Wednesday 24 April 2024

N.B. tourism minister defends pricey trip to United Kingdom, France



---------- Original message ---------
From: Mitton, Megan (LEG) <Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the local MLA welcomes a little good news today N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>


Thank you for your email. I'm currently out of the office for meetings with limited access to email. For urgent matters, please call the Constituency office at: (506) 378-1565 or the Fredericton office: (506) 457-6842.
For media requests, please call: 506-429-2285.

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Merci pour votre courriel. Je suis actuellement hors du bureau pour des réunions et j'ai un accès limité à mon courriel. Pour les affaires urgentes, veuillez appeler le bureau de circonscription au : (506) 378-1565 ou le bureau de Fredericton : (506) 457-6842.

Pour les demandes des médias, veuillez composer le 506-429-2285.


Megan Mitton (elle / she, her)

Députée / MLA - Memramcook-Tantramar

Responsable en matière de la santé, le logement, le changement climatique, et les droits humains.

Advocate and Critic on files including Health, Housing, Climate Change, and Human Rights.

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.
 


---------- Original message ---------
From: Fitch, Bruce Hon. (DH/MS) <Bruce.Fitch@gnb.ca>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the local MLA welcomes a little good news today N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>

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.

If your request is Constituency related, please contact Kathy Connors at my Constituency office in Riverview at Kathy.Connors@gnb.ca or by phone at 506-869-6117.

Thanks again for your email.

Hon. Bruce Fitch

MLA for Riverview

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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.

Si votre demande est liée à la circonscription, veuillez contacter Kathy Connors à mon bureau de circonscription à Riverview à Kathy.Connors@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506-869-6117.

Merci encore pour votre courriel.

L'hon. Bruce Fitch

Député de Riverview



---------- Original message ---------
From: Moore, Rob - M.P. <Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the local MLA welcomes a little good news today N'esy Pas?
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.

 

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---------- Original message ---------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Subject: Methinks the local MLA welcomes a little good news today N'esy Pas?
To: Tammy.Scott-Wallace <Tammy.Scott-Wallace@gnb.ca>, blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, Dominic.Cardy <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, David.Coon <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, kris.austin <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, robert.mckee <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, Mitton, Megan (LEG) <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, Susan.Holt <Susan.Holt@gnb.ca>, Arseneau, Kevin (LEG) <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, Robert. Jones <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, jeff.carr <jeff.carr@gnb.ca>, Daniel.J.Allain <Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca>, robert.gauvin <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, andrea.anderson-mason <andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca>, andre <andre@jafaust.com>, Ross.Wetmore <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, briangallant10 <briangallant10@gmail.com>, bruce.fitch <bruce.fitch@gnb.ca>, Dorothy.Shephard <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, Trevor.Holder <Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>, Gary.Crossman <Gary.Crossman@gnb.ca>, jill.green <jill.green@gnb.ca>, mary.wilson <mary.wilson@gnb.ca>, sherry.wilson <sherry.wilson@gnb.ca>, hugh.flemming <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>



Wednesday 24 April 2024

N.B. tourism minister defends pricey trip to United Kingdom, France

 
 

Compensation funding for Sussex flood, pre-Christmas storm coming soon

New Brunswickers can apply for financial assistance to cover ‘basic costs of essential items,’ says province

Those affected by two heavy rain storms this winter are now eligible for disaster financial assistance, according to a news release from the province. 

The announcement comes as a great relief for Sussex residents, says Mayor Marc Thorne.

His community was affected by the heavy rain that began on Feb. 28. It caused significant flooding, comparable to that of the 2014 flood in Sussex, which caused more than $10 million in damages, Thorne said.

"Those two floods were the ones in anyone's memory that caused the most damage in our community," he said. 

"Beyond the actual presence of water, it's the current, it's the flow of the water and the silt that is contained in the water that causes enormous damage to the homes."

Marc Throne speaks to reporters Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne says he reached out to a number of people in the community 'that were greatly, greatly relieved to hear it.' (Roger Cosman/CBC)

That storm, which caused significant damage in southern New Brunswick and forced 24 Sussex residents out of their homes, is one of those now included under the disaster financial assistance program. 

The other is the pre-Christmas storm that began on Dec. 18. It brought extreme winds, heavy rain and mass power outages to much of the province.

According to the news release from the Department of Public Safety, the financial assistance "helps with eligible damage and losses that threaten the health and safety of individuals, local governments and small businesses."

A bucket from a truck balancing over a power line with a broken tree on it.           A mid-December storm caused lengthy power outages for some, mainly from downed trees on lines. (Submitted by N.B. Power)

It says the assistance only covers uninsurable losses and only assists in covering the basic costs of essential items. CBC News has asked the province for more information about what this includes and is awaiting a response.

Not counting the damage to residents' homes, damage to infrastructure adds up to over a million dollars in uninsurable losses, he said.

He said residents have been anxious, hoping they would meet the threshold for financial assistance. 

A Tim Hortons surrounded by flooding with two people walking through the water Thorne said the damage from the the winter flooding was comparable to the April 2014 flood, seen here in a file photo. (David Smith/Canadian Press)

"When I became, last week, aware that the program was going to become available, I reached out to a number of people in our community that were greatly, greatly relieved to hear it," Thorne said.

The news release said details on how to apply for the assistance will be announced soon, but in the meantime, residents are asked to contact their insurance companies, take photos of damage they incurred, keep receipts for any repairs and log the hours of work it took to clean up post-storm. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Hannah Rudderham is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick. She grew up in Cape Breton, N.S., and moved to Fredericton in 2018. You can send story tips to hannah.rudderham@cbc.ca.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
Round ONE
 
0 Comments
 
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks the local MLA welcomes a little good news today N'esy Pas?
 
 
Round Two
 
 
22 Comments
 
 
Samual Johnston   
It's hard to move away from a potential hurricane or tornado but a flood plain is easily avoidable. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Samual Johnston  
When did the flood plain come to Sussex?
 

David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Reply to David Amos
This woman does not live on a flood plain

FYI Commenting about this cost me my old faithful Twitter account

Woman stranded at home for 10 days because of flooding gets new bridge

Local contractor builds walking bridge because, 'rural people help other rural people out'

Elizabeth Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Dec 14, 2020 11:33 AM AST

 
David Amos 
Reply to Samual Johnston
Go Figure 
 
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/mary-ann-coleman-walking-bridge-sussex-flooding-1.5840070 
 
 
Jim Lake 
Reply to Samual Johnston
Perhaps, if you haven’t lived there for decades, have unlimited resources because there’s nobody to buy your home - a critical piece for most to be able to move elsewhere … you minimize the challenges for most in dealing with this and it would not be anywhere as easy as you seem to imply.





Kyle Woodman 
Tammy Scott Wallace should have focused her energy on flood mitigation for Sussex instead of planning her dream vacation. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
C'est Vrai
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Kyle Woodman
I believe they also have an engineering solution, which should reduce future claims if the govt acted upon it. 
 

