https://www.facebook.com/CCNB.officielle/photos/a.409758169062792/461299450575330/?type=3
Forum provincial sur l’apprentissage
BATHURST
– La directrice par intérim du CCNB ─ Campus d’Edmundston, Lise
Ouellette, a coprésidé récemment le Forum provincial sur
l’apprentissage, en compagnie notamment du premier ministre de la
province, David Alward. Le Forum, qui se déroulait à Fredericton les 5
et 6 novembre, a rassemblé plus de 70 personnes, y compris des chefs de
file d'organismes communautaires et d'apprentissage, du gouvernement,
des universités et collèges et du secteur privé. Lancé en novembre 2010,
le projet Apprendre : Un projet collectif visait à rassembler et
engager les personnes dans une conversation sur la valeur de
l'apprentissage continu. Aujourd’hui, il vise toujours à engager les
citoyennes et les citoyens du Nouveau-Brunswick dans l’acquisition et le
maintien d'une culture de l'apprentissage. Sur la photo, de gauche à
droite : John Herron (coprésident), Lise Ouellette et le premier
ministre David Alward.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/edmundston-female-candidates-1.5494901
Women take over Edmundston's municipal election race
5 women plan to run in spring municipal election: 4 for council seats, 1 for mayor
If successful this May, the group could make history as the most women ever elected in Edmundston.
The four announced their intentions to run together on Monday, the day after International Women's Day.
"It's never been done before," said Ward 2 candidate Denise Landry-Nadeau.
Landry-Nadeau is joined by Sylvie St-Onge, Marie France Fournier and Karen Power, each of them businesswomen and entrepreneurs in their community.
It's not that we don't want the men anymore. It's that we want to be equal.
- Denise Landry-Nadeau
Edmundston has four wards, each represented by two council members.
Landry-Nadeau said it's time some of those seats were filled by women.
"Usually, it was a man's world at the city council, and I think people are ready to have change," she said.
"It's not that we don't want the men anymore. It's that we want to be equal."
Joining them in the race is Lise Ouellette, a current councillor who hopes to become Edmundston's first female mayor.
Ouellette will take on Deputy Mayor Charles Fournier in the race to succeed Mayor Cyrille Simard, who announced earlier this year that he won't be running again.
Vying
for spots around Edmundston's council table are, from left, Sylvie
St-Onge Morneau, Denise Landry-Nadeau, Marie-France Fournier and Karen
Power. (Submitted/Denise Landry-Nadeau)
Ouellette is Edmundston's only female councillor and she's looking forward to having some camaraderie at council.
"It's like being any minority in any situation. You prefer not to be the only one."
For Ouellette, having balance and different perspectives around the council table is an asset.
"Don't vote for me because I am a woman, as you should not vote for somebody because he is a man," she said.
"I expect citizens to look very carefully at the candidates, hoping that they know that a balanced council makes better decisions."
Making history
It's not the first time New Brunswick has seen a large number of women run in a municipal race in one community.
For example, in 2008 Port Elgin made history by electing an all-female slate of candidates.
Even today, Port Elgin's leadership is made up of one man and four women, including Mayor Judy Scott.
The small town also made history by electing New Brunswick's first female mayor, Dorothy McLean, in 1959.
Historically though, the world of politics is male-dominated, according to women's equality advocate Norma Dubé.
Coun. Lise Ouellette is hoping to become Edmundston's first female mayor. (Submitted/City of Edmundston)
"I think the women have always been there,," she said. "The issue has been that perhaps they weren't being given the same consideration or the same opportunities as perhaps their male counterparts in wanting to get involved in politics."
According to data from Elections New Brunswick, the numbers are slowly getting better. In the 2016 municipal election, 23 women were elected as mayors and 164 were elected as councillors.
But compared to the 82 male mayors and the 361 men who were elected to councils, there's still a big gap.
Norma Dubé has been fighting to see more women enter politics through the initiative Women for 50%.
"It is extremely important and I think critical that we have women in these roles because they will raise issues that are not necessarily top of mind for their male counterparts," said Dubé.
That's why she has been involved with the Women for 50% initiative, which aims to get more women into politics in New Brunswick.
She said working with women so they see themselves reflected in leadership roles, or holding campaign schools so that they know the ins and outs of politics are all ways to eliminate barriers.
Five women running together in a New Brunswick city is a sight that gives her hope.
"I love their courage in doing this, I wish them the best, and I wish we would see that in every municipality across the province," said Dubé.
Nomination papers for candidates are due by 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 9. Voters in municipalities across the province head to the polls on Monday, May 11.
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https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1777319/elections-mai-nouveau-brunswick-madawaska-edmundston
Éric Marquis is running as a candidate for mayor of Edmundston
Éric Marquis has been deputy mayor since the departure of Cyrille Simard.
Photo: LinkedIn / Eric Marquis
Edmundston Alternate Mayor Éric Marquis is officially running in the municipal elections scheduled for May 10.
Since the departure of Cyrille Simard as mayor of Edmundston last December, Mr. Marquis has taken over as deputy mayor.
After tasting the responsibilities of the position for a few months, Éric Marquis decided to pursue the experience.
The politician took office days before the major COVID-19 outbreak that has hit the municipality hard since January.
Since
the departure of Mayor Simard, every day, I have worked with a view to
making the city of Edmundston better for all generations
, indicates the acting mayor in a press release.
He officially announced his candidacy for mayor during a press conference on Monday morning.
Mr. Marquis has been on the city council since 2016 as a representative of Ward 3.
He initially worked in the education sector for over 20 years and is well known for his involvement in the community.
He says he wants to make the municipality of Edmundston a dynamic and welcoming
place , while encouraging citizens to become more involved in their community.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1775742/lise-ouelette-candidate-mairie-edmundston
Lise Ouellette wants to become the first mayor of Edmundston
Lise Ouellette (archives) Photo: Courtesy
Two months before the municipal elections in New Brunswick, the leader of the associative world Lise Ouellette announces her candidacy for the position of mayor of Edmundston.
