Sussex sees three candidates for mayor, two other area mayors acclaimed
Nominations close for municipal races in Kings County
Sussex and Butternut Valley will see a contested race for mayor and council, with council races expected across Kings County as municipal nominations closed Friday.
Incumbent Marc Thorne, Sonja Davis Carhart and Tim Hutchinson are vying for the top job at Sussex City Hall in the 2026 municipal election set to take place May 11. In Butternut Valley, incumbent Al Brown and Frank Jopp will face off for the mayor’s chair, while Hampton Mayor Bob Doucet and Valley Waters Mayor Randy McKnight will be re-elected by acclamation.
It is the first full municipal election since local governance reform took effect in January 2023, which saw a partial election in November 2022. The former Progressive Conservative provincial government initiative amalgamated Sussex and Sussex Corner into the Town of Sussex, combined Norton and its surrounding local service districts into the Village of Valley Waters, added territory to Hampton and combined multiple local service districts including Havelock into Butternut Valley Rural Community.
It also realigned the regional service commissions, with Hampton moved from the Kings RSC to the Fundy RSC, and added a number of new mandates including community development, economic development, transportation and tourism to existing responsibilities like solid waste, planning and regional facilities cost sharing. This has resulted in frictions, with the Kings RSC failing to pass a budget in 2023 and 2024 on first attempt, and a trustee being appointed before the 2024 provincial election.
The government has said the current trustee, John Jarvie, will remain until after the election, and in an independent review released last week, consultants hoped it would bring a new set of representatives with a renewed focus on regional collaboration.
Thorne, 66, is seeking a fourth full term as Sussex mayor, after being re-elected by acclamation midway through the term in 2022. He will contend with Carhart, 64, a semi-retired government employee who is seeking to enhance transparency for taxpayer dollars, and Hutchinson, 57, who says he’s worked with the Refuge Kings County advocacy group to improve conditions for the homeless.
All incumbent councillors are returning as candidates save Eric Nelson, who has been on council since 2016 and did not re-offer. For councillor-at-large, incumbents Fred Brenan, Graham Milner and Tim Wilson are running alongside Richard Pearson, who had ran for mayor in 2022, with three seats up for grabs.
In Ward 1, where two seats are available, incumbent Paul Maguire is running against former councillor Danny Holder, former reporter Gisele McKnight and former Norton mayor Ann-Marie Snyder. In Ward 2, incumbents Doug Bobbitt and Catherine Macleod as well as registered nurse Joanne Cummings and community advocate Leeann Nichol, who helped organize a town hall on homelessness and housing, are competing for two seats.
Town council’s focus for the past four years has been on securing provincial and federal funding and environmental approvals for its $39 million flood mitigation plan, which involves digging two diversion channels to send floodwaters away from the downtown core and into the Kennebecasis River. That plan shifts into construction mode over the next term, with as much as $20.4 million in borrowing planned by 2030 to help fund the town’s share of that project and its other priorities, such as a new well for Ward 2 and street upgrades.
The town has also been working on encouraging housing growth, securing $3.2 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, and have pursued infrastructure improvements to support that growth. As housing pressure and economic pressure increase, the community has seen an increase in homelessness, with the Kings RSC working with provincial outreach staff to offer services and a town hall held in February to look for local solutions.
In Hampton, Mayor Bob Doucet returns by acclamation after serving one full term with election wins in 2021 and 2022. Incumbents Todd Beach and Jeremy Salgado, Phil Taber, a member of the town’s environment and planning committees, and Lori Ann Burns will contend for two councillor at large seats.
Ward 1 Coun. Sheree Trecartin, who had been elected in 2022, did not reoffer, nor did Ward 2 Coun. Ken Chorley, ending a 34-year municipal career including 13 years as mayor from 2008 to 2021.
Three newcomers will contend for the Ward 1 seat, including Daniel Anderson, Brian Fowler and David Gero. For Ward 2, which represents the town core, incumbent Kim Tompkins, former fire chief Mike Raeburn, retired consultant Stephen Brown and business owner Rob Barrett contend for two seats. In Ward 3, incumbent Karin Boyé and Dave Goucher contend for one seat.
The town’s priority over the past term was ushering the long-running arena project over the finish line, with the Summit Centre opening its doors in October. The town also passed a new municipal plan, which incorporates rural areas added to the town in amalgamation, and will now be tasked with continuing to usher in housing growth, particularly in the area around the new facility.
In Valley Waters, which had formed in 2023 as a new municipality from the former Village of Norton and surrounding local service districts, Mayor Randy McKnight will return by acclamation.
All incumbent councillors are re-offering, with Ward 2 Coun. Carey Beth Gillis and Stephen Muir as well as Ward 3 Coun. Lindsey Ganong returning by acclamation. Incumbent Charity McDonald and Jennifer McDonald are vying for the Ward 1 seat, while incumbents Harold Keith and Fran Keirstead as well as former Norton councillor Jeff Gaunce are contending for two seats in Ward 4.
The new municipality has been tasked with devising and executing a 2023 to 2026 strategic plan including bylaw review and initiating a rural plan, as well as opening a physical tourism welcome centre. Its 2026 priorities include progressing on an asset management plan as well as an overhaul to Norton’s outdoor rink, according to a budget presentation.
Butternut Valley will see incumbent Al Brown and Frank Jopp vie for the mayor’s chair in a rematch of 2022, which saw Brown elected and Jopp finish second among four candidates. All four council incumbents are running again, with Ward 1 Coun. Thomas Jeffery and Coun. Mark Rideout returning by acclamation.
In Ward 2, incumbent Vicky Gaunce, who has served as deputy mayor since 2023, and retired business technology consultant Gary Abell are running for one seat. In Ward 3, one seat is up for grabs for incumbent David A. Titus and Stefanie McFarlane, executive director of the Nutrien Civic Centre.
The municipality started from scratch as part of local governance reform, and has completed one strategic plan, including implementation of bylaws, and has budgeted for a new plan in 2026, Brunswick News previously reported. It recently took delivery on a new modular town hall and is moving fire services in-house, which had previously been managed by the province.
None of the three Kings Rural District advisory committee members reoffered, including Gordon Kierstead, who had been the chair of the Kings RSC board before it was disbanded. Sloane Ryan of Ward 2 was the only candidate to stand for the board’s three positions and will be acclaimed.
Brunswick News reached out to area municipal candidates to ask for biographical details as well as the following question: “What’s one municipal policy you would change?” Like on a ballot, they are listed here in alphabetical order by surname in each position.
Sussex
Mayor (one to elect):
Sonja Davis Carhart
Carhart, 64, of Main Street in Sussex, is a semi-retired government employee who previously ran for council in 2021 and 2022, placing fourth each time.
“Though I have not held any political position I have 33 years working for the government of N.B. watching, learning, and focusing on what the people of Sussex and Sussex Corner are saying,” Carhart wrote over Facebook Messenger.
When asked what policy she would change, she said, “This is my home all my life, I seen dirt road street turn into asphalt and all infrastructure changing over the years. Speaking of change I would like to see more transparency of what our tax money is being spent on and how it is used.”
Tim Hutchinson
Hutchinson, 57, has lived in Sussex for eight years and says he has “35 years of making critical decisions and logistics” through work. He says he’s been involved with Refuge Kings County working with the town on “ways to improve conditions for the homeless and low income.”
“Honestly when it comes to this subject of homelessness and low income it’s only the evidence of a rapid growing problem that has to be addressed beyond a local level,” he said in an email. “The provincial government has only begun to hear from people like me.”
