David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 47 others
Methinks I must have been right about a lot of rotted union socks over the fact that Mr Higgs found lots of money for his consultant buddies N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/04/public-sector-workers-join-forces-to.html
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nursing-home-workers-march-wages-fredericton-1.5095547
About 500 march in Fredericton in support of nursing home workers
CUPE organized March for Fair Wages as fight with provincial government continues
About 500 people from across New
Brunswick gathered in downtown Fredericton on Friday morning to march in
support of nursing home workers in their fight for higher wages.
The March for Fair Wages was organized by CUPE, which represents the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, but members of other public-sector unions who are also seeking to renew their collective agreements joined in.
Many sported CUPE's black and yellow colours, pumped the union's fist-shaped yellow signs in the air as Fredericton police officers kept a close watch.
"Show them what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like," they chanted.
Close to 4,000 unionized nursing home employees in the non-profit sector voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike a month ago, but a court order prevents them from doing so, and the government has refused to go to binding arbitration without a set of pre-arranged conditions in place.
"We were expecting to hear back from the employer by the end of the week," the union said in a letter to its members.
"Instead, we have heard from the mediator that the employer is working on a package, and he will contact us to return to the table once he has heard from the employer.
"Until such time we will continue our activism."
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard has said she is comfortable with staffing levels in nursing homes, so the marchers stopped outside her office and left a pile of old shoes, worn out as they say they are.
"Our feet are tired and we need some new shoes," said Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions.
There was a strong police presence at the March for Fair Wages in Fredericton. (Michel Corriveau/Radio-Canada)
The
union wants a 20 per cent wage increase over four years, saying that's
about a dollar-an-hour raise for a resident attendant.
The government has limited wage increases to one per cent a year for the public sector — about 10 cents an hour.
"We are worth more than 10 cents, so you can drop that 10 cents in the bucket and you can keep it," said Teare, as workers each dropped a dime in a bucket for the finance minister.
The nursing home workers have been without a contract for 30 months.
"We are united and we're not going away," said fellow nurse Jackie Sullivan.
Paramedics were also out in force.
"There's been cuts years after years after years," Steve Hébert said. "And they decided enough is enough, we're going to stand up today."
Brien Watson, first vice-president for CUPE New Brunswick and president of Local 1253 of the New Brunswick Council of School District Unions, said members back the nursing home workers 100 per cent.
"This whole province is united," he said. "I want to thank Mr. Higgs for doing that because he's brought this province together like we've never seen in this province before."
The New Brunswick Court of Appeal is expected to rule next week on whether the nursing home workers can strike.
The March for Fair Wages was organized by CUPE, which represents the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, but members of other public-sector unions who are also seeking to renew their collective agreements joined in.
Many sported CUPE's black and yellow colours, pumped the union's fist-shaped yellow signs in the air as Fredericton police officers kept a close watch.
"Show them what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like," they chanted.
Close to 4,000 unionized nursing home employees in the non-profit sector voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike a month ago, but a court order prevents them from doing so, and the government has refused to go to binding arbitration without a set of pre-arranged conditions in place.
"Instead, we have heard from the mediator that the employer is working on a package, and he will contact us to return to the table once he has heard from the employer.
"Until such time we will continue our activism."
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard has said she is comfortable with staffing levels in nursing homes, so the marchers stopped outside her office and left a pile of old shoes, worn out as they say they are.
"Our feet are tired and we need some new shoes," said Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions.
The government has limited wage increases to one per cent a year for the public sector — about 10 cents an hour.
"We are worth more than 10 cents, so you can drop that 10 cents in the bucket and you can keep it," said Teare, as workers each dropped a dime in a bucket for the finance minister.
The nursing home workers have been without a contract for 30 months.
We are united and we're not going away.- Jackie Sullivan, licensed practical nurseNurses want fair wages too, said licensed practical nurse Jean-Francoise Hébert, who marched in solidarity.
"We are united and we're not going away," said fellow nurse Jackie Sullivan.
Paramedics were also out in force.
"There's been cuts years after years after years," Steve Hébert said. "And they decided enough is enough, we're going to stand up today."
Brien Watson, first vice-president for CUPE New Brunswick and president of Local 1253 of the New Brunswick Council of School District Unions, said members back the nursing home workers 100 per cent.
"This whole province is united," he said. "I want to thank Mr. Higgs for doing that because he's brought this province together like we've never seen in this province before."
The New Brunswick Court of Appeal is expected to rule next week on whether the nursing home workers can strike.
With files from Gabrielle Fahmy and Shane Fowler
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
81 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David R. Amos
Methinks
the average New Brunswicker has grown tired of all the whining of our
well paid public employees. The newrags owned by the Irving Clan don't
mind publishing ads paid for by by the Unions and the Government. It
appears to me the ads are ignored but the more the unions protest the
more popular Mr Higgs and his PANB buddies become N'esy Pas? Joe Campbell
Did you see the two page ad that the government put yesterday. These people are well paid and have awesome benefits. 18 sick days a year and they can build that up. Wow what a great short term disability package, full pay and no missed payday. Giving that they do not abuse it for a I don't feel like working today time.
Joe
Campbell
Reply to @Joe
Campbell: So I wonder what CUPE response will be to that ad? I hope it
won't be the sob story that they only have 6 minutes to care for each
patient.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Joe
Campbell: Methinks I must have been right about a lot of rotted union
socks over the fact that Mr Higgs found lots of money for his consultant
buddies N'esy Pas?
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 47 others
Methinks it must have rotted a lot of union socks that Mr Higgs found lots of money for his consultant buddies N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/blaine-higgs-outside-consultants-logan-youden-hurley-1.5089465
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nursing-home-dispute-18-unions-no-contracts-1.5093435
Public-sector workers join forces to fight 'peanuts' for wages
126 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story
Commenting is now closed for this story
David R. Amos
Content disabled
Content disabled
Methinks it must have rotted a lot of union socks that Mr Higgs found lots of money for his consultant buddies N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/blaine-higgs-outside-consultants-logan-youden-hurley-1.5089465
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/blaine-higgs-outside-consultants-logan-youden-hurley-1.5089465
Reply to @David R. Amos: Too late I already tweeted it
Harold
Benson
Lets get the vote on the budget done, failed, and have a new election.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Harold
Benson: Methinks they already voted and if so Higgs is in like Flynn for
another year thanks to his PANB buddies N'esy Pas?
Jodi Dinan
the
median wage in NB is$59,347. none of these people are close to that in
fact about 20 thousand less than the median wage which by the way NB
has the lowest median wage in Canada , and yes i get we have no money
but this province has had no money for decades how long do you expect
these people to do their part by taking less than the cost of living for
decades. they work in conditions the private sector will never have to
deal with. and i would argue if you stopped corporate welfare in this
province we would have more than enough to give them a reasonable wage
increase and start to pay down debt . and the extra money in their
pockets will do more for the local economy than any corporate welfare
will ever do because that money will be spent here.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Jodi Dinan: "the median wage in NB is$59,347"
Dream on
Dream on
Marc Martin
*On
Monday, Premier Blaine Higgs asked for a horn after being confronted by
protesters outside a Progressive Conservative Party fundraising event
at Chateau Saint John* Tottally disrespecting all the union members,
this is what you get when you vote for a CoRperative supporter PANB also
support the CoRservatives, next election people should remember who
they voted for...
David R. Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marc Martin: Cry me a riverContent disabled
David R. Amos
Reply to @David R. Amos: Methinks its interesting that he can say it to me N'esy Pas?