Lise Ouellette chose International Women's Day to confirm her candidacy.
It
is with great enthusiasm and determination [that I] wish to take up the
new challenge of becoming the first female mayor of Edmundston
, declared Lise Ouellette in a press release on Monday.
Ms. Ouellette intends to make known her program and her commitments in the coming weeks
.
Community Profile - Edmundston
Address
7 Canada Road
Edmundston, NB E3V 1T7
Mayor
Eric Marquis
Diane Bélanger Nadeau
Eric Desjardins
Denise Landry-Nadeau
Eric McGuire
Eric (Boum) Morneault
Aldéo Nadeau
Karen Power
Sylvie St-Onge Morneau
County
Madawaska
Contact
Tel: 506 739-2115.
Fax: 506737-6902
www.edmundston.ca/en/
French
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-municipal-reform-elections-1.6605572
Elections coming up for 62 newly formed, amalgamated communities
Last day for candidates to sign up is Oct. 28; election day is Nov. 28
Major centres like Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John, and some other smaller municipalities, won't be voting, but 50 new municipalities and 12 rural districts will be holding elections for the first time on Nov. 28.
Kim Poffenroth, the province's chief electoral officer, said Elections New Brunswick usually holds province-wide municipal elections every four years in May, but since local governance reform, residents need to elect new councillors and mayors.
She said in some communities residents are electing entirely new councils,including mayors. In other places, new councillors are being added.
"It's important for voters to be aware of when the election date is — that the elections are coming up. But it's also equally important for all of the eligible voters, who are also eligible to be candidates, to know that these are coming up," Poffenroth told Information Morning Fredericton.
Elections
New Brunswick staff are busy preparing electronic voter check-in
equipment for election day on Nov. 28. (Lars Schwarz/CBC)
She said there's lots of work to do for Elections New Brunswick, not just to run the vote, but to help candidates know where to run and people know when and where to vote.
"We need people to get involved as candidate as well," she said. "When there's no actual choice on the ballot for individuals, you know, democracy suffers."
Poffenroth said candidates will need to get their paperwork in by 2 p.m. on Oct. 28, and all voters will find a yellow envelope from Elections New Brunswick in their mailboxes this week.
"These are really important positions because your local mayors and councillors, they make really important decisions about the kind of things that affect people's day-to-day lives things from," she said.
"Snowplowing, road clearing, police and fire, that all falls under the authority of your local government officials. And we need people that are passionate about their communities to get involved," she said.
This election will be a culmination of years of legislative change, including a bill passed in December that reduced 340 local government entities to fewer than 100.
Since the reform bill passed, the provincial and local governments went to work on revising boundaries, creating rural districts, picking new names and choosing governance structures for amalgamated communities.
The first phase is set to end on Jan. 1.
The next phase includes figuring out how the municipalities will work together and share resources, with policies cemented by 2027.
The reform led by the Progressive Conservatives under Premier Blaine Higgs was intended to address chronic local government problems that have built up for years, including the sharing and funding of local services and infrastructure, and the growth of urban sprawl just outside the taxation reach of cities, towns and villages.
With files from Information Morning
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2021/12/kent-county-communities-ask-province-to.html
Disappointment and relief as N.B. tweaks some municipal boundaries
Communities that opposed amalgamation upset as requests for changes passed over
The province issued a list Tuesday afternoon with dozens of changes.
Many move portions or whole local service districts from one local entity to another, while other more substantive changes include the creation of a new community from multiple LSDs in Kings County, north of Sussex.
Several communities that had voiced opposition to forced amalgamations with neighbouring centres did not see their requests reflected in the adjustments.
"I was - and the council was - very much disappointed," Lac Baker Mayor Roseline Pelletier said in an interview.
Minto mayor Erica Barnett and Chipman mayor Keith West have said the merger of their two villages doesn't make sense. (CBC)
The community of 750 in the province's northwest will become part of Haut-Madawaska in January 2023. It had sought status quo to retain local control.
"We were confident that we proved with data that we were well off, we didn't need government money … we thought we had good arguments to make the government change its mind about amalgamating us with the other community."
There was also disappointment in Minto and Chipman, which opposed the province's plan to merge the central New Brunswick villages.
Mayor Erica Barnett in a letter to residents posted on Facebook said she had been excited about local governance reform when it was announced.
"I trusted the process, I believed that government would listen to local leaders and take the input we provided," Barnett wrote.
"Clearly that has not been the case. This has made council completely lose trust and faith in the process and in our government."
The
province approved a request to merge the Village of Saint-Louis-de-Kent
with the Town of Richibucto as well as several local service districts
to form one new community. (Guy LeBlanc/Radio-Canada)
Meanwhile in Kent County, a proposal to merge communities the province initially planned to keep separate was approved.
The pitch called for merging the Town of Richibucto, Village of Saint-Louis-de-Kent, as well as the local service districts of Saint-Ignace, Aldouane, Saint-Charles and most of the LSD of Saint-Louis-de-Kent.
Saint-Louis-de-Kent Mayor Danielle Dugas welcomed the approval of the request.
"The old scenario was that we remained two small municipalities among all the rest of the large municipalities, so for us, it was just natural to ask to join together," Dugas told Radio-Canada. "We are nonetheless a community with common interests, people go to Richibucto, come to Saint-Louis, we share schools, sports and our infrastructure."
Sackville and Dorchester had opposed the forced amalgamation of the communities. Both wrote to Daniel Allain, minister of local governance reform, calling for more time and a reconsideration of the plan.
Sackville Mayor Shawn Mesheau said in an interview both communities still have many unanswered questions about how the merger will work. He said the town wasn't flatly opposed to expansion of its borders.
"The biggest concern was the feeling of being pushed into this, it being a forced amalgamation," Mesheau said.