Marc Thorne (incumbent)
Thorne, a 66-year-old civil technologist, has served four terms as mayor, with wins in 2012, 2016, 2021 and in the 2022 post-amalgamation election, having been first elected as a councillor in 1997 and appointed deputy mayor in 1998.
“If I am elected, I would like to consult with our residents over the next term to gain a better understanding of how they feel about their current ward system of electing council members,” Thorne wrote.
Councillor at Large (three to elect)
Fred B. Brenan (incumbent)
Brenan, a retired businessman, has been on council for five years since being elected in 2021 and 2022. When asked what policy he would change, he called it a “tough question.”
“On the whole these policies are well thought out and reviewed extensively by council and administration. We have been through the process of combining the policies of Sussex and Sussex Corner as well as the by-laws,” Brenan wrote in an email. “While there may be some items that some may take issue with, this process was done with the best intentions.”
Graham A. Milner (inc.)
Milner, 72, a retired RCMP officer, has served on council since wins in a 2014 byelection, 2016, 2021 and 2022. When asked the policy question, he said he’s “helped shape many of our current policies and continue to support them.”
“Rather than changing one outright, I focus on regularly reviewing and improving policies collaboratively with council to ensure they remain effective, responsive, and in the best interest of our growing community,” Milner wrote in an email.
Richard Pearson
Pearson, a 58-year-old father of three, said he has been self-employed since 1993. He ran for mayor in the last election, placing second, and previously ran for council in 2012. When asked the policy question, he said he did not want to talk about just one policy.
“I believe the constituents of the municipality of Sussex comprised of Sussex Corner Ward 2 and Sussex Ward 1 would be well served by electing me,” Pearson said. “I am asking for your vote. Give me a strong mandate and I will give you a stronger voice.”
Tim Wilson (inc.)
Wilson, a 68-year-old military veteran who lives in Sussex and works as a buyer for Kent Building Supplies, has been serving as a councillor for 35 years, and was appointed deputy mayor from 2018 to 2021 and again in 2022. When asked about policy, Wilson said in an email he would challenge the province’s local governance reform, “which is having a wide-ranging impact on all municipalities.”
He said the added mandates given to the regional service commissions such as community development and transportation have “created huge issues for the smaller municipalities, as the skill set and finances are not there to deal with these new mandates. The consequences have been extremely challenging.”
Coun. Ward 1 (two to elect):
Danny Holder
Holder, who lives in Ward 1, works as an electrical and instrumentation supervisor at Irving Tissue’s Saint John plant. He was elected to council in 2021 but was not re-elected in 2022, when he ran for Ward 1.
Holder said he didn’t have a “specific” policy to change “but ran previously to help get this flood mitigation to fruition and would like to see it through completion.”
Paul Maguire (inc.)
Maguire, a chartered professional accountant who lives in Ward 1, was elected to council in 2022 after serving as town clerk from 1984 to 2021.
When asked what policy he would change, he said he wanted to implement “an asset management policy that lists the condition of every street and sidewalk in the community along with a timeline to upgrade or replace the item to an acceptable standard.To go with the policy would be a capital budget outlining how the upgrades would be funded.
Gisele McKnight
McKnight, 65, lives in Sussex and described herself as a writer, editor and communications professional who covered politics “for print media in Sussex, Hampton and Fredericton for 14 years.”
When asked what policy she would change, she said, “Not a change necessarily, but I would always seek to nurture positive, productive relationships with all stakeholders: citizens, local groups and the other levels of government.”
Ann-Marie Snyder
Snyder, 58, lives in Sussex and works as a regional manager for a manufactured housing communities firm. Snyder served as Village of Norton mayor from 2020 until amalgamation in 2022, with 16 years as a deputy mayor before that, and served as Valley Waters deputy mayor from 2023 until September 2024.
“I’m running for council to serve our community, and I believe that starts with listening,” Snyder wrote in an email. “Rather than focusing on changing one specific policy right away, I’m committed to working with residents to identify areas where policies can better support the community and making thoughtful improvements where needed.”
Coun. Ward 2 (two to elect):
Doug Bobbitt (inc.)
Bobbitt, 59, is retired and lives in Ward 2. He was first elected to Sussex Corner council in 2016, and was elected to Sussex Ward 2 in 2022 after amalgamation.
He wrote that he didn’t have “a specific municipal policy to change, as many policies, regulations, and bylaws have been updated over the past three years.”
“However, more work remains, and I hope to contribute to updating the remaining bylaws during the next council mandate, while ensuring flooding infrastructure improvements continue in a timely manner,” Bobbitt wrote.
Joanne Cummings
Cummings, 38, lives in Sussex Corner and works as a registered nurse in the operating room at the Sussex Health Centre. She said she has no previous political experience, but has been “involved in many different committees” in the past, including Sussex Minor Baseball and Sussex Minor Hockey.
When asked for a policy change, Cummings replied “housing flexibility reform,” such as “allowing more ‘missing middle’ housing – duplexes, triplexes, backyard suites and small apartment buildings – in areas currently zoned only for single-family homes.”
“It would help young families and seniors stay local, increase housing supply without major sprawl and support growing population,” Cummings wrote.
Catherine MacLeod (inc.)
MacLeod, 67, is a semi-retired fitness instructor who lives in Skyline Acres in Ward 2. She said she started on Sussex Corner’s flood committee before serving as a Sussex Corner councillor from 2016 until 2022, including as deputy mayor. After amalgamation, she was elected in 2022 to Ward 2 in Sussex.
She said there isn’t currently a policy “that I would want to change without debate, public input and discussion among my colleagues,” adding “I believe policies developed by administration and approved by council offer guidelines for the safety and well-being of the public. Policies create a safe and viable community for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
Leeann Nichol
Nichol, 39, described herself as a community advocate “with several years supporting individuals facing addiction, homelessness, and youth challenges.”
“I would implement a proactive community safety policy focused on prevention, youth support, affordable housing, and stronger collaboration between services and addressing root causes of crime while building a safer, more connected community,” she wrote when asked about a policy.
Hampton
Mayor (one to elect):
Robert (Dewey) D. Doucet (inc., acclaimed)
Doucet, 66, is retired and has served on town council since 2008, including eight years as deputy mayor, until being elected as mayor in 2021 and re-elected by acclamation a year later.
“I really don’t have anything I can think of,” Doucet said by email when asked about a policy he would change.
Councillor at Large (two to elect):
Todd Beach (inc.)
Beach, 58, is a forester who lives in Ward 2. Beach said he has served on Hampton council since winning a December 2014 byelection.
“The concern that I hear most is the steep rise in provincial property tax assessments – a system currently being overhauled by the Province, and the primary source of funding for municipalities,” Beach said when asked about a policy. “I would like to see (an) updated system with improved affordability for residents coupled with new funding streams for municipalities,” Beach said.
Lori Ann Burns
No contact information was listed for Burns. Brunswick News has made requests for contact and is awaiting a response.
Jeremy Salgado (inc.)
Salgado, who lives in Ward 2, described himself as an educator with 20 years of experience. He has served as deputy mayor since being first elected to council in 2021 and being re-elected a year later.
“I would like to see council meetings recorded and made accessible to the public, allowing all constituents the opportunity to stay informed by watching proceedings live or at a later time,” Salgado said by email when asked about a policy.
Philip (Phil) Taber
Taber, 38, lives on Norton Shore Road and works as a research librarian. He said he’s served as a volunteer on Hampton’s environment committee for seven years, with four years as chair, and has served three years on the planning advisory committee.
“I believe that the concerns and feedback of people should be at the core of how decisions are made by Hampton,” Taber said when asked about a policy he would change. “I would improve accountability by amending the By-Law Respecting the Proceedings of Hampton Council to require Council meetings to be livestreamed and posted online for at least 2 years.”
