----------Original message ----------
From: "Holder, Trevor Hon. (PETL/EPFT)"<Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:49:25 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Higgy's political opponents may
enjoy their email over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I am curretly out of the office during the holiday season, should you
require immediate assistance, please email Wendy Brewer at
wendy.brewer@gnb.ca.
Season's greetings and best wishes for a health, happy and peaceful New Year.
Je suis actuellement à l'extérieur du bureau pendant la période des
Fêtes. Si vous avez besoin d'une assistance immédiate, veuillez
envoyer un courriel à wendy.brewer@gnb.ca.
Salutations et meilleurs voeux pour une nouvelle année saine, heureuse
et paisible.
Minister/Ministre
Trevor A. Holder
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
![]()
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email over the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/12/essential-services-bill-passes-after.html
#nbpoli#cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/essential-services-bill-passed-1.5404431
CBC News· Posted: Dec 20, 2019 1:38 PM AT
![]()
Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, said CUPE would likely challenge the law in court. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The New Brunswick legislature shut down Friday for the Christmas break after a round of holiday cheer gave way to a final war of words over essential-services legislation.
The bill, which puts conditions on how a labour arbitrator can rule on the wages of nursing home workers, passed third and final reading 24-22. It later received royal assent from Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy.
Members of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions booed, jeered and loudly chanted "No Justice, No Peace" from the public gallery of the legislature, interrupting the first attempt to hold the vote.
Speaker Daniel Guitard stopped the voting and asked security staff to escort the union members out, but they chose to leave voluntarily. A few minutes later the vote took place.
"I'm appalled at what happened in that house today," said Brien Watson, the New Brunswick president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. "I'm appalled at what happened to the workers of this province. … It's just despicable what happened in the house."
The law will put in place a new process for declaring nursing-home workers as essential during a labour dispute.
Union leaders say it will slow down the procedure, potentially for years, making it harder for the unions to strike.
![]()
Brien Watson, the New Brunswick president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, is appalled the legislature passed the essential-services bill on Friday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Watson said CUPE would likely challenge the law in court.
"Our voices will not be silenced," said Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions.
"We are not and will not be defeated. Defeat is when you give up. We are nursing home workers, and we will not give up protecting our seniors on a daily basis while fighting for our rights for better working conditions."
Premier Blaine Higgs says he's still hoping to negotiate a new contract with the union and address some of the issues it's been raising about working conditions and recruitment.
But he also made clear the bill's passage was a major win for his wish to keep a lid on public-sector wage increases.
"I guess [the union] should think I'm serious," he said. "Anyone who thought I wasn't serious before will be thinking, 'No, I guess he's serious.'"
Higgs also said the behaviour of union members in the public gallery was outdated.
"It's really disappointing if, at this point in time, we're back in the sixties, shaking our fists and jumping up and down," he said.
The vote was a foregone conclusion after an eight-hour committee debate on Wednesday, but Liberal and Green MLAs put up a last fight Friday morning.
After each party took turns at an annual legislature tradition, reciting adapted Christmas songs and poems good-naturedly poking fun at each other, the Liberals and Greens spent more than an hour criticizing Bill 17 as an attack on public-sector labour unions.
The existing law on essential services in nursing homes was struck down by a judge earlier this year. She upheld a labour board ruling that the law was too much of a limit on the right to strike.
The judge froze the effect of her ruling on hold for six months to give the government time to pass a better law. That deadline is Jan. 2.
The bill adds a binding arbitration process that requires the arbitrator to consider "the employer's ability to pay, in light of the fiscal situation of the Province."
On Wednesday, the government amended the bill to allow "any other factors that the arbitrator considers relevant" to be considered. That change won the support of the People's Alliance, whose three MLAs were crucial to getting the bill passed.
Another contentious government bill was not passed before Friday's adjournment.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy's legislation to tighten the province's mandatory vaccination rules for schoolchildren by eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions will have to come back for debate when the legislature resumes in March.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Methinks its too bad so sad that we can't read the whole story about this circus we are paying for N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Here is some of what Leblanc just published within his blog
"Someone send me this note about the CBC new policy.....
Dear CBC i find myself most puzzled, as i read online, a recent Friday Dec 20th 2019 story re the legislatures passing of a bill to ensure nursing home workers..which i am not..yet a long time tax paying citizen to be "essential service folks". Within the comment section, it appears i have no ability to vote with a":thumbs down" comment to what i consider to be something i disagree with. I would at this time include the name of Johnny Horton, whom by all appearances is KIng of the Union busters, and leader of the nonsense brigade."
David Stairs
maybe the government can pass an essential service delivery bill and force themselves to deliver services for taxes paid...
David Raymond Amos
Chantal LeBouthi
Premier Austin got what he wanted from VP Higgs
Thank to all workers for doing a great jobs at nursing, police officers firefighters
NB appreciate you but Austin and Higgs doesn’t they prefer to see you as slaves and obey no talks no negotiations just obey master Austin and Higgs
David Raymond Amos
McKenzie King
Ahh, the greed of unions!!!
David Raymond Amos
Stephen Robertson
And Casper Vickers said... NOTHING...again. How much is the Liberal Party paying for this silence??
David Raymond Amos
David Raymond Amos
Methinks on the longest night of the year if anyone missed the local circus and wants a decent chuckle about the MLAs and their nonsense check out the blog of their buddy Chucky Leblanc Higgy has top billing right now and Vickers can't be found at all N'esy Pas?
Johnny Horton
Childish behaviour from the union members. We view politics as fools for their antics I the legislature. Guess this bunch of hustling home workers is no better.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Cardy didn't have such a great day at the circus N'esy Pas?
Heather Michon
There is $115 million allocated in the provincial budget for contract negotiations, according to Steeves, yet the petty little dictator, Higgs and his lackey Sheppard, refuse to use some of it to ensure that skilled workers are recruited and retained to care for the most vulnerable our seniors and those with disabilities. In fact, he has wasted a few million losing in court three times and taking out full page ads, all in an attempt to mislead the public. The "ability to pay" is clearly subjective since he gave himself a raise and travel increase while offering people more valuable than him only 1%. He gave homecare workers a raise but got that money from the very seniors he professes to care about, taking away the monthly stipend they got from the Liberals to pay for things like rides to Dr. appointments. He has intentionally targetted nursing home workers for whatever reason, preferring to ignore the crisis in favour of ensuring his petty agenda is pushed. Every senior should remember how little he cares for them when election time comes. Things are only going to get worse. For anyone who thinks this is just about wages, educate yourself because at some point you or a family member will need this support and it won't be there.
Johnny Horton
Eric Plexe
Premier Higgs should lead by example and serve a shift in a nursing home.
Johnny Horton
Robert Buck
I posted this in another place. So the Cons vote to change the designation of Paramedics which will most likely give them a wage increase. This is ok and they have money for that but no money for home care workers. Just wondering. We all know the Government is going argue every time the ability to pay. This is no more that the Government telling the Arbitrator how much they are going to pay. There was not "ability to pay" when the Government voted to raise their expenses.
Johnny Horton
Ferdinand Boudreau
That should be good news for the workers. Arbitration will give them what they want. Their salaries should match the Saint John police force
David Raymond Amos
Marguerite Deschamps
"After each party took turns at an annual legislature tradition, reciting adapted Christmas songs and poems good-naturedly poking fun at each other..."
