David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks nobody should be surprised that Cardy is the hero today N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-recovery-plan-for-nb-begins.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-covid-19-1.5545241
Demographics, distancing and dumb luck: How N.B. avoided a worst-case COVID-19 scenario
Lack of connecting flights, large-scale public transit and major city centres may have been blessings
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 27, 2020 6:00 AM AT
There have been 118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
We're small, we're rural, we're old and we're spread out.
We lack a major metropolitan centre, large-scale public transit and international airline connections.
These are all traits that have been cited at one time or another as holding New Brunswick back. But they may be a blessing when it comes to COVID-19.
"Luck is a big part of it," said Dr. Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa.
Raywat Deonandan, a global-health epidemiologist and an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, says the luck of location plays into how well New Brunswick has handled COVID-19. (Supplied/Raywat Deonandan)
"You're lucky in your location, you're lucky in your population density, you're lucky in your population distribution, and you're lucky that your major city is not an international travel hub."
If the numbers over the past two weeks hold, New Brunswick — a province that rarely wins at anything — is poised to reach the pandemic-containment podium.
New daily cases peaked at 15 on March 29. By the second week of April, there were more recovered patients than people still sick with the virus. And there hasn't been a new case reported since April 17.
As of Sunday's update, only seven New Brunswick cases were listed as active. Only Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have lower rates of cases per capita.
Colin Furness, a professor and expert in public health information at the University of Toronto, said the province's success is clear, but it's not due to demographics alone.
Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, says demographics alone would not have been enough. (University of Toronto)
"It really is good luck, good planning, good execution," he said. "The measures taken by the government to do social distancing were the right measures."
Here's a look at several of the factors that seem to have contributed to New Brunswick emerging relatively unscathed from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lack of urban density
Dr. Jennifer Russell says a jurisdiction's density can be an influence. (Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswick was never going to be the ideal breeding ground for the coronavirus. The province is more rural than most and lacks a single large metropolis.
Population density in Moncton and Saint John hover around 1,000 people per square kilometre. Compare that to Montreal, where it's 2,700 people. In Wuhan, China, and Milan, Italy, it's more than 7,000.
"Jurisdictions that have higher density, it can influence it for sure," said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health "I don't have a specific ability to quantify that but it definitely does have an effect."
COVID-19 needs "pretty intimate contact" to spread, Furness said. "People need to be close together."
That's more likely in large centres where there are lots of apartment buildings with thousands of residents each, and busy public transit systems full of commuters jammed together.
"The population density is not amenable to rapid spread in New Brunswick," Deonandan said. "So you got lucky in that sense."
No major air hub
The Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport reported 680,000 passengers in 2018, a small number compared with big cities such as Montreal and New York. (Marielle Guimond/Radio-Canada)
Connected to the lack of dense metropolitan centres is the absence of a major international airport.
"You're not getting as many travellers coming from high-risk parts of the world," Deonandan said.
New Brunswick's three largest cities have jockeyed for years to persuade airlines to add more routes, with some success.
But the numbers are still tiny.
The Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport reported 680,000 passengers in 2018.
Trudeau International Airport in Montreal had 19.4 million and JFK in New York City had 61 million.
"When you see the worst cases, it's almost always close to where they have a lot of travel," Furness said.
A minister with foresight
In February, Education Minister Dominic Cardy sent an internal memo to senior government officials sounding the alarm that COVID-19 was on its way. (Photo: CBC News)
One possible turning point in New Brunswick's containment effort was Feb. 24, when Education Minister Dominic Cardy sent an internal memo to senior government officials sounding the alarm that COVID-19 was on its way, if it wasn't already here.
"This is not a question of if, but when," Cardy wrote. "The extent of the damage and disruption cannot yet be predicted, but it will occur."
With footnotes, appendices and hyperlinks, "memo" isn't quite the right word for the 19-page document, which was obtained by CBC News. It reads more like a university term paper.
Cardy's own department was already laying the groundwork for the closure of schools, but he went further in the memo, sketching what each level of government was responsible for, how each provincial department might respond, and which laws applied.
Many measures he suggested were later adopted by the Blaine Higgs government, including a special cabinet committee including the leaders of New Brunswick's three opposition parties.
"All governments will struggle to maintain legitimacy and confidence in the face of the pandemic," Cardy wrote. "Sharing a plan to address COVID-19, being honest about the risks and realistic in terms of a response, is essential."
Cardy "put us on a learning curve which gave us a tremendous advantage," Health Minister Ted Flemming said in an interview. "Some of us might have been a little sceptical at the start. … He really was the spearhead. He was the leader on it."
An early move in schools
New Brunswick first closed schools on March 13. (François Gagnon/Radio-Canada)
Cardy's next move, controversial at the time but prescient in retrospect, was to ban any student who'd been on a March break trip outside Canada from returning to school.
"That was extremely wise, extremely prudent," Furness said. "Children mixing in schools is a really potent way for infections to spread."
Deonandan agreed: "The elephant in the room is kids in schools, because kids get their hands in everything."
Furness said he can "guarantee" some children came back from the break carrying COVID-19 but not showing symptoms. If they'd gone to school, the virus might have spread to classmates, and then to more vulnerable adults, in large numbers.
"That obviously didn't happen, so you got away with it," he said. "Our success is predicated on things that don't happen. We can never know. But I think your education minister is to be congratulated."
Jumping on the early cases
There have only been 10 cases of confirmed community transmission so far. (CBC)
The first trickle of cases into the province, which began showing up March 11, was small enough and manageable enough that public health measures were able to keep them under control.
"It definitely was helped by the fact that we had measures in place very early on around informing people that they had to self-isolate when coming from outside the country, and then … when they came from outside the province," Russell said.
The first batch of New Brunswick cases were people who had travelled to France, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Caribbean and on cruise ships.
Testing those people and getting them to self-isolate, and then quickly tracing any contracts they had, was key, as was the closure of schools and businesses and the banning of mass gatherings, Russell said.
"This all had an effect on being able to contain those early travel-related cases for sure, because it limited the number of contacts that each person had."
The result is only 10 community transmission cases until now.
No nursing home outbreaks
Nursing homes such as Tabusintac Nursing Home have yet to be hit by the coronavirus in New Brunswick. (Tabusintac Nursing Home/Facebook)
That in turn reduced the chances of someone with COVID-19 unwittingly bringing the virus into a nursing home or special-care home full of seniors.
One employee of a Shannex nursing home in Quispamsis tested positive for the virus in early April, but there has been no major outbreak.
Compare that to neighbouring provinces: as of Sunday, 249 of Nova Scotia's 873 cases were residents or employees of Northwood, a long-term care facility in Halifax. Of the province's 24 deaths, 18 have been Northwood residents.
In Quebec, more than 20 per cent of all COVID-19 cases, and a staggering 80 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths, have been in seniors residences.
Tony Weeks, CEO of York Care Centre in Fredericton, said his facility decided early on to stay ahead of the virus, ensuring that employees working in multiple residences limited themselves to only one to reduce the chance of spread.
"We haven't waited for a first case to show up," Weeks said. "We've planned as if that first case was here."
Vulnerable seniors are also spread out — and engaged
Seniors such as Lucy Jarratt of Bathurst have been able to stay out of harms way. (Melynda Jarratt/Facebook)
New Brunswick has the second-oldest population in Canada, and seniors are the most susceptible to serious and even fatal cases of COVID-19.
Yet other characteristics of that greying demographic mitigated the risk, the experts say.
The densest areas of the province are also the youngest. The places that skew oldest also happen to be more rural and more spread out from each other. Except in nursing and special-care homes, seniors tend to be farther away from each other.
"That's a protective effect," Deonandan said.
And Furness said older people are also paying the closest attention to coverage of the pandemic. They're engaged and informed.
"I get the smartest questions and the most careful, mindful questions from older people, questions like 'How do I handle my mail?'" he said. "People who are thinking that way aren't going to get sick.
With age comes wisdom, and wisdom is a very potent protector."
Choosing to comply
Deonandan said it's important that people have followed the government's rules. (NIAID-RML via Reuters)
Another obvious factor is that New Brunswickers have not defied recommendations on handwashing, physical distancing and other ways to avoid risk.
"People did have choices that they could make," Russell said. "The higher number of people in the population that makes wise choices … the better off we all are. It only takes a few people to impact the population as a whole."
"There's something to be said for the compliant population that followed orders and stayed home when they were supposed to stay home," Deonandan said. "You can't underestimate the power of that."
Pure luck
Caul's Funeral Home says it was contacted by the department of health and told that a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 attended two funerals between March 15 and March 17. (Google Maps)
And then there's the intangible factor: dumb luck.
In St. John's, one person with the virus but no symptoms visited Caul's Funeral Home in mid-March and became the so-called "index case" for at least 176 people who had contracted COVID-19 by April 8.
That's more than two-thirds of the province's 258 cases to date. Without that one index case, Newfoundland and Labrador's case numbers would be lower than here.
"New Brunswick didn't get unlucky by getting a whole bunch of virus [at] a super-spreading event, where one person attended an event and infected 30 others," Deodandan said. "You didn't get that kind of early boost to the virus that makes it so hard to control."
The next phase
Chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said the province will now move to gradually reopen society. (CBC)
Russell said the next phase, a gradual reopening of the economy and society, will shed even more light on what works and what doesn't.
She has said that there could be a cycle of loosening and then reimposing restrictions if the virus flares up. Some of the factors that kept numbers down could reduce the risk of new outbreaks as measures are lifted.
"It will be very interesting to see how all of those things contribute to the numbers moving forward and what kind of resurgence we might see," she says.
About the Author
272 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Another day and Cardy is still Higgy's A #1 hero
David Amos
Methinks it interesting that lately when Dominic Cardy Higgy favourite Cabinet Minister who has a certain fondness for butters tarts is featured their fans and foes get to go into overtime in the spit and chews about the wicked game they are playing with our future N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks the proof of the butter tart issue in the surfing N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks nobody should be surprised that Cardy is a the hero today N'esy Pas?
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @David Amos: Your N'esy Pas is getting to be quite boring, annoying and stupid.
David Amos
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Methinks I should regret agreeing with you yesterday N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Fern
Robichaud: "Kids need to go back to school, particularly those who are
graduating this year. There's no reason preventing this from happening,
none. "
Methinks little Deja Vu for you is in order N'esy Pas?
Methinks little Deja Vu for you is in order N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Does this ring any bells?
17 hours ago David Amos Reply to @Lou Bell: Whereas he don't care about the Prom methinks Minister Cardy in Fat Fred City should be able to explain my politicking to you real slow N'esy Pas?
17 hours ago Lou BellReply to @David Amos: I asked him and he couldn't stop laughing !
17 hours ago David Amos Reply to @Lou Bell: Did you ask Cardy about his political party's love of butter tarts or why I named a stray cat Mr Higgs?
17 hours ago David Amos Reply to @Lou Bell: Whereas he don't care about the Prom methinks Minister Cardy in Fat Fred City should be able to explain my politicking to you real slow N'esy Pas?
17 hours ago Lou BellReply to @David Amos: I asked him and he couldn't stop laughing !
17 hours ago David Amos Reply to @Lou Bell: Did you ask Cardy about his political party's love of butter tarts or why I named a stray cat Mr Higgs?
Roger Markus-Laundry
Reply to @Fern
Robichaud: oh David “Heinous” Amos has once again cut and pasted his
continued waste of time. I’d like him to share a bit about his past in
the USA?
Reply to @Roger Markus-Laundry: He sued a high ranking Catholic religious guru and continuously sues queenie, another religious guru here in Canada. Si he says.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you SANB dudes need to get your act together N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Roger
Markus-Laundry: Lets just say I sued a Cardinal and 3 US Treasury Agents
among many others in Beantown for their involvement in the cover up of
tax fraud and the theft of my Clan's assets
David Amos
Methinks if anyone wishes to recall in 2009 I went through the same sort of nonsense on a worldwide stage with the WHO FLU and Baxter etc and their plan to vaccinate everyone. The local Health officials in NB promoting the Baxter agenda were trying to have me arrested again so I went into the woods and offline for a whole winter. In March of the following year I got an email from Julian Assange before he was famous bragging that he was in Iceland and the circus started all over again. This happened while Higgy was still working for the Irving Clan and just as Austin was creating the PANB Trust that I shared many things with them in 2010 before they were ever elected. More importantly the leader of the Green Meanies and Vicky knew everything about me since 2004 when I first ran for a seat in parliament N'esy Pas?
Roger Markus-Laundry
Reply to @David Amos:
you see only you can recall anything you’ve done. Be honest and look in
the mirror. You sit upon your own self proclaimed thrown of stupidity.
I’ve read many of your replies to folks and your lawsuit credentials?
They are meaningless. Why don’t you tell everyone about your past in the
USA?
Graham McCormack
Reply to @David Amos: Will you be going back into the woods and offline again soon?
Graham MacNab
Reply to @David Amos: Uh oh. it's all about David again. Look at me... Look at me !!!!!
Vernon McPhee
Reply to @Graham McCormack: We can only hope.
David Amos
Reply to @Vernon McPhee: Methinks Higgy et al understand why I am honoured by your contempt towards me N'esy Pas?
Fred Estey
I don't speak French, but when I hear Premier Higgs in French, I am pretty sure he butchers the language... :-D
David Amos
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Fred Estey: "E" for effort! I can make out what he says and I laud these efforts. David is 100% right this time .
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks Higgy and I should beware of false hearted praise from a SANB dude who pretends to be a lady N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
["You're lucky in your location, you're lucky in your population density, you're lucky in your population distribution, and you're lucky that your major city is not an international travel hub."
If the numbers over the past two weeks hold, New Brunswick — a province that rarely wins at anything — is poised to reach the pandemic-containment podium.]
Yup, according to Central Canada, it's all luck.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos:Then how come Toby thinks that such a dog would be lucky? Not a chance, no dogs or any pets for me! It's all a big marketing ploy and most animals suffer for it.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I would lay odds that you are not a parent either
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks if I were a dog i would be overjoyed by your revelation Trust that folks who know me well know that my dogs and I loved each other dearly and all 3 lived never suffered in their long healthy lives from the time I got them as puppies. I may adopt an old dog now for obvious reasons N'esy Pas?
SarahRose Werner
All of our bugs have suddenly become features! :-)
George Smith
George Smith
Reply to @David Amos: What is a guzzi?
David Amos
Fred Brewer
So Raywat Deonandan says it is all just luck but does not back this up with facts or analysis while Colin Furness gives a very detailed, rational explanation of the role of not only demographics but of astute policy and quick reaction to covid. Who are you going to believe?
Furthermore Raywat is incorrect when he says we have no international flights in NB. Sunwing runs direct international flights to not just one airport like Halifax but to three airports in NB. Sounds like Raywat did not do his homework.
David Amos
Eric Blair
Reply to @Fred Brewer: This is what he actually said: "You're lucky in your location, you're lucky in your population density, you're lucky in your population distribution, and you're lucky that your major city is not an international travel hub."
Fred Brewer
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Eric Blair: Methinks somebody should ask your friend Brewer why my comments to him are never worthy of a reply N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Eric Blair: Hmmmm
Marc Landreville
"One possible turning point in New Brunswick's containment effort was Feb. 24, when Education Minister Dominic Cardy sent an internal memo to senior government officials sounding the alarm that COVID-19 was on its way, if it wasn't already here. "
Dominic Cardy for PM!
Hey Dominic, there's an opening for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada for a person who is smart, has initiative, has world experience, thinks outside the box, and can push the bureaucrats into action.
Bryan Jones
David Amos
Reply to @Vernon McPhee: Methinks Higgy et al understand why I am honoured by your contempt towards me N'esy Pas?
Fred Estey
I don't speak French, but when I hear Premier Higgs in French, I am pretty sure he butchers the language... :-D
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Estey:
Methinks you should not put Higgy down for trying to speak the lingo but
the are lots of other reasons to hold his feet to the fire N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Fred Estey: "E" for effort! I can make out what he says and I laud these efforts. David is 100% right this time .
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks Higgy and I should beware of false hearted praise from a SANB dude who pretends to be a lady N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
["You're lucky in your location, you're lucky in your population density, you're lucky in your population distribution, and you're lucky that your major city is not an international travel hub."
If the numbers over the past two weeks hold, New Brunswick — a province that rarely wins at anything — is poised to reach the pandemic-containment podium.]
Yup, according to Central Canada, it's all luck.