In Lac Baker, the village is planning a community meeting Dec. 28 to hear from residents about what their next steps should be.
Mayor
Roseline Pelletier doesn't want Lac Baker to be turned into an
industrial village through its forced merger with Haut-Madawaska. (Bernard LeBel/Radio-Canada)
The mayor, Pelletier, said about 80 per cent of residents had already signed a petition opposing the amalgamation but that was seemingly ignored by the province.
The village falls below a viability threshold of 4,000 people and a $200 million tax base the government used for stand-alone municipalities.
But Pelletier said there are other small communities like Fredericton Junction and Tracy left alone, making her question whether it was a political decision.
"We don't understand the decision. We feel that we have exactly what we need here — a government that would make local decisions on local issues. I would like government to understand how important it is to have that."
Allain, in a news release about the changes the province accepted, said the government "made adjustments to some proposed restructuring plans if they are consistent with the guiding principles of the reform."
A bill to enact much of the province's sweeping local governance reform passed in the legislature last week and received royal assent. New community boundaries are expected to be in place by January 2023.
the baby boomer Generation. History will judge them as this is what happened here.
Sweeping municipal reform bill sails through, will become law Friday
Bill paves the way to reduce 340 local government entities to fewer than 100
The Progressive Conservative majority passed the reform package on third reading. Opposition parties didn't even demand a roll call vote to drag out the moment and force each MLA to record their vote individually.
A few members called out "no" votes but the process was perfunctory, given the bill's importance.
Passage of the legislation paves the way for the province to reduce 340 local government entities to just 78 municipalities and 12 rural districts.
It will also give new powers to regional service commissions to co-ordinate the delivery of programs between communities to avoid overlap and waste.
The reform is intended to address chronic local government problems that have built up for years, including the sharing and funding of local services and infrastructure, and the growth of urban sprawl just outside the taxation reach of cities, towns and villages.
The bill will become law Friday, when Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy grants royal assent to it and other pieces of legislation.
It gives the government a major policy win on an issue that three previous premiers have seen as too politically risky to tackle.
"A great majority of New Brunswickers are happy," Local Government Reform Minister Daniel Allain told reporters. "A great number of New Brunswickers have been advocating for change with municipal reform."
Daniel
Allain, New Brunswick's minister of local governance reform, said
there’s still a lot of work to do, including reaching decisions on
alternate merger proposals from some communities. (CBC)
Still a lot of work to do, minister says
Allain said there's still a lot of work to do. He'll soon decide on alternate merger proposals from some communities.
But he said the small number of proposals, from about 10 out of 104 existing municipalities and around 20 out of 236 locate service districts, show that the reforms have been mostly accepted.
Opposition parties had demanded more time to debate the bill and a longer period for local communities to respond to the changes, but they didn't put up a major fight.
"We're not against the change, don't get me wrong," said Liberal Leader Roger Melanson. "But there are a lot of unknowns.
"What New Brunswickers want to know right now is not a matter of being for and against. It's getting more information to get a better understanding of what they really want to accomplish."
People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he wanted an extension of the deadline for municipalities to propose alternatives to what was laid out in Allain's Nov. 18 report.
Thursday was the deadline for submissions, and Allain is expected to finalize the makeup and boundaries of the 90 new local entities within days.
"I'm just hoping before then that the minister will reconsider and look at alternate options," said Austin, who said he wasn't completely opposed to the reforms either.
But Allain said that after months of meetings it was time to make decisions.
"We consulted all year. We have to move ahead."
Jean-Guy
Finn, who delivered a detailed report on municipal reform in 2008, said
Thursday that voluntary reform was never going to work. ((CBC))
Past governments avoided major changes
The last time a government looked at major reform was 2008, when retired civil servant Jean-Guy Finn delivered a detailed report to the Liberal government of premier Shawn Graham.
Graham promptly shelved the report.
His successors, Progressive Conservative David Alward and Liberal Brian Gallant, made some stabs at minor reforms but avoided major changes.
All of them adhered to the idea that any municipal mergers required approval of local residents in plebiscites, an obstacle the Higgs government is eliminating.
Finn said Thursday that voluntary reform was never going to work.
"That's been the difficulty in the last 12 years," he said. "Every time they tried to restructure, they tried to do it on a voluntary basis and it didn't work."
"For one reason or another, this government decided that they would proceed and lead the process."
Finn said he wasn't surprised that there was less controversy than expected.
"I was always under the impression that if the government of the day was to do the necessary explanation and articulation of what needed it to be done, it would be widely accepted, because the evidence and the data supporting this is so obvious."
Allain said that while Finn's report was shelved 13 years ago, it got municipalities and their associations talking about reform, paving the way for their support of his plan now.
Boundaries to be finalized by Jan. 1
The white paper released last month included a list of new municipal entities to be created by the mergers, based on a threshold that a community must have 4,000 people and a $200 million tax base to be considered viable.
He said he'll use that, and a municipality's dependence on unconditional grants from the province, to make decisions about the alternate proposals he's received.
"The white paper is not a bible, it's a road map," he said.
Allain said he looks favourably at discussions in Richibucto, Saint-Louis-de-Kent and nearby local service districts to go beyond his report and merge into a single entity rather than two.
He also said local service districts around Nackawic, Woodstock and Hartland are looking at joining those municipalities.
"It's spectacular to see what's happening," he said.
With boundaries finalized by Jan. 1, the next step will be starting the transition to the new entities.
Their names will be chosen by July 1 and the province will help them draft newly merged budgets by Sept. 30, which will be followed by elections in some entities in November.
"There's still a lot of work to do," Allain said.
Melanson said big questions remain to be resolved after 2022, including changes to the property tax system.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/local-governance-reform-mergers-sought-1.6287116
Kent County communities ask province to go further with local government mergers
Decision on request by Richibucto, Saint-Louis-de-Kent and nearby local service districts expected this week
"We want to go further in and make it work," Eric Tremblay, president of the Saint-Ignace local service district, said in an interview about a proposal submitted to the province.