The first time I went to see these clowns in action at the legislature, it is this kind of behaviour that dissipated any aspiration I might have had to become a politician. They reminded me of an unruly class when the teacher has lost control over the kids. What a joke!
Terry Tibbs
Rosco Holt
Will the ability to pay apply to MLAs raises, pensions, any handouts to the private sector, so call investments, P3, tax cuts to the rich & corporations and the rest of the list on scams?
David Raymond Amos
Andy Davis
Ya got what you voted for!!
Cons aren’t known to be on the citizens side , unless you’re rich
Colin Seeley
Here’s a little something for the Unions who want to take it out on defenceless frail seniors and believe in mob rules.
BOOO. BOOOO. BOOOO.
Adam Holly
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/committee-discuss-binding-arbitration-1.5404532
CBC News· Posted: Dec 20, 2019 6:10 PM AT
![]()
Bob Davidson, a labour analyst with the New Brunswick Police Association, said the the amendments shouldn't have been proposed until the municipal committee had looked at the arbitration issue. (CBC)
The bill that would add an "ability to pay" provision to binding arbitration for municipal police and firefighters will now be discussed by a municipal decision-makers committee after it didn't get its scheduled second reading in the legislature on Friday.
"We certainly welcome that committee back again, which it should have been and it was premature to bring in the Bill 13 first reading before that," said Bob Davidson, a labour analyst with the New Brunswick Police Association.
New Brunswick Labour Minister Trevor Holder proposed amendments to the arbitration process in November. One change would require the arbitrator in a contract dispute to take into consideration a municipality's ability to pay for any wage increases.
Davidson said the municipal committee should've been considered before the bill was even brought to the house.
![]()
Glenn Sullivan, the president of the Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association, said drafting legislation before identifying an issue is poor governance. (CBC)
"They put the cart before the horse and hopefully they learn a lesson from this," he said. "We look forward to deliberations on the committee."
The municipal decision-makers committee includes members of the New Brunswick Police Association and New Brunswick firefighters and representatives from municipalities.
Glenn Sullivan, the president of the Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association, said he wants to have a fact-based discussion about the proposed amendments, and it's important to have it early on.
"You go to stakeholder input first of all [and] determine if there actually is, in fact, an issue before you draft legislation.
"To draft legislation prior to even determining if there is an issue is bad governance in our view."
The municipal committee, which hasn't been brought together since the late 1990s, will meet in the next three months to discuss the amendments and come up with a report for the law amendments committee, the next step for the bill as it goes through the legislature.
![]()
Saint John Mayor Don Darling said he's pleased that the proposed amendments are going to be discussed by the committee, which includes representatives of muncipalities. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Municipalities across the province have been calling for changes to the Industrial Relations Act, arguing the existing process is "broken" and has created a financial burden for them.
Saint John Mayor Don Darling, who is pleased the bill will be discussed by the municipal decision-makers committee, said he and other municipal leaders support the proposed changes.
"This is something that is really unprecedented, that over 90 communities, 90 municipalities in New Brunswick got together to say this is a very important issue," Darling said.
"We respect first responders immensely. However, we need common-sense changes."
![]()
Premier Blaine Higgs said the committee was brought to his attention by Green Party Leader David Coon and People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin. (CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs said People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin and Green Party Leader David Coon both brought the municipal committee to his attention as a potential step in the process.
"When it was evident that the Greens were going to support it, and the Alliance were gonna support it, and of course, we were going support it, 'Well, OK, we'd better find a way to do this,'" Higgs said.
"So anyway at end the day, they did. Which was great. It was all parties coming together on doing what was right but that certainly wasn't the first process."
After the municipal decision-makers committee discusses the amendments, the bill will go to the law amendments committee for public hearings and then it will return to the house for second reading.
4 Comments
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Frank McKenna and the Ghost of Premier Hatfield should agree that the old crude rude ex CUPE dude Bobby Davidson can cry quite a river N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer
Since governments have the power to raise taxes, there will ALWAYS be an ability to pay.
David Raymond Amos
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/legislature-debate-nursing-home-strike-1.5400553
· CBC News· Posted: Dec 18, 2019 12:07 PM AT
![]()
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has been against altering a proposed provision requiring labour arbitrators to consider the government's ability to pay when deciding on wage increases. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)
One of the Higgs government's most contentious and consequential bills took a major step toward approval on Wednesday night.
A committee of MLAs debated the Act to Amend the Essential Services in Nursing Homes Act, legislation that will change the process for deciding which nursing home workers are allowed to go on strike.
The committee voted 6-5 on the bill, with committee chair and Progressive Conservative MLA Gary Crossman casting the deciding yes vote.
That makes it all but certain the bill will get final approval by Friday when the legislature adjourns for Christmas, well ahead of a Jan. 2 legal deadline.
Last week, Premier Blaine Higgs called the bill "a line in the sand" that he'd treat as a confidence measure, meaning he'd call an election if it went down to defeat.
"Would I accept an amendment to the bill that's being proposed?" Higgs said in Question Period Wednesday ahead of the committee debate. "Absolutely not."
Liberal and Green MLAs introduced four such amendments Wednesday evening but they were all defeated by the same 6-5 margin, with PC and People's Alliance members voting together to reject them.
The Alliance came on board after Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard introduced a government amendment to make the bill palatable to the party, which was reluctant to support the "ability to pay" provision.
The amendment by Shephard says an arbitrator can also consider "any other factors that the arbitrator considers relevant" when making a ruling on wage increases.
That amendment also passed 6-5.
![]()
Liberal MLA Gilles LePage said the ability-to-pay provision creates a barrier to free negotiations between the nursing homes and unions. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)
During a marathon question-and-answer session lasting most of the afternoon, Liberal MLA Gilles LePage said imposing the "ability to pay" provision will hamstring the ability of nursing homes and unions to negotiate freely.
He argued that both sides will know that if they can't make a deal and go to arbitration, the arbitrator will be forced to consider the ability to pay — an undefined consideration that the premier, minister of finance and minister of social development will influence when they set their budgets.
"This goes completely against negotiations in good faith that the minister wants us to believe is in this bill," he said, calling it "an order" from the province to the arbitrator.
![]()
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard said the amendment is 'as fair, I believe, as it gets.' (CBC)
But Shephard argued the provision could work in favour of the unions during prosperous times in the province.
"This is as fair, I believe, as it gets," she said.
She confirmed an arbitrator won't be able to ignore the ability-to-pay test and said "we are identifying the minimum we would want an arbitrator to look at."
"But in tabling the amendment today, we are giving an arbitrator the perspective of including any other relevant information that they deem necessary."
With the committee vote Wednesday night, the bill returns to the full legislature for third reading before the end of the week. But with the substantial debate and changes completed, that final step will be a formality.
The existing law on essential services in nursing homes was struck down by a judge earlier this year. She upheld a labour board ruling that the law was too much of a limit on the right to strike.
![]()
The New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions has been without a contract since 2016. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
The ruling came at the same time that the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions was poised to strike. They've been without a contract since 2016.
The judge froze the effect of her ruling for six months to give the government time to pass a better law. That deadline is Jan. 2.
The bill creates a new process for designating essential employees and adds a binding arbitration process.
