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Blaine Higgs embraces challenges

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Replying to and 49 others
Methinks the only time Mr Higgs changes his mind on any issue is when the Irving Clan tells him to N'esy Pas?

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/12/blaine-higgs-embraces-challenges.html


#nbpoli #cdnpoli


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/blaine-higgs-new-brunswick-premier-2019-1.4957015



Blaine Higgs embraces challenges — and they are many




91 Comments




Steve Murray
Steve Murray
Maybe Higgs' overlords should throw some pocket change back into the province they have taken so much from over all these years. The Irvings could pay the whole bill for the Francophone Games out of petty cash.


David Amos
David Amos
@Steve Murray Methinks if Higgs just canceled one cheque from NB Power to the Irving Clan it would more than cover the games. After all other folks called it corporate welfare N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-first-full-rate-hearing-gets-questions-about-big-paper-mills-1.3114844










David Amos 
David Amos
Methinks the only time Mr Higgs changes his mind on any issue is when the Irving Clan tells him to N'esy Pas?






Brian Robertson 
Brian Robertson
There has been official bilingualism in New Brunswick ever since Louis Robichaud.
It has been entrenched into the Constitution ever since McKenna slipped it in during the Meech Lake debacle.

And there have always been ambulances in this Province.

So can someone please explain to me just why this is an issue now?

What service provider will be the next targeted group by the activists.


David Amos
David Amos
@Brian Robertson" It has been entrenched into the Constitution ever since McKenna slipped it in during the Meech Lake debacle. "

Are you certain the Charter is legal?

Methinks a lot folks should read this document before they argue me N'esy Pas?

Canada was explained within the 2002 Annual Report FORM 18-K filed by The Deputy Minister of Finance with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/230098/000113031902001603/m08476e18vk.htm










Paul Krumm 
Paul Krumm
If only New Brunswick could find some statesmen to govern us and not some sycophants. Increase HST by 2%, minimum income tax of (say $100) per person, increase income tax rates by 5% at the bottom end up to 25% at the top. Plastic tax of $2 on every plastic container, plus $1 tax on every single piece of non re-recyclable packaging ($5 or so per pack of cigarettes) increase bottle deposit to $1 per, introduce point of sale refunds, etc etc, legislate that tax increases will revert to 'normal' after 4 years.. Introduce short term (3 year) occupancy tax $100 per person. The problem could be largely solved in as few years. Short term pain etcetera!


David Amos
David Amos
@Paul Krumm Methinks all we need is a few ethical Independents blessed with the rather thing called common sense seated in the house to keep the professional politicians on the straight and narrow N'esy Pas?







 



 Claude DeRoche 
Claude DeRoche
How sweet the Irving Boy blackmailing his own citizens!

If you don't agree with fracking I will send our transfer payments back to Ottawa!


David Amos
David Amos
@Claude DeRoche Methinks many folks thought that was pretty funny N'esy Pas?












Wally Manza
Wally Manza
Certainly we need more than a taxpayer funded economy provides considering consumers already leveraging themselves through debt are now indebted on average at 174% of income and rising. Consumer spending is not the kind of economic engine which is sustainable.
We need new people(immigration) bringing new money coming into this province. We need new private sector investment and venture capital to replace reliance on consumer spending. In short we need to seek a new economic foundation based upon sustainable growth.


Mark (Junkman) George
Mark (Junkman) George
@Wally Manza

Consumer spending is only part of the puzzle (a very small part).
Corporate welfare MUST stop.
The resources that successive governments have been giving to the select few belong to ALL New Brunswickers.
EVERYONE and ALL business have to pay their fair share of taxes.
Immigrants are pie in your sky........... most are resource-less refugees who rely on our charity to live.
Money, as in new money, will never come here.......... why would it come?

daryl doucette
daryl doucette
@Mark (Junkman) George yu da MAN Mark!
David Amos
David Amos
@Mark (Junkman) George "Corporate welfare MUST stop."

Methinks folks should check out how much money NB Power gives to the Irving Clan N'esy Pas?









Claude DeRoche
Claude DeRoche
NB is now governed from the Irving head office!
What could go wrong!


David Amos
David Amos
@Claude DeRoche Methinks you should tell us because everybody knows it has been that way since the lawyer called Little Louie became our Premier N'esy Pas?










 Paul Krumm 
Lou Bell
Bernard Lord and Ambulance NB have shown that their being awarded the Healthcare contract was NOT about healthcare , but language .


David Amos
David Amos
@Lou Bell So you say










 Paul Krumm 
Mario Doucet
The elephant in the room is the cause of the NB debt load.


Marguerite Deschamps
Marguerite Deschamps
@Mario Doucet, all that was missing was the mouse with the Mikey Mouse comment.