Alex Forbes
Unions have outlived their purpose. They only serve to raise costs and therefore prices, making life more expensive.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Alex Forbes: "Unions have outlived their purpose"
YUP
YUP
Alex Forbes
Go to the private sector. Think you would get more?
Marc Martin
Reply to @Alex Forbes: Someone is jealous..
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Marc Martin:
Try angry thst our private sector wages goes to pay for ridiculous civil servant benefits, we live just fine without all the perks,
Try angry thst our private sector wages goes to pay for ridiculous civil servant benefits, we live just fine without all the perks,
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Oh my my
Johnny Horton
According
to most economists, we are months away from the next global recession.
So how’s government going to pay for this 20% raise then?!
Marc Martin
Reply to @Johnny Horton: Recession arrive every 10 years..We survived the last one no ?
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: You did fine because you have a government job
Danny Debdee
Don’t forget NB Power employees are working without a contract too, those boys need a raise, big time!
David R. Amos
Reply to @Danny Debdee: Methinks thou doth jest too much N'esy Pas?
David Webb
All
those out there in the real world that get 18 paid sick days per year,
raise your hand. I worked for 40 years and with most employers you were
considered fortunate if you got any more than 3, five was the best I
had ever seen. Let's see the union/government lay out what the total
compensation package is for these folks. Sick time, vacation time, stat
days, personal days, family days, pensions, health care premiums and
benefits, etc.
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Webb:
18 sick days ? per year ? Where do you get these information this is
hilarious, I work for the Federal gov. and we don't even have 18 days
lol. *stat days, personal days, family days, pensions, health care
premiums and benefits, etc.. * These are standard in most private
industries lol, are you on Welfare ?
Michel Jones
Reply to @Marc Martin: Check the local contracts, they are online... David Webb is right.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Michel Jones: Yup
June Arnott
There is no water left in the stone.
(We are bankrupt, more taxes?)
(We are bankrupt, more taxes?)
Marc Martin
Reply to @June Arnott: Higgs and his boss K. Austin is who you voted for, aren't they the miracle
people ?
people ?
Michel Jones
Reply to @Marc Martin: Federal employee!! How many sick days and other perks do you have ?
David R. Amos
Content disabled
Content disabled
Reply to @Michel Jones: FYI He is trolling you
David R. Amos
Reply to @Michel Jones: I tried to tell you
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/blaine-higgs-yennah-hurley-tourism-consultant-sector-growth-1.5094592
Liberals question Higgs's tourism moves when sector is growing
Yennah Hurley hired to improve province's tourism marketing pitch
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 12, 2019 7:00 AM AT
In 2012, Yennah Hurley had a private conversation with then Premier David Alward about the challenges in the way of boosting tourism. Now, she's in a position of influence. (CBC)
In 2012, Yennah Hurley had a private conversation with then Premier David Alward about the challenges in the way of boosting tourism. Now, she's in a position of influence. (CBC)
Yennah Hurley has been pondering how to "fix" New Brunswick's tourism marketing pitch for a long time.
In 2012, the Quispamsis entrepreneur toured the province in an RV and was a weekly guest on CBC's afternoon radio show Shift New Brunswick, dispensing tips about what to see and do.
Between visits to Tabusintac and St. Martins, she managed to meet then-premier David Alward to discuss how to better promote the province to tourists.
"I had a private conversation with him on what I've been doing, what the people of New Brunswick are saying to me and what some of the challenges are that are out there," she said during a July 25, 2012, radio segment.
While she acknowledged that "you can't really say" why tourism numbers were down at the time, she said she and the premier talked about what "we can do to maybe get on board and fix some of that stuff."
Alward "really appreciated the point of view of someone who is not working for the government," she added. "I'm just doing it because I love the province and he loved that."
Now Hurley is working for the government. And she will get a chance to put her tourism fix in effect.
"Unfortunately at that time [in 2012], they weren't ready for me," Hurley said in an interview Friday. "I guess I was a little before my time there."
She'll earn between $150,000 and $175,000 a year, the salary range of a deputy minister, as Premier Blaine Higgs's hand-picked expert embedded in the provincial Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
Her mission during a two-year consulting contract is to help civil servants in the department embrace new ideas for attracting visitors. She will report directly to Higgs.
Premier Blaine Higgs hired three outside consultants, including Hurley, to help reshape government operations. ( Joe McDonald/CBC)
The department has "great people" but it's possible to have "blinders on," the premier said in a recent interview.
"You always think you're doing the very best, but then you have different perspectives and it helps your imagination go broader."
Hurley said that's especially necessary when the department's budget has been cut as part of the PC drive to balance the budget and pay down debt.
"Budget cuts allow people or challenge people to be more innovative or more creative," she said. "That's where I come in. I'm an entrepreneur. I've worked with tight budgets before."
"What I can bring to the table is a different way of thinking. Let's figure out how we can work with the budget we have, shift some things around, make sure our teams are in the right place, make sure our strengths in the department … are in the right place."
Higgs recruited Hurley to shake things up despite big increases in revenues from tourists in the last two years.
The Opposition Liberals say Hurley has a difficult task: to maintain the growth trend and reach their government's target of $2 billion in visitor revenues by 2025 — despite a 37 per cent cut to the department's tourism budget.
"So you want to cut, but then the premier gets to hire a personal services consultant, a friend of his that he met two years ago," said Liberal MLA Jacques LeBlanc.
Liberal MLA Jacques LeBlanc questioned Hurley's hiring after the tourism sector revenue growth under the Liberals. (CBC)
LeBlanc
focused on the funding cut during the department's presentation of its
budget estimates to a committee of the legislature this week.
The Liberals announced their tourism growth strategy and its $2 billion goal in 2017. They poured $12.6 million into capital spending on tourism in 2018-19, almost a 20 per cent increase, and $6 million to fund new marketing efforts.
The strategy was led by Françoise Roy, the deputy minister hired by the Liberals in 2016 and fired by Higgs in March.
"We let go a very competent deputy minister who knew her files," LeBlanc said.
The premier said the Liberal spending had not produced any tangible results and he told officials that.
"I said, 'So what did we accomplish with that?' They couldn't name anything."
In last month's budget, the PCs reversed much of the new spending, pruning overall tourism funding from $20.2 million last year to $12.8 million this year.
That includes reductions in marketing programs and the closure of visitor information centres at two entrances to the province, in Woodstock and Aulac.
Tourism Minister Robert Gauvin said Liberal spending increases were unsustainable and the PC cuts take the budget back to "exactly where we were before."
Even so, Gauvin told the committee, the government is still committed to the $2 billion goal.
"We are going to pursue the strategy, you can be sure," he said, though he added "it may take a year or two more" than 2025.
LeBlanc said that comment took him aback.
"Is it his consultant that they hired that's going to take two more years?" he asked. "Or is it coming from his department?"
Higgs described Hurley, pictured, as 'extremely passionate' about tourism in the province. (CBC)
Hurley
didn't offer any specifics of the changes she plans to make, other than
more emphasis on online and social media promotions that are less
expensive.
"Right now I've just started at the department, so we're assessing a lot of things at the moment," she said. "We have a basic general plan of how we're going to do it, and that's working on the tourism growth strategy that was already in place.
"We have to make some changes. It would be unfair for me to say we have it all figured out, because we don't have it figured out just yet."
Higgs said he met Hurley, who lives in his riding, about two years ago and was impressed by how "extremely passionate" she was about tourism in the province.