Marguerite Deschamps
As the saying goes: - "Would you rather be good or lucky?"
Toby Tolly
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:
if u adopt a dog
by all means
name 'er lucky....
if u adopt a dog
by all means
name 'er lucky....
David Amos
Reply to @Toby Tolly:
Methinks I should ask why the dog should be lucky to have such a
master? If it were a good dog it would run away from that SANB dude in a
heartbeat N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos:Then how come Toby thinks that such a dog would be lucky? Not a chance, no dogs or any pets for me! It's all a big marketing ploy and most animals suffer for it.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I would lay odds that you are not a parent either
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks if I were a dog i would be overjoyed by your revelation Trust that folks who know me well know that my dogs and I loved each other dearly and all 3 lived never suffered in their long healthy lives from the time I got them as puppies. I may adopt an old dog now for obvious reasons N'esy Pas?
SarahRose Werner
All of our bugs have suddenly become features! :-)
George Smith
Reply to @SarahRose
Werner: You live in NB? Spent my youth there until about 25 then moved
to Ontario. Still visit as I love the space. The woods and next to the
sea has been a joy for living. :)
SarahRose
Werner
Reply to @George Smith: Moved here 22 years ago. Never gonna leave.
George Smith
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Do miss the cheaper lobster. :) Take care.
David Amos
Reply to @George Smith: Sold the Guzzi EH?
George Smith
Reply to @David Amos: What is a guzzi?
David Amos
Reply to @George Smith: Something a certain George Smith bragged about
George Smith
Reply to @David Amos: Sorry. Do not follow what your referring to.
David Amos
Reply to @George Smith: Trust that another George Smith whom I thought was a friend certainly does
George Smith
Reply to @David Amos:
There is a lot of aliases used in here. Hopefully you will touch base
with your friend. I did google ‘guzzi’ and it’s a motor bike. Triumph I
think it said. Never own a big bike. Just a little dirt bike when I was a
teenager. All the best David.
David Amos
Reply to @George Smith: The same to you sir
Fred Brewer
So Raywat Deonandan says it is all just luck but does not back this up with facts or analysis while Colin Furness gives a very detailed, rational explanation of the role of not only demographics but of astute policy and quick reaction to covid. Who are you going to believe?
Furthermore Raywat is incorrect when he says we have no international flights in NB. Sunwing runs direct international flights to not just one airport like Halifax but to three airports in NB. Sounds like Raywat did not do his homework.
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Methinks Higgy et al knows why Raywat Deonandan never called me back today N'esy Pas?
Eric Blair
Reply to @Fred Brewer: This is what he actually said: "You're lucky in your location, you're lucky in your population density, you're lucky in your population distribution, and you're lucky that your major city is not an international travel hub."
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Eric Blair:
Yes I read the article but he does not provide any solid backup as to
why this was luck whereas Mr. Furness argues with solid evidence that
policy played a large role.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Eric Blair: Methinks somebody should ask your friend Brewer why my comments to him are never worthy of a reply N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Eric Blair: Hmmmm
Marc Landreville
"One possible turning point in New Brunswick's containment effort was Feb. 24, when Education Minister Dominic Cardy sent an internal memo to senior government officials sounding the alarm that COVID-19 was on its way, if it wasn't already here. "
Dominic Cardy for PM!
Hey Dominic, there's an opening for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada for a person who is smart, has initiative, has world experience, thinks outside the box, and can push the bureaucrats into action.
Bryan Jones
Reply to @Marc
Landreville: I agree, he always impressed me as leader of the NDP
appearing on the political panel with the lap dog Don Arsenault nipping
at his heels. "Guess what Dominic, you're not an MLA and I am", over
and over and over again.
Mary MacKenzie
Reply to @Marc Landreville: The provincial PCs and federal CPC aren't the same thing.
David Amos
Reply to @Mary MacKenzie: Dream on
Joanne Smith
So nice to see, giving credit where credit is due. Good for you New Brunswick! Dominic Cardy deserves a nice pat on the back, I am sure they are thankful to have him.
David Amos
Reply to @Joanne Smith: Surely you jest
valmond landry
@RICHARD DUNN you never heard of the old saying the have not province for ounce there right as of today we have no fatality reported due to COVID-19
Peter G Bourne
Reply to @valmond landry: ??
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Peter G
Bourne: I think he meant to say "Have you never heard of the old saying
that the have-not province for once they are right. As of today we have
no fatality reported due to COVID-19"
jmack619
Reply to @Fred Brewer: I think valmond is messin with us
David Amos
Reply to @jmack619 .: Methinks many would agree that he is not N'esy Pas?
Richard Dunn
Dumb Luck is a very insulting term for Poitras to use. There may have been some benefits due to our geography, however, much planning and tough decisions are to credit for our current success. The story title should be corrected
Andrew
Farmer
Reply to @Richard Dunn:
I have to admit I was not aware of this apparent severe inferiority complex that seems to be prevalent in N.B. Sorry to hear about that.
I have to admit I was not aware of this apparent severe inferiority complex that seems to be prevalent in N.B. Sorry to hear about that.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Andrew
Farmer: Naw , it's just that apparently there's " dumb luck " and then
there's just plain dumb. If there is such a thing as " dumb luck " ,
then apparently NB, Nfld, PEI , Manitoba , Sask , and the Territories
all just have " plain old dumb luck " ! I guess the other Provinces are
are just the other !! Hopefully that fixes it for you !
Andrew
Farmer
Reply to @Lou Bell:
lol...this Manitoban farmer has relied on, and benefited from, his dumb luck many a times over the many years. (I also understand that the phrase "dumb luck" is not what some think it is).
lol...this Manitoban farmer has relied on, and benefited from, his dumb luck many a times over the many years. (I also understand that the phrase "dumb luck" is not what some think it is).
Peter G Bourne
Reply to @Richard
Dunn: Sorry, Richard, you've missed the point here. The sensitivity of
your Correctness-O-Meter is set way too high. The term 'dumb luck' has
been around the English language for centuries, and rarely, if ever, was
it intended to be pejorative. Using 'dumb' originated in 'mute' - in
other words, there was no 'voice' or cause to effect the luck - it
simply happened more or less randomly. This is all IMO. Sorry to
over-complicate, but ... calm down - the author had no such intention to
imply that the decision-makers were 'dumb', I'm convinced
Joanne Smith
Reply to @Richard
Dunn: Dumb luck is an expression that does not mean "unintelligent" but
rather dumb as in, mute, blind or otherwise unaccounted for...
.
.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Richard
Dunn: I don't care which adjective precedes the word luck. My objection
is that this had very little to do with luck.
Gabriel Boucher
Reply to @Fred Brewer:
Exactly. Luck had nothing to do with how we managed this pandemic here in NB. We listened to health authorities and acted out accordingly in a timely manner. That's not luck, that's being responsible and wise. Unfortunately, this piece of so-called "journalism" has gone as far as to try and downplay what's been done here to prevent that spread of the virus by calling it "luck", and saying that we've "avoided a worst-case COVID-19 scenario", when we had 118 cases of COVID-19 in the province. That's just bad reporting on behalf of Jacques Poitras. Credit needs to be given where it's due, and this situation is not an exemption. NB should be proud of how they've managed this crisis.
Exactly. Luck had nothing to do with how we managed this pandemic here in NB. We listened to health authorities and acted out accordingly in a timely manner. That's not luck, that's being responsible and wise. Unfortunately, this piece of so-called "journalism" has gone as far as to try and downplay what's been done here to prevent that spread of the virus by calling it "luck", and saying that we've "avoided a worst-case COVID-19 scenario", when we had 118 cases of COVID-19 in the province. That's just bad reporting on behalf of Jacques Poitras. Credit needs to be given where it's due, and this situation is not an exemption. NB should be proud of how they've managed this crisis.
Lynn Ronan
Well said. Repeatedly see such poor journalism from this so called news reporting.Reply to @Gabriel Boucher:
David Amos
Reply to @Richard Dunn: "Dumb Luck is a very insulting term for Poitras to use"
Methinks the last thing you and Higgy are is insulted N'esy Pas?
Methinks the last thing you and Higgy are is insulted N'esy Pas?
Fern Robichaud
New Brunswickers should therefore be rewarded, instead, schools remain closed, businesses remain closed, malls shut down etc....
Peter G Bourne
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Sure. Like it never happened, right?
Beverley Kernan
Reply to @Fern Robichaud:
Key words: "Malls shut down". Some provinces didn't do this.
BTW ... we are being rewarded ... our slow re-opening has started.
Key words: "Malls shut down". Some provinces didn't do this.
BTW ... we are being rewarded ... our slow re-opening has started.
David Amos
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Methinks the cat must still have your tongue N'esy Pas?
Buford Wilson
Blaine defeated the virus. With the support of all New/Nouveau-Brunswickers.
Orders of Canada all around.
David Amos
Reply to @Buford Wilson: Surely you jest
Lou Bell
We mustn't forget that " dumb luck " got Legault and Ford elected ! And their constityents thought they were doing a great job in handling COVID ! Legault had a 93 % approval rating 2 or 3 weeks ago in how he was handling the virus ! " Dumb luck " alright , just remove the luck part of it .
Dunstable Kolbe
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Luck had nothing to do with Doug Ford getting elected as premier in
Ontario. And to find dumb, look at the previous 15 years of liberal
mismanagement and continual annual deficits that now make Ontario one of
the top indebted non-national governmental jurisdictions of the world.
People were plain tired of them and voted them out.
David Amos
Reply to @Dunstable Kolbe: Oh So True
David Hunter
"Rarely wins at anything..." Such sensitivity, I hope we also have the grace to withstand such ignorance.
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Hunter: Economically maybe so . Socially , closer to the top of winning .
David Amos
Reply to @David Hunter: Dream on
Alexander Hamilton
Yep. Much like it's American analog and neighbor; Maine, New Brunswick lacks large city centers like Toronto or Vancouver where you have thousands of people intermingling each hour. I can see why small states like Iowa and South Dakota haven't had the intensity like New York.
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Alexander
Hamilton: Correct. I live in Maine, and our rural areas have had VERY
few cases. (The more urban southern part of the state, around
Portland, has had about 750 cases, including quite a few in nursing
homes. This is partly due to our governor refusing to close the state
border, which meant that people from Boston, NY, etc. came to southern
and midcoast Maine to "get away". They spread the virus to those areas.
It's a good thing Higgs is not a bleeding-heart liberal, like our
governor. She said "it would not be nice" to close the border to New
Hampshire....)
Marguerite
Deschamps
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Trump, is that you?
Marguerite
Deschamps
Reply to @Jim Cyr: You'd probably prefer that loose canon Lepage instead.
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Marguerite
Deschamps: Marguerite, you can hate Trump, LePage (or me) all you want.
That does NOT change the facts. Our governor publicly stated that she
would not close the border with New Hampshire (the only state we
touch), because that would not be a nice thing to do. As a result,
people from Covid-infested states FLOCKED into Maine to get away from
the virus. Some of them were carrying the virus. Would you care to
respond to the actual merits or demerits of such a policy???
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Say Hey to you Governor for me will ya?
David Amos
Reply to @Alexander Hamilton: Methinks just because Higgy wants local folks to ignore my concerns it does not follow that Trump and many Yankee Governors should as well N'esy Pas?
Robert Langue
Dumb luck? I guess they don't want to give the Higgs Government too much credit. I wonder what's Kevin Vickers' take on all this?
Mary MacKenzie
Reply to @Robert Langue: Poitras makes fun of Higgs learning a second language. as a senior. That tells you a lot.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Mary
MacKenzie: I despise Higgs, but I will never mock his French. His French
is improving. Got to give another devil his dues.
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you tell that to all dudes you can't argue N'esy Pas?
Lon Chaney (Alonzo Hastings Chaney)
We spent the weekend of March 13 in SJ, back to NS on 16.
Very tight and aware business community....all the best!!
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lon Chaney (Alonzo Hastings Chaney): How are the Queen and the werewolf of London doing lately? Do tell is his hair still perfect ?
?Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney Junior walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect"
Reply to @Lon Chaney (Alonzo Hastings Chaney): How are the Queen and the werewolf of London doing lately? Do tell is his hair still perfect ?
?Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney Junior walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect"
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Now thats funny Methinks the midnight poofer is busy N'esy Pas?
MARC GATTO
Dumb luck. What a way to put it. I would call it good luck and fortunate and happy set of circumstances. But dumb luck? Terrible way to put things
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to @MARC GATTO:
Agreed
Agreed
Anne Bérubé
Reply to @MARC GATTO: 'Speaking softly' does not count..
Rob Mason
Reply to @MARC GATTO: had the Poitras preferred party been in power, the headline would be different, much more complimentary!
Guy Stone
Reply to @MARC GATTO:
What dumb luck is Trudeau in charge and us being at around the 3/4
mark for worst nation in the world for infections - we should be close
to top if it wasn't for our premiers ignoring Trudeau, Tam, and WHO and
isolating/acquiring PPE... That's dumb luck
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Mason: Methinks that is par for the course N'esy Pas?
Billy Joe Mcallister
I sorry but I find Dominick Cardy highly irritating. He behaves like someone who wants to take credit and maybe even run the show. If he was so smart why didn't he cancel the spring break and tell everyone not to travel.
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: it's in public record that he first sounded the alarm way back in Feb.
Fred Sanford
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: Well it appears as if he was right on in this case which may have been a huge benefit to NB.
Billy Joe
Mcallister
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: So then I ask again, why did he allow March break to go ahead as scheduled?
Fred Sanford
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: It wasn't his call.
June Arnott
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: I’m sure there are people who find you irritating too
Michael
Hatfield
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: I hear what you are saying, but frankly, he wouldn't have
been able to make that call. (admittedly, I am not certain as to
whether or not he would even have the legal authority...). Considering
where we stood with our general mindset about this virus back in
February and March, it would have been a political disaster to cancel
March break. The red flags were all up in December, more so in January,
then flew even higher in February, and yet we ALL know of people who
still chose to go south for March break. My family and I tend to go
every 2nd or 3rd year, and it was purely luck 2020 was not a year for us
to go south. I don't blame anyone for going south. I recall barely 6
weeks ago that even I was not scared of this "corona thingy"; I felt
that the media was over-hyping it and it was much about nothing. I'll
"man up" and admit how incorrect I was !!!!!
I'll go along with the 3 D's for New Brunswick on this one..... 1)demographics, 2) dumb luck, and I'll certainly give props to those officials on the team who were involved in 3) decision to distance
I'll go along with the 3 D's for New Brunswick on this one..... 1)demographics, 2) dumb luck, and I'll certainly give props to those officials on the team who were involved in 3) decision to distance
Reply to @June Arnott: Yes there are and they are not far away. How's that?
Christopher Harborne
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: Armchair quarterback alert.
NB has had no deaths due to COVID. Zero. Would it have been better to cancel it, yes, but he did what was in his power. Some parents still would have lets kids go on vacations they booked and paid for.
NB has had no deaths due to COVID. Zero. Would it have been better to cancel it, yes, but he did what was in his power. Some parents still would have lets kids go on vacations they booked and paid for.
Billy Joe
Mcallister
Reply to @Michael
Hatfield: Well I was paying attention in February and when March break
was still allowed to go on , So I then I thought "Well, I guess it can't
be that serious or they would not have allowed spring break knowing
that people were going to travel and come back possibly infected" Then
everything started getting serious after spring break! So I once again
questioned as I still do today, This could have been easily prevented
had the government been on the ball.
Beverley Kernan
Reply to @Michael Hatfield:
And don't forget the co-operation AND compliance of NB'ers with distancing!!
And don't forget the co-operation AND compliance of NB'ers with distancing!!
Vernon McPhee
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: Those trips were never under the control of the NB
government or Dept of Education. International travel is strictly a
federal jurisdiction and there is that little thing called the Charter
of Rights that applies.
Mary MacKenzie
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: Banning people from travelling for March Break was beyond
his power. Blaine Higgs would have had to declare a travel ban for every
citizen.
David Amos
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: Methinks Dominick Cardy is all about Dominick Cardy no
matter which political party banner he waves N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: Yup, from NDP to CONservative. What a volte-face!
David Amos
Reply
to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you just offended your pen pal
Little Lou because she is a neighbour and a buddy of you know who N'esy
Pas?
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @David Amos: Yes Cardy is for Cardy of this I have no doubt. Trump minus the millions. He throws stuff at the wall just to see what sticks.