Kyle Woodman
Reply to MR Cain  
No there's a plan. Higgs won't fund it and Rob can't get federal money because it might make the Feds look good. 
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Reminds me of the carbon tax Higgs collected for 3 years would be intended for work such as this. The committee had $65 million committed to projects and $100 million was added to general revenue in 2021 or 2022.
 

Kyle Woodman
Reply to MR Cain  
Yup. All part of the plan 
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
I see we are paying Outhouse $20,776 a month.



 
Jack Straw
The problem is of course is this flooding is never going to end. So at what point do the taxpayers have a say and say enough is enough?
 
 
David Amos 
On or about the 12th of Never
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Jack Straw
The province and municipalities receive monies for climate change mitigation from the feds. We can do something now or pay more later.
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to Jack Straw 
If you listen to Rob Moore, it's all the federal government's fault that there hasn't been any mitigation money spent in Sussex. You know the mitigation money that comes from the Carbon Tax he is going to axe. No mention of why he didn't do anything during the Harper era, given he was the MP for the entire tenure.
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to MR Cain
Rob Moore wants to axe the tax and not collect any money for climate mitigation.  
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
Of course he does; a politician always looks for votes. Formerly with the Alliance, he took advantage of the opportunity. Even Holt is playing the electorate. This should not be political. The Cons want to keep polluting for free. 
 
 
William Peters 
Reply to Jack Straw
Taxpayers never have a say.
 
 
Don Corey
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
The mitigation plans for Sussex were put on the back burner after the 2015 federal election. It's not hard to figure out why.
 
 
Don Corey
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
The consumer carbon tax will do nothing to change the climate.
 
 
Don Corey
Reply to David Amos
It's never too late to implement an effective watershed management plan.
 
 
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks the local MLA welcomes a little good news today N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 

Saturday 12 December 2020

Methinks the plot has thickened within this tragicomedy unfolding within Higgy's circus N'esy Pas?

 https://twitter.com/DavidRaymondAm1/with_replies

 

Methinks the plot has thickened within this tragicomedy unfolding within Higgy's circus N'esy Pas?
I see that many libelous comments were deleted this morning but the CBC and the RCMP will be sued.

 

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/12/methinks-plot-has-thickened-within-this.html

 

 #cdnpoli #nbpoli

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-covid-roundup-dec-12-2020-1.5839158

 

 

 ---------- Original message ----------
From: Chuck Thompson <chuck.thompson@cbc.ca>
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:20:57 -0800
Subject: Annual Leave Re: Re Federal Court File # T-1557-15 YO HUBBY
LACRIOX WHY DOES CBC CONTINUE TO BLOCK MY COMMENTS AND IGNORE MY
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CROWN?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com

I'll be away from the office until Monday, February 1st.  In my
absence, please contact Emma Bedard at emma.bedard@cbc.ca or on
416-205-7831.

Thanks,
Chuck

Chuck Thompson
Head of Public Affairs
CBC English Services
416-205-3747
416-509-3315 (cell)

 
 
 
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/mary-ann-coleman-walking-bridge-sussex-flooding-1.5840070  

Woman stranded at home for 10 days because of flooding gets new bridge

Local contractor builds walking bridge because, 'rural people help other rural people out'

After being trapped at home for 10 days because of high water levels,  Mary Ann Coleman was finally able to leave her property this weekend. 

And it was all thanks to nearby resident Tony Raymond, who stepped up to build a walking bridge for the Sussex-area woman last Tuesday.  

The project was finished three days later.

"I'm giddy just being on the other side [of the bridge]," said Coleman. 

"It's absolutely amazing just to be able to come and go."

Coleman, lives on Creek Road in Waterford, about 90 kilometres east of Saint John. She lost her bridge after a major rainstorm flooded Trout Creek earlier this month.

The creek runs along the front of her property. 

Last week, Tony Raymond, a private contractor in the area, built a walking bridge so Coleman could leave her property. (Mary Ann Coleman's Facebook page)

She said debris in the creek dammed a culvert that was installed by the Department of Transportation last year — and rising water levels washed away her bridge.

And she's been stuck at home ever since — with the exception of taking a small dingy across the creek to celebrate her 64th birthday on the side of the road last weekend with a slice of pizza.

Raymond heard about Coleman's situation the morning after the heavy rainstorm. So he drove out to see the damage. 

Coleman and Raymond celebrated the new bridge over the weekend. (Mary Ann Coleman's Facebook page)

"She was in a real disaster and somebody had to come up with an idea," said the local contractor.

When he learned the province wasn't going to help, Raymond knew he had to intervene.

So he hired a welder and gathered some new and used material for the bridge.

"Rural people help other rural people out," he said.

Lack of access 'debilitating'  

This past weekend, Coleman has been able to leave her home to run a few errands, like getting the mail — which has been piling up quite a bit. 

She's had visits from friends, neighbours and her two grand-daughters. She even had a friend over to decorate her bridge with Christmas lights. 

"It's just amazing that he [Raymond] would help me."

Coleman and a friend decorated her new walking bridge with Christmas lights over the weekend. (Mary Ann Coleman's Facebook page)

Coleman said the Emergency Measures Organization was considering putting in a walking bridge to help her come and go from her property. But later informed her a bridge would not be installed.

"It's very hard to imagine when a person is in this kind of situation that the province's response is so inadequate," she said. 

Coleman was stuck on her property with her cat, Mo, but friends were helping to get groceries to her. (Submitted by Mary Ann Coleman)

"Then a private citizen steps up to the plate with his own resources and accomplishes it in a week."

Coleman isn't sure how much the walking bridge will cost, but she's grateful nonetheless. 

"I don't think any flood would knock that bridge out."

But the lack of access over the past ten days has caused a lot of anxiety and stress. She's even had trouble sleeping most nights.

"It's quite debilitating, just not knowing what to do."

Walking bridge a 'temporary fix'

Her property has also sustained extensive damage from the flood. The river has been running through her shed and driveway and about two feet of water was in her basement.

Although the water has gone down since temperatures dropped, it's still too high to walk across.

"I would need the bridge," she said.

Coleman says debris and trees blocked the culvert, flooding the creek between her home and main road. (Submitted by Dianne McFarlane)

Although Coleman can leave her home, she still needs a driving bridge — especially during an emergency.

She's filed a claim with the province and she's hopeful to get some kind of help.