Her LinkedIn profile lists several tourism-related ventures, activities and courses, including Maritime Daytripping Inc., a small business she ran at Saint John's Rockwood Park.
"She is absolutely appalled that we are not able to convince the rest of the world and the rest of our province of what a great province we have," Higgs said in the legislature when he was asked about her hiring.
But LeBlanc said Higgs's comments are belied by the numbers.
From $1 billion in 2016, visitor revenues leapt to $1.3 billion in 2017. "That's a substantial increase," he said.
The Conference Board of Canada estimated the province "continued its upward trend in 2018" with revenues surpassing $1.5 billion.
Carol Alderdice of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick, said the group has been monitoring Statistics Canada reports and "it looks like we will come in around that figure." Final numbers will be out in May.
The Conference Board attributed the growth to the extra funding from the Liberals. The report was issued before last March's PC budget.
Hurley said it's "hard to tell" how much of the recent momentum is due to Liberal spending but she said she wouldn't lobby Higgs to restore the funding either way.
"The budget is the budget right now," she said.
Even so, she said she also committed to the $2 billion goal.
"We have to go in some different directions. But we're not going to take away completely from the strategy that's in place. We understand it's on upward swing right now. So we're going to stick with that, but we do have to make a little bit of internal changes."
CBC's Journalistic Standards and PracticesIn 2012, the Quispamsis entrepreneur toured the province in an RV and was a weekly guest on CBC's afternoon radio show Shift New Brunswick, dispensing tips about what to see and do.
Between visits to Tabusintac and St. Martins, she managed to meet then-premier David Alward to discuss how to better promote the province to tourists.
"I had a private conversation with him on what I've been doing, what the people of New Brunswick are saying to me and what some of the challenges are that are out there," she said during a July 25, 2012, radio segment.
While she acknowledged that "you can't really say" why tourism numbers were down at the time, she said she and the premier talked about what "we can do to maybe get on board and fix some of that stuff."
Alward "really appreciated the point of view of someone who is not working for the government," she added. "I'm just doing it because I love the province and he loved that."
Now Hurley is working for the government. And she will get a chance to put her tourism fix in effect.
"Unfortunately at that time [in 2012], they weren't ready for me," Hurley said in an interview Friday. "I guess I was a little before my time there."
She'll earn between $150,000 and $175,000 a year, the salary range of a deputy minister, as Premier Blaine Higgs's hand-picked expert embedded in the provincial Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
Her mission during a two-year consulting contract is to help civil servants in the department embrace new ideas for attracting visitors. She will report directly to Higgs.
"You always think you're doing the very best, but then you have different perspectives and it helps your imagination go broader."
Hurley said that's especially necessary when the department's budget has been cut as part of the PC drive to balance the budget and pay down debt.
"Budget cuts allow people or challenge people to be more innovative or more creative," she said. "That's where I come in. I'm an entrepreneur. I've worked with tight budgets before."
"What I can bring to the table is a different way of thinking. Let's figure out how we can work with the budget we have, shift some things around, make sure our teams are in the right place, make sure our strengths in the department … are in the right place."
Tall order, say Liberals
Higgs recruited Hurley to shake things up despite big increases in revenues from tourists in the last two years.
The Opposition Liberals say Hurley has a difficult task: to maintain the growth trend and reach their government's target of $2 billion in visitor revenues by 2025 — despite a 37 per cent cut to the department's tourism budget.
"So you want to cut, but then the premier gets to hire a personal services consultant, a friend of his that he met two years ago," said Liberal MLA Jacques LeBlanc.
The Liberals announced their tourism growth strategy and its $2 billion goal in 2017. They poured $12.6 million into capital spending on tourism in 2018-19, almost a 20 per cent increase, and $6 million to fund new marketing efforts.
"We let go a very competent deputy minister who knew her files," LeBlanc said.
The premier said the Liberal spending had not produced any tangible results and he told officials that.
"I said, 'So what did we accomplish with that?' They couldn't name anything."
Still committed to $2 billion
In last month's budget, the PCs reversed much of the new spending, pruning overall tourism funding from $20.2 million last year to $12.8 million this year.
That includes reductions in marketing programs and the closure of visitor information centres at two entrances to the province, in Woodstock and Aulac.
Tourism Minister Robert Gauvin said Liberal spending increases were unsustainable and the PC cuts take the budget back to "exactly where we were before."
Even so, Gauvin told the committee, the government is still committed to the $2 billion goal.
"We are going to pursue the strategy, you can be sure," he said, though he added "it may take a year or two more" than 2025.
LeBlanc said that comment took him aback.
"Is it his consultant that they hired that's going to take two more years?" he asked. "Or is it coming from his department?"
"Right now I've just started at the department, so we're assessing a lot of things at the moment," she said. "We have a basic general plan of how we're going to do it, and that's working on the tourism growth strategy that was already in place.
"We have to make some changes. It would be unfair for me to say we have it all figured out, because we don't have it figured out just yet."
Higgs said he met Hurley, who lives in his riding, about two years ago and was impressed by how "extremely passionate" she was about tourism in the province.
Her LinkedIn profile lists several tourism-related ventures, activities and courses, including Maritime Daytripping Inc., a small business she ran at Saint John's Rockwood Park.
"She is absolutely appalled that we are not able to convince the rest of the world and the rest of our province of what a great province we have," Higgs said in the legislature when he was asked about her hiring.
Revenue growth
But LeBlanc said Higgs's comments are belied by the numbers.
From $1 billion in 2016, visitor revenues leapt to $1.3 billion in 2017. "That's a substantial increase," he said.
The Conference Board of Canada estimated the province "continued its upward trend in 2018" with revenues surpassing $1.5 billion.
Carol Alderdice of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick, said the group has been monitoring Statistics Canada reports and "it looks like we will come in around that figure." Final numbers will be out in May.
The Conference Board attributed the growth to the extra funding from the Liberals. The report was issued before last March's PC budget.
Won't seek bigger budget
Hurley said it's "hard to tell" how much of the recent momentum is due to Liberal spending but she said she wouldn't lobby Higgs to restore the funding either way.
"The budget is the budget right now," she said.
Even so, she said she also committed to the $2 billion goal.
"We have to go in some different directions. But we're not going to take away completely from the strategy that's in place. We understand it's on upward swing right now. So we're going to stick with that, but we do have to make a little bit of internal changes."
59 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Mark (Junkman) George
But is the sector growing? We have two extra special taxes this year to slam tourists with, the carbon tax, and the increased motel tax, we won't mention the overall projected increase in fuel. I *suspect* more and more folks will be staying at home this year.
I am not going to defend Higgs for hiring without posting the job, he should at least be trying to appear "honest and transparent".
Marc Martin
Reply to @Mark (Junkman) George: We have to make NB attractive to the USA again.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Mark (Junkman) George: "he should at least be trying to appear "honest and transparent".
Dream on
Dream on
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Methinks if you leave they may come N'esy Pas?
Mark
(Junkman) George
Reply to @David R. Amos:
You do realize that when I posted "meet the new boss........ same as the old boss" the censor here kicked it.
You do realize that when I posted "meet the new boss........ same as the old boss" the censor here kicked it.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Mark
(Junkman) George: Nope but it happens to me all the time particularly if
I reply to a certain SANB supporter who works for the government.
Laurie Clark
Reply to @David R.
Amos: My replies to a certain robin opinion person always get disabled!