Coun. Ward 1 (one to elect):
Daniel Anderson
Anderson, 42, lives on Darlings Island in Ward 1 and said he has worked for Canadian Blood Services 16 years and has run a dump truck company. He said he has previous experience serving on an education council, had been a riding association president for a political party, is involved in minor hockey and helped organize “small grassroots community things” like fairs and barbecues in Nauwigewauk.
When asked what policy he could change, he said the Summit Centre is a “huge part” of council’s current term and said “there’s several things I think I could really help bring to the table when it comes to sports for the area. Broader than that there are issues on Darlings Island that I would add my voice to.”
Brian Fowler
Fowler, 62, said he is a retired implementation manager who lives in Ward 1 and is a first-time candidate.
“As a resident of what is now Hampton’s Ward 1 for most of my life, I understand the ramifications of moving from an unincorporated area to a governed municipality,” he said when asked about a policy. “It has been three years since this transition and there is still much work to be done to make the residents of Ward 1 feel like Hampton is our home.”
David Gero
No contact information was listed for Gero. Brunswick News has made requests for contact and is awaiting a response.
Coun. Ward 2 (two to elect):
Rob Barrett
Barrett, 47, is owner of Barrett Sales Ltd., which he described as a manufacturer’s sales agency for plumbing & heating products. He said he’s “new to politics but always had a passion for it.”
Regarding a policy, he said he isn’t running to change one policy specifically, but said Hampton “is experiencing steady growth, and with that comes a responsibility for council to make thoughtful, forward-looking decisions that ensure development remains sustainable, infrastructure keeps pace, all while keeping our community’s character. That is one of the reasons I am running for council in this election.”
Stephen Brown
Brown, 67, lives in Hampton, is retired and a part-time consultant. When asked about policy, he said he wants the town “to help lead a grassroots movement for fairer property taxation in New Brunswick.”
“Housing is essential, yet many now pay as much in tax as in mortgage,” Brown wrote in an email. “Market forces shape prices, but tax burdens keep rising. It’s time for all governments to rethink the system and pursue real reform.
Mike Raeburn
Raeburn, 67, said he is a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran and a former fire chief with Hampton Fire Rescue, where he spent 27 years, and public works and utilities director for the Town of Hampton, where he worked for 23 years.
When asked about a policy, Raeburn said he’d “strengthen policies that ensure Hampton’s essential services like roads, water, wastewater and emergency services are planned responsibly and maintained consistently” in an email.
“After years leading public works and emergency services, I understand the value of proactive investment. Strong planning keeps infrastructure reliable and supports the long term needs of families, businesses and future generations,” he said.
Kim Tompkins (inc.)
Tompkins, 62, lives in Ward 2 and was first elected to council in 2021 before being re-elected by acclamation the previous year.
She said policies “guide our work” and are “living documents that need to be reviewed and updated regularly as our community grows and changes.
“We are involved in this very process at the moment in Hampton. Instead of pinpointing a policy to change, I believe the important thing is to continually listen and involve our community so our policies reflect our citizens values and needs,” Tompkins wrote in an email.
Coun. Ward 3 (one to elect):
Karin Boyé (inc.)
Boyé, 75, is a retired executive assistant who lives in Ward 3. Boyé said she was chair of her local service district’s advisory committee, where she served from 2009 until amalgamation. She said she had also served on the Regional Service Commission 8 board from when it was founded in 2013 until 2022, when Hampton moved to the Fundy RSC, and was part of Hampton’s recreation planning committee in the years leading to the establishment of the Summit Centre arena.
When asked about a policy to change, she said “Improving inclusion of newly incorporated areas is key. We must ensure residents feel connected, informed, and involved in decisions that impact the entire community.”
Dave Goucher
Goucher, 38, said he works at his family’s bakery, Spuds N Things, and is a first-time candidate.
When asked about a policy, he said, “Rural and urban areas are fundamentally different, and applying the same regulations to both can create unnecessary challenges.”
“Moving forward, I believe we need a more thoughtful and flexible approach – one that recognizes these differences and ensures our by-laws are fair, practical, and responsive to the communities they serve,” Goucher said.
Valley Waters
Mayor (one to elect):
Randy McKnight (inc., accl.)
McKnight, 60, is a retired radiation therapist and health-care manager who was elected as Valley Waters mayor in 2022 and took the role in January the next year.
When asked about a policy, he identified “expanding housing options within our rural plan.”
“This includes the development of senior-friendly housing, as well as creating more affordable options such as tiny home communities and other flexible housing models,” he said. “I also believe municipalities should have more flexibility with regional service delivery that allows communities to select services based on their unique needs and local context at the lowest cost possible.”
Coun. Ward 1 (one to elect):
Charity McDonald (inc.)
McDonald, 51, is a school bus driver who lives on McDonald’s Point in Wickham, in the municipality’s Ward 1. She has served on Valley Waters council since amalgamation, and had served as the chair of Wickham LSD before that, as well as being on the board of directors for RSC 8 and the Kings Regional Services Commission.
“I don’t believe I would change any municipal policies,” she said. “I would like to see more consistency within the RSC’s regarding the shared funding models for recreation such as weighted voting and the default of (a) 50/50 cost sharing agreement when no agreement can be made.”
“Better communication with our DTI and our ability to lobby the concerns of our residents when it comes to our roads would be beneficial as well,” she wrote.
Jennifer McDonald
McDonald, 50, is a school bus driver from Wickham. When asked about a policy, she said “What I would like to see is that the rural way of life remained the same in our area.”
“I also know that in our area pick up of silage seems to be a problem,” she said, speaking about animal feed made from high-moisture crops. “However, there is a pilot program starting, so I’m hoping that it will include all farmers in the area.”
Coun. Ward 2 (two to elect):
Carey Beth Gillis (inc., accl.)
Gillis, 51, is an educational assistant who has served as a councillor for two years, including one as deputy mayor, after winning a 2023 byelection.
“One project I will continue to work on is to advocate for our residents for fair payments with regards to our participation in the Kings RSC,” Gillis wrote by email. “I want to continue to work collaboratively but also maintain our rural way of life.”
Stephen Muir (inc., accl.)
Muir, 64, is retired and lives in Belleisle & Springfield in Ward 2. Muir was elected to council starting in 2022.
When asked what policies he would change, he said, “I oppose aspects of the Kings Regional Service Commission mandate, as funding across its areas is not always consistent or fair – especially for rural communities.”
“I would support a more transparent, usage-based funding model so communities pay in proportion to the services they actually receive,” Muir wrote.
Coun. Ward 3 (one to elect):
Lindsey Ganong (inc., accl.)
Ganong, 39, is a medical radiation therapist from Bloomfield in Ward 3. She has served as Ward 3 councillor since winning a 2023 byelection.
When asked what she would change, she said she’d like to see improved collaboration between municipalities and the RSC.
“While the relationship has faced challenges in our region, there are examples across the province where municipalities and service commissions have worked together more effectively,” Ganong wrote. “In Valley Waters, we have been advocating for more productive, cooperative partnerships, and I remain committed to working toward these goals in the future.”
Coun. Ward 4 (two to elect):
Jeff Gaunce
Gaunce, 52, is a teacher from Ward 4 who spent 6 years as a Norton councillor before amalgamation, but was not elected when running for a Valley Waters council seat in 2022.
“I enjoyed the experience and learned a lot in my previous time on council. I’d like to have a chance to use my skills and experience as part of the bigger team that helps continue to move the larger community forward in the positive direction it has been moving,” Gaunce said when asked about a policy he would change.
Fran Keirstead (inc.)