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @Christopher
Harborne: Fine and they would have had an additional 14 day vaca at
home upon return. It could have been done -all I'm saying
David Peters
There are other States and Countries, who didn't shut their economies down, who fared pretty well also.
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @David
Peters: Finland and Sweeden are good ones to look at - One practiced
social distancing and isolation the other did not
June Arnott
Reply to @David Peters: stop. It worked. No what ifs. Be part of the solutions
Billy Joe
Mcallister
Reply to @June Arnott: Stop What?
Christopher
Harborne
Reply to @David
Peters: Sweden is the only example that I can see, and there's still
questions around given they have over 19.000 cases.
It saved lives in NB by locking down early. Much of the rest of the country waited. I think the proof is in the pudding there my friend.
It saved lives in NB by locking down early. Much of the rest of the country waited. I think the proof is in the pudding there my friend.
Billy Joe
Mcallister
Reply to @Christopher
Harborne: No the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And we are
going to have a lot of pudding to eat whenever this is over
James Beaudoin
Reply to @David Peters: history will tell how and what worked best.
David Peters
Reply to @James Beaudoin:
Not only Sweden left their economy alone, there were a number of US States that did as well. There is no evidence that shutting down the economy works to stop a communicable disease.
We may very well have caused way more damage then we prevented.
Not only Sweden left their economy alone, there were a number of US States that did as well. There is no evidence that shutting down the economy works to stop a communicable disease.
We may very well have caused way more damage then we prevented.
Vernon McPhee
Reply to @Christopher Harborne: Sweden also has a much higher mortality rate by both population and number of cases.
David Amos
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: Methinks you should check out how many states south of the
49th didn't shut their economies down, and how their Governors are
admired by many folks today N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid19-daily-roundup-nb-1.5547487
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province expands testing protocols after 10th day of no new cases
Dr. Jennifer Russell adds a few more symptoms to the list that determines need for testing
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 28, 2020 1:11 PM AT
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, announced guidelines for parents who want to pick up their kids from university or college. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
The province is expanding testing protocols for COVID-19 to capture a wider range of symptoms for the virus.
This comes after Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, announced no new cases of COVID-19 for the 10th straight day in a row Tuesday afternoon.
"We are not declaring mission accomplished," Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical health officer, said in her daily briefing.
The new symptoms are:
- a new onset of fatigue.
- a new onset of muscle pain.
- diarrhea.
- loss of sense of taste or loss of sense of smell.
- In children, purple markings on the fingers or toes.
There are no new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick. (CBC News)
The province has already been testing people with two of these systems: fever, a new or worsening cough, and breathlessness, sore throat, headache and runny nose.
In the case of children with purple markings on their fingers or toes, testing will be done even if none of the other symptoms are present.
"It is crucial that we do more testing at this stage, and with a broader range of symptoms," Russell said.
Premier Blaine Higgs has been reminding residents to avoid visiting others outside their family bubble to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
"This list of symptoms covers our current knowledge of the signs of COVID-19. As we continually learn more about the virus, and as symptoms are confirmed, they will be added to our testing protocols."
Of the 118 confirmed cases of the virus, 114 people have recovered — a 97 per cent recovery rate.
Only one patient is in hospital with COVID-19.
"These coming weeks and months will be crucial," said Premier Blaine Higgs. "We will either backslide or continue to cautiously move forward. The decisions we make today will determine our province's future in the face of COVID-19.
Here's a roundup of other developments.
24 hours to move post-secondary students back to home province
Parents or guardians from other provinces looking to bring their college or university students home for the summer, can come into New Brunswick for 24 hours to remove belongings from the students' residences or apartments.Russell said they are expected to isolate themselves as best as they can while in the province.
"They should really just be coming to do the moving part and only be interacting with the person they're moving and really self-isolate the whole time they're here," Russell said.
Testing for COVID-19 will be expanded in New Brunswick, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell said Tuesday. 2:30
Staying longer than 24 hours is considered remaining in the province, and the 14-day self-isolation period would apply.
But before travelling to New Brunswick, the province advises people to check with their home province to see if further restrictions may be applied upon their return home.
Meanwhile, anyone leaving New Brunswick for any length of time to remove belongings from a residence in another province, must self-isolate for 14 days.
Temporary foreign workers not allowed into New Brunswick
The province has updated its mandatory order under the state of emergency to restrict temporary foreign workers from entering New Brunswick.However, Premier Blaine Higgs said the province will not change the status of any temporary foreign workers currently working in New Brunswick.
Temporary foreign workers are not allowed to enter New Brunswick during the COVID-19 pandemic, premier Blaine Higgs announced Tuesday. 2:01
Under normal circumstances we welcome foreign temporary workers in the province," he said. "But right now, the risk of allowing more people to enter the province is simply too great."
Dental offices could have whole new drill when they reopen
Shields, gowns and temperature checks are likely to be part of the regular drill when dentists offices reopen in three to four weeks.Paul Blanchard, executive director of the New Brunswick Dental Society, says dental offices are working out protocols for reopening.
Since restrictions were adopted near the end of March, dentists have been providing only emergency and essential care, for patients who have prolonged bleeding or infection, for example.
Blanchard expects a return to full operation will be gradual.
"We have been having some discussions with government throughout this period … and we're all hoping for the best and planning for all contingencies,"he said Tuesday.
He expects returning to full operation will be gradual.
For reopening, dentists are considering ways to increase space between employees, staggering appointment times so fewer people are entering the office, and eliminating waiting rooms.
"Patients may be asked to wait in the car or they may be met at the door."
Dentists will be outfitted in protective gear, including gowns and masks.
Offices will also be asking patients standard COVID-19-screening questions before appointments, such as whether they've travelled in the last 14 days or are at risk of contracting the virus.
These are some COVID-19 related terms in Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqey for people at home to learn and practise. 1:42
Patients will also have to rinse their mouth before being treated.
Dentists will likely forgo handing out appointment cards and free toothbrushes.
"We don't want to have any more social contact than we need to."
The cost of providing dental services are projected to increase, Blanchard said.
"We're going to be running at a slow pace initially, so the costs are going to be borne by everybody."
Offices will be working with clients to ensure they're able to pay, he said.
Millions of dollars in potatoes sitting in storage
Millions of dollars worth of potatoes are sitting in storage across the province without a place to go, according to the grower advocacy group Potatoes NB.COVID-19 has stalled potato processing and shipping, leaving New Brunswick growers without a market for their produce.
"The restaurants, bars, food service stopped, 70 per cent of our French fry business stopped," said Roy Culberson, a fifth-generation potato farmer in Jacksonville, a rural community outside Woodstock.
Culberson said he has more than $1 million in potatoes sitting in storage that he's unable to ship for processing.
He's already bought about $40,000 worth of seed, but he's expecting to cut his production back by 15 to 20 per cent this year.
Information Morning - Fredericton
Potato farmers taking financial hit
Cutting production by that much is the standard, said Matt Hemphill, executive director Potatoes NB.
Culberson isn't the only potato farmer without a home for his produce, Hemphill said.
About $30 million worth of potatoes are sitting in storage in New Brunswick. There's also a surplus of seed potatoes that will either need to be donated or dumped, Hemphill said.
"It's about $40 million dollars [worth] everything that won't have a home or a market," Hemphill said.
Potatoes NB and processors are working together to find homes for the potatoes. Some have been donated to the food bank.
"The challenge we have with a perishable product is we're running out of time."
Hemphill said the industry has until September to find places to store or donate the old crop before it spoils.
Popular Saint John hair salon closes
A longtime hairdressing shop is closing indefinitely after nearly four decades in Saint John because of COVID-19 restrictions.Ang & Sals Hairstyling, at 15 Market Square, has been in business for 36 years. Now, it's being forced to close without saying goodbye to any of its clientele.
"I didn't want this to end the way it is," said owner Sal Scicholone.
Dear valued clients,customers and most importantly friends
This note is to let you all know that is has been a great pleasure doing business with each and every one of you ! It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that we have closed our salon door and wish to bid you farewell.🧡
I never imagined this would be how I closed this chapter after being in the heart of the city for 36 years.
I wish the situation we are facing wasn’t the case which made my final decision albeit a...
See More
This note is to let you all know that is has been a great pleasure doing business with each and every one of you ! It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that we have closed our salon door and wish to bid you farewell.🧡
I never imagined this would be how I closed this chapter after being in the heart of the city for 36 years.
I wish the situation we are facing wasn’t the case which made my final decision albeit a...
See More
Scicholone began apprenticing as a barber when he was eight in Italy. He became a barber when he was 13. He began his career working with his brothers, before opening his own shop in City Hall in 1984.
He has two daughters who he wanted to take over the business.
"I guess it won't have that finish because coronavirus killed [the business]."
A longtime customer emailed him and asked to be the first client when the shop reopened after restrictions were lifted. Scicholone had tears in his eyes when he had to send him an email back telling him the shop wouldn't be reopening.
"It wasn't work for me being in the shop because I knew all the people and the clients," he said.
"Anyone that comes in, we treated them as family."
Village of Alma asks tourists to avoid visiting
The mayor of Alma is asking visitors and road trippers to stay away from the village by the Bay of Fundy, even as restrictions are slowly beginning to lift."We want to keep everybody safe," said Mayor Kirstin Shortt.
"We want to avoid spreading the disease, so we're taking proactive action here by telling visitors to stay home."
The Village of Alma is urging road trippers to stay away from the area to prevent spreading COVID-19. (CBC)
There are no public washrooms available in the village. Nearby Fundy National Park remains closed, as do most businesses.
The local gas bar, convenience store and one takeout pizza shop have remained open during the pandemic.
People who don't live within 20 minutes of the village should stay away, the mayor said.
Shortt is hopeful her village will return to business as usual, but she said it will be a while before that happens.
"It's impacting everyone in this village, not just the people that come to visit."
Tourism season for the village typically begins in mid-May. Shortt is hoping it won't be delayed more than a month.
"[Businesses] may not make a profit this year, but they're hoping that they'll at least break even."
What to do if you have symptoms
People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment on the government website. People with two of those symptoms are asked to:- Stay at home.
- Immediately call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor
- Describe symptoms and travel history.
- Follow instructions.
About the Author
With files from Information Morning Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton
112 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise Yet methinks not everyone is Happy Happy Happy with Higgy's Police State N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: "Dental offices could have whole new drill when they reopen"
Methinks Higgy et al can bet thin Canadian dimes to fat Yankee petrodollars that my dentist and i are not dancing with joy N'esy Pas?
Methinks Higgy et al can bet thin Canadian dimes to fat Yankee petrodollars that my dentist and i are not dancing with joy N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos:
Methinks a lot of old folks know I am not joking when i say everytime
Higgy makes another proclamation about a virus that came out of China at
Chinese Dentist time "Tooth Hurty" (a small pun of my Yankee wife) my
teeth ache even more and I call my dentist and give him another headache
N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks that was a interesting to do N''esy Pas Mr Higgs?
David Amos
Oh My My Methinks Mayor Kirstin Shortt.is gonna get a lot of calls from upset business owners in short order 'Nesy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Trust that Matt Hemphill the executive director Potatoes NB. just got a call from me
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: As I'm sure you have the ears of all the people you pretend to call.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: I am no liar ask them
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Ask them
val harris
Higgs will not be remembered for Covid but he will be for killing our economy. Then he has the smart remark that he won’t apologize unreal he’s so arrogant and will not help businesses real great guy...
Aaron James
Reply to @val harris: Go back to sleep Val.
Bo Zam
Reply to @val harris:
Yes.. Higgs killed our economy.. He probably also carried the virus
back to N.B from his trip to China or possibly had the virus imported
via Amazon Prime.. You guys are funny.
val harris
Reply to @Aaron
James: No sir he has done a terrible job with the economy and time will
show it. Your probably home doing nothing like usual while the rest of
us wanna provide I guess you were just a user
val harris
Reply to @Bo Zam:
Listen bo bo I think the job on Covid was well done but on the economy
he’s been a joke compared to all the other premiers. Let’s save for
tomorrow and right now no one knows when tomorrow is but live in fear
Rob Mason
Reply to @val harris: I think the Gallant Liberals own most (if not all) of the blame for the Economy.
val harris
Reply to @Rob Mason:
Yes let’s go back in time blame it on the past. So every provincial
government in Canada never spent money before Covid. You have a great
talking point
Bo Zam
Reply to @val harris:
How can Higgs or any other politician fix the economy during a
pandemic?? Seriously.. i didn't even vote for him but i will next time.
He was saving the province money before this started and i liked the
direction he was taking us.. we are a have not province with many
obstacles in our way.. someone needs to wear the white hardhat.. even
if it isn't your preferred political party.. or mine.
Paul Estey
Reply to @val harris:
I guess then that, the other 4 party leaders will also be known for the
same thing, killing our economy where they have a collaborative
approach to this Pandemic. Guess all Parties better strat looking for
new Leaders to run their respective Parties......
Rob Mason
Reply to @val harris: The structural deficits were created in the PAST so why ignore that fact.
Rob Mason
Reply to @Paul Estey: good point!
Rob Mason
Reply to @val harris:
We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. If
everyone in the province ran their household the same as the last
several provincial governments (both Liberal and PC) have, we would be
broke (like NB is). Reign in spending and wasteful programs and get the
provinces books in order. The $$$ going to pay interest on the debt
could be used to other things.
Paul Estey
Reply to @Rob Mason:
maybe we should stay in this State of Emergency so all Parties can
continue to work collaboratively to bring out economy around rather than
spend money recklessly.....The other day when they alll spoke at the
new conference, it was a POSITIVE experience acting on behalf of the
Province.!
Jim Cyr
Reply to @val harris:
Val, you show every day that you hate Higgs, and he could cure cancer
and bring about world peace and you would STILL hate him. Gotcha! Now
give it a rest....
Paul Estey
Reply to @Rob Mason: Lets start a new political party with this approach as the main platform...
.
.
Rob Mason
Reply to @Paul Estey:
we will have a vaccine and hades will freeze over first. Once this ends
the partisian bickering will reemerge.
val harris
Reply to @Rob Mason:
My goodness man get out of the past let’s move forward.. deficits and
borrowing is the new world look around ya is anyone hurting NO. Come
outside your door enjoy your province
val harris
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Hate is a strong word jimmy I hate no one really but I do their policies.
Aaron James
Reply to @val harris: Have another sip of nyquil Val. Nite nite.
Paul Estey
Reply to @Jim Cyr: The same applies to David AMos....give it a rest..
Paul Estey
Reply to @Rob Mason: and that is a shame!
val harris
Reply to @Bo Zam: Politics aside I think we can’t live in fear let’s open up our economy inside our borders that’s all.
val harris
Reply to @Rob Mason: Live in your bubble with fear I guess but that’s your point and I have mind which is ok
Rob Mason
Reply to @Paul Estey: Unfortunately it would be doomed to failure. To many
"in this place" vote as their parents did, no matter if the party or
leader is a failure they will continue to vote red or blue. How many
times have you seen a rookie politician say " I am going to do things
differently" only to be beat down as the incumbents want the status quo
to continue, why, it benefits them. What we need is LESS government and
MORE personal responsibility, Canadians in general expect the government
to solve all their problems and take care of them from cradle to grave.
Rob Mason
Reply to @Paul Estey: agree
Rob Mason
Reply to @val harris: Live in your bubble with fear I guess but that’s your point and I have mind which is ok
Where do you get fear from? That is what is great about democracy, everyone can have an opinion and debate it with others. The bill will come due and it will have to be paid. Thinking otherwise is not realistic.
Where do you get fear from? That is what is great about democracy, everyone can have an opinion and debate it with others. The bill will come due and it will have to be paid. Thinking otherwise is not realistic.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Bo Zam: Sure, like refusing to take federal money. As if New Nouveau-Brunswick didn't need the money!
Rob Mason
Reply to @val harris:
Have you have borrowed a couple of million $ and have a 10,000 sq foot
house, boats, cars, jets etc. Someone has to pay for all this, wait till
the Federal bill comes in and taxes go up or services are cut.
Paul Estey
Reply to @Rob Mason: it is a dream...
Johnny Almar
Reply to @val harris: You didn’t get to feed from the trough like you did with Liberal governments.
We are lucky this happened on Higgs’ watch. He’s a true leader.
We are lucky this happened on Higgs’ watch. He’s a true leader.
