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David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/05/higgs-may-relax-temporary-foreign.html
#nbpoli#cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-temporary-foreign-workers-higgs-ban-1.5577967
· CBC News· Posted: May 20, 2020 8:50 PM AT
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Premier Blaine Higgs says the inability to fill jobs normally done by temporary foreign workers with local labourers may force a change to the current ban. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
Premier Blaine Higgs is considering lifting the ban on temporary foreign workers as efforts to fill vacant jobs with New Brunswickers are falling short.
The ban, announced in late April, rocked the province's agricultural and seafood-processing industries, which rely on the arrival of hundreds of migrant workers each year and are now facing a labour shortage.
"I said I wouldn't let them go without employees and I meant that. I won't," Higgs said during Wednesday's briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If we don't fill the roster in the next few days … then there will be the decisions made to ensure we meet the needs."
The risk in permitting "more people to enter the province is simply too great," Higgs said on April 28 when declaring a ban on any new temporary foreign workers coming into the province. At that time, the province hadn't had a new case of COVID-19 in 10 days.
On Wednesday, the premier said the volume of applicants was underwhelming.
Higgs said about 220 New Brunswick workers have been brought in and another 100 are being interviewed.
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New Brunswick brought in nearly 1,700 temporary foreign workers in 2019. (CBC News)
"Given the magnitude of unemployment in the province... I would have expected it to be much higher," he said.
He later told CBC's As It Happens that fewer than 50 temporary foreign workers had been reassigned.
Higgs said the federal CERB program, which provides furloughed Canadian workers $500 a week for 16 weeks, is creating an incentive for people to stay home.
"We've had companies tell us that they can't get people to come back to work," he said. "You know, this has been great to get the help in order ... to help our economy get back up and running, but there has to be a connection with [the] ability to contribute."
Higgs, who during the briefing reiterated the importance of securing the food supply and what the affected sectors represent to the province's economy, suggested the ban could be altered to address the shortage of labour — if New Brunswickers don't "step up" and answer his call.
"It's likely we're going to have to relax some of those rules, but we aren't in the height of the pandemic that we were a month ago or so," he said.
The premier also announced Wednesday New Brunswick will enter the next phase of recovery — the yellow phase— on Friday. The province's recovery plan guide does not list any changes to the ban or border restrictions under the yellow phase, and the section on temporary foreign workers, as of Wednesday evening, still states the ban is in place with no end date.
"We suggested weeks ago the premier should reconsider his position on this matter. Unfortunately, this decision comes a bit late for the seafood processing plant owners," said Liberal MLA Isabelle Thériault, who represents Caraquet, in an emailed statement.
"He promised he would find people to fill positions in our plants and on our farms, and he has been unable to fulfill that promise. This has created a lot of difficulty for the fishing and agriculture sector."
![]()
After Premier Blaine Higgs banned temporary foreign workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, farmers lost some of their best workers and are struggling to keep up. 4:50
Thériault said the province missed out on some of the 175 workers destined for the province on a flight from Mexico to Halifax the same day the ban was announced, saying "now most of those workers are employed in Nova Scotia."
On Wednesday, the Green Party called for an exemption to the ban for farms that can meet health and safety requirements, including a two-week isolation upon entry into the province.
Green Leader David Coon said farms are "particularly in dire straits" at the moment and other sectors, like seafood, could be phased in at a later date.
The exemption is part of several new supports for small business and the self-employed the party proposed Wednesday, including targeted grant programs, property tax forgiveness for the most-affected sectors and a plan to develop government procurement targets to expand the market for local producers.
"Our small businesses and our cities and towns are just being hammered," Coon said, explaining how some businesses are having difficulty reopening and dealing with staff and customers too nervous to return.
7 Comments
David Amos
Methinks the PANB boss is likely jealous that the dude who can't be named in this domain got Higgy to do another flip flop N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-outbreak-roundup-1.5576594
· CBC News· Posted: May 20, 2020 12:27 PM AT
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Premier Blaine Higgs said New Brunswick borders will remain closed to protect residents from the spread of COVID-19. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
The province is expecting to move into the third phase of its COVID-19 recovery plan Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs announced at a news briefing Wednesday.
