'Strong' need for new hub for Fredericton's homeless population: Shelter operator
Ironwood Resources Centre won't be fully operational until Dec. 1, province says
The need is "strong" for a new hub in Fredericton aimed at giving homeless people a place to get out of the cold and connect with addiction treatment services, says a shelter operator.
"The numbers [of homeless people] aren't getting lower, which is the problem. So the numbers continue to grow," said Warren Maddox, executive director of Fredericton Homeless Shelters Inc.
In September, Social Development Minister Jill Green said her department was working on setting up hubs in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John in October.
The hubs were meant to offer a place for homeless people to seek refuge from cold weather and to be connected with social services, housing, and addiction and mental health treatment.
A hub for homeless people in Fredericton will be run out of a wing of the Victoria Health Centre on Brunswick Street. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
However, the opening dates could be delayed by more than a month even as temperatures drop below freezing across the province.
CBC News asked for an interview with Green on Friday, but department spokesperson Rebecca Howland said it wasn't possible.
In an emailed statement, Howland said the Fredericton hub, called the Ironwood Resources Centre, will be located in the Victoria Health Centre on Brunswick Street and will be fully operational by Dec. 1, as will the hub in Moncton.
Howland didn't share a date for the Saint John hub, saying only it "will first open with seasonal out of the cold shelter beds and then in April 2024 will re-purpose as a fully operational Hub."
Howland said the Fredericton hub will be a 24/7 drop-in centre and will be housing-focused, "with access to washrooms/showers and laundry facilities, as well as case managers to help individuals take their next step in their journey to become housed."
Howland said the department will partner with the John Howard Society, municipal staff and others on the hub, which she referred to as a pilot project.
Maddox said he's been part of consultation meetings with the department as it works on getting the hub operational.
He said what's unique about the project is that it will bring together professionals from multiple provincial departments, addiction and mental-health-care workers, and housing outreach workers to meet with clients and work on their individual needs.
"So the project really is ... creating a place where they can go and they can meet with social assistance without having to go to Two Nations Crossing or find a phone. So there'll be somebody from Social Development there to help deal with those issues.
"There will be somebody from mental health and addictions, specifically addictions, that will be there on a regular basis to help support and try to find paths out of addiction."
Emergency shelter to provide beds
Maddox said the hub won't operate as a shelter space for overnight accommodations, but his organization will be doing its best to fill that need over the winter.
Fredericton Homeless Shelters Inc. runs Saint John House, which is a few metres away from the Victoria Health Centre.
Social
Development Minister Jill Green originally said the hubs would open in
October, but now two of them won't be fully operational until Dec. 1. (Joe McDonald/CBC)
And starting in December, his organization will also begin using the Small Craft Aquatic Centre as an emergency overflow shelter until April.
Maddox said there are about 100 people currently living outside, and he thinks there's enough space among the city's shelters to house close to all of them.
"We'll sort of revisit that again ... probably in January to see where we're at and what our numbers are saying and what our turn-away rates are," Maddox said.
He said the emergency overnight shelter was operated last year, and most nights it only had about seven of its 10 beds occupied.
Maddox said aside from the specialized services the hub will offer, it will also serve as a space where people can go to warm up and enjoy a snack and a coffee.
"From our perspective, it's refreshing to see Social Development sort of stepping up and going outside of their normal comfort zone, trying new things, trying pilot projects, bringing the expertise to the table ... and hearing what we have to say and what's needed."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Our governments need to make housing a major priority,
especially if we continue to incorporate new citizens from other parts of the world as part of our nation. We need the richness they bring, but we also need to guarantee that everyone, absolutely everyone, has a place to sleep and be safe in.
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
If there was some other thing you wanted proven, state it.
Areas of City of Moncton have deteriorated into slums where real estate is worthless, residents are not safe in their own home and drug use is rampant in plain sight any time you drive through those areas. We need to divide the problems into the three different but sometimes intertwined issues that they are (1) homeless- folks who cannot afford today's rent. Solution: emergency financial support to get them housed- tiny home projects etc. (2) Mental illness- folks who cannot care for themselves due to mental and or physical illness. Solutions more complicated but maybe we need to look at going back to mandatory intervention for those who cannot care for themselves (3) addiction- again, rather than let them die on the streets- enforce the laws, incarcerate when laws are broken. So called experts want to take us in opposite direction- safe places to break the laws and we see where that leads. If it remains so easy, every teen kicked out of home will be addicted in the few days they are on the street. Firmer approaches can be implemented with compassion and care. Maintaining the status quo is the least compassionate approach- feed them and house them until they overdose and die?? no!!
Lesley Jardine
Reply to Mel Faulkner
Give them some type of work so they feel like they are contributing to society. Nothing should be given for free.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Lesley Jardine
Nothing is free, but not all costs are monetary. The presence of homelessness within a community creates costs to that community in terms of lower quality of life and increased crime.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Mel Faulkner
And yet what law-enforcement officials have said repeatedly regarding addiction is that we can't enforce our way out of this. It's also been amply demonstrated that the threat of incarceration does nothing to deter people from using substances. All that it does is provide a very expensive way - in terms of taxpayer dollars - of getting them off the streets for a while. Once released, all the conditions that led them to use substances in the first place still exist, so they continue using.
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to Lesley Jardine
Sometimes it costs more to administer such programs than it costs to just hand out welfare.
Don Corey
Reply to G. Timothy Walton
That's obviously the approach the feds took with CERB, and we all know what happened with that fiasco.
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to Don Corey
Lower covid death rates and less need for massive food aid like the Americans had?
Don Corey
Reply to G. Timothy Walton
Because of CERB??? Hilarious.
Forsætisráðuneytið hefur móttekið tölvupóst þinn / Prime Minister's Office hereby confirms the receipt of your email.
Forsætisráðuneytið<for@for.is> | Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 4:41 PM | |
| Reply-To: No-Reply FOR <no-reply@for.is> | ||
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | ||
Forsætisráðuneytið hefur móttekið tölvupóst þinn / Prime Minister's Office hereby confirms the receipt of your email.
| ||
RE Cya at the soup kitchen
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 4:41 PM |
| To: info@foodbankscanada.ca, hemery@unb.ca, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, Susan.Holt@gnb.ca, "Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, "John.Williamson" <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, "rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, "Bill.Oliver" <Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca>, "Trevor.Holder" <Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>, "jeff.carr" <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, "Daniel.J.Allain" <Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca>, "Dorothy.Shephard" <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, LTgov@gnb.ca, "bruce.fitch" <bruce.fitch@gnb.ca>, "Benoit.Bourque" <Benoit.Bourque@gnb.ca>, "Ginette.PetitpasTaylor" <Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.gc.ca>, "Dominic.Cardy" <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, tj <tj@burkelaw.ca>, "lou.lafleur" <lou.lafleur@fredericton.ca>, "David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, keith.chiasson@gnb.ca, jacques.j.leblanc@gnb.ca, jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca, robert.mckee@gnb.ca, megan.mitton@gnb.ca, kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca, mike.holland@gnb.ca, andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca, mary.wilson@gnb.ca, kris.austin@gnb.ca, michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, oldmaison <oldmaison@yahoo.com>, andre <andre@jafaust.com>, "Mark.Blakely" <Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet" <martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>, "Alex.Johnston" <Alex.Johnston@cbc.ca>, "Catherine.Tait" <Catherine.Tait@cbc.ca>, "Chuck.Thompson" <Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca>, "darrow.macintyre" <darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca>, "sylvie.gadoury" <sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca>, jesse <jesse@viafoura.com>, jesse <jesse@jessebrown.ca>, "jessica.hume" <jessica.hume@ontario.ca>, "Melanie.Joly" <Melanie.Joly@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Gerald.Butts" <Gerald.Butts@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, "andrew.scheer" <andrew.scheer@parl.gc.ca>, postur@for.is, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, "huras.adam" <huras.adam@telegraphjournal.com>, news <news@kingscorecord.com>, "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "David.Akin" <David.Akin@globalnews.ca>, execdirgen <execdirgen@nbliberal.ca>, Ezra <Ezra@therebel.media>, sfine <sfine@globeandmail.com> | |
| Cc: jennifer.sweet@cbc.ca, briangallant10 <briangallant10@gmail.com>, aidan.cox@cbc.ca | |
https://davidraymondamos3. Monday, 13 November 2023 New report shows 'frightening picture' of food insecurity https://www.cbc.ca/news/ 'Strong' need for new hub for Fredericton's homeless population: Shelter operator Ironwood Resources Centre won't be fully operational until Dec. 1, province says Aidan Cox · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2023 6:00 AM AST | |
No matter what Higgy and his many minions may wish to claim it is the Lieutenant Governor who decides whether to drop the writ or not
Mitton, Megan (LEG)<Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca> | Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 3:43 PM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
Thank you for your email. I appreciate
hearing from you and will respond to questions as soon as possible.
For more immediate assistance, please call the Constituency office at: (506) 378-1565 or the Fredericton office: (506) 457-6842.
For media requests, please call (506) 429-2285.
---
Je vous remercie pour votre courriel. Je vous remercie de m'avoir
contacté et je répondrai aux questions dès que possible.
Pour une assistance immédiate, veuillez appeler le bureau de circonscription au (506) 378-1565 ou le bureau de Fredericton au (506) 457-6842. Pour les demandes d'entrevue, veuillez appeler le (506) 429-2285.
Megan Mitton (elle / she, her) Députée de Memramcook-Tantramar
| Responsable en matière de la santé, le logement, le changement climatique, et les droits humains. Le Nouveau-Brunswick est situé sur les territoires traditionnels, non cédés des Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik & Peskotomuhkati. / New Brunswick is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik & Peskotomuhkati. | |
Moore, Rob - M.P.<Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca> | Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 3:45 PM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
*This is an automated response*
Thank you for contacting the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. office. We appreciate the time you took to get in touch with our office.
If you did not already, please ensure to include your full contact details on your email and the appropriate staff will be able to action your request. We strive to ensure all constituent correspondence is responded to in a timely manner.
If your question or concern is time sensitive, please call our office: 506-832-4200.
Again, we thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Office of the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
| |
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 3:43 PM |
| To: info@foodbankscanada.ca, hemery@unb.ca, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, Susan.Holt@gnb.ca, "Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, "John.Williamson" <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, "rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, "Bill.Oliver" <Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca>, "Trevor.Holder" <Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>, "jeff.carr" <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, "Daniel.J.Allain" <Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca>, "Dorothy.Shephard" <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, LTgov@gnb.ca, "bruce.fitch" <bruce.fitch@gnb.ca>, "Benoit.Bourque" <Benoit.Bourque@gnb.ca>, "Ginette.PetitpasTaylor" <Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.gc.ca>, "Dominic.Cardy" <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, tj <tj@burkelaw.ca>, "lou.lafleur" <lou.lafleur@fredericton.ca>, "David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, keith.chiasson@gnb.ca, jacques.j.leblanc@gnb.ca, jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca, robert.mckee@gnb.ca, megan.mitton@gnb.ca, kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca, mike.holland@gnb.ca, andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca, mary.wilson@gnb.ca, kris.austin@gnb.ca, michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, oldmaison <oldmaison@yahoo.com>, andre <andre@jafaust.com>, "Mark.Blakely" <Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet" <martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>, "Alex.Johnston" <Alex.Johnston@cbc.ca>, "Catherine.Tait" <Catherine.Tait@cbc.ca>, "Chuck.Thompson" <Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca>, "darrow.macintyre" <darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca>, "sylvie.gadoury" <sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca>, jesse <jesse@viafoura.com>, jesse <jesse@jessebrown.ca>, "jessica.hume" <jessica.hume@ontario.ca>, "Melanie.Joly" <Melanie.Joly@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Gerald.Butts" <Gerald.Butts@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, "andrew.scheer" <andrew.scheer@parl.gc.ca>, postur@for.is, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, "huras.adam" <huras.adam@telegraphjournal.com>, news <news@kingscorecord.com>, "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "David.Akin" <David.Akin@globalnews.ca>, execdirgen <execdirgen@nbliberal.ca>, Ezra <Ezra@therebel.media>, sfine <sfine@globeandmail.com> | |
| Cc: jennifer.sweet@cbc.ca, briangallant10 <briangallant10@gmail.com> | |
https://davidraymondamos3. Monday, 13 November 2023 New report shows 'frightening picture' of food insecurity | |
New report shows 'frightening picture' of food insecurity
In New Brunswick, food bank use increased by 25%, says author of Hunger Count report
"It's a frightening picture," said Richard Matern, the group's director of research and author of its annual Hunger Count report.
The latest version shows almost 2 million Canadians used a food bank last March.
That was up 32 per cent from the previous March and 79 per cent since March of 2019, said Mattern.
Richard
Matern, the director of research at Food Banks Canada and author of its
annual Hunger Count report, said half of New Brunswick food bank users
were single, working-age adults. (Richard Matern)
In New Brunswick, food bank use increased by 25 per cent, he said.
The jump is the biggest he's seen since he started collecting data in 1989.
It's about twice as large as the previous high, which followed the 2008 financial crisis.
At that time, people were losing jobs and running through their savings, said Matern.
This time around, the main drivers are the high cost of living and low incomes, he said.
A significant portion of New Brunswick food bank users — half — were single, working-age adults, said Matern.
Some of them couldn't afford food because their social assistance payments are too low, but an increasing portion were people with steady jobs and average incomes, he said.
"It's very, very difficult to keep up with this rate of inflation," said Matern.
Purchasing power is declining from one month to the next, he said.
Economist Herb Emery said if the affordability problem isn't addressed, it will get worse. (CBC)
High personal debt levels are also driving many working Canadians to resort to food banks, said Herb Emery, an economist at the University of New Brunswick.
"There's a lot of Canadian households that are maxed out," he said.
Consumers were enticed to spend beyond their means to keep the economy going after the last recession, said Emery.
As prices and interest rates climb, they have less and less room on their credit cards or lines of credit to cover shortfalls.
"You still have to pay your utilities. You still have to pay your rent."
"They have to adjust on other margins, like food."
This is a crisis.
- Herb Emery, economist
It's a perfect storm, said Emery. The job market has cooled, making it more difficult to raise income. And little control can be exerted over prices, because they're mainly determined by outside factors.
The only thing left for the Bank of Canada to do to control inflation is to force people to spend less, said Emery.
"You do that by making them poor," he said, which means raising the interest rate and making people struggle to make ends meet.
Low-income households felt the squeeze first. Now it's starting to hit the middle class, where credit has been more generous, said Emery.
The last time this type of policy was implemented, in the 1990s, it took 10 to 15 years to work, he said.
Mortgage rates were about 10 per cent and unemployment was high.
Some
of the people using food banks couldn't afford food because their
social assistance payments were too low, said Matern, but an increasing
portion were people with steady jobs and average incomes. (Shane Magee/CBC)
"There was a lot of pain," said Emery.
The frustrating part, as shown by the Hunger Count, is that the pain is felt disproportionately by those with lower incomes, he said.
Matern is calling for a multi-pronged approach to address affordability.
He wants gaps to be filled in the social safety net and benefits to be expanded.
Many working people don't qualify for income support programs, he said.
And many who work gigs, contracts or part time don't have employee medical or dental insurance.
Income supports can be delivered quickly and make a big difference, he said, pointing to previous short-term relief programs during the pandemic.
Governments should listen to Matern, said Emery.
They need to stop fighting over carbon pricing and do more for immediate relief, he said.
