with the court to obey all of the province's COVID-19 protocols. (His Tabernacle Family Church/Facebook)
A Saint John pastor who was thrown in jail for contempt of court in October will be back in court on Feb. 2 for a similar charge.
Philip Hutchings of His Tabernacle Family Church is accused of continuing to hold church services that contravene the province's mandatory order for the pandemic, although he signed an agreement with the court to obey all the rules.
In its motion, the government alleges that services held on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 contravened the order, but new affidavits filed with the court allege more breaches on Dec. 12 and Jan. 2.
Lawyers for both sides met with the presiding judge by telephone on Friday morning to sort out some legal issues, including a new motion filed by Hutchings's lawyer, Jonathan Martin.
In it, Martin requested a number of things, including that two government employees be made available for cross-examination, and that portions of some affidavits be struck.
The defence motion will be dealt with first — on Feb. 2. Once that's been resolved, a date will be set to hear the province's original motion for contempt.
Pictures posted on Philip Hutchings's Facebook page were submitted as exhibits and appear to show a packed church service with no one wearing masks. (New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench)
Jason Caissie, the lawyer for the Attorney General of New Brunswick, asked that the issues be dealt with "as soon as possible," and said he had concerns about public safety in the meantime. He said there's still "a large group of them not vaccinated," and new affidavits allege that church officials continue to break the rules.
He suggested they'd be in a better position before the court if they'd been able to claim they are obeying the rules. But, he said, the new affidavits "show they are not."
Justice Darrell Stephenson responded that if something urgent arises, like "an issue of public safety," it can be brought forward for the court to deal with in the interim.
Martin told the court that his client believes the province is harassing him and the church by repeatedly attending services and taking pictures of those in attendance.
Stephenson urged both sides to work together to ensure church services comply with the government's COVID-19 restrictions.
Hutchings 'mocked' the mandatory order
The history of this case stretches back to September, when government officials noticed a social media post where Hutchings claimed his church would operate at full capacity and wouldn't require masks or proof of vaccination.
On Oct. 1, an official with the province contacted Hutchings and explained the rules. He agreed to comply, according to the court file.
Just two days later, the church held a service that allegedly violated the rules again. Hutchings was fined for that on Oct. 6.
On Oct. 8, the province went to court to get an order to shut down the church for continued non-compliance, but Hutchings signed a consent order, agreeing to "make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance" with the rules governing faith-based gatherings.
Two days after the agreement was signed, Public Safety visited the church and videotaped people coming and going freely and not wearing masks. The footage included an unmasked Hutchings coming to the door of the church.
That's when Hutchings and his followers raised the ire of Court of Queen's Bench Justice Hugh McLellan.
Philip Hutchings leaves the Saint John courthouse after being released from jail in October. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
Hutchings appeared before McLellan on Oct. 15 and was remanded to jail for a week. McLellan said the remand was necessary to protect the public.
He also said Hutchings "mocked" the order by holding another non-compliant service two days later. As a result, he said he had concerns about the pastor's "personal credibility."
When a more repentant Hutchings returned to court one week later, he admitted to contempt of court and agreed to abide by a number of conditions imposed by the court.
Eventually, Hutchings, and Dana and Cody Butler, were all given a stern lecture by the judge before they signed another agreement to obey the rules.
The province contends that what followed was a series of infractions of the rules.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the government is looking for ways to boost vaccination rates over the next two weeks. (CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs says New Brunswick may follow Quebec's lead on asking for proof of COVID-19 vaccination at liquor and cannabis stores.
He says everything is on the table as the province considers new restrictions for people who choose not to get vaccinated against the virus.
"It did have an impact in Quebec, as we understand," he said. '
He was referring to a reported jump in the number of first-dose vaccine appointments booked since the Quebec requirement was announced last week.
Hospital system 'in crisis'
"We're looking at all these things that would make life more difficult for those that refuse to be part of the program and are able to do so," Higgs said Friday, just hours before the province entered a 16-day lockdown.
"Some are not, I get that, and they will obviously be exceptions. But for people that just choose not to and they're impacting the health of the general public, we must find a solution."
Higgs announced the move to Level 3 of the COVID-19 winter plan, effective at 11:59 p.m., during a briefing Thursday, citing a hospital system in "crisis."
A record-high 104 people are hospitalized with the virus, including nine in intensive care. Three of them are on ventilators.
A total of 386 health-care workers off isolating after testing positive, and COVID cases continue to surge.
We're going to do what is necessary to protect all of New Brunswickers and to compel people to get vaccinated.
- Blaine Higgs, premier
During the briefing, Higgs vowed to "get to the root of the problem" so the province doesn't have to go through 2022 constantly changing levels.
"I've been asked many times in media interviews this week about how far I'm prepared and willing to go with vaccine mandates," he said. And while I'm not going to elaborate without … a full discussion with health [officials] and cabinet, I will say we're going to do what is necessary to protect all of New Brunswickers and to compel people to get vaccinated.
"Life will become increasingly uncomfortable and more difficult for those who are able to be vaccinated but choose not to be."
Higgs said he has asked various departments for suggestions regarding where restrictions can be tightened for the unvaccinated.
"I think that, you know, everything has to be on the table, and I think the difference in nuance here is that this is a situation that's now impacting the masses in our province" and hospitals.
He noted of the nine people in intensive care, 78 per cent are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or it has been more than six months since their second dose.
"In other words, nine per cent of the population accounts for 70 per cent of the hospitalizations."
Since Dec. 1, 30 people have died of COVID, he said. Of those, 23, or, 77 per cent, have been unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or behind on their booster.
"So, you know, there lies the issue. So we can't ignore it."
Asked about Quebec's plan to impose a health tax on those who refuse to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks, Higgs seemed less keen.
"We have to look at that in the context of our public health system. And where does that stop?
"I believe, you know, you can say, 'This is different because it's impacting many.' But at the same token, you have to be careful."
Health tax would be complicated
He questioned, for example, if someone who doesn't take care of their health as well as others, or isn't as healthy, would also warrant an additional fee.
"Where does that all go? So it's not [as] simple as a health tax might seem," he said.
"But I think other areas of inconvenience would be in relation to events of all kinds that require mass gatherings.
"We cannot continue to revolve around an unvaccinated population that is having such a significant impact on 90 per cent of the people in this province."
The lockdown will remain in effect until Jan. 30 at 11:59 p.m.
@DominicCardy yes we are in this together. Nice speech. Gov seems to be compassionate to people who can’t be with families. What about the businesses and their employees affected? Not one mention of $$ lost that I heard. Anyone at gonna care about us/them?
Tighter restrictions force some N.B. restaurants to lay off staff
Shutdown of indoor dining means restaurants are reducing staff to stay afloat
CBC News ·
Mike Babineau, co-owner of four restaurants in Fredericton, says he's having to lay off 100 people as the province goes into Level 3 of its winter plan. (Jon Collicott/CBC)
For many restaurants in the province, lockdown means layoffs.
Mike Babineau owns several restaurants in Fredericton, including the Happy Baker, Cora's Breakfast and Lunch and the Diplomat. He said he's laying off 100 employees as New Brunswick's lockdown rules came into effect today, mandating all restaurants move to takeout only.
"It's a very sombre day … to come to the realization … you've got to sit down with 100 employees, and you've got to sit down with … some of these immigrants that have come to Canada expecting to work," he told Information Morning Fredericton Friday.
"Now I've got to send them home or for who knows how long."
Shawna Foster, the co-owner of MoCo in downtown Fredericton, said she's in the same boat. She said she will keep her permanent staff, but cut their hours in order to pay the bills.
"It's just, it's awful," she told Information Morning Fredericton. "We knew it was coming. It's just hard when it's staring at you in the face."
New Brunswick moved to Level 3 of the COVID-19 winter plan, the most restrictive level, for 16 days. The move came at midnight Friday.
The province is struggling to cope with a strained hospital system. More than 100 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19 and more are expected.
Shawna Foster says she tried to keep most staff on despite a decline in business through the holidays, but she will have have to lay off staff now. (Stephanie Sirois/CBC)
Babineau and Foster said they knew restrictions were coming because they could see a similar pattern in Quebec and Ontario. They also have been struggling with reduced businesses since Omicron came to the fore in November.
"We kept all our employees working through Christmas, even though the business levels weren't there, and tried to do our best to keep them working, " Babineau said.
Premier Blaine Higgs said he's confident 16 days will be enough to get the case numbers and hospitalizations under control, but the restaurant owners are not as confident.
Babineau said he's planning for the lockdown to continue for at least six weeks.
"We're not going to reopen and the clouds are going to part and we're going to have sunny days right away," he said. "We're still going to be in the 50 per cent occupancy [range] and we're still going to have these restrictions on us.… We're in for a really long haul here."
10:50Restaurants at Level 3
Many local restaurant workers are facing layoffs today, as their employers get set to close their dining rooms. Level 3 restrictions mean it's take-out only. We check in with two Fredericton restaurant owners, Shawna Foster and Mike Babineau. 10:50
In an interview with Information Morning Fredericton Friday, Higgs said the 16 days are a "bridge" while health-care workers are isolating because of uncontrollable spread.
Babineau said this is a "drop in the bucket" considering the losses in the last two years and especially over the last holiday season.
"It's definitely welcomed, but we've been losing money for the last several months," he said. "That'll help basically cut our losses from December, but that really doesn't do anything for … the upcoming closure."
Higgs said "no one has a windfall" through this program.
"The idea was trying to mitigate some of the concerns that business owners have and give them … very quick money to help them bridge a gap," he said.
He said the province is looking at the taxes and fees businesses have to pay to see if there's any reduction possible.
Community support continues
Babineau and Foster said their restaurants are still depending on, and benefiting from, community support for their businesses.
Foster said people have already been calling her, saying they will order takeout and support her restaurant.
"I think we just put our heads down and we get the work done and we roll with the punches the best we can," Foster said.
Proof-of-vaccination is required to enter establishments such as restaurants, gyms, and movie theatres in New Brunswick. (Jon Collicott/CBC)
From lockdowns to capacity limits to social distancing, the restaurant industry has spent the past 18 months clawing its way through COVID-19 restrictions.
Now, restaurant operators are adjusting to a new requirement: enforcing a proof-of-vaccination mandate.
Introduced in New Brunswick on Sept. 22 as cases surged to an all-time high, the proof-of-vaccination mandate is aimed at limiting spread among unvaccinated people and providing an incentive to get vaccinated.
But some New Brunswick restaurateurs say it's also limiting their ability to do business.
"We've been beat up since day one with the Covid restrictions," said Mike Babineau, co-owner of four restaurants in Fredericton, including Rustico and The Happy Baker.
Mike Babineau, co-owner of four restaurants in Fredericton, says he's seen business decline by 30 per cent since the implementation of the vaccine passport. (Jon Collicott/CBC)
He said business has dropped by 30 per cent at his establishments in comparison to other years around this time, and worries the industry can't handle any more losses.
"We had a pretty good summer," he said. "But, recently in the last month or so, it's really gone down with the Covid restrictions and the passports."
Nearly half of Canadian restaurants operating at a loss: survey
Across the country, restaurant operators are reporting similar crunches.
A survey conducted by Restaurants Canada this month found that 60 per cent of restaurant owners reported either slight or significant revenue loss due to vaccine mandates across the country.
Forty-six per cent said they were operating at a loss.
"The vaccine passport, while it's a great alternative to being closed and further restrictions, it really has created challenges for operators," said Luc Erjavec, vice-president of the Atlantic Canada division of Restaurants Canada.
Luc Erjavec, Restaurant Canada’s vice-president for the Atlantic region, says restaurants need financial support from governments to say afloat. (Luc Erjavec)
In addition to losing customers, Erjavec said restaurants are having to police government policy, leading to confusion about where the mandate is coming from.
"We'd like to have some really strong messaging that this is a government policy." he said.
CBC News reached out to the provincial government for clarity on the number of cases that were coming from restaurants prior to the mandate taking effect, but no numbers were provided.
Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane said the vaccine mandate would be in place for the "foreseeable future."
Proof-of-vaccination mandate not the only hurdle
The proof-of-vaccination mandate may be the latest challenge restaurant operators are facing, but it isn't the only one.
The hospitality industry in Canada and the U.S. has been suffering a labour shortage for months, with many workers choosing to pursue different jobs after losing their employment during shutdowns.
Babineau said restrictions are making it harder to offer employees stable work.
"I realize a lot of people are leaving the industry and I don't blame them now," he said.
Jennifer Somers, owner of Cheers Moncton, said the constant changes to operating rules have been a challenge.
Thanks to circuit-breaker restrictions, her restaurant saw more customers than usual over Thanksgiving weekend, but it has been a 'ghost town' at other times, she said.
"Every week, something changes and you're constantly adapting to the new rules," said Somers.
My personal opinion is that the spike in cases has stopped people more than 'I have to have my vaccine,' because most of the people I know have the vaccine.
- Chris Vair, owner of Big Tide Brewing
In Saint John, Big Tide Brewing owner Chris Vair said he's seen business decline as well.
But Vair thinks the rise in cases is more to blame than the vaccine mandate.
"My personal opinion is that the spike in cases has stopped people more than 'I have to have my vaccine,' because most of the people I know have the vaccine," Vair said.
Restaurants have faced a challenging 18 months as the pandemic keeps customers away from their establishments. (Jon Collicott/CBC)
Babineau thinks the rise in cases is keeping some customers away as well. Looking to the future, he said he's concerned about what will happen if a booster is deemed necessary, given how long it took to get people the first two doses.
"How long is it going to take to get the third vaccine out?" he said.
Late Tuesday, Public Health announced the first booster doses would begin on Oct. 25, for health-care workers and for residents of First Nations communities who had their second dose at least six months ago.
In the meantime, Luc Erjavec of Restaurants Canada said, restaurant owners need help.
Erjavec said his organization hopes to see governments provide financial support to the industry as operators bear the added costs of enforcing mandates and continue to grapple with business decline.
"We're nowhere close to recovering," said Erjavec. "We're still operating at a loss and we need some help to get back to the fourth-largest employer in New Brunswick."
Nojoud Al Mallees is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick based in Fredericton. She can be reached at nojoud.al.mallees@cbc.ca and can be found on Twitter @nojoudalmallees.
CFIB’s elected Board of Governors includes members with extensive business experience and expertise from every province, as well as our CEO, Dan Kelly, and our Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategic Officer, Laura Jones. The Board oversees the governance of CFIB.
Mike Babineau
Owner-operator of a Cora’s Breakfast & Lunch franchise as well as King West Brewing Company – RustiCo. Restaurant and Cannon’s Cross pub in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Member since 2013
Mike started his career in the restaurant industry in 1998, progressing from dishwasher to owner of three pubs and restaurants. After working as general manager of the restaurant Snooty Fox from 2007 to 2012, Mike bought a Cora’s Breakfast & Lunch franchise in Fredericton in 2012. His Cora’s has then achieved continuous revenue growth for 5 continuous years.
With the help of his business partner, Mike continued to grow his operations in 2017 by purchasing Cannon’s Cross, a British-styled pub. One year later, the two partners launched King West Brewing Company – RustiCo., a new concept restaurant that serves wood oven pizza and craft beers. As the Owner-operator, Mike manages his establishments with the strong belief that employees are a crucial part of the team and the business’ success.
Born and raised in Minto, New Brunswick, Mike studied in French and is bilingual. When he has spare time, Mike enjoys fixing and restoring old motorcycles with his brother.
Many businesses in Fredericton were closed after the province implemented its Emergency Measures Act. Now some business owners have received estimated power bills that are higher than expected. (Photo: Elizabeth Fraser/ CBC News)
Some New Brunswick business owners already facing a cash crunch because of COVID-19 have received an unwelcome shock from NB Power: electricity bills that don't take into account how little energy they've been consuming.
Several Fredericton restaurant owners were buzzing this week that their bills were based on an estimated level of power consumption that appeared to be based on a normal month of electricity use.
Given they were closed during most of the billing period because of the pandemic, that made no sense.
"I saw that it was pretty much the same amount as it was the month before, when we were in a colder season and in full operation," said Mike Babineau, the owner of three city restaurants.
"It was kind of surprising to see our power bill still at pretty well the same amount as it was the previous month, when we were closed the entire billing cycle."
Mike Babineau said he called NB Power after receiving higher than expected power bills for the three restaurants he owns that have been closed since mid-March. (Submitted)
Babineau said the bill for his Cora's franchise on Queen Street was only $100 less than his usual $2,000 monthly amount, while the bill for his Rustico restaurant on King Street was $2,200, down only slightly from the usual $2,500.
That was despite the lights being out and the kitchens closed for most of April, save for the last week when they began offering take-out during limited hours.
"It should have been dramatically less when we only have our walk-in freezers turned on. Everything else was powered down," he said.
Babineau said at least five other restaurant owners on a private Facebook group had similar complaints this week.
Added pressure
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO Krista Ross said businesses with the meters located inside should call NB Power to have the meter read so the bill can be adjusted. (CBC)
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO Krista Ross said many businesses have faced ongoing expenses during the lockdown without any revenue to allow them to break even, so absurdly high power bills just added to the pressure.
"Nobody wants to be spending money at this point that they don't need to, because there are lots of expenses businesses are incurring while they don't have any revenue," she said.
Ross said about 50 per cent of businesses have power meters inside their buildings that NB Power readers haven't been able to reach when the businesses are closed.
"I suppose it's one of those many things that we've encountered over these last eight weeks that have just been challenges that we didn't predict or were unforeseen."
But she said at least two of her members reported that after they complained to the utility, they were able escort meter readers into the building to take readings.
"They've encouraged businesses to call their toll-free number and perhaps let them in the building and do the readings, and then make arrangements for credits or refunds or what have you," she said.
Get meters read
NB Power spokesperson Marc Belliveau acknowledged the issue in an emailed statement.
"We have in fact had a few calls related to this issue and have been dealing with them on a case-by-case basis," he said.
While the utility has made "some estimates" during the pandemic, he said, "when we are able to access the meters, the customers balances will be adjusted according to actual use, the same way as someone who is on equalized billing would have adjustments made according to use."
Babineau said when he called NB Power, he was told his bill would be adjusted and any late fees would be waived. But he said that's no help to the restaurant owners who don't realize there's a problem with their bill and lack the cash to pay.
"It doesn't make any sense. With all the bills we have to pay, and rent, during this time, we're trying to save every dollar we can."
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.
Brunswick News to stop Monday editions of 3 daily newspapers
Company also plans to stop charging for two of its weekly papers
CBC News ·
Brunswick News will stop printing a Monday edition of its daily newspapers beginning Jan. 31. (Gabrielle Fahmy)
Brunswick News has decided to stop printing a Monday edition of its three English-language daily newspapers.
The rationale was explained in a memo obtained by CBC News sent to people who deliver the company's print editions of the Telegraph-Journal, the Fredericton Daily Gleaner and the Moncton Times & Transcript.
"This business decision is due to lower sales on this day of the week, which have made it more difficult to print and distribute the product," the memo says.
The memo states the move will save printing and distribution costs.
The memo also says there will still be a Monday "replica" edition of The Telegraph-Journal available online.
Jamie Irving of Brunswick News was asked for comment on the changes, but there was no response by publication time.
The end of Monday print editions is not unusual in the industry.
Tim Currie, the director of the school of journalism at the University of King's College, says the move is not really surprising given how local newspapers are starved for revenue. (University of King's College)
In the summer of 2017, the National Post announced it would no longer print a Monday paper.
Other newspapers have taken similar steps, including L'Acadie Nouvelle, the French-language New Brunswick daily that will stop printing on Mondays beginning this summer.
At the time of the announcement late last fall, publisher Francis Sonier said 50 per cent of the paper's readers only read the digital edition.
Tim Currie, the director of the school of journalism at University of King's College in Halifax, said the move by Brunswick News reflects an industry that is now serving mostly older readers.
"This move isn't surprising — and may be necessary, given the severe revenue pressures most local papers are under," Currie wrote in an email to CBC News.
"Still — it's unfortunate. Reading a daily newspaper is a habit for most people. When you weaken that habit, you weaken the audience ties. It can become a snowball."
The change with the dailies is not the only one coming from BNI at the end of the month.
Other changes
The same memo also said the Bugle-Observer, based in Woodstock, and the Miramichi Leader would no longer be offered as paid newspapers.
Instead, the memo said, "we will deliver them once per week, by Thursday, to all households in their coverage areas as a flyer package."
For Currie, this change is a bigger concern.
"I'm more worried about this," he said.
"Something you pay for has value. It's about perception."
Currie said in the early 2000s, newspapers made the mistake of giving away too much of their content for free and paid a big price for it.
"It helped support a notion that news wasn't worth paying for," he said. "And that's still a major challenge today.
"When editorial content appears alongside daily deals for the grocery store — that's not a good thing. And wouldn't bode well for the future of those papers."
"Now it ain't so neat to admit defeat They can see no reasons 'Cause there are no reasons What reasons do you need, oh oh oh oh? I don't like Mondays (Tell me why) I don't like Mondays (Tell me why) I don't like Mondays" ------Sir Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, KBE
I always found it peculiar that Boomtown Rats Bob Geldof stared as "Pink" in Pink Floyd's "The Wall." He was great in the part and I can't image anyone else standing there with shaved off eyebrows and screaming like he did. What I found out recently, Geldof hated Pink Floyd's music and the band hated him. There was a real war going back and forth between the band and Geldof during the movie recording. In fact, they decided to let Geldof improvise in most scenes and had given him no script. Roger Waters has talked several times about Geldof not grasping the concept of The Wall. When Geldolf, who did not sing on the album, was needed to sing 6 lines... he used his most "aggressive" Irish accent. Gilmour is heard on the studio tapes calling Geldof a "bastard" at the end of the recording session.