Today marks two weeks since the province confirmed a new active case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick.
According to the government website, the next phase would include:
Although the province might be easing more restrictions, Higgs stood firm on his decision to keep New Brunswick borders closed.
All unnecessary travel into New Brunswick is prohibited and peace officers are authorized to turn visitors away when they attempt to enter.
![]()
There haven't been any active cases of COVID-19 reported in two weeks. (CBC News)
"It is our main line of defence so we need to be sure that we're doing it properly," Higgs said.
At the news briefing, Higgs made mention of Nova Scotia, Quebec and the state of Maine, all of which have active cases of COVID-19.
"Now is not the time for New Brunswick to take unnecessary risks, undoing all the hard work to get us to this point."
![]()
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, made a point Wednesday to tell reporters she had been receiving a lot of questions about her hair recently. Russell said she cut her own hair over the weekend with the help of YouTube videos. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
Higgs said he recognizes travel is necessary for some. This includes residents of other provinces who must enter New Brunswick to work or to receive medical treatment, and commercial vehicle drivers delivering goods.
"The new found freedom we have is one that we have earned together collectively," Higgs said.
"It's one that we can lose individually. Because someone who feels they're immune. It's not their problem—'I don't need to pay attention to this'— could be the one that reintroduced COVID back into our province. And we end up shutting things down again because we lose control of it."
Both Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said the decision to shut down the province in March has come at a cost, including the closure of local businesses and the New Brunswick borders, and the requirement to stay at home. Russell applauded New Brunswickers for this achievement and offered her "undying gratitude."
"As we move forward, we will need to continue to adapt, learn and prepare for the next phase of our recovery," she said.
![]()
The Picaroons Roundhouse in Fredericton saw hundreds of visitors who sat outside the taproom over the long weekend. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
"With each step we take, we are building resiliency, as individuals and as a province. As we adjust to each phase, there will be challenges that will test this resiliency. But as we figure out how to get through each situation, we will be stronger for the experience and better prepared for the challenges ahead."
There are 120 recovered cases and no known active cases of the respiratory illness in the province.
As of today, the province said 21,144 tests have been conducted.
Those eligible for the funding include employees in:
Workers at early learning and child care facilities will receive their top-up retroactive to May 19 and it will continue for 16 weeks. This is in recognition of their return to work as the child care sector reopened.
![]()
Essential workers who earn less than $18 a day to get government top-up 1:19
All other sectors will be paid retroactively from March 19 to July 9.
Employers will be reimbursed by the departments of Education and Early Childhood Development or Social Development.
"If we start introducing sections of one province to another ... it then becomes a greater risk."
New Brunswick's emergency declaration bans all non-essential travel into the province to protect the province from COVID-19 spread . But Pointe-à-la-Croix and Listuguj residents are included as an exception in the order, allowing them to enter Campbellton to access essential goods like groceries and pharmacy.
(Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
Hundreds of people separated by the New Brunswick-Quebec border marched against New Brunswick's travel restrictions over the weekend.
More than 400 people marched against New Brunswick's travel restrictions, which organizers say are inconsistently applied and separates the community unfairly. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
More than 400 people marched against New Brunswick's travel restrictions, which organizers say are inconsistently applied and separates the community unfairly. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/05/higgs-may-relax-temporary-foreign.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-temporary-foreign-workers-higgs-ban-1.5577967
Higgs may relax temporary foreign worker ban
Premier says bid to fill labour gap with N.B. workers coming up short
· CBC News· Posted: May 20, 2020 8:50 PM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs says the inability to fill jobs normally done by temporary foreign workers with local labourers may force a change to the current ban. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
Premier Blaine Higgs is considering lifting the ban on temporary foreign workers as efforts to fill vacant jobs with New Brunswickers are falling short.
The ban, announced in late April, rocked the province's agricultural and seafood-processing industries, which rely on the arrival of hundreds of migrant workers each year and are now facing a labour shortage.