"This is a crisis."
Sees too much reliance on food banks
If energy prices get too high, the government should issue rebate cheques or pay part of the bill, said Emery.
Food banks have a role to play in "disaster relief," but they are being relied on too heavily, he said.
The quickest fix for affordability is to boost income, said Emery, suggesting several other ways to provide support, either temporarily or permanently.
Governments should raise social assistance rates, index payments to the cost of living and enrich targeted benefits, he said.
Newfoundland has done something good, he said, by introducing basic income for people 60 to 64 years old and providing much more generous support to households with children.
But single adults are treated too harshly, said Emery. They're the group most implicated in the homelessness crisis, he noted.
He also supports the creation of a rent bank, which was announced as part of the provincial government's recent housing strategy but still has not been set up.
The weird thing about this new austerity period is the economy has never been better, said Emery.
Nevertheless, there is a lot of uncertainty about future job losses, especially in the private sector, he said, and it's not clear when interest rate relief may come.
If the affordability problem isn't addressed it will get worse, he said.
"When people start going without food, the next thing is they're going to start losing their homes."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
David Amos
"This is a crisis."
David Amos
The only thing left for the Bank of Canada to do to control inflation is to force people to spend less, said Emery.
"You do that by making them poor," he said, which means raising the interest rate and making people struggle to make ends meet.
Low-income households felt the squeeze first. Now it's starting to hit the middle class, where credit has been more generous, said Emery."
Amen
Reply to Kate LeBlanc
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The following 8 years have seen a total increase of 127%.
And some here say the federal government has no responsibility for creating all the problems that have contributed to the mess we're in.
And the quoted economist wants to throw more taxpayer (borrowed) money at it.
And the beat goes on.....
Reply to Don Corey
Do the math.
Reply to Bobby Richards
Reply to Wilbur Ross
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Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Dale McConnell
Reply to Le Wier
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Bobby Richards
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Boy who cried wolf.
David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Reply to Le Wier
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valmond landry
Reply to valmond landry
Martha Diviine
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Reply to Wilbur Ross
"free" anyting is very popular in Canada.
David Amos
Reply to Roger devry
Except free speech
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Roger devry
Nobody I know wants free anything. People I know have witnessed double digit inflation rates 3 years in a row while wages have stayed the same. Simple arithmetic shows that isn't sustainable for the majority of folks.
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
Are we all living on different planets? Your views of our ability to speak freely are very different. I don't see anybody not able to exercise their right to free speech. Where's your example?
David Amos
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Reply to Daniel Franklin
What is your tally of disabled comments?
Martha Diviine
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David Amos
I have a long memory
Wilbur Ross
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No one can stop the grocery monopolies.
David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
The fat lady ain't sung yet
Wilbur Ross
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1 meal a day to keep the landlord away.
David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Amen
ABOUT US
In collaboration with a supportive food bank network that spans coast-to-coast-to-coast, Food Banks Canada’s mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow.
As a national charitable organization, we are dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity by supporting a network of Provincial Associations; affiliate food banks; and food agencies that work at the community level to relieve hunger. Our work is focused on maximizing collective impact, strengthening local capacity, and reducing the demand for food banks until a day when they are no longer needed.
The Food Bank Network
Food Banks Canada supports a network of 10 Provincial Associations and 4,750 hunger relief organizations from coast to coast to coast, in every province and territory. Together, we work collaboratively towards a Canada where no one goes hungry.
National Office
Contact the national office by mail:
2680 Matheson Blvd East, Suite 102
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 0A5
Phone: (905) 602-5234 | Toll-free: 1 (877) 535-0958
Fax: (905) 602-5614 | info@foodbankscanada.ca
Kirstin Beardsley
Chief Executive Officer | ext. 244
Chris Ferraz
Chief Administration Officer | ext. 667
Philippe Ozga
Chief Network Services Officer | ext. 302
Erin Filey-Wronecki
Chief Development and Partnerships Officer | ext. 229
Caroline Newton
Chief Communication Officer | ext. 1147
Chantal Senecal
Director of National Programs | ext. 1155
Claudia Galella
Director of Corporate Development and Partnerships | ext. 1130
Mahen Kandasamy
Director of Finance | ext. 224
Danielle Lalonde
Director of Communications | ext. 232
Richard Matern
Director of Research | ext. 210
Lisa Wernham
Director of National Food Sharing | ext. 290
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors apply their expertise and business acumen to help us find solutions to hunger in Canada. The Board guides our strategic direction, ensures financial accountability, and helps us achieve transparency in reporting to the public.
Food Banks Canada Board of Directors
Mary-Jo Hewat, Chair
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Facilities | Sagen MI Canada
Mary-Jo Hewat brings over 25 years of human resources expertise and is currently the Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Facilities at Sagen. Prior to joining Sagen, Mary-Jo was the SVP, HR Business Partnerships at the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). She holds the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation and is a Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE). Along with being a member of the Food Banks Canada Board, she sits on the Advisory Council to the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Human Resource Management and Organizational Design Programs.
Peter Singer, Vice Chair
Chairman | Thomas, Large & Singer Inc.
Peter Singer is President of Thomas, Large and Singer and has been since 1986. In 1999, he was additionally named CEO, and in 2020, Peter became the Chairman of both companies as his son, David, assumed the role of President. He has been extremely active in industry affairs. In 2000, he assumed the role of Chairman of that organization which is now a part of the Consumer Brands Association. Peter continues to be a member of the Executive Committee of the Food Industry Association of Canada and has acted as that organizations Chair and Chair of the Nominating Committee. Peter has been proud to have been awarded the food industry’s Golden Pencil award in 2008 and Life Member Designation of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers in 2012.
David Long, Secretary
Chief Executive Officer | Greater Vancouver Food Bank
David has worked internationally in Ireland, Switzerland, Great Britain and Australia before settling in Canada in 1996. He has led many high performing teams and successfully made the bold career change from the kitchen to the CEO office in 2005. David has held senior positions in different disciplines as an Executive Chef, CEO, General Manager and Vice President of Operations before accepting the role as Chief Executive Officer for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Always a passionate engaging leader David builds high performing Teams and has a proven track record of bringing fun, success and inspiration to organizations.
Rosemary McCrie, Treasurer
Finance Consultant | McCrie & Mundy Professional Services
Rosemary has 30+ years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry at PepsiCo Foods Canada and currently delivering finance management consulting within the tech industry. Along with being a board member of Food Banks Canada, she also acts as Director for PepsiCo Canada Foundation. Rosemary is experienced in governance, risk management, strategic change and integrated system implementation. She holds a Chartered Director designation from the Directors College, a joint venture of The Conference Board of Canada and McMaster University.
Ryan Bahadur
VP of Finance | Keurig Dr Pepper, Canada
Ryan serves as a key member of KDP’s Canadian Executive leadership team and is accountable for Strategy, Corporate Development, and oversight of all Finance and Information technology functions. Ryan previously served in the same capacity as CFO, Kellogg Canada. Prior to becoming CFO, he served in other senior finance roles at Kellogg. Ryan completed the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership program and is a CPA.
Ilya Bahar
Retired Partner | PWC
Until his retirement in 2018, Ilya managed PwC’s consulting practice for Consumer Markets in Canada, where he led strategic initiatives for leading clients in retail and consumer products. Prior to PwC, Ilya worked for ten years as a partner with IBM, where he held various executive positions in Canada and Brazil. He was also Managing Director with Premier Foods, Industrial Division, a company specialized in nutritional products for the institutional catering market in South Africa. Ilya has served on the Advisory Board of the Ryerson Retail Management School and advised the Food and Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) and Retail Council of Canada (RCC) on numerous industry initiatives.
John Bayliss
Executive Vice President, Transformation Officer | Walmart Canada
John Bayliss serves as a member of Walmart Canada’s executive leadership team and is accountable for driving the strategy, innovation, corporate development, and transformation agenda for the company in Canada. Additionally, John is responsible for delivering the new store format, real estate, and omni supply chain network infrastructure strategies. Prior to this role, John Bayliss was the Senior Vice President of Logistics and Supply Chain of Walmart Canada. Prior to joining Walmart Canada in 2015, John worked for 16 Years with The Boston Consulting Group. Most recently, he was a Partner and Managing Director with BCG Canada based out of Toronto.
Linda Beairsto
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault & President, MT>Align
Linda brings over 30 years of legal and business experience. She is a partner of McCarthy Tétrault and President of MT>Align, a wholly owned division of the firm. As President of MT>Align, Linda leads the firm’s innovative MT>Align division which has over 100 contract independent high-caliber lawyers across Canada. Prior to joining McCarthy, Linda was an executive member of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp’s C-Suite, where she was Chief General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Over the span of her career, Linda held executive management and senior legal leadership roles in various industries including power & utilities, pharmaceutical, healthcare, automotive parts, manufacturing, packaging, food, chemicals, commercial real estate and financial services. Linda holds the Chartered Director (C. Dir) designation from the Directors College, McMaster University. She is also a certified compliance & ethics professional (CEEP) granted by the Compliance Certification Board. Her experience spans a variety of Board leadership roles in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Linda earned her LL. B from the University of New Brunswick and her B.A. (Asian Area Studies) from the University of British Columbia. In 2017, Linda was the finalist for National Post and ZSA Recruitment awards in two categories: 2017 General Counsel of the Year and 2017 Deal Making of the Year.
Marjorie Bencz
Executive Director | Edmonton’s Food Bank
Marjorie Bencz began with Edmonton’s Food Bank in 1987 as a volunteer and in 1989, she became the Executive Director. Over the years, Marjorie’s work and dedication have resulted in her being recognized with several community awards such as an honorary diploma in Health and Community Studies from Grand MacEwan Community College and being named Global TV’s Woman of Vision. Marjorie was honoured nationally for her ongoing service to Canadians and invested in the Order of Canada in the category of Social Science in 2006. In May 2012, Marjorie was honoured with a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, in the category of Community Service. Also in 2012, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In June 2015, Marjorie was inducted into the City of Edmonton Hall of Fame. Marjorie continues to believe that this recognition is not for her role, but for the collective support she receives from Edmontonians, Albertans and fellow Canadians in reducing hunger in our communities.
Tony Chow
President | Kellogg Canada
Tony Chow is President, Kellogg Canada and a key member of the Kellogg North American Leadership Team. He began his Kellogg career in Canada in 2003, serving in several customer leadership roles of increasing responsibility across the Canadian Sales organization. In 2010, he was promoted to Vice President, Sales, in the U.S. He repatriated to Canada in 2012 as Vice President, Sales and became Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales in 2017. Prior to his current role, he served as President of the Kashi Company. Tony currently serves on the board at Food & Consumer Products Canada, The Grocery Foundation and, most recently, joined Food Banks Canada’s Board of Directors. Tony received his Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and completed the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program.
Sylvie Cloutier
Chief Executive Officer | Quebec Food Processing Council (CTAQ)
Since 2010, Sylvie Cloutier has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Quebec Food Processing Council (CTAQ). She was first Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs at CTAQ between 2003 and 2010. Prior to joining CTAQ, she was VicePresident, Communications for the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors and Executive Director of the Canadian Grand Prix New Products Awards from 1999 to 2003. From 1993 to 1999, she worked as a public affairs and public relations consultant for Hill and Knowlton in Ottawa and independently with several companies and organizations including the Canadian Space Agency and the Canadian Mining Association. From 1984 to 1993, Sylvie worked in the federal government as Director of Communications Operations at the Privy Council, as Director of Communications for Canada 125 and as Press Secretary and Legislative Assistant to the President of the Treasury Board of Canada Canada and the federal Minister of Industry. Sylvie holds a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Ottawa and has pursued studies and training throughout her career.
Barbara Gosse
CEO | Trellis Canada
Barbara brings over 20 years experience in the charity sector creating innovative solutions addressing social justice issues. As Founding CEO of Trellis Canada, she operates a national consultancy addressing the protection of human rights and assists organizations to do the same. Previously, she was the Founding Chief Executive Officer of The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, where she provided national leadership and spearheaded the design, development and launch of the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. Barbara has held leadership positions with the Canadian Women’s Foundation and Prosper Canada. She has presented evidence to federal and provincial legislative committees, and participated in national and international consultations respecting poverty, homelessness, disability rights, gender-based violence and human trafficking. Barbara is the recipient of the 2018 Ontario Premier’s Women Building Communities Award.
Dany Hétu
Executive Director | Moisson Rive-Sud
Dany Hétu served in the Canadian Armed Forces as an Infantry Officer. He has worked at all levels, strategic, operational and tactical, both at home and abroad. He was deployed on several missions including in Afghanistan. After more than 32 years of service, he joined Moisson Rive-Sud. Among his professional activities, Mr. Hétu was an Administrator for the Caisse Desjardins des Militaires. He has a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and is a Certified Corporate Director (ASC), having completed the University Certification Program in Corporate Governance of the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés de l’Université Laval.
Randall Kahgee
Senior Counsel | Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP
Randall Kahgee is Senior Counsel with Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP and specializes in indigenous rights law, with an emphasis on community-based processes and government-to-government negotiations. He served as Chief of the Saugeen First Nation for four consecutive terms from June 2006 to June 2014. He has worked with First Nation governments across Canada and participated in significant agreements between First Nation communities and provincial and federal governments on energy matters, including issues relating to the development of nuclear facilities, transmission lines, wind energy projects, as well as environmental matters. He has extensive experience in consultation and accommodation related issues and has also been involved in the negotiation and implementation of land claim and self-government agreements and participated in a number of successful impact benefit negotiations. He has advised First Nations on a range of governance related issues. Randall received his BA (Hon) from York University and his LLB from the University of Toronto.
June Muir
Chief Executive Officer | UHC – Hub of Opportunities
June Muir has worked in the food assistance and charitable sector since 2000 when she undertook a career change and joined the team at UHC – Hub of Opportunities. As Chief Executive Officer, she leads a high-performing, interdisciplinary team working to ensure that the Windsor-Essex community is made aware of the ongoing needs of low-income individuals and families. June is a passionate, dedicated individual and a strong voice who makes a difference in the quality of life for those facing unemployment and financial hardship. June has been and continues to be at the forefront of developing partnerships with community service providers in Windsor to ensure there’s a strong focus on rebuilding a stable future for UHC’s clients.
Daman Thable Rayat
Corporate Secretary and Counsel | Infrastructure Ontario
Daman is a proud public servant and lawyer with a practice focused on ethics and governance. She currently serves as Corporate Secretary and Counsel for Infrastructure Ontario, an agency of the Ontario government. Previously, she was Director of Public Sector Ethics for the Office of the Integrity Commissioner (Ontario) where she led the office’s oversight activities for several mandates including conflicts of interest, whistleblowing and public sector expenses. Daman has served on and advised several non-profit and public sector boards. She received her B.Sc (Forensic Science, Biology and Chemistry) from the University of Toronto and her LL.B. from the University of Ottawa and most recently her ICD.D from the ICD-Rotman, Directors Education Program.
Herb Emery
An advisor to federal and provincial policymakers, Dr. Herb Emery focuses his research on the development of the Canadian economy and the persistence of long-standing regional disparities. Aside from understanding the economic fundamentals of growth in a small open economy, Dr. Emery’s work incorporates political, historical, cultural and other institutional factors that have shaped Canadian development processes.
Dr. Emery began as the Vaughan Chair in July, 2016. He holds an MA and PhD in Economics from the University of British Columbia. His academic career began at the University of Calgary where, from 1993 to 2016, he assembled a track record of demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and leadership.