A Canadian study is being updated after it vastly underestimated the protection COVID-19 vaccines offer against Omicron. (Markus Schreiber/The Associated Press)
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A Canadian study that vastly underestimated the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide against the Omicron variant is being revised — but not before it spread widely on social media by anti-vaxxers, academics and even the creators of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
The Ontario preprint study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, suggested that any three doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were just 37 per cent effective against Omicron infection, while two doses actually showed negative protection.
The preprint has been shared on Twitter more than 15,000 times in the two weeks since it's been published, according to Altmetric, a company that tracks where published research is posted online. That's in the top five per cent of all research it's ever tracked.
The group behind Sputnik V shared the results to its one million Twitter followers earlier this month, saying the study showed "negative efficacy" of two mRNA vaccine doses and "quickly waning efficiency" of a booster. The group did not respond to questions from CBC News.
Dr. Vinay Prasad, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of California-San Francisco, also shared it on Twitter, asking why the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) would advise a booster for Omicron at all.
A health-care worker administers a COVID-19 vaccine at a mass vaccination clinic at the Toronto Zoo on Wednesday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Study updating findings with totally different results
But the paradoxical findings were later found to have been influenced by behavioural and methodological issues, such as the timing of the observational study, the way in which vaccine passports altered individual risk and changes in access to COVID-19 testing.
The results are currently being updated with additional data that showed completely different results, said Dr. Jeff Kwong, the study's lead author and an epidemiologist and senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) in Toronto.
"We're in the process of adding two more weeks of data and it looks like there's no more negative VE (vaccine effectiveness). Our results are now more in line with the data from the U.K. where it's lower, for sure, compared to Delta, but never getting to negative," he told CBC News.
"And then higher VE with the boost. So I think that's good news and we're just in the process of running those analyses and we hope to have an updated version, a version two, by sometime next week."
A recent report from the Imperial College London COVID-19 response team found that while Omicron largely evades immunity from prior infection and two doses provided just zero to 20 per cent protection, three doses increased that to between 55 and 80 per cent.
That means the updated preprint could end up showing that protection against Omicron infection is more than twice as high as initially reported. As of Friday, the preprint study remained unchanged on the medRxiv website where it was posted.
The study was also highlighted by the federal government's COVID-19 Immunity Task Force earlier this week, before the discrepancies in the data were discovered.
"We've touched base with Dr. Kwong and indeed he informed us of new data as of Monday night," a spokesperson said in response to CBC News raising concerns about the study's accuracy.
"As the data from this week does change things, we've pulled the preprint from our magazine that's being sent out today."
Dr. Danuta Skowronski, with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, says the rapid sharing of COVID-19 vaccine studies on social media has completely changed the research landscape, adding more pressure to get early results right. (CBC)
Dr. Danuta Skowronski, a vaccine effectiveness expert and epidemiology lead at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, who developed the vaccine study design used in the preprint, posted a commentary urging "extreme caution" with the results last week.
"If you have a negative estimate, you want to start looking at, OK, well, which subgroup is driving that and why?'" she told CBC News.
"Is it the asymptomatic? Is it the symptomatic? Is it people who were screened for work? Is it people who had a rapid antigen test? Which group is it that's driving that paradoxical finding?"
Skowronski said until those questions have been resolved, "all bets are off" on the interpretation of the results and "the validity of the study has to be questioned."
"In the real world, we cannot control the behaviour of people, and so these studies are susceptible to lack of comparability between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated," she said, adding that vaccine passports dramatically changed the risk of exposure in Ontario.
"There are good reasons to believe that the very slim fraction of people who remain unvaccinated — that group are quite different now from vaccinated individuals."
Study spread like wildfire with anti-vaxxers online
The study highlights the speed in which early study results that have not undergone peer review can spread online in the pandemic and the way in which inaccurate findings can be weaponized to fit an agenda before they can be corrected.
Many who shared the study on Twitter used anti-vaccination rhetoric to allege boosters didn't work against COVID-19, while others posited the vaccines should not have been approved for emergency use by the FDA in the first place because they did not meet its initial 50 per cent efficacy threshold.
"This will definitely be used by bad actors to consolidate support for their views about the lack of COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness," said Ahmed Al-Rawi, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University's School of Communication who specializes in disinformation.
"I would immediately take it down and make some public statements about the inaccurate findings of the study, because this has been shared widely on social media and it will only confuse people more."
WATCH | Ontario ICU overwhelmed by mostly unvaccinated patients:
The mostly unvaccinated patients overwhelming an Ontario ICU
3 days ago
Duration 3:39
Mostly unvaccinated patients are overwhelming the ICU at a Sarnia, Ont., hospital and some will head home with a new perspective on COVID-19, the vaccine and life. 3:39
The study also notably did not look at the protection vaccines offered from severe COVID-19, which has been shown to be much higher than against Omicron infection alone — something Kwong says he and his colleagues will be adding in a future version.
While COVID-19 vaccines don't provide total protection from infection, they do work well at preventing serious disease. New data from the Public Health Agency of Canada found Canadians with two doses were 19 times less likely to be hospitalized than those unvaccinated.
"Several studies have shown modest protection from two doses against Omicron infection, but better protection against severe outcomes such as hospitalization," said Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
"This benefit is over and above any possible benefit of preventing infection or transmission."
Lipsitch said Skowronski's criticisms of the study are valid. He has cautioned against comparing positive cases among those with symptoms with those not tested for different reasons, adding he very much agrees this approach can be a source of "substantial bias."
"When investigators try to share early results in the interests of public health, as these folks did, there's often a lot of uncertainty in those estimates," said Dr. David Fisman, an epidemiologist at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
"But it's very hard to reel in once people start using early versions of your work in support of misinformation."
Skowronski said the rapid sharing of COVID-19 vaccine studies on social media has completely changed the research landscape, adding more pressure to get early results right.
"You need to ask yourself, why do we need to post it now? Why can it not wait the one or two weeks? How will this impact public and policy decision-making?" Skowronski said.
"And if you can't answer that, then we really should be asking ourselves: Why are we rushing to preprint?"
WATCH | Canadians urged by health experts to take first available vaccine:
Health experts urge Canadians to take whichever vaccine is available
9 days ago
Duration 2:13
Health experts across the country are urging Canadians to stop shopping around for their preferred brand and take whichever COVID-19 vaccine is available. 2:13
Skowronski released a study in 2010 showing paradoxical negative vaccine effectiveness during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic that found those who had a flu shot were more likely to get infected with the influenza strain than people who hadn't, which was later proven right.
But she first assumed the findings were methodologically inaccurate, reached out to outside experts around the world, conducted multiple different studies and worked with an international panel of experts.
"I learned the lesson the hard way back in 2009 in dealing with paradoxical findings and the level of rigour required," she said. "You don't approach this in a casual way — it does require lots of thinking, lots of worry — before you can arrive at this."
Dr. Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a website that tracks errors in science journals, said because the study turned out to be "flawed," the researchers should move fast to update their findings.
"They're doing the right thing. The question is how quickly will they do it?" he said. "I mean, they're talking about next week … but that is a bit of an eternity in this day and age."
Adam Miller is a senior health writer with CBC News. He's covered health, politics and breaking news extensively in Canada for over a decade, in addition to several years reporting on news and current affairs throughout Asia.
Methinks its wise to not believe anything until its officially denied N'esy Pas?
Michael -Smith
Persuasion,bribery, exclusion have been exhausted. What kind of punishment will they now bring for refusing medical advice
Mike Stephenson
Reply to @Michael -Smith: What did you have in mind?
David Amos
Reply to @Michael -Smith: The Gulag Perhaps
Michael -Smith
Reply to @David Amos: after denying them food based on safety, this seems likely at some point
David Amos
Methinks its wise to nor believe anything until its officially denied N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: not
Steven Mac
Can someone explain this title to me? The Pf CEO said they will work on an omicron version, but it will take 4 more month.. so what is this booster doing? I'm so confused about this vaccine... I mean.. If i had 3 smallpox shots in 10 months and then I still got smallpox.. or needed another shot (4 in a year).. i'd have some questions... Anyone else?
Reply to @Steven Mac: Ask Trudeau the Younger He works hard for us and knows everything
Emilio D'Angelo
Reply to @markus Canter: You mean trilliionaires....
Henry Oliver
Reply to @Steven Mac: agreed. I don't know anyone who was vaccinated for the measles or Polio and then came down with a mild case of either. Vaccines induce immunity to prevent transmission and disease - this "vaccine" does neither.
David Amos
Reply to @Henry Oliver: I agree
Jeffrey Lebowski
Reply to @Henry Oliver: Well if you want to quibble with the name so be it. So what do you call a drug that significantly reduces deaths, hospitalizations, and transmissions?
David Amos
Reply to @Jeffrey Lebowski: Does it???
Jeffrey Lebowski
Reply to @David Amos: Yes. If you accept what the experts and data say. If not, then you have much to prove.
David Vane
Reply to @Bob Rialy: It's really kind of strange isn't it ? So many out there that seem to want to keep this going , a strange phenomenon for sure.
Robert Jones
Reply to @Victoria Thomas: "the booster should only be given to immune-compromised and older people in hospitals with other health conditions, and those who feel they might benefit from the 3 month, 30% extra protection. Should not be forced on everyone including healthy young people "
My thoughts as well.
Robert Jones
Reply to @Craig McMaster: "Smallpox is a very different virus than Covid-19. "
That much is true, yes.
"Saying they're the same is like telling me that a whale and a mosquito are the exact same species... "
Exactly what we have been saying all along: smallpox can be a deadly disease even to the healthy, while COVID is more of a nuisance. Glad you are finally coming around and seeing the reality of the situation.
Robert Jones
Reply to @Bart B. Van Bockstaele: "We are not there yet. Hospitals are being overwhelmed."
Not by COVID-19, and not by the unvaccinated, either.
David Amos
Reply to @Jeffrey Lebowski: Nope The onus is upon you to show the Data ad prove it However it seems that you only throw a gutter balls tonight
Janice Hutton
What happened to the good old days where the news was reported without the opinion of the reporter having to be injected into the article?
Reply to @Janice Hutton: it's propaganda, political science, science fiction, and money now... Not science and facts.... The sad part is science and facts are treated like conspiracy theories now
David Amos
Reply to @Janice Hutton: When were those good old days???
Jeffrey Lebowski
Reply to @Guy Stone: says the guy who never accepts scientific consensus. Do you accept anthropogenic global warming? Do you accept vaccines have prevented many deaths and reduced hospitalizations while having very few averse reactions? If not, you don't believe in science and facts.
David Amos
Reply to @Jeffrey Lebowski: I doubt that the real Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski,would either
Craig McMaster
Reply to @Janice Hutton: This article is clearly marked as an OPINION piece...
Guy Stone
Reply to @Jeffrey Lebowski: yes, I believe in both... But if you think it's yes or no... Then you don't believe in science.
David Amos
Reply to @Craig McMaster: and so are the comments
David Amos
Reply to @Guy Stone: Amen
Rob Johnston
At the end of this, who will write the history of this 'pandemic'? If it's the CBC, we will know that truth was lost.
Reply to @Bobby Stevens: "Not sure how old you are Vid, but the I remember when the CBC used to reputable. Back in the 70's and 80's, even the 90's, they were mostly non-partisan and objective. "
Same here.
I MISS THOSE DAYS.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Johnston: True but the history of this 'pandemic' is being written constantly by legions worldwide In fact you just made some byway of CBC
Jeffrey Lebowski
Reply to @Rob Johnston: so please tell me what credible news source do you draw upon? I know it is not your own personal investigative reporting. You speak as if you have a higher knowledge, but I suspect you don't.
David Amos
Content deactivated
Reply to @Jeffrey Lebowski: Have you ever seen CBC or any other "credible news source" report about my doings???
Craig McMaster
Reply to @Bobby Stevens: Lloyd Robertson was on CTV with Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin...
BTW - how did the CBC become more Liberal after the Harper Conservatives spent millions making it more conservative?
Robert Jones
Reply to @Vid Ingelevics: "The funniest contradiction is that guys like Rob spend hours of time here posting - more than 4000 now - and then complain about the CBC as they add to its content. "
We complain about it because our tax dollars are being used to push Liberal narratives here whether we like it or not (and we don't). There is nothing funny about it, sorry.
Marcus Veritas
What do vaxxers and anti-vaxxers have in common? Neither will ever be fully vaccinated.
Michael Murphy
Reply to @Marcus Veritas: well we both don't go posting Facebook memes on CBC, so that separates us
Peejay Gazebo
Reply to @Marcus Veritas: what separates them ? The vaxxers won't end up often as dead or in hospital and aren' spending all their free time obsessed about vaccines, they have spent an hour here and there getting a few shots and most haven't give it a second though other than having to suffer debates with their anti vaccine friends, and missing out on threatens and stuff. It really was't a bit deal for most of us to go get a shot. I spend less time on it than what socks to buy this month. I'm not worried about the health effects either. I use to go raves and swim in sewage.
David Amos
Reply to @Marcus Veritas: LMAO
Bill Bauer
Questioning the real efficacy of these vaccines does not make one an “anti-vaxxer” as the divisive headlines always suggest. Perhaps it is about the billions of dollars at stake and an attempt at damage control.
Reply to @Bill Bauer: I have never heard of anyone getting grief for questioning vaccines, only for spreading misinformation and taking about Bill Gates, Q and stuff like that.
David Amos
Reply to @Bill Bauer: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
John Geezy
You are being conditioned to view your freedom as selfish.
Reply to @Michael Murphy: " I meant you don't actually get personal freedom in the USA "
Compared to Canada? Don't make me laugh...
David Amos
Reply to @John Geezy: Bingo
Nicky Barnes
Here's the thing. Everyone in my circle has been fully vaxxed. And many of them and their families fell ill with covid symptoms the past few weeks. And they're better now. Life goes on. Don't need a study to observe what's going on.
james Nasium
Reply to @Nicky Barnes: If they hadn't been vaccinated, they might not be better now. It appears the Vaccine(s) did what they were supposed to do
Edward Kelly
Reply to @james Nasium: Ah, the Boilerplate answer.
David Smith
Reply to @james Nasium: Not true South African study released concluded omicron was also mild for the unvaxxed. Look it up
james Nasium
Reply to @David Smith: The OP didn't say what variant his circle had, and there have been severe and fatal outcomes from Omicron
David Amos
Reply to @Edward Kelly: Methinks its wise to not believe anything until its officially denied N'esy Pas?
Ivan Newton
I’m betting there’s back room pressure to change the way results are viewed
David Amos
Reply to @Ivan Newton: Me too
David Fletcher
This is the issue with people quoting single studies that have not gone through peer review. Media is culpable as well as they frequently do the same thing. The media will have to become more responsible in how they deal with issues of science
RichardA Sharp
Reply to @David Fletcher: Fat chance of that. If it bleeds it leads, before, now and forever. Freedom of the press is a disgraced value of ours.
DD Thomas
Reply to @David Fletcher: I'm almost at the point where I believe the media should not report any single study that hasn't been replicated. Or at the very least they need much more prominent disclaimers than what I've seen so far.
---------- Original message ---------- From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)"<Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca> Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:12:35 +0000 Subject: RE: Methinks Dougy Ford or Trudeau The Younger or the Canadian Anti-Hate Network should not deny that Caryma Sa'd and April LaJune wish to be famous N'esy Pas Higgy? To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
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There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a response may take several business days.
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Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Original message ---------- From: "O'Toole, Erin - M.P."<Erin.OToole@parl.gc.ca> Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:11:15 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Dougy Ford or Trudeau The Younger or the Canadian Anti-Hate Network should not deny that Caryma Sa'd and April LaJune wish to be famous N'esy Pas Higgy? To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
On behalf of the Hon. Erin O’Toole, thank you for contacting the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Mr. O’Toole greatly values feedback and input from Canadians. We read and review every incoming e-mail. Please note that this account receives a high volume of e-mails. We reply to e-mails as quickly as possible.
If you are a constituent of Mr. O’Toole’s in Durham with an urgent matter please contact his constituency office at:
Office of Erin O’Toole, M.P. 54 King Street East, Suite 103 Bowmanville, ON L1C 1N3 Tel: (905) 697-1699 or Toll-Free (866) 436-1141
Au nom de l’hon. Erin O’Toole, merci de communiquer avec le Bureau du chef de l’Opposition officielle.
M. O’Toole apprécie beaucoup le point de vue et les commentaires des Canadiens et des Canadiennes. Nous lisons tous les courriels que nous recevons. Veuillez noter que ce compte reçoit beaucoup de courriels. Nous y répondons le plus rapidement possible.
Si vous êtes un électeur ou une électrice de M. O’Toole dans la circonscription de Durham et que vous avez une question urgente, veuillez communiquer avec son bureau de circonscription, au :
Bureau d’Erin O’Toole, député 54, rue King Est, bureau 103 Bowmanville (Ontario) L1C 1N3 Tél. : (905) 697-1699 ou sans frais : (866) 436-1141
Encore une fois merci d’avoir pris le temps d’écrire.
Veuillez agréer nos salutations distinguées,
Bureau du chef de l’Opposition officielle
---------- Original message ---------- From: "Fraser, Sean - M.P."<Sean.Fraser@parl.gc.ca> Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:11:16 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Dougy Ford or Trudeau The Younger or the Canadian Anti-Hate Network should not deny that Caryma Sa'd and April LaJune wish to be famous N'esy Pas Higgy? To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your message. This is an automated reply. Facebook: facebook.com/SeanFraserMP<https://www.facebook.com/SeanFraserMP/photos/a.1628138987467042.1073741829.1627521694195438/2066666113614325/?type=3&theater> Twitter: @SeanFraserMP<https://twitter.com/SeanFraserMP> Instagram: SeanFraserMP<https://www.instagram.com/seanfrasermp/?hl=en> www.seanfrasermp.ca<file:///C:/Users/Savannah%20DeWolfe/Downloads/www.seanfrasermp.ca> Toll free: 1-844-641-5886 Please be advised that this account is for matters related to Central Nova. If you live outside of Central Nova and your issue pertains to immigration, please contact Minister@cic.gc.ca I am currently receiving an extremely high number of emails. If you are inquiring about Canada’s commitment to welcome vulnerable Afghan refugees, you can find more information on Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan here<https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan.html>. The Government of Canada remains firm in its commitment to welcome Afghan refugees to Canada, and will be working to increase the number of eligible refugees to 40,000. This will be done through 2 programs: 1. A special immigration program for Afghan nationals, and their families, who assisted the Government of Canada. You don’t need to currently be in Afghanistan or return to Afghanistan to be eligible or to have your application processed once you’re able to apply. Find out more about this special immigration program<https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/special-measures/immigration-program.html> 2. A special humanitarian program focused on resettling Afghan nationals who · are outside of Afghanistan · don’t have a durable solution in a third country · are part of one of the following groups: · women leaders · human rights advocates<https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/special-measures.html#human-rights> · persecuted religious or ethnic minorities · LGBTI individuals · journalists and people who helped Canadian journalists How to reach us Contact us using our web form<https://specialmeasures-mesuresspeciales.apps.cic.gc.ca/en/>.Please don’t send photos or other attachments until we ask you to. By phone at +1-613-321-4243 · Available both inside Canada and abroad · Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET) · Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (ET) · We’ll accept charges for collect calls or calls with reverse charges If you or a loved one are a Canadian citizen or PR currently in Afghanistan, contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre ASAP by phone (+1-613-996-8885), email (sos@international.gc.ca<mailto:sos@international.gc.ca>) or text (+1-613-686-3658). If you would like to immigrate to Canada, please click here<https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/come-canada-tool.html> to learn more. To inquire about the status of an immigration case,click here<https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html>. You can also contact your local Member of Parliament for further assistance. If you don’t know who your Member of Parliament is, you can find out here, https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en If you have been the victim of fraud or want to report fraudulent activity, please call the Canada Border Services Agency’s fraud hotline at 1-888-502-9060. For other general questions about Canadian immigration, click here<https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html>. Thank you. ///// Veuillez noter que je reçois actuellement un nombre extrêmement élevé de courriels. Si vous vous renseignez sur l'engagement du Canada à accueillir les réfugiés afghans vulnérables, vous pouvez trouver plus d'information sur la réponse du Canada à la situation en Afghanistan ici<https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/refugies/afghanistan.html>. Le gouvernement du Canada reste ferme dans son engagement à accueillir des réfugiés afghans au Canada, et s'efforcera d'augmenter le nombre de réfugiés admissibles à 40 000. Cela se fera par le biais de deux programmes : Un programme d'immigration spécial pour les ressortissants afghans, et leurs familles, qui ont aidé le gouvernement du Canada. Vous n'avez pas besoin d'être actuellement en Afghanistan ou d'y retourner pour être admissible ou pour que votre demande soit traitée, une fois que vous serez en mesure de présenter une demande. Pour en savoir plus sur ce programme d'immigration spécial<https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/refugies/afghanistan/mesures-speciales/programme-immigration.html> 2. Un programme humanitaire spécial axé sur la réinstallation des ressortissants afghans qui · se trouvent à l'extérieur de l'Afghanistan · n’ont pas de solution durable dans un pays tiers · font partie de l'un des groupes suivants : · femmes leaders, · défenseurs des droits de la personne<https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/refugies/afghanistan/mesures-speciales.html>, · minorités religieuses ou ethniques persécutées, · personnes LGBTI, · journalistes et personnes ayant aidé des journalistes canadiens. Comment nous joindre Veuillez communiquer avec nous en utilisant notre formulaire Web<https://specialmeasures-mesuresspeciales.apps.cic.gc.ca/fr/>. Veuillez ne pas envoyer de photos ou d'autres pièces jointes jusqu'à ce que nous vous le demandions. Par téléphone au +1-613-321-4243. · Disponible au Canada et à l’étranger. · Du lundi au vendredi, de 6 h 30 à 19 h (HE). · Samedi et dimanche, de 6 h 30 à 15 h 30 (HE). · Nous acceptons les frais pour les appels à frais virés ou les appels avec inversion des frais. Si vous ou un de vos proches êtes un citoyen canadien ou un RP actuellement en Afghanistan, communiquez dès que possible avec le Centre de veille et d'intervention d'urgence 24/7 d'Affaires mondiales Canada par téléphone (+1-613-996-8885), par courriel (sos@international.gc.ca) ou par texto (+1-613-686-3658). Si vous souhaitez immigrer au Canada, veuillez cliquer ici<https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/immigrer-canada.html> pour en savoir plus. Pour vous renseigner sur l'état d'un dossier d'immigration, cliquez ici<https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/demande/verifier-etat.html>. Vous pouvez également contacter votre député local pour obtenir une assistance supplémentaire. Si vous ne savez pas qui est votre député, vous pouvez le découvrir ici, https://www.noscommunes.ca/members/fr. Si vous avez été victime d'une fraude ou si vous voulez signaler une activité frauduleuse, veuillez appeler la ligne d'assistance téléphonique de l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada au 1-888-502-9060. Pour d'autres questions générales sur l'immigration canadienne, cliquez ici<canada.ca/immigration>. Merci.