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Essential-services bill passes after boos rain down from gallery
Law will create new process for designating essential nursing home
workers during contract dispute
CBC News · Posted: Dec 20, 2019 1:38 PM AT
130 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email over the
the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
On 12/21/19, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> Essential-services bill passes after boos rain down from gallery
>
> Law will create new process for designating essential nursing home
> workers during contract dispute
> CBC News · Posted: Dec 20, 2019 1:38 PM AT
>
>
>
>
>
> 129 Comments
>
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Methinks its too bad so sad that we can't read the whole story about
> this circus we are paying for N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Content disabled
> Methinks its interesting that Higgy's buddy Chucky Leblanc is blogging
> about this comment section but not bothering to comment here himself
> N'esy Pas?
>
> Here is some of what Leblanc just published within his blog
>
> "Someone send me this note about the CBC new policy.....
> Dear CBC i find myself most puzzled, as i read online, a recent Friday
> Dec 20th 2019 story re the legislatures passing of a bill to ensure
> nursing home workers..which i am not..yet a long time tax paying
> citizen to be "essential service folks". Within the comment section,
> it appears i have no ability to vote with a":thumbs down" comment to
> what i consider to be something i disagree with. I would at this time
> include the name of Johnny Horton, whom by all appearances is KIng of
> the Union busters, and leader of the nonsense brigade."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> David Stairs
> maybe the government can pass an essential service delivery bill and
> force themselves to deliver services for taxes paid...
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @David Stairs: Methinks it would be wise of Higgy to finally
> make certain that I get my Medicare Card, the doctors' fees and
> emergency room bills paid before I sue the Queen because no doubt it
> will cost the taxpayers more in legal fees and compensation for his
> government's incompetence N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Chantal LeBouth
> Premier Austin got what he wanted from VP Higgs
> Thank to all workers for doing a great jobs at nursing, police
> officers firefighters
> NB appreciate you but Austin and Higgs doesn’t they prefer to see you
> as slaves and obey no talks no negotiations just obey master Austin
> and Higgs
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: Methinks many would agree that its Higgy
> who oversees the big talking pastor N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> McKenzie King
> Ahh, the greed of unions!!!
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @McKenzie King: Methinks Frank McKenna and the Ghost of
> Premier Hatfield should agree that the old crude rude ex CUPE dude
> Bobby Davidson can cry quite a river N'esy Pas?
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Stephen Robertson
> And Casper Vickers said... NOTHING...again. How much is the Liberal
> Party paying for this silence??
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @Stephen Robertson: Sometimes less is more. A wiseguy once said:
>
> "Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and
> remove all doubt"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Johnny Horton
> Crystal ball says the LPNs will walk. The remaining PSW, laundry,
> janitorial, cooks entertainment and secretarial remnants will crumble.
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Johnny Horton:
> *will walk away to another union by themselves.
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Johnny Horton:
> Which really won’t work for the LPNs anyway as they already get paid
> significantly more than home care workers who have the same or more
> responsibility to their clients than the LPNs do.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Matt Steele
> CUPE has no one to blame but themselves . Demanding a 20 percent pay
> increase was totally unreasonable when the province has over a 14
> BILLION dollar debt . Just the interest payments on the prov. debt is
> nearly 2 MILLION per day . There is no magical money tree , and N.B.
> taxpayers are MAXED out already .
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Matt Steele:
> But but but Irving is the answer to every NB problem. We would all
> live in Hollywood style mansions and travel on gold roads. Uhh uhh
> it’s true, I read it every day on the CBC nb forums!
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Matt Steele: CUPE and it’s eorkers are out of touch with
> normal NB sorkers. They can’t see and understand why the masses don’t
> support them. How the masses don’t make anywhere near them already and
> certainly without the perks.
> One shouldn’t be surprised the masses kicked back this time.
>
>
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>
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>
>
> Pierre Cyr
> Whatever it takes to keep the Irvings from having to pay their 300+
> million a year to the province on their corporate profit taxes. Once
> an Irving man always an Irving man?
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Pierre Cyr:
> It’s got nothing to do with needing money. It’s about paying untrained
> workers and low skill workers ridiculous salaries.
>
> Daryl F
> Reply to @Johnny Horton: so how much do they make Horton? Where do you
> get the facts? You have enough to say so enlighten the masses?
>
From: "Holder, Trevor Hon. (PETL/EPFT)"<Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:49:25 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Higgy's political opponents may
enjoy their email over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I am curretly out of the office during the holiday season, should you
require immediate assistance, please email Wendy Brewer at
wendy.brewer@gnb.ca.
Season's greetings and best wishes for a health, happy and peaceful New Year.
Je suis actuellement à l'extérieur du bureau pendant la période des
Fêtes. Si vous avez besoin d'une assistance immédiate, veuillez
envoyer un courriel à wendy.brewer@gnb.ca.
Salutations et meilleurs voeux pour une nouvelle année saine, heureuse
et paisible.
Minister/Ministre
Trevor A. Holder
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email over the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/12/essential-services-bill-passes-after.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/essential-services-bill-passed-1.5404431
Essential-services bill passes after boos rain down from gallery
Law will create new process for designating essential nursing home workers during contract dispute
CBC News· Posted: Dec 20, 2019 1:38 PM AT
Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, said CUPE would likely challenge the law in court. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The New Brunswick legislature shut down Friday for the Christmas break after a round of holiday cheer gave way to a final war of words over essential-services legislation.
The bill, which puts conditions on how a labour arbitrator can rule on the wages of nursing home workers, passed third and final reading 24-22. It later received royal assent from Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy.
Members of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions booed, jeered and loudly chanted "No Justice, No Peace" from the public gallery of the legislature, interrupting the first attempt to hold the vote.
Speaker Daniel Guitard stopped the voting and asked security staff to escort the union members out, but they chose to leave voluntarily. A few minutes later the vote took place.
CUPE reacts to bill
"I'm appalled at what happened in that house today," said Brien Watson, the New Brunswick president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. "I'm appalled at what happened to the workers of this province. … It's just despicable what happened in the house."
The law will put in place a new process for declaring nursing-home workers as essential during a labour dispute.
Union leaders say it will slow down the procedure, potentially for years, making it harder for the unions to strike.
Brien Watson, the New Brunswick president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, is appalled the legislature passed the essential-services bill on Friday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Watson said CUPE would likely challenge the law in court.
"Our voices will not be silenced," said Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions.
"We are not and will not be defeated. Defeat is when you give up. We are nursing home workers, and we will not give up protecting our seniors on a daily basis while fighting for our rights for better working conditions."
Premier Blaine Higgs says he's still hoping to negotiate a new contract with the union and address some of the issues it's been raising about working conditions and recruitment.
But he also made clear the bill's passage was a major win for his wish to keep a lid on public-sector wage increases.
"I guess [the union] should think I'm serious," he said. "Anyone who thought I wasn't serious before will be thinking, 'No, I guess he's serious.'"
Higgs also said the behaviour of union members in the public gallery was outdated.
"It's really disappointing if, at this point in time, we're back in the sixties, shaking our fists and jumping up and down," he said.
The vote was a foregone conclusion after an eight-hour committee debate on Wednesday, but Liberal and Green MLAs put up a last fight Friday morning.
After each party took turns at an annual legislature tradition, reciting adapted Christmas songs and poems good-naturedly poking fun at each other, the Liberals and Greens spent more than an hour criticizing Bill 17 as an attack on public-sector labour unions.