"I said I wouldn't let them go without employees and I meant that. I won't," Higgs said during Wednesday's briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If we don't fill the roster in the next few days … then there will be the decisions made to ensure we meet the needs."
The risk in permitting "more people to enter the province is simply too great," Higgs said on April 28 when declaring a ban on any new temporary foreign workers coming into the province. At that time, the province hadn't had a new case of COVID-19 in 10 days.
Coming up short
To fill the roughly 600 vacancies, Higgs worked with the federal government to allow workers already in Canada to switch jobs. The province also launched a program encouraging unemployed New Brunswick residents to take on those positions.On Wednesday, the premier said the volume of applicants was underwhelming.
Higgs said about 220 New Brunswick workers have been brought in and another 100 are being interviewed.
New Brunswick brought in nearly 1,700 temporary foreign workers in 2019. (CBC News)
"Given the magnitude of unemployment in the province... I would have expected it to be much higher," he said.
He later told CBC's As It Happens that fewer than 50 temporary foreign workers had been reassigned.
Higgs said the federal CERB program, which provides furloughed Canadian workers $500 a week for 16 weeks, is creating an incentive for people to stay home.
"We've had companies tell us that they can't get people to come back to work," he said. "You know, this has been great to get the help in order ... to help our economy get back up and running, but there has to be a connection with [the] ability to contribute."
Higgs, who during the briefing reiterated the importance of securing the food supply and what the affected sectors represent to the province's economy, suggested the ban could be altered to address the shortage of labour — if New Brunswickers don't "step up" and answer his call.
The premier also announced Wednesday New Brunswick will enter the next phase of recovery — the yellow phase— on Friday. The province's recovery plan guide does not list any changes to the ban or border restrictions under the yellow phase, and the section on temporary foreign workers, as of Wednesday evening, still states the ban is in place with no end date.
Opposition MLAs favour change
The Opposition critic for agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries said lifting the ban or making exemptions has come too late."We suggested weeks ago the premier should reconsider his position on this matter. Unfortunately, this decision comes a bit late for the seafood processing plant owners," said Liberal MLA Isabelle Thériault, who represents Caraquet, in an emailed statement.
"He promised he would find people to fill positions in our plants and on our farms, and he has been unable to fulfill that promise. This has created a lot of difficulty for the fishing and agriculture sector."
After Premier Blaine Higgs banned temporary foreign workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, farmers lost some of their best workers and are struggling to keep up. 4:50
Thériault said the province missed out on some of the 175 workers destined for the province on a flight from Mexico to Halifax the same day the ban was announced, saying "now most of those workers are employed in Nova Scotia."
On Wednesday, the Green Party called for an exemption to the ban for farms that can meet health and safety requirements, including a two-week isolation upon entry into the province.
Green Leader David Coon said farms are "particularly in dire straits" at the moment and other sectors, like seafood, could be phased in at a later date.
"Our small businesses and our cities and towns are just being hammered," Coon said, explaining how some businesses are having difficulty reopening and dealing with staff and customers too nervous to return.
7 Comments
David Amos
Methinks the PANB boss is likely jealous that the dude who can't be named in this domain got Higgy to do another flip flop N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-outbreak-roundup-1.5576594
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province to move into 3rd stage of recovery this week
Premier stands firm on border closures, saying he doesn't want to undo the hard work done so far
· CBC News· Posted: May 20, 2020 12:27 PM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs said New Brunswick borders will remain closed to protect residents from the spread of COVID-19. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
Latest
- Residents still refusing to follow public health guidelines
- Province reveals front-line workers who will receive top-up funding
- Province won't allow 'bubbling' with regions in Quebec
- More than 50% of child-care facilities reopen
- People reminded to stay vigilant to help loosen restrictions
- Riverview author writes children's book about COVID-19
- What to do if you have symptoms
Today marks two weeks since the province confirmed a new active case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick.
According to the government website, the next phase would include:
- Family and friends bubble
- Gatherings with physical distancing of 50 or fewer
- Increase in elective surgeries and other non-emergency health care services
- Non-regulated health professionals/businesses
- Personal services businesses
- Swimming pools, saunas and water parks
- Gyms, yoga and dance studios
- Rinks and indoor recreational facilities
- Pool halls and bowling alleys
- Low-contact team sports
Although the province might be easing more restrictions, Higgs stood firm on his decision to keep New Brunswick borders closed.