David Amos
Reply to @val harris: You tell them Val For what its worth I concur
David Amos
Reply to @Paul Estey:
Methinks I should ask again are you the ex cop from Fat Fred City If so
I bet you are still laughing about the the theft of my Harley N'esy
Pas?
Reply to @val harris: Higgs needs money to keep Irving in the spraying business.
April Foster
Reply to @Jim Cyr:
Higgs is an over the hill old politician who is only there because of
the empire. You can bet your bottom dollar that they will still get
their corporate welfare.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-covid-19-recovery-plan-1.5546932
What the COVID-19 recovery plan means for masks, ATVs, universities and playgrounds
Province received many questions from the public after laying out 1st phase of recovery plan last week
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 27, 2020 7:07 PM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs says the government got a lot of calls over the weekend about the recovery plan. (CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs used his daily COVID-19 briefing Monday to tackle some confusion surrounding the provincial plan for recovery from the harsh impact of the pandemic.
"Over the weekend we received 758 calls — up from 617 calls during the previous weekend," he said.
"The calls we have receiving were from residents who have a range of questions and concerns."
Here are the areas of confusion the premier and Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical health officer, addressed Monday
Masks: mandatory or not?
Not yet.In parts of the graphic distributed by the province Friday, the current salmon-coloured phase and the next two, orange and yellow, masks are "required unless unable.
"
This seemed to be a stricter rule than the red phase of complete shutdown, when masks were "strongly recommended."
But on Monday, Russell addressed this, saying that when physical distancing measures are loosened even further to allow gatherings in two to four weeks, masks could become mandatory in settings where it is impossible to maintain a proper distance.
"Our recommendation for now is to give the public enough time to buy or to make their own masks," Russell said. "It is possible in the coming weeks that it will become mandatory."
COVID-19
will be with us for a long time, before a vaccine or other treatment
becomes available, Dr. Jennifer Russell said Monday. 1:40
"It's very important that you get used to wearing masks," Russell said.
The "unless unable" stipulation means masks won't be mandatory for children or people who have health issues preventing them from wearing a mask comfortably.
Chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said masks could become mandatory in the next two to four weeks in areas where physical distancing is not possible such as in shops. (Submitted by Government of New Brunswick)
These masks can be homemade from cloth and don't have to be medical masks. Officials previously warned against hoarding medical and surgical masks, because that could cause a shortage for health-care workers.
ATVs, snowmobiles and trails
Last week ATV trails were closed, reopened for two days, then closed again after Higgs said he was "disappointed" with the reopening. Under the new looser restrictions, Higgs clarified Monday, snowmobile and ATV trails are still closed.But people are permitted to ride their ATVs and snowmobiles.
"I think the point of the trails being officially closed is that people are not taking a large group and they're not going to a cookout somewhere and having a major afternoon event," Higgs said.
Premier Blaine Higgs said people are allowed to ride their ATVs, but not to gather in large groups with other ATV riders. (CBC)
"We need to make sure that we just do not get together at a gathering place."
He said the people need to "use their common sense."
Higgs previously said trails would be closed for another two to four weeks, maybe longer. Quad NB president Roger Daigle confirmed the club-managed trails are still closed. But some people could still be riding on wood roads or Crown land, not regulated by his organization
"You can go in with your ATV or dirt bike or truck or car," he said.
"I don't know if we're being ... put under the gun for us to close our trails, but everything else stays open."
Ross Antworth, general manager with the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, said their trails have been closed since late March. He said people can still snowmobile on crown land or forest roads as well, and he has heard of people gathering.
Higgs said the province is willing to ticket people who break social distancing rules.
Are universities open?
Higgs said universities are only open for students who need to have in-person practical classes, and they must maintain a proper distance from each other.In response to a request for an interview, University of New Brunswick directed CBC to a statement on its website.
The statement said UNB campuses are not reopening for academic purposes and remain closed to the public.
Campuses have been closed for everything but essential services since mid-March.
The statement said the reopening will only apply to academic programs Russell has deemed essential and will be limited to programs that involve a practical or lab component.
The university will develop strict criteria and safety measures before it reopens any classes, the statement said. The university is still working on that plan.
Parks and playgrounds
Higgs said while parks can reopen, all playgrounds are closed, including municipal, provincial and school playgrounds.The City of Moncton made a social media post reminding people of this and saying people have removed municipal signs.
‼️ PLAYGROUND STRUCTURES in our municipal parks are NOT OPEN ‼️
Provincial restrictions have been lifted in parks and trails, but not for playground structures. Outdoor equipment (playground structures, benches, hand railings, etc.) are not sanitized.
We have received reports that individuals have been seen taking down signage and yellow caution tape in our playgrounds. This is not permitted and residents should never take down signage in any municipal facility.
... See More
Provincial restrictions have been lifted in parks and trails, but not for playground structures. Outdoor equipment (playground structures, benches, hand railings, etc.) are not sanitized.
We have received reports that individuals have been seen taking down signage and yellow caution tape in our playgrounds. This is not permitted and residents should never take down signage in any municipal facility.
... See More
"We have received reports that individuals have been seen taking down signage and yellow caution tape in our playgrounds," the city said.
"This is not permitted and residents should never take down signage in any municipal facility."
About the Author
53 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.David Amos
Good night cruel world
Billy Joe Mcallister
So atv trails are closed but people can still ride their atvs. May I ask where?
David Chiasson
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: The whole North of the province is full of gravel logging
roads that can be driven for days on end!
David Amos
Reply to @David Chiasson: YUP
David Amos
Reply to @David Chiasson: The Irving Clan does not own Crown land We do
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-roundup-1.5546049
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Harvest Festival cancelled for 1st time in 3 decades
'The music industry is upside down right now,' music director Brent Staeben says
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 27, 2020 1:02 PM AT
The 30th anniversary of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival has been cancelled because mass gatherings are banned in New Brunswick until Dec. 31. (CBC)
Downtown Fredericton is going to be much quieter in September than it has been for three decades.
Organizers have called off the 30th anniversary of the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, following the province's decision to bar mass gatherings until the end of the year as part of its four-phase recovery plan from COVID-19.
"It comes as a heavy blow," said Brent Staeben, music director for Harvest Jazz & Blues.
"We were pretty much ready to roll out [the lineup]."
The event has been postponed until 2021, or whenever it's safe to bring back the festival, which takes place for a week every September in New Brunswick's capital.
The Fredericton Firespinners performed during the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in 2016. (Catherine Harrop/CBC)
Staeban spent all day Friday contacting music booking agencies across North America, warning of the cancellation.
He said agencies were understanding and not surprised.
"The music industry is upside down right now."
Staeban would not release the names of the 2020 performers he'd lined up but said he was "very proud" of the lineup.
We must confirm what we had sincerely hoped would not be the case: Harvest will not take place this September. Click link for further details.https://www.harvestjazzandblues.com/2020/04/24/a-message-from-harvest/ …
4:09 PM - Apr 24, 2020
"We had a lot of expectations coming out of last year's festival … it would have been very difficult to top Robert Plant and Lucinda Williams and Nathaniel Rateliff in one festival again," Staeban said plans for 2020.
"But the analogy I use is that the peaks may not have been as high, but the mountain range was bigger and had a lot more mountains."
Last year, the music festival saw up to 100,000 visitors from across North America.
In a post-COVID-19-restricted world, Staeban said, some components of Harvest and other festivals may need to be readjusted, such as the number of people allowed inside a music tent and whether food and alcohol can be served safely.
"What Harvest has to do now is sit back and understand how the industry is changing and do everything we can to protect the legacy and history we've built for this community."
This Fredericton teenager has been playing violin from a distance for her great grandmother who is almost 102 years old. 1:47
Those who have already bought ultimate passes will be able to get a refund, he said, although many subscribers have asked the festival simply to move their passes to 2021.
111 people have recovered from COVID-19
The province reported no new cases of COVID-19 for the eighth day in a row on Sunday.Of the 118 cases confirmed so far, 111 people have recovered and seven people are still living with respiratory illness.
Four patients are still in hospital but none are in the intensive care unit.
Premier Blaine Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, will be providing a virus update at 2:30 p.m. in Fredericton today.
Here's a roundup of other developments.
Canada post sees Christmas-level parcel deliveries
Christmas might be eight months away, but Canada Post is seeing parcel deliveries similar to the holiday season.That's because many Canadians are isolating at home and spending more time online shopping, Canada Post said in a news release.
On April 20, the Crown corporation delivered more than 1.8 million parcels to Canadians.
"That's similar to the biggest delivery days we see during the Christmas season."
Canada Post is seeing parcel deliveries comparable to the Christmas season. (CBC)
Canada Post is advising customers to expect delays with their parcel deliveries. The combination of heavy parcel volumes and safety measures, means it takes longer to process.
To eliminate customer interactions at the door, Canada Post has implemented a "knock, drop and go" approach.
Delivery employees knock or ring, choose the safest location available to leave the item and then depart for the next address.
"This change eliminates the need for signatures at the door, speeds up delivery and has greatly reduced the number of parcels sent to our post offices for pickup," the news release said.
Canada Post has also delayed its 15-day hold period at the post office. Those parcels will not be returned to senders until further notice.
Golf courses slowly reopen — but with new restrictions
Some ouutdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches and golf courses opened on the weekend after the government said it was OK as part of the recovery plan announced Friday.But a golf course in the Saint John area has decided to remain closed.
Alastair Barr has owned and operated the Welsford Golf Course for 25 years.
He had planned to open the course on May 18, and won't be changing that date now. He wasn't expecting government to allow him to open sooner.
The driving range at Carman Creek Golf Course was busy on Saturday. (Gary Moore/CBC)
"Getting to open is great, but at the same time it's not like we're going to be able to do business as usual," Barr said.
The government has announced several precautions golf courses must enforce if they want to reopen for the season.
Players must book a time online to play. No food and beverages can be served.
Courses also have to raise the cups on the green, so that a player doesn't have to put a hand in the hole to extract the golf ball.
Some golf courses, like Carmen Creek Golf Course in Fredericton, have already opened.
What to do if you have symptoms
People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment on the government website. Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, a new or worsening cough, and breathlessness, as well as sore throat, headache and runny nose. People with two of those symptoms are asked to:- Stay at home.
- Immediately call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor
- Describe symptoms and travel history.
- Follow instructions.
About the Author
With files from Sarah Morin
74 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks Higgy needs to get his act together ASAP before too many small business go under and he loses at lot of the province's primary source of tax income N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks Higgy ain't gonna get a second mandate N'esy Pas?
Bo Zam
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks the people of NB are lovin Higgy.. like it or not.. N'esy Pas
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Bo Zam: What's a Bo Zam? Why would we take you seriously when you don't use your real name?
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Methinks a tr o ll by any other name is still just exactly that N'esy Pas?
Rob Mason
Reply to @David Amos: No matter one political preference/affiliation, Mr Higgs has done a good job in managing this crisis. His engineering background means he makes decisions based on facts and data. Imagine if the former tennis instructor had been in charge, outcome may have been very different.
I believe those die hard Liberals would never vote for Higgs/PC party regardless and vice versa for PC die hards. The fence sitters and those more open minded, take a look at his actions and results and approve of the job he is doing. I think based on his performance during the COVID crisis and running the province in general, he will get a second mandate.
One thing I do know is a fiscally prudent government is needed, a return to the tax and spend Liberal politics post pandemic is not what we need.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Mason: Methinks are are other people in New Brunswick too such as the 40 percent or so that don't vote for your hero Higgy or any liberal you don't like N'esy Pas?
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @Bo Zam: I've never voted concervative in my life and I think he is doing fine.
Rob Mason
Reply to @David Amos:
as i said in another post, reading your posts is mentally taxing. By
your own words if 40% didn't vote PC then he is in majority terrority!
Terry Hughes
Reply to @David Amos: There is a safe place for you and it ain't in N.B
.
.
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos:
Methinks Yethinks Wethinks with you . Methinks Yethinks wrong !
Methinks Wethinks Higgs gets a majority !!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lou Bell: N'est ce thinks pas ???
Dan Armitage
Reply to @Lou Bell: Giver Lou YOUTHINKS Right haha
BruceJack
Speculator
Have read on these
CBC comments several times that this Amos guy ran for federal election .
. . it takes 100 signatures in order to run. How many of those 100
voted for him?
Michel Forgeron
Reply to @Jeff
LeBlanc: I have only voted PC a couple elections in my life, but unless
things change for the worse, I will be voting for Higgs. He & Dr.
Russell have done a great job, in fact all the party leaders deserve
credit. And not to forget, so do the people of NB.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Hughes: Is that a Threat?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Rob Mason: Clearly you can't read very well To recap on average about 40 percent of the folks like me don't vote at all because we think they are are all crooks. For the record I only voted once in my life and that was in the last provincial election and I voted for myself because i was permitted to by some strange provincial rule I was not aware of.
Reply to @Rob Mason: Clearly you can't read very well To recap on average about 40 percent of the folks like me don't vote at all because we think they are are all crooks. For the record I only voted once in my life and that was in the last provincial election and I voted for myself because i was permitted to by some strange provincial rule I was not aware of.
David Amos
Reply to @BruceJack
Speculator: Much to the "Speculator's" chagrin you can't vote for anyone
with such a name nor should you be posting in here if the rules were
upheld. That said Elections Canada keeps the records ask them how I
fared.
Reply to @Michel Forgeron: Methinks you are like a moth to a flame If anyone attacks me you want to add your two bits worth because you hate me as much as Hughes and Little Lou and every one else does N'esy Pas?
Jeff Leblanc
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: check him out on YouTube. Odd duck to say the least.
SarahRose Werner:
"Some ouutdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches and golf courses opened on the weekend" - However, this does not necessarily mean that playgrounds and skateboard parks are open. There was obvious confusion on this point over the weekend. Per the City of Saint John, 27 Apr 2020, "All play structures and apparatuses within City-owned playgrounds are closed until further notice. The City's two skateboard parks are also closed."
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Cry me a river
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Oh My My wasn't that a rather telling thing?
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Cry me a river
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Oh My My wasn't that a rather telling thing?
Justin Gunther
The tagline implies the music industry was the problem. It isn't until you read the article that you realize Higgs is the problem. Typical CBC.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: YUP
Errol Willis
Reply to @Justin Gunther: How is Higgs the problem?
DJ Redfern
Reply to @Errol Willis:
He isn't a problem
He isn't a problem
Bo Zam
Reply to @Errol Willis: he's a problem because he's not the right political party or something like that.. they just make it up as they go.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Bo Zam:
Actually the obvious answer is he is the one who banned masss gatherings
until the end of the year. It's hard to think straight these days I
know, but try harder boys you can do better than that.
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Oh, Justin.........I think that the People will survive despite missing one year of HJBF. (If that is the worst thing that ever happens to you, then you're not doing too bad..........)
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Shame they called Harvest Festival wasnt your ZZ Top tribute band booked this year? EH!!
Brian Robertson
Thank you Premier Higgs for the choices you've made that have kept us safe.
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Yea right
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Any opposition to back that "yea right" up or just being a tool again
valmond landry
@BRIAN ROBERTSON what about thanking all the people of NB, beside closing the border
it's not MR Iggy or Mrs Russell that should have the credit it's all the people of NB PLUS THE FACT THAT WE ARE BEING Lucky .
Lou Bell
Reply to @valmond
landry: Those rules didn't appear outta thin air ! Without the rules set
ot by Premier Higgs and Dr. Russell there would have been many who
would have had nothing to do with isolating and distancing ! A few fines
thrown in to those violating the rules and going on cross border beer
runs also sent a message ! Kudos to the people of NB on following the
rules , but it certainly wasn't all just luck like you wanna make it
appear to be !!
Lou Bell
Reply to @valmond
landry: We were actually lucky the "3 amigos " gave Higgs budget the
thumbs up and just think of the mess we'd have been in with the Liberals
in control ! Higgs has just won himself a majority government ! The 130
million dollar undisclosed Liberal giveaway has done them in for years
to come !
Dan Armitage
Reply to @valmond
landry: There is that for sure but the sheep need to be led and Higgs
did that. Now to keep the borders locked down
Brian Robertson
Reply to @valmond landry:
Because with the shepherd, we're just a bunch of sheep.
Because with the shepherd, we're just a bunch of sheep.
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Bahhh Humbug
valmond landry
@LOU BELL YOU MUST BE ONE OF THE CORSERVITAVE lol!!
Brian
Robertson
Reply to @valmond landry:
To make oneself heard, there is no need to shout.
Just say something worth hearing.
