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





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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-new-brunswick-canada-day-higgs-summer-festivals-1.5535876

COVID-19 could cancel Canada Day events across New Brunswick

Premier told municipal leaders some summer festivals and celebrations are likely to be cancelled or postponed

Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon· CBC News· Posted: Apr 18, 2020 9:47 AM AT




Paul Wentzell, co-chair of the Fredericton Canada Day committee, pictured here with his wife, Anne, said residents are ready for 'a bit of normalcy' and local bands are anxious for the work the event would provide. (Submitted by Paul Wentzell)

For 26 years, Paul Wentzell has helped organize the Canada Day celebrations in Fredericton. He jokes he's a "poor succession planner."

But he's proud of the annual event that packs up to 8,000 people into the downtown core for live music, children's activities, food vendors and fireworks.

"So I just keep doing it till I get too old or too tired."

This year's headline act is already booked and secured with a deposit, said the co-chair of the organizing committee.

But COVID-19 has put the rest of the planning on hold though, he said.

Fredericton, like other municipalities across New Brunswick, is awaiting direction from the provincial government, "as to what we are going to be able to do, if anything" for July 1.


Musical acts like David Myles typically draw huge crowds for the Canada Day festivities in Fredericton every year. (Submitted by Paul Wentzell)

"We're going to have to make a final go or no-go decision probably within a week or two," Wentzell said.

New Brunswick remains under a state of emergency, with large gatherings prohibited and physical distancing of at least six feet required to prevent the spread of the virus.

There were 117 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province, as of Friday afternoon's update.

Premier Blaine Higgs said he told 114 municipal leaders during a morning conference call that some summer festivals and celebrations are "likely to be cancelled or postponed this year."

"Even once the current restrictions are reduced, I must caution all New Brunswickers … we are not going back to business as usual any time soon," Higgs told reporters.


Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday the province cannot make the mistake of becoming complacent because of its relatively low number of COVID-19 cases and returning to normal life too soon 'because we could jump right back into the woods in a real hurry.' (Photo: Government of New Brunswick)

Asked to clarify whether the province has told festival organizers there won't be any events this summer, Higgs said he doesn't think there's been "an official decree, as such.

"But I think everyone is reading the ... writing on the wall.

"There is no likelihood really at this point in time that we could be in a position to have mass gatherings like a concert or like a big festival. That really is not going to be in the cards this summer," he said.
"And that likely is something that cannot change until we get a vaccine."

Experts have said a vaccine could take up to 18 months to develop, but at least 70 research teams, including some in Canada, are now working at an accelerated pace, hoping to come up with a vaccine within a year.

Federal celebration will be virtual

Canada Day celebrations organized by the federal government will be virtual this year, Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault announced on Friday.

"In light of the current and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and around the world, our government has decided to celebrate Canada Day differently this year, in a way that will allow us to come together virtually to share our pride in being Canadian," he said in a statement.
 

Steven Guilbeault, minister for Canadian heritage, says Canada Day festivities will take place online this year as restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 remain in place. 0:36

The federal government is working with Canadian artists and artisans to put together a virtual program that reflects the country's diversity, values and talent, said Guilbeault. More details about the online event will be announced soon, he said.

'Evaluating all options'

Moncton is "evaluating all options including virtual celebrations," said spokesperson Isabelle LeBlanc

"There is no set timeline to make a decision; however, we do want to be able to provide an update as quickly as possible," she said in an email.
 
 
Moncton will let residents know as soon as possible whether Canada Day festivities, such as these fireworks over the Petitcodiac River, will proceed as usual, said spokesperson Isabelle LeBlanc. (Submitted by Jeff Clements)

Saint John's Canada Day committee will need to know in May if the restrictions on large gatherings will be lifted, said Mayor Don Darling.

Tens of thousands of people flock to the uptown area every year for the festivities.

"It is a very important event for the local economy, for coming together and celebrating our nation," said Darling.

"But you know, I think at this stage, we're not in a normal circumstance," he said.
 

Saint John Mayor Don Darling said New Brunswickers had to celebrate Easter differently this year because of COVID-19 and if need be, they will find another way to celebrate Canada Day. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)

In addition to COVID-19 "we're dealing with … a whole bunch of issues related to social and economic recoveries and now we're sprinkling in … watching the floodwaters."

