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David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 49 others




David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 49 others 
Too Too Funny Indeed Methinks folks should Google the following to understand why I am laughing N'esy Pas?

Mr Higgs and Dominic Cardy are trying to learn how to herd cats 


http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/01/mr-higgs-and-dominic-cardy-are-trying.html




 #nbpoli#cdnpoli



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/higgs-new-brunswick-vaccination-mandatory-1.5410489

Year of managing clashing ministers teaches Higgs what a headache he used to be

Nothing wrong with passion, says premier

Jacques Poitras· CBC News· Posted: Dec 31, 2019 6:00 AM AT



New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says he was 'a bit of a difficult case' for former premier David Alward. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

Premier Blaine Higgs says being forced to juggle the "passions" of a diverse group of ministers in 2019 helped him realize how much of a headache he once must have been to his former boss, former premier David Alward.

Though he wouldn't elaborate, Higgs acknowledged during a year-end interview that two key ministers did not see eye-to-eye on mandatory vaccinations for schoolchildren, one of the most contentious government initiatives of the year.

"We do have a diverse group," he said. "We have a passionate bunch, and there's nothing wrong with passion, whether it be the vaccines, or other particular interests or ideas."

In August, Justice Minister Andrea Anderson-Mason said she wasn't sure how she'd vote on a bill to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations.

Education Minister Dominic Cardy said any minister who couldn't support a government bill should quit, though Higgs later said he'd allow a free vote.
The premier said the apparent split was an example of two ministers forcefully pushing their views — just as he did when he complained publicly about runaway government spending when he was finance minister under Alward from 2010 to 2014.

"I now have more of an appreciation for David Alward and what he went through, because I was like them," he said. "I was a bit of a difficult case."

As minister of finance, Higgs frequently sounded off about his fellow Progressive Conservatives pressuring him to let them spend more taxpayer dollars.

In 2012 he pointedly refused to publicly support Alward's appointment of PC MLA Margaret-Ann Blaney as CEO of a Crown corporation.

His candid comments rankled Alward and his advisers "on more than one occasion," Higgs now says.
"But it wasn't from lack of passion, it was from excessive passion. It was from a drive to get the job done and a drive to make a difference."


Now that he can see as premier how nettlesome he could be back then, he has more patience with his own ministers when they stir the pot.

I know that they're pushing to do what they believe is right. At the end of the day we have to balance that with the greater good and the greater consensus, and that's my job.

- Blaine Higgs, premier

"I was always pushing the envelope and always trying to change behaviour, and so when I have folks do that, and they threaten to do this or that or the other thing, I kind of take it with a grain of salt," he said.

"I know that they're passionate. I know that they're pushing to do what they believe is right. At the end of the day we have to balance that with the greater good and the greater consensus, and that's my job."

To be debated in new year

The dynamic between Cardy and Anderson-Mason continued into the fall, when Cardy introduced a new version of the vaccination bill that includes the notwithstanding clause from the Charter of Rights.

That allows the bill to withstand a court challenge on grounds of religious discrimination.

Higgs said at the time that the notwithstanding clause was included at the urging of lawyers in Anderson-Mason's department who said the bill would be unconstitutional without it.

But Cardy told reporters that if opposition parties teamed up to remove the clause, he'd still be willing to vote for the bill, which will be debated in the new year.

$1M bridge repair to 'bridge the gap'

Opposition Liberals argued earlier this month that Robert Gauvin, the deputy premier, was another source of internal dissent. They said Higgs allowed Gauvin to announce $1 million to repair a key bridge in his riding as a way of healing a rift.

"It's more like a million dollars to bridge the gap between the premier and the deputy premier," Liberal MLA Benoît Bourque said on Dec. 13.

The 60-year-old bridge between Shippagan and Lameque, which includes a drawbridge, is the only link between the mainland Acadian Peninsula and two islands where more than 2,000 people live.


Asked why the only specific project announced in the capital budget on Dec. 10 was $1 million to begin upgrading the bridge between Shippagan and Lameque in his riding, Deputy Premier Robert Gauvin told reporters, 'Maybe I'm special.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)

It has experienced mechanical problems that Gauvin called a safety hazard when he announced the funding Dec. 10, the same day as the capital budget and one day before other projects in the budget were revealed.

In late 2018, Gauvin threatened to quit cabinet over the handling of language requirements for ambulance paramedics. But Higgs brushed off suggestions Gauvin had to be soothed again this year.

Higgs said he was firm with ministers that no individual projects would be identified in the capital budget speech itself, but "Robert was keen to have that following the budget speech. … He wanted the opportunity to be first to the plate."

So he decided "it's fine, there's no problem, there's nothing to hide, it was all coming out [the next day]," Higgs said.

Improved rapport with Alliance

Besides managing his own cabinet and caucus, Higgs also had to negotiate with three other political party leaders in the legislature to keep his minority government alive and get legislation passed.

Usually it's the People's Alliance that backs PC budgets and bills, and Higgs said his rapport with Alliance Leader Kris Austin is even better than a year ago.

"The ability for us to work together and the recognition or respect for each other has grown over the year," he said, calling Austin "very thoughtful and rational."

"If I had a choice I would rather be in a majority for sure. But if you don't have a choice and you dance with the partner that put you there. There's an obligation on both parts to make it work. I feel we've been trying to do that and they have too."