The existing law on essential services in nursing homes was struck down by a judge earlier this year. She upheld a labour board ruling that the law was too much of a limit on the right to strike.
- Higgs promises to change nursing home bill to get People's Alliance support
- Legislative committee passes essential-services bill after late-night sitting
The judge froze the effect of her ruling on hold for six months to give the government time to pass a better law. That deadline is Jan. 2.
The bill adds a binding arbitration process that requires the arbitrator to consider "the employer's ability to pay, in light of the fiscal situation of the Province."
On Wednesday, the government amended the bill to allow "any other factors that the arbitrator considers relevant" to be considered. That change won the support of the People's Alliance, whose three MLAs were crucial to getting the bill passed.
Another contentious government bill was not passed before Friday's adjournment.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy's legislation to tighten the province's mandatory vaccination rules for schoolchildren by eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions will have to come back for debate when the legislature resumes in March.
130 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.David Raymond Amos
Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Methinks its too bad so sad that we can't read the whole story about this circus we are paying for N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Methinks its interesting that Higgy's buddy Chucky Leblanc is blogging about this comment section but not bothering to comment here himself N'esy Pas? Here is some of what Leblanc just published within his blog
"Someone send me this note about the CBC new policy.....
Dear CBC i find myself most puzzled, as i read online, a recent Friday Dec 20th 2019 story re the legislatures passing of a bill to ensure nursing home workers..which i am not..yet a long time tax paying citizen to be "essential service folks". Within the comment section, it appears i have no ability to vote with a":thumbs down" comment to what i consider to be something i disagree with. I would at this time include the name of Johnny Horton, whom by all appearances is KIng of the Union busters, and leader of the nonsense brigade."
David Stairs
maybe the government can pass an essential service delivery bill and force themselves to deliver services for taxes paid...
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Stairs: Methinks it would be wise of Higgy to finally make certain that I get my Medicare Card, the doctors' fees and emergency room bills paid before I sue the Queen because no doubt it will cost the taxpayers more in legal fees and compensation for his government's incompetence N'esy Pas?
Chantal LeBouthi
Premier Austin got what he wanted from VP Higgs
Thank to all workers for doing a great jobs at nursing, police officers firefighters
NB appreciate you but Austin and Higgs doesn’t they prefer to see you as slaves and obey no talks no negotiations just obey master Austin and Higgs
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: Methinks many would agree that its Higgy who oversees the big talking pastor N'esy Pas?
McKenzie King
Ahh, the greed of unions!!!
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @McKenzie King: Methinks Frank McKenna and the Ghost of Premier Hatfield should agree that the old crude rude ex CUPE dude Bobby Davidson can cry quite a river N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/committee-discuss-binding-arbitration-1.5404532
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/committee-discuss-binding-arbitration-1.5404532
Stephen Robertson
And Casper Vickers said... NOTHING...again. How much is the Liberal Party paying for this silence??
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Stephen Robertson: Sometimes less is more. A wiseguy once said:
"Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt"
"Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt"
David Raymond Amos
Methinks on the longest night of the year if anyone missed the local circus and wants a decent chuckle about the MLAs and their nonsense check out the blog of their buddy Chucky Leblanc Higgy has top billing right now and Vickers can't be found at all N'esy Pas?
Johnny Horton
Childish behaviour from the union members. We view politics as fools for their antics I the legislature. Guess this bunch of hustling home workers is no better.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Cardy didn't have such a great day at the circus N'esy Pas?
Heather Michon
There is $115 million allocated in the provincial budget for contract negotiations, according to Steeves, yet the petty little dictator, Higgs and his lackey Sheppard, refuse to use some of it to ensure that skilled workers are recruited and retained to care for the most vulnerable our seniors and those with disabilities. In fact, he has wasted a few million losing in court three times and taking out full page ads, all in an attempt to mislead the public. The "ability to pay" is clearly subjective since he gave himself a raise and travel increase while offering people more valuable than him only 1%. He gave homecare workers a raise but got that money from the very seniors he professes to care about, taking away the monthly stipend they got from the Liberals to pay for things like rides to Dr. appointments. He has intentionally targetted nursing home workers for whatever reason, preferring to ignore the crisis in favour of ensuring his petty agenda is pushed. Every senior should remember how little he cares for them when election time comes. Things are only going to get worse. For anyone who thinks this is just about wages, educate yourself because at some point you or a family member will need this support and it won't be there.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Heather Michon:
You do realize you aren’t the only government workers, thst $128m has to cover every raise in the province for government sponsored workers. Considering a 1% raise for nursing home workers will cost over $2m. And that is for only 4400 workers. It isn’t hard to see thst $118M can only afford a 1% raise for everyone,
You do realize you aren’t the only government workers, thst $128m has to cover every raise in the province for government sponsored workers. Considering a 1% raise for nursing home workers will cost over $2m. And that is for only 4400 workers. It isn’t hard to see thst $118M can only afford a 1% raise for everyone,
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Heather Michon: Methinks you and Johnny should get a room N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Just jealous!
Rosco Holt
Reply to @Johnny Horton:
If so how can they afford giving themselves raises, hire friends at deputy minister salaries, lobbyist, wasting millions fighting in courts.
If so how can they afford giving themselves raises, hire friends at deputy minister salaries, lobbyist, wasting millions fighting in courts.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Rosco holt:
These nursing home workers weren’t poor. Laundry workers and secretaries and entertainment cords are pulling in forty k a yeer.
These nursing home workers weren’t poor. Laundry workers and secretaries and entertainment cords are pulling in forty k a yeer.
Heather Michon
Reply to @Johnny Horton: yes and ours would be approximately 9 million. A drop in the bucket
Heather Michon
Reply to @Johnny Horton: 40k ? If only! You really have no idea. Have the guts to use your real name and you can join the conversation
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Of what? Methinks those two are just like you and Lou. Nobody needs to read your constant ragging at each other all day unless you have something to reveal N'esy Pas?
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Heather Michon:
Heather $20 an hour for s full time worker IS $49k a year.
Heather $20 an hour for s full time worker IS $49k a year.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
We don’t need to read your off topic posts about your lawsuits, but you never stop thst. Kettle black and glass houses with a huge dose of hypocrisy.
We don’t need to read your off topic posts about your lawsuits, but you never stop thst. Kettle black and glass houses with a huge dose of hypocrisy.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks our back and forth hurt a conservative spin doctor's feeling N'esy Pas?
Eric Plexe
Premier Higgs should lead by example and serve a shift in a nursing home.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Eric Plexe:
I’m sure he already knows how to do laundry,
I’m sure he already knows how to do laundry,
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Eric Plexe: Me Too
Heather Michon
Reply to @Johnny Horton: he needs to know alot more
Robert Buck
I posted this in another place. So the Cons vote to change the designation of Paramedics which will most likely give them a wage increase. This is ok and they have money for that but no money for home care workers. Just wondering. We all know the Government is going argue every time the ability to pay. This is no more that the Government telling the Arbitrator how much they are going to pay. There was not "ability to pay" when the Government voted to raise their expenses.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Robert Buck:
Home care workers did get a raise this year,
Home care workers did get a raise this year,
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Johnny Horton:
They still deserve as much as nursing home workers get though,
They still deserve as much as nursing home workers get though,
Heather Michon
Reply to @Johnny Horton: and Higgs took that money from the very seniors he professes to care about.