Plan to “Interview” Racist Anti-Lockdown Influencer Ends in Violence
Outspoken Toronto lawyer Caryma Sa’d invited nemesis Chris “Sky” Saccoccia, a racist, holocaust denier, and influential figure in Canada’s anti-lockdown movement, to headline an event outside her storefront in Chinatown. Anti-racists and anti-fascists asked Sa’d to reconsider. When she didn’t, they organized a silent blockade. Saccoccia’s fans attacked them.
Anti-Immigrant Canadian Live Streamer Gets Lost In The Woods Trying To Sneak Across US Border
When Islamophobic streamer Kevin Johnston failed to show up for the last leg of his Alberta prison sentence a warrant went out for his arrest. Less than a day later, Johnston would be in custody for allegedly walking across the border – but not before getting lost in below-freezing temperatures, forcing his would-be accomplice to call authorities for help.
Methinks Dougy Ford or Trudeau The Younger should not deny that Caryma Sa'd and April LaJune wish to be famous N'esy Pas Higgy?
---------- Original message ---------- From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca> Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2022 01:31:27 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: I just called the lawyer Caryma Sa'd again ad remided her of this email N'esy Pas? To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read, reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email. ______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Leave it to liberals and terrorist sympathizers to try and infiltrate themselves into a situation. This Toronto Attorney has deep ties to Mohamad Fakih who is targeting Kevin J Johnston for speaking out against him and his company Paramount Fine Foods.
I'm wondering why anyone would be against a whistleblower tellingeveryone about a corrupt Workmen's Comp fund every Canadian pays intoand gets ripped off from which funds corruption and anotherwhistleblower who is exposing corrupt politicians and judgedtorturing, raping and murdering children?Me thinks David is a supporter of corruption and pedophiles. Usuallyif a person supports it - they are IT.Hey David, you and your buddies can come on my show and we'll talkabout your support of thugs like the RCMP who beats people, harassesthem, disregards the law and your support of pedophiles.My show is 2pm CST, we will schedule you on the same day as yourMuslim Brotherhood supporters who financed the murder if Buddhists inMyanmar.FYI it's n'est pas. Learn to spell if you want to taunt.Your low IQ is showing.
Wrote you a whole paragraph of information from Canada and what it is like with them and it was immediately deleted and stroked out. See what we mean. Kevin is great by the way.
7
---------- Original message ---------- From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)"<Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2022 13:39:09 +0000 Subject: RE: Hey Norman Traversy Methinks the RCMP and the FBI should tune in and listen to you, your pal Mr Nobodyand the wannabe lawyer Stephy Baby bullshitting April Lajune N'esy Pas??? To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Due to the volume of incoming messages, this is an automated response to let you know that your email has been received and will be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.
If your inquiry more appropriately falls within the mandate of a Ministry or other area of government, staff will refer your email for review and consideration.
Merci d'avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
En raison du volume des messages reçus, cette réponse automatique vous informe que votre courriel a été reçu et sera examiné dans les meilleurs délais.
Si votre demande relève plutôt du mandat d'un ministère ou d'un autre secteur du gouvernement, le personnel vous renverra votre courriel pour examen et considération.
I'm wondering why anyone would be against a whistleblower telling everyone about a corrupt Workmen's Comp fund every Canadian pays into and gets ripped off from which funds corruption and another whistleblower who is exposing corrupt politicians and judged torturing, raping and murdering children?
Me thinks David is a supporter of corruption and pedophiles. Usually if a person supports it - they are IT.
Hey David, you and your buddies can come on my show and we'll talk about your support of thugs like the RCMP who beats people, harasses them, disregards the law and your support of pedophiles.
My show is 2pm CST, we will schedule you on the same day as your Muslim Brotherhood supporters who financed the murder if Buddhists in Myanmar.
FYI it's n'est pas. Learn to spell if you want to taunt.
IT'S WORSE THAN YOU THOUGHT! CANADA ARRESTS MR. NOBODY FOR NOTHING! AprilLaJune Published October 29, 2021
Rumble — Today's guest is Mr. Nobody who Canadian officials decided to arrest for speaking his mind. Without any charges, thrown in prison and pushed to a mental facility. Canada is Communist!
TO DONATE TO THE SHOW: Cash App = $AprilLaJune Money Order/Check = PO Box 401, Independence, Missouri 64051
NOT TO BE TAKEN AS LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE!
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:09:57 -0400 Subject: Fwd: Methinks the Conservative leader should tune in to listen Stephy Baby bullshitting about his buddy Kevin J JohnSTON right now N'esy Pas??? To: april@aprillajune.com Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "O'Toole, Erin - M.P."<Erin.OToole@parl.gc.ca> Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2022 02:30:46 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: Obviously slanderous Stephy Baby's bullshitting buddy Kevin J JohnSTON got caught south of the Medicine Line To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
On behalf of the Hon. Erin O’Toole, thank you for contacting the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Mr. O’Toole greatly values feedback and input from Canadians. We read and review every incoming e-mail. Please note that this account receives a high volume of e-mails. We reply to e-mails as quickly as possible.
If you are a constituent of Mr. O’Toole’s in Durham with an urgent matter please contact his constituency office at:
Office of Erin O’Toole, M.P. 54 King Street East, Suite 103 Bowmanville, ON L1C 1N3 Tel: (905) 697-1699 or Toll-Free (866) 436-1141
Au nom de l’hon. Erin O’Toole, merci de communiquer avec le Bureau du chef de l’Opposition officielle.
M. O’Toole apprécie beaucoup le point de vue et les commentaires des Canadiens et des Canadiennes. Nous lisons tous les courriels que nous recevons. Veuillez noter que ce compte reçoit beaucoup de courriels. Nous y répondons le plus rapidement possible.
Si vous êtes un électeur ou une électrice de M. O’Toole dans la circonscription de Durham et que vous avez une question urgente, veuillez communiquer avec son bureau de circonscription, au :
Bureau d’Erin O’Toole, député 54, rue King Est, bureau 103 Bowmanville (Ontario) L1C 1N3 Tél. : (905) 697-1699 ou sans frais : (866) 436-1141
Encore une fois merci d’avoir pris le temps d’écrire.
> ---------- Original message ---------- > From: Newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.com> > Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2018 20:18:26 +0000 > Subject: Automatic reply: ATTN Leona Alleslev MP I just called and > Tweeted you as well correct? > To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> > > Thank you for contacting The Globe and Mail. > > If your matter pertains to newspaper delivery or you require technical > support, please contact our Customer Service department at > 1-800-387-5400 or send an email to customerservice@globeandmail.com > > If you are reporting a factual error please forward your email to > publiceditor@globeandmail.com<mailto:publiceditor@globeandmail.com> > > Letters to the Editor can be sent to letters@globeandmail.com > > This is the correct email address for requests for news coverage and > press releases. > > > > > ---------- Original message ---------- > From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> > Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:18:17 -0400 > Subject: ATTN Leona Alleslev MP I just called and Tweeted you as well > correct? > To: Leona.Alleslev@parl.gc.ca, "hon.ralph.goodale" > <hon.ralph.goodale@canada.ca>, "andrew.scheer" > <andrew.scheer@parl.gc.ca>, "Brenda.Lucki" > <Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "maxime.bernier" > <maxime.bernier@parl.gc.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "brian.gallant" > <brian.gallant@gnb.ca>, "Liliana.Longo" > <Liliana.Longo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "David.Akin" > <David.Akin@globalnews.ca>, "darrow.macintyre" > <darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca>, oldmaison <oldmaison@yahoo.com>, andre > <andre@jafaust.com>, jbosnitch <jbosnitch@gmail.com>, "steve.murphy" > <steve.murphy@ctv.ca> > Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>, > therien.mike@brunswicknews.com, huras.adam@brunswicknews.com, news > <news@kingscorecord.com>, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com> > >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: "Liliana (Legal Services) Longo"<Liliana.Longo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca> >> Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:28:36 -0400 >> Subject: Re: Attn Suzelle Bazinet.(613-995-5117) I just earlier >> Whereas I was not allowed to speak to you today its best that we >> confer in writng anyway (Away from the office/absente du bureau) >> To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> >> >> I will be away from the office June 26 to 28, 2017. In my absence, >> Barbara Massey will be acting and she can be reached at (613) 843-6394. >> >> Je serai absente du bureau du 26 au 28 juin 2017. En mon absence, >> Barbara Massey sera interimaire et peut être rejointe au (613) 843-6394. >> >> Thank you / Merci >> Liliana >> >> >> Liliana Longo, Q.C., c.r. >> Senior General Counsel / Avocate générale principale >> RCMP Legal Services / Services juridiques GRC >> 73 Leikin Drive / 73 Promenade Leikin >> M8, 2nd Floor / M8, 2ième étage >> Mailstop #69 / Arrêt Postal #69 >> Ottawa, Ontario >> K1A 0R2 >> Tel: (613) 843-4451 >> Fax: (613) 825-7489 >> liliana.longo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca >> >> Sandra Lofaro >> Executive Assistant / >> Adjointe exécutive >> (613)843-3540 >> sandra.lofaro@rcmp-grc.gc.ca >> >> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: Brian Gallant <briangallant10@gmail.com> >> Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 12:29:03 -0700 >> Subject: Merci / Thank you Re: So says the Mean Mindless New Neo Con >> Dominic Cardy so say you all? >> To: motomaniac333@gmail.com >> >> (Français à suivre) >> >> If your email is pertaining to the Government of New Brunswick, please >> email me at brian.gallant@gnb.ca >> >> If your matter is urgent, please email Greg Byrne at greg.byrne@gnb.ca >> >> Thank you. >> >> Si votre courriel s'addresse au Gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick, >> svp m'envoyez un courriel à brian.gallant@gnb.ca >> >> Pour les urgences, veuillez contacter Greg Byrne à greg.byrne@gnb.ca >> >> Merci. >> >> >> >> ---------- Original message ---------- >> From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> >> Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:28:58 -0400 >> Subject: So says the Mean Mindless New Neo Con Dominic Cardy so say you >> all? >> To: ATIP-AIPRP@clo-ocol.gc.ca, Ghislaine.Saikaley@clo-ocol.gc.ca, >> mylene.theriault@ocol-clo.gc.ca, nelson.kalil@clo-ocol.gc.ca, >> "hon.melanie.joly"<hon.melanie.joly@canada.ca>, "Hon.Dominic.LeBlanc" >> <Hon.Dominic.LeBlanc@canada.ca>, oldmaison@yahoo.com, >> "Katherine.dEntremont"<Katherine.dEntremont@gnb.ca>, >> andre@jafaust.com, justin.trudeau.a1@parl.gc.ca, briangallant10 >> <briangallant10@gmail.com>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>, pm@pm.gc.ca, >> "Jack.Keir"<Jack.Keir@gnb.ca>, "jody.carr"<jody.carr@gnb.ca>, >> "Dominic.Cardy"<Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, kelly <kelly@lamrockslaw.com>, >> "Gerald.Butts"<Gerald.Butts@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, >> anglophonerights@mail.com, info@thejohnrobson.com, ronbarr@rogers.com, >> kimlian@bellnet.ca, iloveblue.beth@gmail.com, "randy.mckeen" >> <randy.mckeen@gnb.ca>, BrianThomasMacdonald >> <BrianThomasMacdonald@gmail.com>, adam <adam@urquhartmacdonald.com>, >> "carl.urquhart"<carl.urquhart@gnb.ca>, "Davidc.Coon" >> <Davidc.Coon@gmail.com>, leader <leader@greenparty.ca>, MulcaT >> <MulcaT@parl.gc.ca>, "andrew.scheer"<andrew.scheer@parl.gc.ca>, >> "heather.bradley"<heather.bradley@parl.gc.ca>, Geoff Regan >> <geoff@geoffregan.ca> >> Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>, "kirk.macdonald" >> <kirk.macdonald@gnb.ca>, Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca, jbosnitch >> <jbosnitch@gmail.com>, "blaine.higgs"<blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, >> "Rachel.Blaney"<Rachel.Blaney@parl.gc.ca>, david <david@lutz.nb.ca>, >> "elizabeth.thompson"<elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca>, "David.Coon" >> <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, "dan. bussieres <dan.bussieres@gnb.ca>, >> Tim.RICHARDSON <Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca>, info ,"<info@gg.ca> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: "Cardy, Dominic (LEG)"<Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca> >> Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:02:30 +0000 >> Subject: RE: RE A legal state known as "functus" For the Public Record >> I talked to Mylene Theriault in Moncton again and she told me that >> same thing she did last year >> To: "Wright, Hamish (LEG)"<Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca> >> Cc: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> >> >> Hamish, >> >> Did you contact Mr. Amos about the elk? How many elk were there? Were >> the police involved and if so did they wear the antlers you bought >> them? >> >> DC >> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: Patrick Bouchard <patrick.bouchard@rcmp-grc.gc.ca> >> Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:44:18 -0400 >> Subject: Re: Fwd: RE A legal state known as "functus" Perhaps you, >> Governor General Johnston and Commissioner Paulson and many members of >> the RCMP should review pages 1 and 4 one document ASAP EH Minister >> Goodale? (AOL) >> To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> >> >> I will be AOL until July 6th 2017. >> >> I will not have access to Groupwise. >> >> I may be reached at my personal e-mail thebouchards15@gmail.com >> depending on data coverage. >> >> ********************************************************* >> >> Je vais être en vacances jusqu'au 6 Juillet 2017. >> >> Je n'aurais pas accès a mon GroupWise. >> >> Il est possible que je vérifies mon courriel personnel >> thebouchards15@gmail.com de temps à autre. >> >> >> >> Cpl.Patrick Bouchard >> RSC 5 RCMP-GRC >> Sunny-Corner Detachment >> English/Français >> Off: 506-836-6015 >> Cell : 506-424-0071 >> >>>>> David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> 06/22/17 16:43 >>> >> >> >>> http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/en/contact/index >>> >>> Atlantic Region >>> Commissioner’s Representative:Mylène Thériault >>> Heritage Court >>> 95 Foundry Street, Suite 410 >>> Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 5H7 >>> Telephone: 506-851-7047 >>> >>> BTW I called this dude too and left a voicemail telling him to dig >>> into his records and find what he should to give to his temporary boss >>> ASAP >>> >>> Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator >>> Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages >>> 30 Victoria Street, 6th Floor >>> Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0T8 >>> Telephone: 819-420-4718 >>> E-mail: ATIP-AIPRP@clo-ocol.gc.ca >>> >>> Clearly I have very good reasons to make these calls N'esy Pas Mr >>> Prime Minister Trudeau "The Younger and Mr Speaker Geof Regan??? >>> >>> >>> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>> From: David Amos motomaniac333@gmail.com >>> Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 09:32:09 -0400 >>> Subject: Attn Integrity Commissioner Alexandre Deschênes, Q.C., >>> To: coi@gnb.ca >>> Cc: david.raymond.amos@gmail.com >>> >>> Good Day Sir >>> >>> After I heard you speak on CBC I called your office again and managed >>> to speak to one of your staff for the first time >>> >>> Please find attached the documents I promised to send to the lady who >>> answered the phone this morning. Please notice that not after the Sgt >>> at Arms took the documents destined to your office his pal Tanker >>> Malley barred me in writing with an "English" only document. >>> >>> These are the hearings and the dockets in Federal Court that I >>> suggested that you study closely. >>> >>> This is the docket in Federal Court >>> >>> http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=T-1557-15&select_court=T >>> >>> These are digital recordings of the last three hearings >>> >>> Dec 14th https://archive.org/details/BahHumbug >>> >>> January 11th, 2016 https://archive.org/details/Jan11th2015 >>> >>> April 3rd, 2017 >>> >>> https://archive.org/details/April32017JusticeLeblancHearing >>> >>> >>> This is the docket in the Federal Court of Appeal >>> >>> http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=A-48-16&select_court=All >>> >>> >>> The only hearing thus far >>> >>> May 24th, 2017 >>> >>> https://archive.org/details/May24thHoedown >>> >>> >>> This Judge understnds the meaning of the word Integrity >>> >>> Date: 20151223 >>> >>> Docket: T-1557-15 >>> >>> Fredericton, New Brunswick, December 23, 2015 >>> >>> PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Bell >>> >>> BETWEEN: >>> >>> DAVID RAYMOND AMOS >>> >>> Plaintiff >>> >>> and >>> >>> HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN >>> >>> Defendant >>> >>> ORDER >>> >>> (Delivered orally from the Bench in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on >>> December 14, 2015) >>> >>> The Plaintiff seeks an appeal de novo, by way of motion pursuant to >>> the Federal Courts Rules (SOR/98-106), from an Order made on November >>> 12, 2015, in which Prothonotary Morneau struck the Statement of Claim >>> in its entirety. >>> >>> At the outset of the hearing, the Plaintiff brought to my attention a >>> letter dated September 10, 2004, which he sent to me, in my then >>> capacity as Past President of the New Brunswick Branch of the Canadian >>> Bar Association, and the then President of the Branch, Kathleen Quigg, >>> (now a Justice of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal). In that letter >>> he stated: >>> >>> As for your past President, Mr. Bell, may I suggest that you check the >>> work of Frank McKenna before I sue your entire law firm including you. >>> You are your brother’s keeper. >>> >>> Frank McKenna is the former Premier of New Brunswick and a former >>> colleague of mine at the law firm of McInnes Cooper. In addition to >>> expressing an intention to sue me, the Plaintiff refers to a number of >>> people in his Motion Record who he appears to contend may be witnesses >>> or potential parties to be added. Those individuals who are known to >>> me personally, include, but are not limited to the former Prime >>> Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper; former >>> Attorney General of Canada and now a Justice of the Manitoba Court of >>> Queen’s Bench, Vic Toews; former member of Parliament Rob Moore; >>> former Director of Policing Services, the late Grant Garneau; former >>> Chief of the Fredericton Police Force, Barry McKnight; former Staff >>> Sergeant Danny Copp; my former colleagues on the New Brunswick Court >>> of Appeal, Justices Bradley V. Green and Kathleen Quigg, and, retired >>> Assistant Commissioner Wayne Lang of the Royal Canadian Mounted >>> Police. >>> >>> In the circumstances, given the threat in 2004 to sue me in my >>> personal capacity and my past and present relationship with many >>> potential witnesses and/or potential parties to the litigation, I am >>> of the view there would be a reasonable apprehension of bias should I >>> hear this motion. See Justice de Grandpré’s dissenting judgment in >>> Committee for Justice and Liberty et al v National Energy Board et al, >>> [1978] 1 SCR 369 at p 394 for the applicable test regarding >>> allegations of bias. In the circumstances, although neither party has >>> requested I recuse myself, I consider it appropriate that I do so. >>> >>> >>> AS A RESULT OF MY RECUSAL, THIS COURT ORDERS that the Administrator of >>> the Court schedule another date for the hearing of the motion. There >>> is no order as to costs. >>> >>> “B. Richard Bell” >>> Judge >>> >>> >>> Below after the CBC article about your concerns (I made one comment >>> already) you will find the text of just two of many emails I had sent >>> to your office over the years since I first visited it in 2006. >>> >>> I noticed that on July 30, 2009, he was appointed to the the Court >>> Martial Appeal Court of Canada Perhaps you should scroll to the >>> bottom of this email ASAP and read the entire Paragraph 83 of my >>> lawsuit now before the Federal Court of Canada? >>> >>> "FYI This is the text of the lawsuit that should interest Trudeau the >>> most >>> >>> http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2015/09/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html >>> >>> 83 The Plaintiff states that now that Canada is involved in more war >>> in Iraq again it did not serve Canadian interests and reputation to >>> allow Barry Winters to publish the following words three times over >>> five years after he began his bragging: >>> >>> January 13, 2015 >>> This Is Just AS Relevant Now As When I wrote It During The Debate >>> >>> December 8, 2014 >>> Why Canada Stood Tall! >>> >>> Friday, October 3, 2014 >>> Little David Amos’ “True History Of War” Canadian Airstrikes And >>> Stupid Justin Trudeau? >>> >>> >>> Vertias Vincit >>> David Raymond Amos >>> 902 800 0369 >>> >>> P.S. Whereas this CBC article is about your opinion of the actions of >>> the latest Minister Of Health trust that Mr Boudreau and the CBC have >>> had my files for many years and the last thing they are is ethical. >>> Ask his friends Mr Murphy and the RCMP if you don't believe me. >>> >>> Subject: >>> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:02:35 -0400 >>> From: "Murphy, Michael B. \(DH/MS\)"MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca >>> To: motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com >>> >>> January 30, 2007 >>> >>> WITHOUT PREJUDICE >>> >>> Mr. David Amos >>> >>> Dear Mr. Amos: >>> >>> This will acknowledge receipt of a copy of your e-mail of December 29, >>> 2006 to Corporal Warren McBeath of the RCMP. >>> >>> Because of the nature of the allegations made in your message, I have >>> taken the measure of forwarding a copy to Assistant Commissioner Steve >>> Graham of the RCMP “J” Division in Fredericton. >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> Honourable Michael B. Murphy >>> Minister of Health >>> >>> CM/cb >>> >>> >>> Warren McBeath warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca wrote: >>> >>> Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:34:53 -0500 >>> From: "Warren McBeath"warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca >>> To: kilgoursite@ca.inter.net, MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca, >>> nada.sarkis@gnb.ca, wally.stiles@gnb.ca, dwatch@web.net, >>> motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com >>> CC: ottawa@chuckstrahl.com, riding@chuckstrahl.com,John.Foran@gnb.ca, >>> Oda.B@parl.gc.ca,"Bev BUSSON"bev.busson@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, >>> "Paul Dube"PAUL.DUBE@rcmp-grc.gc.ca >>> Subject: Re: Remember me Kilgour? Landslide Annie McLellan has >>> forgotten me but the crooks within the RCMP have not >>> >>> Dear Mr. Amos, >>> >>> Thank you for your follow up e-mail to me today. I was on days off >>> over the holidays and returned to work this evening. Rest assured I >>> was not ignoring or procrastinating to respond to your concerns. >>> >>> As your attachment sent today refers from Premier Graham, our position >>> is clear on your dead calf issue: Our forensic labs do not process >>> testing on animals in cases such as yours, they are referred to the >>> Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown who can provide these >>> services. If you do not choose to utilize their expertise in this >>> instance, then that is your decision and nothing more can be done. >>> >>> As for your other concerns regarding the US Government, false >>> imprisonment and Federal Court Dates in the US, etc... it is clear >>> that Federal authorities are aware of your concerns both in Canada >>> the US. These issues do not fall into the purvue of Detachment >>> and policing in Petitcodiac, NB. >>> >>> It was indeed an interesting and informative conversation we had on >>> December 23rd, and I wish you well in all of your future endeavors. >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> Warren McBeath, Cpl. >>> GRC Caledonia RCMP >>> Traffic Services NCO >>> Ph: (506) 387-2222 >>> Fax: (506) 387-4622 >>> E-mail warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca >>> >>> >>> >>> Alexandre Deschênes, Q.C., >>> Office of the Integrity Commissioner >>> Edgecombe House, 736 King Street >>> Fredericton, N.B. CANADA E3B 5H1 >>> tel.: 506-457-7890 >>> fax: 506-444-5224 >>> e-mail:coi@gnb.ca >>> >>> >>> >
I just called the lawyer Caryma Sa'd again ad remided her of this email N'esy Pas?