At the University of Calgary, he served as Full Professor in Economics and Research Director for The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary as well as the Svare Professor in Health Economics, a joint position in the Department of Community Health Science in the Faculty of Medicine and the Department of Economics. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Managing Editor of Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de politiques, Canada's foremost journal examining economic and social policy.
Starting in 2019, Herb has led a major initiative, the JDI Roundtable on Manufacturing Competitiveness in New Brunswick, aimed at exploring policies and strategies for invigorating the province’s longstanding economic engine of manufacturing exports. In a post-Coronavirus global economy, manufacturing is expected to be a critical sector in all advanced economies for economic recovery and growth. The Roundtable is a research program and forum through which we can explore how the province and region can benefit from re-regionalization of manufacturing supply chains with a policy focus on the competitiveness of our exporters.
About the Vaughan Chair
The Vaughan Chair in Regional Economics was initiated in the late 1980s with an endowment from the A. Murray Vaughan family. The Vaughans supported recruiting someone who could both enhance understanding of key economic issues in New Brunswick and the Maritimes, and help develop policies to increase the overall prosperity of the region.
By working with governments, the private sector and non-profit organizations, the Vaughan Chair provides leadership and capacity in policy development for the region, making Atlantic Canadian provinces leaders in collaboration and creative solutions.
Curriculum VitaeNAME: John Charles Herbert Emery
ADDRESS: Department of Economics
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 5A3
(506) 447-3384
hemery@unb.ca
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, 1993
M.A. Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, 1989
B.A.(Hons.) Economics, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, 1988
EMPLOYMENT:
Vaughn Chair in Regional Economics and Full Professor,
Department of Economics, University of New Brunswick July 2016--
Research Director, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary July 2015-June 2016
Full Professor, Department of Economics, University of Calgary July 2007-June 2016
Managing Editor, Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de politiques July 2010-June 2015
Program Director, Health Policy, The School of Public Policy, September 2012-
University of Calgary July 2016
Svare Professor in Health Economics September 2007-
Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine August 2012
Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences
Associate Professor (with Tenure), July 1998-June 2007
Assistant Professor July 1993- June, 1998
Department of Economics, University of Calgary
Fields of Specialization: Health Economics, Economic History, Labour Economics
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 19:11:49 -0300
Subject: Fwd: Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy Higgy wish
that I did not save this video N'esy Pas Norm Traversy?
To: bdewolfe@fosterllp.ca, jessie.bernard@gowlingwlg.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Info <Info@gg.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:53:42 +0000
Subject: OSGG General Inquiries / Demande de renseignements généraux au BSGG
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for writing to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor
General. We appreciate hearing your views and suggestions. Responses
to specific inquiries can be expected within three weeks. Please note
that general comments and opinions may not receive a response.
*****
Nous vous remercions d'avoir écrit au Bureau du secrétaire du
gouverneur général. Nous aimons prendre connaissance de vos points de
vue et de vos suggestions. Il faut allouer trois semaines pour
recevoir une réponse à une demande précise. Veuillez noter que nous ne
donnons pas nécessairement suite aux opinions et aux commentaires
généraux.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This message may contain confidential or privileged
information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are
not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or
copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately if you have
received this email by mistake and delete it from your system.
AVIS IMPORTANT : Le présent courriel peut contenir des renseignements
confidentiels et est strictement réservé à l’usage de la personne à
qui il est destiné. Si vous n’êtes pas la personne visée, vous ne
devez pas diffuser, distribuer ou copier ce courriel. Merci de nous en
aviser immédiatement et de supprimer ce courriel s’il vous a été
envoyé par erreur.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Brendan Miller <bmiller@fosterllp.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:53:38 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy
Higgy wish that I did not save this video N'esy Pas Norm Traversy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Please be advised that from October 10, 2022 at 12:00AM through to and
including November 25, 2022 at 11:59AM I will have limited access to
my email, being email address
bmiller@fosterllp.ca<mailto:bm
the office.
Though I typically accept services of applications, court process, and
other documents via email, I will not be accepting service of same for
the period of October 10, 2022 at 12:00AM through to and including
November 25, 2022 at 11:59AM.
If there is correspondence you absolutely need to send during the
above time-period, you may send same by fax to Foster LLP
(403-266-4741) to the attention of all three following lawyers please:
(i) Leigh Sherry.
(ii) Peter Crozier; &
(iii) Rupert Joshi.
If there is an emergency application or matter during the above
time-period, you may serve the same by fax to Foster LLP
(403-266-4741) to the attention of all three following lawyers please:
(i) Leigh Sherry.
(ii) Peter Crozier; &
(iii) Rupert Joshi.
If there is an emergency requiring that you speak to me by phone
during the above time-period and you do not already have my cellphone
number, please email Bethany DeWolfe at
bdewolfe@fosterllp.ca<mailto:b
provide to you. Thereafter, please text or Imessage me regarding who
it is and what you need, and I will get back to you.
If prior to October 10, 2022 you need to contact me about something on
a file or what to deal with something before October 10, 2022, please
do so now.
If we have provided agreed to dates or have dates booked for steps in
litigation, questioning, court, or something of the like, those dates
stand and will be going ahead with counsel from my firm, or agent
counsel in lieu of my appearance, and should stay in your calendar.
This letter is not to be interpreted as agreement to adjourn or cancel
anything.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Tomkins, Alyssa" <Alyssa.Tomkins@gowlingwlg.com
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:53:40 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy
Higgy wish that I did not save this video N'esy Pas Norm Traversy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Please note that I am in a hearing from October 13-November 25. I will
be checking email periodically, but I may be slower than usual to
respond. If your request is urgent, please contact my assistant,
Jessie Bernard, at jessie.bernard@gowlingwlg.com.
The information in this email is intended only for the named recipient
and may be privileged or confidential. If you are not the intended
recipient please notify us immediately and do not copy, distribute or
take action based on this email. If this email is marked 'personal'
Gowling WLG is not liable in any way for its content. E-mails are
susceptible to alteration. Gowling WLG shall not be liable for the
message if altered, changed or falsified.
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP is a member of Gowling WLG, an international
law firm which consists of independent and autonomous entities
providing services around the world. Our structure is explained in
more detail at www.gowlingwlg.com/legal.
References to 'Gowling WLG' mean one or more members of Gowling WLG
International Limited and/or any of their affiliated businesses as the
context requires. Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP has offices in Montréal,
Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region, Calgary and Vancouver.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:54:52 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy
Higgy wish that I did not save this video N'esy Pas Norm Traversy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:55:03 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy
Higgy wish that I did not save this video N'esy Pas Norm Traversy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Due to the volume of messages received, this automatic response
informs you that your email has been received and will be reviewed in
a timely manner.
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
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-Brunswick E3B 5H1
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel: premier@gnb.ca / premierministre@gnb.ca
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:54:51 +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.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Office of the Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:53:36 +0000
Subject: Thank you for your email
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
This is to acknowledge that your email has been received by the Office
of the Premier.
We appreciate the time you have taken to write.
NOTICE: This e-mail was intended for a specific person. If it has
reached you by mistake, please delete it and advise me by return
e-mail. Any privilege associated with this information is not waived.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.
Avis: Ce message est confidentiel, peut être protégé par le secret
professionnel et est à l'usage exclusif de son destinataire. Il est
strictement interdit à toute autre personne de le diffuser, le
distribuer ou le reproduire. Si le destinataire ne peut être joint ou
vous est inconnu, veuillez informer l'expéditeur par courrier
électronique immédiatement et effacer ce message et en détruire toute
copie. Merci de votre cooperation.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Premier <PREMIER@leg.gov.mb.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:53:40 +0000
Subject: Auto Reply Premier’s Secretariat
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
On behalf of The Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba, we
would like to acknowledge receipt of your email.
Please note that this is an automated response to let you know that
your email has been received and that it will be reviewed at the
earliest opportunity.
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Premier’s Correspondence Team
Executive Council
Government of Manitoba
******************************
Au nom du premier ministre du Manitoba, Heather Stefanson, nous
accusons réception de votre courriel.
Veuillez noter qu’il s’agit d’une réponse automatisée pour vous
informer que votre courriel a été reçu et qu’il sera examiné dans les
meilleurs délais.
Nous vous remercions d’avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
Équipe chargée de la correspondance du premier ministre
Conseil exécutif
Gouvernement du Manitoba
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Premier <PREMIER@novascotia.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:55:06 +0000
Subject: Thank you for your email
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email to Premier Houston. This is an automatic
confirmation your message has been received.
As we are currently experiencing higher than normal volumes of
correspondence, there may be delays in the response time for
correspondence identified as requiring a response.
If you are looking for the most up-to-date information from the
Government of Nova Scotia please visit:
http://novascotia.ca<https://
Thank you,
Premier’s Correspondence Team
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:53:32 -0300
Subject: Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy Higgy wish that I
did not save this video N'esy Pas Norm Traversy?
To: Bsamuel@ottawapa.ca, bmiller@fosterllp.ca, reception@rkip.ca,
kim.ayotte@ottawa.ca, tips@ottawa.citynews.ca,
andrew.gibbs@justice.gc.ca, Nathalie.G.Drouin@pco-bcp.gc.
alyssa.tomkins@gowlingwlg.com, kwilson@wilsonlawoffices.ca,
tcurry@litigate.com, catherine@mckenney2022.ca, mark@marksutcliffe.ca,
info@bobchiarelli.ca, Mayor@kadri.ca, Media@kadri.ca,
info@rebelnews.com, Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca, david.white@ottawa.ca,
serge.arpin@ottawa.ca, steve.kanellakos@ottawa.ca, Office of the
Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, "Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>,
info <info@gg.ca>, "Kevin.leahy" <Kevin.leahy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>,
"Brenda.Lucki" <Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "wayne.eyre"
<wayne.eyre@forces.gc.ca>, "pierre.poilievre"
<pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>,
endottawaelectiongambling@
mayor@brandonbay.ca, celinedebassige@yahoo.ca,
contact@macdonald4mayor.com, jreg4mayor@gmail.com,
jacobsolomonmayor@gmail.com, info@mikeforottawa.ca,
kadri4mayor@kadri.ca, voteparam@gmail.com, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>,
"Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>,
jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca, Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca, "Marco.Mendicino"
<Marco.Mendicino@parl.gc.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.ab.ca>, premier <premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.pe.ca>, PREMIER <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>, rokaku8@gmail.com,
patrickking <patrickking@canada-unity.com>
traversy.n@gmail.com, kingpatrick278 <kingpatrick278@gmail.com>,
rick@petersoncapital.ca, dominic.cardy@gnb.ca,
nadine.duguay@dialoguenb.org, hemery@unb.ca,
moncef.lakouas@bgcmoncton.com, admin@bgcmoncton.com,
sebastien.sogne@
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "blaine.higgs"
<blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>,
"Louis.Leger" <Louis.Leger@gnb.ca>, oldmaison@yahoo.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Trudeau lays groundwork for never-used Emergencies Act
94,551 views
Apr 10, 2020
CBC News
3.19M subscribers
Sources tell CBC News that the federal government has sent a letter to
provinces and territories as part of the consultation period — a
required step before triggering a public welfare emergency
506 Comments
David Amos
Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy Higgy wish that I did not
save this video N'esy Pas?
I must say that Diane Deans and the Ottawa Police Association made my day
https://davidraymondamos3.
Wednesday, 19 October 2022
The Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Rocheleau, Julie" <Julie.Rocheleau@gg.ca>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 21:15:10 +0000
Subject: Réponse automatique : YO Mr Prime Minister Trudeau "The
Younger" Perhaps the Governor General or the Honourable David Lametti
or the former RCMP lawyer Barbara.Massey will explain why the CBC ad
the RCMP are blocking my emails
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Hi,
Please note that I no longer work at the OSGG.
For all communications questions, contact mediarelations@gg.ca.
Bonjour,
Veuillez noter que je ne travaille plus au BSGG.
Pour toutes questions liées aux communications, veuillez communiquer
avec mediarelations@gg.ca.
Julie Rocheleau
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This message may contain confidential or privileged
information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are
not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or
copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately if you have
received this email by mistake and delete it from your system.
AVIS IMPORTANT : Le présent courriel peut contenir des renseignements
confidentiels et est strictement réservé à l'usage de la personne à
qui il est destiné. Si vous n'êtes pas la personne visée, vous ne
devez pas diffuser, distribuer ou copier ce courriel. Merci de nous en
aviser immédiatement et de supprimer ce courriel s'il vous a été
envoyé par erreur.
YO Mr Prime Minister Trudeau "The Younger" Perhaps the Governor
General or the Honourable David Lametti or the former RCMP lawyer
Barbara.Massey will explain why the CBC ad the RCMP are blocking my
emails
David Amos
<motomaniac333@gmail.com> AttachmentTue, Dec 22, 2020 at 5:14 PM
To: pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, stpaulsunited@nb.aibn.com,
allie.crawley@astheology.ns.ca
<Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, revoneill@gmail.com,
Kevin.leahy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, robmoorefundy <robmoorefundy@gmail.com>,
rob.moore@parl.gc.ca, sebastien.brillon@rcmp-grc.gc.
nadine.duguay@dialoguenb.org, Editor@medicalveritas.org,
markemersondonnelly@gmail.com, callto <callto@action4canada.com>,
premier <premier@gov.bc.ca>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>,
Bruce.Fitch@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca, "kris.austin"
<kris.austin@gnb.ca>, david.coon@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca,
Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, Ernie.Steeves@gnb.ca, Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca,
mary.wilson@gnb.ca, marie.sutherland@cbc.ca,
John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, John.green@gnb.ca, premier
<premier@ontario.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, Office of the
Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, PREMIER <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.pe.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nl.ca>, premier
<premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>,
"Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "barb.whitenect"
<barb.whitenect@gnb.ca>, barbara.massey@justice.gc.ca, "Brenda.Lucki"
<Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>,
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Cc: ashlee.smith@gg.ca, media@gg.ca, julie.rocheleau@gg.ca,
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<Ian.Shugart@pco-bcp.gc.ca>
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Massey, Barbara" <Barbara.Massey@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 19:26:09 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Higgy after watchng you latest interview
with your very nervous blogger buddy Chucky Lelanc Methinks you would
enoy a little Deja Vu about you strange dudes wishing me a Merry
Chrismas in 2017 N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello, I am on leave from December 22nd to December 29th inclusive.
If your matter is urgent, please contact Katiana Fleck until December
24th and Emily Abou-Assaf from the 24-29th inclusive and they will
redirect your inquiry.
Have a happy holiday.
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Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 19:26:09 +0000
Subject: Automatic Reply
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
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Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable David Lametti, ministre de la
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---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
To: premier <premier@gnb.ca>, Bruce.Fitch@gnb.ca,
robert.gauvin@gnb.ca, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>,
david.coon@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca, Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca,
Ernie.Steeves@gnb.ca, Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca, mary.wilson@gnb.ca,
marie.sutherland@cbc.ca, John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca,
John.green@gnb.ca, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.ab.ca>, Office of the Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>,
PREMIER <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>, premier <premier@gov.pe.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.nl.ca>, premier <premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>, "hugh.flemming"
<hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, "Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>,
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"Chuck.Thompson" <Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>,
"Nathalie.Drouin" <Nathalie.Drouin@justice.gc.ca
<jake.stewart@gnb.ca>, "jeff.carr" <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, "george.oram"
<george.oram@gnb.ca>, Lucie.Dubois@gnb.ca, John.Lunney@gnb.ca,
"Hamish.Wright" <Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan (LEG)"
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Bcc:
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:26:05 -0400
Subject: YO Higgy after watchng you latest interview with your very
nervous blogger buddy Chucky Lelanc Methinks you would enoy a little
Deja Vu about you strange dudes wishing me a Merry Chrismas in 2017
N'esy Pas?