To make oneself heard, there is no need to shout.
Just say something worth hearing.
David Amos
Reply to @Brian
Robertson: Methinks he did but you refused to listen as per your MO so
he hollered at Little Lou who hates Mr Landry and I as much as you do
N'esy Pas?
valmond landry
@RRIAN ROBERTSON I I shouted so hard that it crack the screen on my computer ha, ha,
by the way talking about sheep's going to be nice we'll have enough wool to cover ourselves if ever the corservitave are elected next winter
Brian
Robertson
Reply to @valmond landry:
I believe that given the recent performance of the Higgs Government, and considering traditional voting patterns, we are likely to see another PC win with a Liberal opposition.
I believe that given the recent performance of the Higgs Government, and considering traditional voting patterns, we are likely to see another PC win with a Liberal opposition.
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Too Too Funny
David Amos
Reply to @valmond landry: Well put Mr Landry
Reply to @valmond landry: Better than the SANB Liberals with their UNDISCLOSED 130 million dollar " Phonie Games " giveaway . They've done themselves in for a few years . People have come to realize thye're a one agenda party catering to 30 % of the people !
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks Mr Higgs and the 3 Stooges should be Happy Happy Happy but their Police State must go on and on N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-recovery-plan-for-nb-begins.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-no-new-cases-1.5545588
No new cases of COVID-19 in N.B. for 8th straight day
Only seven people are confirmed to still have the coronavirus in the province
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2020 1:50 PM AT
Chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said even though there have been eight days of no new cases, people still need to be vigilant. (Submitted by Government of New Brunswick)
Once again, New
Brunswick is reporting no new cases of COVID-19. Sunday's announcement
makes eight straight days of no new confirmed cases.
Of the 118 cases confirmed in the province so far, 111 have recovered, leaving just seven still with the virus.
Of the remaining cases, four patients are in hospital but none is in intensive care.
"We are in a fortunate position in New Brunswick," said chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell in a written news release Sunday.
"But this is still the time to be patient and vigilant. We want to give citizens and businesses every opportunity to recover from this crisis. We must follow a strategic, methodical approach to get there."
CBC's Journalistic Standards and PracticesOf the 118 cases confirmed in the province so far, 111 have recovered, leaving just seven still with the virus.
"We are in a fortunate position in New Brunswick," said chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell in a written news release Sunday.
"But this is still the time to be patient and vigilant. We want to give citizens and businesses every opportunity to recover from this crisis. We must follow a strategic, methodical approach to get there."
101 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks Higgy et al must know how much I am enjoy the circus today even though his Police State is particularly egregious N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks the spin doctors for Higgy's Police State have been in overdrive with their attacks against me lately I know I should feel honoured but I also know that its just another case of desperate political people doing desperate things N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: And who would you be ?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks you should confer with Higgy and Cardy to see if they have
enough butter tarts and ask if they are still laughing at your nonsense
about my Medicare Card N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks the spin doctors for Higgy's Police State have been in overdrive with their attacks against me lately I know I should feel honoured but I also know that its just another case of desperate political people doing desperate things N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks Mr Higgs and the 3 Stooges should be Happy Happy Happy but their Police State must go on and on N'esy Pas?
Roger Markus-Laundry
Reply to @David Amos: once again the posts pottie has spoken.... that’s you btw
David Peters
Reply to @Roger Markus-Laundry:
How is that not a personal attack?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Peters: How is what David said just a slight scroll up not an attack either. He gets what he deserves
Roger Markus-Laundry
Reply to @David Peters: just feeding him his good old fashion medicine. You should see his YouTube video debating.
Patsy O'Brien
Reply to @David Peters: At least it's only one...have you read through the thread? No one can express an opinion without being denigrated. Is there some way to block users here?
David Amos
Reply to @Patsy O'Brien: Methinks I have met a brand new Higgy fan N'esy Pas?
Billy Joe Mcallister
My question if I could ask it, is would be .... Are the plans and actions being followed and put into place currently, based on the original model put forward by the WHO or who -ever during a time when not much was known about the virus or are we using data which has been collected and analyzed since the "outbreak" begin. Because based on what I am seeing and reading I have to wonder if that original model was completely accurate.
David Amos
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: Here is an answer for you that you may not be expecting. In
2009 I went through the same sort of nonsense on a worldwide stage with
the WHO FLU and Baxter etc and their plan to vaccinate everyone. The
local Health officials in NB promoting the Baxter agenda were trying to
have me arrested again so I went into the woods and offline for a whole
winter. In March of the following year I got an email from Julian
Assange before he was famous bragging that he was in Iceland and the
circus started all over again. This happened while Higgy was still
working for the Irving Clan and just as Austin was creating the PANB
Trust that I shared many things with them in 2010 before they were ever
elected.More importantly the leader of the Green Meanies and Vicky knew
everything about me since 2004 when I first ran for a seat in
parliament.
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @David Amos: That IS unexpected and interesting.
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Metinks Yethinks Wethinks care !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you make it blatantly obvious that you do N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Did you check with Bonnie ? I suspect she has your Medicare Card . Or your ex.
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks you do not have the first clue as to how your much malice will
haunt you. Even your SANB pen pal Deschamps pretended to hope that Higgy
would get the "Stay" removed from my Medicare Card months ago N'esy
Pas?
Samual Johnston
Not sure if I missed it but how many were tested?
Tim Doiron
Reply to @Samual Johnston: Exactly. Easy to have no new cases if no tests.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Tim Doiron:
Then again the "conspiracy theorists " have no answer as to why we 've
had NO DEATHS due to COVID , especially with the number of seniors ,
the most susceptible group , that we have in NB !!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lou Bell: Maybe they figure it has to do with Aliens or something !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you must have been hanging out with Werner Bock's buddies in the RCMP for too Long N'esy Pas?
Farmer blames heat rays for cows' deaths
RCMP officer assured Werner Bock that aliens are not flying over his farm
CBC News · Posted: Jun 12, 2012 6:47 AM AT |
Farmer blames heat rays for cows' deaths
RCMP officer assured Werner Bock that aliens are not flying over his farm
CBC News · Posted: Jun 12, 2012 6:47 AM AT |
Lou Bell
If we all follow the rules we'll reap the benefits . It'll only take very few to put as back to where we just came from . So isolate , distancing , washing hands , and wearing masks . The rewards will be fantastic.
James
Smith
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Yes, let's go back to record levels of wealth inequality, stagnant
wages, rapidly rising cost of living, and everything else that this
pandemic exposed was broken about our society all along. We've been
patching it all up with band-aids, dental floss, and pixie dust, and
it's now indisputably obvious that we've run out of our last speck of
pixie dust.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @James
Smith: You've got all the answers to societies problems I see. How about
for now we try to re-enter cautiously into what was considered normal
rather than blow it all up and redefine the entire economic spectrum of
wealth and the divide. They'll be ready to give you a call with your
grand plan at that time I'm sure.
Billy Joe Mcallister
Reply to @Ray Oliver:
I believe Mr.Smith was merely pointing out what he sees as the negative
aspects of the way things were. I didn't read any mention of a grand
plan.
David Amos
Reply to @James Smith: Well put
David Amos
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: I agree
Rob Mason
Reply to @James Smith: wealth inequality, there is a cure for that, work!
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Mason:
Methinks your hero Higgy will find that to be a rather interesting
statement in light of the fact he put everybody out of work N'esy Pas?
Rob Mason
Reply to @David Amos: just reading your replies in mentally taxing but...
Had ANY government bucked the trend in shutting in the economy it would have been political suicide. Just like keeping the schools closed, it is a political calculation. Open the schools and one kids gets sick and the political price would be swiftly enacted. Better to keep them closed out of an abundance of caution than risk one sick kid. I don't necessarily agree but that is how it is.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Mason:
"mentally taxing" Yea Right Methinks its not rocket science to figure
out why I ran for public office 7 times against you political heros
N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Mason: "Had ANY government bucked the trend in shutting in the economy it would have been political suicide."
Methinks you should check out how many states south of the 49th did just exactly that and how their Governors are admired by many folks today N'esy Pas?
Fern Robichaud
Kids need to go back to school, particularly those who are graduating this year. There's no reason preventing this from happening, none.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Dude give it up. They cancelled in-class education until September at the earliest.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Fern
Robichaud: And there is lots of reason. There are asymptomatic people
in NB. Kids could bring it home. Stay shut down.
Troy Murray
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Just not ready
David Amos
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: I concur
Mary Smith
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Everything can be finished through online courses. It's not the same, but it's what's necessary to ensure everyone's safety.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Fern
Robichaud: Kids are learning one of the most important lessons of all,
one that will stick with them the rest of their lives: things don't
always go as planned. Sometimes we need to find ways to adapt.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Clearly nobody took you to the prom
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Mary Smith: "I read the news today Oh Boy"
(From The Beatles - A Day In The Life an old tune fThat was big in 1967 during my High School days in Fat Fred City)
Our 50th year anniversary of graduation celebration was cancelled this year thanks to Higgy and the 3 Stooges
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @David Amos: I feel sorry for anyone who remembers their high school prom as the most important experience of their life - or even of their high-school years.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: I see no need to pity you
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: FYI All 3 years I was in FHS young ladies asked me to take them to the prom because nobody else had asked them. Trust that I was honoured to do so However in my last year I had to decline the invitation from the Prom Queen because I was bringing my own steady date whom I later married. Your Yankee upbringing may have you be bitter but many old folks in the Maritimes recall their youth with great fondness. Methinks many Yankees hate me because I sued Cardinal Bernard Francis Law of Beantown in 2002 N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: And things have gone downhill ever since !
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Not at all I am a very Proud Grandfather who still loves to date nice ladies on occasion and is about to sue the Queen you prepare tax forms for 3 more times .Methinks the Protector of the Faith of the Church of England must admit that everything in Heaven and Hell is done in threes N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Lou Bell: Not at all I am a very Proud Grandfather who still loves to date nice ladies on occasion and is about to sue the Queen you prepare tax forms for 3 more times .Methinks the Protector of the Faith of the Church of England must admit that everything in Heaven and Hell is done in threes N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: I think the Prom Queen has your Medicare Card !
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: I know who was the Prom Queen . I'll ask her if she asked you to accompany her
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Say Hey to Bonnie for me will ya? In retrospect i wish i had taken her instead of the lady I divorced nearly 20 years later
Reply to @Lou Bell: Say Hey to Bonnie for me will ya? In retrospect i wish i had taken her instead of the lady I divorced nearly 20 years later
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: But you ran for office 7 times ! And lost 7 times . What happened there ?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Whereas he don't care about the Prom methinks Minister Cardy in Fat Fred City should be able to explain my politicking to you real slow N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Lou Bell: Whereas he don't care about the Prom methinks Minister Cardy in Fat Fred City should be able to explain my politicking to you real slow N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: I asked him and he couldn't stop laughing !
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Did you ask Cardy about his political party's love of butter tarts or why I named a stray cat Mr Higgs?
Reply to @Lou Bell: Did you ask Cardy about his political party's love of butter tarts or why I named a stray cat Mr Higgs?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: I think Bonny has your Medicare Cared !
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks its time for your nap N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks its time for your nap N'esy Pas?
Patsy O'Brien
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: That's not going to happen, thank God, except for post secondary needing practical work to complete their courses. School is the biggest spreader of disease...how do you not know this. Do you think there are actually no cases of Covid out there in NB, just because the Gov't doesn't know of any? There are lots of people with it and not reporting because they don't want to have to quarantine.
Patsy O'Brien
Reply to @David Amos: How rude and inappropriate.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Patsy O'Brien: That's his template !
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @Patsy
O'Brien: By your template, the kids should never go back to school. Kids
are the least vulnerable to the virus, therefore they need to go back.
Most countries and jurisdictions are going forward with reopening their
schools, why not NB?
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @SarahRose
Werner: They're learning that they don't have a say but will look back
as adults to this as a head scratcher with shame and embarrassment.
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @Mary Smith: Safety, from what?
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: I don't buy this asymptomatic thing at all. It became convenient
when drugs began to appear that could cure the virus quickly.
SarahRose
Werner
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: There are no drugs that can cure this virus quickly.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Fern
Robichaud: So these kids after hours where do they go? They just get
locked in school 24/7? Cause they'll be taking that virus home to at
risk people. From your tone on this from the beginning it's about the
teachers getting full pay. I sense some jealousy.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Fern
Robichaud: If you dont believe the science on the Asymptomatic thing
then maybe it's time to have a couple shots of bleach I heard that's
been touted lately by a real expert
David Amos
Reply to @Patsy
O'Brien: So you think it OK for your pal Lou to tease me about not
having a Medicare Card? Please notice that your buddy brought it up not I
David Amos
Reply to @Patsy O'Brien: Care to guess how many of my replies to your buddy went "Poof" ???
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks who laughs last laughs best N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Methinks Madame Bell must have your tongue because obviously she is the only one you did not respond too despite the obvious fact that she made the most comments N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Fern Robichaud: Methinks I know the score between you and Ma Bell now N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks its time for your nap N'esy Pas?
Roy Kirk
It would be nice if gnb posted a clear, concise and current description of the 'rules of engagement' for the public on their web site and CBC posted a link to it. Just spent 10 minutes looking for same. Found nice press releases describing process they're following, links to self-evaluation, etc., but no clear indication of the rules to be followed. We shouldn't have to resort to hansard, or glean the rules from reporters' interpretations of press conf presentations. Please post the rules.
Leslie
Russell
Reply to @Roy Kirk:
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/COVID19_recovery_phase-1_guidance_document-e.pdf
Had to dig to find. They should have made it much easier to find. It is hidden in the Corona virus page/ NB's response
13 pages. Pretty detailed on golfing. Ha.
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/COVID19_recovery_phase-1_guidance_document-e.pdf
Had to dig to find. They should have made it much easier to find. It is hidden in the Corona virus page/ NB's response
13 pages. Pretty detailed on golfing. Ha.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Leslie
Russell: My Mom attempted to raise me as a Catholic, so this bit under
"Outdoor Religious Services" cracked me up: "No food or beverages are to
be provided on site. In the event of communion, those in attendance
would be responsible to bring their own supplies."
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Roy Kirk:
Since I don't plan on "bubbling up" with another household, I'm
following the same rules of engagement that I have been all along: stay 2
meters away from other humans, lots of hand washing, hand sanitizer
when soap and water aren't available, carry a mask with me in case a
store I want to enter requires it, be patient, be courteous, be calm.
Johnny
Almar
Reply to @Roy Kirk: They did.
Johnny
Almar
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: And to think I was going to ask you to dinner.
Roy Kirk
Reply to @Leslie Russell: Thank you for posting the link.
Troy Murray
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Read everything SaraRose says and you will be fine
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: Methinks you two deserve each other best bring your dog to keep
her cat amused while you are out to dinner N'esy Pas?
Patsy O'Brien
Reply to @Roy Kirk: I agree because today there are children playing on the equipment in city public parks. Obviously, when they said the parks were open, these dumbos thought they meant city parks, not just the provincial and national parks.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Patsy
O'Brien: It's a bit confusing because city parks have been open all
along for things like walking, running and cycling. Playgrounds located
within city parks have been closed. Saint John closed skateboard parks
as well. So when people heard that "outdoor recreation facilities"
were open, they assumed *all* outdoor recreation facilities. There were
a fair number of people at the SJ skateboard park near Harbour Station
this afternoon. I expect we'll see clarification from the cities coming
down Monday or Tuesday on this point.
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks the lawyer Charles Murray and his cohort Dominic Cardy had no problem watching their blogging buddy Chucky Leblanc and his pals violate my privacy years ago N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-recovery-plan-for-nb-begins.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/remote-learning-new-brunswick-school-closure-1.5544764
'Culture of secrecy' prevents some students from accessing remote learning
New Brunswick education officials don't know how many students have no access to computers or the internet
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2020 7:00 AM AT
Minister of Education Dominic Cardy says sharing information between departments efficiently has been difficult because of privacy legislation. (Photo: CBC News)
New Brunswick's minister of education says privacy legislation means some children could fall through the cracks when it comes to online learning
Dominic Cardy said the province does not have an accurate count of how many students don't have access to computers or the internet. The province needs that number to make sure all students can continue learning while schools are closed because of COVID-19.
But Cardy said if a parent doesn't respond to voluntary surveys by the districts, there's no way for educators to know if that family needs help to get connected.