Claude DeRoche
Claude DeRoche
@Mario Doucet
Time to send back transfers to Ottawa!

Dan Lee
Dan Lee
@Claude DeRoche
How about we keep the transfers and send Mario back...........

David Amos
David Amos
@Marguerite Deschamps "all that was missing was the mouse with the Mikey Mouse comment"

Methinks I sometimes resemble that remark N'esy Pas?



David Amos
David Amos
@Mario Doucet Methinks many would agree that the elephant in the room is Mr .Gauvin N'esy Pas?

"Deputy Premier Robert Gauvin, the only francophone in the government, warned that the Ambulance New Brunswick controversy had brought him close to resigning and that he would spend the holidays pondering his future with the party."











Brian Robertson
Brian Robertson
So the CBC has established that their sole focus of the Higgs' government is going to be language.

Of the myriad of problems facing this Province, what we are going to be hearing over and over again will be Francophone language rights.

Is it any wonder that we can't seem to pull up out of this death spire?


Graeme Scott
Graeme Scott
@Brian Robertson I've also noticed that CBC reporting has definitely been showing more and more of a subtle anti PC slant in recent weeks. I guess when you feed at the government trough you're instinctively opposed to fiscal restraint of any kind

David Amos
David Amos
@Graeme Scott "I've also noticed that CBC reporting has definitely been showing more and more of a subtle anti PC slant in recent weeks."

Methinks a lot of folks noticed a lot more than that N'esy Pas?










Lou Bell
Lou Bell
Bernard Lord indicated Ambulance NB was putting off doing any hiring or readjusting as much as possible, in spite of Government directives . These people have a commitment to provide a HEALTHCARE SERVICE , and I would suggest if they CANNOT provide that service, TERMINATE the contract immediately ! Their mandate is healthcare , not language, so either do the job or get fired !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


David Amos
David Amos
@Lou Bell Methinks folks should ask Mr Higgs why his buddy Bernie Lord had me illegally barred from legislative properties in 2004 while I was running in the election of the 38th Parliament N'esy Pas?












Alex Forbes 
Alex Forbes
Higgs will do what's in the best interest of the Irvings...like every other politician in NB it would seem.


Brian Robertson
Brian Robertson
@Alex Forbes
This tired old, unfounded rant is the kind of comment made by someone who has nothing relevant to add to the discussion.

Mark (Junkman) George
Mark (Junkman) George
@Brian Robertson

It may be, as you say: "old and tired", but being "old and tired" does not change a NB basic truth.
Very close to the first 2 CONServative policy statements out of old Blaine's mouth were "pipeline and fracking", both activities that will enrich the Irvings by many millions, if not billions, NB not so much.
It matters not, if blue, or red, clowns are elected in NB, the Irvings seem to win every election.

Jim Cyr
Jim Cyr
@Mark (Junkman) George
You know, you might be right about the Irvings (and fracking, too).

But just the way you talk makes me think that you believe that having a job so that you can have enough money to put food on the table and also pay the bills is a trifling matter...............
Must be nice!

Mark (Junkman) George
Mark (Junkman) George
@Jim Cyr

Sounds like you need a profession.
Jobs are temporary things you work at to make someone else wealthy.

David Amos
David Amos
@Alex Forbes I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir

David Amos
David Amos
@Brian Robertson "This tired old, unfounded rant is the kind of comment made by someone who has nothing relevant to add to the discussion."

Methinks you should intervene in my next lawsuit and argue the facts with me N'esy Pas?











 Paul Krumm 
Paul Bourgoin
New Brunswick needs elected officials that after being nominated start doing what they were chosen for. That is representing the people of New Brunswick. Not dividing English against French against English by veering them on each other using sensitive cultural differences like language but doing what is best for New Brunswick. Not what their financial supporters believe they bought!


Mark (Junkman) George
Mark (Junkman) George
@Paul Bourgoin

It's just another Irving smoke screen........... ignore the language issue and watch what is really going on.

David Amos
David Amos
@Mark (Junkman) George YUP











 Douglas James 
Douglas James
Learning more on a particular issue? How is this Blaine...

New Brunswick, with one of the highest obesity rates in Canada, is a breeding ground for Type 2 diabetes, arguably the greatest epidemic in human history. So far, not a peep out of your government on how it is going to fight this epidemic.

In the midst of this, Type 1 diabetics are provided insulin through the NB Drug Plan but have no idea how much to take based on what they eat or how much exercise they do because the drug plan does not cover continuous glucose monitoring supplies or even basic blood glucose test strips.

People with diabetes are clogging up the healthcare system with unnecessary complications which eventually lead to death because of inaction by successive New Brunswick governments. It will get only get much worse with over one third of the population (tested or untested) likely to already have Type 2 diabetes.