Higgs said he believes People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin has been making an effort too. (CBC)

A year ago Higgs said he hoped to co-operate more with the Liberals and the Greens in 2019, but he said that hasn't been possible.

He blames the Liberals for avoiding co-operation because their goal is to get back in power, and in the Greens' case, "the difficulty at that end is the elements of the agenda are all or nothing."

Higgs said he hopes three recent moves would allow for more co-operation with Green Leader David Coon: the creation of a standing committee on climate change, the setting aside of more public forest for conservation, and the freezing of how much wood can be cut by major industrial companies on Crown land.

"I would think that he'd see all that as moving in a direction that brings us closer together in our alignment," he said. "But I try to bridge across a big spectrum, and I feel like the discussion I generally have with Mr. Coon can be quite narrowly focused."









82 Comments






David Raymond Amos
"A year ago Higgs said he hoped to co-operate more with the Liberals and the Greens in 2019, but he said that hasn't been possible."

Surprise Surprise Surprise 












David Raymond Amos"In late 2018, Gauvin threatened to quit cabinet over the handling of language requirements for ambulance paramedics. But Higgs brushed off suggestions Gauvin had to be soothed again this year."

Yea Right 
















David Raymond Amos
Too Too Funny Indeed Methinks folks should Google the following to understand why I am laughing N'esy Pas?

Mr Higgs and Dominic Cardy are trying to learn how to herd cats

"Though he wouldn't elaborate, Higgs acknowledged during a year-end interview that two key ministers did not see eye-to-eye on mandatory vaccinations for schoolchildren, one of the most contentious government initiatives of the year.

"We do have a diverse group," he said. "We have a passionate bunch, and there's nothing wrong with passion, whether it be the vaccines, or other particular interests or ideas."



























David Raymond Amos
"Usually it's the People's Alliance that backs PC budgets and bills, and Higgs said his rapport with Alliance Leader Kris Austin is even better than a year ago."

Methinks much to the chagrin of the SANB the rapportt will continue as long as Higgy can keep the 3 PANB stooges fat, dumb and Happy Happy Happy N'esy Pas?


Lou Bell 
















Matt Steele
Politics is a rough game for sure , but Higgs certainly appears to be doing the right things for the right reasons . It wouldn't be surprising if N.B.ers will be heading to the polls in the spring as former Liberal Premier Brian Gallant's out of control spending left N.B. in a desperate and unstable state ; and Higgs may need a majority govt. in order to make the hard decisions , and get the province back on track


David Raymond Amos  

















David Peters
"Education Minister Dominic Cardy said any minister who couldn't support a government bill should quit, though Higgs later said he'd allow a free vote."

Cardy could be asked to resign just for saying that, imo.


David Raymond Amos 


















Joe Rootliek
Higgs never fixed the hospital or seniors care home problems- Shortages on the floors, not enough nursing seats, when is this guy going to if not fix at least make the health care nursing shortage go away even a little bit.

And the Liberals did not do any better. Hospitals need nurses, and the ones out on LTD, should be replaced by a larger labor pool, if needed- The Nurses Union should get together with the government and try to find common ground on getting better patient care, which New Brunswickers demand. A larger labor pool, more flexible, better trained, casuals, to replace LTD workers full time if necessary or part time, on a dime ( to save overtime costs as well, and nurse burn out)


David Raymond Amos  



























Chantal LeBouthi
David Alward was the worst premier ever in the history of NB

Destroying the NB Forests and wildlife and clean water for is personal interests
























Chantal LeBouthi
And premier Higgs is not far behind David Alward on being worst premier in NB


Lou Bell





















Terry Tibbs
How about, for the new year, "we" focus on things that really need doing around here?
We get NB Power under control.
We stop paying bonuses at NB Alcohol.
We figure out where NB Cannabis is leaking money and plug the leaks.
We turn education back into education.
We fix healthcare.
And if there is any time left over we try to focus on value added industry, rather than simply exporting our natural resources.






















Lou Bell
Of course SANB backed Gauvin thinks he's special !


David Raymond Amos 





















Kyle Woodman
Bunch of jokers.


David Raymond Amos 














Bob Smith
Ahhh, Blaney. Perhaps the biggest symbol of cronyism in NB political history. As for Gauvin, he sounds like a politician who would jump to the Liberals in a heartbeat unless he gets preferential treatment. Like father, like son...he's in it to be fawned over...


David Raymond Amos 














Gabriel Boucher
While Mr. Higgs is sharing his feelings on social media, our healthcare system is deteriorating at a rapid pace and our economy is still doing very poorly.


David Raymond Amos  














John Smith
cardy should be a back bencher anyone that wants to claim so much jurisdiction as a education minister should have his wings clipped


David Raymond Amos 
















Greg Smith
Higgs is nothing more of an Irving shill typical of these neoconservatives types. All they do is cut essential services under the guise of “fiscal conservatism”, and only champion smaller government because there are fewer mouths to feed from everything they’re skimming off the top line. I’m willing to bet his favourite “ability to pay” excuse won’t come into play next time they meet between midnight and 6am to award themselves raises.


David Raymond Amos























Chantal LeBouthi
Something every NB poeples knows

In NB the real boss is Irving and our governance obey what ever Irving will say


David Raymond Amos