"If another department knew, for whatever reason, that there was a technology gap in a home because they'd been working with that family … we would not be allowed to get access to that information."
"It's not just the letter of the law," he said. "It's a broader culture of secrecy that's entirely in government where everyone ends up feeling they shouldn't share information with anyone which I would argue is a bad thing."
Cardy believes it's time to look at how the government treats privacy in the digital age.
"It's a little bit of a self-imposed problem but we're going to have a public conversation about how to fix it," he said.
Sometimes it's very hard to get the parents engaged in any way at all in their child's education.- Dominic Cardy, education minister
Privacy commissioner and ombud Charles Murray said the problem sometimes lies with different departments interpreting the Privacy Act differently — not with the act itself.
"I think that the values of privacy have made their way into the culture of government in a very uneven way," he said.
"People are now recognizing the importance of protecting privacy. And like some lessons in government they overlearn parts of it and they misunderstand parts of it."
Charles Murray, New Brunswick’s ombud and information and privacy commissioner, says sometimes departments in the same government interpret privacy legislation differently. (Nicolas Steinbach/Radio-Canada)
Cardy said the province should not give up on the people who haven't responded just because they can't be reached.
"I can certainly understand how some people, in the absence of context or explanation of how that will benefit them, would say, 'I'd really rather not tell the government those things,'" he said.
The province has estimated that 10 per cent of the student population has a technology need that's barring them from participating in online learning. Cardy said the province plans to announce help for this group next week.
'Putting the choice on the parent'
Cardy said the number of students falling through the cracks is most likely small, but they shouldn't be ignored.Murray said when the number is quite small, it's possible for the school districts to reach out to families with an offer to help.
"Contact them and say, 'We're slotting you into this group and this is a program we're offering to people,'" he said.
"That's putting the choice on the parents without going in and trying to take information … that they don't want to give you."
"Sometimes it's very hard to get the parents engaged in any way at all in their child's education," he said.
Cardy said the structure that protects children of "disconnected" parents is lost when schools are closed, so he's trying to find a way to extend that structure into the children's homes directly.
"When we're talking about this access to technology…it'll be even more important to make sure that we have the ability to reach out to those kids during the pandemic," he said.
"Otherwise we're going to be opening up an even bigger learning gap between kids who come from deprived areas and deprived homes."
The numbers we know
In a recent interview, superintendent of Anglophone West School District David McTimoney said about 8,600 families responded to a survey and about 200 of them didn't have internet access. He said teachers would be interacting with those students by phone. Enrollment in this district is approximately 22,000.Anglophone North School District spokesperson Meredith Caissie said the district surveyed parents over the phone.
The district has a little over 7,000 children, and 569 require devices, she said. Some of them need access to the internet, some need access to devices, and some of them need both.
Caissie said the district doesn't have phone numbers for the people it hasn't been able to reach
Information Morning - Saint John
Week one of online learning for teachers and students
Meanwhile the Francophone Sud School District will be
distributing laptops, tablets and USB keys to students in early May,
said spokesperson Ghislaine Arsenault.
Students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 will be receiving tablets, and laptops will be distributed to students in Grades 4 to 12, Arsenault said.
"For students who do not have access to the Internet, USB memory sticks with learning exercises will be distributed to them," she said.
Information Morning - Fredericton
Home learning plans
While 97 per cent of students were successfully reached to complete the survey over the phone, she said the district is still trying to contact the remaining three per cent.
She said 117 students, representing 84 families, don't have internet access at home.
"We are working on a plan with the Ministry of Education to offer them a connection," she said.
There are 165 students who don't have computers at home and will be getting tablets and iPads. Students who have smartphones will receive a tool to help them learn on that device.
The remaining anglophone and francophone school districts did not respond to CBC's questions by deadline.
About the Author
74 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
And the Circus goes on and on
Roger Markus-Laundry
Reply to @David Amos: and your the clown with big floppy boots and if I’ve read correctly no Medicare card? Why not move back to the USA where your probably missed dearly
David Amos
Reply to @Roger Markus-Laundry: Say Hey to Higgy and Cardy and their buddies in the RCMP for me will ya?
David Amos
Methinks nobody should be surprised that Cardy is a the hero today N'esy Pas?
Demographics, distancing and dumb luck: How N.B. avoided a worst-case COVID-19 scenario
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 27, 2020 6:00 AM AT
A minister with foresight
In February, Education Minister Dominic Cardy sent an internal memo to senior government officials sounding the alarm that COVID-19 was on its way. (Photo: CBC News)
One possible turning point in New Brunswick's containment effort was Feb. 24, when Education Minister Dominic Cardy sent an internal memo to senior government officials sounding the alarm that COVID-19 was on its way, if it wasn't already here.
"This is not a question of if, but when," Cardy wrote. "The extent of the damage and disruption cannot yet be predicted, but it will occur."
With footnotes, appendices and hyperlinks, "memo" isn't quite the right word for the 19-page document, which was obtained by CBC News. It reads more like a university term paper.
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Continued
"All governments will struggle to maintain legitimacy and confidence in the face of the pandemic," Cardy wrote. "Sharing a plan to address COVID-19, being honest about the risks and realistic in terms of a response, is essential."
Cardy "put us on a learning curve which gave us a tremendous advantage," Health Minister Ted Flemming said in an interview. "Some of us might have been a little sceptical at the start. … He really was the spearhead. He was the leader on it."
An early move in school
Cardy's next move, controversial at the time but prescient in retrospect, was to ban any student who'd been on a March break trip outside Canada from returning to school.
"That was extremely wise, extremely prudent," Furness said. "Children mixing in schools is a really potent way for infections to spread."
Deonandan agreed: "The elephant in the room is kids in schools, because kids get their hands in everything."
Furness said he can "guarantee" some children came back from the break carrying COVID-19 but not showing symptoms. If they'd gone to school, the virus might have spread to classmates, and then to more vulnerable adults, in large numbers.
"That obviously didn't happen, so you got away with it," he said. "Our success is predicated on things that don't happen. We can never know. But I think your education minister is to be congratulated."
"All governments will struggle to maintain legitimacy and confidence in the face of the pandemic," Cardy wrote. "Sharing a plan to address COVID-19, being honest about the risks and realistic in terms of a response, is essential."
Cardy "put us on a learning curve which gave us a tremendous advantage," Health Minister Ted Flemming said in an interview. "Some of us might have been a little sceptical at the start. … He really was the spearhead. He was the leader on it."
An early move in school
Cardy's next move, controversial at the time but prescient in retrospect, was to ban any student who'd been on a March break trip outside Canada from returning to school.
"That was extremely wise, extremely prudent," Furness said. "Children mixing in schools is a really potent way for infections to spread."
Deonandan agreed: "The elephant in the room is kids in schools, because kids get their hands in everything."
Furness said he can "guarantee" some children came back from the break carrying COVID-19 but not showing symptoms. If they'd gone to school, the virus might have spread to classmates, and then to more vulnerable adults, in large numbers.
"That obviously didn't happen, so you got away with it," he said. "Our success is predicated on things that don't happen. We can never know. But I think your education minister is to be congratulated."
David Amos
Methinks the spin doctors for Higgy's Police State have been in overdrive with their attacks against me lately I know I should feel honoured but I also know that its just another case of desperate political people doing desperate things N'esy Pas?
David Amos
"I read the news today Oh Boy"
(From The Beatles - A Day In The Life an old tune fThat was big in 1967 during my High School days in Fat Fred City)
No new cases of COVID-19 in N.B. for 8th straight day
Only seven people are confirmed to still have the coronavirus in the province
Philip Drost · CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2020 1:50 PM AT
Methinks everybody know that I agree with Fern Robichaud in that the kids need to go back to school, particularly those who are graduating this year They deserve to put on their plays and have their prom just like we old folks did N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks some folks must have noticed how many of my words went "Poof" as I defended myself from little Lou onslaught within Fern Robichaud's thread N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks Minister Cardy should transparent about what has gone down between he and I ever since I ran in Fat Fred City for its seat in the 39th Parliament N'esy Pas?
Methinks Minister Cardy should transparent about what has gone down between he and I ever since I ran in Fat Fred City for its seat in the 39th Parliament N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Go Figure
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ndp-gets-help-from-democracy-expert-1.629834
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ndp-gets-help-from-democracy-expert-1.629834
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks Minister
Cardy should not mind my giving the children who do have internet access
a little history lesson between he and I N'esy Pas? NDP gets help from democracy expert
CBC News · Posted: Jan 09, 2006
"An international expert on democracy has flown all the way from Egypt to help NDP candidate John Carty campaign in Fredericton.
Cardy has taught about democracy in Algeria, Bangladesh, and Cambodia during the past few years. When he heard his friend John Carty was running for office back in his home town of Fredericton, he hopped on a plane.
"It was a strange experience," Cardy said. "One evening I was watching the sun go down over the pyramids, and the next evening watched it go down over Fredericton airport as I came into land."
Cardy is no relation to the NDP candidate. But he loves elections and loves getting people pumped up about democracy.
Carty the candidate is running against federal Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott, Conservative Pat Lynch, Green candidate Philip Duchastel and independent David Amos. The riding has sent Scott to Ottawa for the last four elections, despite the best efforts of the other parties.
Cardy says he doesn't care how tough the race his – he just wants people to participate in the process. "People have forgotten how incredibly precious these gifts that our ancestors fought for are and were just giving them away. It makes me furious when I talk to people and people just say 'ah there's no point in voting.'"
After election day, Dominic Cardy is flying back home to his wife in Kathmandu, Nepal. He hopes to leave behind a new Member of Parliament for Fredericton, his friend John Carty for the NDP."
David Amos
Methinks
the lawyer who is the former political assistant to one-time Tory MP
Elsie Wayne and to former PC cabinet minister Brad Green must agree that
he knows everything and the folks are entitled to know the truth N'esy
Pas?
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Murray, Charles (Ombud)"
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:16:15 +0000
Subject: You wished to speak with me
To: David Amos
I have the advantage, sir, of having read many of your emails over the years.
As such, I do not think a phone conversation between us, and specifically one which you might mistakenly assume was in response to your threat of legal action against me, is likely to prove a productive use of either of our time.
If there is some specific matter about which you wish to communicate with me, feel free to email me with the full details and it will be given due consideration.
Sincerely,
Charles Murray
Ombud NB
Acting Integrity Commissioner
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Murray, Charles (Ombud)"
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:16:15 +0000
Subject: You wished to speak with me
To: David Amos
I have the advantage, sir, of having read many of your emails over the years.
As such, I do not think a phone conversation between us, and specifically one which you might mistakenly assume was in response to your threat of legal action against me, is likely to prove a productive use of either of our time.
If there is some specific matter about which you wish to communicate with me, feel free to email me with the full details and it will be given due consideration.
Sincerely,
Charles Murray
Ombud NB
Acting Integrity Commissioner
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/3-new-watchdogs-appointed-1.1372919
Premier names child and youth advocate, official languages commissioner and ombudsman
CBC News · Posted: Jun 14, 2013 3:24 PM AT
"The Alward government has announced the appointment of three new people to watchdog positions in the province, based on a new selection process.
The new child and youth advocate is Saint John lawyer Norm Bossé, who represented victims in the Kingsclear reformatory sex abuse case.
Katherine d'Entremont, a career civil servant, will be the new commissioner of official languages.
And the new ombudsman is Charles Murray, a civil servant and former political assistant to one-time Tory MP Elsie Wayne and to former PC cabinet minister Brad Green.
"I am confident that their experience and education will help them to carry out their respective duties effectively," said Premier David Alward.
He said Murray's appointment is not political."
Premier names child and youth advocate, official languages commissioner and ombudsman
CBC News · Posted: Jun 14, 2013 3:24 PM AT
"The Alward government has announced the appointment of three new people to watchdog positions in the province, based on a new selection process.
The new child and youth advocate is Saint John lawyer Norm Bossé, who represented victims in the Kingsclear reformatory sex abuse case.
Katherine d'Entremont, a career civil servant, will be the new commissioner of official languages.
And the new ombudsman is Charles Murray, a civil servant and former political assistant to one-time Tory MP Elsie Wayne and to former PC cabinet minister Brad Green.
"I am confident that their experience and education will help them to carry out their respective duties effectively," said Premier David Alward.
He said Murray's appointment is not political."
Justin
Time
"It's
a broader culture of secrecy that's entirely in government". How true.
Personal information deserves to be protected in most cases, but this
whole privacy thing has been abused by every government in power in New
Brunswick to hide questionable dealings using public funds. If a company
or individual wishes to do business with the government they should be
prepared to have that deal made public. The taxpayers want transparency
and deserve no less. There are too many money losing and/or partisan
deals going on behind closed doors.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: YUP
David Amos
Reply to @Justin
Time: The reasons I sued the Queen are transparent Methinks Higgy et al
should be able to explain the lawsuit to the folks N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: Methinks folks should wonder just how powerful your opinion is N'esy Pas?
"Reply to @John Pokiok: It's wishful thinking to imagine that the virus has been eradicated in NB. If everyone in the province had been tested then maybe you could say that, but certainly not yet."
"Reply to @John Pokiok: It's wishful thinking to imagine that the virus has been eradicated in NB. If everyone in the province had been tested then maybe you could say that, but certainly not yet."
Justin
Time
Reply to @David Amos: ??????
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Justin
Time: Methinks you know as well as I that you are not that powerful
Perhaps the comment section closed before Chinese Dentist time (Tooth
Hurty) so that poor old Fred and I would not have time to complain about
our bad teeth and not being allowed to visit our dentists for so long
N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: I did reply but you know how it goes by now
David Amos
Reply
to @Justin Time: Methinks you and your many cohorts cannot deny that
hard ball politicking is a wickedly fun game to play within Higgy's
Police State N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply
to @Justin Time: Methinks the sly old Fox from Fundy Royal who is the
favourite barber of Chucky Leblanc and his buddy Dominic Cardy in Fat
Fred City is laughing at the nonsense going on in Higgy's circus as hard
as I am about now despite the fact he is out of work N'esy Pas?
john smith
that is actually more encouraging for this province then it isnt wouldnt it be nice if more children didnt have that access
john smith
Reply to @john smith: remember to teach your child there are lessons in everything
David Amos
Reply to @john smith: I wonder what Cardy and Higgy learned in their childhood
Mac Isaac
While privacy laws are important insofar as passing on information to the general public and/or for clandestine or otherwise questionable reasons, there must be times when, for the greater good or for very practical reasons, the privacy laws can be toned down a bit. I agree with those who feel that sometimes people in government and their bureaucracy go above and beyond in their interpretations of what is or isn't personal and private. I think this could be the case when, as in this case, children's education is being crippled by the fact that one government agency or department knows something and isn't sharing that information with another; when sharing that information would or might benefit some children. I don't necessarily agree with the supposition that this refusal to share important information is some vast conspiracy. I think it's the result of the public wanting privacy in certain areas of our life and, as in any bureaucracy, those desires get transformed into blanket policies with no real pragmatism. Short of firing that bureaucracy willy-nilly (which I grant you many people would really like!), I don't know what Mr. Cardy or any minister can do to solve the problem...except to encourage more common sense!
David Amos
Reply to @Mac Isaac: Have you ever heard of Rule 55 in the Federal Courts Act? There is a secret for you
David Amos
Reply to @Mac Isaac:
Methinks Mr Cardy and his actions against me over the years tells me
that he has no common sense whatsoever Best Google his name and butter
tarts before you disagree N'esy Pas?
Graeme Scott
Governments and civil servants often hide behind these privacy laws to avoid the exposure of wrong doing or having embarrassing lapses in performance becoming public. It's kind of ironic to hear a government minister complaining about them now.
David Amos
Reply to @Graeme Scott: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir and Cardy knows he at the top of my list of dubious dudes
Lou Bell
Reply to @Graeme Scott: The law is the law . And your reaction if they ignored it ?????????????
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: I doubt , like most all of us , he has a clue who you are .
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Dream on
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
How do you explain the 3 stooges Cardy, Brucy, Higgy and their buddies
sending me Tim's treats in the mail before the last election?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Maybe your Medicare Card was in one of the filled doughnuts ! You didn't eat it did you ?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: So you do know why your hero Higgy is keeping a "Stay"on my medicare card EH?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos:
I , like 759998 other NBers have no clue , or even care . where your
Medicare Card went or what happened to it . Anyone who asks can't get a
true reason from you why or what happened and I suspect we never will !