----- Message truncated -----
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Wednesday, 19 October 2022
PUBLIC ORDER EMERGENCY COMMISSION INQUIRY Day 5 - October 19, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Trudeau lays groundwork for never-used Emergencies Act
94,551 views
Apr 10, 2020
CBC News
3.19M subscribers
Sources tell CBC News that the federal government has sent a letter to
provinces and territories as part of the consultation period — a
required step before triggering a public welfare emergency
506 Comments
David Amos
Methinks Trudeau The Younger and his buddy Higgy wish that I did not
save this video N'esy Pas?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
LIVE PUBLIC ORDER EMERGENCY COMISSION INQUIRY Day 5 - October 19, 2022
1,480 watching now
Started streaming 7 hours ago
1.1K
WARCAMPAIGN
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Ottawa Police Association Statement - October 18, 2022
1,873 views
Oct 18, 2022
Ottawa Police Association
23 subscribers
Interim President Brian Samuel makes a statement regarding the 2022
Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire issued by the Ottawa Police
Association
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
How a council meltdown let down a city in crisis
Mayor Jim Watson may have had reasons to lose faith in OPS board, but
he squandered his credibility years ago
Joanne Chianello · CBC News · Posted: Feb 22, 2022 4:00 AM ET
Watch Wednesday’s contentious council meeting in 7 minutes
8 months ago
Duration 7:08
Ottawa city council voted to overhaul the police services board
Wednesday night amid the ongoing occupation of the downtown core,
leading to accusations of political posturing and calls for the mayor
to resign.
It's not often — in fact, it's never — that an Ottawa city council
meeting garners national attention. Last week's histrionics attracted
more than 10 times the usual eyeballs on YouTube, spawning news
commentaries that characterized it as everything from appalling to
dysfunctional and embarrassing to any reasonable citizen of this city.
Watching the tears, the accusations, the ousting of the police
oversight board's chair and calls for the mayor to resign, you might
well believe this city council imploded under the weight of the
historic civil unrest the capital has experienced this month.
But for close observers, council's conduct wasn't a surprise. Instead,
it was the culmination of years of rivalry, pettiness and personality
politics, all coming to a head at the worst possible moment.
Diane Deans ousted from oversight board in overhaul of Ottawa's
police leadership
Although all members bear some responsibility for last Wednesday's
debacle, the mayor is the head of council and his leadership has set
the tone for the divisiveness that has characterized his most recent
term of office.
From the moment Jim Watson was re-elected in 2018, he effectively
froze downtown councillors out of leadership positions, and has passed
over more experienced councillors — who may not agree with him — for
newbies who may have to lean more on his office for help.
And with Diane Deans now removed as head of the Ottawa Police Services
Board, not a single woman chairs a council committee or board, despite
the fact that one-third of council is female.
Several councillors told Mayor Jim Watson they had lost confidence in
his ability to lead the city and called on him to resign at a lengthy
and emotional council meeting last week. (Laura Osman/CBC)
That there's no love lost between Deans and Watson is hardly news.
The mayor has rebuked Deans publicly on many occasions. He's rebuffed
her calls for an audit of the LRT (which council later approved),
slammed her suggestion to cut bus fares in the summer of 2019 until
the delayed LRT was up and running (council later offered free fares
for an entire month) and had her microphone cut off during a debate on
a possible judicial inquiry over the LRT, for which he apologized the
next day. (It's worth noting the province is moving full-speed ahead
with its own public inquiry on the Confederation Line at this very
moment.)
Watson even once refused to allow Deans to ask a question at the
finance committee meeting, to which she does not belong, which is
completely unheard of.
So when Watson told Deans last week he no longer had confidence in her
as the chair of the police board, it's understandable that some saw
the move as a personal vendetta or, as one councillor put it, "100 per
cent political."
Here's the thing: Maybe it wasn't.
Consider that Deans, with the backing of the police services board,
signed a contract to hire an interim police chief from outside the
city within 24 hours of Peter Sloly resigning as police chief. In
fact, the news release announcing the shocking resignation of the
police chief — in the middle of a massive crisis — on Feb. 15 ended
with the statement that the board "will be appointing a new chief very
soon."
Apparently, "very soon" meant the following day.
Peter Sloly resigns as Ottawa's police chief, says force now
'better positioned to end this occupation'
Analysis: Peter Sloly takes the hit for loss of public trust in
Ottawa police
Now, the police services board is an autonomous body, and has every
right to hire a new chief. But it's an unquestionably odd move to
bring in someone — even if it's on a short-term basis, even if he's
well-regarded — without discussing the matter with the mayor and
council first, to say nothing of the public, and just as an
operational plan to end the downtown occupation is being launched.
That's not to say the board should have to have council's approval,
but it should not have come as a surprise that many of Deans's council
colleagues were none-too-happy to be blindsided by the news. It should
be noted that three board members resigned in support of Deans.
WATCH | Deans says decision to hire outside interim chief was made
because Ottawa police leadership had been 'gutted'
Deans says decision to hire outside interim chief was made because
Ottawa police leadership had been 'gutted'
8 months ago
Duration 6:06
City Coun. Diane Deans joins Power & Politics to discuss being ousted
as chair of Ottawa's Police Services Board and the latest on the
protests occupying the city's downtown.
Among the analysis and soul-searching that will occur over the events
of the past month will be serious questions regarding police
governance.
And in the coming weeks, we may have more clarity over whether Deans
made a too-fast decision, or Watson overstepped his authority having
Deans removed from the police services board.
But it should never have come to this.
Analysis: From chaos to chaos, mayor leaves behind a fractured council
Elected officials should disagree. They should hold various
perspectives, be able to argue behind closed doors, and at public
meetings.
What they shouldn't do is get entrenched in deep divisions that make
it impossible to have constructive discussions during a city crisis.
The mayor and Deans should have been able to come to some sort of
mutual agreement — or at the very least be able to talk over a
decision of this magnitude for more than five hours on the day the
contract is completed.
Perhaps Watson could have asked the board to consider waiting until
after the truck protesters were cleared out of the downtown core
before bringing someone in from the outside. Perhaps Deans could have
let council know the board's plans before signing on the dotted line.
WATCH | El-Chantiry says infighting at Ottawa council meeting 'wasn't
one of the proudest moments'
El-Chantiry says infighting at Ottawa council meeting 'wasn't one of
the proudest moments'
8 months ago
Duration 7:07
Ottawa City Coun. Eli El-Chantiry joins Power & Politics to discuss
being the new chair of the Police Services Board and the latest on the
protests occupying the city's downtown.
None of this happened because there's no trust on this council between
what's been dubbed the Watson Club —those who often vote with the
mayor — and the Detention Club detractors.
Everyone's to blame, from those who let the mayor's office whip their
votes, to those who ratchet up the rhetoric, or call for the mayor to
resign.
(It's hard to see how Watson leaving in the middle of this mess would
help. Would we be in better shape handing over the reins to one of the
deputy mayors, such as first-term Coun. Laura Dudas? Or drive-and-Zoom
Coun. George Darouze, who dissented on a council motion to apologize
to downtown residents for failing to provide safety and security to
them during the protests?)
As the head of council, though, Watson needs to take ownership for the
broken culture at council, and he's bearing the brunt of that now.
The mayor might have a valid, non-political, reason not to support
Deans's decision to hire an interim chief — that remains to be seen —
but he's squandered any benefit of the doubt many may have afforded
him on this issue.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joanne Chianello
City affairs analyst
Joanne Chianello is an award-winning journalist and CBC Ottawa's city
affairs analyst. You can email her at joanne.chianello@cbc.ca or tweet
her at @jchianello.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
DEJA VU ANYONE???
Monday, 15 May 2023
N.B. has second-highest rate of food insecurity of 10 provinces
N.B. has second-highest rate of food insecurity of 10 provinces
Fredericton food bank consistently setting new all-time records for demand
Only Prince Edward Island exceeded New Brunswick when it came to overall food insecurity, according to the 2022 report by Proof, a research team that investigates and publishes annual reports on food insecurity.
The team uses three definitions to describe food insecurity:
- Moderate: "Compromise in quality and/or quantity of food due to a lack of money for food."
- Marginal: "Worry about running out of food and/or limited food selection due to a lack of money for food."
- Severe: "Miss meals, reduce food intake, and at the most extreme go day(s) without food."
Alex Boyd, CEO of Greener Village, a food bank in Fredericton, said the numbers reflect what they're seeing on the ground.
"The last full-month stat that we have was significantly higher than any month we've ever seen in history," said Boyd. "So it's not surprising to me that those numbers are coming out in the report."
Alex
Boyd with some of the food donated to Greener Village in Fredericton.
He said food banks are continuing to see a rise in demand. (Submitted by Alex Boyd)
That full-month statistic was 40 per cent higher than the same month last year, so Boyd predicts next year's report on food security will be "probably more grim."
"The situation that we're seeing on the ground is significantly worse than 2022, and 2022 was significantly worse than 2021. So we're basically just seeing continual increases to the demand that food banks are facing."
Boyd said the depth of the deprivation is critical.
"We're not talking about some people who are skipping the odd meal. We have a potential starvation dilemma in Canada," he said.
New Brunswick had the highest percentage of people living in 'moderate'
food insecurity of any Canadian province. (Proof report)
Based on statistics collected by Greener Village, Boyd said one in five clients has "a net negative income before they make any consideration for food whatsoever."
Atlantic provinces have highest rate of insecurity
According to the report, the Atlantic provinces had the highest rate of individuals living in food-insecure households in 2022 — 23.6 per cent in P.E.I., 22.7 per cent in New Brunswick, 22.5 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 22 per cent in Nova Scotia.
"During the time of measurement, these provinces were experiencing especially high rates of inflation and unemployment," states the report.
"Previous research has found that higher unemployment rates are associated with higher provincial food insecurity. The relationship between rising food insecurity and the high rates of inflation and unemployment during this time warrant further study."
Household food insecurity increased last year by 18 per cent over 2021. (Proof report)
According to the data compiled by Proof, based on data from Statistics Canada's 2021 Canadian Income Survey, 6.9 million people in the 10 provinces, including almost 1.8 million children, lived in a food-insecure household last year.
The report said this is a "considerable increase from 2021 during a period of unprecedented inflation." In fact, household food insecurity increased last year by 18 per cent over 2021.
"The persistently high prevalence of household food insecurity across Canada highlights the need for more effective, evidence-based policy responses by federal and provincial governments," stated the report, which was released earlier this month.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Average Canadian house price rose to $716,000 in April — up by $100K since January
After tumbling for much of 2022, the average price has risen 4 months in a row
Pete Evans · CBC News · Posted: May 15, 2023 10:49 AM ADT
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/crea-housing-data-1.6843592
Average Canadian house price rose to $716,000 in April — up by $100K since January
After tumbling for much of 2022, the average price has risen 4 months in a row
After plunging due to interest rate hikes throughout last year, the average price of a Canadian resale home has now increased for four months in a row, new numbers showed Monday.
The Canadian Real Estate Association said Monday that the average selling price of a home that sold on its MLS system in April went for $716,000. That's the fourth monthly increase in a row, and it marks a collective increase of more than $100,000 since the start of the year.
After peaking at just over $816,000 in February 2022 — right before the Bank of Canada began its aggressive campaign of rate hikes — Canada's housing market went ice cold for much of last year, as drastically higher mortgage rates made it more expensive to finance the purchase of a home.
Average prices bottomed out a few months later, at just under $630,000 in July.
But after moving essentially sideways until the start of 2023, the market has seemingly resumed its upward momentum ever since.
WATCH | Could empty office buildings could be the fix to Canada's housing crisis?
Much of the rebound stems from an uptick in sales in the Greater Toronto Area and B.C.'s Lower Mainland, two parts of the country that saw both the biggest gains during the early days of COVID-19, and also the largest drawdown once rates went up.
If numbers from those two markets are stripped out, the national average price drops by more than $144,000, to an average house price of $572,000 in places that are not Toronto or Vancouver.
CREA, which represents more than 100,000 realtors across the country, says the number of homes that sold during the month increased by 11 per cent from March's level to 44,059, and it's now back up to its highest level since last June. But it's still almost 20 per cent below what it was during the feverish market of this time last year.
"Home sales continue to bounce back (with some force) from the multi-decade low observed at the beginning of the year," TD Bank economist Rishi Sondhi said. "Support has come from solid job markets, lower interest rates and improving buyer psychology from a central bank that's on pause [but] affordability remains significantly strained [and] subdued supply is probably playing an even larger role in pushing prices higher."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sunday, 15 January 2023
Don't think of food banks as a Band-Aid. What we do is more like a tourniquet
Don't think of food banks as a Band-Aid. What we do is more like a tourniquet
Some opinions — like food banks distributing unhealthy food — are not supported by the facts
This column is an opinion by Alex Boyd, executive director of Greener Village in Fredericton. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.
It's that time of year again. The Christmas carols are long finished, the malls and stores are quiet, and for the first time in weeks, your local food bank isn't everywhere you look.
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, life is returning to normal. But throughout December, you couldn't turn sideways without hearing about turkey drives, or gifts for kids, or other food bank endeavours.
And inevitably, this rise in publicity and recognition triggered a wave of comments, letters and thoughts. "Food banks are part of the problem," "food banks don't address the issue," and my personal favourite, "food banks are a Band-Aid."
To an extent, I get it.
Being the executive director of Greener Village, the largest food bank in New Brunswick, has given me valuable insight into how food banks have evolved. I realize the beginnings — and how the need for food banks has only increased over the last 40 years.
In fact, in 2022 food banks saw the highest level of need ever, with 23,000 visits in March in New Brunswick alone.
Some may say that this proves food banks are an inefficient model and should be scrapped since they don't help solve food insecurity. Those same opinions typically throw out several more concerns: "Food banks don't provide good food," we're told. Or that food banks cause shame, are judgmental or don't pay attention to the cultural needs of people.
I had the privilege of attending a conference about food systems several weeks ago. It was wonderful to hear about all the great initiatives throughout the Atlantic region to promote local food access, affordability and fairness.
It was great to hear the presenters from academia, business, agriculture and food charities talk about the need for local food production, processing and procurement.
One of the opinions expressed at the conference framed food charity as a Band-Aid. It took the air out of the room for a minute for me, as I realized that there are many people (including people at a food systems conference) in our communities who don't have an accurate understanding of how organizations like Greener Village actually function.
We're not fixing small scrapes on a knee
So let me be very clear. Food banks are not a Band-Aid. A Band-Aid is a little strip of plastic that you put on a small wound. It's something that can be used for minor cuts and maybe on the odd scrape.
Food banks are not dealing with something so trivial. Food banks are dealing with a serious and systemic issue.
While
food banks collected non-perishable items from individual donors, other
donations allow them to purchase fresh and frozen foods that account
for many of the contents of individual hampers. (Submitted by Alex Boyd )
So, the picture I'd like to put in your mind when you think about the rising prevalence of hunger in our communities is that of a person who just lost a limb.
Without immediate intervention, they are at risk of bleeding to death. We know that stemming the bleeding will not put this person back to perfect health, but the bleeding needs to stop if life is to be preserved.