To: help@sadvocacy.com, April LaJune <april@aprillajune.com>, "freedomreport.ca"<freedomreport.ca@gmail.com>, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, "warren.mcbeath"<warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, washington field <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, kingpatrick278 <kingpatrick278@gmail.com>, info@realchrissky.com, Office of the Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, stefanos.karatopis@gmail.com, onestepabovegod@gmail.com, "steve.murphy"<steve.murphy@ctv.ca>, jcarpay <jcarpay@jccf.ca>
An Interview With Chris Sky 162 views Streamed live 5 hours ago Chance Of Fluri 363 subscribers 0 Comments
David Amos 6 minutes ago Why are you deleting my comments???
David Amos 9 minutes ago Ontario anti-masker arrested at Moncton airport
Police have yet to say what the charges will be Alexandre Silberman · CBC News · Posted: Oct 10, 2020 7:50 PM AT | Last Updated: October 10, 2020
RCMP responded to a disturbance at the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport. (Photo: Shane Magee/CBC News)
An anti-mask activist from Ontario was arrested at the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport Friday and is now facing charges.
Christopher Saccoccia, who goes by the name Chris Sky on social media, posted a video to Facebook which he claims shows his arrest in Moncton.
In the video, Saccoccia can be seen holding what he claims to be a "note from a medical professional" in a verbal exchange with a WestJet flight attendant.
Later in the footage, a police officer is pictured arriving inside the aircraft and telling Saccoccia he is under arrest for causing a disturbance. He is then escorted off the plane by RCMP.
RCMP in New Brunswick confirm a man was arrested at the airport Friday afternoon after arriving on a flight from Ontario.
Sgt. Jean-François Martel said members of the Codiac Regional RCMP responded to a report of "a disturbance" at the airport.
"After being released from police custody, RCMP and officials from the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Safety escorted him back to the Moncton airport, where he took a flight out of the Atlantic region," he said.
Martel would not confirm the individual's name but said a 37-year-old man from King City, Ont., is scheduled to appear in court to face charges on Jan. 25. He could not say what the charges are.
Anyone entering Atlantic Canada from outside the region is required to self-isolate for 14 days. Chris Saccoccia speaking at an anti-mask demonstration in Toronto. (CBC)
Saccoccia has attended several anti-mask demonstrations and spoken out against public health measures and was expected to attend anti-mask rallies in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia over the weekend.
Last week, he was charged with breaking federal quarantine rules after allegedly attending a demonstration with 500 mask-free people, less than two weeks after returning from an international trip.
Friday was the first day non-medical face masks became mandatory in most indoor public places in New Brunswick.
Medical professionals point to strong evidence that non-medical face masks are highly effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
David Amos 28 minutes ago Methinks Chrissy Baby did crash the event just as he bragged
Chaos erupts between anti-maskers and residents at Chris Sky event in Toronto Stay in the loop
Toronto's Kensington-Chinatown is still reeling this week after a public debate event — which included prominent lockdown and mask opponent Chris Sky — took over the public space in front of a shopping centre and cultural hub on Saturday.
Residents and organizations warned one another in the days leading up to the rally, which was billed as a community action event that "was supposed to feature diverse voices at variance with the anti-mask/vaxx movement" in front of the Chinatown Centre on Spadina south of Dundas.
It was also meant to mark the opening of a new "weed-friendly outdoor comedy venue" called 420 Cannabis Court, which led to some confusion about the nature of the talk.
The event was organized by local lawyer and activist Caryma Sa'd, who was to interview Sky given the duo's online beef with one another — but community members feared that having the face of the Canadian anti-vax movement on the premises and providing him with any sort of platform would not go over well.
The event was especially concerning given the fact that there have been some barriers to vaccination for the neighbourhood, which has become one of the priority areas in Toronto for getting first and second doses administered.
Friends of Chinatown wrote in a social media posts late last week that Sky and those surrounding him and his movement are also "known for their overlapping participation in white-supremacist, Holocaust-denying, racist circles."
Worries about the risks posed to community members swirled as the event proceeded despite some pushback from the public and a noted lack of permission from the mall itself.
Community activists quickly arrived on scene for "a no-engagement, no-violence occupation of the space," accounts from the event read, while members from the anti-mask crowd likewise showed to watch Sky speak.
Attendees who documented the affair on social media cited belligerence and aggression from the anti-masker camp — who surrounded Sky like a celebrity — as well as confrontations between members of the crowd, some of whom had formed a blockade to prevent Sky from speaking.
Sky arrived to take the stage around 10 p.m., though Sa'd was allegedly nowhere to be seen. Some accounts state that she had retreated into her building, where she had hoped to conduct the interview instead given the tensions in the courtyard.
The whole ordeal turned somewhat violent as both sides clashed, leading community demonstrators to eventually evacuate the scene and police to arrive.
Apparently the anti-mask crowd, some of whom were making comments about Sa'd "hiring ANTIFA" to boycott Sky's appearance, stayed back for some time, with witnesses stating they were still present as of 11:30 p.m.
"They set me up with 50 armed antifa with a barricade? Lol you think that could stop me?" Sky himself wrote on Twitter shortly before 1 a.m. today.
Sa'd herself has publicly blamed Friends of Chinatown for the conflict that unfolded.
"You turned an event that was supposed to feature diverse voices at variance with the anti-mask/vaxx movement into a Chris Sky rally," she wrote on Twitter around 11 p.m. Saturday, along with a video clip that appears to be taken from inside Chinatown Centre, looking onto the disturbance.
"He was never going to be 'platformed' in the context of my event. Your so-called counter protest created violence."
Sa'd explained her motivations for the event prior to the evening, saying that "necessary precautions" were going to be taken.
"As we've seen time & again, it isn’t possible to debate (or even converse with) someone like Chris Sky. But I want to try breaking into the echo chamber in my way," she wrote on Instagram.
She is now facing some hefty backlash online, and claimed yesterday that she will be releasing a formal statement on the incident "when I'm less heated."
"Please know that I'm not reading any of your tweets, so go ahead and spout off," she continued in a tweet on Sunday evening. "There is a lot more to this situation than meets the eye, including mall politics at the Chinatown Centre." Lead photo by
Caryma Sa’d is a prominent lawyer whose cases and legal commentary have been featured by local, national, and international media outlets. She is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients.
Let’s talk about you. Please contact Caryma directly to arrange an appointment. She will get back to you within 24 hours to set up your initial consultation.
Caryma Sa'd Called to the bar: 2016 (ON) [s]advocacy 222 Spadina Ave., Suite 276 Toronto, Ontario M5T 3B3 Phone: 647-360-7182 Fax: 647-360-7192 Email: help@sadvocacy.com
Tensions build in Toronto ahead of public debate against anti-masker Chris Sky Stay in the loop
A local community group is urging the organizers of a Saturday event in Toronto's Chinatown neighbourhood to reconsider the potential repercussions of pitting two prominent voices from opposite sides of the political spectrum against one another during a live, in-person public face-off.
Toronto lawyer, activist and artist Caryma Sa'd is scheduled to interview the famously antagonistic anti-lockdown poster boy Chris Sky (real name Chris Saccoccia) on July 10 at a new "weed-friendly outdoor comedy venue" called 420 Cannabis Court.
An exact time for the event will not be released until the day of, but promotional materials promise that it will be streamed live. NOW Magazine reports that 25 people will also be allowed to watch the show in person.
The IRL event will be outdoors, held within the courtyard of Chinatown Centre at 222 Spadina Ave., a space otherwise known as the Chinatown Anti Displacement Garden.
It's also of note that Sa'd and Sky have been beefing online, very publicly, for months.
"As members of the downtown Chinatown and Kensington community, we are deeply concerned that an event has been planned for this Saturday, July 10th, platforming a known racist anti-vax public figure in the Chinatown Anti-Displacement Garden, located in the courtyard of the Chinatown Centre on Spadina Ave.," reads a message distributed by the Friends of Kensington Market (FOTM) on Friday.
Calling Sky a "known agitator from anti-mask, anti-lockdown, and anti-vax rallies across the country," the group points out that Sky was recently arrested and criminally charged for allegedly uttering death threats, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, and the dangerous operation of a vehicle.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the 37-year-old public figure's legal troubles: He's been arrested and charged multiple times since the pandemic hit for violating the federal quarantine act and causing disturbances, among other things.
"Using his public platform and private social networks, Sky inspires copycat actions such as the harassment of small and large businesses on camera," reads the FOTM post.
"We have concerns that those sharing his sentiments against businesses and racialized individuals will be in attendance, resistant to following the 'physical distancing' advertised in event promotions."
FOKM is concerned that the event could put vulnerable community members at risk, as Sky's anti-mask supporters obviously refuse to abide by most public health orders.
"A crowd of unvaccinated anti-maskers would endanger racialized, senior community members, especially during a time when various grassroots organizations have been working to get first and second doses to the neighbourhood with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the city," the group continues.
"As community members we do not condone this event, and we express our genuine concern for those who live and work in the neighbourhood. We urge that this event be canceled for the safety of the community."
Sa'd addressed the concerns on Instagram Friday afternoon, writing on Instagram that "contingency plans are in place for as many variables as I could imagine."
"As we've seen time and again, it isn't possible to debate (or even converse with) someone like Chris Sky," wrote the prominent Toronto lawyer. "But I want to try breaking into the echo chamber in my way."
Said Sky of the event on Instagram: "Because I welcome dissenting voices... and we all know she's been DYING to meet me."
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 18:54:40 -0300 Subject: Fwd: RE I Understand you may have information for me which might assist in my upcoming defense against the Crown here in Manitoba. To: reicherpete@gmail.com, art <art@streetchurch.ca>
In December 2015, Peter Reicher was standing by the entrance to a Calgary CTrain station handing out postcards which invited people to attend his church’s free New Year’s concert. Despite the fact that Mr. Reicher was not impeding pedestrian flow or causing any problems, he was ordered to stop by a Calgary Transit officer. The officer told him that he was not allowed to distribute postcards there and ordered him to move across the street.
Mr. Reicher complied and crossed to the other side of the road which parallels the train tracks, and continued handing out postcards on the pedestrian overpass that links the sidewalk to the CTrain station. A short while later, Mr. Reicher was again ordered to stop, this time by two Transit officers, who issued him a $250 ticket for violating a Calgary bylaw that prohibits passing out written materials without the prior approval of a city official.
Believing that his freedom of expression had been violated, Mr. Reicher contacted the Justice Centre. The requirement to receive prior permission before handing out literature was found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of Saumur v City of Quebec, [1953] 2 SCR 299. There, Justice Locke stated that “the true purpose of the by-law is not to regulate traffic in the streets but to impose a censorship on the written expression of religious views and their dissemination, a constitutional right of all of the people of Canada….”
The Justice Centre encouraged Mr. Reicher to assert his freedom of expression and provided him with guidance and advice in navigating the initial steps in the proceedings. Shortly after City prosecutors became aware that a Charter defense would be raised, they informed Mr. Reicher that they would be withdrawing the charge for violating the bylaw.
BREAKING: Pastor Peter Reicher served by police: “Canada has become communist”
By Rebel News | June 11, 2021
Pastor Peter Reicher has just been served by police with Justice Rooke’s wide-sweeping injunction and must now attend a provincial court.
Peter has recently taken over pastoral duties at Artur Pawlowski's church in Calgary, Alberta.
Pastor Peter's wife Axa livestreamed the police visit this afternoon, telling the cops that “the devil has deceived you!”
“I have a recommendation for you,” Axa told another officer. “You need to go home and repent! Because what [you're doing is] criminal.”
After asking the officer if he believes in God, Axa asked: “So you get paid to persecute Christians?” “We get paid to do our job, yes,” answered the officer.
For further information or to sign up you may respond to this email reicherpete@gmail.com, contact me personally at 403-870-0226 (text message preferred please) or you may contact Pastor Artur Pawlowski at 403-607-4434 or email him at art
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 18:03:42 -0300 Subject: RE I Understand you may have information for me which might assist in my upcoming defense against the Crown here in Manitoba.
Sunday, 11 July 2021 Sheila Gunn Reid and her sneaky cohorts know why the lawyers Leighton Grey and Yoav Niv denied getting phone calls and emails from me
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister continues to target political opponents with arrests and detentions 8,902 views Jul 11, 2021
Rebel News 1.47M subscribers Previously a chiropractor, now turned political activist in Manitoba, Dr. Gerry Bohemier was arrested and held in police custody for the crime of protesting the lockdown. Dr. Bohemier was arrested on a warrant issued by a Manitoba justice, even though it was arguably not for an arrestable offence. However, under Premier Brian Pallister this seems not to matter, as he has so far only considered the point of view presented by a small minority of hypochondriacs in the province. ► FULL REPORT: https://rebelne.ws/3xtWkuW
Manitoba
Bio Frequency Consulting, Dr. Jerry – P.O. Box 72, Beau Sejour MB R0E 0C0 - 204-797-6311
Manitoba chief justice says private investigator followed him in attempt to catch him breaking COVID-19 rules
Justice Glenn Joyal currently presiding over court challenge to pandemic restrictions
Sarah Petz · CBC News · Posted: Jul 12, 2021 10:43 AM CT
---------- Original message ---------- From: " Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:49:24 -0500 Subject: I Understand you may have information for me which might assist in my upcoming defense against the Crown here in Manitoba. To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com
Dear Mr. Amos, I have received information from a friend that I should communicate with you regarding my upcoming hearing scheduled for* tomorrow* July 14th 2021 regarding (9) nine tickets received for my participation in several rallies in Manitoba over the last year and a half. All rallies were to protest the loss of our freedoms of speech, our rights to assemble, our rights of body autonomy and especially in my case our rights not to be obliged to adhere to Medical orthodoxy dictates. The charges are all the same on all the 9 tickets: "Failing to comply to emergency Health orders".
Any information and/or documents which could support my innocence would greatly be appreciated.
I will forward these documents or information to my legal representative Mr. Stephen Whitehead of the Law firm Grey Wowk Spencer of Cold Lake Alberta.
I will advise him to forward a copy tothe Crown and copy me to that effect.
Thank you in advance for your interest in this matter. I llok forward to your reply.
Respectfully,
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Freedom Report <freedomreport.ca@gmail.com> Date: Wed, 12 May 2021 15:08:06 -0600 Subject: Re: YO Mayor Nenshi Methinks Tyson Fedor and his CTV cohorts have informed us that you want Kevin Johnston locked up just as he wishes the same for you Nesy Pas? To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Is that the law firm for naheed nenshi?
GO FIGURE Why Chris Scott should have printed this document
On behalf of The Honourable Brian Pallister, Premier of Manitoba, we would like to acknowledge receipt of your email.
Please note that this is an automated response to let you know that your email has been received and that it will be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.
We encourage you to keep updated on the latest Pandemic information by visiting Manitoba COVID-19 webpage<https://manitoba.ca/covid19/>.
To learn more about the current public health restrictions in your area please visit the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System webpage<https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/>.
We encourage all Manitobans to focus on the fundamentals to stay safe and healthy.
Thank you to taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
Premier’s Correspondence Team Executive Council Government of Manitoba
******************************
Au nom de Brian Pallister, premier ministre du Manitoba, nous accusons réception de votre courriel.
Veuillez noter qu’il s’agit d’une réponse automatique vous informant que nous avons reçu votre courriel et que nous l’étudierons dans les plus brefs délais.
Nous vous invitons à vous tenir au courant des dernières informations sur la pandémie en consultant la page Web du Manitoba sur la COVID-19<https://manitoba.ca/covid19/index.fr.html>.
Si vous êtes malade, ou si vous craignez d’avoir été en contact avec la COVID‑19, veuillez contacter Health Links – Info Santé<https://misericordia.mb.ca/programs/phcc/health-links-info-sante/> au 204‑788‑8200<tel:204-788-8200> ou au 1‑888‑315‑9257<tel:1-888-315-9257>.
Pour en savoir plus sur les restrictions actuelles en matière de santé publique dans votre région, consultez la page Web Système de riposte à la pandémie de #RelanceMB. <https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/index.fr.html>
Si vous avez des questions concernant les restrictions ou le système de riposte à la pandémie, veuillez consulter le site Web Participation MB.<https://participationmb.ca/>
Mayoral candidate, pastor granted release pending contempt hearing for breaching public health orders Calgary Herald Publishing date: May 17, 2021
Kevin J. Johnston outside of GraceLife Church on Sunday March 14, 2021. Photo by Larry Wong/Postmedia
Mayoral candidate Kevin J. Johnston was granted his release Monday after being arrested Saturday for breaching a court order that required him to comply with COVID-19 public health restrictions.
But Johnston complained the condition of his release — that he comply with masking requirements, along with other orders issued by chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw — might be difficult for him to follow, pending a June 16 contempt of court hearing.
“I’m already feeling the anxiety,” Johnston told a virtual court hearing, as he sat, masked, in the prisoner’s box in a Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench courtroom where the judge and lawyers appeared on video link.
“I simply cannot wear a mask for that period of time,” he said. “I’m already feeling the anxiety of this right now and I’m sweating. I’m bothered by having to have this on; I could not possibly wear a mask for that entire amount of time.”
But Justice Adam Germain told Johnston that he wouldn’t have to wear a mask 24 hours a day; he only had to comply with restrictions regarding masking, social distancing and limited attendance at gatherings.
“There’s nothing in these health orders that requires you to wear a mask in your own abode,” the judge said. “(Your lawyer Ian) McCuaig will get the health orders and brief you on them.”
McCuaig, who appeared via WebEx from his Toronto office, said Johnston might raise issues of free speech as a political candidate as a defence to his alleged breach of the court order restricting his activities.
Before Johnston’s court appearance, Fairview Baptist Church pastor Tim Stephens appeared for his release hearing.
Albert Health Services lawyer Kyle Fowler agreed to his release on condition he comply with a May 6 order prohibiting non-compliance with public heath guidelines.
Lawyer Leighton Grey said Stephens, who was arrested Sunday for holding a service without complying with the restrictions, may argue an amendment to the initial court order of Justice John Rooke meant that pronouncement no longer applied to the pastor.
I am single, and a proud Father who values hard work and raised my sons on my own.
I speak, read, and write Greek fluently.
I have lived in West Lincoln almost all my life.
At the age of 13 I obtained my Computer Technician Diploma and shortly after opened my own home based computer business.
I have been in our family owned and operated poultry business up till 2011.
I have completed an entrepreneur course at Niagara College.
I was a Director on the Agios Haralambos Greek Association in West Lincoln.
I am a member and volunteer with the International Tribunal for Natural Justice.
I am a past President of the Niagara Landowners Association.