"The bridge is a temporary solution that will get me through the winter," she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Elizabeth Fraser

Reporter/Editor

Elizabeth Fraser is a reporter/editor with CBC New Brunswick based in Fredericton. She's originally from Manitoba. Story tip? elizabeth.fraser@cbc.ca

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
 
34 Comments
 
 

David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Commenting about this cost me my old faithful Twitter account

 
 
 

Thursday 3 December 2020

Sussex flooding keeps grandmother trapped at home for 2 days

---------- Original message ----------
From: "Hon.Ralph.Goodale (PS/SP)" <ps.hon.ralph.goodale.sp@canada.ca>
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2020 18:20:35 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Jack Dorsey and Vijaya Gadde Case#
0183133931 Trust that this is a very serious issue
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>

Merci d'avoir ?crit ? l'honorable Ralph Goodale, ministre de la
S?curit? publique et de la Protection civile.
En raison d'une augmentation importante du volume de la correspondance
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Due to the significant increase in the volume of correspondence
addressed to the Minister, please note there could be a delay in
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Thank you!
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---------- Original message ----------
From: postmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2020 13:21:14 -0500
Subject: Undeliverable: YO Jack Dorsey and Vijaya Gadde Case#
0183133931 Trust that this is a very serious issue
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com

Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups:

Larry.Tremblay (Larry.Tremblay@rcmp-grc.gc.ca)<mailto:Larry.Tremblay@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>
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Erroneous information about New Brunswick included in tourism pitches to Europeans

Shuttered attractions, mixed-up cities appear in materials posted by companies hired by province

A number of European tour operators that government tourism officials met with in London and Paris last year to discuss promoting New Brunswick routinely mix up basic facts about the province in their ads and have been suggesting visits to defunct or shuttered attractions.

"Spend time in Saint John, the provincial capital," suggests one ad currently being run by British-based Prestige Holidays.

"Relax before your flight to Saint John, New Brunswick's largest city," proposes another advertisement from U.K tour operator Wexas.   

Saint John is neither New Brunswick's largest city, nor its capital. Those titles belong to Moncton and Fredericton, respectively.

 ad showing Hopewell Rocks 

An ad promoting New Brunswick from Britain's Prestige Holidays invites tourists to visit the Hopewell Rocks and then 'spend time in Saint John, the provincial capital.' (Prestige Holidays)

Prestige and Wexas are two of the private tour operators New Brunswick Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace said she met and signed contracts with last September during a trip to London and Paris by her, her deputy minister Yennah Hurley and two other department officials.

During a legislative committee session last week, Scott-Wallace said her department works in close "partnership" with the companies and it was important to meet directly with them.

Some of the tour operators "had interests in the province they wanted to discuss." and all, she said, signed contracts of some kind with New Brunswick for the upcoming year.

picture of highway sign     A highway sign entering Saint John announcing the New Brunswick museum is closed. A new facility is not expected to be ready until 2026 although tourists in Europe are still being told they can visit. ( Robert Jones / CBC News)

"I sat at the table with tour operator companies," said the minister. 

"These were face-to-face meetings with these businesses — senior executives, owners of these companies."

Despite those direct meetings and contractual ties with the province several of the tour operators appear to be in the dark about basic New Brunswick facts, locations and attractions.

photo of scaffolding surrounding a building The historic Martello Tower on the west side of Saint John has not allowed visitors for eight years and remains closed and under renovation. Nevertheless it is still being recommended as a place to visit by New Brunswick tourism partners in Europe. (Robert Jones/CBC)

"New Brunswick's capital is steeped in history," Wexas writes in one blurb that then suggests visitors to the capital take in the historic Martello Tower and the New Brunswick Museum. Both sites are in Saint John, not Fredericton.

Little harm will follow, however, since neither Saint John attraction is open.

Martello Tower has been closed to the public for the last eight years and is currently shrouded in construction materials and scaffolding. The museum shut its doors in 2022 and its collections are currently in storage.  

A proposed new museum building will not be open until at least 2026.

picture of African Lion in a cage The Cherry Brook Zoo is still being promoted to European tourists as a place to visit in Saint John although it closed in 2020. Animals like Aslan the African lion were transferred mostly out of province to other facilities. (Submitted by Erin Brown)

Tour operator Canadian Sky also suggests a visit to the shuttered museum while in Saint John and for "families" adds the Cherry Brook Zoo as a preferred outing.

The zoo was closed permanently four years ago.

Moncton's status as a regional shopping centre, one of Canada's fastest growing metropolitan areas and New Brunswick's largest city, appears unknown to any of the tour operators. Instead, an aging 50-year-old arena in the city got top billing in one write-up

"Moncton is known for its Coliseum," claims Wexas.

picture of large brick arena The Moncton Coliseum is not listed among the top 50 attractions in the city by the online site tripadvisor.ca but one British tour operator tells prospective tourists it is what the city is known for. (City of Moncton)

Scott-Wallace told MLAs that selling New Brunswick as a tourist destination to Europeans is something the province is depending on the tour operators to execute.

"We have contracts signed with each and every person on this list," Scott-Wallace said about the companies she met personally with.

"These are signed contracts with every person on this list for '24-'25. That's a good seven days' work from me."

It is unclear if New Brunswick's Tourism department checks the accuracy of what those tour operator partners say about the province in ads or if the minister raised the issue during her face-to-face meetings with company officials.

However, on Friday a department spokesperson said in an emailed statement changes are now being requested.

"The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture has been in contact with the European tour operators to make updates to the information," said the email.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Robert Jones

Reporter

Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
 
217 Comments 
 

David Amos
Methinks more New Brunswickers have visited France than French folks have visited here N'esy Pas?

 
 
David Amos 
Perhaps Tammy Scott-Wallace should read what the Kings County Record published about what I said in June of 2004 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to David Amos 
Perhaps she should review what she wrote about me years ago
 
 
 
Carole Lowes-Kotiesen
Just a suggestion, but instead of a photo-op for the Minister, perhaps photos of New Brunswick venues currently open to the public would have been more appropriate for the meeting with the partners.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Carole Lowes-Kotiesen  
Methinks more folks in France would be more curious as to the Minister is who is talking about them N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
Wilbur Ross  
Apparently someone is setting up a zip-line over the moon crater on King St. That should put SJ on the map. 
 
 
Wilbur Ross  
Reply to Wilbur Ross  
King Sq. Canyon 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Wilbur Ross  
I bet some of the Yankee tourists coming off the cruise ships will be hollering Yeehaw this summer
 
 
 
 
Wilbur Ross  
Bahahahahaha ... guess they'll need to schedule another working vacation to get things right. Higgs loves that hands on approach. 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Wilbur Ross  
Everybody knows that 
 
 
 
Benoit Boudreau  
Where would the Higgs crew be if it weren't for Robert Jones and his team doing their spell-checks for them?
 
 
 
Bob Smith 
Hard to get the facts right when doing three martini lunches. 
 
 
Kyle Woodman   
Reply to Bob Smith 
I once sa Yennah down three bottles of wine on a Friday afternoon at Brewbakers. All expensed to the taxpayer.  
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman 
We're getting scammed by these people it's pretty clear at this point. It's all a big joke to them because they know nothing will happen. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Who is we?
 

Kyle Woodman  
Reply to David Amos
The citizens of this fine province. 



 
Kyle Woodman 
Another failure by the Higgs government. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Why pretend to be somebody else???
 