Food banks across our country are tourniquets that are stemming the bleeding.
Here's what you need to know. Your local food bank is saving lives.
Let me tell you about some of the feedback we receive from our clients. It often feels overwhelming to read a phrase like this: "the food bank saved our lives."
My mind used to immediately discount that kind of thing. After all, we aren't firefighters, search and rescue, or health-care professionals. But the more feedback we receive, the more we hear that sentiment, over and over again.
It's time that we as food bankers take our role seriously — and talk about it with our communities.
Here's what you need to know. Your local food bank is saving lives.
The challenges are systemic
But the work isn't completed. We know that hunger is rising and that there are systemic challenges from food supply, waste, cost, availability and perhaps most importantly adequate awareness and education.
That's all before we even consider the challenge of income inequality, inflation and housing.
These most recent factors caused a 41 per cent increase in Greener Village client demand in 2022 alone.
All of these things need to be addressed if we are truly going to eliminate food insecurity. It is going to take a robust group of leaders who can begin to tackle all these issues at a policy level.
We need long-term solutions that factor in growing demand, increase in population and climate change.
Food banks play a critical role in filling the gaps. That's why places like Greener Village (and there are many) have "learning kitchens," which focus on food education.
It's why 60 per cent of what we spend on food goes to local and fresh food, and our hampers mirror this percentage in fresh and frozen food given to clients. Assumptions that food banks distribute unhealthy food are not true.
It's why we create many different hampers for people with different dietary, health and cultural needs.
It's why we work to divert edible foods from landfills and to make sure that we can get them to the people who need them most.
So while we wait for good, sustainable systemic solutions to the challenges of hunger and food insecurity, food banks will continue to be here — every month of the year.
We will continue to sustain lives, fill gaps and innovate to address a growing problem.
And, we will be here for those times when life throws you a curveball that you didn't expect.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Methinks it high time the food bankers and I discuss the the 529 Matter before the EUB N'esy Pas?
"The number of families from the McAdam and Harvey area using the Lakeland Resource Centre's food bank has jumped about 50 per cent over last year to 32, said Crissy Soucy.
She said she believes one of the main factors behind the increase is the rising cost of power bills.
In order to avoid social assistance clients having their power cut off if they fall behind on their bill, the Department of Social Development sometimes sets aside a portion of their cheque, "which leaves them with very minimal money given to them at the first of the month," said Soucy.
"And they have to rely on the food banks to get them through until the family allowance comes. And there's just not enough to go around," she said.
"So if their cheque was $850, they take $400 off and it leaves them with $450 to do them. And that means paying the rent, paying their phone bill, paying their whatever they have. And then they have to wait for family allowance to come, probably to pay more bills."
N.B. Power asks for biggest rate hike in 15 years: 8.9 per cent on April 1
Premier blames climate policies, but CEO says ‘very little’ of hike is due to carbon pricing
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 05, 2022 3:48 PM ADT
"N.B. Power is asking energy regulators to approve an 8.9 per cent increase in power rates for all its customers, at the same time New Brunswickers are already coping with soaring housing, food and gasoline costs.
The Crown utility says it needs the huge increase in 2023-24 just to cover the "unprecedented challenges" caused by the spiralling cost of energy and inflation as well as higher interest rates.
"We recognize that any rate increase is difficult for our customers," acting CEO Lori Clark told reporters.
.
Some food banks frustrated over fewer funds, others welcome new funds
Rioux said the problem is not food stores but rising expenses for an organization on a tight budget — and a decrease in provincial funding that has exacerbated the issue.
"We can't always blame the government, but the cost of operation is getting higher and higher," Rioux told Shift New Brunswick.
"For us, we need electricity. Well, the government has raised four times the electricity [rates] and we have a cold storage that costs $300 a month to run."
FYI Alfie Smith and I attended the same hearing as Interveners
Sussex Sharing Club Wants NB Power To Implement Charitable Electricity Rate
Moncton, NB, Canada / 91.9 The Bend
May 10, 2016 | 8:02 PM
Sussex Sharing Club Wants NB Power To Implement Charitable Electricity Rate
The Sussex Sharing Club wants NB Power to implement a charitable electricity rate.
President Alfie Smith says NB Power is the only utility that doesn’t offer a charitable rate.
Smith says Saint John Energy, Nova Scotia Power and Aliant all have charitable power rates.
He says 35 of the 64 food banks in the area are direct customers of NB Power and would benefit immensely with a charitable rate that would free up more money for food.
Smith says 38 new families have been visiting the Sussex Sharing Club since the closure of PotashCorp.
He made his presentation during NB Power’s public hearing regarding their desired rate increase of 2 percent.
Smith says if the 2 percent rate increase is approved, it would cost food banks in the area another 100 dollars a month they can’t afford.
Right now, a food bank has to be located in a church to receive a charitable rate and only if that church was established prior to 1979, which Smith calls “outdated”.
Smith says he’s encouraged and hopeful that over the next three months that more help is given to charities.
Answer that, and you'll know why JT won - and why it doesn't matter that he won.
https://www.greenervillage.ca/alex-boyd/
Alex Boyd
Alex is a Frederictonian, born and raised. He grew up on the North side, attending Devon Park Christian School, now Fredericton Christian Academy, for all 13 years of his initial schooling. He spent a year after high school travelling throughout North America in a signing group. His time away just solidified how much he was meant to be home. After 4 year at UNB, Alex attended and graduated from the Atlantic Police Academy in 2009. Alex has always been an active member of the community through volunteering. He volunteered for the Fredericton Police Force as an Auxiliary Constable.
His primary volunteer focus has been working with the Fredericton Food Bank helping others. He was involved in committees, board service, and various volunteer roles before stepping into a full-time position with Greener Village.
Alex is married, with 3 beautiful children who keep him young and on his toes. He loves being part of the community and is happy to invest his efforts to address the growing problem of food insecurity.
Address & Phone
686 Riverside Dr
Fredericton, NB
E3A 8C2
T. 506.459.7461
A day at the food bank: A photo essay on giving, kindness and community
Volunteers lend support to growing need during this holiday season
I
have never had any direct connection with food insecurity, but have
known families that use food banks and some who even "dumpster dive,"
partially because of the enormous waste by our supermarkets and
partially by circumstance.
The topic of food insecurity led
me to apply for — and receive — a Canada Council grant allowing me to
begin my own "Every Person Project," exploring how we shop for our food.
So being assigned to photograph activity at the Oromocto Food Bank presented an unbelievable opportunity to look at another side of an ever-growing concern that affects us all.
Jane Buckley, executive director of the food bank, leads a team of enthusiastic volunteers. Many of them are retirees, but there's also a sprinkling of students and a few others still in the workforce.
All together, they present is a well-oiled and caring machine, with each volunteer knowing their role — and the good that they provide by doing so.
I was immediately welcomed which made my conversations and research easy.
My photographs reveal the efforts and co-ordination needed to provide good food for those in need.
Behind a camera, I'm usually detached from events surrounding me, but to see the incredible amounts of food that would normally go to waste being purposefully used brought about a tear.
The hope that is imbued into every box of food, every backpack and every Christmas present made possible by the Oromocto Food Bank shows that no one should go without.
I've learned a lot from this experience.
Portraits of Kindness is a special series of photo essays. CBC Atlantic asked local photographers to visit a food bank and capture acts of kindness through their lens. The project coincides with CBC's Make The Season Kind campaign in support of food banks in Atlantic Canada.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-food-bank-support-system-1.5692356
New food bank support system made easier after COVID-19 connections
Discussions for change began three years ago and involves 60 locations
Executive Director Chantal Senecal said a decision was made at the annual meeting of the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks to dissolve and let Food Depot Alimentaire take over.
But Senecal added it has been something both organizations have been discussing since they began working together since 2017.
"About a year and a half ago we started the discussions of moving forward in a more efficient way, I guess," she said. "There was just a lot of things that just made sense for us to better support the food banks in our province."
Senecal said the 60 food banks across the province will be working with Food Depot Alimentaire but will remain independent.
With Food Depot Alimentaire taking over the distribution of food to food banks three years ago, Senecal said it put them in a good situation when the COVID-19 pandemic began,
"We were in a really good position to administer funding out to the food banks as well as support in terms of the protocols in making sure the food banks were still set up and able to serve their clients."
Being able to stay connected with the food banks, deemed an essential service early on in the pandemic on a daily basis was really important, Senecal said.
Chantal Senecal encourages people to volunteer or donate to help out food banks in New Brunswick. (Angela Bosse/CBC)
"It kind of sped up the process as well of connecting with the food banks and building that network."
Senecal added each food bank is still their own independent organization and will do their own programs to fit the needs of their communities whether they are in a rural or urban area of the the province.
"We're more of a partner working in collaboration to represent them on a provincial level in terms of advocacy and policy in provincial government to reduce poverty and numbers at food banks."
Food Depot Alimentaire will also ensure food banks have the resources they need to continue to the work they have to to meet those needs.
"It's all about coming together and improving services."
Senecal said food banks are preparing to have more clients as government benefit programs end and more people begin to experience issues with food security.
"Not everyone who is food insecure will come to a food bank. We have to make sure we're working with other groups and other people involved in food security to come to a collaborative approach in New Brunswick."
Senecal encourages people to help out in whatever way they can - volunteering, making donations and more.
"There are so many ways to get involved, it's just for people to take that first step."
With files from Information Morning Moncton
https://fooddepot.ca/about/#team
Our Team
Food Depot Alimentaire is operated by a Board of Directors, a small staff and a large group of volunteers.
Board Directors
Dale Hicks – President
Gary Jamieson – Vice President
Francis Melanson – Treasurer
Mindee-Sue Walker
Remi Belliveau
Marc LeBlanc
Laurie Stewart
Honorary Board Members
Ray Gould
Food Depot Alimentaire Staff
Stephane Sirois – Executive Director
Ian Harvey – Administrator
Steve MacIntyre – Director of Warehouse Operations
Ken Canning – Food Procurement & Transportation Logistics
Natalia Startsev – Inventory Controls
Don Killam – Provincial Transport Driver
Paul Henri – Student Nutrition Transport Driver
Tony Gerbert – Local Transport Driver
Nick Freeman – Forklift Operator
Max Walters- warehouse/ forklift operator
Donna Eagles – 5050 Coordinator
Kristine McNeil – 5050 Coordinator
Carrie Delaney – Provincial Coordinator-Programs and Community Engagement.
330, MacNaughton Avenue,
Moncton (New Brunswick) E1H 2K1
Join our Network!
Are you a food security organization providing food to people in your community in the province of New Brunswick? Are you responding to a need in food security programming? (i.e. meal program)
The New Brunswick Food Depot Alimentaire is the provincial association of food banks for Food Banks Canada, supporting a national network of over 3000 food banks, kitchens, shelters, and nonprofits supporting food security across the country.
Currently, New Brunswick has 62 member agencies.
- Joining this network provides your organization with the opportunity to access provincial and national -food supply purchases and donations free of charge
- food retail program gives access to food recovery initiatives for member agencies
- funding opportunities through grants, specified donations, and national campaigns
- Support through network standards, communications, and sharing of best practices among members.
- Access to Link2Feed database system at free of charge
At the NBFDA we support close collaboration and sharing of resources between agencies. Our application to the membership is two-tiered.
The initial inquiry will allow our Advisory Committee to review the organization’s needs and location and determine whether the organization has the potential to partner with a local food bank as a “satellite” to receive support. The local food bank or agency would then provide administration support, donations, and access to services through their own membership.
The criteria for review includes
- Location and proximity of local food bank or current member agency
- Description of programs, number of people served and evaluate possible duplication of services
- Identify barriers to access within community for certain populations (BIPOC, religion etc)
- Identify capacity within community and potentials for partnerships
The final inquiry will be in the form of a proposal requesting more detailed information about your organization’s governance, operations, statistics, and programming.
Annual Membership Fees:
$250 Small food bank – 1-199 individuals served
$500 Medium food bank – 200-499 individuals served
$750 Large food bank – 500+ individuals served
https://fooddepot.ca/need-help/
https://nb.211.ca/record-detail/69978516/agency/
- Description
- Registered charity focused on food security
- Programs / Services
- Sites
- Peter McKee Community Food Centre
475 St George St, Moncton
- Peter McKee Community Food Centre
- Legal Status
- (50) Non Profit
- Web Site
- Visit Website
- info@fooddepot.ca
- Toll Free
- 1-800-383-0803
- Office
- 506-383-4281 ext 2
- Fax
- 506-388-5822
- Hours of Operation
- Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm
- Executive Director
- Chantal Senecal
Email: chantal.senecal@fooddepot.ca
Phone: 506-383-4281 ext 103
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-rate-increase-1.6607156
N.B. Power asks for biggest rate hike in 15 years: 8.9 per cent on April 1
Premier blames climate policies, but CEO says ‘very little’ of hike is due to carbon pricing
The Crown utility says it needs the huge increase in 2023-24 just to cover the "unprecedented challenges" caused by the spiralling cost of energy and inflation as well as higher interest rates.
"We recognize that any rate increase is difficult for our customers," acting CEO Lori Clark told reporters.
"N.B. Power has taken steps to ensure the rate increase is as low as it can possibly be, while ensuring that the utility can continue to cover its services reliably, safely and confidently for New Brunswickers now and into the future."
The rate increase, if approved by the Energy and Utilities Board, would take effect April 1, 2023.
It's N.B. Power's biggest rate application since 2007, when it asked for a 9.6 per cent increase. That was later lowered to 6.4 per cent, and the board eventually set the increase at 5.9 per cent.
At
the legislature Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs blamed the higher costs
driving the rate hike on federal climate policies that he said are
making energy more expensive. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
The utility says energy costs for fuel purchase and electricity imports from outside the province will increase by $102.8 million in the coming year, and recent interest rate increases will add $31 million to the corporation's bottom line.
The application acknowledges that even an 8.9 per cent increase won't be enough to lower its accumulated debt of about $5 billion or increase its equity relative to that debt.
Officials say it may have to seek rate increases of two to 16 per cent in each of the two following years, but because of market volatility it's not applying for hikes for those years yet.
At the legislature Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs blamed the higher costs driving the rate hike on federal climate policies that he said are making energy more expensive.
"This shouldn't be a surprise," he said. "The policies that are being put on us now are causing a higher cost of energy in our province.
"N.B. Power is reacting to that. They really don't have a choice."
Clark, however, said that only a small part of the increased costs comes from federal carbon pricing requirements.
The utility says 52 per cent of the rate increase can be attributed to fuel costs, but "very little of that is actually attributed to the carbon pricing," Clark said.
"The carbon pricing itself is in the millions of dollars. Most of it is the result of the increase in fuels that we buy and trade on world markets."
N.B. Power cites pandemic, war in Ukraine
The utility's application mentions carbon pricing and the transition to renewable and low-emitting energy sources as factors in the "significant fiscal challenges" it's facing.
But it also notes that people "across the world" are facing some of the same challenges as New Brunswickers, such as energy price volatility due to the war in Ukraine and supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The application points out rate increases over the last decade have not kept pace with inflation or with many other provincial utilities' rates.
The request would be for a double-digit increase if not for N.B. Power's plan to shave $50 million from its costs, including by eliminating some positions, officials said.
Province not likely to overrule increase
Clark defended the decision to freeze rates in the last two years due to COVID-19, but she would not say whether earlier rate freezes or below-inflation increases, some of them imposed by governments, had been a mistake.