I am currently a Governor with the Ontario Landowners Association.
I am one of the Founding Directors on the International Property Rights Association.
I am a Reporter/Photographer for The Landowner Magazine.
I have recently obtained my Paralegal Diploma from Algonquin Careers Academy.
I have been an advocate for people all over Ontario assisting them free of charge from overzealous bureaucrats and Government overreach on all levels. In 2016 I was presented the Landowner of the Year award for my private property rights work in the Niagara Region where I had achieved many successful outcomes, including for my parents while they were out of country in 2009.
I have worked and will continue to work tirelessly for private property rights and the reason why I will strive to become a licensed paralegal and open a law firm with a lawyer partner in Niagara.
I am a Libertarian and stand for Liberty and to keep Ontario a non-communist state and make it so that everyone can keep their hard earned money instead of it being stolen by a greedy needy grossly overgrown Government and to bring wealth and prosperity back to Ontario. To make Ontario a place where our children and their children can enjoy a life of wealth and freedom where private property is NOT considered a social injustice.
>>> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>> From: "Murray, Charles (Ombud)"<Charles.Murray@gnb.ca> >>> Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:16:15 +0000 >>> Subject: You wished to speak with me >>> To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com"<motomaniac333@gmail.com> >>> >>> I have the advantage, sir, of having read many of your emails over the >>> years. >>> >>> >>> As such, I do not think a phone conversation between us, and >>> specifically one which you might mistakenly assume was in response to >>> your threat of legal action against me, is likely to prove a >>> productive use of either of our time. >>> >>> >>> If there is some specific matter about which you wish to communicate >>> with me, feel free to email me with the full details and it will be >>> given due consideration. >>> >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> >>> Charles Murray >>> >>> Ombud NB >>> >>> Acting Integrity Commissioner >>> >>> >>>> From: Justice Website <JUSTWEB@novascotia.ca> >>>> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:21:11 +0000 >>>> Subject: Emails to Department of Justice and Province of Nova Scotia >>>> To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com"<motomaniac333@gmail.com> >>>> >>>> Mr. Amos, >>>> We acknowledge receipt of your recent emails to the Deputy Minister of >>>> Justice and lawyers within the Legal Services Division of the >>>> Department of Justice respecting a possible claim against the Province >>>> of Nova Scotia. Service of any documents respecting a legal claim >>>> against the Province of Nova Scotia may be served on the Attorney >>>> General at 1690 Hollis Street, Halifax, NS. Please note that we will >>>> not be responding to further emails on this matter. >>>> >>>> Department of Justice >>>> >>>> On 8/3/17, David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> If want something very serious to download and laugh at as well Please >>>>> Enjoy and share real wiretap tapes of the mob >>>>> >>>>> http://thedavidamosrant.blogspot.ca/2013/10/re-glen-greenwald-and-braz >>>>> ilian.html >>>>> >>>>>> http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/06/09/nsa-leak-guardian.html >>>>>> >>>>>> As the CBC etc yap about Yankee wiretaps and whistleblowers I must >>>>>> ask them the obvious question AIN'T THEY FORGETTING SOMETHING???? >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vugUalUO8YY >>>>>> >>>>>> What the hell does the media think my Yankee lawyer served upon the >>>>>> USDOJ right after I ran for and seat in the 39th Parliament baseball >>>>>> cards? >>>>>> >>>>>> http://archive.org/details/ITriedToExplainItToAllMaritimersInEarly200 >>>>>> 6 >>>>>> >>>>>> http://davidamos.blogspot.ca/2006/05/wiretap-tapes-impeach-bush.html >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.archive.org/details/PoliceSurveilanceWiretapTape139 >>>>>> >>>>>> http://archive.org/details/Part1WiretapTape143 >>>>>> >>>>>> FEDERAL EXPRES February 7, 2006 >>>>>> Senator Arlen Specter >>>>>> United States Senate >>>>>> Committee on the Judiciary >>>>>> 224 Dirksen Senate Office Building >>>>>> Washington, DC 20510 >>>>>> >>>>>> Dear Mr. Specter: >>>>>> >>>>>> I have been asked to forward the enclosed tapes to you from a man >>>>>> named, David Amos, a Canadian citizen, in connection with the matters >>>>>> raised in the attached letter. >>>>>> >>>>>> Mr. Amos has represented to me that these are illegal FBI wire tap >>>>>> tapes. >>>>>> >>>>>> I believe Mr. Amos has been in contact with you about this >>>>>> previously. >>>>>> >>>>>> Very truly yours, >>>>>> Barry A. Bachrach >>>>>> Direct telephone: (508) 926-3403 >>>>>> Direct facsimile: (508) 929-3003 >>>>>> Email: bbachrach@bowditch.com >>>>>> >>>>> >>> This is the docket in Federal Court >>> >>> http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=T-1557-15&select_court=T >>> >>> These are digital recordings of the last three hearings >>> >>> Dec 14th https://archive.org/details/BahHumbug >>> >>> January 11th, 2016 https://archive.org/details/Jan11th2015 >>> >>> April 3rd, 2017 >>> >>> https://archive.org/details/April32017JusticeLeblancHearing >>> >>> >>> This is the docket in the Federal Court of Appeal >>> >>> http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=A-48-16&select_court=All >>> >>> >>> The only hearing thus far >>> >>> May 24th, 2017 >>> >>> https://archive.org/details/May24thHoedown >>> >>> >>> This Judge understnds the meaning of the word Integrity >>> >>> Date: 20151223 >>> >>> Docket: T-1557-15 >>> >>> Fredericton, New Brunswick, December 23, 2015 >>> >>> PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Bell >>> >>> BETWEEN: >>> >>> DAVID RAYMOND AMOS >>> >>> Plaintiff >>> >>> and >>> >>> HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN >>> >>> Defendant >>> >>> ORDER >>> >>> (Delivered orally from the Bench in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on >>> December 14, 2015) >>> >>> The Plaintiff seeks an appeal de novo, by way of motion pursuant to >>> the Federal Courts Rules (SOR/98-106), from an Order made on November >>> 12, 2015, in which Prothonotary Morneau struck the Statement of Claim >>> in its entirety. >>> >>> At the outset of the hearing, the Plaintiff brought to my attention a >>> letter dated September 10, 2004, which he sent to me, in my then >>> capacity as Past President of the New Brunswick Branch of the Canadian >>> Bar Association, and the then President of the Branch, Kathleen Quigg, >>> (now a Justice of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal). In that letter >>> he stated: >>> >>> As for your past President, Mr. Bell, may I suggest that you check the >>> work of Frank McKenna before I sue your entire law firm including you. >>> You are your brother’s keeper. >>> >>> Frank McKenna is the former Premier of New Brunswick and a former >>> colleague of mine at the law firm of McInnes Cooper. In addition to >>> expressing an intention to sue me, the Plaintiff refers to a number of >>> people in his Motion Record who he appears to contend may be witnesses >>> or potential parties to be added. Those individuals who are known to >>> me personally, include, but are not limited to the former Prime >>> Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper; former >>> Attorney General of Canada and now a Justice of the Manitoba Court of >>> Queen’s Bench, Vic Toews; former member of Parliament Rob Moore; >>> former Director of Policing Services, the late Grant Garneau; former >>> Chief of the Fredericton Police Force, Barry McKnight; former Staff >>> Sergeant Danny Copp; my former colleagues on the New Brunswick Court >>> of Appeal, Justices Bradley V. Green and Kathleen Quigg, and, retired >>> Assistant Commissioner Wayne Lang of the Royal Canadian Mounted >>> Police. >>> >>> In the circumstances, given the threat in 2004 to sue me in my >>> personal capacity and my past and present relationship with many >>> potential witnesses and/or potential parties to the litigation, I am >>> of the view there would be a reasonable apprehension of bias should I >>> hear this motion. See Justice de Grandpré’s dissenting judgment in >>> Committee for Justice and Liberty et al v National Energy Board et al, >>> [1978] 1 SCR 369 at p 394 for the applicable test regarding >>> allegations of bias. In the circumstances, although neither party has >>> requested I recuse myself, I consider it appropriate that I do so. >>> >>> >>> AS A RESULT OF MY RECUSAL, THIS COURT ORDERS that the Administrator of >>> the Court schedule another date for the hearing of the motion. There >>> is no order as to costs. >>> >>> “B. Richard Bell” >>> Judge >>> >>> >>> Below after the CBC article about your concerns (I made one comment >>> already) you will find the text of just two of many emails I had sent >>> to your office over the years since I first visited it in 2006. >>> >>> I noticed that on July 30, 2009, he was appointed to the the Court >>> Martial Appeal Court of Canada Perhaps you should scroll to the >>> bottom of this email ASAP and read the entire Paragraph 83 of my >>> lawsuit now before the Federal Court of Canada? >>> >>> "FYI This is the text of the lawsuit that should interest Trudeau the >>> most >>> >>> >>> ---------- Original message ---------- >>> From: justin.trudeau.a1@parl.gc.ca >>> Date: Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 8:18 PM >>> Subject: Réponse automatique : RE My complaint against the CROWN in >>> Federal Court Attn David Hansen and Peter MacKay If you planning to >>> submit a motion for a publication ban on my complaint trust that you >>> dudes are way past too late >>> To: david.raymond.amos@gmail.com >>> >>> Veuillez noter que j'ai changé de courriel. Vous pouvez me rejoindre à >>> lalanthier@hotmail.com >>> >>> Pour rejoindre le bureau de M. Trudeau veuillez envoyer un courriel à >>> tommy.desfosses@parl.gc.ca >>> >>> Please note that I changed email address, you can reach me at >>> lalanthier@hotmail.com >>> >>> To reach the office of Mr. Trudeau please send an email to >>> tommy.desfosses@parl.gc.ca >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> Merci , > > >
Leader Maxime Bernier speaks at a People's Party of Canada rally in Gatineau, Quebec on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)
Canada's newest political party is putting down roots in northern Ontario.
The People's Party of Canada founded by former Conservative leadership hopeful Maxime Bernier plans to run a candidate in every riding in the country in this October's election, including the seven in northeastern Ontario.
Jason LaFace, the first president of the newly formed Sudbury riding association, says he's already had to deal with the perception some have of the party as a populist movement with ideological connections to U.S. President Donald Trump.
"You know, a lot of people are like 'Oh, you guys are just like Trump,' because of our views on border security and stuff," he says.
"And our party is all about immigration. Legal immigration."
LaFace, a professional club DJ who is planning to open a cannabis edibles cafe in Sudbury, says he has worked on Liberal and Conservative campaigns in the past.
But he was drawn to Bernier's call to stop illegal migrants crossing the border and to cut foreign aid payments with the goal of investing in Canadian services and infrastructure instead.
LaFace says there are over 100 People's Party members in Sudbury and riding associations are being set up and candidates recruited across the north.
Some have suggested all the People's Party will do in the election is carve off enough Conservative votes to ensure the Liberals form government again, but LaFace calls that a "myth."
"There are some Liberal views in our party, there are some Libertarian views," he says.
"It's good that it's a mix of everyone, but at least everybody's working together strongly and looking at what's best for Canada right now."
Erik White is a CBC journalist based in Sudbury. He covers a wide range of stories about northern Ontario. Connect with him on Twitter @erikjwhite. Send story ideas to erik.white@cbc.ca
Right on, Jason. Keep up the good work in Sudbury!
Jason LaFauci
@Jesse Patrick thank you!
James Rielly
A four way split pretty much insures a minority government for JT.We need electoral reform.
David Piccolo
@James Rielly We may have to endure 4 more years of Trudeau, if the PPC waited 4 years it would be the same vote splitting problem then. There is no good time. Best get the ball rolling now.
City officials insist the municipality has not given a business licence to Sudbury man who wants to open a pot edibles menu cafe when it becomes legal.
"There have been no city approvals provided to After Dark Cafe & Edibles," Shannon Dowling, communications and media relations officer with the city, said.
Jason LaFauci, however, said he received a business licence from Service Canada.
"We went to (Tom Davies Square) to register our business," LaFauci said. "We were told that if we wanted to register our business for a cafe that we would have to go to Service Canada. That's what we did. They let us do it. There was no problem, no flak, no nothing."
Dowling, though, again disagreed, saying what LaFauci received from Service Canada is a master business licence through the province of Ontario that protects the naming of the business.
"The city has a business licensing bylaw and a business registration bylaw. Under the latter, eating or drinking establishments are required to register their business with the city," Dowling said. "I can again confirm the business in question has not registered their business with the City of Greater Sudbury."
LaFauci said he has been talking to city hall officials and local law enforcement about the proposed cafe for some time.
"They're pretty receptive to it," he said.
Again, Dowling said that isn't the case.
"In respect to the city being receptive, no conversations have taken place regarding the operations of a cannabis edibles cafe," she said.
LaFauci, however, claims he received direction in regards to his business from Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini and Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan.
He also said Vagnini helped setup a meeting between LaFauci and Al Lekun, deputy chief of police, to discuss LaFauci's business plans.
"I talked to them about the Sudbury 420 and I talked to them about the cafe," LaFauci said.
Attempts to reach Vagnini for comment were unsuccessful, but Kirwan and Greater Sudbury Police Services did respond.
"I think he called me about his business or thinking about setting up his business, but I don't recall any details about the discussion," Kirwan said.
Kaitlyn Dunn, corporate communications officer with Greater Sudbury Police Services, confirmed that Lekun did have a conversation with an individual about After Dark Cafe & Edibles, though she did not say whether that person was LaFauci.
"That information was passed along that, what is being proposed (After Dark Cafe & Edibles), is still illegal," Dunn said. "And it would still be illegal come the legalization of marijuana."
Greater Sudbury Police then sent The Star a statement, saying, "cannabis and cannabis-related substances including THC are still illegal in Canada and our officers will continue to enforce laws related to the use, possession and distribution of cannabis until it is formally legalized later this year.
"Bill C-45, the legislation that was passed earlier this month will see the legalization of cannabis on Oct. 17. This will legalize the purchase of cannabis from a licenced retailer. The manufacturing and selling of edibles for recreational purposes will still be illegal after the legalization of cannabis."
However, while oil, seeds and marijuana will be widely available in the fall, edibles are not expected to be legal and available for sale until 2019 at the earliest.
Our certified Cannabis Chefs are always cooking up great foods everyday! We specialize in assisting patients and everyday people live a healthy lifestyle with healthy eating. We work with over 150 Canadian Doctors helping patients obtain their AMCPR.
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Our certified Cannabis Chefs are always cooking up great foods everyday! We specialize in assisting patients and everyday people live a healthy lifestyle with healthy eating. We currently work with over 150 Canadian Doctors who continue to help patients obtain their ACMPR. Cannabis has been proven to help many various ailments with a variety of ways of infusion. Our edibles all contain THCA with a blended THC active including CBD extracts that give our food a great healing power. If your interested in becoming a client, feel free to contact us.
We also assist those who require their ACMPR to access Licensed Producers.
We'd like to thank everyone who's supported After Dark over the last couple years. Effective today, we're officially closing our doors due to a acquisition with another company. Again thank you for all the love and support you've given us!
Chris Sky is a motivational speaker and the world’s most prolific human rights advocate. His vast knowledge and articulate delivery are second to none when it comes to examining and presenting the facts to find the truth. The truth that is intentionally kept hidden from you. Chris Sky not only provides the knowledge to assert your rights and preserve your freedoms. He leads by example and puts his very life on the line, everyday. His mission to help and educate others has seen him targeted and persecuted by our own government in previously unspeakable ways, which are now becoming a common place as our country and much of the world slides steadily towards tyranny. Chris has been the victim of personal and even physical attacks. His message of truth and advocating for basic human rights has made him a target of our government. Placed on the “no fly list” and having his verified instagram of almost 250,000 followers disabled. Even his personal website realchrissky.com was removed the very first day it was published! All attempts to de-platform him and to stifle free speech were ultimately carried out to violate and suppress the rights of all of us. Realchrissky.com is here to provide you the knowledge and courage you need to preserve your future.
Western civilization is teetering on the brink of collapse. Most people simply refuse to believe it possible, as nothing comparable has happened during their lifetime. History tells us otherwise, and we must prepare accordingly. #NoMoreLockdowns#MakeRead
Regional North Assistant Coordinator at No More Lockdowns Canada Lives in Sudbury, Ontario Married listencanada nmlsudbury xl420 listenupcanada.podbean.com twitter.com/freeradiocanada
Convoy on route to Burnaby I think they arrived yesterday ... This is not the main convoy going into Ottawa this is a seperate protest but we give em our full support!
this convoy was very sweet about 100 cars went down the number 1 hwy right to global news nothing but honk people saying give thumbs up. 100% positive. even the officer that came was relaxed and with us . great day. I cant wait to go to Ottawa from BC next weekend. Not leaving Ottawa until this shitt ends Trudeau has a party at his place I hear and all of Canada is invited
https://gmlaw.ca/adarkradio/
After Dark Radio Phone: +1 249-878-4959 Website: sudbury420.com/
Province: British Columbia (British Columbia) Affiliation: Canadian Senators Group Telephone: 613-995-4050 Email: larry.campbell@sen.parl.gc.ca vCard Staff: Ross, Pam Personal Website: http://larrycampbell.ca/
Senator Bev Busson
Province: British Columbia (British Columbia) Affiliation: Independent Senators Group Telephone: 613-943-7930 Email: Bev.Busson@sen.parl.gc.ca vCard Staff: Jones, June Personal Website: http://bevbusson.sencanada.ca/
Starlink satellites have been popping up on rural New Brunswick homes for the past several months. Customers who spoke to CBC News say the service is the answer to rural New Brunswick's high-speed woes. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
After years of putting up with unreliable internet, some New Brunswickers living in rural areas say they've finally found a solution.
Many claim that Starlink, the brainchild of billionaire Elon Musk, has solved the long-standing problem of high-speed internet access in rural New Brunswick.
"It's almost life-changing," said Brody McGee, who has been using the Starlink internet service for about four months.
Starlink is a global internet service from Musk's American-based company SpaceX.
Made up of hundreds of low-orbit satellites, they form a mesh-like network around the Earth. That network communicates with coffee table-sized satellite dishes customers can install on their roofs.
There are currently 145,000 users in 25 countries worldwide. On Saturday, Musk tweeted there were "1469 Starlink satellites active" and orbiting the Earth so far.
Some New Brunswickers are switching from rural internet providers like Bell and Xplornet because they say Starlink provides vastly better internet that is comparable to that used in city centres. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
When McGee recently came back to New Brunswick after living in Nunavut, he moved to Bocabec, a community about 20 kilometres northeast of St. Andrews.
Before he switched to Starlink, he said his internet was so bad that watching Netflix was impossible. The only YouTube videos he could watch were the ones offered in the lowest quality.
"I lived up in Nunavut for almost four years and we had better internet in Pond Inlet than we do in rural New Brunswick," said McGee.
Brody McGee lives with his partner Charlotte and their children Lily and Brody in Bobabec, NB where he says the internet has been terrible. He says using Starlink over the last few months has been "almost life changing." (Submitted by Brody McGee)
McGee had been using Bell for internet service in Bobabec, a service he says advertised download speeds of up to 10 megabits per second. He said he never saw those speeds.
"It was very brutal," said McGee.
He paid $120 per month for the service, but made the trip to his parents' home in St. Andrews to use their internet for online classes as he works toward becoming a nurse practitioner.
When he moved to Starlink, he said his download speeds went from around two megabits to 200.
Starlink user says he finally has internet access as it should be
13 hours ago
Duration 0:59
Jean-Marc Robichaud says his life has changed since high-speed internet became available in rural Fredericton Junction. 0:59
Things changed overnight.
His daughter was suddenly able to watch Peppa Pig in the living room while he streamed music at the same time in the kitchen. High-definition television and video calls became an option. He stopped having to leave home for his classes.
"This seems like city-living in the country," said McGee.
Consistently faster
Harold O'Donnell has had a similar experience. Living in Bath, about 50 kilometres from Woodstock, he said Xplornet was his only internet option. While it did the job, he said it left a lot to be desired.
Harold O’Donnell says he previously subscribed to Xplornet internet, but has since switched to Starlink. (Submitted by Harold O’Donnell)
"I found the service was deteriorating," said O'Donnell. "I do a lot of gaming here and I do a lot of streaming and stuff, and I found sometimes you couldn't stream anything."
Sometimes following a power outage, or a storm, his internet would go out for a day or two afterwards.
O'Donnell said he'd been getting between 25 and 35 megabits with Xplornet, depending on how many other people were using the system at the same time.
He switched to Starlink looking for higher speeds more consistently in order to complete his online classes for his electrical licence.
"The speed [was] over 300 here yesterday," said O'Donnell.
Harold O’Donnell installed his Starlink dish next to his Xplornet receiver, a service he says he no longer uses. (Submitted by Harold O’Donnell)
O'Donnell said the new service isn't perfect. He said there was a global outage for about an hour earlier this month, and sometimes his social media feeds are slow to load.
But he said he's very impressed so far. He laments the higher cost to get set up — $649 for the dish, according to the Starlink website. But, at about $150 a month for the service, he said the price is well worth it compared to the competition.
Higher security
With access to high-speed internet, Jean-Marc Robichaud said he's now able to use devices like internet-connected security cameras and doorbells.
The Fredericton Junction resident said it was frustrating to see those living in the centre of the village a few kilometres away have had decent high-speed internet for years.
Living on the outskirts meant inferior service. He'd inquired with Bell about getting high-speed lines run out to his road and was told he'd have to fund it himself at a cost estimated at $20,000.
"Starlink has been a game-changer here for the rural area," said Robichaud. "I know a lot of people who are working from home and this has been a lifesaver."