Keirstead, 33, is an educational assistant at Sussex Regional High School who lives in Valley Waters Ward 4. She was elected in a December 2024 by-election and said she’s “still brand new, but have learned a lot from council and staff.”
She said the municipality is still new and she wouldn’t point to a specific policy.
“I think it’s more important to listen to residents and revisit things if they are not working, while focusing on brining in development that helps grow our community and brings more families to our area and schools,” she said.
Harold Keith (inc.)
Keith, 79, is a retired Department of Transportation employee and Infrastructure employee who lives on Parleville Road and served on Norton council from 2001 to amalgamation, and was elected to Valley Waters council in 2022.
“I don’t have any major policy that I would want to see changed,” Keith told Brunswick News by phone. “One of our major projects that we’re looking at doing work on or changing is our outdoor rink in Norton, we’d like to see it made into a year-round purpose facility.”
Butternut Valley
Mayor (one to elect):
Alan (Al) Brown (inc.)
Brown, 61, is an office administrator with St. Paul’s United Church in Sussex and has served as Butternut Valley mayor since being elected following amalgamation in 2022.
When asked what policy he would change, he said he wanted to “create a 911 civic number by-law as the next administrative priority.”
Frank Jopp
Jopp, 66, is a semi-retired farmer in Mt. Pisgah who ran for Butternut Valley mayor in 2022 and was not elected. He was chair of the Studholm local service district and served on the regional service commission board.
“I don’t think Butternut Valley has that many policies,” Jopp said, saying it focuses on garbage disposal, fire services, and planning, and he wouldn’t change that.
“We need to compromise and have a working regional service commission,” he said, noting that a trustee has been appointed twice. “We as regional councillors really have to sit together compromise and make things work.”
Coun. Ward 1 (one to elect):
Thomas Jeffery (inc., accl.)
Jeffery, 66, is a welder and heavy equipment mechanic who was elected to Butternut Valley council in 2022, and had previously served on the community advisory committee for 24 years. He is chief of the Coles Island Volunteer Fire Department, where he said he has served for 45 years.
“I would like to see a more open communication between all levels of government and the people that we are working for so that they know what (their) money is going towards,” Jeffrey said.
Coun. Ward 2 (one to elect):
Gary Abell
Abell, 65, a retired business technology consultant, said he’s lived in Berwick, part of Ward 2, since 1986.
“My goal to is to work towards better understanding and settling issues preventing the RSC … from coming together and working as envisioned,” Abell wrote by email. “Until this happens, the RSC as a whole remains rudderless and dysfunctional.”
Vicky Gaunce (inc.)
Gaunce, a sales and supply manager at Prestige Homes, served as deputy mayor after being elected to Butternut Valley council in 2022 and was “on various boards in different capacities for 15 years prior to this,” she told Brunswick News.
She said the municipality’s policies are new, “but if I could change one thing it would be to have a say or any type of involvement with DTI regarding infrastructure in our municipality.”
“Currently we fully rely on DTI to share information with us regarding bridges and roads and we are at their mercy when it comes to any and all decisions affecting infrastructure.”
Coun. Ward 3 (one to elect):
Stefanie McFarlane
Stefanie McFarlane, 48, is the executive director of the Nutrien Civic Centre and lives in the Fennell Subdivision in Studholm, part of Ward 3.
When asked about a policy she would change, McFarlane said that Butternut Valley council voted to end its agreement with the Sussex Fire Department to provide fire service in adjoining areas of the municipality.
“There are volunteer departments within Butternut Valley, but they are, in most cases outside insurance company’s definitions of acceptable distance. The increase to our yearly insurance premiums is in some cases more than 10 times the increase we’d pay in our yearly property taxes.
David Andrew Titus (inc.)
Titus, who lives in Roachville, has served on council since January 2023 after being elected in 2022.
“I would not change any specific policy and am proud of the progress the first council has made,” Titus said. “My focus will be on the local community and will continue to work to make Butternut Valley the best place to live and raise a family in our province.”
Coun. Ward 4 (one to elect):
Mark K. Rideout (inc., accl.)
Brunswick News has made a request for comment and is awaiting a response.
UPDATE: Minister defends cash for Agropur in wake of looming Sussex plant closure
Sussex-area dairy processing plant to close by end of 2028
Minister Luke Randall is defending a decision to loan Agropur Cooperative up to $2.4 million to restructure its New Brunswick operations.
On Thursday, Agropur publicly revealed it will close its Sussex-area dairy processing plant by the end of 2028, resulting in the loss of roughly 60 jobs. At the same time, its Miramichi plant will be expanded, which will create more than 15 jobs, according to a company press release.
News of the looming plant closure sent shockwaves through the Sussex region, raising questions about recent government financial support pledged to Agropur.
In February, the New Brunswick government announced up to $2.4 million, through Opportunities New Brunswick, for Agropur “to support modernization of its Miramichi facility and the expansion of milk processing capacity.”
The press release doesn’t state that this would result in the restructuring of the company’s New Brunswick operations nor facilitate the closure of the Sussex plant.
However, Randall, who is the minister responsible for ONB, told reporters Thursday there was an awareness of Agropur’s restructuring plan, although not of the details, when the decision was made to provide a conditionally repayable loan.
“When companies decide to restructure, there’s no guarantee that they’ll choose New Brunswick as part of those restructuring plans,” Randall said at the launch of the province’s new economic development strategy in Saint John Thursday.
“When we see opportunities where we can be part of that plan and add employment, guarantee growth for the future so that we can be reinvesting into things like health care, post-secondary education and long-term care, we like to partner to be part of that growth.”
Premier Susan Holt told reporters Thursday that she feels for those in the Sussex region who were learning the news of the “shift” in work to Miramichi.
“We’re grateful that Agropur has committed to supporting those employees if they choose to relocate to where the new opportunities are,” she said.
“Agropur is growing in the Miramichi, and actually at the end of this, they will have net more employment and activity in New Brunswick than they do today, but it’s never a good day as an employee to hear news like this and so we’re working to support Agropur on their growth in the Miramichi to make sure that they are efficient and productive.”
Brunswick News asked the premier about the information provided by the company, which suggests a net loss of 45 jobs through the Sussex plant closure. Holt said she’d look into it further because her understanding is that the company was “going to come out with a larger workforce at the end of this process than today.”
Agropur plans to gradually scale down production at its Sussex plant – as well as its Truro plant – as part of its restructuring plan for its Maritime operations.
At the same time, Agropur plans to spend $20 million to modernize operations at its Miramichi plant, with a goal of increasing dairy processing capacity by 50 per cent. Its Bedford plant will see “several hundred million” dollars’ worth of investment to “double dairy ingredient and butter processing capacity in the region.”
Both these expansion projects are expected to add a total of 45 new skilled jobs – 30 in Bedford and 15 in Miramichi – although the company acknowledged that Sussex and Truro employees would be impacted by plant closures.
“While difficult, these decisions are aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of Agropur’s operations in the region and strengthening its competitiveness,” company spokesperson Guillaume Bérubé said in an email Thursday.
Facility’s closure will be ‘felt way beyond the plant floor’
Sussex Agropur workers were surprised when they learned of the plant’s looming closure from Agropur officials on Wednesday, according to Stephane Lamoureux, president of Unifor Local 506.
The local represents the Sussex plant’s roughly 50 unionized workers. These workers just unionized in January 2025.
Unifor national representatives will be visiting the Sussex plant during the first week of May to meet with impacted workers, Lamoureux said.
“We will also start negotiating with the company to put in place an agreement that will clarify all the questions our members have,” he said, adding it’s still unclear when workers could start being laid off during the scaling-down process.