The proposal calls for the merging of the Town of Richibucto, Village of Saint-Louis-de-Kent, as well as the local service districts of Saint-Ignace, Aldouane, Saint-Charles. It would also include most of the LSD of Saint-Louis-de-Kent.
Under the province's white paper outlining its local governance reform plans, the areas were going to be two separate communities anchored around the town and the village.
It's an example of tweaks to the province's sweeping overhaul sought ahead of the pending passage of legislation to implement those changes.
We know it's not sustainable to be everybody in their own little corner. If everybody can work together, it'll be a lot better than all working in little sections.- Danielle Dugas, mayor of Saint-Louis-de-Kent
Community leaders sent a letter to Minister Daniel Allain asking to be combined and are waiting for a formal decision that could come by the end of the week.
"I think we knew we kind of knew this was coming and we were getting ready for it," Danielle Dugas, mayor of Saint-Louis-de-Kent, said in an interview about community mergers.
"And we know it's not sustainable to be everybody in their own little corner. If everybody can work together, it'll be a lot better than all working in little sections."
Eric
Tremblay, president of the Saint-Ignace local service district advisory
committee, says they want to work together and have a seat at the table
when decisions about local issues are being made. (Submitted/Eric Tremblay)
Tremblay said they want to have a seat at the table to make decisions rather than standing at the side and watching decisions be made for them. He said the region already works well together.
"Co-operation, it's embedded in our way of life here in Kent County," he said. "We are Francophone communities, Anglophone communities, Mi'kmaw communities, and we've been living together for well over 250 years, 300 years. It's not always rosy, we have our differences, but we're used to cooperating and helping each other."
The request offers a contrast to other parts of the province that are resistant to the changes the province has announced.
Some communities the province plans to amalgamate have spoken out against the plans, including Minto and Chipman, and Sackville about its merger with Dorchester. LSDs have voiced concerns about insufficient consultation held mainly through online meetings.
Tremblay said he can understand that some communities believe the changes don't meet their needs and may feel their voices weren't heard.
He said one community offers advantages in terms of planning community infrastructure, tourism promotion and business development and attraction.
He said they will need to be "vigilant" on the financing for new entities.
"I hope they will not repeat some errors that were done in the past where they amalgamated some communities without financing and new regulations, and financial tools to make it work," he said.
Dugas said with a larger tax base and population, the merged communities would hold more sway in dealing with the province.
As well, there are already community assets like a pool in her community, used mainly by people who live outside the village, but paid for by the village.
"This way, the whole region would pay, so it would be more equal for everybody," Dugas said.
Tremblay said there are other examples, like paying for arenas used regionally, that mean a merger makes sense.
Richibucto's mayor declined an interview before the province announces its decision on their proposal.
In an emailed statement attributed to the minister, the province said it is reviewing proposals and will announce decisions on those requests by the end of the week.
Daniel
Allain, New Brunswick's minister of local governance reform, has
indicated he's open to considering some tweaks to proposed municipal
boundaries. (CBC)
Allain has said he's open to some tweaks based on feedback from communities.
A spokesperson for the department didn't answer a question about how many requests for changes have been received so far.
Legislation to implement aspects of the reform plan is expected to receive third and final reading this week before the legislature breaks for the holidays.
A timeline released by the province indicates new community boundaries would be in place by January 2023.
White Head Island might make sense to leave alone. They have their own fire department and are only connected by ferry. Miscou, on the other hand, was even part of a merger proposal with the various LSDs and villages of Lamèque Island a few years back yet it's somehow being left out of Lamèque's merger.
We the people.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/permanent-residents-municipal-vote-1.5973744
Immigrants urge N.B. to be leader and extend voting rights for municipal elections
A voice for people with permanent resident status could help them decide to stay, advocates say
Immigrants are asking New Brunswick to become the only province in Canada to give people who aren't citizens but have permanent resident status the right to vote in municipal elections.
The Lost Votes Campaign, a grassroots initiative of permanent residents, is gathering support from municipal governments to change the law that allows only Canadian citizens to vote municipally.
Asif Hasan, CEO of Simptek Technologies in Fredericton and a permanent resident from Bangladesh, is one of the organizers calling for the vote — something permanent residents had in New Brunswick until 1997.
"I'm one of the 29,500 permanent residents in New Brunswick and we are the lost votes — 29,500 lost votes," Hasan said.
Permanent residents in New Brunswick used to be able to vote in municipal elections. (Tina Lovgreen/CBC)
"There's a need for immigrants to have their representation because right now, our voice is muted."
Proponents say a bold decision to give permanent residents a voice could reap benefits for the province, with its aging population and shrinking workforce, and a rate of retaining immigrants of only 50 per cent after five years.
Voting rights could attract immigrants, or persuade
them to stay, said Moncef Lakouas, president of the New Brunswick
Multicultural Council.
"We have to come up with something that the big cities don't necessarily have," Lakouas said.
Liberals propose change
On Dec. 17, 2020, a bill to change the Municipal Elections Act to include permanent residents was introduced to the legislature by the Opposition Liberals.
"We wanted to force it through so Elections NB could get things going, to have things in place for permanent residents to vote this year," said Liberal MLA Keith Chiasson.
But there was no time to debate and vote on it before the legislature adjourned.
When the legislature resumes in May, Chiasson said, the Liberals will bring it forward for debate, and it's a priority for them.
Whether the provincial government will present its own bill or amend the existing one remains to be seen.
MLA Keith Chiasson says the Liberals plan to reintroduce a bill that would amend the Municipal Elections Act. (Radio-Canada)
Who can and can't vote
Permanent residents in Canada have to wait about three years to start their citizenship application. In total, the process takes at least four to five years.
To vote in federal, provincial or municipal elections in Canada, all provinces require residents to be Canadian citizens.