Organizers might need to get creative, he said, citing a virtual event as an example.

"Just like we celebrated Easter differently this past weekend, we may find ourselves in a position that we have to celebrate Canada Day differently."

Saint John funding at risk

A virtual event would save the cash-strapped city some money.

Saint John was already projecting a $10 million deficit in 2021, but because of COVID-19, it now faces a financial hit this year of between $4.2 million in the "best-case scenario" of the pandemic lasting three months and upwards of $9 million if it lasts all of 2020, said Darling.

"We don't know yet all of the decisions that will be made to balance our books, but we do know that we must balance our books," he said.

The city's $15,000 contribution to the Canada Day festivities is "at risk," he said.

Coronavirus is 'calling the shots'

In Bathurst, the total Canada Day budget is only about $11,000 and organizers can wait up until mid-June for a decision about whether they have to "pull the plug," said spokesperson Luc Foulem.

"I'm not going to say it's a turnkey operation but … we've been using [the same] model for a number of years now," he said.

That includes a family-oriented event at either Youghall Beach Park or Coronation Park during the day, with a variety of activities, games and cake, followed by activities around the promenade waterfront, culminating in the evening fireworks.
 

Bathurst spokesperson Luc Foulem says event organizers have until mid-June to decide whether to cancel Canada Day celebrations. (Bridget Yard/CBC)

"So logistically, we have a pretty good set of operating procedures," said Foulem.

"It would be a positive thing to be able to hold that event," he said, because people have been "cooped up."

"But obviously that is not of our choosing and it is not of the provincial government's choosing either. … The coronavirus is the one calling the shots on this, unfortunately.

"So we just have to abide by what the situation is right now and we have to adjust accordingly."

Canada Day in September?

Wentzell said he'd like to see Fredericton's Canada Day event proceed, as usual.

But "in the big picture of what's going on in the world, it's pretty small potatoes."

If it gets cancelled, Wentzell said the committee could look into holding a virtual event.
 

Paul Wentzell said if Fredericton's Canada Day event doesn't proceed this year, the organizing committee will pick right up where it left off next year. (Submitted by Paul Wentzell)

Another option, he said, could be celebrating Canada Day on Labour Day weekend.

Wentzell acknowledges it would be unorthodox, but said these are unprecedented times.

"We're celebrating the nation, right? So you know maybe we look at it as more of a celebration of making it through this, or thanking everybody who worked so hard to get us through it."








Commenting is now closed for this story



Gerry Ferguson





David Amos
Methinks the rural folks won't notice anything different this year except that they can have more fun with their ATVs in the woods because no doubt the RCMP and the public safety dudes will be busy passing out Higgy's new fines for coming to close to others in the cities N'esy Pas?



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-budget-double-tax-cut-private-sector-1.5493205

'Double taxation' cut will energize private sector, say N.B. business leaders

Province reducing tax on buildings like rental properties by 50%

Colin McPhail· CBC News· Posted: Mar 10, 2020 8:44 PM AT




Finance Minister Ernie Steeves unveiled a handful of tax breaks for the private sector during Tuesday's budget announcement. (Ed Hunter/CBC)

Rental property owners and business officials say new tax cuts announced by the Progressive Conservative government Tuesday will help stoke the New Brunswick economy and spur construction.

Finance Minister Ernie Steeves announced a 50 per cent reduction in the provincial non-owner-occupied property residential tax over a four-year period starting in the 2021 taxation year.

Owners and developers have long sought to scrap the so-called "double tax" which levies a provincial tax on top of the municipal tax for buildings like rental properties and cottages.

Willy Scholten, president of the New Brunswick Apartment Owners Association, said his group has been lobbying government officials on the issue since 2004.
He believes the move will lead to new construction.



Non-owner-occupied properties, like rental properties, must also pay a provincial tax in additional to the municipal tax. (Bryan Eneas/CBC)

"We have a lot of issues right now with not enough supply of rental apartments in the province, and a lot of our association attributes a lot of that to this double taxation," Scholten said following Steeves's address in the legislature.

"We don't have outside people coming to the province and saying this is a good place to do business."