Operating since 1984, the Sussex-area dairy plant was established by Dairytown Products Ltd. It merged with Agropur Cooperative in 2014.
“This facility has been part of the Sussex community for decades and the impact of the closure will be felt way beyond the plant floor,” Lamoureux said.
Sussex-Three Rivers MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace called the news a “devastating blow” to her community, which is known as the Dairy Capital of the Maritimes.
“Like everyone else in this community today, we’re absolutely devastated by that news,” the Progressive Conservative MLA said Thursday. “These are a lot of jobs and these are important jobs to this region and the economy here.”
The Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce has pledged support for those impacted by the closure, indicating it will “act as a bridge” by “connecting affected workers with the right resources at the right time.”
“Whether it is professional guidance, local opportunities or community-based support, we are dedicated to providing active support throughout this process,” the chamber said in a press release.
When Agropur took over the plant in 2014, Scott-Wallace said the Sussex community was optimistic and excited about the future because there had been indications there would be an expansion and more jobs would be created at the facility.
Her community wouldn’t have imagined, she said, that Miramichi’s gain would be Sussex’s loss when the ONB funding was announced back in February.
“Nobody knew it was one or the other,” Scott-Wallace said. “I think that’s really contributing to this very sour taste in the mouths of the Sussex region.”
Agropur officials have indicated that the Sussex plant’s work will go to upgraded facilities in Miramichi, Bedford and Beauceville, Que., Lamoureux said.
“The company is saying that it costs less to invest in the Bedford and Miramichi plants than the Sussex plant, but… we’re still pushing to see if there’s anything that can be done to save the plant,” Lamoureux said.
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 1, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Subject: Fwd: Response from Public Safety Canada - LEB-001083
To: <Theprodigalson77@gmail.com>, <thornenm@gmail.com>, <gmilner@nbnet.nb.ca>, <R.Pearson2026@gmail.com>, <dholder@nb.sympatico.ca>, <giselemcknight@gmail.com>, <1967asnyder@gmail.com>, <joannejcummings@gmail.com>, <leeanngraham30@gmail.com>
----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "McKnight, Gisele" McKnight.Gisele@kingscorecord.com
> > > > To: lcampenella@ledger.com
> > > > Cc:motomaniac_02186@hotmail.com
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 2:53 PM
> > > > Subject: David Amos
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Hello Lisa,
> > > > > David Amos asked me to contact you. I met him last June after he
> > became
> > > an
> > > > > independent (not representing any political party) candidate in our
> > > > federal
> > > > > election that was held June 28.
> > > > >
> > > > > He was a candidate in our constituency of Fundy (now called
> > > Fundy-Royal).
> > > > I
> > > > > wrote a profile story about him, as I did all other candidates. That
> > > story
> > > > > appeared in the Kings County Record June 22. A second story, written
> > by
> > > > one
> > > > > of my reporters, appeared on the same date, which was a report on
> the
> > > > > candidates' debate held June 18.
> > > > >
> > > > > As I recall David Amos came last of four candidates in the election.
> > The
> > > > > winner got 14,997 votes, while Amos got 358.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have attached the two stories that appeared, as well as a photo
> > taken
> > > by
> > > > > reporter Erin Hatfield during the debate. I couldn't find the photo
> > that
> > > > > ran, but this one is very similar.
> > > > >
> > > > > Gisele McKnight
> > > > > editor A1-debate A1-amos,David for MP 24.doc debate
2.JPG
> > > > > Kings County Record
> > > > > Sussex, New Brunswick
> > > > > Canada
> > > > > 506-433-1070
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
Raising a Little Hell- Lively Debate Provokes Crowd
By Erin Hatfield
"If you don't like what you got, why don't you change it? If your world is all screwed up, rearrange it."
The 1979 Trooper song Raise a Little Hell blared on the speakers at the 8th Hussars Sports Center Friday evening as people filed in to watch the Fundy candidates debate the issues. It was an accurate, if unofficial, theme song for the debate.
The crowd of over 200 spectators was dwarfed by the huge arena, but as they chose their seats, it was clear the battle lines were drawn. Supporters of Conservative candidate Rob Moore naturally took the blue chairs on the right of the rink floor while John Herron's Liberalswent left. There were splashes of orange, supporters of NDP Pat Hanratty, mixed throughout. Perhaps the loudest applause came from a row towards the back, where supporters of independent candidate David Amos sat.
The debate was moderated by Leo Melanson of CJCW Radio and was organized by the Sussex Valley Jaycees. Candidates wereasked a barrage of questions bypanelists Gisele McKnight of the Kings County Record and Lisa Spencer of CJCW.
Staying true to party platforms for the most part, candidates responded to questions about the gun registry, same sex marriage, the exodus of young people from the Maritimes and regulated gas prices. Herron and Moore were clear competitors,constantly challenging each other on their answers and criticizing eachothers’ party leaders. Hanratty flew under the radar, giving short, concise responses to the questions while Amos provided some food for thought and a bit of comic relief with quirky answers. "I was raised with a gun," Amos said in response to the question of thenational gun registry. "Nobody's getting mine and I'm not paying 10 cents for it."
Herron, a Progressive Conservative MP turned Liberal, veered from his party'splatform with regard to gun control. "It was ill advised but well intentioned," Herron said. "No matter what side of the house I am on, I'm voting against it." Pat Hanratty agreed there were better places for the gun registry dollars to be spent.Recreational hunters shouldn't have been penalized by this gun registry," he said.
The gun registry issues provoked the tempers of Herron and Moore. At one point Herron got out of his seat and threw a piece of paper in front of Moore. "Read that," Herron said to Moore, referring to the voting record of Conservative Party leader Steven Harper. According to Herron, Harper voted in favour of the registry on the first and second readings of the bill in 1995. "He voted against it when it counted, at final count," Moore said. "We needa government with courage to register sex offenders rather than register the property of law abiding citizens."
The crowd was vocal throughout the evening, with white haired men and women heckling from the Conservative side. "Shut up John," one woman yelled. "How can you talk about selling out?" a man yelled whenHerron spoke about his fear that the Conservatives are selling farmers out.
Although the Liberal side was less vocal, Kings East MLA Leroy Armstrong weighed in at one point. "You’re out of touch," Armstrong yelled to Moore from the crowd when the debate turned to the cost of post-secondary education. Later in the evening Amos challenged Armstrong to a public debate of their own. "Talk is cheap. Any time, anyplace," Armstrong responded.
As the crowd made its way out of the building following the debate, candidates worked the room. They shook hands with well-wishers and fielded questions from spectators-all part of the decision-making process for the June 28 vote.
Cutline – David Amos, independent candidate in Fundy, with some of his favourite possessions—motorcycles.
McKnight/KCR
The Unconventional Candidate
David Amos Isn’t Campaigning For Your Vote, But….
By Gisele McKnight
FUNDY—He has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket, a chain on his wallet, a beard at least a foot long, 60 motorcycles and a cell phone that rings to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Meet the latest addition to the Fundy ballot—David Amos.
The independent candidate lives in Milton, Massachusetts with his wife and two children, but his place of residence does not stop him from running for office in Canada.
One has only to be at least 18, a Canadian citizen and not be in jail to meet Elections Canada requirements.
When it came time to launch his political crusade, Amos chose his favourite place to do so—Fundy.
Amos, 52, is running for political office because of his dissatisfaction with politicians.
"I’ve become aware of much corruption involving our two countries," he said. "The only way to fix corruption is in the political forum."
The journey that eventually led Amos to politics began in Sussex in 1987. He woke up one morning disillusioned with life and decided he needed to change his life.
"I lost my faith in mankind," he said. "People go through that sometimes in midlife."