"There's a lot of blame to attribute in the past, and we're going to focus on going forward and ensuring the utility is healthy for the future," she said.
Natural
Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland said he's
strongly in favour of allowing the utility to form its own rate increase
without intervention from the government. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Both Higgs and Energy Minister Mike Holland all but ruled out stepping in to overrule the EUB if it approves the rate increase.
"I'm strongly in favour of allowing the utility to form their own rate increase without intervention from the government, taking heart and knowing that the EUB is there to ensure that whatever increase they come out the other side with, it's legitimate," Holland said.
Higgs noted the recent announcement of a "probably unprecedented" program to provide free heat pumps to households that use electric heat and have an income of less than $70,000.
He said the province will soon announce another program "for other forms of heating as well, to reduce that."
N.B. Power estimates the heat pump program, which also includes insulation upgrades, will lower a household's yearly bill by $500.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-food-bank-depot-1.4885469
Delays forming government means people could go hungry, food depot says
Moncton’s food depot forced to scrap funding application to expand provincial food warehouse
New Brunswick food banks could have less food for hungry people because of the slow process of forming a new provincial government.
Moncton's Food Depot applied earlier this year for funding to expand its provincial warehouse to provide space for food shipments and to create an area for sorting food for different districts across the province.
But the depot learned last week that the Regional Development Corporation can't do anything until a new government is in place, said Dale Hicks, president of the Moncton charity.
- Food bank warehouse bursting at the seams
- Food Depot in Moncton wants to eliminate food waste in city
The depot has outgrown the building in the Caledonia Industrial Park and has already brought in two trailers for storing food.
"When you want to get to a certain product that's down the aisle, you've got to move 10 or 15 piles of cookies and crackers to get to the soup or the produce," Hicks said Wednesday.
"It's a very inefficient way to work."
But frustrated with the slow response from the province, Hicks said the application for funding has now been withdrawn and the project shelved until at least next spring.
Because of the close election results more than a month ago, it's possible the government of Premier Brian Gallant will fall Friday when the legislature votes on the throne speech. If that happens, the Progressive Conservatives under Blaine Higgs could be asked to try to govern.
Counting on government and donations
Food Depot president Dale Hicks says the charity will revisit the expansion project next spring. (CBC)In the spring, Hicks said, he was promised $154,000 from the Regional Development Corporation to put toward the expansion project, which is expected to cost more than $500,000. But there's no federal program to match the funds, he said.
He went back to the province in August asking for $231,000 and saying the depot would split the rest of the cost through donations and other funding.
After a meeting earlier this month, Hicks was hoping for an answer from the province by Oct. 30, his "drop-dead date in terms of going ahead with this."
- Food banks call for more discussion of poverty issues on campaign trail
- Moncton's new, centralized food bank now open
"We sent out a message yesterday saying, 'I guess this isn't going to happen.'"
Hicks said putting up the building during the winter is not an option.
The Food Depot will revisit the project next spring.
'Nobody's listening'
"When I see them in the paper and they're like, 'We're listening, we're listening to New Brunswickers,' nobody's listening to this particular situation," Hicks said.
It's been almost two years since the Moncton depot started acting as the central warehouse for New Brunswick's 60 food banks.
The depot receives large loads of certain items, such as crackers, cookies and soup.
"It's not like we have this wide variety of food in the warehouse," he said. "We have large quantities of certain products and that depreciates our capacity in the warehouse."
In total, the depot received about 750,000 pounds of food in 2017, or 340,000 kilograms, worth about $1.8 million.
This year, the food freight moving through the depot is on track to more than double, he said, to 1.6 million pounds, or nearly 750,000 kilograms, valued at more than $4 million.
Turning away donations
He said all the food is needed, but only so much of it can be sent out to the food banks at a time. And when the depot runs out of room in December, it will have to turn away food donations.
Hicks said the depot and the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks want to accept food but they can't.
The depot will continue taking shipments until the end of November but after that it will be by "a load-by-load basis."
Despite community fundraisers like Santa Claus parades, which bring in additional food, the lack of funding could mean fewer donations are able to come in at Christmastime, he said, showing his frustration.
"It's a little bit of money at the end of the day," he said.
- With files from Information Morning Moncton, Jennifer Sweet, Colin McPhail
Food bank warehouse bursting at the seams
Food Depot in Moncton needs bigger space as food donations more than double in 2018
It's been almost two years since the Food Depot in Moncton started acting as the central warehouse for New Brunswick's 60 food banks.
And operators say they have outgrown their building in the Caledonia Industrial Park.
"We had to put trailers — two containers — out in the parking lot at a cost of $9,000 to us," Food Depot president Dale Hicks told Information Morning Moncton.
That's a shame if we have to say no to free food because we have nowhere to put it for the people that are hungry.
- Laurie Stewart, New Brunswick Association of Food Banks
At times, the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks has had to rent refrigerated units to put in the parking lot just to hold the overflow food, Hicks said.
"There's times when we've actually had to hold back shipments because we just didn't have anywheres to put them," he said. "So, we're at the point where we really need to expand the building in order to work efficiently there."
Laurie Stewart, president of the association, said donations are increasing, which is a good thing because food banks need the food.
Everyone would rather not see food banks growing, but in the meantime 25,000 to 27,000 New Brunswickers are coming to members of his organization for help.
"We're just feeding hungry people," Stewart said.
- Food banks call for more discussion of poverty issues on campaign trail
- Some food banks frustrated over money, others welcome change
- Moncton group's fruitful way to cut down on food waste
Hicks said a lot of companies are donating food and it's getting shipped to Moncton for free, courtesy of CN.
Some of it also goes to breakfast programs at 21 schools in southeast New Brunswick.
In total, he said the depot received about 750,000 pounds of food in 2017, or 340,000 kilograms, worth about $1.8 million.
This year, the food freight moving through the depot is on track to more than double, he said, to 1,640,000 pounds, or nearly 750,000 kilograms, valued at more than $4 million.
Hoping for federal money
"That's a shame if we have to say no to free food because we have no where to put it for the people that are hungry," said Stewart.
The Food Depot got $150,000 from the provincial government last spring to put toward a $500,000 expansion project, but Hicks said there's no federal program to match the funds.
"There are programs for teaching kitchens or to eradicate the situation of people coming to the food bank, but not for a capital project like that," he said.
"It boggles my mind they can't find $150,000 somewhere."
Short shrift from politicians
Stewart said he was disappointed the issue wasn't addressed during the provincial election campaign.
"The part that I find hard to swallow is before the election there was all kinds of money. … You know, four million for a wharf in Shediac, there was a million dollars for a ball field here and soccer fields there and things all over the province. And, you know, they were important too. But it just seemed like we weren't high enough up the ladder to get a good photo op."
The
Food Depot has had to rent storage containers outside its warehouse in
Moncton to hold all of the food it handles for 60 New Brunswick food
banks. (Submitted by The Food Depot)
The Food Depot's new plan is to try to get another $100,000 from the province and have the remaining $250,000 for the project skimmed from provincial grants to the food banks.
"We're talking about four per cent — four per cent of these grants that they put out over a four-year period would solve the problem, if the government will match it," Hicks said. "So I think the government has to step up. I think the food banks have to put some skin in the game in a small way.
"Like, we would lose four per cent off of our grant, which is, I think, $60,000. But it's a small price to pay when you're bringing in $4 million worth of food to be shared around the 60 food banks."
Hicks is hoping to meet with someone from the Department of Social Development soon to have a solution in place before the end of construction season and the beginning of the Christmas giving season, when donations from individuals ramp up.
"Last year you couldn't fit a bottle of water in that place. … We're trying to get something done here in the next few weeks," he said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/food-banks-election-poverty-issues-1.4827031
Food banks call for more discussion of poverty issues on campaign trail
Food banks in New Brunswick would like to hear more from political leaders
Joe Cyr says trying to help low-income earners in Madawaska County is challenge.
Cyr is with the L'Atelier R.A.D.O., which includes a food bank, community kitchen, and provides clothing.
He says funding to his organization has been cut over the last two years, forcing it to implement cost-cutting measures like putting an end to serving meals on Wednesday.
"We had to reduce our boxes, on occasion we don't give the same amount of food to our families because of a lack of funds," he said.
As the provincial election enters its final week, Cyr would like to see more emphasis placed on the issue of poverty and food banks. He says food banks have been taken for granted, and the issue doesn't seem to be a "high priority."
Laurie Stewart agrees it's a struggle.
Laurie
Stewart, president of the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks,
would like to see more discussion on the campaign trail about food banks
and their role. (Submitted)
Stewart is the president of the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks. He says there are 60 food banks in the province serving more than 25,000 people — many of whom are low-income residents who literally can't afford to eat.
"If they get … less than $600 a month, by the time they pay the rent and pay their heat they do not have enough for food," Stewart said. "Those are the people we're dealing with, we're just trying to feed the hungry."
Stewart says food distributed to the food banks in the province come through the Food Depot Alimentaire warehouse in Moncton.
He says efforts are underway to expand the warehouse in order to accommodate more food donations.
"The point that I tried to make to the people that are running for office is if we have more space we get more food and ship more food out to the people that need it and that in turn saves the government money." Stewart said.
Stewart says the expansion will cost about $450,000.
He too would like these issues given more prominence in the provincial election campaign.
Party policies
When asked by CBC about their policy on food banks, four of the five parties responded.
The Liberal Party cited its campaign promises to freeze power rates and increase the minimum wage as two factors that would benefit food banks and their clients, but didn't otherwise commit to any increase in funding.
"The grant program for food banks in the province was reviewed in collaboration with the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks, in response to their concerns that the previous program was unequal and not transparent enough," the party said in a written statement. "Every food bank received at least 90 per cent of the funding they requested."
Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs said his party didn't have a specific policy on food banks, but a "deep respect and gratitude" for the work they do.
"Unfortunately when our economy is struggling charities, including food banks, feel the effects. There are typically fewer donations and an increased demand for help," he wrote.
NDP Leader Jennifer McKenzie also cited campaign promises to boost the minimum wage and reduce the cost of childcare as measures that would benefit food bank clients and reduce the pressure on food banks.
"It's imperative that the government takes action to really fight poverty, so that New Brunswickers don't depend on food banks," she wrote.
The Green Party provided a written statement promising to "adequately fund" food banks, but did not provide specifics about funding levels.
"We would also immediately increase social assistance rates and pilot a basic income guarantee, which would help relieve the pressures that food banks face." the party said in its statement.
Cyr says L'Atelier R.A.D.O. helps 600 families a year in Madawaska County and serves 26,000 meals.
He says grants to food banks need to be increased and the role of food banks taken more seriously.
"The majority of our food banks are run by volunteer people and all they want to do is to get food to their clients. They don't have the know it all to go into the computers and fill out all this red tape and then find out at the end that they don't qualify." said Cyr.
"All they want is money so that they can maintain the status quo, serve their clients in the best possible way they can."
Grand Falls food bank to close next week
Decrease in provincial funding partly to blame, says operator
Increased demand and less funding has led to the closure of a Grand Falls food bank, according to the man who runs it.
The Grand Falls Regional Food Bank will shutter its doors Monday, but Glenn Rioux said the team will continue to help feed people in need. The food bank served about 6,700 people last year, he said.
Rioux said the problem is not food stores but rising expenses for an organization on a tight budget — and a decrease in provincial funding that has exacerbated the issue.
"We can't always blame the government, but the cost of operation is getting higher and higher," Rioux told Shift New Brunswick.
"For us, we need electricity. Well, the government has raised four times the electricity [rates] and we have a cold storage that costs $300 a month to run."
The food bank will close Monday, according to operator Glenn Rioux. (Google Maps)
He said the redistribution of provincial funds in 2017 has cost the food bank $5,000. Rioux said that may seem a small amount, but it adds up in a community where fewer donations are coming in.
New funding program
Last year, a new program called the Community Food Resource Support Program was introduced and an evaluation committee was created to assess applications, said Department of Social Development spokeswoman Anne Mooers.
"Funding was allocated to each applicant based on New Brunswick's food insecurity statistics, the Food Banks Canada Hunger Count, and additional information provided by each food bank to demonstrate their need," she said in a email Friday afternoon.
Food banks received at least 90 per cent of the funding requested, she said. In Rioux's case, Grand Falls requested $47,136 and received a grant of $42,422.
"The grant program for food banks was reviewed in collaboration with the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks, in response to its concerns that the previous program was unequal and not transparent enough," said Mooers.
The move was criticized by some food banks that saw a dip in funding, while it was cheered by others that received funds for the first time.
The province's new funding arrangement received mixed reviews from food
banks when it was announced last year. (Matthew Garand/CBC)
The department said it's working with the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks to ensure users of the Grand Falls food bank will not be affected.
Association officials were not immediately available for comment Friday afternoon.
Rioux said the organization will continue to do what it can to help its clients. That could range from selling its building to supporting similar organizations in the area.
"It doesn't mean everybody is going to get food," he said. "But we're going to work hard enough to do the best that we can."
With files from Shift New Brunswick and Colin McPhail
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/food-banks-new-brunswick-funding-1.4265821
Some food banks frustrated over fewer funds, others welcome new funds
The new distribution model was created to ensure funding for 'all eligible food banks,' government says
A fairer system of distributing government money to food banks in the province has some organizations complaining, while others are relieved to be getting funding for the first time.
One food bank in Edmundston, N.B., said the new system has left the organization short in funds.
"The impact is major, $10,000 on an organization like us, its major," Yves Sévigny, general manager of the L'Atelier R.A.D.O. said.
According to the Canadian Revenue Agency, the organization received close to $100,000 in government funding last year, but now it has to make up an additional $10,000 to offset the loss.
"We are now buying food that is needed for the the Christmas box, and only for the soup, the tomato soup, it cost me about $1,200 dollar - only for the Christmas, it's not the regular boxes," he said.
"Ten percent of the cost that they cut me, 10 per cent of the $10,000 dollar is only tomato soup," Sévigny said.
He said the community in Edmundston is small and it will be hard to make up the money in donations
"There's no door where we can go and knock and get a cheque," he added.
Sévigny said the organizations serves about 2,100 meals per month out of their soup kitchen, that is around 25,000 per year. They give out over 200 food boxes a month.
To offset the missing funds, Sévigny said the yearly food bank membership had to increase from $1 to $10 for the 500 or so clients the organization serves. He said they also had to triple the price of clothing they sell from 25 cents a T-shirt to 75 cents a T-shirt and staffing hours had to be reduced for two employees.
"We're speaking about people who don't have any money, they live with the bare minimum money in a month and for them that 10 dollars is a huge price to pay," he said.
"Those are the most vulnerable people in society and they don't have any money and if we raise the price for them we are impacting them the most but we don't have any choice."
Equal funding for all food banks
This year the government was looking to make food banks more equitable for all food bans across the province.
A new program called Community Good Resource Supper program, reviewed all food banks applicants and distributed funds based on the number of people they have to serve.
Many
food banks that relied on higher funding are wondering where they will
find the extra funds they need. (Matthew Garand/CBC)
"Funding was allocated to each applicant based on New Brunswick's food insecurity statistics, the Food Banks Canada Hunger Count, and additional information provided by each food bank to demonstrate their need," said Anne Mooers, communications officer for the department of Social Development.
In 2017, a new program called the Community Food Resource Support Program was introduced, and an evaluation committee was created to assess the applications.