Robert Buck
Reply to @Johnny Horton: Oh I am sorry I mentioned the wrong group but quite sure everyone knew what I was talking about.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Robert Buck: Methinks many would agree that there is no need to apologize to a noname conservative spin doctor N'esy Pas?
Ferdinand Boudreau
That should be good news for the workers. Arbitration will give them what they want. Their salaries should match the Saint John police force
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Ferdinand Boudreau: Surely you jest
Marguerite Deschamps
"After each party took turns at an annual legislature tradition, reciting adapted Christmas songs and poems good-naturedly poking fun at each other..."
The first time I went to see these clowns in action at the legislature, it is this kind of behaviour that dissipated any aspiration I might have had to become a politician. They reminded me of an unruly class when the teacher has lost control over the kids. What a joke!
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:
And they are done now until March.
And they are done now until March.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Terry Tibbs:
They still do work ya know.
ACTUALLY THE LEGISLSTURE IS THE. IGGEST WASTE OF TIME SND MONEY. THEY SHOULD JUST DKIP SLL THST SND STEY IN THEIR OFFICES IN THEIR RIDINGS.
They still do work ya know.
ACTUALLY THE LEGISLSTURE IS THE. IGGEST WASTE OF TIME SND MONEY. THEY SHOULD JUST DKIP SLL THST SND STEY IN THEIR OFFICES IN THEIR RIDINGS.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you forgot why a current Green Meanie who no doubr is your favourite former SANB president got chucked out of the old maison and now his Facebook has been shutdown for being rude N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: naw, he's a polite dude.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Yea Right
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kevin-arseneau-facebook-page-disabled-1.5370806
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kevin-arseneau-facebook-page-disabled-1.5370806
Rosco Holt
Will the ability to pay apply to MLAs raises, pensions, any handouts to the private sector, so call investments, P3, tax cuts to the rich & corporations and the rest of the list on scams?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Rosco holt: Methinks your question is rhetorical Why not put your reasoning to good use? You have the right to step up to plate and run against an MLA of your choosing in the upcoming election N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Rosco holt: BTW I found it interesting that Susan Holt pretended to be so nice to me during the election while blocking me from Twitter. I must ask are you two related?
Rosco Holt
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
Related!?
Not that I know of.
Related!?
Not that I know of.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Rosco holt: Good
Rosco Holt
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
I'm too short fused to be in politics. Too much BS.
I'm too short fused to be in politics. Too much BS.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Rosco holt: I agree I decided to quit politicking this year after I ran in Fundy Royal one last time However the nonsense in Fat Fred City lately is tempting
Andy Davis
Ya got what you voted for!!
Cons aren’t known to be on the citizens side , unless you’re rich
Rick Smith
Reply to @Andy Davis: Really?? You mean like the cupe leaders. Maybe the President of cupe will cut our union dues. That will put more money in my pocket, or better yet he can take a pay cut.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Andy Davis: True
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Rick Smith: Good point
Colin Seeley
Here’s a little something for the Unions who want to take it out on defenceless frail seniors and believe in mob rules.
BOOO. BOOOO. BOOOO.
Adam Holly
Reply to @Colin Seeley: Heaven forbid the province's finances must be taken into consideration before awarding unions wage increases, right? I respect that there is a place for unions, but if NB ever wants to get their house in order, then I'm all for the 'ability to pay' clause; for too many years it seems that successive municipal and provincial governments have been held hostage by unions that want big increases for their membership without taking into consideration the payer's (in these cases, either the city of SJ for example, or the Province) ability to satisfy that contract. As Higgs famously said, if you want Alberta wages, then go work in Alberta.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Adam Holly:
Heaven forbid unskilled reception laundry cooks entertainers and maintenance nursing home workers who have no direct care of the patient, be given ridiculous huge wage increases when they already make really good money for their skill levels.
Heaven forbid unskilled reception laundry cooks entertainers and maintenance nursing home workers who have no direct care of the patient, be given ridiculous huge wage increases when they already make really good money for their skill levels.
Heather Michon
Reply to @Adam Holly: ability to pay didn't appear to apply when they gave themselves a nice raise.
Heather Michon
Reply to @Colin Seeley: please, stop swallowing Higgs bs.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Heather Michon: He is Higgy's #1 fan
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Adam Holly: Well put
Bart JW
Reply to @Heather Michon: Ok, but what are the numbers that the taxpayers will pay, I figure a few hundred thousand versus many millions I bet.
Heather Michon
Reply to @Johnny Horton: when you have the guts to use your real name, you can join the conversation
Heather Michon
Reply to @Johnny Horton: you again? Like I said, have the guts to use your real name and you can join the conversation
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Heather Michon: Spin doctors don't understand the meaning of the word integrity Hence they seldom use their real name
Colin Seeley
Reply to @Heather Michon:
Provincial Politicians are underpaid. They made less than a teacher. And have to swallow BS from simplistic moronic voters.
Provincial Politicians are underpaid. They made less than a teacher. And have to swallow BS from simplistic moronic voters.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/committee-discuss-binding-arbitration-1.5404532
'Ability-to-pay' arbitration bill takes detour to municipal group for 3 months
Municipal decision-makers committee will debate controversial changes to arbitration process
CBC News· Posted: Dec 20, 2019 6:10 PM AT
Bob Davidson, a labour analyst with the New Brunswick Police Association, said the the amendments shouldn't have been proposed until the municipal committee had looked at the arbitration issue. (CBC)
The bill that would add an "ability to pay" provision to binding arbitration for municipal police and firefighters will now be discussed by a municipal decision-makers committee after it didn't get its scheduled second reading in the legislature on Friday.
"We certainly welcome that committee back again, which it should have been and it was premature to bring in the Bill 13 first reading before that," said Bob Davidson, a labour analyst with the New Brunswick Police Association.
New Brunswick Labour Minister Trevor Holder proposed amendments to the arbitration process in November. One change would require the arbitrator in a contract dispute to take into consideration a municipality's ability to pay for any wage increases.
Davidson said the municipal committee should've been considered before the bill was even brought to the house.
Glenn Sullivan, the president of the Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association, said drafting legislation before identifying an issue is poor governance. (CBC)
"They put the cart before the horse and hopefully they learn a lesson from this," he said. "We look forward to deliberations on the committee."
The municipal decision-makers committee includes members of the New Brunswick Police Association and New Brunswick firefighters and representatives from municipalities.
Glenn Sullivan, the president of the Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association, said he wants to have a fact-based discussion about the proposed amendments, and it's important to have it early on.
"You go to stakeholder input first of all [and] determine if there actually is, in fact, an issue before you draft legislation.
"To draft legislation prior to even determining if there is an issue is bad governance in our view."
The municipal committee, which hasn't been brought together since the late 1990s, will meet in the next three months to discuss the amendments and come up with a report for the law amendments committee, the next step for the bill as it goes through the legislature.
Saint John Mayor Don Darling said he's pleased that the proposed amendments are going to be discussed by the committee, which includes representatives of muncipalities. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Municipalities across the province have been calling for changes to the Industrial Relations Act, arguing the existing process is "broken" and has created a financial burden for them.
Saint John Mayor Don Darling, who is pleased the bill will be discussed by the municipal decision-makers committee, said he and other municipal leaders support the proposed changes.
"This is something that is really unprecedented, that over 90 communities, 90 municipalities in New Brunswick got together to say this is a very important issue," Darling said.