Jean-Marc Robichaud lives in Fredericton Junction. He said he struggled to get decent internet for years. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
Robichaud said he'd rather support Canadian-based companies, but says there's no competition to Starlink.
Campaign promises
The service highlights a problem that Premier Blaine Higgs raised during the last election campaign. He promised to bring rural broadband speeds in over 70,000 households to 100 megabits per second over three years.
A recent announcement by Xplornet promises to double download speeds with new 5G towers. But customers like Robichaud say they've heard promises before.
"Starlink is so far ahead that there's nothing that comes close," said Robichaud.
CBC News reached out to SpaceX for details on how many New Brunswickers were using Starlink.
"Unfortunately, we don't have anyone available to connect as our team is focused on rolling out Starlink service around the world," it said in an email.
Reply to @Kat Jo: Allow me to guess who you work for
Richard Cleveland
We picked up Starlink last May or early June, it is truly a fantastic service provider
David Amos
Reply to @Richard Cleveland: Ditto
Johnny Jakobs
Government needs to regulate the Internet service providers. 0.256 MBps is considered high speed internet by legislation. That's speeds comparable to 1993. The big internet service providers police themselves through the self funded CCTS... capitalism at its best. Provide the least amount of bandwidth at the highest price possible.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Why worry? Get Starlink and your problem is solved
Blaine Harris, registrar of the New Brunswick Registered Barbers' Association, says he opposes the new restrictions on barbershops, but he wants members to follow the public health rules. (CBC)
A representative for barbers in New Brunswick is condemning some members for openly flouting the province's newest COVID-19 restrictions by opening their businesses to clients on Monday.
Blaine Harris, registrar for the New Brunswick Registered Barbers' Association, said he personally visited two barbershops in Saint John to force them to shut down.
His actions come after the province enacted its Level 3 COVID-19 Winter Plan, which mandated that barbershops, salons, gyms, spas and entertainment centres close for at least 16 days as of Saturday in response to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in hospitals.
In addition to the two in Saint John, Harris said he was aware of another four shops that were open and operating in Fredericton, and he would have visited them if Monday's snowstorm hadn't led to dangerous driving conditions.
"It's wrong," he said. "We may not agree with the rule, and I personally don't agree with having to shut down. However, the government of New Brunswick is the one mandating this, and if we don't follow the rules of law, then we have a lawless society.
"And any person right now that is opening up their establishments in violation of this would be subject to a $680 fine from the province of New Brunswick, and I think that that has to be done," he said, adding that he also has the power to revoke barbers' licences.
Danny Melanson, owner of Danny's Barber Shop on Fredericton's Main Street, opened his business to clients Monday, and said he'd already seen about 10 by about 11 a.m.
"I've had a lot of good support from everybody coming in, and I don't know how many hundreds of messages I got in support of opening," he said.
Asked about concerns for public health, Melanson said he's always operated safely and continues doing so.
"The world has to turn, and I have to pay my bills, and it's not that I'm trying to defy health or anything like that, but I'm being as safe as I can, and we always have been for the last two years.
"I think people are in no danger coming in to get their haircut."
Chad McGarity, owner of Warehouse Barber Shop on Regent Street, said his shop was open on Monday, but with 10-foot distancing between chairs.
He said he's already spent thousands of dollars improving safety at his shop and doesn't think it's fair that he be forced to close while large retailers are allowed to continue to operate.
McGarity said he planned to be open for bookings again on Tuesday, even if there could be consequences.
"We've sat down and spoke to the barbers that were going to be coming in, and we foresee that there might be [consequences]. But at the end of the day, its a livelihood," he said.
Shawn Berry, spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Public Safety, said in an email that peace officers checked 123 businesses over the weekend and found eight violations requiring proprietor education. No tickets were issued.
He said officers did not encounter any instances of a business remaining open despite being required to close.
"The decision on warnings vs proprietor education vs charges is made by peace officers on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific facts."
Berry said a peace officer can issue a fine for a total of $580.50, and when an offence is brought to court, a judge may issue a fine up to an amount not exceeding $24,484.50.
Associations call for reversal from province
While Harris wants barbers to comply with the province's rules, he said he's working on getting the government to change its stance on barbershops.
"We're working with government right now to explain to them that our industry is not a vector [for COVID] and that we shouldn't be required to be closed," Harris said.
Harris said barbers are in a difficult position because they typically don't qualify for the latest one-time payment from the province of $10,000 for business owners who employ between two and 99 full-time equivalent staff.
"We don't have employees. Most of these shops that are in this province are either chair-rental shops or they're commission shops. They're not hourly wage employees getting weekly a paycheque of the same amount of money."
Gaye Cail, executive director of the Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick, has also called on the province to remove salons from the list of businesses that must close under Level 3.
Bruce Macfarlane, spokesperson for the Department of Health, said in an email that the move to Level 3 was made in order to mitigate the "extreme risk currently confronting the provincial health-care system."
Macfarlane did not say whether the province plans to change its stance on barbershops.
It's nice to have a checklist of what barbershops to avoid next time I want a trim.
David Amos
Reply to @G. Timothy Walton: I doubt they will miss you
Alexander Blake
I agree - it's a silly restriction.
David Amos
Reply to @Alexander Blake: Me Too
Donald Gallant
No reason barbers cannot work on a Monday.
Time to change this archaic rule.
Steve Cohen
Reply to @Donald Gallant: which archaic rule?
David Amos
Reply to @Donald Gallant: "Now it ain't so neat to admit defeat They can see no reasons 'Cause there are no reasons What reasons do you need, oh oh oh oh? I don't like Mondays (Tell me why) I don't like Mondays (Tell me why) I don't like Mondays" ------Sir Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, KBE
Eddy Jay
There’s s registrar for barbers? Sounds like a Higgs appointment.
Canada's nuclear industry plans to send up to 30,000 shipments of toxic radioactive waste by truck or rail to either Ignace or South Bruce in Ontario. Some of those shipments would travel through densely populated communities. (NWMO)
A proposed transportation plan by Canada's nuclear industry would see up to 30,000 shipments of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel rods travel through some of Ontario's most densely populated communities over four decades, starting in the 2040s.
Under the proposed plan from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), fuel rods would be shipped by road and/or rail from reactor sites and interim storage facilities in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and New Brunswick, destined for either South Bruce or Ignace in Ontario.
Currently, scientists are studying the ancient bedrock below both communities to determine whether the geology is right for a deep geologic repository, a $23-billion crypt as deep as the CN Tower is tall, in which Canada could seal away its entire stockpile of nuclear waste for eons.
The selection of a site is expected in 2023. Once chosen, the host community would start to receive up to 30,000 shipments of nuclear waste over four decades, which translates into an average of 654 shipments per year or almost two shipments per day.
Travel would involve rail, highway, streets
For the rest of the province, it would mean the radioactive cargo could potentially travel along rail routes, 400 series highways or even city streets as the fuel rods make their way to their final resting place.
Image taken from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's transportation plan details the components of the containers in which spent nuclear fuel rods would be shipped under the plan, which would need federal approval to proceed. (NWMO)
"We're confident we can safely transport used nuclear fuel," said Caitlin Burley, the NWMO's manager of transportation engagement.
She said the likelihood of an accidental radiation release, particularly in the event of a crash, while the waste is being transported through cities or some of the province's most productive farmland depends largely on the safety of the containers in which the spent fuel rods are being transported.
Burley said the containers have been extensively tested according to international standards. Vintage films of such tests can be easily found online, in which nuclear shipping containers are dropped, immersed in water, punctured, rammed with a speeding locomotive or even set ablaze using propane and jet fuel.
"All of them occur consecutively on the same package to inflict maximum damage," she said.
Shipments tracked by GPS, have security detail
Burley said that in all of the tests, the containers successfully shielded the outside environment from nuclear radiation, and noted that in almost 60 years of transporting used nuclear fuel, there has never been an incident in which people or the environment have been harmed.
This map taken from the NWMO's proposed transportation plan shows the relative geographic position of interim storage sites and the two Ontario communities being considered as a permanent site to store Canada's nuclear waste. (NWMO)
Transportation of radioactive waste is regulated by Transport Canada and the Canada Nuclear Safety Commission.
CBC News reached out to both for comment Monday and has yet to receive a response.
Final approval of the plan would rest with the federal government.
Shipments will also have a security detail, and will be monitored by satellite and in constant communication with a 24-hour command centre to ensure the radioactive material isn't captured by criminals or terrorists.
Still, in the event a crash does happen, the NWMO has developed a plan to deal with the situation, Burley said.
"We will be prepared. We will have the equipment and the personnel in place to respond. Everyone will know what their job is."
Critics say proposed plan is too vague
Bill Knoll, a resident of South Bruce and vice-president of the citizens' group Protecting Our Waterways — No Nuclear Waste, spoke to CBC News about the plan.
Ontario town divided on becoming nuclear waste site
7 months ago
Duration 3:52
A small Ontario town is deeply divided over whether to become the storage location for Canada’s nuclear waste. Advocates against the project accuse the waste management group behind the project of trying to garner support by putting money into their town. 3:52
"The plan is vague on details and is more of a plan for a plan," Knoll wrote in an email on Monday. "This is one of the issues we have with the NWMO. Information that should be easy to arrive at is always changing."
For its part, the NWMO said the plan is vague because it is still in flux, noting the nuclear industry has yet to narrow down whether the permanent location for Canada's nuclear waste would be in South Bruce or Ignace.
"It's not set in stone. It's actually a living document that's meant to advance conversations around transportation," Burley said.
"We're really interested in what people have to say so we can incorporate it into our planning."
Colin Butler is a veteran CBC reporter who's worked in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and London, Ont. Email: colin.butler@cbc.ca
A series of winter storms in the Atlantic region have caused disruptions on major trucking routes, says Sobeys spokesperson Sarah Dawson. (Dominique Leger/Twitter)
It's a sight that's greeted grocery shoppers across the province more than once in recent weeks: empty shelves. Empty produce bins. Bare walls.
Rattled customers have been posting photos on social media, wondering what's going on and hearkening back to the pandemic's toilet-paper hoarding era.
"It's shocking to see all the chains collectively with empty shelves," said Saint John shopper Dominique Leger.
Leger posted a photo of empty produce shelves at a Sobeys store in Saint John on Sunday, which many responded to with similar observations and questions: what's causing the shortages? What's being done about them? And when will they end?
Major retailers say the answer is right outside your door — in fact you may be shovelling it right now.
In the past 10 days, the Maritime provinces have been pummeled by four snowstorms, most recently on Monday by a messy mix of freezing rain, wind and snow. That's led to multiple delivery trucks being taken off the road for a few days, retailers explained.
🌟🌟🌟 Late Orders 🌟🌟🌟 Just a note to say if you're in the store and see some empty shelves in our departments we are still waiting on some orders, trucks have been off the roads for the past few days and they are trying to catch up. We do apologize, and we should be back in full stock soon. Thank You
"The back-to-back winter storms in the Atlantic region have caused some disruption on major routes," Sobeys Inc. spokesperson Sarah Dawson said Monday, highlighting the impact on the Cobequid Pass and the Confederation Bridge, .
"Storms in other regions like Ontario can have an effect on supply, but ... this will not be long term," Dawson said in an email. "If you notice an item that is low in stock, know it won't be for long."
A spokesperson for Loblaw Companies Limited, which owns the Atlantic Superstore chain of supermarkets, agreed, noting the issues are largely due to the weather and aren't affecting all stores.
"I know that with the weather, some of our stores are facing some issues, which are typical of this time of year," director of corporate affairs Mark Boudreau said in an email.
"Inclement weather often presents challenges, but overall, our stores in New Brunswick are managing inventory and supply quite effectively."
Like Dawson, Boudreau said the shortages will not be a long-term issue.
Several people posting on social media pointed out that they hadn't encountered any shortages at smaller, independent outlets. Leger, in Saint John, said she hopes that encourages shoppers to support their local, independently owned grocery stores.
One independent grocer said Monday the produce shelves were full and supply had not been an issue.
"Strains on the supply are common in produce," said Darren Lavigne, owner of Pete's Frootique in the Saint John City Market.
"Sometimes panic-buying is the culprit, in this case a big storm and new [government] restrictions," Lavigne said, noting he's "a little concerned" about the impact of a new vaccine mandate for truckers entering Canada.
As of Saturday, all Canadian truck drivers returning from the U.S. must have at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, otherwise they would have to quarantine for two weeks, the federal government said Thursday.
That's not something either Sobeys or Loblaw representatives cited as a factor in the current shortages, however, and it hasn't affected Pete's Frootique yet, either.
"So far, so good," Lavigne said. "I haven't had any major issues to this point."
Methinks folks should pay attention to Operation Bear Hug 2.0 N'esy Pas?
Darren Croft
All summer the news in the USA all showed water shortages both in drinking reservoir and in the aqua ducts that are used for watering both agriculture and live stock in multiple states , this could be the issue also , like others have stated we've had back to back storms before and this wasn't an issue, and the driver shortage seems like a weak excuse , truck shops are still busy, Conners transfer has no big hire drives on nor does any other transfer companies on job sites , the truth seems to be hidden
David Amos
Reply to @Darren Croft: Have you read the news about truckers lately???
doug kirby
There is a truck driver shortage and about to get worse….it’s not the weather ….wouldn’t it be something if someone would actually tell the truth even if for just 1 day
David Amos
Reply to @doug kirby: Bingo
Jonathan Richard
Reply to @doug kirby: This is the same as southwest blaming cancelled flights on the weather when in reality it was because pilots said no to their v a c c I n e mandate and weren’t showing up to work
Dan Stewart
Reply to @doug kirby: Where are you getting your truth from today doug?
Roger Melanson, shown here the day he officially became the interim leader of the New Brunswick Liberals, is a former finance minister and has been an MLA since 2010. (Jacques Poitras/CBC file photo)
Interim Liberal Leader Roger Melanson says he won't be a candidate in the party's leadership race this year.
In a written statement, Melanson acknowledged he'd been thinking of running but said he had decided against it.
"After careful consideration and conversations with family and close friends, I have decided that I will not put my name forward in this leadership race," he said.
In a media scrum at the legislature in December, Melanson would not rule out becoming a candidate.
Traditionally, interim party leaders commit when they're selected to not run for the permanent leadership position, but there's no rule prohibiting it.
Melanson, a former finance minister and an MLA since 2010, became interim leader after the party lost the 2020 provincial election, which saw then-leader Kevin Vickers fail to win a seat in the legislature.
The Liberals will choose a new leader Aug. 6.
There are three declared candidates for the leadership now. Former Tobique-Mactaquac MP T.J. Harvey and former MLA and cabinet minister Donald Arseneault have launched campaigns, and Saint John-area entrepreneur Seamus Byrne has told other media organizations he is running.
Melanson also said in his statement that he'll no longer be leader of the Official Opposition as of Aug. 6.
That will allow the new leader of the party, if they're not an MLA themselves, to choose a sitting, elected member for the parliamentary role.
In the email to reporters with Melanson's statement, Liberal director of communications Ashley Beaudin said Melanson would not be granting interviews about his decision.
Former licensed practical nurse Leah Gorham is seen driving an 18-wheeler near Enfield, N.S. (Submitted by Leah Gorham)
At 42, Leah Gorham has decided to trade in her stethoscope for life in the cab of an 18-wheeler because she saw no happy future for herself as a licensed practical nurse.
Speaking en route to Indiana and then South Carolina, Gorham said she will miss the friends she made in New Brunswick health care as well as the thrill of helping people recover from operations. But she's feeling good about her decision to hit the road.
"This thing's really long," Gorham said of her truck as she passed through a raging snowstorm this week. "It's hard to turn, and it's heavy, but not only am I able to see the monetary value, I'm seeing the world."
Over a 12-year span, Gorham worked in neurosurgery and then general surgery. She now works for a Dartmouth, N.S., transportation company and was hauling tires when CBC spoke with her on Tuesday.
Gorham says understaffing, violent patients, the stress of COVID-19 and a lack of career development drove her from her job at the Saint John Regional Hospital. (Submitted by Leah Gorham)
She said the Saint John Regional Hospital has always struggled with understaffing, but the pandemic made everything worse, and morale has taken a beating.
"A lot of the nurses are getting burned out. They're crying every day; they're crying in the bathroom. The people I know who are tough as nails, they just can't take it anymore."
Incident of patient assault
Gorham said it's having an impact on employee safety.
Nurses have become so over-stretched, she said, it's hard to find the time or energy to talk to each other about anything beyond what is urgent and immediate.
She thinks this contributed to the worst patient assault of her career.
Gorham chose life behind the wheel of a transport truck over her job at the Saint John Regional Hospital. (Submitted by Leah Gorham)
"We had so many patients apiece, we really couldn't communicate what was going on in the unit," said Gorham, describing what happened early one morning last August.
Gorham said a male patient whipped her in the face with his catheter bag, then pinned her up against the wall and tried to strangle her with his hands.
She said she later learned that he had shown signs overnight of becoming confused and aggressive, but nobody had had a chance to tell her that when she entered his room around six o'clock in the morning.
"I've been assaulted in the hospital more than a few times, but this time it was an attack that I couldn't get away from, and that's what scared me most."
'I wanted to be a nurse'
Despite everything, Gorham said, she wanted to stay in health care and had dreams of becoming a registered nurse. She said she applied multiple times to the bridging programs at the University of New Brunswick.
Gorham says the Saint John Regional Hospital has always struggled with understaffing, but the COVID-19 pandemic made it worse. (Wikipedia)
The programs are highly competitive. Those who are accepted take six online courses that prepare them to enter Year 3 of a four-year bachelor of nursing degree.
"I wanted to be a nurse for the rest of my life," Gorham said. "I applied at least three times and was flat-out rejected and honestly, I had no idea why."
Feeling that her future was bleak, with no hope for professional growth, she took a hard look at trucking.
Her boyfriend was a trucker and with his encouragement and support, Gorham took a 12-week truck-driving course at a cost of about $10,000 and obtained her Class 1 transport truck licence.
She's been doing the job since early January and so far, she's loving it.
"I really miss working with the girls," she said. "We really formed a strong relationship and a huge trust and I loved looking after people.
"But I was so frustrated with not getting ahead in nursing, I feel like this is a better fit for me right now."
Retention a national problem
The New Brunswick Nurses Union says the province has 1,000 registered nurse vacancies between the regional health authorities and the province's nursing homes.
The union said there's also a shortage of some 300 licensed practical nurses.
Meanwhile, the Omicron variant has forced hundreds of working health-care professionals to stay off the job.
On Jan. 3, Public Health reported 571 health-care staff were isolating at home.
The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) says the nursing gaps making headlines across the country appear to be a problem of retention, not supply.
While nursing seats at Canadian institutions were cut back in the early 2000s, they started to rebound after the SARS epidemic hammered Toronto hospitals in 2003.
New Brunswick's former auditor general, Kim Adair-MacPherson, criticized the province for failing to build on the number of nursing graduates, despite huge investment in nursing schools. (Catherine Harrop/CBC News file photo)
Prior to that outbreak, which caused 44 deaths, Canada was graduating about 5,000 registered nurses per year.
That has more than doubled. According to data gathered by the schools of nursing, Canada has been graduating more than 12,000 RNs annually over the past seven years.
"Demand to get into nursing is sky-high," said Cynthia Baker, executive director of CASN.
"We don't think we have a shortage of graduates," she said. "But nurses are leaving in droves right now."
New Brunswick an outlier
Baker said the one exception to national growth in nursing education seems to be New Brunswick.
According to the association's findings, New Brunswick graduated 268 RNs in 2015, 260 in 2016, 202 in 2017, 144 in 2018 and 148 in 2020.
That downward trend was flagged a few years ago by former auditor general Kim Adair-MacPherson. In 2019, she issued a report criticizing the provincial government for failing to effectively prepare for the looming nurse shortage.
Adair-MacPherson noted that a program put in place in 2005 — which gave the University of Moncton and University of New Brunswick close to $100 million to create more seats in their nursing programs — was unsuccessful.
She said the province failed to add a single seat.
Your leader has lost all confidence in this Province! Hope you enjoyed it because it's about to end!
David Amos
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Reply to @Raymond Leger: Trudeau The Younger and his old Yankee buddy Joe are driving legions of truckers out of their trade with their cross border jab mandates
Pat Holland
I hope she joins the rest of the truckers in Canada that are standing up for every Canadian by protesting the mandates. It’s time to take back our country from the power hungry politicians
Louis Leblanc
Reply to @Pat Holland: Protesting againt vaccination in the face of the greatest pandemic we have ever seen is not standing up for Canadians much less nurses and doctors.
michael levesque
Reply to @Pat Holland: truckers should be protesting the low pay!!!!!
John Munson
Reply to @Pat Holland: No truckers standing up for me for anything. Support vaccination 100%.
Pat Holland
Reply to @John Munson: it’s not about supporting a vaccine it’s about forcing anything on an entire population. You just don’t get it.
Pat Holland
Reply to @John Munson: Do you think every trucker protesting is unvaccinated? That is not the case. Ignorance is not a defence
Pat Holland
Reply to @Louis Leblanc: they are protesting mandates and lockdowns not the vaccine they don’t care if you get 100 doses. It’s about our rights. About closing business’s putting people out of work. But your not probably able to differentiate between the two.
Primrose Budd
Reply to @Pat Holland: truck drivers hold the lives of all Canadians in their hands. Now if they can just stand up together and realize it. Canadian don't eat, stay warm or get medical supplies without a truck driver. If they all stopped working for about 3-4 days it would change everything. Got my fingers crossed that they say enough is enough.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Pat Holland: So are you against forced seat belt laws, forced helmet laws, forced rules of the road laws, forced no-smoking laws, forced bilingualism? All of those things and more are "forced" onto a population.