There...you've learned some more on an issue of critical importance. Now, what are you going to do about it?


Douglas James
Douglas James
@Douglas James Clearly those who've put thumbs down on this have no idea of the suffering diabetes causes. They will soon enough.

cheryl wright
cheryl wright
@Douglas James thank you!! Insulin dependent patients are numerous in this province and the condition is extremely expensive. I find it funny that we can find money for assistance for heroine and meth addicts but the diabetics are left out in the cold. people go without checking their sugar levels because strips are so costly which in return results in highs or lows and ambulance rides to the ers. its unnecessary and its not right. there are definitely gaps in our health care, diabetics and seniors are just 2 of them.

David Amos
David Amos
@Douglas James Trust that I am very familiar with Type 1 diabetess the suffering diabetes causes and you got my thumb down anyway for reasons you know as well as I N'esy Pas?











 Paul Krumm 
Shawn Tabor
What don’t kill you, will only make you stronger. Imagine if Mr Higgs did turn the province around. Just think about how the history books would be written. Hats off to you Sir for being up for the challenge. Be careful not to be like all the Premiers before you, that has lead us to this mess. I only know from Richard Hatfield to present day. Kick the can Sir and Goodluck.


David Amos
David Amos
@Shawn Tabor I disagree Higgs for many years has been made well aware of my opinion on the debt versus pensions plans. In fact I explained it to you a time or two correct?


David Amos
David Amos 
 @David Amos I repeat before the stock market takes another nosedive I propose to stop the pensioners lawsuits and secure their investments with our IOU . Everybody but the Banksters win. Simply take the money from the "Shared Risk" pension plan managed by Vestcor and pay off our provincial debt in full. Then honour the contract with the pensioners through general funds. The shortfall between what is going into their pension plans and what is being paid out is only about 70 million which is a whole lot cheaper for the rest of us than paying 700 million a year in interest on our debt to Banksters. Methinks it truly is just that simple that is why nobody will argue me about it N'esy Pas?









 Paul Krumm 
Errol Willis
Language is definitely the most divisive (and expensive) issue facing NB. On one hand, Anglophones seem to feel that bilingualism should be a requirement "where numbers warrant" and on the other hand, Francophones seem to feel that it is an absolute right in all cases of government supplied services. There has to be some middle ground here. Why can't people get in a room and negotiate what is best for the province, not for each language group? There is no doubt that providing duplication is wildly expensive, but as well, there is no doubt that it should be done when necessary.

The Language Commissioner office is horribly biased and is more of an impediment to progress than an advocate. As long as people back into their own corners and refuse to negotiate in good faith, this province will continue to sink financially.


Joseph Vacher
Joseph Vacher
@Errol Willis i would like to see the playing field at least balanced out. There is no requirement for your ability to speak good English, but you are required to speak perfect Chiac to work in this province

Marguerite Deschamps
Marguerite Deschamps
@Joseph Vachier; it's in the name. LLol.

David Amos
David Amos
@Joseph Vacher Methinks my command of Chiac is excellent much to the chagrin of the SANB and their spin doctors N'esy Pas?










 Paul Krumm 
carter edgar
so if Gauvin goes to the Liberals on this issue,does it sign Liberalsfrench consevatives English what a road to go down


David Amos
David Amos
@carter edgar Methinks if anything Gauvin will remain true to his word and sit as an Independent N'esy Pas?




Blaine Higgs embraces challenges — and they are many

'I have never been averse to changing my mind if I learn more on a particular issue,' says premier


New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs described the current Ambulance New Brunswick languages situation as a compromise. (CBC)



Blaine Higgs ends 2018 holding what he says is the only job that allows him to turn around New Brunswick's dire fortunes: premier.

And he has rushed into the task.

But the job is one he also once acknowledged is much more difficult than the post of finance minister he held from 2010 to 2014.

In 2012, he said his single-minded focus on reducing government spending was easier than then-premier David Alward's need to balance myriad other competing priorities.

A finance minister would have firm views "on how aggressive we can be" with the budget, he said back then.
"The premier, on the other hand, has to balance not only that aspect of our priorities, but all the other priorities that are in the system, and all of the other demands he has across the province. So his challenge is much greater than mine."

Now Higgs is the premier, and finds himself in the thick of one of those challenges, perhaps the toughest of all in New Brunswick: language rights.

He was sworn in vowing to drop a judicial review launched by the previous Liberal government to clarify its bilingualism obligations. He said a court review wasn't necessary and would only slow down his efforts to fix staff shortages at Ambulance New Brunswick.