 
 
 
MJ Anderson 
Sounds like another typical government contract boondoggle. But I'm sure she enjoyed her junket over there. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to MJ Anderson 
Of that we have no doubt 
 
 
 
 
Dacre Gushue 
I knew this had to be a BJ hit piece. 
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Dacre Gushue 
An easy one.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Dacre Gushue 
Par for the course
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to Dacre Gushue  
Can you point out what is untrue in the article?
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Its what he does not say that is more important
 
 
Bob McVacer  
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
If this was another party you would be all over this. Stick to right and wrong.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Bob McVacer
I am all over this and I don't belong to any party 


Bob McVacer  
Reply to David Amos
I don't think I was replying to you c'nest pas??? 
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
Another article about this, are you kidding? I like how this site attempts to make it sound like they are targeting something else but even the rocks at the end of my driveway know what they are doing, their usual left slant. But somehow errors made by outside travel companies are the fault of our government? Why not, we blame them for federal taxes and the weather. I wonder how many erroneous tourism bits are out there in the world and/or by the companies mentioned? Too many to bother counting I am sure, but let's not go there, it would invalidate this story. But just to be safe I will say Higgs has to involved so another failure of the Higgs government.
 
 
Randy Vandelay
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
Did you miss the part about how the NB government contracted these companies to promote the province, or just not understand it?

I get that criticising your dear leader might be hard to take, but that doesn't mean it should not be reported on.

 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Why act surprised???
 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to Kyle Woodman
If the government pays for the travel ads and they are incorrect information it is their responsibility. and you’re not Kyle.
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Shouldn't you be working for the taxpayer Mr. Outhouse? Are you on your lunch break?
  
 
Carole Lowes-Kotiesen
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
Oh yes, the "left slant". AKA any criticism of governments led by the conservative parties.
 
 
Graham McCormack
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
Were all your other accounts banned?
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Oh My My 
 
  
Kyle Woodman 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Another failure by the Higgs government. 


Lana MacLeod
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
I don't like left slant either but yes it is the job of the government to review the materials it paid to have published.
 
 
Benoit Boudreau
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
Kind of like how you blame Trudeau for the weather?
 
 
Kyle Woodman 
Reply to Lana MacLeod 
What left slant?
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
I've actually entertained folks from both France and England on trips they took here. Family friends, etc. They all loved NB, but we didn't really go to any of the places that are typically promoted other than Fundy Park and Hopewell Rocks. Half the stuff we took them to see isn't even in any travel brochures. NB needs to a lot better job promoting itself. Seems like we've basically lost a few years with Tammy and Yennah at the helm. It's too bad. A real missed opportunity. My friends in-laws came to Canada for a visit from Korea for the fist time. They did Toronto, Banff, Calgary and New Brunswick. NB was their favorite by far they said.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Why is it that I don't believe you? 
 

Kyle Woodman 
Reply to David Amos  
Believe what you wish, but it's true. NB is actually a really nice place to visit. We took the Brits to Waterside Beach and they couldn't believe it was almost empty in the middle of June. They said a beach like that anywhere in the UK would be absolutely packed with people. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Thats true but are you the real Mr Woodman?

 
 
 
Charles Hunt 
Time for Higgs to admit he made some bad choices appointing these 2 unqualified people to their positions. He had no problem turfing Dorothy Shephard when he realized her background in paint sales didn't qualify her to be the minister of health. Also when Kevin Cormier's training at Moncton Flight School didn't give him the skills to be head of public libraries.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Charles Hunt  
Dream on


Jack Bell  
Reply to Charles Hunt  
Who would have ever thought appointing people with no discernible skills into important jobs would have ramifications?  
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Jack Bell 
Clearly Higgy didn't think about it 
 
 
MR Cain
Reply to Charles Hunt  
Dorothy Shephard was elected in 2010, and held a number of ministerial positions. She must have some skills beyond paint sales. The only qualification you need is to be elected.   
 
 
MR Cain
Reply to Jack Bell  
They were elected; not that easy. Now Higgs has pretty much gone outside his party and appointed "experts". Is that democratic?
 
 
Jack Bell  
Reply to MR Cain
So, our two options are:

Wasteful and poorly done, yet democratic.

or

Efficient and satisfactorily done, but not voted for.

 
Graham McCormack 
Reply to Jack Bell 
Which of those two options has worked? It isn't very clear.  
 
 
MR Cain
Reply to Jack Bell  
We have no idea what this government is doing.
 
 
Charles Hunt
Reply to MR Cain 
They don't know what they are doing either.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Charles Hunt  
I disagree




Kyle Woodman     
For someone who claims to be trained in journalism, Tammy isn't very media savvy.
 
 
G. Timothy Walton 
Reply to Kyle Woodman
She was good enough for Brunswick News to use her.

In other words, available and not demanding a decent wage.

 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Oh So True
 

 

Thomas Me  
So politics in NB is just a popularity contest for boomers? All the Karens in sussex seem to have her back and will re-elect her again. "It's all cbc's fault" - yikes.
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to Thomas Me  
Those are just members of her church. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Thomas Me
What do you know about Sussex???
 
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
According to Tammy's Facebook post, she is the victime here. The CBC won't even offer her an interview. Instead, she wants constituents to call her office directly to ask questions. Can the CBC get her on record?
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
CBC is just reporting what is going on in the legislature.
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to MR Cain  
I know but in her post she specifically says she hasn't been interviewed for her side of the story. In all the articles it states that she wasn't available to comment. Something isn't adding up.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Why not call her and her about the time she tried to interview me in 2015?
 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to Kyle Woodman
I thought she gave her side of the story when questioned last week at the legislature when she said she stood by what she did. Why would she want CBC to interview her now for her side of the story? 
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to David Amos
Her phone line isn't working. Probably because she told all of New Brunswick to give her a call. Imagine being her office admin and seeing that post on a Sunday. lol.
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Kyle Woodman
She has no side. She is embarrassing herself at the legislature. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Welcome back to the circus
 
 
 
 
Le Wier  
I think what voters need to take away from this is that as Tammy Scott Wallace put it on her facebook this is common sense government.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Le Wier
Surely you jest  
 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to David Amos  
I do 
 
 
 
 
Andrew Cromwell 
Great reporting by Bob Jones as always. NB Tourism officials should absolutely go over information pertaining to the accuracy of info. on NB especially with companies it does business with. Speaking of…the caption under Hopewell Rocks lists it as being in Fundy National Park. It is, I believe, listed as a provincial park and is Not part of Fundy. Seemingly small errors make for an embarrassing look.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Andrew Cromwell
Mr Jones is very selective in what he reports. The obvious question is why?
 
 
 
 
 
Kenneth Dwight  
Dear voters of NB:

You get what you vote for.

 
David Amos 
Reply to Kenneth Dwight 
Amen 
 
 
 
Al Clark
After six years of higgs' rule, NB is badly broken. The NBM disaster is entirely of his making.
 
 
David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Reply to Al Clark
Cry me a river
 
 
 
danny rugg
Maybe this extra embarrassment is enough to make you resign. Seriously , riding the taxpayer and then incompetence? 
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to danny rugg
Do ya think she even bothered to read this?  
 