She doesn't take criticism too well.
Josh Smith
Reply to @Mark
(Junkman) George: this sector is a job growth leader in this province.
The fact they have cut this department shows the lack of insight this
government has about the small businesses that dominate this sector.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Methinks its comical how some people handle their political debates N'esy Pas?
Ronald Parker
I thought we elected this crew to run our province, I guess there are no big thinkers in this government, and how is that 40,000 dollar per month wood guy doing? It puzzles me why all these people run for office and then we hire consultants at a big salary on top of paying big salary's the people elected to the job.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Ronald Parker: Methinks we are not supposed to think about such things N'esy Pas?
Troy Murray
Tourism he been down in LeBlanc region for years because of the sewage. Take her for lunch Jacques, and tell her of all the sewer improvements and get more tourists in the campgrounds
David R. Amos
Reply to @Troy
Murray: Methinks most folks come to the beaches to go swimming and stay
in the campgrounds as a convenience There are lots of beaches and
campgrounds in the Maritimes without sewage issues N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
It is easy to tell in which areas of the province this COR government intrends to promote tourism.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: So you say
Joseph Vacher
Fundy Royal, New Brunswick Debate – Federal Elections 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cFOKT6TlSE
Reply to @Marguerite
Deschamps: area's worth investing in? Where people have jobs and don't
spend all day on the cbc comment page?
Marguerite
Deschamps
Reply to @Joseph Vacher: like you!
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: and YOU and Me Too
Marguerite
Deschamps
Reply to @David R. Amos: Joseph Vachier should look himself in the mirror. What a tool!
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks many would agree that he does a fine job embarrassing you N'esy Pas?
Marguerite
Deschamps
Reply to @David R. Amos: you need no one to do it for you. You do a pretty good job at it yourself.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marguerite
Deschamps: So you say Why not run against me sometime and try to debate
in front of a crowd or two of Maritimers? Methinks if you had the
cajones to do so then we would see who is embarrasses who N'esy Pas?
David R. Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David R. Amos: Enjoy a Little Deja Vu Fundy Royal, New Brunswick Debate – Federal Elections 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cFOKT6TlSE
Marc Martin
Tourism should be one of the focus to any government, NB is a beautiful place will all the costal shores...I still do not understand why we don't put a toll at the entrances of the province, NS uses our road and pay for nothing.
Robert Brannen
Reply to @Marc Martin:
You have spent too much time in Alberta, it shows.
You have spent too much time in Alberta, it shows.
Robert
Brannen
Reply to @Marc Martin:
What is now New Brunswick was Nova Scotia until some uppity U.S. Revolutionary War refugees demanded to be distanced from the British Military governance of the day.
What is now New Brunswick was Nova Scotia until some uppity U.S. Revolutionary War refugees demanded to be distanced from the British Military governance of the day.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Robert Brannen: "uppity U.S. Revolutionary War refugees"
Methinks my forefathers are rolling in their graves about now N'esy Pas?
Methinks my forefathers are rolling in their graves about now N'esy Pas?
Robert
Brannen
Reply to @David R. Amos:
Maybe. One of my forefathers participated in the Revolutionary War, on the British side, with the 38th. regiment of foot (Staffordshire). A second forefather is reputed to have fought, and died, for the British; but documentation is not available to confirm that claim.
I just find it somewhat irksome that merchants and landowners who were exiled from the former British North American Colonies would be welcomed into Nova Scotia only to turn against the governance of the day and demand that Nova Scotia be partitioned.
Maybe. One of my forefathers participated in the Revolutionary War, on the British side, with the 38th. regiment of foot (Staffordshire). A second forefather is reputed to have fought, and died, for the British; but documentation is not available to confirm that claim.
I just find it somewhat irksome that merchants and landowners who were exiled from the former British North American Colonies would be welcomed into Nova Scotia only to turn against the governance of the day and demand that Nova Scotia be partitioned.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Robert
Brannen: My most notable forefather from that war was Daniel Keith. He
was Kings Ranger who settled on the Canaan River iafter the Yankees
released him from imprisonment. He limped from wounds for the rest of
his life but managed to create a farm and father 12 sons.
Brian Robertson
Oh please.
If New Brunswickers believed Liberals; if they wanted to hear more from Liberals, they would be in power, not the PCs.
The Liberal communications department (CBC) won't change that.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Brian Robertson: True
Mario Doucet
Liberals (SANB) upset that Shediac and Dieppe won't be getting their annual tourism top-up.
David R. Amos
Rod McLeod
Reply to @Mario Doucet: YUP
douglas Canoe
I believe in tolls, Nova Scotia has them PEI why not us, most people driving through nb don’t even get gas.
David R. Amos
Reply to @douglas Canoe: The taxpayers pay the tolls thanks to Bernie Lord
David Webb
Reply to @David R. Amos: The usual case with both parties, got to do what's best to get votes, not necessarily what's right.
Geographically,
we don't have as much to offer compared to PEI and Nova Scotia (or
Newfoundland). We're not an island and we don't have the shoreline that
NS does. Probably our biggest shoreline attraction is Hopewell and
that's just an over sweetened money pit. I've been to it once since it
took on the look of Disney Land and I won't be back; the overhead is not
worth the 5 minutes it takes to see the rocks. Not to fault anyone but I
think there's just not that much of draw. We're well under a million
people, loosely scattered with mostly secondary highways. I think we
need to embrace our drive-through status and put the tolls on. What
might help would be to cut the gouging on items like fuel and alcohol.
David Webb
Reply to @Rod McLeod:
I have travelled all of Atlantic Canada and can tell you that NB is
second to none. The big issue is that we have people come from away for
a 2 week vacation and think they are going to see it all. In my
experience you need 2 weeks per province. They just don't realize the
great distances, and travelling the TCH only, isn't going to do a thing.
We need to promote, promote and promote some more. Encourage return
visitors.
David R.
Amos
Reply to @David Webb: Methinks if they left the TCH our potholes would discourage a lot of tourists in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
David Webb
Reply to @David R.
Amos: A 14.5 billion debt and 700 million in interest payments will do
that. NF, NS & PE are no better roads either. But full highway
twinning Saint John to Calais ME was a great investment for the empire
was a great investment, right up there wit Rt. 11 would have been.
Jann Dutch
$8 million seems like a small price to pay if it resulted in revenue growth of $500 million over 2 years.
David R.
Amos
Reply to @Jann Dutch: Dream on
Lou Bel
Guess
SANB/ Liberals will have to get by with less gov't money for them
biennial " family reunions |" they've been pinnin' us with over the last
4 years.
David R.
Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: YUP
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/officers-square-fredericton-trees-1.5094137
Stop Officers' Square changes until review, activists ask province
City of Fredericton has given province a revised plan for downtown heritage park
Fredericton
heritage activists want the province to put the renovation of Officers'
Square on hold and review the character-defining elements of the
historic park.
The group still worries about the overall heritage and archeology of the downtown park and whether artifacts are being properly cared for, said Beth Biggs, a spokesperson for the Save Officers' Square group.
"People want to see authentic history [and] heritage," Biggs, a board member of Fredericton Heritage Trust, said Thursday.
Heritage Trust, a group dedicated to preserving heritage in the capital city, held a public meeting Wednesday night to encourage people to voice their concerns to the province, which has to approve the Officers' Square plans.
The city provoked a public outcry last spring when it announced it was cutting down 19 of the 23 trees in Officers' Square as part of an $8.9 million revitalization project in the area.