"We respect first responders immensely. However, we need common-sense changes."
Premier Blaine Higgs said the committee was brought to his attention by Green Party Leader David Coon and People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin. (CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs said People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin and Green Party Leader David Coon both brought the municipal committee to his attention as a potential step in the process.
"When it was evident that the Greens were going to support it, and the Alliance were gonna support it, and of course, we were going support it, 'Well, OK, we'd better find a way to do this,'" Higgs said.
"So anyway at end the day, they did. Which was great. It was all parties coming together on doing what was right but that certainly wasn't the first process."
After the municipal decision-makers committee discusses the amendments, the bill will go to the law amendments committee for public hearings and then it will return to the house for second reading.
4 Comments
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Frank McKenna and the Ghost of Premier Hatfield should agree that the old crude rude ex CUPE dude Bobby Davidson can cry quite a river N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer
Since governments have the power to raise taxes, there will ALWAYS be an ability to pay.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: So you say
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/legislature-debate-nursing-home-strike-1.5400553
Legislative committee passes essential-services bill after late-night sitting
Premier Blaine Higgs had said he'd call an election if the bill was defeated
· CBC News· Posted: Dec 18, 2019 12:07 PM AT
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has been against altering a proposed provision requiring labour arbitrators to consider the government's ability to pay when deciding on wage increases. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)
One of the Higgs government's most contentious and consequential bills took a major step toward approval on Wednesday night.
A committee of MLAs debated the Act to Amend the Essential Services in Nursing Homes Act, legislation that will change the process for deciding which nursing home workers are allowed to go on strike.
The committee voted 6-5 on the bill, with committee chair and Progressive Conservative MLA Gary Crossman casting the deciding yes vote.
That makes it all but certain the bill will get final approval by Friday when the legislature adjourns for Christmas, well ahead of a Jan. 2 legal deadline.
Last week, Premier Blaine Higgs called the bill "a line in the sand" that he'd treat as a confidence measure, meaning he'd call an election if it went down to defeat.
He said he'd do the same if opposition MLAs passed an amendment that would gut a key element of the bill — a provision that requires labour arbitrators to consider the government's ability to pay when deciding on wage increases.
"Would I accept an amendment to the bill that's being proposed?" Higgs said in Question Period Wednesday ahead of the committee debate. "Absolutely not."
Liberal and Green MLAs introduced four such amendments Wednesday evening but they were all defeated by the same 6-5 margin, with PC and People's Alliance members voting together to reject them.
'As fair, I believe, as it gets'
The Alliance came on board after Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard introduced a government amendment to make the bill palatable to the party, which was reluctant to support the "ability to pay" provision.
The amendment by Shephard says an arbitrator can also consider "any other factors that the arbitrator considers relevant" when making a ruling on wage increases.
That amendment also passed 6-5.
Liberal MLA Gilles LePage said the ability-to-pay provision creates a barrier to free negotiations between the nursing homes and unions. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)
During a marathon question-and-answer session lasting most of the afternoon, Liberal MLA Gilles LePage said imposing the "ability to pay" provision will hamstring the ability of nursing homes and unions to negotiate freely.
He argued that both sides will know that if they can't make a deal and go to arbitration, the arbitrator will be forced to consider the ability to pay — an undefined consideration that the premier, minister of finance and minister of social development will influence when they set their budgets.
"This goes completely against negotiations in good faith that the minister wants us to believe is in this bill," he said, calling it "an order" from the province to the arbitrator.
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard said the amendment is 'as fair, I believe, as it gets.' (CBC)
But Shephard argued the provision could work in favour of the unions during prosperous times in the province.
"This is as fair, I believe, as it gets," she said.
She confirmed an arbitrator won't be able to ignore the ability-to-pay test and said "we are identifying the minimum we would want an arbitrator to look at."
"But in tabling the amendment today, we are giving an arbitrator the perspective of including any other relevant information that they deem necessary."
Existing law struck down
With the committee vote Wednesday night, the bill returns to the full legislature for third reading before the end of the week. But with the substantial debate and changes completed, that final step will be a formality.
The existing law on essential services in nursing homes was struck down by a judge earlier this year. She upheld a labour board ruling that the law was too much of a limit on the right to strike.
The New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions has been without a contract since 2016. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
The ruling came at the same time that the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions was poised to strike. They've been without a contract since 2016.
The judge froze the effect of her ruling for six months to give the government time to pass a better law. That deadline is Jan. 2.
The bill creates a new process for designating essential employees and adds a binding arbitration process.
47 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Raymond Amos
"Meanwhile, the People's Alliance says it can live with a government amendment that was introduced Wednesday morning. With the Alliance onside, that amendment and the bill itself are expected to pass."
DUHHHH???
DUHHHH???
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Now the spin on the scene has changed and the words I quoted from the original article are gone. Hence the responses to this new piece of work often don't make sense. Why not just publish a new article?
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Higgy should move the nursing home workers from the Social Development Minister's purview to that of the Health Minister just like he did with the paramedics the other day and he can be a hero again much to the chagrin of CUPE and their liberal pals N'esy Pas?
Ben Haroldson
So mr premier, do you remember jackie? did you and jt talk about him?
Greg Windsor
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: ....who the hell is Jackie?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Greg Windsor: An old wannabe metis dude
Paramedics could switch unions, see pay hikes under new proposal
Health minister announces change 5 days after saying he wouldn't be rushed, unclear if CUPE will oppose
· CBC News· Posted: Dec 17, 2019 5:32 PM AT
Joel Mattatall, the paramedic who chaired a committee pushing for the change, was all smiles after Tuesday's announcement. (CBC)
Just five days after he said he wouldn't be rushed into it, Health Minister Ted Flemming has announced a professional reclassification for paramedics that could move them into a new union and award them higher salaries.
Flemming told the legislature that ambulance paramedics will be reclassified as medical-science professionals effective next April, a recognition that their jobs have become more complex and specialized.
"The position of paramedic has evolved tremendously over the years, seeing significant changes to their scope of practice," he said.
MLAs from all parties and a large crowd of paramedics in the public gallery applauded the announcement.
The union that now represents the more than 800 paramedics, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, has the right to oppose the reclassification before the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board.
Flemming told the legislature that ambulance paramedics will be reclassified as medical-science professionals effective next April, a recognition that their jobs have become more complex and specialized.
"The position of paramedic has evolved tremendously over the years, seeing significant changes to their scope of practice," he said.
MLAs from all parties and a large crowd of paramedics in the public gallery applauded the announcement.
The union that now represents the more than 800 paramedics, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, has the right to oppose the reclassification before the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board.
Health Minister Ted Flemming spoke to reporters while flanked by paramedics Tuesday. (CBC)
Should the reclassification be approved, the paramedics will shift to another labour organization, the New Brunswick Union, and could be in line for wage increases.
Joel Mattatall, the paramedic who chaired a committee pushing for the change, told reporters the issue wasn't salaries but recognition of their specialized work and college-level training.
"This is about recognizing paramedics for the valuable service they provide to their communities each and every day as medical professionals," he said.
The timing of Flemming's announcement was striking. Both the Tories and the People's Alliance promised to make the change during the 2018 provincial election campaign.
But last Thursday People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin complained that the government wasn't moving fast enough on it and threatened to start voting against government bills if it didn't happen soon.