But before 1997, this wasn't the case. At least not in New Brunswick's municipal elections.
According to Paul Harpelle from Elections NB, the only requirement to vote in municipal elections in New Brunswick before 1997 was being 18 years of age or older.
Paul Harpelle at Elections NB says a few weeks would be enough time to
include permanent residents in the election database. (CBC)
In 1996, the Election Branch of what was then the department of municipalities, culture and housing filed an electoral reform report recommending that municipal election requirements mirror those of the province, which required citizenship to vote.
"It could result in an elector being on one list and not on another because of the difference in citizenship requirements," said Harpelle.
They wanted to standardize the requirements of provincial and municipal elections.
The motion passed in 1997, and from that year forward, permanent residents were not allowed to vote municipally.
Changing the system 'not complicated'
Harpelle said if the policy changes to allow permanent residents to vote, Elections NB would need about "a few weeks or a couple of months" to implement the change in the database and train staff.
The Elections NB database is a list of all electors in the province. Separate cells would have to be created for permanent residents.
"Our database is also shared with Elections Canada," Harpelle said. "They would have to be able to extract any electors that are not Canadian citizens for federal elections."
The process is not complicated, said Harpelle, who described the testing of it as the most time-consuming.
How it started
The idea of allowing permanent residents to vote in New Brunswick was first proposed in 2012 by Lakouas, an organizer of the Lost Votes Campaign.
After two years of research, he travelled across the province, pitching the idea to city councils.
Starting in 2014, councils in Dieppe, Moncton, Edmundston and Campbellton all voted in favour of giving permanent residents the right to vote.
But municipalities fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, so the proposal to extend vote had to be introduced as a bill in the legislature.
The Lost Votes Campaign is holding panel discussions on permanent residents and their right to vote. (Submitted by Asif Hasan)
The idea was proposed to the Brian Gallant government, but it dropped down the list of priorities as a provincial election neared.
This year, the Lost Votes Campaign has reignited permanent resident's desire to vote and be heard.
An online petition in support of the campaign has been signed by 200 permanent residents of New Brunswick and been endorsed by Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien and other civic leaders, as well as the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
"The province has a stated desire to bring in 10,000 newcomers by 2027," O'Brien said. "If you're going to bring people in and make them feel part of the community, allowing them to vote municipally would be a big step."
Moncef
Lakous, who is originally from Morocco, is now the New Brunswick
Multicultural Council president and an organizer with the Lost Votes
Campaign. (Vanessa Blanch/CBC)
Lakouas, who lives in Moncton, said the campaign is in constant talks with the province.
"We're hoping that Minister Allain will make this a priority as part of the provincial reform he's working on."
Minister of Local Government Daniel Allain wasn't available for an interview but sent an email statement to CBC News.
"Local governments across Canada have expressed an interest in extending permanent residents the right to vote," he wrote.
"Extending voting rights to permanent residents would be a fundamental change to New Brunswick's local government elections and a Canadian first. Extensive consultation would be required with the public and all affected stakeholders."
The arguments against it
One of the strongest arguments against allowing permanent residents the right to vote in municipal elections is it could discourage naturalization, where immigrants become citizens of a country.
According to Myer Siemiatycki, a politics professor at Ryerson University, there aren't many practical reasons or inducements to become a citizen in Canada, if you already are a permanent resident.
This is because there aren't a lot of differences in rights between being a Canadian permanent resident and a citizen.
Permanent residents cannot vote, get a passport, or certain jobs in the highest echelons of the federal and provincial public service.
That's about it, Siemiatycki said.
Myer
Siemiatycki, a politics professor at Ryerson University, says voting
rights in municipal elections could help newcomers form an attachment to
the country. (Taras Karpiuk)
"And yet, I think what's impressive, and more people should be mindful of, is that Canada has the highest rate of immigrant naturalization of any country in the Western world," he said.
"Even though we don't give citizens necessarily a huge discrepancy or fringe benefits for becoming Canadians, they become citizens."
For all immigrants who have been in the country for three or more years, the rate of naturalization in Canada is 85 per cent.
The naturalization rate for U.S. immigrants is around 55 per cent.
Siemiatycki thinks Canadian immigrants develop an emotional attachment to the country, a sense of belonging and a "warm, fuzzy feeling" of acceptance from the government and this drives them to become citizens.
Something that would only grow if allowed to vote in municipal elections, proponents say.
The democratic process some immigrants take to heart
Espérance Balewula came to New Brunswick from South Africa through the Express Entry program in August 2018. She lives in the Greater Moncton area with her kids and her husband.
Balewula thinks allowing permanent residents to vote municipally will help its growth.
"I work, I pay taxes, and I contribute on a daily basis on the expansion of this province," she said.
"If our points are not counted on certain issues, how are we going to keep those permanent residents or immigrants in our community?"
New Brunswickers are going to the polls in May in the second election to
be held in the province since the pandemic started. (Mike Heenan/CBC)
Voter turnout for municipal elections is quite low in most New Brunswick municipalities.
According to Elections NB, voter turnout in Fredericton was 36.8 per cent in 2016. For some communities, like Florenceville-Bristol, it was around 13 per cent.
Voting in municipal elections seems to be of no interest to many Canadians, so why the desire to vote among some immigrants?
Lakouas said the ethnocultural vote in Canada is quite high because it's a right many immigrants could not practise in their own countries.
"Some people, their leaders are chosen for them. To be granted that opportunity to vote, and be part of that democratic process, is something that immigrants do take deeply to heart."
What about the rest of Canada?
Before the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was adopted, Canadian citizens and citizens from Commonwealth countries could vote in Canadian elections.
But with the charter, this became untenable, said Siemiatycki, since it was clear then that in Canada "you were discriminating under the basis of nationality."
Since then, provinces have made changes to their electoral legislation at different times.
But according to Siemiatycki, giving people a chance to be part of, contribute to and have a voice in their community is the best way to promote citizenship.