 
 
 

Rise in international tourists cited by embattled N.B. minister was seen in all provinces

Grilling of Tammy Scott-Wallace over trip to London and Paris stretches into second day

New Brunswick's tourism minister Tammy Scott-Wallace has been citing growth in visitors from Britain, France and Germany in 2023 as evidence that departmental activities, like a trip she and others took to London and Paris last year, pay dividends for taxpayers.  

But figures suggest European visits to New Brunswick in 2023 grew at a slower pace than in the rest of Canada and increases that did occur were exaggerated by COVID-related travel restrictions that suppressed visits in 2022.

"Results have actually increased," Scott-Wallace said about international tourism during an hour-long grilling on Tuesday about why the minister, her deputy and two others went to London and Paris on a taxpayer-funded trip last September.

The minister said visiting London and Paris was part of a number of initiatives that have been successfully attracting more visitors to the province.

WATCH | Here's what some people think about taxpayer-funded trips to Europe
 

Here’s what some people think about taxpayer-funded trips to Europe

Duration 0:57
People in Fredericton react to pricey trip expenses claimed by tourism deputy.

"In the United Kingdom, for example, over 2022, visitation to New Brunswick is up 23 per cent," she told Liberal tourism critic Isabelle Theriault.  

"From France visitation is up 12 per cent and from Germany 32 per cent over 2022, so I think we can see very clearly that the work is being done by people working within the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture."

However, data compiled by Statistics Canada shows that international visits to all provinces increased in 2023.   

Because COVID travel restrictions facing international travellers suppressed visits to Canada midway through 2022, those numbers were easily beaten in 2023 in every jurisdiction.

Tammy Scott-Wallace and Yennah Hurley in the legislature Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace spent two days this week answering questions about a trip to the U.K. and France that she, deputy tourism minister Yennah Hurley, left, and two other officials took last September. (Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick )

In late April 2022, Canada lifted a number of COVID travel rules that had been restricting visits by international travellers.

Requirements that fully vaccinated travellers provide a quarantine plan upon entry were ended, and unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged five to 11 who were accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian no longer had to undergo a COVID-19 test for entry to Canada.

A requirement that fully vaccinated travellers mask in public spaces for 14 days following arrival was also dropped as was the need for visitors to maintain a list of close contacts and locations visited.

The changes had a major impact on numbers.  

In March 2023, visits to Canada from the United Kingdom, France and Germany were 65 per cent higher than in March 2022, the last complete month restrictions were fully in place.

Rooftop sunset view from Hotel Trafalgar New Brunswick tourism officials spent four of their eight days in Europe at the $800-a-night Trafalgar Hotel in London. A rooftop bar includes a view of the London Eye. New Brunswick taxpayers were billed for a ticket to ride the Eye among other excursions. (Trafalgar St. James Hotel)

Overall in 2023, Canada recorded 786,845 arrivals from France, Germany and Britain between January and December, a 23.6 per cent increase over 2022.   

In the Legislature on Tuesday, Scott-Wallace quoted numbers showing a combined 21.1 per cent increase in visits to New Brunswick from those three same countries, slightly below the national gain.

On Wednesday, Scott-Wallace faced a second straight day of questions about the European trip and its value to taxpayers during consideration of her budget estimates. 

Green Party Leader David Coon took his turn digging into the details of the excursion and asking about planned future trips.

The minister acknowledged there has been a 10 per cent, $56,000, increase in the section of her departmental budget that finances travel for the coming year but said there are no specific plans to go anywhere internationally.

"There's no travel planned as of yet overseas," Scott-Wallace said. 

"It's very rare that I'm travelling overseas as tourism minister. However, I believe there is an expectation from New Brunswickers that their minister of tourism does travel outside of the province to bring new business to the province."

Scott-Wallace ran up more than $10,000 in expenses during the eight-day visit, although she said her trip lasted only seven days because of flooding in her riding that required an early return.

The department's deputy minister, Yennah Hurley, billed more than $12,000.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Robert Jones

Reporter

Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.

 
 
 
214 Comments   
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
Steve Outhouse was posting at 10am this morning on Twitter (must be in his off time from his other job) that he was disgusted that Susan Holt wasn't in the Leg asking questions at the Standing Committee on Estimates and Fiscal Policy. Instead she was out meeting with constituents. I don't know I feel like Isabelle Theriault did a good job. Kind of funny for Outhouse to post a message as campaign manager on government tax funded time. Maybe he had the day off. He swore that all his campaign related activity would be done in his free time in the evening.
 
 
Benoit Boudreau
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
"Kind of funny for Outhouse to post a message as campaign manager on government tax funded time"

Yeah, funny as in, not funny.

 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to Benoit Boudreau
That was sarcasm of course. I wonder how much we are paying Steve per Tweet?
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Welcome back to the circus
 
 
 
 
Benoit Boudreau
Looks like the last few days' decisions (Egregious spending from the "Tourism Minstry" and appointment of Margaret Melanson as permanent CEO) is showing us all how Blaine wants to spend the surplus he created by not spending it on the people of New Brunswick.
 
 
Bill Gardiner
Reply to Benoit Boudreau 
Looks like? 
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
The rails are really coming off the Higgs government. Even a 20k/ month Outhouse can't solve Higgs' problems. Just spiraling out of control.
 
 
SW Home
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
By the time October gets here the PC's will be a shell of a party. Maybe grandpa Higgs should call the election sooner in the hopes to save the PC's of the future some dignity.
 
 
Bob Leeson  
Reply to SW Home
Not a chance. Pierre will endorse him for his Christian Values.
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to SW Home
You have that right. I mean, not many people have paid much attention to this other than us Liberal supporters on here, and thankfully, this site produced multiple articles on the same topic to keep us going. But we need to keep thinking this is a bigger deal than it really is, and pretend she is the first minister to take a trip. While still pretending the party we support didn't waste money at multiple times higher on a regular basis and hope no one is paying attention to what is happening in Ottawa daily.

I will continue to keep everyone updated on what is happening on Twitter, Larry's Gulch, and Albert County to name just a few. People think what I post is important and even though I can't back much up of what I say, it is true because I posted it.

 
SW Home
Reply to Bob Leeson  
Hopefully NB'ers have seen the light and are smart enough to see that Higg's can't fix NB and has no intention of doing so. Most I would say are however judging from some comments made hear and there some are just too far gone to align with the majority and hope to give NB a better future, post Higg's era  
 
 
 

Tourism minister faces more questions on deputy's spending

Green leader says taxpayers should not pay real estate fees when public servants sell their homes

Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace defends deputy minister’s moving expenses

Duration 2:12
Green Party Leader David Coon challenged Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace about expenses claimed by deputy minister Yennah Hurley to relocate from Quispamsis to Fredericton.

New Brunswick's minister of tourism faced a second day of questions Wednesday about her deputy minister's expense claims, including more than $19,000 in moving costs.

"We will continue to adhere to the relocation policy that is in effect across all of GNB," Tammy Scott-Wallace said, using an abbreviation for the provincial government. 