Now, under a revised plan, the city wants to cut down all but eight trees. Among the doomed trees is one named after after the Calithumpians theatre group, Biggs said.
Save Officers' Square is also concerned that a proposed performance stage would block the view of the St. John River from the green. The group has debated whether the stage and a proposed new skating oval are even appropriate for the historic space.
The province has a say over the city's plan because Officers' Square is a designated provincial historical site and a known archeological site.
"We realize at this point it's very important to have public engagement about the process," Biggs said.
Beth
Biggs, a member of Save Officers' Square, said the city should go back
to the drawing board to come up with a plan for Officers' Square that
includes more conservation. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
In
November, city council approved a revised design for the square that
would keep eight mature trees — four more than would have survived under
the original plan.
The design would also save a large elm tree at the corner of the park between Queen Street and St. Anne's Point Boulevard. And it would reinstate an ornamental cast-iron fence, which had become unsafe.
The changes push the overall cost of the Officers' Square project to $9.1 million.
Johanne LeBlanc, a spokesperson for the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, said the province received the latest plans and specifications in early March.
"Discussion with the city remains ongoing to assist in meeting their regulatory requirements," she said in an emailed statement to CBC News.
Since the file is still being reviewed, LeBlanc said, the province won't be saying anything else.
Biggs said she has asked the city and province how they plan to protect the heritage elements of Officers' Square, which dates back to the late 18th century, when the British built a military post there. The site was used by the Wolastoqiyik for centuries before that.
"Clearly, no heritage is being conserved," Biggs said.
The province is supposed to review the submission to make sure the character-defining elements of Officers' Square are preserved.
"We don't know what the outcome will be, so really we have to wait until the province reviews the file and gives their determination of what they'll permit to happen," Biggs said.
Coun. Bruce Grandy, chair of the city's development committee, would not comment except to say the city is waiting for the province's response to the revised plans.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices The group still worries about the overall heritage and archeology of the downtown park and whether artifacts are being properly cared for, said Beth Biggs, a spokesperson for the Save Officers' Square group.
"People want to see authentic history [and] heritage," Biggs, a board member of Fredericton Heritage Trust, said Thursday.
Heritage Trust, a group dedicated to preserving heritage in the capital city, held a public meeting Wednesday night to encourage people to voice their concerns to the province, which has to approve the Officers' Square plans.
Public unhappy with original plan
The city provoked a public outcry last spring when it announced it was cutting down 19 of the 23 trees in Officers' Square as part of an $8.9 million revitalization project in the area.
Now, under a revised plan, the city wants to cut down all but eight trees. Among the doomed trees is one named after after the Calithumpians theatre group, Biggs said.
Save Officers' Square is also concerned that a proposed performance stage would block the view of the St. John River from the green. The group has debated whether the stage and a proposed new skating oval are even appropriate for the historic space.
The province has a say over the city's plan because Officers' Square is a designated provincial historical site and a known archeological site.
"We realize at this point it's very important to have public engagement about the process," Biggs said.
The design would also save a large elm tree at the corner of the park between Queen Street and St. Anne's Point Boulevard. And it would reinstate an ornamental cast-iron fence, which had become unsafe.
The changes push the overall cost of the Officers' Square project to $9.1 million.
- Fredericton removing 19 trees from Officers' Square
- Officers' Square in Fredericton about to get $8.9M facelift
Johanne LeBlanc, a spokesperson for the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, said the province received the latest plans and specifications in early March.
"Discussion with the city remains ongoing to assist in meeting their regulatory requirements," she said in an emailed statement to CBC News.
Since the file is still being reviewed, LeBlanc said, the province won't be saying anything else.
Sees no heritage preservation
Biggs said she has asked the city and province how they plan to protect the heritage elements of Officers' Square, which dates back to the late 18th century, when the British built a military post there. The site was used by the Wolastoqiyik for centuries before that.
"Clearly, no heritage is being conserved," Biggs said.
The province is supposed to review the submission to make sure the character-defining elements of Officers' Square are preserved.
"We don't know what the outcome will be, so really we have to wait until the province reviews the file and gives their determination of what they'll permit to happen," Biggs said.
Coun. Bruce Grandy, chair of the city's development committee, would not comment except to say the city is waiting for the province's response to the revised plans.
24 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Aaron James
This is a bunch of BS. Get on with the construction already. It's a shame that a handful of people, who clearly have nothing better to do, can hold up a project that would help revitalize our downtown. Guess we can't have anything nice around here.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Aaron James: Exactly, and most of them aren't even part of city tax payer base.
Marilyn
Carr
Reply to @Marc Martin: and how do you know this???. ..I live in Fred. and despise what the new mayor is doing.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marilyn
Carr: Methinks if Madame Biggs were to say my name to Martin's hero
Robert Gauvin you may what you want and stop the nonsense N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin
Reply to @Marilyn
Carr: Your part of the old dinosaur group that wants the city to die. If
it wasn't for the government jobs in Fredericton the city would have
been dead a long time, Corporations comes to places where they can
attract skilled workers, skilled workers wants to move in a city where
there are things to do.
Marc Martin
Most of the complainers don't even live in Fredericton and have NO say in the matter. Fredericton is currently dying no more business come here because there is no way to attract qualified workers.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Cry me a river
Gary MacKay
1. Building on a flood plane, how do you get a permit for that? 2. This is historic property belonging to every tax payer in the province not just the municipality. 3. Stop wasting tax payers money building more and maintain what we have.
David R.
Amos
Reply to @Gary MacKay: YUP
Marc Martin
Reply to @David R.
Amos: *This is historic property belonging to every tax payer in the
province not just the municipality* WRONG people from Fredericton pay
for the maintance of this no one else has a say.
David R.
Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: We all pay your wages while you play in CBC
Marc Martin
Reply to @David R.
Amos: I can re-bourse you, what you pay me a year is equivalents to half
a piece of gum, what address should I sent it too?
David R.
Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Meet me in Federal Court across from the cop shop in Fat Fred City
Marilyn Carr
we dont need an other skating rink ...and to destroy a historic site for it is STUPID....it was fine just the way it was fix brick work around the iron fence...STOP CUTTING OUR TREES...I havent liked any thing the new Mayor has done hope hes got a back job after next election.
David R. Amos
Reply to @Marilyn Carr: I agree
Marc Martin
Reply to @Marilyn
Carr: Fredericton is starting to look like a dying city just like Saint
John because we are stuck with a bunch of people living in the past, by
the way these trees will have to be cut down in a few years anyway.
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @Marilyn
Carr: I agree. This past winter on a clear cold Saturday morning not
too early when the open air rink was in good shape I saw two skaters;
apparently a small child and an adult. If that is typical of the
hundreds who want a permanent skating rink I wonder where they were on
such a great day. Please spend my tax money on something that benefits
more people.
David Lutz
Please
do the upgrades, make this space better than now. Council needs to
listen to the silent majority. This will be a beautiful space when
completed to hold many wonderful events. Get on with it, don’t worry
about this minority group. Build it, the rest of us can’t wait.
David R.
Amos
Reply to @David Lutz: So you say
Public-sector workers join forces to fight 'peanuts' for wages
Other public-sector workers join nursing home employees in their fight with the Higgs government
As nursing home workers continue to
take their labour dispute public, making noise across the province, more
and more public-sector workers are joining them in their fight for
better wages.
It's been one month since close to 4,000 unionized nursing home employees in the non-profit sector voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike.