"And that should be the starting point of building an attachment to this country."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/lac-baker-legislature-protest-amalgamation-1.6459415
Lac Baker residents leave dejected after meeting with minister to protest amalgamation
Village wants a two-year moratorium on amalgamation with Haut-Madawaska
The village — 34 kilometres west of Edmundston — is expected to amalgamate with the community of Haut-Madawaska next year.
But the move has not been welcomed by Lac Baker residents who fear they will shoulder a financial burden.
That prompted them to travel three hours to the New Brunswick Legislature to protest the decision.
They later met with Daniel Allain, minister of local governance reform, at a nearby hotel in Fredericton.
"We are self-sufficient because we only get a small portion — $1,000 — unconditional grant from the province," said Roseline Pelletier, mayor of Lac Baker.
Close to 750 permanent residents will be affected by the amalgamation, along with approximately 300 cottage owners who don't live there year-round.
"We've shown with numbers and we proved that we are one of the most valuable municipalities out of the 104 that are still in existence."
But Pelletier said the village's financial viability is in jeopardy, "The first scenarios that we ran were based on the 2022 expenditures. Our municipality, the tax rate would go up by probably $0.20. We are at $1.12."
Ron
Cormier, who has been a permanent resident of Lac Baker for four years,
said he has contacted Allain's office multiple times to voice his
concerns. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
The village has requested a two-year moratorium on amalgamation in the hopes that a municipal commission — which will be created in 2024 — will have the mandate to help municipalities become viable.
But that didn't dissuade Allain, who said he is trying to make New Brunswickers understand why the government is moving ahead on amalgamation.
"We're moving forward on local governance reform because we haven't had any kind of change in 60 years."
Ron Cormier, a permanent resident of Lac Baker for the past four years, said he has contacted Allain's office multiple times to voice his concerns.
He said he left the meeting with Allain feeling like those concerns were not fully heard.
"[Feeling] frustrated, disappointed, a bit sad, I was going in with nothing in return."
Similarities and differences
"There's a lot of common interests," Allain said about the decision to amalgamate the communities.
"People work, go to school in those areas. That's why the finance side will work with the department to make sure they have those tools and that analysis."
Allain added that the amalgamation would give rural residents better electoral representation.
"Thirty per cent of New Brunswickers do not have the ability to vote during municipal election time. There is a democratic deficit."
The government claims amalgamation will lead to efficiencies by creating fewer entities.
But Pelletier said people in the community have concerns over significant differences between the two municipalities.
Daniel Allain, minister of local governance reform, met with Lac Baker residents to discuss their opposition to amalgamation. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"We have a special budget for the environment of our lakes to look at the quality of the water. They [Haut-Madawaska] have $0 in their budget, so I don't see what service or amenity we could add."
Pelletier said the village also worries about losing control over local development.
"We do not want big development, tourist development ... we want to keep our local voice, means making our own decision."
Pelletier questions why certain entities like Fredericton Junction and the village of Tracy were left untouched.
"If some municipalities that are really not prosperous could keep their local government, why not us?"
Both Pelletier and Cormier said the village will continue to fight the amalgamation despite the response from government on Thursday.
"It's like being forced into a marriage where one of the partners is financially viable and the other one isn't," Cormier said. "The way I see it, we're there to save their skins and I don't agree with that."
With files from Shane Fowler
Mayor Roseline Pelletier and her new minion tell me that their village email no longer works well somebody should tell Higgy et al that fact EH?
Community Profile - Lac Baker
Address
69 De la Pointe Road
Lac Baker, NB E7A 1J1
Mayor
Roseline Pelletier
Councillors
Michel Caron
Jean-Marc Nadeau
Bernard Soucy
Ronald Soucy
County
Madawaska
Contact
Tel: 992-6060
Fax: 992-6061
Email: bakerlac@nbnet.nb.ca
French
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2021 16:30:48 +0000
Subject: RE: Re: Talk of May 18, 2021 Higgy can never claim he didn't know
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Due to the volume of incoming messages, this is an automated response
to let you know that your email has been received and will be reviewed
at the earliest opportunity.
If your inquiry more appropriately falls within the mandate of a
Ministry or other area of government, staff will refer your email for
review and consideration.
Merci d'avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
En raison du volume des messages reçus, cette réponse automatique vous
informe que votre courriel a été reçu et sera examiné dans les
meilleurs délais.
Si votre demande relève plutôt du mandat d'un ministère ou d'un autre
secteur du gouvernement, le personnel vous renverra votre courriel
pour examen et considération.
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
(506) 453-2144 or by email
media-medias@gnb.ca<mailto:med
S’il s’agit d’une demande des médias, veuillez communiquer avec le
Cabinet du premier ministre au 506-453-2144.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000 Fredericton New-Brunswick/Nouveau-
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/premier.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2021 12:28:22 -0400
Subject: Fwd: Re: Talk of May 18, 2021 Higgy can never claim he didn't know
To: Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca, gail.dube@gnb.ca, mathieu.cassie@gnb.ca,
sylvie.martin3@gnb.ca, Martin.Corbett@gnb.ca, ryan.donaghy@gnb.ca,
"denis.bujold" <denis.bujold@gnb.ca>, Denyse.Smart@gnb.ca,
"hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, "Mike.Comeau"
<Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "andrea.anderson-mason"
<andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca>
"Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, "rob.moore"
<rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs"
<blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, Daniel.Allain@gnb.ca, "jeff.carr"
<jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, "fin.minfinance-financemin.
<fin.minfinance-financemin.
<roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca>, "David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>,
"kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, jbosse3058@gmail.com,
"Rene.Legacy" <Rene.Legacy@gnb.ca>, blackvl@nb.sympatico.ca,
georges.r.savoie@neguac.com, bakerlac@nbnet.nb.ca, minto@nb.aibn.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2021 09:32:49 -0300
Subject: Fwd: Talk of May 18, 2021
To: jbosse3058@gmail.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2021 12:56:52 -0300
Subject: Fwd: Talk of May 18, 2021
To: jbosse3058@gmail.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Sure please excuse my spelling but I will resend it warts and all
Notice that Higgy's computer answered me??