Premier Blaine Higgs hired Yennah Hurley, a former travel blogger and tourism business operator, first as an advisor to the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture in 2019 and then as its deputy minister.

Coon said it was "almost unbelievable" that taxpayers were covering moving expenses, such as the $15,000 real estate commission paid on the house Hurley sold when she moved from Quispamsis to Fredericton last year. 

A man is standing and speaking in a room with wooden walls. Green Leader David Coon said in the legislature Wednesday he can't believe the premier tolerates taxpayers paying real estate fees for government employees. (Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick)

"The taxpayers of this province should not be paying the Realtors' costs of public servants when they sell their homes," Coon said during a legislative committee meeting about the Tourism Department's 2024-25 budget estimates.

"I can't believe that the premier of this province would tolerate a policy — being the fiscal conservative he says he is — that has taxpayers paying real estate agent fees for GNB employees." 

Higgs weighed in later in the day on Hurley's expenses during his own appearance before the same committee, saying the executive council office would be re-evaluating policies on overseas travel.

Part of Hurley's $77,000 expenses last year were for a trip to the United Kingdom and France for meetings promoting tourism in New Brunswick.

The travel claim included the cost of visits to sites including Windsor Castle and the Palace of Versailles. 

Just because similar expenses have happened in the past, "that doesn't mean it's right," Higgs told Liberal MLA Rene Légacy.

"I'm asking questions, too, and I want to understand what our policies are, because sometimes policies can be better defined so we can all ensure taxpayers money is used in the most efficient manner. So we're going to ask those questions."

Higgs also clarified that the moving expenses policy applies to senior officials in the government, not all employees.

Hurley's expense claim also included $3,550.67 for movers and $770.50 in legal fees.

The relocation policy says moving costs can be covered at the discretion of a deputy minister if an employee is transferred.

But Hurley's job has been based in Fredericton since 2019. 

Yennah Hurley    In 2021, a government spokesperson said Hurley was hired on a 'personal service contract,' and officials with those kinds of deals negotiate their own terms with the premier's office. (CBC)

Her hiring was fiercely criticized by Opposition Liberal MLAs at the time and should the party take power after the provincial election in October, they could fire her or ask her to resign.

Green Leader David Coon alluded to that scenario Wednesday, asking Scott-Wallace if the policy would cover the expenses of Hurley's move back to Quispamsis, "given this is a general election year."

Scott-Wallace did not rule it out, calling it "a hypothetical question."

The policy does not mention moving expenses for a deputy minister who is fired or pushed out of their position.

But a spokesperson said it would not cover that scenario.

"Once an employee is terminated or resigned, and no longer employed by the province, the directive would not apply," said Mir Hyder.

In 2021, a government spokesperson said Hurley was hired on a "personal service contract," and officials with those kinds of deals negotiate their own terms with the premier's office.

At the time it was revealed she was receiving a $955 monthly living allowance, along with other expenses, while commuting from Quispamsis to the capital.

She also claimed mileage expenses from Fredericton to Saint John for meetings there. 

A spokesperson said earlier this week that Hurley would not have approved her own moving expenses, but did not say who did approve them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

 
 
 
69 Comments 
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Welcome back to the circus 

 
 
David Amos 
Perhaps Tammy Scott-Wallace should read what the Kings County Record published about what I said in June of 2004 
 
 
 
David Amos
Deja VU Anyone???

Higgs again turns to outside consultants to reshape government

Liberals describe 3 consultants as 'shadow deputy ministers'

Jacques Poitras · CBC · Posted: Apr 09, 2019 6:00 AM ADT

"Yennah Hurley is one of three outside consultants hired by Premier Blaine Higgs to establish a new model for government operations. (Yenna Hurley)

Higgs said in an interview Monday they will provide "a different view, a different attitude, a different perspective" on what government can do. All three report directly to him.

Hurley and Logan are on two-year contracts and will be paid the equivalent of deputy minister salaries, while Youden will be paid "by the job," Higgs said.

The Progressive Conservative premier first confirmed the consultants' presence when he was asked about it by Liberal Leader Denis Landry on March 27 in question period.

Landry didn't criticize the move but referred to the trio as "shadow deputy ministers" and asked Higgs to explain how they were chosen."

 
 
 
 
Benny Swim
You'd think a man renowned for his fiscal management skills might have looked at the moving policy prior to approving that advisor/DM expense submission. Maybe he was too busy plotting with his advisor from Alberta as to which part of the culture war they want to launch next. Anything to avoid talking about real issues that impact the majority of NBers, and his absolute failure at tackling any of them.


Benny Swim
Higgs touts himself as a strong fiscal manager; he was Finance Minister for 4 years, and has been premier for 6 and this is the first time he is looking at policies for moving and overseas travel for senior civil servants? That begs credulity does it not? Or is he just a lousy manager of our province's finances?

I know for a fact that as finance minister in 2011/12 he chaired a committee of ministers and government MLA's that had every government department summarize their functions, services, budgets etc. and make recommendations for what could be cut, reduced or transferred to the private sector.

Perhaps he should ask his assistant from Alberta to pull those reports and have a look at those two policies and what recommendations were made to him 13 years ago.

 
Le Wier  
Reply to Benny Swim  
Higgs was also minister of Human Resources at that time. One would think he would know about the moving expenses and contracts.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Le Wier
One would think his minions would 
 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to David Amos  
If they can’t Higgs will go back out west to find another pr firm. Outhouse should be worried right now.
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
I wonder if they knew it was wrong and did it anyways, or they are so entitled that they think it's perfectly normal.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Does Yennah ever speak?
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to David Amos
I've never heard a peep out of her. 
 
 
 
 
Kenneth Dwight  
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive"
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kenneth Dwight
Higgy should have his buddy teach this to the Minister

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"

 
Winston Smith 
Reply to David Amos
She can't lose what she never had, Mr. Amos.

 

 

Benoit Boudreau  
Moving expenses are paid when an employee is transferred. She was not transferred, she chose to move closer to where her place of work is. Not the same thing. She must reimburse the province for all moving expenses IMMEDIATELY.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Benoit Boudreau
C'est Vrai 
 
 
Josée Martin
Reply to Benoit Boudreau 
Agreed 100% 
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
They think this is funny.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
It is funny  
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
Reply to David Amos
Kind of but not really   
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Welcome back to the circus
 
 
 
 
Wilbur Ross
The moving bonus is way worse than the trip, which was disgusting. She made thousands off the sale and then billed the taxpayers for the move. That's pathological grift.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Par for the course 
 
 
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Wilbur Ross
I agree 
 
 
 
 
Le Wier
I noticed in today’s embedded video Scott-Wallace wasn’t laughing today when being questioned.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Le Wier
I noticed that too
 
 
 
 
Alex Butt 
Just like the politicians & senators in ottawa, our so called leadership live like kings & queens on our hard earned tax dollars. Such a disgrace and far overtime for major changes!