With a court order preventing them from following through, and the government's repeated refusal to go to binding arbitration, tensions with elected officials have been rising, with confrontations between frustrated workers and Premier Blaine Higgs becoming a frequent occurrence.
Though the nursing home workers are the most advanced in the bargaining process — now without a contract for 30 months — several other unions are seeking to renew collective agreements of their own.
"We are also at the table, so we figure what's happening to you guys is going to happen to us," Maria Richard, vice-president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union said at a rally last month outside the Fredericton courts.
Registered
nurse Maria Richard showed her support to the nursing home workers at a
rally in Fredericton last month. The New Brunswick Nurses Union is also
at the bargaining table. (CBC)
Paula Doucet, president of the nurses union, said it was important to show support for the nursing home workers.
"There was an attack on the fair bargaining process," she said, referring to the government's resort to court action to bar workers from striking.
"An attack to one is an attack to all — regardless of your union affiliation, your color, your stripe ... we're all in this together," she said.
Comments
the premier made at a rally to a licensed practical nurse, about
Alberta being the place to find better wages, didn't go over well with
workers. (CBC)
The nurses' contracts
expired last December. Their union represents 6,900 registered nurses
and nurse practitioners in the public sector.
Doucet said they are keeping a close eye on the nursing home labour dispute, as she believes registered nurses could find themselves in a similar standoff with the Higgs government.
Ambulance workers are another group who have been showing up regularly at rallies.
And while nursing home employees may have turned heads with demands for a 20 per cent raise over four years, others are already making clear they plan to follow suit.
"We've been pushed to the point in my opinion," said Joe Cormier, a paramedic from Hampton and local secretary with the union representing paramedics and dispatchers.
"There's just no more money in the regular New Brunswickers' homes. We are having trouble affording groceries, we are having trouble affording to pay our power bills."
Joe
Cormier said paramedics and dispatchers 'will absolutely' turn down a
one per cent pay increase if that is what they are offered by the Higgs
government. (CBC)
When asked why now,
Cormier said he believes workers have been patient, believing earlier
promises that bigger raises would come in later negotiations.
The Higgs government's argument for refusing to give nursing home workers more than a one per cent annual raise is that that's been the standard all other public-sector workers have accepted for years.
"The nursing home workers are the first ones making that stand," said Cormier. "To say you know what enough is enough. We've received these peanuts long enough."
Nursing home workers, who include licensed practical nurses, resident attendants and dietary and laundry workers, make between $18 and $24 an hour, depending on their job.
According to Geoff Martin, a political science professor at Mount Allison University in Sackville, this has been a long time coming.
"I think people are feeling the slipping standards of living," he said.
He believes after years of cutbacks in the province, things have reached a critical point.
Political science professor Geoff Martin said there is only so much the government can cut before it hits bone. (CBC)
"At some point you hit bone," said Martin.
"When you're cutting and cutting and cutting — and with an aging population, I think people working in the health care system, the nursing home sector, they can see what's going to happen in the next five, 10, 15 years, and they can't imagine the rest of their career under these circumstances."
Martin said the question will be whether the Higgs government will follow through with its agenda or decide to budge if public opinion sways in favour of the unionized workers.
During last month's budget, it was announced the New Brunswick government set money aside for pay increases for 18 public-sector unions whose contracts have expired or are about to.
There are 40,000 workers in the public sector spread over 25 unions and representing about 10 per cent of the province's labour force.
When CBC inquired about the amount that had been set aside, Vicky Deschenes, Treasury Board spokesperson, said no fixed amount had been budgeted specifically for union bargaining, as the funding will depend on the actual agreements signed.
For the past decade, New Brunswick has been handing out raises of one per cent a year. For the 4,100 nursing home workers at the bargaining table, that would represent about $1.43 million.
Source: GNB
*The nursing home workers' employer is the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes.
Although the association is funded by the province, the nursing home workers are not counted as one of the 25 bargaining units the province deals directly with. Their contract expired in September 2016.
It's been one month since close to 4,000 unionized nursing home employees in the non-profit sector voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike.
With a court order preventing them from following through, and the government's repeated refusal to go to binding arbitration, tensions with elected officials have been rising, with confrontations between frustrated workers and Premier Blaine Higgs becoming a frequent occurrence.
- Nursing home workers make public plea for 'unrestricted' binding arbitration
- Nursing home workers barred from strike until court hears province's appeal
Though the nursing home workers are the most advanced in the bargaining process — now without a contract for 30 months — several other unions are seeking to renew collective agreements of their own.
"We are also at the table, so we figure what's happening to you guys is going to happen to us," Maria Richard, vice-president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union said at a rally last month outside the Fredericton courts.
Nursing home workers 'attacked'
Paula Doucet, president of the nurses union, said it was important to show support for the nursing home workers.
"There was an attack on the fair bargaining process," she said, referring to the government's resort to court action to bar workers from striking.
"An attack to one is an attack to all — regardless of your union affiliation, your color, your stripe ... we're all in this together," she said.
Doucet said they are keeping a close eye on the nursing home labour dispute, as she believes registered nurses could find themselves in a similar standoff with the Higgs government.
'Taking a stand'
Ambulance workers are another group who have been showing up regularly at rallies.
And while nursing home employees may have turned heads with demands for a 20 per cent raise over four years, others are already making clear they plan to follow suit.
"We've been pushed to the point in my opinion," said Joe Cormier, a paramedic from Hampton and local secretary with the union representing paramedics and dispatchers.
"There's just no more money in the regular New Brunswickers' homes. We are having trouble affording groceries, we are having trouble affording to pay our power bills."
The Higgs government's argument for refusing to give nursing home workers more than a one per cent annual raise is that that's been the standard all other public-sector workers have accepted for years.
"The nursing home workers are the first ones making that stand," said Cormier. "To say you know what enough is enough. We've received these peanuts long enough."
Nursing home workers, who include licensed practical nurses, resident attendants and dietary and laundry workers, make between $18 and $24 an hour, depending on their job.
'Slipping standards of living'
According to Geoff Martin, a political science professor at Mount Allison University in Sackville, this has been a long time coming.
"I think people are feeling the slipping standards of living," he said.
He believes after years of cutbacks in the province, things have reached a critical point.
"When you're cutting and cutting and cutting — and with an aging population, I think people working in the health care system, the nursing home sector, they can see what's going to happen in the next five, 10, 15 years, and they can't imagine the rest of their career under these circumstances."
Martin said the question will be whether the Higgs government will follow through with its agenda or decide to budge if public opinion sways in favour of the unionized workers.
One per cent
During last month's budget, it was announced the New Brunswick government set money aside for pay increases for 18 public-sector unions whose contracts have expired or are about to.
There are 40,000 workers in the public sector spread over 25 unions and representing about 10 per cent of the province's labour force.
When CBC inquired about the amount that had been set aside, Vicky Deschenes, Treasury Board spokesperson, said no fixed amount had been budgeted specifically for union bargaining, as the funding will depend on the actual agreements signed.