On 6/10/21, Jules Bosse <jbosse3058@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Mr. Amos,
>
> Thank you for your email this morning that confirmed the facts in your talk
> with Mrs Martin on May 18, 2021. By mistake I erased that email. Can you
> please forward me that same email.
>
> Thanks, and have a great day!
>
> Jules Bossé
>
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2021 15:24:31 -0300
Subject: Re: Talk of May 18, 2021 Higgy can never claim he didn't know
To: Jules Bosse <jbosse3058@gmail.com>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2021 18:21:01 +0000
Subject: RE: Talk of May 18, 2021
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Due to the volume of incoming messages, this is an automated response
to let you know that your email has been received and will be reviewed
at the earliest opportunity.
If your inquiry more appropriately falls within the mandate of a
Ministry or other area of government, staff will refer your email for
review and consideration.
Merci d'avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
En raison du volume des messages reçus, cette réponse automatique vous
informe que votre courriel a été reçu et sera examiné dans les
meilleurs délais.
Si votre demande relève plutôt du mandat d'un ministère ou d'un autre
secteur du gouvernement, le personnel vous renverra votre courriel
pour examen et considération.
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
(506) 453-2144 or by email
media-medias@gnb.ca<mailto:med
S’il s’agit d’une demande des médias, veuillez communiquer avec le
Cabinet du premier ministre au 506-453-2144.
General Information
For general information and answers to common questions on novel
coronavirus please visit:
GNB/COVID-19<https://na01.
or Canada.ca/coronavirus<https://
information line 1-833-784-4397.
Safety Issues
For safety issues regarding place of employment/employer please call
WorkSafe NB 1-800-999-9775.
Compassionate requests
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CHIMO Helpline 1-800-667-5005
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ou Canada.ca/coronavirus<https://
ou composer le 1-833-784-4397.
questions de sécurité
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Questions non liées à la santé
Veuillez composer le 1-844-462-8387 ou envoyer un courriel à l’adresse
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Composez le 1-833-948-2800.
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Composez le 1-833-381-2725.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000 Fredericton New-Brunswick/Nouveau-
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/premier.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jules Bosse <jbosse3058@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2021 16:14:48 -0300
Subject:
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
*Sylvie Martin, Madawaska (506)735-2763, **sylvie.martin3@gnb.ca*
<sylvie.martin3@gnb.ca>*, *Martin.Corbett@gnb.ca, ryan.donaghy@gnb.ca,
denis.bujold@gnb.ca
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jules Bosse <jbosse3058@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2021 16:21:47 -0300
Subject: email
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Also to be send: Minister of local governance: Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca,
gail.dube@gnb.ca, mathieu.cassie@gnb.ca
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2021 15:18:11 -0300
Subject: Re: Talk of May 18, 2021
To: jbosse3058@gmail.com, Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca, gail.dube@gnb.ca,
mathieu.cassie@gnb.ca, sylvie.martin3@gnb.ca, Martin.Corbett@gnb.ca,
ryan.donaghy@gnb.ca, "denis.bujold" <denis.bujold@gnb.ca>,
Denyse.Smart@gnb.ca, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>,
"Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "andrea.anderson-mason"
<andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca>
"Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, "rob.moore"
<rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>,
"blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, Daniel.Allain@gnb.ca,
"jeff.carr" <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, "fin.minfinance-financemin.
<fin.minfinance-financemin.
Good Day Mr Bossé
What you has stated is true about ur cnersation on May 18th and I
would be more than willing to sign an affidavit to that effect
Trust that I have very serious concerns about the actions of Premier
Higgs his new Minister Daniel Allain and his many minions
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/
As I said I strongly suggest that you print the pdf file hereto attached
Veritas Vincit
David Raymond Amos
---------- Original message ----------
From: Jules Bosse <jbosse3058@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2021 15:12:31 -0300
Subject: Talk of May 18, 2021
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hi Mr. Amos,
Following the following interview on the morning of May 18th, you undertook
to contact me: CBC St-John May 18:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/
In reference to the summary of the conversation you had with Mrs. Sylvie
Martin from the office of the local LSD manager in Edmundston where she
would have informed you in an affirmative way that I will no longer be in
position on the advisory committee of my LSD after May 31st. You then gave
me her phone number (735-2763) to confirm that we were talking about the
same person.
As part of a province-wide file, the New Brunswick Association of Local
Service Districts (ALSDNB ), a file is being compiled to identify as many
irregularities as possible in reference to these makeshift elections under
section 170(2) of the Local Government Act. To that effect, please confirm
our discussion of May 18th and add any other details you deem relevant.
Thank you for your cooperation and your interest in the fairness of our
democratic system.
Jules Bossé
President of the ALSDNB
735-7214
T
<https://www.avast.com/sig-
Garanti
sans virus. www.avast.com
<https://www.avast.com/sig-
<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-
This is proof that I sent emails to Premier Higgs and many others at
the the same point in time which I forwarded to you in its entirety
after we talked again correct?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Tue, 18 May 2021 12:06:54 +0000
Subject: Automatic Reply
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for writing to the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Due to the volume of correspondence addressed to the Minister, please
note that there may be a delay in processing your email. Rest assured
that your message will be carefully reviewed.
We do not respond to correspondence that contains offensive language.
-------------------
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable David Lametti, ministre de la
Justice et procureur général du Canada.
En raison du volume de correspondance adressée au ministre, veuillez
prendre note qu'il pourrait y avoir un retard dans le traitement de
votre courriel. Nous tenons à vous assurer que votre message sera lu
avec soin.