Louis Leblanc
Reply to @Pat Holland: I work in healthcare so don't lecture me. We are all in the same boat right now and this pandemic will eventually pass but the longer we ignore basic public health guidelines, the longer this nightmare will last. I'm all for human right but also understand that these are exceptional times.
David Amos
Reply to @Pat Holland: I happy to see mention of Operation Bear Hug 2.0
David Amos
Reply to @Primrose Budd: Well said
Jim Smith
Great, now if all the nurses did what she did the truck drivers shortage would be solved.
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Smith: Methinks Operation Bear Hug 2.0 may be of some assistance in that regard N'esy Pas?
Roosevelt Smith
Reply to @David Amos: what is operation bear hug?
David Amos
Reply to @Roosevelt Smith: A Huge Convoy of Trucks are gathering to go to Ottawa from across Canada beginning on the 23rd
David Amos
Reply to @Roosevelt Smith: A Huge Convoy of Trucks are gathering to go to Ottawa from across Canada beginning on the 23rd
Roosevelt Smith
Reply to @David Amos: to do what?
David Amos
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Reply to @Roosevelt Smith: To protest the jab mandates and lockdowns in a big way
David Amos
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Reply to @Roosevelt Smith: I know for a fact that Tamara Lich an Organizer in Medicine Hat, AB has raised $431,352 of $500,000 goal in support of the convoy in just over 3 days
Stuart Udovitch
Reply to @David Amos: So?
David Amos
Content deactivated
Reply to @Stuart Udovitch: So its becoming blatantly obvious that many people have enough of this lockdown nonsense At the very least a nurse just proved that byway of this very article CORRECT???
Reply to @Stuart Udovitch: Ask yourself what just happened
Lou Bell
Weeks on the road , deadlines to meet , and sleeping in a truck ! And not many sites to see from an Interstate . It'll wear on one really quick ! I'd give her a year at the most
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: So you say
June Arnott
Reply to @Lou Bell: why are you always so negative? Is your own life thaat sad?
Daryl McMurphy
Reply to @Lou Bell: From someone in the industry I 100% concur.
Daryl McMurphy
Reply to @David Amos: Don't dismiss his comment so easily, he know what he says.
David Amos
Content deactivated
Reply to @Daryl McMurphy: He is a she
M Crowley
Reply to @Lou Bell: 25 year OTR driver & proud that I left the industry in 2018.
David Amos
Reply to @Daryl McMurphy: FYI Its Madame Bell
Hot news flash: If you treat your employees like trash and slaves, many of them will quit. This is what's been happening all across the country. Especially in those provinces that insist on electing - over and over - clearly incompetent governments of a specific persuasion. You reap what you sow.
1 hour ago
Reply to @Michael Adrian: They should make it hard to quit. /s
1 hour ago
Reply to @Bala Viswa: Tell us how, indentured slaves?
1 hour ago
Reply to @Michael Adrian: 'specific persuasion' ??
1 hour ago
Reply to @Bala Viswa: yeah, we need to go back to slavery.
1 hour ago
Reply to @Fritz Mahngoy: CONs. In 7 of 10 Provinces. But the worst offenders are the Prairie Provinces. All 3 of them.
1 hour ago
Reply to @Fritz Mahngoy: Healthcare workers are already declared "Essential Services". So they can't work to rule, strike and such. It's dicey about how easy it is for them to quit. More critically, they can be forced to work unpaid overtime - at the risk of heavy fines and even jail. Most reasonable people would call that "slavery lite", since they do get paid a base rate.
1 hour ago
Reply to @Michael Adrian: It's not dicey on whether they can quit or not. You are obviously out of sync with labour law and human rights. Here is how it works, you say I quit and leave. Just like that, there are no laws or policies forcing people to stay at a job. The biggest prevention to this occurring on mass is the fair and reasonable treatment of employees. That simple.
1 hour ago
Reply to @Bruce Scott: Recent rumblings from assorted CON governments about making it difficult to quit for "essential employees" notwithstanding? See also the rather large, broad and expanding range of what is classified as "essential" work. Just for fun, see how well assorted labour laws - especially wrt overtime pay - are actually enforced.
58 minutes ago
Reply to @Michael Adrian: Alberta passed a law making it legal to force staff to work shifts and overtime.
55 minutes ago
Reply to @Michael Adrian: Laws that make it "difficult to quit"? How do you dream this stuff up?
7 minutes ago
Reply to @Colleen Bramall: I don't need to "dream anything up". I just need to read the news, visit assorted official government websites and similar stuff.
3 minutes ago
David Amos
Reply to @Michael Adrian: I second that emotion
Derek Billings
quite a pivot in careers moves. hopefully the saint john hospital will find more nurses for patients. good luck with the new career and stay safe on the roads. be wary of animals and drunk drivers
David Amos
Reply to @Derek Billings: Ditto
Fritz Mahngoy
Funny, I never knew about SARS or others ...demics, went right past me. Guess what you don't know doesn't hurt you. I feel privileged, enjoying 'life in the boonies'
Michael Kennedy
Reply to @Fritz Mahngoy: your privilege
David Amos
Reply to @Fritz Mahngoy: Me Too
Jack Dorcas
So, are there any parts of our health care programs which are well managed? It doesn't matter if we elect a conservative government or a liberal government - neither have the will or courage to tackle the basic management of the departments of health and social services. Worse still our politicians have the nerve to be surprised when stories such as this come out. I don't believe anyone gets elected with the intention of doing a bad job but it seems once they gain office they loose the courage to make the hard decisions and install people, processes and structures which will bring the basics of good governance into our public service. The fear of failure and the resulting wrath of the population takes over and they continue to "kick the ball down the road."
Albert Daniels
Reply to @Jack Dorcas: A good example is Alberta where the NDP started building a superlab in Edmonton to centralize lab services and reduce costs. The UCP conservatives took over, cancelled construction on the lab and contracted out the lab service. Just yesterday a small community near Edmonton just closed their lab service and residents have to drive to the next closest place for lab work.
Michael Kennedy
Reply to @Jack Dorcas: there are too many people running for office who are just looking for a good paying job, the perks are fantastic, decisions are not personal, head back feet up?
David Amos
Reply to @Jack Dorcas: I kinda sorta agree with you However I know for a fact that certain politicians play the wicked game for their personal benefit and that of their benefactors
Albert Daniels
Reply to @Michael Kennedy: With a bottle of Jamisons. We even lost a MLA for heavy drinking, “IN THE LEGISLATURE”.
Bob Black
Reply to @Albert Daniels: Its in the Conservative DNA to sell off public assets.
Jimmy Belafonte
Reply to @Jack Dorcas: Most are grifters. Get what they can before the axe falls. If you have no agenda. You expect honesty and integrity. And all decisions are made for the good of the citizens, don't apply. Its not for you.
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Daniels: Too Too Funny
Walt Evans
And long haul trucking is a breeze? Hope she has her shots to.
David Amos
Reply to @Walt Evans: LMAO
Mitch Alder
Good for her. And it gets her out of New Brunswick, with it's lowest literacy rate in Canada, worst economy in Canada, and lowest post-secondary attendance in Canada. And that's just for starters ;-)
David Amos
Reply to @Mitch Alder: OH MY MY Methinks somebody is spoiling for a fight with Proud Maritimers N'esy Pas?
Mitch Alder
What do they call a young person in New Brunswick?
Shooting through.
Jimmy Flint
Reply to @Mitch Alder: I was going to say a tourist but that works.
Albert Daniels
Reply to @Mitch Alder: I remember driving through NB years ago and that was my thought as well. Tar paper shacks and new trucks.
David Amos
Reply to @Mitch Alder: Not Funny
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Daniels: Yea Right
Albert Daniels
Reply to @David Amos: Central NB.
Mitch Alder
Reply to @David Amos: "Not Funny"
And yet it's true. New Brunswick has been losing population, mostly young people, for most of the last 20 years. Funny that. They just managed to break even for a couple of years. Amazing.
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Daniels: Is where the billionaire McCains and all their wealthy buddies live in tar paper shacks Correct?
David Amos
Reply to @Mitch Alder: I bet you have been laughing at me for years Correct?
Albert Daniels
Reply to @David Amos: Nope , they are probably on the coast somewhere.
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Daniels: Dream on
Albert Daniels
Reply to @David Amos: About what, living in NB?
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Daniels: I am living the dream Furthermore I am willing to wager that Central NB has more millionaires per capita than Toronto does
Albert Daniels
Reply to @David Amos: Now that’s a stretch. Enjoy NB.
Mitch Alder
Reply to @David Amos: NB is one of the top 3 pot-smoking provinces in Canada. A basket of Millionaires? Nope. But with enough smoke it might make people think that they are.
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Daniels: I was not joking Even your beloved former Minister of Finance married a McCain. Need I say I enjoy the fact that you are not here but enjoy reading all the CBC articles about the young folks who moving down here from your neck of the woods. BTW I would lay odds that you do not know I am
David Amos
Reply to @Mitch Alder: I don't smoke dope and rarely drink but methinks it would be wise for you to back away from the pipe for a while N'esy Pas?
Dave Johnson
Riveting news, maybe they’ll let us know what she had for dinner too
David Amos
Reply to @Dave Johnson: Maybe you should have a nap
Marcel Stanford
You have an obligation to yourself to do what makes you happy. Good for her.
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Doctors seek tougher rules for the unvaccinated
Proof of vaccination at big-box stores may be one way to boost rates, says president Dr. Mark MacMillan
CBC News ·
Dr. Mark MacMillan, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, says he has been targeted on social media over his calls for tougher COVID-19 vaccination rules. (New Brunswick Medical Society)
The head of the New Brunswick Medical Society says it's time to get tough with people who resist getting vaccinated against COVID-19
Dr. Mark MacMillan is calling on the province to use penalties, such as restricted hours, reduced access, or banning people who are unvaccinated from big-box stores, such as Costco and Walmart, to encourage compliance.
But he stops short at proposing mandatory vaccinations or following the lead of Quebec and imposing a health tax on the unvaccinated.
"Health care is universal across this country, it is a right for every individual to access health care, and I want to stress that right now, that no matter what your vaccine status is in this province, if you need the health-care system, we will provide the care that we can at that time to our best effort," he said.
"It looks different now than it did two and a half years ago, for sure because of the pandemic. But we are still providing health care and we will continue to do that."
More than eight per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have still not received any vaccine, as COVID hospitalizations and case numbers continue to soar because of the Omicron variant.
In a statement, Premier Blain Higgs said he is "pleased the New Brunswick Medical Society supports the idea of taking action to encourage vaccination," and respects its advocacy for its members and for all health-care providers.
"If any changes will be made, they'll be made through Cabinet and COVID Cabinet Committee," he said.
Public patience is "wearing a little thin" toward the unvaccinated, he said. "They don't see why they have to have restrictions when they … have gone … the extra mile and got vaccinated."
Higgs has asked various departments for suggestions regarding where restrictions can be tightened for the unvaccinated.
MacMilan said the province should look at the data from other jurisdictions to see what has worked in increasing vaccination rates.
"Mr. Higgs has said everything's on the table," he said. "We're suggesting everything should stay on the table and have that discussion moving forward."
"Some people when — no matter what education you provide, what discussion you have — some people will decide in the end that vaccination just is not for them. And that's why we speak on herd immunity. We won't probably ever get 100 per cent, and that's OK.
"But if we can get to a high enough number, where the general population is safe and we're moving forward and our health-care system can recover, that's important."
Public Health reported four more COVID-related deaths Wednesday, marking 22 in seven days, and a record-high of 123 COVID hospitalizations, including four people 19 or under.
Eleven people are in intensive care, six of them are on ventilators.
Sixty-seven of the people hospitalized with COVID were admitted for other reasons when they tested positive.
A total of 342 health-care workers who have tested positive are off, isolating.
There were 498 new COVID cases confirmed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing, putting the active caseload at 4,296. That figure doesn't include people testing positive on rapid tests.
An additional 805 people tested positive on rapid tests and registered their results online.
As of Wednesday, 33.7 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received a booster dose, 83.5 per cent have received two doses, and 91.3 per cent have received one dose.
A total of 662,339 PCR tests have been conducted to date, including 3,134 on Tuesday. That's a positivity rate of 15.9 per cent.
New Brunswick has had 24,001 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 19,507 recoveries so far and 196 deaths.
Methinks I have the right meet Dr. Mark MacMillan's challenge Nesy Pas?
Mike Kline
Reply to @David Amos: Yes. Go tell him what you think.
David Amos
Reply to @Mike Kline: Already did
Christine Payne
Reply to @David Amos: Hey Dave! Nice to see you on here since our mutual friend confirmed who you are for me! My first day back in a while. Hope you're well and having fun ;)
David Amos
Reply to @Christine Payne: I am having more fun than ten men. How are you doing?
Christine Payne
Reply to @David Amos: Doing great!! I am feeling a positive change in the air and am excited at the momentum being gained. Good times!!
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: Told his junk email box you mean......
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: The right meat? Does the good Dr go that way??
David Amos
I wonder if Dr. Mark MacMillan knows that just one Organizer Tamara Lich of Medicine Hat, AB has raised $687,068 in 4 days to support of the convoy about to roll across Canada to make things tougher or him and his political pals
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to @David Amos: I had a little jingle about that lot, to the tune of a song from Mary Poppins.
I don't need to post it to know it would get deactivated within seconds due to the profanity.
DJ Redfearn
Reply to @David Amos: Excellent, lets hope she makes available to all the doners an audited statement of expenses...
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: I expect he's quaking in his boots for that ten vote wonder just like he is for the one here ;-)
Service New Brunswick received 50 applications for to review a rent increase notice between September and the end of December 2021. (CBC)
The office that settles disputes between tenants and landlords in New Brunswick received about 50 complaints of large rent increases in the last four months of 2021.
It's part of a "slight increase" in the number of such complaints that employees with Service New Brunswick are handling recently, according to Jessica Bernier, the province's chief residential tenancies officer.
"There is currently a low vacancy rate in the province, and so as a result, that has kind of a trickle-down effect to having an impact," said Bernier, speaking to CBC's Harry Forestell.
"So there is a slight increase in those particular requests. And also, obviously, media coverage does increase people's awareness and sensitivity to it. So it is something that we're seeing more."
Bernier said applications by tenants seeking to challenge a proposed rent increase remains a "small percentage" of the roughly 4,000 cases her offices handles in a normal year.
Jessica Bernier, chief residential tenancies officer with Service New Brunswick, said her office has seen a slight increase in the number of applications from tenants appealing proposed rent increases in recent months. (CBC)
For close to a year now, tenants from almost every corner of the province have come forward with stories of their landlord hiking their rent by anywhere from 40 to 70 per cent.
The actions by these landlords have forced some to find new places to live, and inspired calls for tighter controls on when and how landlords can increase rents.
Stats don't paint full picture
Aditya Rao, a member of the New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights, said the figures provided by Bernier don't provide an accurate picture of how many people have been hit recently with hefty, unreasonable increases in their monthly rent costs.
Rao noted that until last month, landlords had more freedom to hike rents, with no recourse for many tenants.
Prior to Dec. 17, only tenants who'd been renting a unit for more than five years had the option to appeal a rent increase with Service New Brunswick. Now, anyone can file an appeal with Bernier's office if they feel their rent has been unfairly increased.
"The vast majority of those rent increases could not actually be reviewed," said Rao, referring to notices issued before Dec. 17, 2021.
"The tribunal had no jurisdiction to review rent increases and do anything about them if you were not a long-term tenant."
The amendments also made it so that a landlord must now give a tenant at least six months notice of any rent increase, and cannot issue a rent increase to the same tenant twice within 12 months.
Rao said other tenants simply don't have the time or understand the process well enough to file an appeal.
Aditya Rao, member of the New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights, said the number of complaints received by Service New Brunswick likely doesn't paint an accurate picture of the number of unfair rent increases happening in the province. (CBC)
"The fact that the tribunal is not seeing a significantly large number of complaints is a reflection of the fact that the system is not accessible, that it doesn't protect tenants and that the government is allowing this exploitation to continue."
Changes still needed
Rao said the most effective tool for combating unfair rent increases would be for the government to introduce rent controls that capped the amount that a landlord could raise a tenant's rent annually.
Despite recent stories from tenants facing large hikes, Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch has said the province already has sufficient protections for tenants.
Rent control aside, Rao said tenants could also be helped out by requiring that landlords submit proposed rent increases to Service New Brunswick, which would then approve or deny the increase.
Bernier said right now landlords can issue a notice of a rent increase to tenants and if the tenant wants to appeal it, they can file an application with Service New Brunswick.
Bernier's team can then strike down the increase, or allow it, basing its decision on factors including the condition of the unit and how it compares to similar ones in the same neighbourhood.
Rao said that leaves tenants potentially fielding a series of proposed rent hikes, which they must take on the burden of challenging each time.
"It's an endless circus," Rao said.
"The landlord simply has to just bring forward a new notice and then the tenant has to start all over again, which is extremely stressful, extremely time-consuming for a lot of tenants who are trying to live a life during a pandemic."
Eileen Godin and her family have lived in the same building on Bonita Avenue in Saint John for seven years. A rent increase of $375 a month is forcing them to move at the end of the month. (Robert Jones/CBC News)
A Saint John family that's lived in the same apartment building since 2014 is moving out at the end of January after the property's new landlord increased their rent by $375 per month.
"I just couldn't believe it," said resident Eileen Godin. "I've lived here for seven years and the most we've ever had for an increase is $25."
Godin lives in a 12-unit building on Bonita Avenue with her partner, Mark Taylor, and 15-year-old daughter. They are paying $725 a month, but were notified in October that it would jump to $1,100 on Feb. 1, an increase of 52 per cent.
The property sold in September to a numbered company based in Langley, B.C., for $1.2 million. That's $517,500 more than Service New Brunswick valued it to be worth in its most recent assessment on Jan. 1.
The numbered company that bought the property lists Ryan and Christina Leeper as its president and vice-president. Calls to their phone number on Wednesday went to voicemail and were not returned.
Rent hike followed appliance installation
According to Godin, each unit had washers and dryers installed following the sale to replace coin-operated machines in the basement. But she said that's not enough to justify paying an extra $4,500 a year to live there.
Godin believes a number of her neighbours are in the same position.
"The people that live in these buildings, they're making minimum wage and a little bit better, but nothing substantial," said Godin, who works at a fast-food restaurant.
Two apartments in the building are currently listed for $1,100 on Kijiji by the property management company as being available for rent as of Feb. 1.
Godin said most tenants "can't afford that kind of money."
A Statistics Canada report released in April 2021 found that rent increases in New Brunswick were the largest in Canada from March 2020 to March 2021, when rents rose by almost five per cent.
Kit Hickey, the executive director for Housing Alternatives Inc., says unreasonable rent increases can cause escalating social problems, including homelessness. (CBC News file photo)
Huge rent increases 'not unheard of'
The family joins a growing list of New Brunswick tenants who have told CBC that they have been forced to move in recent months following the sale of their buildings and subsequent rent hikes.
It's something affordable housing advocate Kit Hickey says her office sees frequently.
"As these buildings turn over, they are seeing huge increases in rent. Fifty, 75 per cent is not unheard of," Hickey said.
"What we're looking at are so many more people being forced into unaffordable housing situations," she said, adding that in some cases "all of the other necessities of life are forgotten. People are not eating properly, they don't get medications or they're forced into homelessness."
Hickey is executive director of Housing Alternatives Inc., which helps manage non-profit and co-op housing buildings throughout southern New Brunswick. It has no vacancies in any of its buildings.
Sufficient protections for tenants, minister says
Despite the recent substantial rent increases, New Brunswick Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch told CBC News on Tuesday the province has sufficient protections for tenants.
He pointed out that there is a rule in New Brunswick that rent increases are not supposed to exceed what is generally charged in a given area in buildings of similar condition. That effectively constitutes "rent control," he said.
But in practice, increases of any amount in New Brunswick are allowed if a tenant does not formally object to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal within 30 days of receiving notice.
And in buildings where some tenants file an objection and some do not, a tribunal ruling that an increase is unreasonable applies only to those who have submitted paperwork.
"If you don't make the complaint, it's not going to be acted upon," acknowledged Fitch.
Tenants in this building on Sussex Drive in Saint John received rent increase notices of up to 74 per cent in December. According to Statistics Canada, N.B. rent increases were the largest in the country from March 2020 to March 2021, when rents rose by almost five per cent. (Robert Jones/CBC News)
Complaints process difficult for some renters
Hickey says that is a problem because many low-income renters don't have the tools needed to understand the rules and fill out the forms.
"Filing those complaints is not easy," she said.
"Many people do not have the wherewithal or the expertise to make their way through the whole system. And you've got a lot of people who experience financial difficulty and have lived with it all of their lives and they don't have a lot of confidence in the system either."
Godin and her partner, Mark Taylor, were entitled to file an objection but chose not to do so.
Taylor said the process of objecting is cumbersome and his past experience with Service New Brunswick has left him with the impression it will favour landlords in a dispute with tenants.
"The paperwork and the stuff you've got to do, it's kind of ridiculous, really," he said. "You should be able to just make a phone call."
Godin said the family managed to find another apartment nearby at a decent rent, but she is worried about what will happen if that building sells, too.
"The prices are going ridiculously high," she said. "I feel that it shouldn't be allowed. I think the government should put a cap on [rent increases] like they do in other provinces."
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.
Methinks many folks would have to agree that Mr Jones enjoys Higgy's circus as much as I do N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: "It's an endless circus," Aditya Rao said.
Mandel Rooney
There need to be rent contols put in place. Too many properties are being bought up by investment companies who are looking for a quick return on investment. Most buy the properties, don't do one stitch of improvement work and jack up the prices. It shold be criminal.