So Amos, who’d lived in Sussex since 1973, closed his Four Corners motorcycle shop, paid his bills and hit the road with Annie, his 1952 Panhead motorcycle.
"Annie and I rode around for awhile (three years, to be exact) experiencing the milk of human kindness," he said. "This is how you renew your faith in mankind – you help anyone you can, you never ask for anything, but you take what they offer."
For those three years, they offered food, a place to sleep, odd jobs and conversation all over North America.
Since he and Annie stopped wandering, he has married, fathered a son and a daughter and become a house-husband – Mr. Mom, as he calls himself.
He also describes himself in far more colourful terms—a motorcyclist rather than a biker, a "fun-loving, free-thinking, pig-headed individual," a "pissed-off Maritimer" rather than an activist, a proud Canadian and a "wild colonial boy."
Ironically, the man who is running for office has never voted in his life.
"But I have no right to criticize unless I offer my name," he said. "It’s alright to bitch in the kitchen, but can you walk the walk?"
Amos has no intention of actively campaigning.
"I didn’t appreciate it when they (politicians) pounded on my door interrupting my dinner," he said. "If people are interested, they can call me. I’m not going to drive my opinions down their throats."
And he has no campaign budget, nor does he want one.
"I won’t take any donations," he said. "Just try to give me some. It’s not about money. It goes against what I’m fighting about."
What he’s fighting for is the discussion of issues – tainted blood, the exploitation of the Maritimes’ gas and oil reserves and NAFTA, to name a few.
"The political issues in the Maritimes involve the three Fs – fishing, farming and forestry, but they forget foreign issues," he said. "I’m death on NAFTA, the back room deals and free trade. I say chuck it (NAFTA) out the window.
NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement which allows an easier flow of goods between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Amos disagrees with the idea that a vote for him is a wasted vote.
"There are no wasted votes," he said. "I want people like me, especially young people, to pay attention and exercise their right. Don’t necessarily vote for me, but vote."
Although…if you’re going to vote anyway, Amos would be happy to have your X by his name.
"I want people to go into that voting booth, see my name, laugh and say, ‘what the hell.’"
Sussex
| Sussex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position to fill | # Positions to fill | # Candidates | Status |
| Mayor | 1 | 3 | (Election) |
| Councillor at Large | 3 | 4 | (Election) |
| Councillor Ward 1 | 2 | 4 | (Election) |
| Councillor Ward 2 | 2 | 4 | (Election) |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
| Name | Optional Contact Information |
| Mayor (1 to elect) | |
| Sonja Davis Carhart | |
| Tim Hutchinson | Telephone : 506 567-8567 Email : Theprodigalson77@gmail.com |
| Marc Thorne (inc./sort.) | Email :
thornenm@gmail.com
|
| Councillor at Large (3 to elect) | |
| Fred B. Brenan (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506 433 0370 Email : fredbrenan@gmail.com |
| Graham A. Milner (inc./sort.) | Email :
gmilner@nbnet.nb.ca
https://www.gamilner.ca/ |
| Richard Pearson | Email :
R.Pearson2026@gmail.com
|
| Tim Wilson (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506 512-1390 Email : thimothyw@gmail.com |
| Councillor Ward 1 (2 to elect) | |
| Danny Holder | Telephone : 506 434 3005 Email : dholder@nb.sympatico.ca |
| Paul Ivan Maguire (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506 512-0453 Email : pandlmaguire@gmail.com |
| Gisele E. McKnight | Email :
giselemcknight@gmail.com
|
| Ann-Marie Snyder | Telephone : 506 961 3682 Email : 1967asnyder@gmail.com |
| Councillor Ward 2 (2 to elect) | |
| Doug Bobbitt (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506-434-1294 Email : bobdugit@gmail.com https://facebook.com/doug.bobbitt97 |
| Joanne Cummings | Telephone : 5064350209 Email : joannejcummings@gmail.com |
| Catherine MacLeod (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506 433.0585 Email : cjmcld@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/catherine.bouvierkennedy |
| Leeann Nichol | Email : leeanngraham30@gmail.com |
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Subject: Fwd: Response from Public Safety Canada - LEB-001083
To: <gary.r.abell@gmail.com>, <stefmcfar@outlook.com>, <butternutvalleymayor@gmail.
Butternut Valley
| Butternut Valley | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position to fill | # Positions to fill | # Candidates | Status |
| Mayor | 1 | 2 | (Election) |
| Councillor Ward 1 | 1 | 1 | (No Election) |
| Councillor Ward 2 | 1 | 2 | (Election) |
| Councillor Ward 3 | 1 | 2 | (Election) |
| Councillor Ward 4 | 1 | 1 | (No Election) |
| Butternut Valley | |
|---|---|
| Name | Optional Contact Information |
| Mayor (1 to elect) | |
| Alan (Al) Brown (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506 805-9807 Email : butternutvalleymayor@gmail.com |
| Frank Jopp | |
| Councillor Ward 1 (1 to elect) | |
| Thomas Jeffery (inc./sort.) (accl.) | Telephone : 506 567 4820 Email : thomas.jeffery@ |
| Councillor Ward 2 (1 to elect) | |
| Gary Abell | Telephone : 506 432-1313 Email : gary.r.abell@gmail.com |
| Vicky Gaunce (inc./sort.) | |
| Councillor Ward 3 (1 to elect) | |
| Stefanie McFarlane | Telephone : 506 512-2171 Email : stefmcfar@outlook.com |
| David A. Titus (inc./sort.) | Telephone : 506 944-1117 |
| Councillor Ward 4 (1 to elect) | |
| Mark K. Rideout (inc./sort.) (accl.) | |
Dairytown products LTD. and Agropur Cooperative conclude an agreement in principle to merge the two entities
Sussex, New Brunswick and Longueuil, March 27, 2014
The Boards of directors of Dairytown Products Ltd. and Agropur Cooperative announced today that they have concluded an agreement in principle to merge the two organizations.
“This is excellent news for both our organizations. Our respective vision and values gave us the opportunity to reach this agreement. This will allow the producers of both organizations to benefit from the advantages of being part of a large national cooperative, and to better serve customers across the country,” declared Dairytown Products Ltd. Chairman, Jim Walker.
“This agreement is consistent with our desire to keep dairy processing assets in the hands of producers wherever possible,” said Serge Riendeau, President of Agropur Cooperative. “It will also increase our critical mass in the region and help secure our long-term presence in Atlantic Canada,” he added.
Next steps
The two organizations should reach a final agreement within the next few weeks.
The Dairytown beneficiaries will be asked to vote on the proposed merger.
The transaction is subject to final approval after conducting a due diligence review and obtaining the usual authorizations, including those of the Competition Bureau and other competent authorities.
About Dairytown Products Ltd.
Strategically located at the heart of New Brunswick’s dairy farming community and with close access to central Canada and northeast United States, Dairytown Products is a world-class supplier of butter, skim milk powder and custom milk powder blends. As a specialized supplier of dairy products and ingredients to the retail, food service and further processing trades, the company has earned an industry reputation for products of uncompromising quality and functional performance. It employs 189 people and has 207 beneficiaries, all of whom are New Brunswick dairy producers.
About Agropur
Founded in 1938, Agropur is an important player in the North American dairy industry. With sales of more than $3.8 billion, the Cooperative is a source of pride for its 3,348 dairy producer owners and 6,300 employees. Agropur processes more than 3.3 billion litres of milk per year in its 31 plants across North America and boasts an impressive line of products that includes brands such as Natrel, Québon, OKA, iögo and Olympic (joint venture with Ultima Foods), Farmers, Agropur Signature cheese, Central Dairies, Agropur Grand Cheddar, Sealtest and Island Farms.