This funding redesign was an effort "to ensure that funding is available to all eligible food banks in New Brunswick and that it will respond to the individual circumstances of food banks on an annual basis," Mooers said.
"Every food bank received at least 90 per cent of the funding they requested," she said.
Laurie Stewart of New Brunswick Association of Food Banks said there are about 59 food banks in the province.
He said this is the best course of action to make sure the government funds distributed benefits everyone.
"It's now a little more fair and equitable system one that treats each food bank according to the numbers they serve," Stewart said.
"It gives some of the smaller food banks that weren't getting any money, now get a bit of a money, so it's more fair," he said.
First time for some
For newer food banks, the new distribution model was a necessary change.
Albertine LeBlanc, founder and president of Greater Blackville Resource Centre said the small amount of money she received this year helps relieve the stress of running a food bank on very little.
"Everything we do is fundraising," she said about the volunteer-only organization.
The new program has seen smaller food banks get more money. (CBC)
LeBlanc said the food program received official charity status in 2013, but it wasn't until last year that it received only $2,500.
This year, she's received a spike in government funding of $10,000.
"There are few of us out there that don't have a whole lot to work with," she said.
LeBlanc said now she's able to focus her energy towards other important areas, like the community food kitchen that serves up to 50 families.
She said other organizations are excited about the new funding changes.
"I can tell you Grand Manan is thrilled because they got ten thousand dollars for the first time ever."
LeBlanc explained all the food banks in the province receive food from the New Brunswick Food Bank Association.
"However, I do not have money to buy food to add to my grocery list like some do," she said.
"I'm there to serve the people that are hungry, I am not there to make a paycheque."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/potashcorp-closure-charities-1.3411635
Sussex-area charities fear impact of Potash mine closure
PotashCorp said it will establish $5M fund to support local organizations, business, employee support
Organizations in southern New Brunswick that depended on donations from Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan say they're bracing for the impact of the indefinite shutdown of the Picadilly mine.
Lois King, the administrator of the Sussex Sharing Club, says PotashCorp has supported the food bank "tremendously" with corporate food drives and donations — including two cheques for $50,000 — since it opened the Picadilly mine two years ago.
- Potash mine closure greeted with dread in Sussex
- PotashCorp mine closure will have widespread economic impact
That allowed the non-profit group to pay off its 20-year mortgage in 17 months.
"They really want to help children in particular," said King.
"I notice they really care about the community they live in, and they're going to be greatly missed."
Alfie Smith, a Sussex Sharing Club board member, says the corporate support from PotashCorp put the group "on an even keel."
Smith says the money saved in mortgage costs went to expanding services.
"Now we have a program at the elementary schools, that money can now go to supporting hot lunch meals for each of those children, five days a week," said Smith.
"That is costing us in the area of $20,000 to $25,000 a year, so the money we used to put on the mortgage is able to be freed up to actually feed the children their hot meals."
Potential increase at food bank
King says the timing of the closure is concerning. The group was already preparing for an increase in clients with many young families moving back from Alberta.
"A lot of people are moving from out west because it's not working out for them … now the mine's going, it's not going to be good."
The Sussex Sharing Club helps 250 families in the area.
On Tuesday, PotashCorp said it would establish a $5-million fund to:
- Help employees with job transition assistance, including skills training and education support.
- Provide financial support to local business.
- Support local charities.
Alaina Lockhart, the Liberal MP for the riding of Fundy Royal, said she spoke to a PotashCorp representative on Tuesday about the community fund.
"They've been very generous to the town and surrounding areas," Lockhart said.
Liberal
MP Alaina Lockhart said she met federal Natural Resources Minister Jim
Carr and plans to meet with Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc
about ways to help Sussex cope with the potash mine closure. (CBC)
Lockhart met with Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr on Tuesday, and was planning to meet with Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc on Wednesday, to talk about how the town could be assisted on a federal level.
She says it's important to focus on the workers' career transition.
"The training and support we could provide through the EI system, that's certainly not a long-term plan and i think it's really important to look at those relationships we are forging with all three levels of government," Lockhart said.
"We're going to need to work together on this and look for opportunities as we have been doing, but this brings an acute focus in this area to look for opportunities for people."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/food-banks-see-increase-in-demand-1.1154703
Food banks see increase in demand
Immigration rules, power costs cited as factors
Some New Brunswick food bank administrators say they've seen a substantial increase in the number of families seeking help this year and they believe the reasons range from immigration rules to rising costs.
The food bank in Woodstock, Volunteer Family Services Inc., is seeing 15 to 17 new families each month, said Sandra Olmstead.
Many of them are from other countries such as Germany, England and the Netherlands and have come to the region to work in the trucking industry, she said.
Although they are given a living allowance, it's often not enough to keep them going, said Olmstead.
"And what we're finding is that because of the way that the immigration works, they are given work permits to work within just one industry and within one company. So if you're brought over here as a truck driver, with one company, you can only drive trucks for that company."
Any change requires changing their work visa, which takes a long time, said Olmstead.
Power bills on the rise
The number of families from the McAdam and Harvey area using the Lakeland Resource Centre's food bank has jumped about 50 per cent over last year to 32, said Crissy Soucy.
She said she believes one of the main factors behind the increase is the rising cost of power bills.
In order to avoid social assistance clients having their power cut off if they fall behind on their bill, the Department of Social Development sometimes sets aside a portion of their cheque, "which leaves them with very minimal money given to them at the first of the month," said Soucy.
"And they have to rely on the food banks to get them through until the family allowance comes. And there's just not enough to go around," she said.
"So if their cheque was $850, they take $400 off and it leaves them with $450 to do them. And that means paying the rent, paying their phone bill, paying their whatever they have. And then they have to wait for family allowance to come, probably to pay more bills."
Soucy said the food bank has been able to meet the needs of families in the McAdam and Harvey area for the most part, with the help of Food Banks Canada and the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks.
But it does occasionally call local clergy members to ask their congregations for helps, he said.
The most difficult period is between November and April, said Soucy.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sussex-food-bank-sees-shortage-1.1252057
Sussex food bank sees shortage
Donations to the Sussex Sharing Club have dried up and the reserve funds are also getting thin, according to those working at the food bank.
The food bank only has enough food for one more month, according to a director.
Alfie Smith, the president of the Sussex Sharing Club's board of directors, says the organizing has been routinely spending upwards of $2,000 on meats, milk, eggs and cereal to meet the growing demand.
"Now we're getting to a point where not only those purchases have to be made, but also we're going to have to look at purchasing canned goods and everything else that's needed," he said.
A year ago, an average of 90 families came each month to the food bank's doors, according to Smith.
Now he says that's grown to around 130 families, and Sussex is no different from other communities struggling with increases in the cost of electricity, rent and food.
"A lot of people look at Sussex as being a very prosperous area, but we still have a lot of the working poor that we’re serving, and a lot of single people that are hurting quite badly."
The food bank is most in need of canned goods and dried pasta, as well as monetary donations, he said.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Stewart, Jake - M.P." <jake.stewart@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2022 19:28:49 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Hey Ernie Steeves Why is it that I am not
surprised that nobody will discuss my Old Age Pension and Health Care
records???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
Thank you for your correspondence. This is to acknowledge that our
office has received your email and we are working on your request.
If you are a constituent and require immediate assistance, please call
our office at 506-778-8448 and a member of our staff will be happy to
assist you.
Thank you and have a great day,
Office of MP Jake Stewart
Shadow Minister for National Revenue
Miramichi-Grand Lake
------------------------------
Bonjour,
Merci pour votre message. Ceci est pour vous aviser que nous avons
reçu votre courriel et que nous travaillons sur votre demande.
Si vous êtes un électeur de notre circonscription et que vous avez
besoin d'assistance immédiate, s'il-vous-plaît veuillez téléphoner
notre bureau au 506-778-8448 et un membre de notre équipe se fera
plaisir de vous servir.
Merci et bonne journée,
Jake Stewart, député
Ministre fantôme du Revenu National
Miramichi-Grand Lake
---------- Original message -----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2022 16:28:42 -0300
Subject: Hey Ernie Steeves Why is it that I am not surprised that
nobody will discuss my Old Age Pension and Health Care records???
To: Ernie.Steeves@gnb.ca, wwwfin@gnb.ca, .Yves.Léger@gnb.ca,
Kimberley.Barker@gnb.ca, Mark.McKelvie@gnb.ca, Melanie.Madore2@gnb.ca,
dr.andrew.salmon@gnb.ca, Paige.Paulsen@gnb.ca,
Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca, Jason.Sully@gnb.ca, heidi.liston@gnb.ca,
Valerie.Kilfoil@gnb.ca, dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca,
dominic.cardy@gnb.ca, "jake.stewart" <jake.stewart@parl.gc.ca>,
oldmaison <oldmaison@yahoo.com>, "andrea.anderson-mason"
<andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca>
"kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "Mark.Blakely"
<Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>,
"Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy"
<michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>,
andrewjdouglas <andrewjdouglas@gmail.com>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)"
<kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "robert.mckee" <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>,
"Richard.Bragdon" <Richard.Bragdon@parl.gc.ca>, "Robert. Jones"
<Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, "Roger.L.Melanson" <roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
https://legnb.ca/en/members/
Hon. Ernie Steeves
Minister of Finance and Treasury Board
Progressive Conservative Party
Moncton Northwest
(506) 453-2451 Ernie.Steeves@gnb.ca
Related
Members Expense Reports
Public Disclosures
Ernie Steeves was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick on February 12th,
1961. His family moved to the Moncton area in 1965 where he has lived
most of his life and is now raising his son Aidan.
Minister Steeves was first elected in September 2014 as the
Progressive Conservative MLA representing Moncton Northwest. He served
as critic for Social Development, Seniors and Long Term Care. He was
also a Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the
Standing Committee on Estimates and Fiscal Policy and the Standing
Committee on Social Policy.
Since 2018 Minister Steeves has served as the Minister of Finance and
Treasury Board. He has also served as Minister responsible for NB
Liquor, Cannabis NB, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Financial and
Consumer Services Commission, and the government of New Brunswick’s
Human Resources.
Minister Steeves was a 32 year veteran of radio broadcasting and
business owner in Moncton.
He is very community minded and has served in a variety of roles,
including honorary chair for the Ride for Dad for prostate cancer. He
has volunteered at the Karing Kitchen, Moncton Headstart, the Friends
of the Moncton Hospital, and, as a cancer survivor, the Canadian
Cancer Society. He sat on the Board of Directors for the Greater
Moncton Football Association and the Board of Directors for Football
New Brunswick.
Constituency Office
Mainline Phone (506) 383-2164
General Email Ernie.Steeves@gnb.ca
Address 1966 Mountain Road
Moncton
E1G 1A9
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
New inflation relief program targets 'most vulnerable' in New Brunswick
Money will go to people already receiving low-income or housing benefits
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 01, 2022 8:00 AM AT
A $20 million program aimed at helping New Brunswickers cope with
increasing fuel and food prices was announced Wednesday. (Robert
Jones/CBC)
The Higgs government says it will distribute a one-time payment to
low-income New Brunswickers to help them deal with soaring gasoline
and grocery bills.
The Emergency Fuel and Food Benefit will see low-income individuals
receive $225 and low-income families, including seniors, receive $450.
More than 75,000 people are eligible, and the money will go to people
already receiving low-income or housing benefits from the Department
of Social Development, the province said in a news release.
"We wanted to get it to a targeted group, a group we could roll it out
quickly to, and they could feel the benefit right now, over this time
period," Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the program will be targeted 'to the most
vulnerable people.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The total cost of the program will be $20 million, and the money will
go out this month, the premier said.
The release doesn't say when the money will be distributed, but Higgs
said Tuesday that the program would get money out "quickly," sometime
this month.
That represents a reversal for Higgs.
Earlier this spring, he suggested that he'd have to wait until the
third quarter of the fiscal year to see sales tax revenues and decide
if a rebate or some other form of relief was affordable, or if people
were cutting back enough on gas to deprive the province of a tax
windfall.
But Wednesday, the premier said it appears gas consumption is
remaining steady, "and that gave us some confidence that we'd have
some money that we could put into the system."
Opposition says not enough
The benefit was immediately denounced as not enough to address the
high cost of living, particularly for New Brunswickers not on social
assistance but who are still struggling because of soaring costs.
"They're still at a threshold where it's very difficult," said
Opposition Liberal Leader Roger Melanson, who repeated his call for a
cut to the provincial gas tax.
Green Party Leader David Coon questioned why the Higgs government
keeps implementing one-off, short-term assistance programs like the
cap on rent increases, which applies for this year only.
"What is it with this one-time-only government?" he said.
The Greens have proposed a higher harmonized sales tax rebate for
people who earn minimum wage or who are considered the working poor.
They also wants Higgs to move up a minimum wage increase scheduled for
this fall.
Janelle LeBlanc, the provincial co-ordinator for the Common Front for
Social Justice, said the government must implement longer-term
solutions to poverty, including a higher minimum wage, higher social
assistance benefits and free public transit.
"The measures announced today are important and necessary for existing
clients of Social Development. However, it does exclude many people
living in poverty, and low-income workers. We would have liked to see
more permanent solutions."
Province to reconsider in fall
Higgs said that while the program is a one-time payment, his
government would look at more assistance if high inflation persists
into the fall.
He also wouldn't rule out broadening the program beyond social
assistance recipients if that becomes necessary.
"I don't rule out some sort of program in that case," he said.
But he added that the province itself is facing $100 million in higher
costs because of inflation, and N.B. Power could take a similar hit.
N.B. takes biggest jump in personal insolvencies in March
Business insolvencies start to creep up as pandemic relief programs end
Higgs said that means it's too early to say if the province will be
able to run a budget surplus as projected this year.
"We didn't plan on this when we put a budget together," he said. "Our
goal is not to amass a surplus. Our goal is ensure that if we can put
money into the pockets of people who need it in these times of
uncertainty, we can do it sustainably and prudently."
The government is also giving food banks in the province an additional
$1 million on top of an earlier $1 million grant this spring.
The government is facing two byelections in the Miramichi area on June 20.
Last week, a new poll by Narrative Research said 52 per cent of
respondents were dissatisfied with the government's performance
compared to 40 per cent who were satisfied.
The current maximum price per litre of regular gasoline is $2.08 in
New Brunswick, up from $1.44 at the start of the year.
The province's news release points out that it has raised social
assistance rates and the minimum wage, has cut income taxes, has
rent-cap legislation before the legislature and is lowering child care
costs effective this month as part of a federal-provincial agreement.
The release does not mention people on disability benefits being
eligible for the program.
"I would say so," Higgs told reporters when asked if they were
included, though he later said that "it would be my intent that would
apply as well."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New
Brunswick since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC
political podcast Spin Reduxit.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/
2022 New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors' Benefit
To assist low-income seniors in New Brunswick, the government offers
an annual benefit to qualifying applicants. Applications for the 2022
Low-income Seniors' Benefit will be available on April 1.
IMPORTANT: As a result of COVID-19, and to support physical distancing
measures, eligible New Brunswickers are strongly encouraged to apply
online, or print the application, complete it and mail it to Finance
and Treasury Board, Revenue Administration Division, PO Box 1900,
Fredericton, N.B., E3B 5G4.
APPLICATION FORM
Application forms are also available at Service New Brunswick centres.