For the past decade, New Brunswick has been handing out raises of one per cent a year. For the 4,100 nursing home workers at the bargaining table, that would represent about $1.43 million.
| Bargaining Unit | Collective Agreement Expired/Expires | Union |
| Group III nurses | Dec. '18 | NBNU |
| Nurses managers and supervisors | Dec. '18 | NBNU |
| Clerical, stenographic & office equipment operation, institutional services, patient services | June '19 | CUPE |
| Court stenographers | Sept. '16 | CUPE |
| General labour and trades, part I | Dec. '17 | CUPE |
| General labour, trades and services, part II | March '19 | CUPE |
| Institutional services and care | June '17 | CUPE |
| Rehabilitation and therapy, recreation and culture program officer | August '17 | CUPE |
| Steno, typing, clerical, regulatory and office equipment operation | Feb. '18 | CUPE |
| Administrative assistants, clerical and regulatory, office, data processing and duplicating equipment operation | March '19 | NBU |
| Education (non-instructional) | July '17 | NBU |
| Medical science professionals | March '19 | NBU |
| Professional support | June '18 | NBU |
| Resource services | April '18 | NBU |
| Specialized health care professionals | March '19 | NBU |
| Agriculture, veterinary and engineering, land surveying and architecture | May '19 | PIPSC |
| Crown prosecutors | Sept. '18 | PIPSC |
| School business officials | Sept. '19 | PIPSC |
*The nursing home workers' employer is the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes.
Although the association is funded by the province, the nursing home workers are not counted as one of the 25 bargaining units the province deals directly with. Their contract expired in September 2016.
Higgs again turns to outside consultants to reshape government
Liberals describe 3 consultants as 'shadow deputy ministers'
Premier Blaine Higgs is defending his
recruitment of a small number of outside consultants that he calls
"subject matter experts" but the Opposition Liberals describe as "shadow
deputy ministers."
Higgs confirmed in the legislature last month that he had hired the three consultants to help with "setting up a different model" of how government should work.
Two of the consultants are former senior managers with Irving-owned companies.
John Logan, who worked with the premier at Irving Oil, is working inside the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, while Bob Youden, a former J.D. Irving executive with a broad business background, is in Higgs's office providing strategic advice.
The third consultant is Yennah Hurley, who founded an outdoor adventure company and wrote a travel blog about New Brunswick that caught Higgs's eye. She's working at the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
Yennah
Hurley is one of three outside consultants hired by Premier Blaine
Higgs to establish a new model for government operations. (Yenna Hurley)
Higgs
said in an interview Monday they will provide "a different view, a
different attitude, a different perspective" on what government can do.
All three report directly to him.
Hurley and Logan are on two-year contracts and will be paid the equivalent of deputy minister salaries, while Youden will be paid "by the job," Higgs said.
The Progressive Conservative premier first confirmed the consultants' presence when he was asked about it by Liberal Leader Denis Landry on March 27 in question period.
Landry didn't criticize the move but referred to the trio as "shadow deputy ministers" and asked Higgs to explain how they were chosen.
Opposition leader Denis Landry described the consultants as 'shadow deputy ministers.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Youden
was on Higgs's transition after the previous Liberal government lost
power. His consulting firm, Savarin Consulting, billed the previous PC
government of David Alward $139,000 when Higgs was finance minister,
according to public accounts documents.
Asked by Landry about Logan's time at Irving Oil, Higgs confirmed that he had worked with Logan at the company "for many years."
"Do you know what he was focused on doing, as I was? Getting better value for money."
The consultants were put in place despite Higgs's frequent tributes to the province's existing permanent, non-partisan civil service.
"I am so proud to be working with a workforce of over 50,000 — 50,000 strong — that want a better New Brunswick," he said in the legislature March 29.
"I am excited about the potential that is being unleashed within the workforce across this province to help fix the parts they are involved with each and every day."
Higgs has defended the hiring of the outside consultants when questioned by the opposition. (Radio-Canada)
Higgs
repeated that praise Monday but said he needed the three consultants to
transmit his "sense of urgency" for change into the bureaucracy.
"I can have a sense of urgency and I do have a sense of urgency, but I can't do that alone," he said.
"There's wonderful people in the system but they've been accustomed to what I would call political abuse for years. They've been accustomed to not leading because they've been waiting to follow the political will of a government."
Higgs said he doesn't plan to add any more consultants "at this point, though I don't know that there won't be more."
In at least one department where a consultant has been installed, there's been a change at the top.
Hurley started work at Tourism in February, and Higgs confirmed on March 22 that Francoise Roy, the deputy minister at the department, had been fired.
That was less than a month after Higgs shuffled some deputy ministers, the normal time to remove someone. He said when he confirmed Roy's departure that he was not running "a government of normal practices."
He wouldn't say why she was let go.
Higgs has shown a liking for outside consultants before. As finance minister in the David Alward government, he led a "process improvement" initiative that saw consultants scour departments for ways to save money.
During last year's election campaign, the Liberals released a 2013 report by consultants at Ernst & Young that proposed to Higgs the elimination of 545 teaching positions and the closure of up to 79 schools.
Auditor General Kim MacPherson was critical of a contract between Ernst & Young and the previous PC government. (Michel Corriveau/Radio-Canada)
Another
contract awarded by the previous PC government to Ernst & Young was
later criticized by Auditor General Kim MacPherson for several reasons.
In a 2017 audit, MacPherson said under the contract with the Department of Social Development, consultants were allowed to evaluate their own performance and were paid millions of dollars based on "anticipated" savings, not real savings.
While the goal was to save $47 million, only $10 million had been saved by June 2016, she said, adding the actual benefit of the hiring "remains unclear."
Earlier
this year, the deputy minister of social development told a committee
of MLAs that the savings have now added up to $45 million.
Higgs said he has no plans for a similar "broad, sweeping" initiative now that he's premier. He said there have been enough studies and, with a minority government that may not last four years, he wants to make changes quickly.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and PracticesHiggs confirmed in the legislature last month that he had hired the three consultants to help with "setting up a different model" of how government should work.
Two of the consultants are former senior managers with Irving-owned companies.
John Logan, who worked with the premier at Irving Oil, is working inside the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, while Bob Youden, a former J.D. Irving executive with a broad business background, is in Higgs's office providing strategic advice.
The third consultant is Yennah Hurley, who founded an outdoor adventure company and wrote a travel blog about New Brunswick that caught Higgs's eye. She's working at the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
Hurley and Logan are on two-year contracts and will be paid the equivalent of deputy minister salaries, while Youden will be paid "by the job," Higgs said.
The Progressive Conservative premier first confirmed the consultants' presence when he was asked about it by Liberal Leader Denis Landry on March 27 in question period.
Landry didn't criticize the move but referred to the trio as "shadow deputy ministers" and asked Higgs to explain how they were chosen.
Asked by Landry about Logan's time at Irving Oil, Higgs confirmed that he had worked with Logan at the company "for many years."
"Do you know what he was focused on doing, as I was? Getting better value for money."
'Sense of urgency'
The consultants were put in place despite Higgs's frequent tributes to the province's existing permanent, non-partisan civil service.
"I am so proud to be working with a workforce of over 50,000 — 50,000 strong — that want a better New Brunswick," he said in the legislature March 29.
"I am excited about the potential that is being unleashed within the workforce across this province to help fix the parts they are involved with each and every day."
"I can have a sense of urgency and I do have a sense of urgency, but I can't do that alone," he said.
"There's wonderful people in the system but they've been accustomed to what I would call political abuse for years. They've been accustomed to not leading because they've been waiting to follow the political will of a government."
Higgs said he doesn't plan to add any more consultants "at this point, though I don't know that there won't be more."
In at least one department where a consultant has been installed, there's been a change at the top.
Hurley started work at Tourism in February, and Higgs confirmed on March 22 that Francoise Roy, the deputy minister at the department, had been fired.