– 30 –
Dairytown Products Ltd.
George MacPhee
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Dairytown Products Ltd.
Phone : 506-432-1950 p. 227
Agropur Cooperative
Marc Labelle
Director, Public Relations and Communications
Agropur Cooperative
Phone: 514-856-4946
Agropur plans to invest in its Beauceville and Bedford plants to strengthen its value‑added protein expertise in Canada
Longueuil, April 23, 2026 – Agropur announces important investment projects in its Beauceville (Quebec) and Bedford (Nova Scotia) plants to expand its expertise in the production of value‑added proteins in Canada. This initiative will position the Cooperative as a strategic player in the local production of dairy proteins and will help meet the growing demand for protein‑enriched products in the Canadian market.
“These investment projects demonstrate our commitment to supporting the growth and long‑term sustainability of our dairy farmer members’ activities in Quebec and the Maritimes, while also generating greater value for the Cooperative. We thank the provincial governments of Quebec and Nova Scotia for their financial support and their collaboration in the realization of these projects,” said Roger Massicotte, Chair of Agropur.
“This strategic initiative, representing investments nearing $1 billion, involves replacing end-of-life equipment with innovative technologies and automation, enabling us to achieve efficiency gains and increase our milk processing and valorization capacity. In addition to strengthening our market competitiveness, these projects will support the creation of more than 90 skilled regional jobs, with over 60 positions in Beauceville and nearly 30 in Bedford,” added Émile Cordeau, Chief Executive Officer.
“These two projects in Eastern Canada are fully aligned with our global strategy to meet the growing demand for protein‑enriched products, mainly in domestic markets. In addition, investments totaling more than $130 million USD has been announced this year in our Wisconsin and South Dakota plants in the United States to reposition our offering toward value‑added proteins,” said Maxime Devourdy, President, Ingredients.
These projects remain subject to final approval by the end of 2026. In the meantime, Agropur will finalize its detailed analyses and continue its efforts to secure financial support in order to obtain the required authorizations.
Structuring investments for the Maritimes
In addition to the Bedford project, Agropur announced investments totaling $20 million in its Miramichi, New Brunswick plant. To support this investment, the Government of New Brunswick, through Opportunities NB, announced up to $2.4 million in the form of a non-repayable contribution to support the modernization of the Miramichi plant and the expansion of milk processing capacity, which includes upgrading equipment to improve operational efficiency and production flexibility. This project will help ensure Agropur’s long‑term presence in the province and is expected to create more than 15 new skilled jobs in Miramichi.
About Agropur
Agropur
is the largest dairy cooperative in Canada and one of the leading
suppliers of dairy products in the retail, food service, and industrial
sectors in North America. Founded in 1938, the Cooperative is a source
of pride for its 2,700 members based in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova
Scotia, as well as for its 7,000 employees. Operating 29 plants in
Canada and the United States, Agropur generated revenues of $8.9 billion
CAD in 2025 and processed 6.7 billion liters of milk. The Cooperative
continues to grow while creating value for its communities by offering
nutritious, high‑quality dairy products.
For more information: agropur.com/en
- 30 -
Source:
Agropur
Guillaume Bérubé
Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
(438) 506-5948 | guillaume.berube@agropur.com
Sussex-area Agropur dairy plant to scale down operations, expected to close by 2028
Company spokesperson confirmed 90 potential job losses in Truro, Sussex
The Agropur dairy operation near Sussex will close by the end of 2028, the company confirmed Thursday.
This will also be the case for the Agropur ingredients plant in Truro, N.S.
The closure is part of a project announced to transform the Bedford, N.S., plant — doubling dairy-ingredient and butter-processing capacity in the region — and modernize operations at the Miramichi plant, increasing dairy-processing capacity by 50 per cent.
A spokesperson for Agropur confirmed that this will mean potentially 60 jobs lost in the Sussex area and 30 potential job losses in Truro. The change will see a combined 45 jobs added to the two other plants — 30 in Bedford and 15 in Miramichi.
The Sussex-area Agropur plant is set to close by the end of 2028, the company announced Thursday. (Roger Cosman/CBC) The Sussex-area plant opened in 1984, and Dairytown announced a merger with Agropur in 2014. It is known for its preparation of butter and other dairy products, such as milk powders.
Agropur also announced an expansion project for the Beauceville, Que., plant. That project, combined with the Bedford one equals a combined commitment of nearly $1 billion.
The Miramichi investment totals around $20 million, the company said.
Butternut Valley Mayor Alan Brown said he spoke to someone from Agropur on Thursday about the closure.
"The statement I received was that they understand it is hard news for the people of this area and the farmers, but it is a necessary one to maintain their presence in the Maritimes," Brown said of his conversation with the company.
"It's a multimillion-dollar process they're going through, and we're a casualty of that."
Butternut Valley Mayor Alan Brown said he thinks the closure will take some time to sink in for the community. (Roger Cosman/CBC)He said the employees were told about the closure on Wednesday, but he thinks it will take some time until the news fully settles in.
"There are employees there that have been there since Day 1, and that's 40 some years," Brown said.
Stéphane Lamoureux, the president of Unifor Local 506, said he got a call on Tuesday to tell him that employee meetings would be held on Wednesday.
Lamoureux said the union's priority, with support from Unifor national, is to ensure members have strong representation and can access support. He said the union will also begin negotiations with Agropur.
The announcement came as a shock to employees, he said, because they were once told by Agropur that the plant would be expanded, not closed.
"Losing [these jobs] is not something this region can absorb easily," he said.
In a news release from Agropur, the process was framed as a positive — highlighting the large monetary investments in Bedford and Miramichi.
"It's a project, they call it," Lamoureux said. "It's not a project to our members. They're all losing their work.
"So we're going to have talks with the company and see what can be done, because that plant matters to the members and it matters to the community, and we're going to do everything in our power to see what can we do."
Danielle Connell, the president of the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick, said she started hearing rumblings about the plant closure a few months ago.
A
"Welcome to Dairytown" sign still greets Sussex visitors. But by 2028's
end, Agropur plans to move the nearby dairy plant operations to
Bedford, N.S. (Roger Cosman/CBC) She said the closure doesn't make sense given the high milk production happening on multiple farms within a few kilometres of the plant.
Connell pointed to Agropur's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
"This doesn't eliminate milk production, but it shifts the costs onto the farmers and the system," she said.
"If our goal is to reach net zero ... I don't think we accomplish that by putting more trucks on the road."
And Connell said, for the Agricultural Alliance, this closure isn't just about one plant. She said it speaks to whether New Brunswick will be able to keep control of its food system or if it is going to "slowly lose control piece by piece."
"We're not just losing 60 jobs, or 90 jobs, it's ... losing that critical capacity to process in the heart of dairy country," she said. "It's going to be a real blow to Sussex, not just [for] the farmers, but the whole community.
"This is a big deal for New Brunswick."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Mark Leger
Minister says department didn't know about Agropur cuts before giving company money
PC MLA questions grant of up to $2.4M for Miramichi plant just months before Sussex job losses
The minister responsible for Opportunities New Brunswick says his department was not aware of Agropur's plans to close its operations in Sussex when it gave a grant to expand them in Miramichi.
"We weren't privy to exactly what their restructuring plan would look like," Luke Randall told reporters at an unrelated news conference.
The closure of the Agropur dairy operation just outside Sussex is expected by the end of 2028, the company said Thursday, and a spokesperson for Agropur confirmed that will mean potentially 60 jobs lost in the Sussex area.
But with the closure of the Sussex-area plant, Agropur is modernizing its Miramichi location, adding 15 jobs in that area — still a net loss of potentially 45 jobs in New Brunswick overall.
