Blaine Higgs embraces challenges

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies

  David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos 
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 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

127 Comments
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Marc Martin

*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.*

Good !!!!

David Amos

@Marc Martin Methinks whereas you teased me enough about my lawsuit your lawyer must recall a hearing I had December 14th, 2015 with Justice Bell the first judge Harper ever appointed to the bench after he ran two election campaigns for him in New Brunswick N'esy Pas?

https://archive.org/details/BahHumbug

David Amos

@Marc Martin Methinks Mr Higgs would do a lot of stuttering if he were asked to explain my encounter with the former Irving Shipbuilding Company General Counsel in Federal Court on January 11th, 2016 N'esy Pas?

https://archive.org/details/Jan11th2015

Your lawyer must admit that obviously not many men can talk to judges like I do and even though Southcott decided in my favour I remained true to my word and appealed his decision because of the conflict of interest.

 
Harold Benson

Don't vote lib/con , especially this spring.

David Amos

@Harold Benson No doubt Sam agrees N'esy Pas?

 
Harold Benson

Could any non-politcal person voice their displeasure on here, without getting a great big rag?

David Amos

@Harold Benson NOPE

David Amos

@Harold Benson As you well know I ran in the last election as an Independent against Bruce Northrup and in 5 elections before that against many cohorts of Mr Higgs and all other political parties. Other than one dumb question from a bureaucrat now working for Mr Higgs all I hear is crickets in response to my comments about this article. Methinks you and Sam know why as well as I N'esy Pas?

 
Lou Bell

Obviously the SANB was behind the " wish list " added to the Francophone Games budget. And would have been put through if their Acadian Party had been reelected.

David Amos

@Lou Bell YUP

 
Lou Bell

Ambulance NB was hired TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES to the Province of NB. Not Language Services BUT MEDICAL SERVICES ! If they can't do the job , FIRE THEM and hire someone who can .

David Amos

@Lou Bell Methinks most folks would be overjoyed if they revert to the way it once was before Ambulance NB was created for the benefit of you know who N'esy Pas?

 

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

@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

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

 
pete prosser

The sooner he crafts a plan for our covered bridges, the happier I'll be, .... since, although it was in his election platform, it is one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" kind of things.

David Amos

@pete prosser You are not alone with that concern

Jake Newman

wish we had someone like Higgs or Ford as PM.

daryl doucette

@Jake Newman Trump.

Marguerite Deschamps

Sure tells a lot about people who support the likes of Trump.

David Amos

@Marguerite Deschamps Methinks you forgot how much tainted blood Hillary and her hubby sold us N'esy Pas?

 
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.

Claude DeRoche

@Brian Robertson
Easy end bilingualism, French only! Voilà!

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

Brian Robertson

@Claude DeRoche
That is not an answer to my question.
In fact, it is not even a rational statement.

Is it any wonder that reasonable accommodation cannot be reached.

daryl doucette

@Brian Robertson What cave have you been living in? Louis Robichauds vision has been destroyed by extremists.

Brian Robertson

@daryl doucette
Cave?
What part of my short history implies I live in isolation?

And what do we really know about what Louis had in mind?
For all we know, this whole transition was the plan ever since the first requests for JUST their own school boards.

david herman

@Brian Robertson
Exactly...it does not answer YOUR question..it's just a flatout arrogant, disrespectful typical statement from a member of the Peanut crowd.

Marc Martin

@Claude DeRoche

Yep I agree.

Marc Martin

@David Amos

What does the USA have anything to do with the subject ??

David Amos

@Marc Martin Fraud and Murder

David Amos

@Marc Martin Methinks your lawyers should recall that document is mentioned in the first statement of my lawsuit against the Crown N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@Marc Martin "What does the USA have anything to do with the subject ??"

Methinks your lawyer must be aware of how I explained the matter to Justice Leblanc and then a panel of judges in the Federal Court of Appeal in Fredericton May 24th, 2017 N'esy Pas?

https://archive.org/details/April32017JusticeLeblancHearing

https://archive.org/details/May24thHoedown

 
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

@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

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

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

Mario Doucet

The francophonie games inflated costs are the standard type of debt expected by NB minorities to be paid out from taxpayers, with no thought for the homeless or hospital equipment needs.

Marc Martin

@Mario Doucet

Cry me a river...

David Amos

@Marc Martin Why not try dreaming up something original to say?

Claude DeRoche

The Irving Boy criticizing Québec for transfer payments!

Nouveau Brunswick receives 3.2 Milliards in transfers for a population of 753.914 habitant, 4244$/ Habitant
Québec receives 25.5 Milliards for a population of 8.4 Millions habitants, 3035,7$/ habitant .

david herman

@Claude DeRoche
Wow claude...type about CLUELESS.
Kebek actually is getting 12 BILLION...that's 12 BILLION for a self-implicating 'have NOT "province". They just couldn't stand being a Have "province"=Canada not paying my way", the frenchman said...then he said "hey collon de bin...we not like dat, la".

Marc Martin

@david herman

*Kebek actually is getting 12 BILLION...that's 12 BILLION *

You do realize your amount is smaller right ? 25.5 milliard = 25.5 billions....

David Amos

@Claude DeRoche Methinks it blatantly obvious where you are from N'esy Pas?

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

@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

@Mark (Junkman) George yu da MAN Mark!

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?

Jake Newman

time to use the notwithstanding clause where ever possible.

Claude DeRoche

@Jake Newman
Agree use it to cut transfers from Ottawa to Fredericton!

Marc Martin

@Jake Newman

It will never be used for language requirement.

David Amos

@Jake Newman YUP

Claude DeRoche

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

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?

Marc Martin

@Claude DeRoche

I agree, PANB also has an office in the main building over there.

  
Lou Bell

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

David Amos

@Lou Bell So you say

  
Mario Doucet

The elephant in the room is the cause of the NB debt load.

Marguerite Deschamps

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

Claude DeRoche

@Mario Doucet
Time to send back transfers to Ottawa!

Dan Lee

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

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

@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

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

@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

@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

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

@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

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

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

@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

@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

@Jim Cyr

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

David Amos

@Alex Forbes I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir

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 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

@Paul Bourgoin

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

David Amos

@Mark (Junkman) George YUP

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

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

@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?

  
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

@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 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?

  
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

@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

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

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?

  
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

@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

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Dec 27, 2018 7:00 AM AT

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.

• Weakened bilingual requirements for paramedics violates languages act, says commissioner

• Ottawa should cut equalization to force provinces to develop resources, Higgs says

• Flemming's rhetoric on bilingual paramedics doesn't reflect province's position, says Higgs

"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."

• Employers to pay smaller WorkSafe premium increase than expected

 

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

00:00 24:55

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.

• Tories loosen bilingual hiring requirements for paramedics in certain areas

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.

• Flemming's rhetoric on bilingual paramedics doesn't reflect province's position, says Higgs

• Robert Gauvin questions future with PCs, 'came close' to quitting

 

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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