All unnecessary travel into New Brunswick is prohibited and peace officers are authorized to turn visitors away when they attempt to enter.
There haven't been any active cases of COVID-19 reported in two weeks. (CBC News)
"It is our main line of defence so we need to be sure that we're doing it properly," Higgs said.
At the news briefing, Higgs made mention of Nova Scotia, Quebec and the state of Maine, all of which have active cases of COVID-19.
"Now is not the time for New Brunswick to take unnecessary risks, undoing all the hard work to get us to this point."
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, made a point Wednesday to tell reporters she had been receiving a lot of questions about her hair recently. Russell said she cut her own hair over the weekend with the help of YouTube videos. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
Higgs said he recognizes travel is necessary for some. This includes residents of other provinces who must enter New Brunswick to work or to receive medical treatment, and commercial vehicle drivers delivering goods.
Residents still refusing to follow public health guidelines
Although the province expects to move into the third phase by the end of the week, Premier Blaine Higgs was disheartened Wednesday when asked about some residents who are still refusing to follow guidelines set out by public health, particularly over the long weekend."The new found freedom we have is one that we have earned together collectively," Higgs said.
"It's one that we can lose individually. Because someone who feels they're immune. It's not their problem—'I don't need to pay attention to this'— could be the one that reintroduced COVID back into our province. And we end up shutting things down again because we lose control of it."
Both Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said the decision to shut down the province in March has come at a cost, including the closure of local businesses and the New Brunswick borders, and the requirement to stay at home. Russell applauded New Brunswickers for this achievement and offered her "undying gratitude."
"As we move forward, we will need to continue to adapt, learn and prepare for the next phase of our recovery," she said.
The Picaroons Roundhouse in Fredericton saw hundreds of visitors who sat outside the taproom over the long weekend. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
"With each step we take, we are building resiliency, as individuals and as a province. As we adjust to each phase, there will be challenges that will test this resiliency. But as we figure out how to get through each situation, we will be stronger for the experience and better prepared for the challenges ahead."
There are 120 recovered cases and no known active cases of the respiratory illness in the province.
As of today, the province said 21,144 tests have been conducted.
Province reveals front-line workers who will receive top-up funding
The province has sent a written request to the federal finance minister outlining a program to provide a monthly top-up of approximately $500 for 16 weeks for front-line workers in a number of sectors."Those eligible for the funding include employees in:
- early learning and child care facilities
- home support
- special care homes, community residences and group homes
- homeless shelters and food banks
- domestic violence outreach and transition homes
- Workers must earn $18 per hour or less to be eligible.
Workers at early learning and child care facilities will receive their top-up retroactive to May 19 and it will continue for 16 weeks. This is in recognition of their return to work as the child care sector reopened.
_corrected.jpg)
Essential workers who earn less than $18 a day to get government top-up 1:19
All other sectors will be paid retroactively from March 19 to July 9.
Employers will be reimbursed by the departments of Education and Early Childhood Development or Social Development.
Province won't allow 'bubbling' with regions in Quebec
Premier Blaine Higgs said Wednesday he won't allow visitors from New Brunswick's closest Quebec communities of Pointe-à-la-Croix and Listuguj First Nation."If we start introducing sections of one province to another ... it then becomes a greater risk."
New Brunswick's emergency declaration bans all non-essential travel into the province to protect the province from COVID-19 spread . But Pointe-à-la-Croix and Listuguj residents are included as an exception in the order, allowing them to enter Campbellton to access essential goods like groceries and pharmacy.
(Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
Hundreds of people separated by the New Brunswick-Quebec border marched against New Brunswick's travel restrictions over the weekend.
More than 400 people marched against New Brunswick's travel restrictions, which organizers say are inconsistently applied and separates the community unfairly. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
More than 400 people marched against New Brunswick's travel restrictions, which organizers say are inconsistently applied and separates the community unfairly. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)