Agropur is also expanding its Bedford, N.S., plant, while closing its Truro, N.S. plant.
Randall was responding to concerns from the Progressive Conservative agriculture critic.
“While I can appreciate that this is a gain for Miramichi and Bedford, it most definitely is a significant loss for Sussex,” said Tammy Scott-Wallace, MLA for Sussex-Three Rivers.
Tammy
Scott-Wallace, the PC MLA who represents Sussex, questions how much the
province knew about Agropur's restructuring when it gave them a grant
just months ago. (Roger Cosman/CBC)She pointed to a recent grant from Opportunities N.B. into Agropur's Miramichi plant for “up to $2.4 million in the form of a non-repayable contribution."
The news release from the economic development agency announcing the grant in February said, “Opportunities NB is supporting companies with long-term growth plans rooted in New Brunswick."
In a phone interview late Friday afternoon, Randall reiterated that the department did not know about Agropur's plans for Sussex.
"We didn't necessarily get the heads-up from the company as to what their timelines were or what their plans were with sites they chose not to move forward with," he said.
N.S. premier already celebrating new jobs
When asked if in hindsight his department should have asked more about Agropur's plans for Sussex before awarding the grant, Randall did not directly answer.
When a company "wants to move forward with New Brunswick ... we need to pursue those opportunities," Randall said.
"We're in a time of flux and all too often when we don't engage those opportunities, other jurisdictions are able to grab onto those opportunities of future with a larger company."
By Friday afternoon, Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia was already celebrating the new Agropur jobs for his province on social media.
"It’s fantastic to see businesses like Agropur investing in our province," Houston wrote of the company's planned expansion in Bedford, outside Halifax.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston celebrated the new jobs for his province on social media with this post on Friday. (Tim Houston/Facebook)Randall said that the company closing its Sussex operations and the funding for the Miramichi location were "independent decisions."
"There would have been a risk of losing both sides in the restructuring," he said.
Randall said it was his understanding that Agropur has not received any of the grant money yet, because the payments are subject to hitting growth targets.
Asked several times if his department is looking into getting back part of all of the grant, given the impending job losses in Sussex, Randall only reiterated that the two decisions by the company were separate.
On Thursday, CBC News requested an interview with Labour Minister Alyson Townsend, but the request was not addressed and a spokesperson sent an emailed statement instead.
The statement said staff from the department “are available to work closely with the employer and any affected employees to support their career transition," and workers are invited to reach out to their local WorkingNB office.
Premier wrong about Agropur job increases
Premier Susan Holt cited incorrect information about Agropur's operations in the province at a news conference on Thursday, incorrectly telling reporters that New Brunswick would end up with more jobs at the company.
“There's not going to be a net loss of jobs,” Holt said. “There's actually going to be more jobs with Agropur at the end of the day.”
But according to Agropur, that isn’t true.
When reporters questioned Holt on her statement that there would be no net loss of jobs, she said, “Well, let me check, because our understanding of their growth plans was that they were going to come out with a larger workforce at the end of this process.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
N.B. doesn't plan to revisit $2.4 million given to Agropur
Sussex-area residents saddened by plans to close dairy plant
Premier Susan Holt says dairy giant Agropur should have told the provincial government about plans to close its Sussex-area operation when the province provided a grant to expand its plant in Miramichi.
"Yes, that would have been helpful information to have to understand the full picture of the impact on New Brunswick," Holt told reporters at an unrelated news conference on Monday.
Quebec-based Agropur announced last week that it would close the Butternut Valley plant that employs around 60 people in 2028 and also shut down its plant in Truro, N.S., which employs 30 people.
In February, Opportunities New Brunswick announced a $2.4-million non-repayable loan for Agropur's plant expansion and modernization plans in Miramichi, increasing dairy-processing capacity by 50 per cent.
The project would add 15 jobs in that area, but with the planned closure of the Sussex operation, the province is facing a net loss of potentially 45 jobs in New Brunswick overall.
Asked if the province would reopen conversations with the company about the grant for Miramichi, Holt said the decision was made "on its own merits" and is good for the Miramichi area.
"And the the idea of whether we could have done anything for Sussex, from my understanding with Agropur was there's no further conversation to have there," Holt said.
Holt says Agropur should have told N.B. about layoffs before loan dealCBC News has reached out to Agropur to respond to Holt's comments.
'Agropur let everyone down'
Many people in the Sussex area, a community long known as Dairy Town, are feeling the pain from the news.
But perhaps none would feel the loss more acutely than Jim Brown, a former dairy farmer who was part of the original group in the mid-1980s that opened the Dairytown plant, which eventually became part of the Agropur group of companies.
“I felt terrible, just terrible,” Brown said when he learned the news. “Agropur let everyone down.”
Jim
and Marjorie Brown said the Agropur plant is an important part of the
region's economy and identity. Jim worked there for decades before
retiring. (Mark Leger/CBC News) Brown, who grew up on a farm and spent his entire working life in the industry, said he feels for the people, young and old, who could soon lose their jobs.
“I hope they're old enough to retire,” he said. “I hope they get a good severance. Some are younger and will have to move on unless we can save it.”
Brown was no longer a part-owner when Agropur acquired the plant in 2014, but he continued working for the company until he retired when he turned 70.
The Sussex-area Agropur plant is set to close by the end of 2028. (Roger Cosman/CBC)He had high hopes that Agropur would grow the Sussex plant that ultimately weren’t realized.
“Dairytown was state-of-the-art, [Agropur] could have made the company grow,” Brown said.
Brown’s wife, Marjorie, was disappointed to hear that Agropur was receiving the $2.4-million grant for the Miramichi plant while the Sussex operation was being shut down.
“Why couldn't [they] have done it here? We've already lost our potash mine and there's no industries here, and so therefore the people leave,” she said.
Sussex resident Ronald Alyea said it's sad to see people at the plant lose their jobs. (Mark Leger/CBC News)Sussex resident Ronald Alyea said he heard there will be retraining opportunities for people that lose their job, but that’s “easier said than done.”
“It's sad that people are losing their jobs,” he said. “I've been in that situation in the past and it's pretty hard. You're scrambling as to what you're going to do now.”
Sussex residents reacts to Agropur layoffsAmanda Douthwright, who has lived in Sussex her whole life and considers herself a “farm girl,” said the dairy industry is part of the town’s core identity.
“I was definitely saddened to hear this, that people would be losing their jobs,” Douthwright said. “This is definitely the dairy town and we need to be able to keep jobs here.”
Amanda Douthwright said the dairy industry is part of the town’s core identity. (Mark Leger/CBC News)Steve Michaud, the general manager of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick, said the consolidations and improved production capacity could benefit the province’s dairy farmers.
He said the demand for milk powder to add protein to a variety of food products has increased by around 30 per cent, but the region’s ability to meet that growing need hasn’t been there.
Steve
Michaud, the general manager of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick,
said the Sussex area will remain an important centre of milk production. (Mark Leger/CBC News)Some of the province’s milk has been processed in Quebec instead, said Michaud.
“There's been a lack of processing capacity in the region and this new project will certainly help us repatriate some of that milk and process it here in the Maritimes,” Michaud said. “There's going to be an increased capacity, a big increase in Bedford and even in Miramichi for Northumberland's plant there.”
Michaud has lived in Sussex for more than 40 years since he graduated from university and moved there to work for the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick. He said Sussex will remain a dairy town even after the plant closes down.
“Dairy farming is still central to the area here in Sussex and in Moncton,” Michaud said. “That's where the largest concentration of dairy farms are and produce at least a combined 60 per cent of the province's milk.”
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With files from Sam Farley