David Amos 
Reply to Alex Butt
I have been saying that since 2004 
 
 
 
kelly sherrard 
If the person wanted the tourism job, and had to sell their house in order to move to Fredericton area, why should the province pay the commission to the realtor? that's above and beyond ridiculous! No wonder this province is teetering on bankruptcy when people are looking for taxpayers to foot the bill for every possible expense they can cover under their expenses! Is the government going to cover the commission paid to the realtor for every house sold in this province? The bleeding has to stop somewhere and there has to be something unheard of in this province in the running of government, COMMON SENSE
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to kelly sherrard
Common Sense is a rare thing in politicking
 
 
 
 
10 Comments 
 
 
David Amos
Welcome back to the circus 

 
 
David Amos 
It appears to be another glitch in the system EH? 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to David Amos 
I bet if I refresh this page everything will go "poof" as usual

 

 
Gary Webber 
The minister and deputy are both personal picks of Higgs.

He should fire both of them.

 
David Amos 
Reply to Gary Webber
Dream on
 
 
 
 
Gary Melanson
This lady has benefited extremely well from her employment with the province, living expenses and commuting expenses while residing in Quispmasis and working in Fredericton. Then taking a very high paying Deputy Minister position knowing it was in Fredericton and the taxpayers covering her moving expenses and getting to profit by having the taxpayers pay the commission she had to pay on her house. What a wonderful province we have. We treat our employees like royalty. I hope her expertise and management skills are worth ever cent. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Gary Melanson
Surely you jest 
 
 
 
Tristis Ward 
Tourism people need to go to tourist places. They need to see best (and lesser) practices.  
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Tristis Ward 
Yea Right
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman     
Does Yennah ever speak?
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Ask Higgy  
 
 
 
 

N.B. tourism minister defends pricey trip to United Kingdom, France

Tammy Scott-Wallace says New Brunswick can learn ‘best practices’ from Windsor Castle, Palace of Versailles

New Brunswick's tourism minister is defending a trip she and her top officials took to the United Kingdom and France that helped her deputy minister rack up a $77,000 travel bill last year.

Tammy Scott-Wallace said the trip last September included meetings with a number of tour operators and public relations firms in London and Paris that have contracts to market the province to potential visitors from the two countries.

"That's incredibly important. It's a good day's work and it's a good seven days' work for me, I'll tell you that," Scott-Wallace said.

Her deputy, Yennah Hurley, sat next to her as she spent more than an hour responding to questions about the trip from Liberal MLA and tourism critic Isabelle Thériault during a meeting of the legislature committee studying budget estimates. 

As first reported by CBC News, Hurley's expenses for the trip totalled $12,328, part of the $77,710 overall she claimed last year.

A woman with long black hair looking slightly off to the side Liberal MLA and tourism critic Isabelle Thériault questioned Scott-Wallace about why the trip was necessary. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

Scott-Wallace's trip cost $10,199.

"What did it give the taxpayers of New Brunswick, that you went there for eight days?" Thériault asked.

"It's really not clear what you did, except visit some places. Like, you have to face the music."

Two other officials from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture also made the trip.

Scott-Wallace acknowledged that no travel conferences or tourism trade shows were part of her schedule.

But she said it was important to meet with the tour operators and public relations firms hired to represent the province in the U.K. and France to rebuild connections frayed during COVID-19 travel restrictions.

"These are key markets for our province," she said.

Departmental staff then "built an itinerary," Scott-Wallace said, that included visits to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, the British Museum, the London Eye and the Palace of Versailles — all of them expensed to taxpayers.

WATCH | 'You have to face the music,' Liberal tourism critic says:
 

N.B. tourism minister defends pricey European trip

Duration 1:07
‘That’s a good day's work,’ says Tammy Scott-Wallace, as she takes questions during a legislative committee session on her spending overseas.

The visits by her officials to the Palace of Versailles and Windsor Palace — which she pointed out she did not visit herself — provided insights into managing "built heritage," the minister said.

The visits by her officials to the Palace of Versailles and Windsor Palace — which she pointed out she did not visit herself — provided insights into managing "built heritage," the minister said.

New Brunswick has "similar sites, but on a smaller scale, absolutely," Scott-Wallace argued.

"There are best practices all over the country, all over the world, and when we are there having meetings with stakeholders, it's important we learn those best practices while we're there." 

She also said 45-minute tours offered at the British Museum in London could be a model for an abbreviated tour of the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John offered to cruise ship visitors.

She called the London facility "truly a new, modern-age museum, and I think the people of New Brunswick deserve to have a modern, state-of-the-art museum." 

No one from the New Brunswick Museum was part of the London visit but it was set up at the suggestion of the Saint John museum's staff, Scott-Wallace said.

The front of the British Museum Scott-Wallace said tours at the British Museum in London could be a model for the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John. (British Museum/Facebook)

Thériault told CBC News she wasn't satisfied with Scott-Wallace's responses.

"I didn't get clear answers," she said.

Scott-Wallace said New Brunswick recorded 122,600 "visit nights" from French tourists in 2023, worth $11.6 million in revenue, and 121,000 from U.K. visitors, worth $18.2 million.

Trips to the province from the U.K. were up 23 per cent last year, compared to 2022, while trips from France were up 12 per cent. 

Asked if Premier Blaine Higgs or someone else approved the trip in advance, Scott-Wallace said such trips are normal for the department.

"It is budgeted for. It is part of the work that we do," she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

 
 
 
144 Comments 
 
 
 
David Amos
I doubt that I will ever forget this

"Tammy Scott-Wallace says New Brunswick can learn ‘best practices’ from Windsor Castle, Palace of Versailles"

 
David Amos 
Reply to David Amos
I will never forget the first question Higgys Minister asked me on the phone when she was the editor of the Kings County Record in 2015. Trust that I hung up and answered her in writing 
 

 

Graham McCormack
She stumbled and stuttered her answers without saying anything.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Graham McCormack
Par for the course 
 
 
David White
Reply to Graham McCormack 
She did mention getting lots of 'contracts' signed... with no references to what those 'contracts' were? or the condiotins or the benifits.

Just her body langauge alone was a dead give away like a kid caught with thier hand in the cookie jar.

 
David White
Reply to David White 
 *conditions or the benefits id siad contracts*
 
 
David White  
Reply to David White  
*said* may as well go for broke on the typos
 
 
 
 
Al Clark   
I hope she mentioned Green Gables (one province over) 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Al Clark  
Thats not in her mandate  
 
 
Al Clark    
Reply to David Amos
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. I notice my comment has been adopted into the surprise surprise rolodex............ 
 
 
 
 
Al Clark   
The wife and her bff went on a junket to paris for about 5% of this trip. No GNB gold card though....... 
 
  
Joe Zilch  
Reply to Al Clark  
Our GG went to Iceland for 4 days and spent $71,000 on a rental limo. They don't care about our money.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Al Clark  
My wife and I went to Paris for free when she worked for American Express but we had to pay for the rental car to go visit my Uncle Raymond's Grave in Normandy  
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Joe Zilch 
That was a couple years ago; nobody seems to care.  
 