The Libs were in office for a full term and and they too had a chance to
repair whatever harm you did and it appears nothing got done . Is there
ANY politician who you feel doesn't have it in for you ? Appears not !
Lou Bell
Reply to @Lou Bell: And you do realize you too are a politician ! A highly unsuccessful one , but you are one !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: I
do know you are a nasty lady who works for the system that is denying
my right to free health care for political reasons
Roger Markus-Laundry
Reply to @David Amos: because she works she gets medical coverage
Shawn Tabor
Ha ha ha too funny.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Shawn
Tabor: And why ? The children are the ones to suffer and you're laughing
! I suspect you have a much better option !! Let's hear it !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Google "Dominic Cardy butter tarts" and you will know what Tabor and a
lot of students in Fundy Royal have known for years
David News
Privacy laws in and of themselves have admirable goals. As usual the problem is within the execution of them.
What was designed to protect an individual from unwarranted access to their information and the dissemination of it. Instead turned into, governments, corporations, non profits immediately started to hide behind these privacy laws and throw up roadblocks.
The will often cite that they or the worker enjoy are the same protection as the individual.
To that I would suggest balderdash. If a company sells a defective product and consumers complain, that specific information should be publicly available along with any remedial action taken. That would allow informed choices by the consumer.
If a hospital worker / nurse or doctor does something that impacts the health outcome of a patient that is not consistent with the standard procedure, then all of the facts should be make available to the public as this is a public service. Absolutely protect the names of the parties involved until the issue is resolved. But at that point make it publicly available.
A big part of the deterrent for companies and governments is the restitition they make be that an apoligy, staff suspension or re training or financial compensation. Making this infomation readily available to consumers/ patients will go a long way to eliminating the dome of secrecy that many organizations hide behind.
David Peters
Reply to @David News:
"...governments, corporations, non profits immediately started to hide behind these privacy laws and throw up roadblocks."
The secret deal, in regards to the TD Station, between Saint John Seadogs and City of Saint John comes to mind, as an example of this...talk about tip of icebergs.
"...governments, corporations, non profits immediately started to hide behind these privacy laws and throw up roadblocks."
The secret deal, in regards to the TD Station, between Saint John Seadogs and City of Saint John comes to mind, as an example of this...talk about tip of icebergs.
David Peters
Reply to @David News:
From the TJ, yesterday, titled, "Sea Dogs turn to court in info battle";
"There's a debate about the importance of hockey, so let's find out how much it costs...But we can't debate how important it is with things happening in secrecy."
From the TJ, yesterday, titled, "Sea Dogs turn to court in info battle";
"There's a debate about the importance of hockey, so let's find out how much it costs...But we can't debate how important it is with things happening in secrecy."
David Amos
Reply to @David News:
Methinks the lawyer Charles Murray and his cohort Cardy had no problem
watching their blogging buddy Chucky Leblanc and his pals violate my
privacy years ago N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos:
Methinks anyone can Google Charles Murray or Dominic Cardy and my name
to see that i am not violating anyone's privacy as i spilled the beans
on them long before the last provincial election N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: No one''s interested . Time to start eating your beans instead of spilling them
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks Yethinks Methinks cares ! Wrong !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you and your buddies at horizon Health need lawyers N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Yeah they better call in OJs old team to bail them out of the royal flush case you're packing!
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks Higgy must have your tongue today N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks as soon as I made the comment above me attacked me bigtime in the latest piece of news.I bet you must have got quite giggle when most of my replies were edited for your benefit and you new buddy stepped up to the plate. However what you likely don't know is that I had published it all in my blog and tweeted about it before that nonsense went down N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Surprise Surprise Surprise
SarahRose Werner
It's telling that Cardy can't tell the difference between a "culture of secrecy" and legislation intended to protect people's privacy.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Can you?
Leslie Russell
It's a problem of bureaucratic fiefdoms.
David Amos
Reply to @Leslie Russell: YUP
Michael G. L. Geraldson
"Caissie said the district doesn't have phone numbers for the people it hasn't been able to reach"
I find it disturbing that any school board would not have phone numbers for their students parents. What would they do if they needed to reach the parent or guardian in an emergency?
Ronald Parker
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: Yes and an address.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: People living in poverty - including parents living in poverty - often can't afford phones.
Michael G. L. Geraldson
Reply to @SarahRose Werner:
I get that, but surely the know somebody with a phone that they can give as an alternate contact.
I get that, but surely the know somebody with a phone that they can give as an alternate contact.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Michael G.
L. Geraldson: I volunteer with an organization that runs a needle
exchange. Clients frequently ask if they can use our phone to call
their social workers, set up medical appointments, etc. It's not
unusual that we *are* the alternate contact. What do we do when we want
to contact someone? We wait until they come in to access our services.
David Amos
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: You can call me anytime
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Yea Right
David Amos
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: "I can do without bars and restaurants, but I sure would like a haircut!"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-new-brunswick-recovery-reopening-businesses-1.5544952
Methinks you no doubt think I could use one too N'esy Pas?
David Amos
David Amos
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: I called all the folks featured in the article this morning just to say Hey
David Amos
David Amos
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: "I can do without bars and restaurants, but I sure would like a haircut!"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-new-brunswick-recovery-reopening-businesses-1.5544952
Methinks you no doubt think I could use one too N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: and can't get their kids hair cut either Correct?
David Amos
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson: I called all the folks featured in the article this morning just to say Hey
David Amos
Reply to @Michael G.
L. Geraldson: I did so because I can do without barber shops but I do
enjoy bars and restaurants from time to time as do most fellas who like
to take nice ladies out to dinner and do a little slow dancing.
Johnny Jakobs
My rural internet doesnt have the bandwidth to do anything.
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: I don't have any at all
Terry Tibbs
If, in fact, there is a "culture of secrecy", as suggested by Mr Cardy, folks come by it honestly, they learned it by watching their government.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: Methinks the real Mr Tibbs has enjoyed my Tweets to Higgy et al I
bet you laughed at his response about the Queen N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Do you recall when Cardy and Higgy sent me butter tarts??
Ronald Parker
How about the good old mail system? If you have the students address mail info to them.
Try it, it might work.
David Amos
Reply to @Ronald Parker: I have my doubts
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks political pundits cannot deny that hard ball politicking is a wickedly fun game to play within Higgy's Police State as we complain of our bad teeth and all the dentists out work N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-recovery-plan-for-nb-begins.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-new-brunswick-recovery-reopening-businesses-1.5544952
A long way from last call, and other challenges businesses face with a 'new normal'
From bars to restaurants, barbers and retailers, pandemic-related hurdles will continue
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2020 7:00 AM AT
The Warehouse Barbershop closed its doors last month as a result of the pandemic and state of emergency. (Submitted/Chad McGarity)
Friday was shaping up to be another ordinary day amid these extraordinary circumstances for Lisa Aronson.
The owner of the 5 Kings Restaurant in St. Stephen, N.B., made a meat run to the butcher in St. George before returning to help with the lunch orders. As the focus began to shift to dinner, Aronson received some good news.
Shortly after 2:30 p.m., about 120 kilometres northeast in Fredericton, the province's chief medical officer of health announced New Brunswick is ready to move into the next chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Welcome to the new normal," Dr. Jennifer Russell said as New Brunswick government officials outlined their recovery plan with timelines for easing restrictions on businesses and public movement.
Lisa Aronson, owner of the 5 Kings Restaurant, says the staff are excited to reopen, even under physical distancing restrictions. (Submitted/Lisa Aronson)
Within the next four weeks, restaurants will be allowed to reopen to the public as part of the second phase of the four-phase plan. Since mid-March, restaurants have been limited to takeout and delivery, creating enormous financial hardship.
Aronson said sales plummeted nearly 75 per cent and she had to lay off the entire staff, which consists of between 14 and 19 workers, depending on the season. The restaurant was forced to cut back on hours of operation.
It has since rehired six employees on a part-time basis as business rose slightly.
But she's looking forward to taking the chairs off the tables and welcoming back customers next month.
"The staff are excited for the opportunity and I am as well, and the regular customers keep saying that they can't wait," Aronson said. "Of course, we're going to take every precaution to make sure that we're handling it in a safe manner."
She expects the 5 Kings will reopen with 35 seats, half the regular number, and keep tables spaced two metres apart. Staff will also keep their distance as best they can when accepting orders and payment.
The 5 Kings Restaurant staff have been providing takeout and delivery service during the shutdown. (Submitted/Lisa Aronson)
Physical distancing and barriers, health screenings, handwashing, surface cleaning and face coverings are all directives that will remain in place, Russell said.
Restrictions on provincial and international borders presents another wrinkle for the restaurant, and many other St. Stephen businesses.
Easing the border measures comes in Phase 3, which begins after two-to-four weeks without a new wave of COVID-19 cases, and the restriction shifts to a "strict controls per risk" approach rather than a blanket isolation order for anyone entering the province.
First steps of recovery plan for New Brunswick announced by Premier Blaine Higgs on Friday. 3:18
A full reopening of the border will come in Phase 4, the final stage, when there's a vaccination or herd immunity. That cuts off roughly 15 per cent of The 5 Kings' customer base, which crosses over from Calais and other parts of Maine.
"And we get the ones that stop here on their way to the cottages in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island, so we also get that crowd, which we're probably going to miss out on," she said.
It's one of many realities still facing businesses preparing to reopen under the newly announced framework.
Stops and starts
Friday marked the sixth consecutive day without a new positive test in New Brunswick. The total remained at 118 confirmed cases, 11 of which were considered active, and the cumulative cases curve has flattened.But, as they have in recent daily COVID-19 briefings, Premier Blaine Higgs and Russell reiterated on Friday the overwhelming likelihood new cases of the virus will be discovered when the province is reopened. Three unrelated outbreaks in a six-day period would trigger a new round of restrictions, Russell warned.
The recovery plan provides insight into the long-sought answer to the question of how this all ends, yet the fluidity of the situation presents uncertainty to some business owners.
She used the familiar 'hammer and dance' analogy — the hammer being the rigid shutdown and the dance being the mercurial nature of restrictions over the next weeks and months.
"Truthfully, the dance scares me and some others more than the hammer," McShane said prior to Friday's announcement. "You worry that's it's going to be somewhat in between the two, and you have to do both."
Anne McShane, owner of the Feel Good Store, uses a mask and long pole to make her curbside deliveries. (Submitted/Anne McShane)
True to the uptown wellness shop's name, McShane carries a positive attitude, even when her sales were cut in half. She closed the store entirely a few days before the state of emergency was declared but has since embraced a curbside delivery model after being approached by loyal customers.
"You deal with things as they come up," she said.
Retail facilities also fall in the second phase, same as restaurants. Also included are daycares, camps and child-care centres, offices, campgrounds and all-terrain vehicle trails. Elective surgeries will begin again.
Hands-on businesses
For some other businesses, it could be many weeks before they could reopen. In Phase 3 — after from two to four weeks without a new wave of cases — dentists, chiropractors, massage services, churches, gyms and other close-contact businesses will get the green light.Hairstylists and barbers will also get their turn at this time, and it's no surprise to Chad McGarity that his barbershop isn't top of the list considering the hands-on nature of the job. He owns the Warehouse Barbershop in Fredericton, which opened in September.
McGarity scored a prime location with parking on Regent Street, one of the city's busiest streets, and the business, which rents chairs to self-employed barbers, was performing above expectations.
"But that came to a halt pretty quickly," said McGarity, who understandably didn't account for a global pandemic in his business plan.
Staff at the Warehouse Barbershop will likely be wearing masks on top standard protective gear. (Submitted/Chad McGarity)
The staff was sent home, and McGarity has been busy crunching the numbers, eager to learn of a return date.
"I have projected myself, pre-planning all bills and everything, until July at least," he said before the recovery plan was announced. "Of course, I'm hoping that's the worst-case scenario, but, at the end of the day, it is what it is."
He's comforted knowing the city has their backs. The customers have been "going absolutely nuts," asking for tips, buying merchandise, offering to pre-pay for haircuts, wanting an appointment on the day they open. He said the mountain of requests means they'll likely keep longer hours in the early days.
But it won't be just the length of the work day that will change; the working conditions are also expected to be different. The close-contact environment carries a greater risk of transmission than most operations — something that's been on McGarity's mind.
"I've scrubbed [the shop] down, personally, four times since we closed and we haven't had anybody in the doors," he said.
The employees will likely wear masks and gloves — on top of the standard sanitary practices in place at barbershops — plus there's signs urging the public to follow health guidelines and avoid putting staff at risk.
A long way from last call
On the other side of Fredericton's downtown, Nicolai Rigaux was busy filling orders on Friday afternoon. Graystone Brewing closed its taproom more than a month ago, but the bar manager said the rush for an end-of-week pint hasn't disappeared."People want to buy beer on a Friday," he said after concluding his delivery runs.
The Graystone taproom and patio would have been packed on any old sunny spring Friday, but Rigaux said physical distancing is impossible in that setting, and the brewery was quick to shutter that side of its business.
It will be a long time before bars will be permitted to open. The province's gradual return to normalcy doesn't offer a timeline for bars, gathering places and organized sports. The phased reopening document simply says "to be determined."
The reopening plan did not offer a timeline for bars to reopen, saying 'to be determined.' (CBC)
"With the knowledge we have today about the virus and how it spreads, it would not be appropriate for me to suggest we're in a position to do anything other than to prevent mass gatherings and ensure we didn't have a huge breakout in our community and in our province," Higgs said during Friday's announcement.
The premier said the timeline could shrink for those activities if new information is presented. The provincial plan only allows gatherings of 10 or fewer people in Phase 2 and 50 or fewer in Phase 3 before lifting the measure when there's a vaccine or herd immunity.
Russell said bars are in a separate category from restaurants because of the higher chance of mingling among patrons.
Rigaux said revenue lost from the taproom and keg sales to licensees has been offset in part by growth in sales at liquor and grocery stores and Graystone's delivery service.
The company spent a lot of time solving how it can function and comply with public health guidelines in the workplace, he said, and nobody will be upset by an extended shutdown of the taproom.
"As much as we would like to get back into that business, no one wants to be the reason anyone gets sick."
8 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.John Pokiok
I honestly think that New Brunswick has crushed this thing if we keep our border closed we can restore life back to normal. Here is the thing if no one is sick around you, you can't get it and since no new cases being reported the virus is eradicated at least in NB.
Justin Time
Reply to @John
Pokiok: It's wishful thinking to imagine that the virus has been
eradicated in NB. If everyone in the province had been tested then maybe
you could say that, but certainly not yet.
Sarah Brown
People need to get back to the business of living their lives. We are not meant to live in isolation. Our civil liberties have been curtailed for good reason , but it is now time for these to be fully restored. It is important that we live in a democracy not an autocracy and the authoritarian approaches of our provincial government and the federal governments needs to stop.
Justin Time
Reply to @Sarah
Brown: This kind of thinking will just lead to a second and more
destructive wave of this virus. Time will tell. Most people are pleased
with the approach the government and cooperating opposition parties have
taken to control this thing, now is not the time to derail the whole
thing.
I can do without bars and restaurants, but I sure would like a haircut!
Beverley Kernan
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson:
My 'mop' needed curtailing so, I transformed the 'Salon du bain' into
my "Whack, Hack and Chop Shop".
Should be good for at least 6 more weeks now!
My 'mop' needed curtailing so, I transformed the 'Salon du bain' into
my "Whack, Hack and Chop Shop".
Should be good for at least 6 more weeks now!
Michael G. L. Geraldson
Reply to @Beverley Kernan:
I have clippers. I'm seriously considering a severe bean shave!
I have clippers. I'm seriously considering a severe bean shave!
Beverley Kernan
Reply to @Michael G. L. Geraldson:
That's a long-lasting solution ; )
That's a long-lasting solution ; )
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/recover-plan-golf-course-1.5545344
1st day of COVID-19 recovery plan a success for NB golfers
1 customer allowed in clubhouse at a time, golfers at least 3 metres apart on driving range
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2020 7:14 PM AT
The driving range at Carman Creek Golf Course was busy on Saturday. (Gary Moore/CBC)
As the first phase of the recovery plan from COVID-19 came into effect on Saturday in New Brunswick, golfers swung their clubs and cracked golf balls at Carmen Creek Golf Course in Fredericton.
Premier Blaine Higgs announced the loosened restrictions Friday, which allow people to enjoy a sunny day at the parks, beaches and golf courses.