But he was persuaded to reverse himself and let government lawyers move ahead with a Jan. 24 hearing. It will determine whether the recommendations of labour arbitrator John McEvoy go against the Official Languages Act and language provisions of the Constitution.
I have never been averse to changing my mind if I learn more on a particular issue.- Blaine Higgs, premier
"I have never been averse to changing my mind if I learn more on a particular issue," Higgs said in a year-end interview.

"In this situation, what I learned is that the Constitution and the way it's worded would suggest that there needs to be clarity."

Higgs also decided that while the province waited for a ruling on McEvoy's recommendations, it would go ahead and implement them — in the interest of ensuring people get life-saving ambulance service.


The judicial review is aimed at resolving apparent contradictions between two rulings on the bilingual hiring requirements for paramedics. (Catherine Allard/Radio-Canada)
So on Dec. 20, Health Minister Ted Flemming directed Ambulance New Brunswick to waive bilingual requirements in temporary paramedic hirings in regions where the government believes demand for second-language service is low.

"The only caveat for me was that we don't lose time here in providing service," Higgs said. "So if we want to carry on [in court] to get a final answer, that's fine, but we're not going to lose time in delivering service. That was kind of the compromise."

Compromise was not something Higgs spoke of fondly as finance minister.

As Alward's finance minister, he complained, often openly, that his own Tory colleagues stymied his balanced-budget plan by worrying more about getting re-elected than about sound fiscal management.

That's one reason he ran for the party leadership in 2016. He couldn't impose his will on the government from the position of finance minister, he said.

"I wasn't the premier."

WorkSafeNB changes


His first few weeks in the job have borne out that view. "You just can — make things happen," he said, citing legislation rewriting the powers of a tribunal for WorkSafeNB appeals.

When the PCs were sworn in Nov. 9, the government had a report in hand recommending changes to the law that would rein in soaring premiums paid by employers.


 
The Higgs government brought in a bill on Nov. 27 to roll back park of scheduled premium increases.
Higgs says officials told him that they could have a bill ready "in the spring, sometime in February or March … So I said, 'In the meantime, we're going to pay the highest rates in the country and that'll likely carry on for a year or more?'

"They said, 'Yeah, it would take a while for the transition.' I said, 'What can we do to speed it up?'"

A bill was ready Nov. 27 and became law 15 days later, in time to roll back part of the scheduled Jan. 1 premium increase.

"What really was exciting was the Worksafe folks themselves were shocked at the speed at which we could actually move," Higgs said. "What it said to me is that if we can do that on this issue, we can do it on other issues."

 

A rush into a legal quagmire?


But speeding to a solution on the more complicated issue of bilingual ambulances is starting to look like a rush into a legal quagmire.

Besides the McEvoy judicial review, another court challenge is looming in response to Flemming's announcement of weaker hiring requirements.

Murielle and Danny Sonier of Moncton plan to return to court to ask a judge to force the province to comply with a 2017 consent order that settled their lawsuit over a lack of bilingual service.


Watch Harry Forestell's full interview with Premier Blaine Higgs



CBC News New Brunswick
Premier Blaine Higgs reflects on 2018




00:0024:55



Premier Blaine Higgs talks to the CBC's Harry Forestell about the biggest issues in 2018 and looks forward to 2019. 24:55
That order, signed by both the province and Ambulance New Brunswick as well as the judge in the case, included a commitment to bilingual ambulances everywhere in the province.

The apparent contradiction between that order and the McEvoy recommendation is why the previous Liberal government asked the court to review McEvoy.

The premier says implementing McEvoy immediately is a temporary step, until bilingual staffing is ramped up and the legal issues are sorted out.
But it's a step he was determined to take right away.

"If someone said to me we're going to wait [for a decision on McEvoy] and service will be at risk in the interim, I would not have agreed to it," he said. "But as long as we can do both, we all get an answer at the end of the day."

'It is never because of language'


But even Ambulance New Brunswick is arguing there was no urgency because service would not be at risk.

"Ambulances are never off the road because of language requirements," spokesperson Chisholm Pothier said in an email statement.

"There are other reasons why ambulances are out of service ... but it is never because of language."


Deputy Premier Robert Gauvin, the only francophone in the government, warned that the Ambulance New Brunswick controversy had brought him close to resigning and that he would spend the holidays pondering his future with the party. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC) 
And Higgs's own deputy premier, Shippagan-Lameque-Miscou MLA Robert Gauvin — the only francophone in the government — warned that the controversy had brought him close to resigning, and that he would spend the holidays pondering his future with the party.
It is an indication that, on this issue at least, Higgs's appetite for quick decision-making may not be easily reconciled with what he once called "all of the other priorities in the system" that a premier has to consider.

 

About the Author

 


Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC political podcast Spin Reduxit. 










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