That was less than a month after Higgs shuffled some deputy ministers, the normal time to remove someone. He said when he confirmed Roy's departure that he was not running "a government of normal practices."
He wouldn't say why she was let go.
Not the first time
Higgs has shown a liking for outside consultants before. As finance minister in the David Alward government, he led a "process improvement" initiative that saw consultants scour departments for ways to save money.
During last year's election campaign, the Liberals released a 2013 report by consultants at Ernst & Young that proposed to Higgs the elimination of 545 teaching positions and the closure of up to 79 schools.
In a 2017 audit, MacPherson said under the contract with the Department of Social Development, consultants were allowed to evaluate their own performance and were paid millions of dollars based on "anticipated" savings, not real savings.
While the goal was to save $47 million, only $10 million had been saved by June 2016, she said, adding the actual benefit of the hiring "remains unclear."
Higgs said he has no plans for a similar "broad, sweeping" initiative now that he's premier. He said there have been enough studies and, with a minority government that may not last four years, he wants to make changes quickly.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/corporate-donations-ban-new-brunswick-politics-oland-irving-individual-contributions-1.5095006
Business community money still flowing to political parties despite ban on corporate donations
Executives donate larger personal amounts of money after the province barred companies from giving
A surge in donations to New Brunswick
political parties by corporate executives a year after corporations
themselves were banned from contributing, has some questioning if more
needs to be done to lessen the province's reliance on business to fund
political activity.
"It's not surprising to see this level of donations from executives," said Duff Conacher, the co-founder of Democracy Watch, about an increase in New Brunswick political contributions from several prominent business people.
"The system New Brunswick has does not stop big money from big businesses from flowing into politics."
In a rare all-party agreement in 2017, New Brunswick MLAs decided the public would be better served if companies and unions with an interest in affecting provincial government decisions be banned from funding political parties in charge of those decisions.
Democracy
Watch co-founder Duff Conacher says a New Brunswick law hasn't halted
the flow of money from big business into politics. (David Richard/CBC)
Since June of 2017 only individuals have been allowed to donate.
Now party financial returns filed with Elections New Brunswick for the first half of 2018 show that, while corporate donations are gone, there have been significant increases in personal contributions by a number of people connected to businesses that used to donate.
Moosehead Breweries Ltd., was unable to contribute money in 2018 because of the new donation rules after giving $8,250 to Liberals and Progressive Conservatives combined in 2017. But records show personal donations from company executives have more than made up for the shortfall.
Moosehead
president Andrew Oland, his brother and father all increased their
individual contributions in the first half of 2018 from the previous
year. (CBC)
Moosehead president Andrew
Oland, his brother, Patrick, who is the company's chief financial
officer and their father, Derek, who is the company's executive chair,
gave a combined $12,100 to parties ($5,200 to Liberals and $6,900 to
PCs) in the first half of 2018.
It's six times more than the three contributed as individuals in 2017 and was enough to fully compensate for the ban on the company itself donating.
Neither Andrew Oland nor Patrick Oland responded to messages asking about their donations. There is nothing wrong with contributions of that size from individuals in New Brunswick, as long as they truly are the source of that money.
Kim Poffenroth is New Brunswick's chief electoral officer and is responsible for supervising political fundraising. She said company executives are free to give money to replace donations their businesses are no longer allowed to give, as long as the companies are not supplying the funds being given or reimbursing it once donations are made.
"As long as it is them themselves making the donation and the company hasn't transferred money to them," said Poffenroth.
Executives and family members of another major company, J.D. Irving Ltd. — the province's largest forest operation — are also donating.
The company gave $10,264 to New Brunswick political parties in 2017 ($5,320 to Liberals and $4,944 to PCs) but was unable to donate at all in 2018.
Mary-Jean Irving and four of her immediate family members made personal contributions in the first half of 2018.
Company
president Jim Irving and four of his immediate family members,
including Robert, Mary-Jean, Judith and Carolyn Irving, did make
contributions, donating a combined $15,400 in 2018 ($10,000 to Liberals
and $5,400 to PCs).
Totaled together it was more than the value of the lost corporate contributions.
Three of the same individuals had no donations the year before, while Robert and Jim Irving had donated a combined total of $3,605 to both parties.
In an email, company spokesperson Mary Keith, said the donations were personal and "not organized or paid for by J.D. Irving Ltd." and it had no comment to make about them.
Robert Irving is responsible for several businesses under the Irving group's umbrella. (Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC)
Conacher
said even with everyone following the rules exactly, money from
corporate executives and family members does little to lessen the
influence of business in the political system.
He believes $3,000 donation limits per person, per party in New Brunswick, need to be reduced significantly.
"Three thousand dollars is much more than an average person in New Brunswick can afford to give," he said. "It's an undemocratic limit that allows those with the money to still use money as a means of influence over politicians and parties."
Documents filed with Elections New Brunswick show a number of executives from other companies also increased their personal donations to parties or started personally donating for the first time. The full extent of the practice will not be clear until later this year when donation information from the second half of 2018 is also released.
"It's not surprising to see this level of donations from executives," said Duff Conacher, the co-founder of Democracy Watch, about an increase in New Brunswick political contributions from several prominent business people.
"The system New Brunswick has does not stop big money from big businesses from flowing into politics."
In a rare all-party agreement in 2017, New Brunswick MLAs decided the public would be better served if companies and unions with an interest in affecting provincial government decisions be banned from funding political parties in charge of those decisions.
Now party financial returns filed with Elections New Brunswick for the first half of 2018 show that, while corporate donations are gone, there have been significant increases in personal contributions by a number of people connected to businesses that used to donate.
Olands up donations
Moosehead Breweries Ltd., was unable to contribute money in 2018 because of the new donation rules after giving $8,250 to Liberals and Progressive Conservatives combined in 2017. But records show personal donations from company executives have more than made up for the shortfall.
It's six times more than the three contributed as individuals in 2017 and was enough to fully compensate for the ban on the company itself donating.
Neither Andrew Oland nor Patrick Oland responded to messages asking about their donations. There is nothing wrong with contributions of that size from individuals in New Brunswick, as long as they truly are the source of that money.
Kim Poffenroth is New Brunswick's chief electoral officer and is responsible for supervising political fundraising. She said company executives are free to give money to replace donations their businesses are no longer allowed to give, as long as the companies are not supplying the funds being given or reimbursing it once donations are made.
"As long as it is them themselves making the donation and the company hasn't transferred money to them," said Poffenroth.
Irving contributions
Executives and family members of another major company, J.D. Irving Ltd. — the province's largest forest operation — are also donating.
The company gave $10,264 to New Brunswick political parties in 2017 ($5,320 to Liberals and $4,944 to PCs) but was unable to donate at all in 2018.
Totaled together it was more than the value of the lost corporate contributions.
Three of the same individuals had no donations the year before, while Robert and Jim Irving had donated a combined total of $3,605 to both parties.
In an email, company spokesperson Mary Keith, said the donations were personal and "not organized or paid for by J.D. Irving Ltd." and it had no comment to make about them.
He believes $3,000 donation limits per person, per party in New Brunswick, need to be reduced significantly.
"Three thousand dollars is much more than an average person in New Brunswick can afford to give," he said. "It's an undemocratic limit that allows those with the money to still use money as a means of influence over politicians and parties."
Documents filed with Elections New Brunswick show a number of executives from other companies also increased their personal donations to parties or started personally donating for the first time. The full extent of the practice will not be clear until later this year when donation information from the second half of 2018 is also released.
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