John Hayden
Reply to @Mandel Rooney: I couldn't agree more. Our government has to step up here and protect the most vulnerable from what is, quite simply, shameless greed on the part of landlords like this!
Thomas Hall
Reply to @Mandel Rooney: Retro active to 2019.
David Amos
Reply to @John Hayden: Dream on
Laurie Savage
NB is apparently now Toronto minus the wages to go with it. If Blaine HIggs does not do anything he will be eliminated and I say lets do it sooner. The seniors in the province are literally becoming homeless. Low income seniors have ZERO options and they are the demographic that voted for him.
Hank Fletcher
Reply to @Laurie Savage: Well said! Part of the issue is that no one wants to identify as being "poor," but that's a big part of the NB demo.
If you and your partner are bringing in less that $60,000 a year, which many NB seniors and minimum-wage earners are, the Canadian government considers you to be living under the poverty line.
Wear your poverty badge with pride - but tell your MLA you don't want to. They work for you
David Amos
Reply to @Hank Fletcher: Amen
Stanley Beemish
Reply to @Laurie Savage: Any economist will explain in simple terms that the best cure for high prices is high prices...
Onager Smith
Reply to @Stanley Beemish: The best cure for garbage government then is garbage government letting their garbage policies harm their constituents like this.
Higgs & Co deserve to be tossed out on their azzes for inviting all these predatory out of province speculators to prey on vulnerable NBers. And that's before you even consider all the money this piracy will vacuum OUT of the NB economy. Conservative math strikes again...
René Legacy, the Liberal MLA for Bathurst West-Beresford, says N.B.Power should at least consider companies outside the province when shopping for small modular nuclear reactors. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
A Liberal MLA is urging N.B. Power to shop around for other nuclear power options as the utility faces a looming 2030 deadline to find new sources of electricity.
René Legacy says eight years is not a lot of time to figure out replacement power for the Belledune generating station, and small modular reactors built in other provinces should be in the mix.
"I think everything should be on the table to make sure we can produce electricity in 2030," the Bathurst West-Beresford MLA said in an interview.
"Of course, I'd rather a New Brunswick-first solution, by far my favourite solution. But I don't think we can discount if there's anybody else available. … I'm not a big fan of eliminating any opportunities. If it's out there, at least study it."
N.B. Power's Belledune generating station must stop burning coal by 2030. (NB Power)
N.B. Power must stop burning coal in Belledune by 2030 to comply with the federal government's climate change plan.
The Crown corporation is working with two companies operating in Saint John, ARC Clean Energy and Moltex Energy, which are developing small modular reactors with the help of tens of millions of dollars in government money.
The utility sees SMRs as a way to overcome an electricity shortfall when coal power is phased out at Belledune at the end of the decade.
But this week former utility CEO Gaëtan Thomas said the regulatory process may delay those reactors past 2030 or even 2035, when federal rules will require that all electricity generation in Canada have net zero carbon emissions.
Legacy questioned N.B. Power CEO Keith Cronkhite about that at Thursday's meeting of the legislature's committee on climate change and environmental stewardship.
The committee has been hearing from witnesses about what should be in the province's new five-year climate plan, and much of the discussion has turned on the debate over renewable energy versus nuclear power.
N.B. Power CEO Keith Cronkhite told Legacy the Saint John companies working on SMR technology are on schedule to be ready by 2030. (Roger Cosman/CBC News)
Cronkhite said Thursday that an agreement with ARC Clean Energy that includes timelines and milestones has been "tweaked and adjusted" but that did not affect the overall schedule to have their reactors ready by 2030.
"Overall we're on track to still achieve that original schedule," he said.
Legacy asked Cronkhite about reports that Terrestrial Energy, based in Oakville, Ont., may have SMRs ready in 2028 and suggested they might be an option for N.B. Power.
Cronkhite said the utility would "monitor" Terrestrial's progress but said their reactor design is "not as advanced" as the two being worked on in Saint John and N.B. Power is "laser-focused on that technology being here for 2030."
But he said the utility is also looking at ways to "alleviate" the 2030 date for Belledune's coal phase-out by examining whether other fuel sources such as biomass could be used at the plant until the SMRs are ready.
An architectural rendering of Terrestrial Energy's molten salt reactor power plant that it expects to have in production by the end of the decade. Legacy says N.B. Power should be at least considering the Oakville, Ont., company. (Terrestrial Energy)
"Should there be a technology, particularly the ARC technology, that isn't ready in 2030 but is ready in 2031 or 2032, we've afforded ourselves the time," he said.
N.B. Power spokesperson Marc Belliveau said the Crown corporation had identified ARC and Moltex as the companies with technology "best suited" for development in New Brunswick but officials were in "constant contact" with utilities elsewhere.
"Discussions will continue and courses of action can change in the years ahead on generation needs not only in the nuclear field, but many other generation options," he said.
Last year the province handed ARC Clean Energy $20 million in taxpayer funding to support its work, while Moltex Energy received more than $50 million from the federal government. The previous provincial Liberal government gave each of them $5 million.
Legacy says buying a reactor from a company other than those two is "not the ideal situation. I'd rather see ARC or Moltex be offered the opportunity."
But he said "time is moving on" and if N.B. Power is going to look elsewhere it can't afford to wait until 2028 or 2029.
He also said with other plants coming offline in the next two decades, including the Point Lepreau nuclear station in 2040, ARC and Moltex will still be able to sell several reactors to N.B. Power.
Cronkhite told MLAs Thursday that without Belledune, it would be difficult for N.B. Power to continue supplying the same level of electricity to New Brunswickers without nuclear power.
He said while wind and solar power now make more business sense, even when combined with hydro power, energy efficiency and demand-shifting technology, they won't be enough to power the province on the coldest days of the year.
"We do need base-load generation, carbon-free, to provide that backup," he said. "We see small modular reactors … as part of that solution moving forward."
Green Party Leader David Coon pressed Cronkhite about several reports touting wind power, including one by Dalhousie University's Renewable Energy Storage Lab that says some of New Brunswick's coastal areas are "world class in terms of wind speeds."
Green Party Leader David Coon pressed N.B. Power on wind power. Cronkhite told him wind is too unreliable for assuring electricity production in the peak winter months. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
Cronkhite said even so, there's not enough "wind diversity" in the province to guarantee it will generate enough electricity to meet demand at peak times.
"Typically what we see is if it's not blowing in northern New Brunswick, it may be blowing a little bit in southern New Brunswick but not enough to make up the difference," he said.
"We have to make sure on those cold days of the year that we have the resources to back up and to step in when that wind is not blowing."
The Pembina Institute, a clean energy think tank, released a report Thursday that said small nuclear reactors would be more expensive and generate less electricity that a combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
"A clean energy portfolio can generate electricity in New Brunswick … at a lower life cycle cost to consumers than gas plants or SMRs while providing the same services," the report says.
Nuclear reactors do not emit greenhouse gases, though critics say they create other environmental risks.
Pembina's report said it did not include SMRs in its combination of clean-energy options because the reactors aren't available yet. Instead it compared them to its portfolio of non-emitting sources like wind and solar.
Reply to @David Amos: I mean I can see the point from political perspectives to look at home grown to maintain expertise jobs etc given we are a well established nuclear site. But the long term stuff with Lepreau, being new at the time, and now with billion dollar issues makes or should be a warning to trying to do this alone again with a new product from scratch. Its a constant made in NB perspective, admirable, but often a problem for consumer. Some IT stuff has done well, SNB sites, property tax and satellite sites etc , some cyber stuff etc are commendable.
David Amos
Reply to @Ian Scott: Trust that things are not what they appear to be
Kyle Woodman
Can we please stop with the Made in NB solution. We are a small province. No need to reinvent the wheel when Quebec has the Hydroelectric power to solve the problem. I’d like to see the historic ROI of NBP’s investments. I doubt we’ve recouped a single cent of what has been spent.
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: As you well know I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
Scott Martini
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: agreed, it may not be “made in NB” but it is safe, clean and readily available. NB power needs to suck it up and get the power from Quebec to replace Beldune.
Dominic Cardy called out the Fredericton force in a series of tweets, asking why the 'illegal' gathering is being allowed and suggesting their enforcement of the law is selective. (Ed Hunter/CBC News file photo)
Education Minister Dominic Cardy is publicly criticizing the Fredericton police over their response to a planned anti-lockdown protest in the capital city on Saturday.
In a series of posts on social media, Cardy called out the police force, asking why the "illegal" gathering is being allowed under the rules of New Brunswick's COVID-19 emergency order and suggesting their enforcement of the law is selective.
The posts began with a tweet on Thursday in response to a Fredericton police news release regarding the planned protest.
The release, posted on Twitter and on the force's Facebook page, noted that police are "aware of the planned rally" scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Fredericton City Hall.
Hi! As a Fredericton MLA can you let me know how any sort of gathering is allowed under the Emergency Order, which specifically prohibits them? New Brunswickers have given up a huge amount over the past two years. This seems like one rule for one group, another for everyone else
"We have connected with the organizers of this event to discuss their intentions and make them aware of the possible consequences to gathering without following current public health measures," the release said, noting that officers will be recording the event via the force's drone and body-worn video cameras.
"We respect the right to peaceful demonstration, and our goal is to ensure public safety and security for all."
Cardy responded by asking police: "As a Fredericton MLA can you let me know how any sort of gathering is allowed under the Emergency Order, which specifically prohibits them?"
He later tweeted his phone number and said police should "feel free to call" him to clarify, "along with what other laws are optional in Fredericton if you decide you really don't like them."
Feel free to call me at 238-5550 but a public clarification would be appreciated, along with information on what other laws are optional in Fredericton if you decide you really don’t like them.
On Friday afternoon, Cardy posted an announcement from the protesters' Facebook page, again calling out the Fredericton police.
"These folks think their rally tomorrow is okay, based on your message from yesterday," he said in a tweet.
"Please clarify that this gathering is illegal, and that there is no way to attend peacefully without risking a fine."
New Brunswick has been at the most restrictive level of its COVID management plan for a week, and it's to stay in lockdown at least until Jan. 30.
The police force has not publicly responded to Cardy's tweets or answered a CBC News request for comment, sent Friday afternoon.
Cardy did not respond to requests for an interview either.
J.P. Lewis, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, said that Cardy's latest tweets exemplify his unique and 'effective' social media strategy. (CBC)
'Not unusual for Cardy,' political scientist says
But political science professor J.P. Lewis, who teaches at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, said that a cabinet minister tangling with the police via social media isn't surprising — for Cardy.
"I think generally, we would describe it as unusual for a minister, but I wouldn't describe it as unusual for Dominic Cardy, just in terms of how he uses social media," Lewis said.
He noted that while cabinet ministers tend to use social media in very scripted and non-combative ways, Cardy has forged his own social-media style.
Cardy, whose pro-vaccination stance has been clearly and publicly established, was engaging in heated social media debates with anti-vaccination groups and individuals long before COVID-19 arrived, he said.
"We know that when the minister decides to turn up the volume politically … this is how he does it. And I think in the sense of bringing attention to it, it is effective," Lewis said.
Meeting protesters on their playing field
Taking his message to Twitter and directly targeting the group or the message he opposes "raises the stakes."
"By getting it out on social media, we know that brings a lot more attention compared to maybe traditional means of a minister releasing a press release saying 'I've contacted the local authorities and I'm concerned,' " Lewis said.
"If you tweet about it, it draws a lot more attention in this day and age."
There's also the advantage, whether deliberate or coincidental, that Cardy is meeting these groups "on their playing field," Lewis said.
Protesters rely on social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter, to spread their message, Lewis said.
Methinks Cardy should calm down and to try enjoy some of his butter tarts N'esy Pas?
David Amos
"J.P. Lewis, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, said that Cardy's latest tweets exemplify his unique and 'effective' social media strategy."
Now that is truly too too funny
George Mann
Cardiac idiot should shut up and go play with himself in his little corner..
David Amos
Reply to @George Mann: Perhaps that would be wise but that is the last thing he is and he does a quite good job in making Higgy's circus very entertaining
David Amos
Deja Vu Anyone???
NDP gets help from democracy expert CBC News · Posted: Jan 09, 2006 4:23 PM AT
An international expert on democracy has flown all the way from Egypt to help NDP candidate John Carty campaign in Fredericton.
Dominic Cardy is with a group called The National Democratic Institute. Its members include such people as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The group's mission is to teach democratic values and spread democracy around the world.
Cardy has taught about democracy in Algeria, Bangladesh, and Cambodia during the past few years. When he heard his friend John Carty was running for office back in his home town of Fredericton, he hopped on a plane.
"It was a strange experience," Cardy said. "One evening I was watching the sun go down over the pyramids, and the next evening watched it go down over Fredericton airport as I came into land."
Cardy is no relation to the NDP candidate. But he loves elections and loves getting people pumped up about democracy.
Carty the candidate is running against federal Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott, Conservative Pat Lynch, Green candidate Philip Duchastel and independent David Amos. The riding has sent Scott to Ottawa for the last four elections, despite the best efforts of the other parties.
Cardy says he doesn't care how tough the race his he just wants people to participate in the process. "People have forgotten how incredibly precious these gifts that our ancestors fought for are and were just giving them away. It makes me furious when I talk to people and people just say 'ah there's no point in voting.'"
After election day, Dominic Cardy is flying back home to his wife in Kathmandu, Nepal. He hopes to leave behind a new Member of Parliament for Fredericton, his friend John Carty for the NDP
Hi! As a Fredericton MLA can you let me know how any sort of gathering is allowed under the Emergency Order, which specifically prohibits them? New Brunswickers have given up a huge amount over the past two years. This seems like one rule for one group, another for everyone else
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms : Free to participate in peaceful demonstrations. As far as I know, Special emergency measures cannot infringe on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Canadian Bill of Rights.
Edicts handed down from a provincial government do not supersede the supreme law of the land, the Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms. It’s scary you are an elected official, and a “conservative” one at that.
No restrictions in Florida no issues. Restaurants open, bars open, Orlando Magic sold out, Tampa bay lightning sold out tampa bay buccaneers sold out #freedom
Calm down. They are not advocating that people attend the rally, they are merely posting that they are aware of a planned gathering and have already been in contact with the organizers and explained the consequences if it proceeds. Same rules apply to everyone.
Hi! As a Fredericton MLA can you let me know how any sort of gathering is allowed under the Emergency Order, which specifically prohibits them? New Brunswickers have given up a huge amount over the past two years. This seems like one rule for one group, another for everyone else
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms : Free to participate in peaceful demonstrations. As far as I know, Special emergency measures cannot infringe on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Canadian Bill of Rights.
Feel free to call me at 238-5550 but a public clarification would be appreciated, along with information on what other laws are optional in Fredericton if you decide you really don’t like them.
Peaceful protest, my butt. One yellow star, one bit of health misinformation, one cough or spit in someone's direction, hopefully the police will stop the insanity.
How is ANY gathering permitted under the current emergency order? If you allow any gathering it’s a slap in the face to those of us that have been following the rules.
Dominic Cardy
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Dominic Cardy
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New Brunswick Progressive Conservative politician. Radical centrist. Social liberal. Evidence-based, even when it hurts. Fly small airplanes for fun.
This from one of the antivaxx Facebook groups. These folks think their rally tomorrow is okay, based on your message from yesterday. Please clarify that this gathering is illegal, and that there is no way to attend peacefully without risking a fine.
June date set for two byelections in Miramichi ridings
Byelections will fill vacancies following resignations of MLAs Jake Stewart, Lisa Harris
CBC News ·
Liberal candidate Lisa Harris speaks with Conservative Jake Stewart, right, after Stewart won the Miramichi-Grand Lake riding in the September federal election. Both resigned their provincial seats to run federally. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Dates have been announced for two byelections in southwest Miramichi.
The byelections, in the provincial ridings of Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin and Miramichi Bay-Neguac, will be held on Monday, June 20.
"This date was chosen with the health and safety of the voters and workers in mind given the waves of COVID-19 we are experiencing this winter," Premier Blaine Higgs said in a news release Friday.
The byelections will fill vacancies created in the ridings following the resignations of Conservative MLA Jake Stewart and Liberal MLA Lisa Harris to run in the federal election.
Stewart, a former Aboriginal Affairs minister in the Higgs government and a four-term MLA representing Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin, won the federal riding of Miramichi-Grand Lake in the September election.
Currently, the Progressive Conservatives hold 26 seats in the legislative assembly, the Liberals hold 16 seats, the Greens hold three seats, People's Alliance hold two seats and two seats are vacant.
I look forward to that circus with glee and a pile of peanuts and popcorn
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos:
Perhaps this matter will be underway by June
Higgs welcomes lawsuit launched by doctor accused in Campbellton COVID-19 outbreak Premier says facts in 2020 case of Dr. Jean-Robert Ngola will come forward and be understood Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Jan 22, 2022 8:00 AM AT
"Premier Blaine Higgs says he looks forward to "all the details coming forward" in the case of a former Campbellton doctor accused in 2020 of breaking New Brunswick's COVID-19 rules by failing to isolate, and of being the source of a deadly outbreak."
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters a court hearing may be the only way to put 'an appropriate end' to the discussion about the case of Dr. Jean-Robert Ngola, who left Campbellton, N.B., and now practises in Louiseville, Que. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs says he looks forward to "all the details coming forward" in the case of a former Campbellton doctor accused in 2020 of breaking New Brunswick's COVID-19 rules by failing to isolate, and of being the source of a deadly outbreak.
Dr. Jean-Robert Ngola, 52, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the province, the RCMP and Facebook's parent company. He alleges, among other things, "institutional anti-Black systemic racism," abuse of power, negligence, defamation, malicious prosecution and a breach of his charter rights.
Higgs is not named as a defendant, but Ngola's lawyers have repeatedly called on the premier to apologize for his role in the matter, which saw the doctor, who is from Congo, face racist threats, be suspended, investigated criminally by the RCMP and charged with breaching the province's Emergency Measures Act — a charge that was later dropped.
Asked during Friday's COVID-19 briefing if there's anything he wishes he had done differently, and what he'd like to say to Ngola, Higgs noted he previously offered to "put all the facts as [he] knew them on the table."
That way, "they could be challenged or discussed in a very open manner. And that was declined," he said, referring to June 8, 2021.
I would like for all the facts to come forward and be understood because I think that maybe is the only way that it puts an appropriate end to this discussion.
"So now I'm just saying, I would like for all the facts to come forward and be understood because I think that maybe is the only way that it puts an appropriate end to this discussion," Higgs told reporters Friday.
"So I'm looking forward to all the details coming forward exactly as they unfolded."
Higgs, who has maintained he has nothing to apologize for, made similar comments on June 11, 2020, when he told reporters he was bound by privacy rules and limited in what he could say.
"But I am quite comfortable in the position that I've taken, how I've spoken about it and the reality of how this situation developed," he said at the time. "And if the facts are all on the table, I am sure that others will be clear as well."
The Campbellton outbreak began May 21, 2020, shortly after Ngola drove overnight to Montreal to pick up his four-year-old daughter, because her mother had to travel to Africa for a funeral. He also made a stop in Trois-Rivières, Que., he later confirmed.
He did not self-isolate for two weeks when he got back to New Brunswick, but contends this was consistent with other doctors and nurses, that the province's rules were unclear, and that he was exempt under shared child custody provisions. He returned to work at the Campbellton Regional Hospital the next day.
Dr. Jean-Robert Ngola was accused of violating the Emergency Measures Act for not quarantining after driving across the border to Montreal. (Zoom)
"On or about" the morning of May 27, Ngola and his daughter both tested positive for COVID-19. Within one hour of being advised by Public Health of his results, Ngola's identity was "outed" on social media, along with his photo, and he was quickly labelled by some as "patient zero," his lawyers have alleged.
During a news conference that afternoon, Higgs blamed what was then a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the Campbellton region and a resurgence of the coronavirus in the province on an "irresponsible individual" who returned to work at the hospital and treated patients for two weeks.
Higgs never referred to Ngola by name, but said a medical professional in their 50s had travelled to Quebec for personal reasons, "was not forthcoming about their reasons for travel upon returning to New Brunswick and they did not self-isolate as a result."
Ngola, who is also known as Jean Robert Ngola Monzinga and as Ngola Monzinga, had a family practice in the Campbellton region for about seven years, with roughly 2,000 patients, and also worked in the hospital's emergency department.
The situation became so "toxic" he had to leave, his lawyer Joel Etienne said during a news conference Thursday, describing it as a "banishment." Ngola is now based in Louiseville, Que.
Asked Friday whether the way the matter unfolded could hurt the province's efforts to recruit more doctors and more immigrants, Higgs replied: "Well, I would suggest that if all the facts come out in a proper hearing — and if it has to be a court challenge, and that's I guess where it's headed — that will allay those fears."
Ngola's lawyer told reporters he relishes the day fellow lawyer, Christian Michaud, has the opportunity to cross-examine the premier.
Ngola is seeking unspecified compensation and punitive damages, as well as restorative justice.
Respondents decline comment
A spokesperson for Meta, Facebook's parent company, declined Friday to comment. "We can't comment on pending litigation."
The Department of Justice and the RCMP have also declined to comment.
Premier Blaine Higgs issued a call-out Thursday for medical professionals who could help administer COVID shots and says dentists are among those who have expressed an interest. (CBC News)
New Brunswick Nurses Union president Paula Doucet said asking COVID-positive health-care workers to come back to work is asking too much. (CBC)
Dr. John Tobin, the head of the family medicine department in Zone 4 for the Vitalité Health Network, said as of Wednesday, all Omicron patients in Edmundston's hospital have been admitted for other reasons and their positive COVID status showed up when they were screened. (Government of New Brunswick )
Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 9:29 PM