Flemming responded at the time that he wanted to make the change but wouldn't be rushed.
"I'm not going to be boxed in, in the legislature, when someone gets up and says, 'I demand that you do this and say you're going to do it now.'"
Asked what had changed in the last five days that allowed him to do it, Flemming said Tuesday: "I know this is a shock to some people, but sometimes government does move at a pretty good speed."
Austin questioned whether the announcement was going to happen without his push. "Sure it was," he joked to reporters.
But he gave most of the credit to Mattatall and others on his committee.
"The success of this lands squarely with the paramedics. They fought for this, they earned it, and we were simply here to help navigate that politically."
CUPE did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the union will oppose the reclassification.
Mattatall said it would be "insane" for that union to use membership dues paid by paramedics to fight a change that 97 per cent of them had voted to request.
Liberal MLA Jean-Claude d'Amours and Green Leader David Coon said they support the reclassification.
Joel Mattatall, the paramedic who chaired a committee pushing for the change, told reporters the issue wasn't salaries but recognition of their specialized work and college-level training.
"This is about recognizing paramedics for the valuable service they provide to their communities each and every day as medical professionals," he said.
The timing of Flemming's announcement was striking. Both the Tories and the People's Alliance promised to make the change during the 2018 provincial election campaign.
But last Thursday People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin complained that the government wasn't moving fast enough on it and threatened to start voting against government bills if it didn't happen soon.
Flemming responded at the time that he wanted to make the change but wouldn't be rushed.
Speed picked up
"I'm not going to be boxed in, in the legislature, when someone gets up and says, 'I demand that you do this and say you're going to do it now.'"
Asked what had changed in the last five days that allowed him to do it, Flemming said Tuesday: "I know this is a shock to some people, but sometimes government does move at a pretty good speed."
[Paramedics] fought for this, they earned it, and we were simply here to help navigate that politically.
- Kris Austin, People's Alliance leaderMattatall said the issue "really took on a life of its own" after Austin's threat last week, but he said the process was already well underway with "an extensive and thorough four-month classification analysis" by government officials at a conclusion.
Austin questioned whether the announcement was going to happen without his push. "Sure it was," he joked to reporters.
But he gave most of the credit to Mattatall and others on his committee.
"The success of this lands squarely with the paramedics. They fought for this, they earned it, and we were simply here to help navigate that politically."
CUPE did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the union will oppose the reclassification.
Mattatall said it would be "insane" for that union to use membership dues paid by paramedics to fight a change that 97 per cent of them had voted to request.
Liberal MLA Jean-Claude d'Amours and Green Leader David Coon said they support the reclassification.
39 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.David Raymond Amos
Too Too Funny Methinks the only dude who was surprised today was Ted Flemming's buddy Chucky Leblanc Even after it was all over he still had no clue what was going on so Chucky asked Flemming if anyone spoke French and Flemming looked at his blogging buddy like he had two heads and simply said "You are piece of work" which was the understatement of the year N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Methinks I smell a writ being dropped before March 10th N'esy Pas?
Johnny Horton
Reply to @David Raymond Amos:
They should save the province a whole bunch of money and hold the provincial and municipal elections together,
They should save the province a whole bunch of money and hold the provincial and municipal elections together,
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Methinks Higgy may agree that Mr Tibbs and Mr Horton couldbe the same dude N'esy Pas?
Andrew Michaels
its all about the money...they make about $26 an hour plus all of the OT that they want. And just an FYI...they are not forced to work OT.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @andrew michaels: Methinks everybody knows everything political is always about the money. Clearly the paramedics played the political cards perfectly. Trust that Flemming ain't smart enough to dream up his decision overnight. In my humble opinion the PANB got lucky looking good talking tough to Higgy about this matter before Flemming showed his hand. Its rather obvious to me that Higgy used a pile of our taxpayer funds to embarrass Cardy's old buddies in CUPE and make his political gang look good before the next election. Now we should wait with bated breath to hear what Mikey Holland has to announce what is in store for us tomorrow N'esy Pas?
----------Original message ----------
From: Newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:49:27 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Higgy's political opponents may
enjoy their email over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
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----------Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 13:49:19 -0400
Subject: Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email
over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
To: news@dailygleaner.com, nben@nben.ca, premier@gnb.ca,
mike.holland@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca,
dominic.leblanc.c1@parl.gc.ca, Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, jeff.carr@gnb.ca,
oldmaison@yahoo.com, andre@jafaust.com,
Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.
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Kevin.A.Arseneau@gnb.ca, Newsroom@globeandmail.com,
sturgeon.nathalie@
nick.brown@gnb.ca, robert.mckee@gnb.ca, Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca,
Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca, Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca,
michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, carl.davies@gnb.ca,
carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, Cathy.Rogers@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca,
roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca, Roger.Brown@fredericton.ca,
ron.tremblay2@gmail.com
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca,
Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca, sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Coon, David (LEG)"<David.Coon@gnb.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:35:53 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks its too bad so sad that we can't
read the whole story about this circus we are paying for N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. / Merci pour votre courriel.
I am currently out of the office. I will be back on Monday, January
6th. / Je suis hors du bureau. Je serai de retour le lundi 6 janvier.
I will respond as soon as possible. / Je vous répondrai dès que possible.
Please note that from December 23rd, 2019 until January 6th, 2020 the
Constituency Office for Fredericton-South will be closed. Emails and
telephone messages sent during this time will receive a response in
early January. The office will re-open Monday, January 6th. /
Veuillez noter que du 23 décembre 2019 au 6 janvier 2020, le bureau de
circonscription de Fredericton-Sud sera fermé. Les courriels et les
messages téléphoniques envoyés pendant cette période recevront une
réponse au début de janvier. Le bureau ouvrira le lundi 6 janvier.
If this is a media request for MLAs Megan Mitton or Kevin Arseneau or
myself, please call (506) 429-2285. / Pour toute demande de médias
avec les député.e.s Megan Mitton et Kevin Arseneau ou moi-même,
veuillez appeler le (506) 429-2285.
Have a safe and joyous holiday season! / Passez de joyeuses fêtes en
toute sécurité !
David Coon
MLA Fredericton South & Leader of the Green Party/
Député de Fredericton Sud et chef du Parti Vert
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: NBEN RENB <nben@nben.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 09:35:53 -0800
Subject: Away from office - hors du bureau Re: Methinks its too bad so
sad that we can't read the whole story about this circus we are paying
for N'esy Pas?
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your message. The NBEN office will be closed for the
holidays until January 3, 2019. Happy holidays!
Merci pour votre message. Le bureau du RENB sera fermer pour les
fêtes jusqu'au 3 janvier 2019 Joyeuses fêtes!
--
New Brunswick Environmental Network
Réseau environnemental du Nouveau-Brunswick
(506)855-4144
nben@nben.canben@nben.ca
> / renb@renb.caFrom: Newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:49:27 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Higgy's political opponents may
enjoy their email over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for contacting The Globe and Mail.
If your matter pertains to newspaper delivery or you require technical
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----------Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 13:49:19 -0400
Subject: Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email
over the the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
To: news@dailygleaner.com, nben@nben.ca, premier@gnb.ca,
mike.holland@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca,
dominic.leblanc.c1@parl.gc.ca, Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, jeff.carr@gnb.ca,
oldmaison@yahoo.com, andre@jafaust.com,
Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.
Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca, megan.mitton@gnb.ca, David.Coon@gnb.ca,
Kevin.A.Arseneau@gnb.ca, Newsroom@globeandmail.com,
sturgeon.nathalie@
nick.brown@gnb.ca, robert.mckee@gnb.ca, Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca,
Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca, Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca,
michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, carl.davies@gnb.ca,
carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, Cathy.Rogers@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca,
roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca, Roger.Brown@fredericton.ca,
ron.tremblay2@gmail.com
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca,
Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca, sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Coon, David (LEG)"<David.Coon@gnb.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:35:53 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks its too bad so sad that we can't
read the whole story about this circus we are paying for N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. / Merci pour votre courriel.
I am currently out of the office. I will be back on Monday, January
6th. / Je suis hors du bureau. Je serai de retour le lundi 6 janvier.
I will respond as soon as possible. / Je vous répondrai dès que possible.
Please note that from December 23rd, 2019 until January 6th, 2020 the
Constituency Office for Fredericton-South will be closed. Emails and
telephone messages sent during this time will receive a response in
early January. The office will re-open Monday, January 6th. /
Veuillez noter que du 23 décembre 2019 au 6 janvier 2020, le bureau de
circonscription de Fredericton-Sud sera fermé. Les courriels et les
messages téléphoniques envoyés pendant cette période recevront une
réponse au début de janvier. Le bureau ouvrira le lundi 6 janvier.
If this is a media request for MLAs Megan Mitton or Kevin Arseneau or
myself, please call (506) 429-2285. / Pour toute demande de médias
avec les député.e.s Megan Mitton et Kevin Arseneau ou moi-même,
veuillez appeler le (506) 429-2285.
Have a safe and joyous holiday season! / Passez de joyeuses fêtes en
toute sécurité !
David Coon
MLA Fredericton South & Leader of the Green Party/
Député de Fredericton Sud et chef du Parti Vert
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: NBEN RENB <nben@nben.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 09:35:53 -0800
Subject: Away from office - hors du bureau Re: Methinks its too bad so
sad that we can't read the whole story about this circus we are paying
for N'esy Pas?
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your message. The NBEN office will be closed for the
holidays until January 3, 2019. Happy holidays!
Merci pour votre message. Le bureau du RENB sera fermer pour les
fêtes jusqu'au 3 janvier 2019 Joyeuses fêtes!
--
New Brunswick Environmental Network
Réseau environnemental du Nouveau-Brunswick
(506)855-4144
nben@nben.ca
www.nben.ca<http://www.nben.ca> / www.renb.ca<http://www.renb.ca>
Follow us on/ Suivez-nous sur:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/
Essential-services bill passes after boos rain down from gallery
Law will create new process for designating essential nursing home
workers during contract dispute
CBC News · Posted: Dec 20, 2019 1:38 PM AT
130 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Raymond Amos
Methinks Higgy's political opponents may enjoy their email over the
the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
On 12/21/19, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> Essential-services bill passes after boos rain down from gallery
>
> Law will create new process for designating essential nursing home
> workers during contract dispute
> CBC News · Posted: Dec 20, 2019 1:38 PM AT
>
>
>
>
>
> 129 Comments
>
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Methinks its too bad so sad that we can't read the whole story about
> this circus we are paying for N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Content disabled
> Methinks its interesting that Higgy's buddy Chucky Leblanc is blogging
> about this comment section but not bothering to comment here himself
> N'esy Pas?
>
> Here is some of what Leblanc just published within his blog
>
> "Someone send me this note about the CBC new policy.....
> Dear CBC i find myself most puzzled, as i read online, a recent Friday
> Dec 20th 2019 story re the legislatures passing of a bill to ensure
> nursing home workers..which i am not..yet a long time tax paying
> citizen to be "essential service folks". Within the comment section,
> it appears i have no ability to vote with a":thumbs down" comment to
> what i consider to be something i disagree with. I would at this time
> include the name of Johnny Horton, whom by all appearances is KIng of
> the Union busters, and leader of the nonsense brigade."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> David Stairs
> maybe the government can pass an essential service delivery bill and
> force themselves to deliver services for taxes paid...
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @David Stairs: Methinks it would be wise of Higgy to finally
> make certain that I get my Medicare Card, the doctors' fees and
> emergency room bills paid before I sue the Queen because no doubt it
> will cost the taxpayers more in legal fees and compensation for his
> government's incompetence N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Chantal LeBouth
> Premier Austin got what he wanted from VP Higgs
> Thank to all workers for doing a great jobs at nursing, police
> officers firefighters
> NB appreciate you but Austin and Higgs doesn’t they prefer to see you
> as slaves and obey no talks no negotiations just obey master Austin
> and Higgs
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: Methinks many would agree that its Higgy
> who oversees the big talking pastor N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> McKenzie King
> Ahh, the greed of unions!!!
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @McKenzie King: Methinks Frank McKenna and the Ghost of
> Premier Hatfield should agree that the old crude rude ex CUPE dude
> Bobby Davidson can cry quite a river N'esy Pas?
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Stephen Robertson
> And Casper Vickers said... NOTHING...again. How much is the Liberal
> Party paying for this silence??
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Reply to @Stephen Robertson: Sometimes less is more. A wiseguy once said:
>
> "Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and
> remove all doubt"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>
> Johnny Horton
> Crystal ball says the LPNs will walk. The remaining PSW, laundry,
> janitorial, cooks entertainment and secretarial remnants will crumble.
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Johnny Horton:
> *will walk away to another union by themselves.
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Johnny Horton:
> Which really won’t work for the LPNs anyway as they already get paid
> significantly more than home care workers who have the same or more
> responsibility to their clients than the LPNs do.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Matt Steele
> CUPE has no one to blame but themselves . Demanding a 20 percent pay
> increase was totally unreasonable when the province has over a 14
> BILLION dollar debt . Just the interest payments on the prov. debt is
> nearly 2 MILLION per day . There is no magical money tree , and N.B.
> taxpayers are MAXED out already .
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Matt Steele:
> But but but Irving is the answer to every NB problem. We would all
> live in Hollywood style mansions and travel on gold roads. Uhh uhh
> it’s true, I read it every day on the CBC nb forums!
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Matt Steele: CUPE and it’s eorkers are out of touch with
> normal NB sorkers. They can’t see and understand why the masses don’t
> support them. How the masses don’t make anywhere near them already and
> certainly without the perks.
> One shouldn’t be surprised the masses kicked back this time.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>
> Pierre Cyr
> Whatever it takes to keep the Irvings from having to pay their 300+
> million a year to the province on their corporate profit taxes. Once
> an Irving man always an Irving man?
>
> Johnny Horton
> Reply to @Pierre Cyr:
> It’s got nothing to do with needing money. It’s about paying untrained
> workers and low skill workers ridiculous salaries.
>
> Daryl F
> Reply to @Johnny Horton: so how much do they make Horton? Where do you
> get the facts? You have enough to say so enlighten the masses?
>
Funny I see politicians acting childish all the time. Especially Conservatives ones.
Yes they do, and we mock them for it. As we should mock nursing home workers for imitating them.
You don’t have to be a con to enjoy your taxes not going higher to pay for others lifestyles.
Nope. Should be watching Liberals like Cathy Rogers who was delirious with glee. and loving the disgraceful actions.