The tax rate will drop from $1.233 per $100 of assessed value to $0.5617 — or about 14.04 cents per year until 2024.

The owners' association has proposed phasing the tax out completely over a three-year period, but Scholten said this is a step in the right direction.

"We hope that they continue after here to the eventual full elimination, so we are no longer offside with the rest of the country," said Scholten, adding New Brunswick is the lone Canadian jurisdiction to impose such a tax.
More budget day coverage:
Could the tax savings be passed onto tenants? Scholten said it's too early to tell.

"It's not a full elimination and we don't know what's going to happen with assessments either along the way," he said. "So we'll have to wait to see what happens with our property tax bills."

The PCs also plan to reduce the non-residential property tax rate — including commercial and industrial buildings — by 8.25 cents per year until 2024. That will decrease the rate from $2.1860 per $100 of assessment to $1.8560.


PC's balanced budget promises higher social assistance rates and reduction in some property taxes. 2:47

The $10.2-billion provincial budget projects a $92.4-million surplus and to reduce the net debt by $129.3 million. The budget is buoyed, however, by a $200-million increase in federal transfer payments.

"We have to, beyond balancing the budget, give back," Steeves told reporters.
"We thought [the tax reductions] were ones that would help businesses and, ultimately, help a lot of New Brunswickers and, ultimately, help the economy of New Brunswick."

'You have to focus on the private sector'

The budget struck a chord with People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin. His party has long argued against double taxation for non-owner-occupied properties.

"If you want true economic growth, you have to focus on the private sector," he said. "The best way to that is tax reduction and deregulation."

Austin said all three Alliance members will vote in favour, while Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers maintained that his party will vote against the budget in an attempt to topple the government.


Speaking to reporters at the New Brunswick Legislature on Tuesday, People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said, 'It's a good budget.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)

Green Leader David Coon told reporters his caucus — and its three crucial votes — has reserved a decision until meeting to discuss.

Also included in the budget is the Higgs government's carbon pricing plan. It will be set at 6.6 cents per litre at the pumps — same as the federal backstop — but the Tories will cut the New Brunswick gas tax by 4.6 cents, creating a net two-cent increase.
The government has not passed its carbon tax legislation and if the budget is defeated and an election is called, it won't get the chance, meaning the federal price will be in place on April 1.

David Duplisea, CEO of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, said if that's the case, it will make New Brunswick less competitive with neighbouring provinces like Nova Scotia.

Encouraged by the private-sector support, Duplisea said there isn't anything in or not in the budget worth toppling the government over.


The CBC's Jacques Poitras breaks down the possible scenarios that might trigger an election after the provincial budget Tuesday. 2:22

He said many of his 700 members wanted the tax breaks in one form or another, and this creates a "positive investment climate."

"These items … we have been asking for these and we're confident that this will help to spur investment in our respective regions and in the province as a whole," Duplisea said.

Both the Saint John and Fredericton chambers of commerce lauded the government for reducing the net debt and balancing the budget.
Krista Ross, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, specifically highlighted the double taxation policy in a statement Tuesday.

"This will make business in New Brunswick more competitive and give us a chance to build economic momentum, which in turn will allow government to further reduce debt and deliver more services," Ross said.

"In the coming years, this will be even more important as we cannot expect to receive large increases in equalization payments on an annual basis."








132 Comments  

Commenting is now closed for this story.







David Amos
It truly is quite comical that nobody can see through this nonsense Its a mad mad world.











Shawn Tabor
Yes, why can’t folks see threw this. A very sad state of mind. I like to read the praises from the human folks. The Perfect Storm just got better, hang onto your hat, it might get a little windy. LOL


David Amos 





























Roy Kirk
The results of this experiment may be instructive. Government is a major leasee of commercial office space in NB. So it an other leasees should get a proportionate reduction in the rents they they pay for such space, right?
No, I can hear the excuse now: 'Rents haven't gone down, but they're lover than they otherwise might have been.' The response to incontrovertible data is usually unprovable speculation. ;-)










https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-municipality-parking-passes-monthly-motorists-uptown-work-from-home-1.5534823

Saint John Parking Commission loses $48K in monthly parking fees

Hundreds of monthly passes cancelled in Parking Commission lots

Connell Smith· CBC News· Posted: Apr 17, 2020 8:00 AM AT




Parking lots in Saint John's uptown have been largely vacant since the province's March 17 declaration of a state of emergency. Nearly 500 have cancelled their parking passes in lots owned or managed by the city. (Graham Thompson, CBC)

Motorists who are now unemployed or working from home as a result of the COVID-19 crisis are cancelling their Saint John parking passes in large numbers.