Terry Avery is the owner of Carman Creek Golf Course. He said he was surprised to hear the news on Friday that his business could re-open immediately. (Gary Moore/CBC)
Terry Avery is the owner at Carmen Creek. He said he found out about the government's decision to re-open when his phone started to ring Friday afternoon.
"Last night we were scrambling and this morning we scrambled and we got open about noon time," he said. About 50 golfers were at the course in the first hour it opened.
Avery admitted he was caught off guard by the announcement, but was happy with the news and worked late to make sure he would be ready to open the driving range on Saturday.
He said his biggest challenge was to ensure the business was ready to follow public health's guidelines for physical distancing.
"In about 20 hours we've implemented a lot of things."
Jordan Bennett and his 11-year-old son Hunter were some of the first golfers at the driving range on Saturday. (Gary Moore/CBC)
Avery said one customer at a time is allowed inside the clubhouse and he installed Plexiglas to separate his staff at the cash register.
Golfers are spaced out at least three metres on the driving range, and Avery said all of the equipment is sanitized between customers.
Slice of life
Hunter Bennett, 11, was one of the first people at the driving range when it opened. He was there with his dad and said it was a nice change of pace from the last several weeks of being home."Awesome. That way I can get out of the house, because it's been video games, TV or play with my sister," he said.
Avery said earlier in the week he was concerned about his business and has already lost thousands of dollars from being closed the last two weeks.
A sign on the clubhouse door at Carman Creek Golf Course explains some of the guidelines in place. (Gary Moore/CBC)
But he's grateful that things turned around so quick, and he expressed his appreciation toward people who followed the guidelines from public health over the last few weeks.
"I thank New Brunswickers for being so diligent and doing what they were supposed to do. And, I can only thank them for us opening."
Avery said the rest of the golf course will open in a week or two, once the green dries up from the snow melt.
About the Author
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-covid-cases-1.5545132
No new cases of COVID-19 in N.B. for 7th straight day
4 people are still hospitalized because of coronavirus, but no patients in intensive care
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2020 1:58 PM AT
With another day of no new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the province has been without a positive case for seven days. (CBC)
New Brunswick announced another day of no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, marking the 7th day without a confirmed case.
Four people are still hospitalized because of the coronavirus, but there are no patients in intensive care. There have been a total of 118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province and there are currently 11 active cases.
But
in a press release issued on Saturday, premier Blaine Higgs warned
people not to get complacent following the restrictions the province
loosened on Friday.
"We are opening the door slightly and we want to continue to loosen restrictions," said Higgs.
"However, we need to be vigilant during this phase and follow the directives of Public Health. Otherwise we will have to bring back more stringent restrictions."
The province also urged people to continue to wear non-medical masks when physical distancing isn't possible, at places such as the grocery store or the pharmacy.
"Some stores have indicated they may require customers to wear community face masks, so it is good to have one with you," said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, in the press release.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and PracticesFour people are still hospitalized because of the coronavirus, but there are no patients in intensive care. There have been a total of 118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province and there are currently 11 active cases.
"We are opening the door slightly and we want to continue to loosen restrictions," said Higgs.
"However, we need to be vigilant during this phase and follow the directives of Public Health. Otherwise we will have to bring back more stringent restrictions."
The province also urged people to continue to wear non-medical masks when physical distancing isn't possible, at places such as the grocery store or the pharmacy.
"Some stores have indicated they may require customers to wear community face masks, so it is good to have one with you," said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, in the press release.
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks the doubtful doctor Russell has Higgy dazed and confused but the RCMP and the other 3 Stooges within his Circus/Police State are loving it N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-recovery-plan-for-nb-begins.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-recovery-plan-new-brunswick-blaine-higgs-1.5543682
COVID-19 recovery plan for N.B. begins with 2-household 'bubbles' but mass gatherings may wait a year
Province marks 6th straight day with no new cases of virus, but bars and sports may need to wait for vaccine
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 24, 2020 3:36 PM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs said the 'hard work' of New Brunswickers to follow Public Health measures to flatten the curve has allowed the province to take the first step toward recovery. (CBC)
New Brunswick's four-phase COVID-19 recovery plan begins immediately with the loosening of physical distancing restrictions to allow two-household gatherings, Premier Blaine Higgs announced Friday.
People can choose one other household to partner with to form a "two-family bubble."
Their choice must be mutual and once they decide, they cannot choose a different household, Higgs told reporters during the daily briefing in Fredericton.
Co-workers and neighbours can resume car pooling if the passenger travels in the backseat
Within two to four weeks, provided there is no new wave of the virus, people will be able to extend their "bubbles" to include more family and friends and gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed.
But mass gatherings are "yet to be determined."
It wasn't a decision the government took lightly, he said.
"With the knowledge we have today of the virus and how it spreads, it would not be appropriate for us to suggest that we were in position to do anything other than to prevent mass gatherings and to ensure we didn't have a huge breakout in our community and in our province."
"Let's hope that innovation takes over and things will look differently next year at this time, but at this stage, we're basing the decisions on the facts we have."
Focus on outdoors
Also effective immediately, outdoor spaces, such as parks and beaches, will reopen, along with golf courses and driving ranges, but not their clubhouses, restaurants or bars.The delay on recreational spring fishing and hunting seasons has been lifted, and outdoor religious services will be now be permitted if worshipers remain in their vehicles, two metres apart.
Post-secondary students who require access to their campus to fulfil their course requirements, such as hands-on trades learning, can do so. There is a demand for graduates from these programs, government officials said.
Welcome to the new normal.- Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health
But elementary, middle and high schools won't reopen until at least September.
Within two to four weeks, if the curve remains flat, elective surgeries and "priority health services," daycares, camps and childcares, retail facilities, offices and other businesses, restaurants, seasonal campgrounds, and ATV trails are expected to reopen.
Three to four weeks later, if the positive trend continues, other health-care services, such as dental care, massage therapy and chiropractors, as well as hairstylists and barbers, churches, fitness facilities and other close-contact businesses or services will reopen.
First steps of recovery plan for New Brunswick announced by Premier Blaine Higgs on Friday. 3:18
"We expect new cases will result," said Higgs, who was joined by the three other party leaders on the all-party cabinet committee: Liberal Party Leader Kevin Vickers, People's Alliance Party Leader Kris Austin, and Green Party Leader David Coon.
The goal of the first phase is to balance the reopening of social and economic settings while preventing a major resurgence of transmission, he said.
It comes as New Brunswick marked its sixth straight day with no new cases of COVID-19.
There are 11 active cases, including four people in hospital, one of whom is in intensive care, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell announced.
To date, a total of 107 people have recovered from the respiratory illness, she said.
The province has been under a state of emergency since March 19 because of the pandemic.
Chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said even as restrictions are loosened, people should continue to practise physical distancing. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
"Welcome to the new normal," Russell said of the first phase of the plan to reopen businesses, educational facilities, the health-care system, recreational activities, and cultural events.
The phased plan will allow health experts to carefully monitor and evaluate the impact of the lifting of restrictions, she said.
The move to two-household gatherings is modelled after success in New Zealand.
"It's around limiting your close contacts and it's about trying to reduce the transmission if somebody in that unit was to be affected, that there would be the fewest number possible," Russell said.
Restrictions could be reimposed
People must continue to follow Public Health measures, such as physical distancing of at least six feet or two metres, handwashing and surface cleaning and should wear a face covering in public places when physical distancing isn't possible, even as restrictions are loosened, she said."I will not hesitate to recommend the reimposition of the restrictions being loosened today if the outbreak worsens," she stressed.
"Any significant acceleration of the disease curve will trigger a new round of restrictions to public movement and activity."
Three unrelated outbreaks in a six-day period, or cases linked to a mass gathering that can't be fully traced would mean an immediate return to existing restrictions, Russell said.
Premier Blaine Higgs and chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell, joined by People's Alliance Party Leader Kris Austin (far left), Liberal Party Leader Kevin Vickers and Green Party Leader David Coon, address questions from the media during Friday's update in Fredericton. (Government of New Brunswick)
"It is understandable that New Brunswickers are getting increasingly anxious to return to some sense of normalcy," said Higgs.
"It's important to reopen our province, but it's also important to do it in a way that will ensure the health and safety of every citizen."
Under the recovery plan, Higgs said the province will still have to keep borders closed, and he suggested it may even further restrict movement at the border.
"We need to know exactly where they're going, why they're going, and if it's necessary," said Higgs.
But Higgs did open up the possibility of travel opening up between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, which has also seen low numbers of COVID-19.
"We would look at their operation and you know maybe we'll do some activities in conjunction with P.E.I.," he said.
Updated projections
The province also released updated projections Friday that reaffirm New Brunswick is following the same trajectory as South Korea, which has an enviable record of handling the outbreak.South Korea has recorded five deaths per million of population, compared to 61 in Canada, 157 in the United States and 482 in Spain.
Within Canada, there is some indication New Brunswick is now following the same trend as B.C., but with fewer overall cases, according to the epidemic analysis, presented to the media prior to the daily update.
As restrictions are gradually loosened in New Brunswick, Public Health will be keeping an eye out for two possible scenarios — cluster events and community transmissions.
Information Morning - Fredericton
Province to reveal plan to ease restrictions
Before relaxing some measures, officials studied what would happen with a cluster event in a large nursing home with 400 residents.
The model assumes a worst-case scenario — that Public Health measures have been removed and that the nursing home can't put measures in place to slow the spread.
If an outbreak wasn't detected for a week, up to 300 seniors could get sick within a month and up to 40 could die, the analysis found.
Officials also modelled the emergence of community transmission, based on the scenario of three distinct community outbreaks in Edmundston, Petit-Rocher and Saint John.
In that situation, up to 10 people could die.
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
446 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Welcome back to the circus
Murray Brown
"We need to know exactly where they're going, why they're going, and if it's necessary,".... That's a bit too much Mr. Higgs.... You're supposed to be a Conservative, not a Socialist.
Roger Scarisbrick
Reply to @Murray Brown:
These decisions go beyond the bounds of politics.
These decisions go beyond the bounds of politics.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Murray
Brown: Keeping strict controls on our borders is what's allowing us to
start loosening restrictions within New Brunswick.
Art McCarthy (Key Bored)
Reply to @Murray Brown:
Socialism is about government involvement in industry, not involvement in people's lives. But nice try.
Socialism is about government involvement in industry, not involvement in people's lives. But nice try.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Murray
Brown: Methinks Russell has Higgy dazed and confused but the RCMP and
the other 3 stooges in this circus/Police State are loving it N'esy Pas?
BruceJack Speculator
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: "Police state" hahaha where would you be ?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: In court suing the Crown again
BruceJack Speculator
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: sorry, but I disagree . . . see any people in Russia under Stalin suing the leader?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @BruceJack
Speculator: I am in New Brunswick dealing with a man without the sand to
have a real name as he teases me about not having a Medicare Card etc.
Correct?
Kaya Beestok
Reply to @Art
McCarthy (Key Bored): LMAO say that to the people in Venezuela who got
killed by the state for being against them.
BruceJack Speculator
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos:
. . . scratch . . . swish . . . scratch . . . swish the sound of a
broken record when it has nothing else to say
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @Murray Brown: you are confusing socialism with a dictatorship...big difference.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @BruceJack
Speculator: Too bad so sad you can't think of a response to a simple
truth. Methinks you should see a shrink as Higgy suggests that dudes
like you should do when you have been isolated for too long. Perhaps a
Shrink may try to convince you to be not so hard on yourself and admit
to your questionable fans who you truly are N'esy Pas?
Art McCarthy (Key Bored)
Reply to @Kaya Beestok:
That was a function of that govt, not socialism.
You're interesting. I can't bring myself to a full-on belly-laugh while discussing people being killed.
David Amos
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: Methinks Russell has Higgy dazed and confused but the RCMP and the other 3 stooges in this circus/Police State are loving it N'esy Pas?
Dwight Ceesyu
NB is filled of country bumpkins. Why even ease these restrictions, they probably are breaking the current ones left and right. I lived there for 3 months, the lights aren't always on up there.
David Amos
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Dwight Ceesyu: 3 months too long. Good riddance
That was a function of that govt, not socialism.
You're interesting. I can't bring myself to a full-on belly-laugh while discussing people being killed.
David Amos
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: Methinks Russell has Higgy dazed and confused but the RCMP and the other 3 stooges in this circus/Police State are loving it N'esy Pas?
Dwight Ceesyu
NB is filled of country bumpkins. Why even ease these restrictions, they probably are breaking the current ones left and right. I lived there for 3 months, the lights aren't always on up there.
David Amos
Reply to @Dwight Ceesyu: Methinks you forgot to ask us if we cared that you left N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Dwight Ceesyu: 3 months too long. Good riddance
Roy Kirk
A 2 household bubble. Some families have to pick their favorite grandparents?
Mary Smith
Reply to @Roy Kirk:
it's just for now. If cases remain at 0 or low, these measures can be
loosened more as time goes on. Think of it as potentially only
spreading it to one set of grandparents, not both sets.
David Amos
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Won't that be special?
David Amos
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Methinks it will extra special when the grandparents have to pick their favourite grandchildren N'esy Pas?
Frank Lefedup
So the plan is to basically wait for a vaccine that isn't going to work anyway. What happens when a sizable number of people refuse said vaccine? Is said vaccine then mandated? Will we have to show our vaccine or "immunity" papers to be able to work or send our kids to school?
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Frank Lefedup: I love that idea. Thanks for suggesting it!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Frank
Lefedup: Thanks for the update Dr. Frank ! More unfound useless info
from the pages of social media ! Meanwhile , the other 99.9 % will be
working on getting back to a normalized society !
Lou Bell
Reply to @Frank
Lefedup: Well if you don't like the rules , Home Schooling appears to be
the perfect fit ! Ye git te run yer own school thar Frank !!
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Frank Lefedup: By the way, is your last name pronounced, "Laugh it up"?
Frank Lefedup
Reply to @Lou Bell:
"More unfound useless info from the pages of social media !" I'm not
sure what that is supposed to mean but sure.
It says right in the article they are pretty well banking on a vaccine, so what happens when that vaccine is ineffective just like the flu shot and people refuse it??? There are also studies showing that getting a flu shot may in fact increase your risk of getting the flu.
It says right in the article they are pretty well banking on a vaccine, so what happens when that vaccine is ineffective just like the flu shot and people refuse it??? There are also studies showing that getting a flu shot may in fact increase your risk of getting the flu.
Thomas Hall
Reply to @Frank Lefedup: Darwin sorts out the ones who refuse the vaccine, no problems...
David Amos
Reply to @Frank
Lefedup: Methinks Higgy et al must have appointed Lou Bell and
SarahRose Werner to be his unofficial spokespersons to promote their
agenda and attack anyone who expresses doubt about their beloved Police
State N'esy Pas?
Frank Lefedup
Reply to @Lou Bell: I'm afraid not there lou sass ...I mean bell.
Billy Joe Mcallister
We have four adult children and a total of 12 grand children all of who we love equally. How are we supposed to choose which one family to visit? Ridiculous !
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: chose the best looking one? Draw straws? Rock paper scissor
tournament? Pick the least likely one to put you in a home?
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Billy Joe Mcallister: Don't do it the way King Lear did.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: NOT funny
David Amos
Reply to @Billy Joe
Mcallister: My children and grandchildren are in Nova Scotia and the USA
Hence I can't see any of them no thanks to Higgy et al
Billy Joe
Mcallister
Reply to @David Amos: That sucks big time! Speaking of children it feels like that is how we are being treated.
Colin Seeley
Let the hugs begin.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Colin
Seeley: Dunno about that. I consulted with the other member of my
household and he doesn't want to let anyone else into our bubble. Given
that he has fangs and claws, I'm not inclined to argue.
Colin
Seeley
Reply to @SarahRose Werner:
Quite the member.
Quite the member.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Colin Seeley: He's cute when he's purring, so I put up with him.
Ian Scott
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Problem is cats get Covid.!
Shan Dalamani
Reply to @Ian Scott: They don't spread it to humans.
thomas stewart
Reply to @Shan Dalamani:
Not YET, but they are such devious creatures they must be working on it.
Not YET, but they are such devious creatures they must be working on it.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Shan Dalamani: They do spread the virus if you touch them and the virus is on their fur.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Ian Scott: If either of us were going to get COVID from the other, it would have happened by now.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks the cat shares your attitude towards others N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you should inform the SANB and Higgy of your recent revelation N'esy Pas?
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