Nous ne répondons pas à la correspondance contenant un langage offensant.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Tue, 18 May 2021 09:06:50 -0300
Subject: Fwd: Hey Higgy Methinks Dorothy Shephard must admit that
Dependable Public Health Care begins with a Medicare Card instead of
having her nasty minions inviting me to sue her in order to get one Correct?
To: czwibel@ccla.org, "kerri.froc" <kerri.froc@unb.ca>,
esherkey@torys.com, gdingle@torys.com, abernstein@torys.com,
isabel.lavoiedaigle@gnb.ca, krpfadmin@nbpolice.ca, "blaine.higgs"
<blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>,
david.coon@gnb.ca, "Robert. Jones" <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>,
"Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin"
<kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>,
"Roger.L.Melanson" <roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca>, "rob.moore"
<rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, John.williamson@parl.gc.ca, "Roger.Brown"
<Roger.Brown@fredericton.ca>, "Brenda.Lucki"
<Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "barbara.massey"
<barbara.massey@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
healthplansante@gnb.ca, "Dorothy.Shephard" <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>,
"Norman.Bosse" <Norman.Bosse@gnb.ca>, "charles.murray"
<charles.murray@gnb.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Here is proof that I had concerns about the doings within my LSD long
before I ran again in Fundy Royal during the election of the 43rd
Parliament
https://twitter.com/
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks it would be interesting to see what Minister Bernadette
Jordan thinks of this spit and chew about our garbage We already know
what Rob Moore the wannabe MP again thinks of her new position N'esy
Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Province helps mend rift between communities after service commission dissolved
Board serving 18 towns and rural communities in Sussex-Hampton
dissolved last month amid budget dispute
Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: Mar 11, 2019 5:00 AM AT
Photo
The waste transfer station in Sussex maintained by Regional Service
Commission 8. The facility is at the heart of a dispute that pits
rural communities against the region's incorporated communities. (RSC
8)
The Department of Local Government will arrange training and mediation
to help mend a rift between the towns and many rural communities in
the greater Sussex-Hampton area.
The volunteer board serving that region's service commission was
dissolved by Local Government Minister Jeff Carr in early February
after it became hopelessly divided over the 2019 budget.
Brenda Knight, a retired municipal administrator, has been appointed
trustee to oversee operations in the board's stead.
On March 5, Knight approved a budget for the commission, which will be
presented to representatives of the four municipalities and 14 local
service districts in coming weeks.
In the meantime, Erika Jutras, a Department of Local Government
spokeswoman, said the trustee will remain in place until either
members "demonstrate" they can work together or the next municipal
elections in May 2020, whichever comes first.
Division over solid waste costs
The board split last fall over how solid waste management costs were
to be divided between the towns and unincorporated rural communities,
called local service districts.
Many of the board members representing LSDs feel they are paying too
much for waste management.
Mary Ann Coleman chairs the LSD Advisory Committee for Waterford,
which has a population of approximately 500.
Minister removed member of Sussex-area commission after harassment complaint
Service commission fired after months of deadlock over budget
She says costs should be allocated strictly on how waste is generated
by each community.
The current cost formula involves a combination of a levee on the
amount of trash collected and a fixed amount for each community that
is dedicated to providing stable funding for the region's waste
transfer station in Sussex.
"It's important in my mind that we keep the costs of services, as much
as we can, down for people," said Coleman.
"This has an impact on the taxes for people in rural areas."
She says the costs to operate the waste transfer station should be
taken entirely from tipping fees, which would cost the towns more and
the LSDs less.
Proposed budget 'didn't suit' some municipalities
James McCrea was chair of the service commission board at the time it
was dissolved.
McCrea, who is from the LSD of Wickham, says the costs are not being
distributed fairly, based on trash volumes alone, and that goes
against the intent of regulations set out by the province.
"It was a fair budget, it was a really good budget that was proposed.
But it didn't suit some of the municipalities and a couple of the
local service districts," said McCrea.
Photo
James McCrea was chair of the board for Regional Service District 8
when it was dissolved by the province in February. He represents
Wickham LSD Advisory Committee. (Maria Jose Burgos, CBC)
Speaking to CBC last month, Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne said the budget
proposed by the LSDs threatened the future of the region's waste
transfer station and recycling operations because the station requires
stable funding year-to-year while trash volumes fluctuate.
McCrea says in asking for the change to the funding formula the rural
communities are not trying to threaten the viability of the transfer
station.
"There's never been a problem existed that can't be dealt with and
fixed, but everyone has to work together and share the costs."
About the Author
Connell Smith
Reporter
Connell Smith is a reporter with CBC in Saint John. He can be reached
at 632-7726 Connell.smith@cbc.ca
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
10 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks it would be interesting to see what Bernadette Jordan
Canada’s inaugural minister of rural economic development thinks of
this spit and chew about our garbage We already know what our former
MP thinks of her position N'esy Pas?
New rural development minister is first female Nova Scotia MP named to
federal cabinet
By Holly McKenzie-Sutter The Canadian Press January 14, 2019 3:07 pm
"Rob Moore, Conservative shadow minister for Atlantic Canada, wished
Jordan well with her new portfolio, but questioned Trudeau’s motives
so close to October’s federal election.
Moore said the new portfolio “appears to just be a communications
exercise” that may stand for too little, too late.
“It appears to be just to give off the impression that they’re
connected or concerned with Atlantic issues, when in fact the last
three years tells us that Atlantic and rural issues are on the
backburner,” Moore said.
Trudeau’s cabinet came under fire from some Atlantic Canadians when
Navdeep Bains, a Mississauga MP, was put in charge of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency.
Criticism also followed when New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc was
shuffled out of the Fisheries portfolio to be replaced with Jonathan
Wilkinson, who represents North Vancouver.
Jordan said Monday the government has a genuine commitment to rural Canada.
“I think it’s an unfortunate thing that people don’t consider rural
important, because rural is extremely important to this government,
we’re showing that,” she said."
|
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