The city reports 476 people so far have cancelled monthly passes at lots owned or managed by the Saint John Parking Commission.

That lost revenue will cost the commission about $48,000 a month.

A report to city council last week said total parking–related revenue losses to the municipality now amount to $240,000 a month.

Councillor Donna Reardon suspects some of those who have cancelled still work in the uptown but chose to park their vehicles on the street last month when parking enforcement officers were taken off the job following the declaration by the province of a state of emergency.

Parking enforcement resumed this week.

She's hoping those motorists will now return their cars to parking lots owned or managed by the city.

"I think we've got to figure it out as we move forward," said Reardon. "I think part of all this, of ticketing, is to try to get a grip on what is actually happening and where are we with all this stuff."


Saint John Councillor Donna Reardon hopes the return of parking enforcement officers to uptown streets will push motorists back into city owned lots. (Roger Cosman, CBC)

Reardon said the state of emergency has thrown city budgets into chaos while provincial legislation prevents municipalities from running deficits.

In the meantime operators of private parking lots, who in many cases charge lower rates than the city, report few cancellations even though their spaces, like the city's, are largely empty.

Shane Cassidy of KBL International, a company that offers parking at the Chinese Commerce Centre on Coburg Street, says people want to ensure they still have a place to park when the time come to return to the office.

"I'm not giving away any spots, but I'm not chasing people for money, either," said Cassidy.

Paul Daeres, who has multiple lots and Uptown parking spaces renting for as low as $60 per month, estimates 90 percent of his clients continue to pay for their spots, especially those in coveted locations closest to the city centre, where there's a waiting list.

"Some, they've given up, they can't afford it. I can understand that, if they come back I'll probably give it back to them anyway," said Daeres.




19 Comments




David Amos
Methinks some folks must recall that immediately after I met the Not Darling Mayor of Saint John in Fat Fred City on Higgy's Budget Day he announced the he did not wish to be a Mayor anymore N'esy Pas?






David Amos
They can cry me a river Perhaps Darling et al will answer their emails and return my phone calls now


Calmer Siloqeey 

Terry Tibbs
A bonus installment this week of: Tales of Woe from Saint John NB.


David Amos  


Lou Bell
Daily rants and ravings about Saint John miseries ! We're ALL IN THIS ! They are not alone !


David Amos  





---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:53:34 -0300
Subject: Re Province takes pass on funding for Saint John waterfront project
To: "kris.austin"<kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)"
<kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Kevin.Vickers"<Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca>,
jennifer.brennan@gnb.ca, denis.gallant2@gnb.ca, kevin.kearns@gnb.ca,
Rob.Kelly@gnb.ca, Cindy.Lanteigne@gnb.ca, Cade.Libby@gnb.ca
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Wayne.Long"
<Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca>, "george.oram"<george.oram@gnb.ca>,
"gerry.lowe"<gerry.lowe@gnb.ca>, "Trevor.Holder"
<Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>

Province takes pass on funding for Saint John waterfront project

Federal funding for site development contingent on province being on board
Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: Mar 11, 2020 7:00 AM AT


Commenting is now closed for this story.


David Amos
Methinks Dr Elias and I should talk N'esy Pas?


David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks the doctor must have heard of me by now N'esy Pas?

"Real Estate development isn’t Elias’s only entrepreneurial venture.
He is also the president and CEO of Canadian Health Solutions, which
develops and provides health solutions to the third-party market,
which includes public security, policing, workers compensation, and
other areas that are outside medicare.

“Entrepreneurship is really interesting in that it’s providing
solutions,” said Elias. “It gives you the opportunity to identify
situations and try to provide a solution and sometimes it allows you
to innovate and to think outside the box. If you can succeed at that,
it’s very rewarding.”