The application deadline is Dec. 31, 2022.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the $400 benefit, a person must have been a
resident of New Brunswick on Dec. 31, 2021, and have received one of
the following federal benefits under the Old Age Security Act:
Guaranteed Income Supplement (65 years or older)
Allowance for Survivor Program (between 60 and 64 years old)
Allowance Program (between 60 and 64 years old)
Please note: Persons in receipt of a Federal allowance who are under
the age of 60 do not qualify for this benefit.
Where both spouses receive the GIS and reside in the same household,
only one $400.00 benefit will be granted. However, where spouses live
separately (for example, one residing in a nursing home), both will be
eligible for the benefit.
INQUIRIES
More information about the program, and on how to apply, is available
from Finance and Treasury Board, Revenue Administration Division, at
1-800-669-7070.
INQUIRIES RELATING TO FEDERAL BENEFITS
If you do not currently receive the GIS or one of the other federal
benefits and would like more information, please contact the federal
Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada at:
1-800-277-9914 for service in English, or 1-800-277-9915 for service in French.
Application/Declaration for
Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit
2022
Application deadline date: December 31, 2022
The personal information on this form is being collected under the
authority of the New Brunswick Income Tax Act and will be used for the
purposes of determining eligibility under the Low-Income Seniors’
Benefit, and for necessary administration of this Program. If you have
any questions regarding the collection and use of this information,
please contact the Manager Tax Accounting, Finance and Treasury Board,
P. O. Box 1900, Fredericton, NB E3B 5G4. Phone: 1-800-669-7070 or
e‐mail wwwfin@gnb.ca.
Income Tax Return Preparation - Through the Community Volunteer Income
Tax Program (CVITP), community organizations host free tax preparation
clinics and arrange for volunteers to prepare income tax and benefit
returns for eligible individuals who have a modest income and a simple
tax situation. To determine whether you are eligible and to view a tax
preparation clinic in your area, please go to the following website:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 1-800-669-7070
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Province's top doctor returns 'recharged,' addresses rumours
Dr. Jennifer Russell says she was on vacation and in a car accident
that required physiotherapy
Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Jun 07, 2022 7:06 PM AT
Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health,
says she feels 'recharged' and 're-energized' after her time off.
(Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswick's top doctor says she has heard the rumours about her
recent absence from work and seen the speculative posts on social
media, and most of them are untrue.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, hasn't left
her position over stress of managing COVID-19 in the province. She
says she's back on the job after a much-needed vacation.
"The pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone. … And
definitely our team has worked really hard throughout the pandemic,"
she said in an interview Tuesday.
"So after two very busy years, when the province lifted its
restrictions, I decided it was a good time for me to take some time
off."
Russell acknowledged there are "lots of rumours about what led to that
decision and what exactly [she] was doing while [she] was off."
"Basically I did need a vacation, there's no question," she said.
It was good to "disconnect and decompress."
But then she was in a car accident. She hit a deer and totalled her car.
"I'm still in physio, but I'm doing much better," she said.
"It's been good to have that time to be able to look after my health, for sure."
Sold house
It's true Russell sold her house in Fredericton while she was off, but
she says she simply decided to "downsize a bit early."
"My oldest has already gone off to university and my youngest is about
to. So it was a good time with the market being what it was for me to
do that."
She did not work on the new album released last Friday by the
blues/funk band for which she plays the saxophone, The Tortoise, The
Hare & The Millionaire, she said.
"No, I leave that to the real professionals who do it for a living."
N.B. reports decrease in COVID-19 deaths, increase in hospitalizations
Asked about the criticisms of her decision to step away from her post
as she did, Russell maintains it was the right move.
"I definitely feel like my job to look after people in New Brunswick
was so important that I did need to step away so I could look after
myself, so I can look after other people."
She is doing "very, very well" now, she said.
"I feel definitely recharged. I hit the reset button and re-energized
and back at the helm."
Russell thanked acting deputy chief medical officer of health Dr. Yves
Léger and the rest of the Public Health team for their hard work and
dedication to New Brunswickers.
"I definitely felt very comfortable leaving the Office of the Chief
Medical Officer of Health in such good hands."
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said it's good to have Russell back.
"Well, sure. I mean, you know, we're a team and we all work together," she said.
"I've always maintained that Dr. Russell is our chief medical officer
of health, but she works with the team and when she's not available,
she has a team who backs her up."
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2022 15:11:19 -0300
Subject: Attn Minister Karina Gould I just called about my missing Old
Age Pension records and nobody cared Correct??
To: "Gould, Karina - M.P." <Karina.Gould@parl.gc.ca>,
EDSC.MIN.FEDS-FCSD.MIN.ESDC@
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca, "Diane.Lebouthillier"
<Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.
<Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, "rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>,
"John.Williamson" <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>,
"fin.minfinance-financemin.
<fin.minfinance-financemin.
<pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>,
"Candice.Bergen" <Candice.Bergen@parl.gc.ca>, "pierre.poilievre"
<pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>
https://davidraymondamos3.
Thursday, 9 June 2022
Attn Minister Karina Gould I just called about my missing Old Age
Pension records and nobody cared Correct??
https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-
December 16, 2021
Office of the Prime Minister
Dear Minister Gould:
Thank you for agreeing to serve Canadians as Minister of Families,
Children and Social Development.
From the beginning of this pandemic, Canadians have faced a
once-in-a-century challenge. And through it all, from coast to coast
to coast, people have met the moment. When it mattered most, Canadians
adapted, helped one another, and stayed true to our values of
compassion, courage and determination. That is what has defined our
path through this pandemic so far. And that is what will pave our way
forward.
During a difficult time, Canadians made a democratic choice. They
entrusted us to finish the fight against COVID-19 and support the
recovery of a strong middle class. At the same time, they also gave us
clear direction: to take bold, concrete action to build a healthier,
more resilient future. That is what Canadians have asked us to do and
it is exactly what our Government is ready to deliver. We will work to
build that brighter future through continued collaboration,
engagement, and the use of science and evidence-based decision-making.
With an unwavering focus on delivering results, we will work
constructively with Parliamentarians and maintain our strong
partnerships with provincial, territorial and municipal governments
and Indigenous partners. This decade has had an incredibly difficult
start, but this is the moment to rebuild a more resilient, inclusive
and stronger country for everyone.
The science is clear. Canadians have been clear. We must not only
continue taking real climate action, we must also move faster and go
further. As Canadians are increasingly experiencing across the
country, climate change is an existential threat. Building a cleaner,
greener future will require a sustained and collaborative effort from
all of us. As Minister, I expect you to seek opportunities within your
portfolio to support our whole-of-government effort to reduce
emissions, create clean jobs and address the climate-related
challenges communities are already facing.
This year, Canadians were horrified by the discovery of unmarked
graves and burial sites near former residential schools. These
discoveries underscore that we must move faster on the path of
reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. We know
that reconciliation cannot come without truth and our Government will
continue to invest in that truth. As Ministers, each of us has a duty
to further this work, both collectively and as individuals.
Consequently, I am directing every Minister to implement the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to work in
partnership with Indigenous Peoples to advance their rights.
We must continue to address the profound systemic inequities and
disparities that remain present in the core fabric of our society,
including our core institutions. To this effect, it is essential that
Canadians in every region of the country see themselves reflected in
our Government’s priorities and our work. As Minister, I expect you to
include and collaborate with various communities, and actively seek
out and incorporate in your work, the diverse views of Canadians. This
includes women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians,
newcomers, faith-based communities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2
Canadians, and, in both official languages.
Across our work, we remain committed to ensuring that public policies
are informed and developed through an intersectional lens, including
applying frameworks such as Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and
the quality of life indicators in decision-making.
Canadians continue to rely on journalists and journalism for accurate
and timely news. I expect you to maintain professional and respectful
relationships with journalists to ensure that Canadians are well
informed and have the information they need to keep themselves and
their families safe.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, Canadians and their governments
have adapted to new realities. Governments must draw on lessons
learned from the pandemic to further adapt and develop more agile and
effective ways to serve Canadians. To this end, I expect all Ministers
to evaluate ways we can update our practices to ensure our Government
continues to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
The success of this Parliament will require Parliamentarians, both in
the House of Commons and the Senate, to work together across all
parties to get big things done for Canadians. I expect you to maintain
constructive relationships with your Opposition Critics and coordinate
any legislation with the Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons. As Minister, you are accountable to Parliament both
individually, for your style of leadership and the performance of your
responsibilities, and collectively, in support of our Ministry and
decisions taken by Cabinet. Open and Accountable Government sets out
these core principles and the standards of conduct expected of you and
your office. I expect you to familiarize yourself with this document,
which outlines my expectations for each member of the Ministry.
Our platform lays out an ambitious agenda. While finishing the fight
against the pandemic must remain our central focus, we must continue
building a strong middle class and work toward a better future where
everyone has a real and fair chance at success and no one is left
behind.
As Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, your
immediate priority is to build a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child
Care system that reduces parent fees, creates more high-quality
spaces, recruits and retains skilled educators, and ensures all kids
get off to the best possible start. At the same time, you will work
with Indigenous partners to implement a culturally appropriate
Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care system. You will also focus
on implementing the Community Services Recovery Fund to help charities
and non-profits adapt and modernize as well as ensure Service Canada
provides reliable and accessible services to Canadians, regardless of
where they live.
To realize these objectives, I ask that you achieve results for
Canadians by delivering the following commitments.
Supported by the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth,
continue advancing the creation and sustainability of a Canada-wide
Early Learning and Child Care system, including:
Concluding negotiations with remaining provinces and
territories and implementing agreements:
Reducing fees for regulated child care by 50 per cent on
average by the end of 2022 everywhere outside of Quebec,
Reducing regulated child care fees to $10 a day on average
by the end of fiscal year 2025-2026 everywhere outside of Quebec, and
Building 250,000 new high-quality child care spaces and
hiring 40,000 more early childhood educators by the end of fiscal year
2025-2026;
Introducing federal child care legislation to strengthen and
protect a high-quality Canada-wide child care system;
Establishing a National Advisory Council on Early Learning and
Child Care;
Continuing to advance work with provinces and territories to
reduce fees for families for before and after school care; and
Ensuring the Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child
Care is fully resourced and operational by early 2023.
Work with Indigenous partners to ensure that Indigenous children
have access to a culturally appropriate Indigenous Early Learning and
Child Care system that meets the needs of Indigenous families wherever
they live, including ensuring more Indigenous families have access to
high-quality programming, creating 3,300 new child care spaces, and
continuing to support before and after school care for First Nations
children on reserve.
Advance the implementation of the Community Services Recovery Fund
to help charities and non-profits adapt and modernize as they recover
from the pandemic.
Continue advancing the Social Innovation and Social Finance
strategy, including fully implementing the Social Finance Fund and
launching the Social Innovation Advisory Council.
Through the delivery of Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and
other measures, continue leading implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations.
Work with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and with
provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners and
stakeholders to develop a National School Food Policy and to work
toward a national school nutritious meal program.
Work with the Minister of Seniors to provide seniors with a single
point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits.
As the Minister responsible for Service Canada, lead the
development and implementation of modern, resilient, secure and
reliable services and benefit delivery systems for Canadians and
ensure those services and benefits reach all Canadians regardless of
where they live.
Work with the Minister of National Revenue toward the
implementation of a real-time e-payroll system, and ensure that
businesses of all sizes benefit from this work.
Enhance the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led and
Black-serving organizations through the continued implementation of
the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. You will be
supported in this work by the Minister of Housing and Diversity and
Inclusion.
Work with the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth to
ensure the voices and needs of children are represented in our
Government’s agenda, as we work to make Canada the best place to grow
up.
Work with the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and
the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to ensure mental health
supports are accessible to children and youth as they recover from the
impact of the pandemic.
As Minister, you are also responsible for actively engaging with your
Cabinet and Caucus colleagues. As we deliver on our platform
commitments, it will be important that members of the Ministry
continue to collaborate and work constructively to support rigorous
and productive Cabinet decision-making. I expect you to support your
colleagues in delivering their commitments, leveraging the expertise
of your department and your own lived experiences.
To best achieve results for Canadians, Ministers must be rigorous and
coordinated in our approach to implementation. I would therefore ask
that you return to me with a proposed approach for the delivery of
your mandate commitments, including priorities for early
implementation. Furthermore, to ensure we are accountable for our
work, I will be asking you to publicly report to me, and all
Canadians, on your progress toward these commitments on a regular
basis.
As we have been reminded throughout the pandemic, adapting to change
is not only something government should do, it is something government
must do. As you work to fulfil our commitments, I expect you to
actively consider new ideas and issues as they emerge, whether through
public engagement, your work with Parliamentarians or advice from the
public service. I also expect you to work with your Deputy Minister to
assess priorities on a continual basis as we build a better future for
all Canadians. In addition to achieving results, you are responsible
for overseeing the work of your department and ensuring the effective
operation of your portfolio.
As you staff your office and implement outreach and recruitment
strategies for federally appointed leadership positions and boards, I
ask that you uphold the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
This helps ensure that federal workplaces are dynamic and reflective
of the Canadians we serve. You will also ensure your Minister’s office
and portfolio are reflective of our commitment to healthy and safe
workplaces.
Canadians expect us to work hard, speak truthfully and be committed to
advancing their interests and aspirations. When we make mistakes – as
we all will – Canadians expect us to acknowledge them, and most
importantly, to learn from them.
I know I can count on you to fulfill the important responsibilities
entrusted in you, and to turn to me, and the Deputy Prime Minister,
early and often to support you in your role as Minister.
Sincerely,
Prime Minister of Canada signature
Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
On 2/20/22, Gould, Karina - M.P. <Karina.Gould@parl.gc.ca> wrote:
>
>
> Thank you for reaching out to the office of the Honourable Karina Gould
> Member of Parliament for Burlington.
>
> Please rest assured that your message will be brought to the attention of MP
> Gould and we will make every effort to respond promptly. Correspondence
> received from residents of Burlington are reviewed and actioned as soon as
> possible. If you have not already included your address and postal code,
> please respond to this email with that information.
>
> Please note this is a community office, due to the high volume of
> correspondence we receive our priority is to respond to inquiries from
> Burlington Residents.
>
> If you are not a local resident, please contact your MP’s office for
> assistance. You can enter your postal code here
> https://www.ourcommons.ca/
> representative is.
>
> For matters related to the Ministry of Families Children and Social
> Development and Service Canada, or to discuss issues relevant to MP Gould’s
> role as the Minister of Families Children and Social Development, please
> contact
> EDSC.MIN.FEDS-FCSD.MIN.ESDC@
>
> Our constituency office is taking every precautionary measure to prevent the
> spread of COVID-19 and ask constituents to follow the most up to date
> information from public health.
>
>
>
> To ensure the safety of our community and protect our most vulnerable
> constituents, our office will be closed to walk-in visits until further
> notice.
>
>
>
> Our office will continue to operate Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30
> pm. by phone, email, and on a by-appointment basis for urgent cases.
>
>
>
> Please reach out to us at 905-639-5757 or by email at
> karina.gould@parl.gc.ca<
>
>
>
> In case of an emergency or urgent situations you can also contact the
> following services:
>
>
>
> For Emergencies - 911
>
> Halton Region - 311
>
> Service Canada - 1 800 622 6232
>
> CPP / OAS - 1 800 277-9914
>
> Employment Insurance - 1 800 206 7218
>
> CRA - 1-800 959 8281
>
> Immigration - 1 888 242 2100
>
> Passport Canada - 1 800 567 6868
>
> Halton Regional Police - 905-825-4777
>
>
>
> Please note all incoming messages are treated confidentially.
>
>
>
> We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation
> and patience.
>
>
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