David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: I wonder if he knows why Higgy is keeping a
"Stay" on my Medicare Card.






Jonas Smith
JHC - If Dr. David Elias is involved, so is Liberal money.

David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Jonas Smith: Methinks there is no doubt that Elias and Higgy
ain't the best of buddies but at least he is wise enough to clam up. I
bet Higgy is wondering if I have called Elias particularly after
Darling suddenly announced that he is gonna quit politicking N'esy
Pas?

"The company is headed by Dr. David Elias of Rothesay. He could not be
reached Tuesday for comment."

David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Jonas Smith: Go figure

"The company is headed by Dr. David Elias of Rothesay. He could not be
reached Tuesday for comment."




---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2020 10:10:50 -0300
Subject: Re Fundy Quay
To: katie@thisisduke.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>

For further information (EMG or FQI):

Katie Bowden
Duke Creative Collective
506.654.2446
 katie@thisisduke.com

City Council greenlights Option Agreement with local developer–

December 2, 2019 – SAINT JOHN, NB— Saint John City Council has
greenlighted a new plan for Fundy Quay, the former Coast Guard site on
the city’s waterfront.

Council voted to approve a legal agreement between Fundy Quay
Developments Inc., a subsidiary of Elias Management Group, and the
City of Saint John, which includes an exclusive 2-year development
option while site preparation work is completed, and a 25-year
lease-to-own agreement structured to incentivize development.

“Fundy Quay is arguably the City’s most valuable real property asset,”
says Steve Carson, CEO of Develop Saint John. “We cannot let the false
starts of the past prevent us from moving forward. Taxpayers deserve
to see this property achieve its potential for the City – both from a
use perspective and from a property tax revenue perspective.”

The developer attached to the deal is Elias Management Group (EMG).
EMG was the successful proponent in a Request for Proposal process
launched in April 2019.

“EMG’s proposal checked all the boxes for us,” says Carson. “Their
vision is perfectly aligned with the community’s priorities outlined
in the Central Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan, their proposal doesn’t
rely on Provincial government leasing participation, and they want to
take a phased approach – which means the City’s rental market will
have time to adjust to growth in available inventory as construction
proceeds. Plus they’re a local business, and that means a lot.”

EMG is the developer behind a variety of successful projects in the
province, including Fundy Harbour Estates and Vimy Estates in Saint
John. They are also a partner in the redevelopment of the City Hall
building.

The first step in the plan, once the agreements are signed, is to
prepare the site for development. This will include repairs to the sea
wall – a project that will take approximately two years to complete.

During the site preparation phase of the project, the developer will
consult with the community and complete final design specifications
for the development – a process that includes a business plan,
detailed engineering analysis, and architect’s renderings.

“Sensitive to the community’s priorities, we’re going to be creating a
mixed-use development,” says David Elias, CEO of EMG Group. “It could
include residential units, retail and commercial space, a hotel, arts
and culture space, public access to the waterfront, and green space.
It will unlock the potential of our waterfront, making it the most
significant development in Saint John since Market Square.”

Project information, including a timeline, will be available on the
Develop Saint John website.




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2020 09:52:27 -0300
Subject: Fwd: A little Deja Vu for Mr Teed
To: brian.irving@saintjohn.ca
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2020 08:51:01 -0300
Subject: A little Deja Vu for Mr Teed
To: wteed@coxandpalmer.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:53:56 -0400
Subject: Re Our calls Mr Teed please allow me to inroduce you to Mr
Brydon if the Oland's wish to hire a PI to check the work of the Saint
John PD I could assist Mr Brydon with no conflict of interests
To: wteed@coxandpalmer.com, bbrydon@commissionaires.ns.ca
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>

http://www.coxandpalmerlaw.com/en/home/lawyers/profile.aspx/wteed

William H. Teed, QC
 Practice Areas
Corporate & Commercial |Energy & Natural Resources |Real Estate
|Securities & Corporate Finance |  Partner
Saint John
Phone: (506) 633-2718
Fax: (506) 632-8809
Cell: (506) 647-8747
wteed@coxandpalmer.com



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2020 08:50:53 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the Saint John's not so little
Darling reconsidered our encounter yesterday N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>

Thank you for contacting The Globe and Mail.

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