 
Steph Roche 
Reply to Joe Zilch  
oh Joe

are you suggesting that we deprive our GG of the opportunity to live in the tradition of her people?

 
Al Clark    
Reply to Joe Zilch
ah, I was wondering how this could be another person in another govt's fault. Thanks!
 
 
 
 
Al Clark   
Pretty cool how many millions in french tourism the cons can attract with one $22,000 hush hush trip. How do you suppose the francophonie the cons keep raving about might have done. Ha ha ha. 
 
 
David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Reply to Al Clark  
Its time for your nap
 
 
 
Douglas Ma
Content Deactivated
Thats a bargain PMJT would have been ten times that 


David Amos 
Reply to Douglas Ma
Many a true word is said in jest  
 
 
 
 
Douglas James  
One thing I find quite telling in comments on this story is the lack of all those Conservative posters who jump on every single misstep made by Trudeau, including his vacation trips. 
 
 
Lynette Browne 
Reply to Douglas James
Their main goal is to discredit the gov't.
 
 
Ralph Skavinsky
Reply to Lynette Browne 
As Liberals do with Conservatives. It's called politics folks so its nothing new.   
 
 
Dennis Woodman 
Reply to Lynette Browne  
It’s not hard to discredit the government. No JT has he will still give Saskatchewan households a CT rebate, even though all CT is being withheld, on top of the carve out of oil heat  
 
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Dennis Woodman  
The CRA will claw back the money owed; or maybe hold back some transfer payments. JT has our back.   
 
 
Joe Zilch  
Reply to Lynette Browne
The PMJT government discredits itself! 


David Amos 
Reply to Lynette Browne 
Surely you jest 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Lynette Browne 
What is your goal? 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
Amen


Lynette Browne 
Reply to David Amos
Not at all. 
 
 
Lynette Browne 
Reply to David Amos
For what?  
 
 
David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Reply to Lynette Browne 
I bet you laughed at me earlier when my replies to you went "Poof"
 
 
MR Cain  
Reply to Joe Zilch 
Did nobody explain about the heat pumps and the pause? You get something.  
 
 
Joe Zilch  
Reply to MR Cain  
Can't afford to get heat pumps. way too expensive. Plus here in NS they put a carbon tax on our electric bill. So it costs more to run the heat pump.
 
 
MR Cain  
Reply to Joe Zilch 
Obviously, nobody explained the deal. Coal is still being used as fuel for your electricity. You have to apply to get other rebates and subsidies for not only the pump but building upgrades. 
 
 
Joe Zilch  
Reply to MR Cain  
That is right and for me to get the subsidies I would have to put a heat pump on each floor of my home, so 3 heat pumps. plus rip out the old heating system, and install a new electrical service. In total I would be out of pocket about $25000. No way I can do it.

This program is only good if you are rich.

And yes we have 60% coal powered electrical grid but the carbo tax on the elec bill only makes heat pumps less attractive as there are fewer savings.

 
MR Cain  
Reply to Joe Zilch   
No ide about your personal situation, but I do know that you need to check the program out; you are missing too many pieces.
 
 
 
 
Le Wier 
Did anyone listen to the video embedded in the story? Scott-Wallace was laughing at being questioned about her fancy “work trip” and as she said it was was worth it for her. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Le Wier 
I caught it after you directed us
 
 
 
 
Le Wier 
I wonder if they charged the taxpayers for their souvenirs. I wonder if they picked up Hermes handbags and Chanel no, 5 at the duty free shop. That could explain why this trip was so expensive.  
 
 
William Peters  
Reply to Le Wier 
Goes well with Higgs' ideology of preaching we should want less.  
 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to William Peters
Exactly   
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Le Wier 
I concur 
 
 
 
 
 

Tourism deputy rings up N.B. government's largest 2023 expense account

Moving costs and an $800-a-night hotel help push Yennah Hurley's expenses over $77,000

Luxury-hotel stays during an unpublicized trip to London and Paris and a personal move from Quispamsis to Fredericton helped deputy tourism minister Yennah Hurley, the former adviser to Premier Blaine Higgs, amass $77,710 in expenses in 2023.   

It's the largest amount claimed by a senior official in the New Brunswick government for the year, including the premier and cabinet ministers, according to online departmental expense reports.

New Brunswick releases information on expenses paid to ministers and senior government officials quarterly for travel, living expenses, car allowances, accommodations and other costs.  

It calls it an "effort to improve transparency, accountability and enhance the proactive disclosure of information."

In 2023, the largest amount claimed by an elected official for the calendar year was $52,522 by Higgs. That included $10,999 spent on a trip to Europe last May highlighted by Higgs's speech at the World Hydrogen Summit in the Netherlands.

Charges by the premier, however, were eclipsed by Hurley, whose expense claims ran nearly 50 per cent higher.

Hurley is a former small adventure business operator and travel blogger who has been New Brunswick's deputy minister of tourism since 2020.

Hotel Lumen Hotel Lumen is less than one kilometre from the Louvre in downtown Paris. New Brunswick tourism officials spent half of an eight-day trip to Europe last September in the 39-room hotel, at an estimated cost of $600 a night per room. (Hotel Lumen)

She was hired in 2019 on a two-year consulting contract by Higgs to work in the Tourism Department and report directly to him on changes that might be made.

One change that came quickly was the firing of the previous deputy minister, Francoise Roy, a month after Hurley began work. Ten months later, Hurley had Roy's old job 

"I am proud that she is working with the people in the department," Higgs said in the legislature in 2019 in defending Hurley's initial hiring.

"I am proud that she is working with the minister because we are going to get things done by thinking differently. I am proud that she is part of the team."

In 2023, reports show, Hurley took several trips on government business both inside and outside Canada.

Expense reports contain little information on the purpose of trips, and Hurley was not made available for an interview.  However, her reports show $21,488 was spent on hotels in multiple locations, including Banff, Quebec City and North Carolina.

Palace of Verailles Yennah Hurley paid to take a public tour of the Palace of Versailles during a visit to Europe and billed taxpayers $154.75 for it. (Chateau de Versailles)

According to information provided by the province, the most expensive trip, an eight-day visit to Europe last September was an effort to boost international tourism interest in New Brunswick.

It was also said to be for gathering information on tourism sites of significance that are recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"The purpose of the mission was to discuss opportunities with international tour operators for visits to New Brunswick," Bruce Macfarlane, New Brunswick's senior director for media relations, wrote in response to a request for information about the trip.

"The mission also included site visits and meetings with UNESCO properties and museums with four nights in London and a four-night stay in Paris."

Four Tourism Department representatives went to Europe, according to Macfarlane, including Hurley and the minister, Tammy Scott-Wallace.

London Eye New Brunswick taxpayers funded a number of activities for provincial tourism officials during an eight-day trip to London and Paris last September, including a ride on the London Eye. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

The group stayed at the Trafalgar St. James, a London hotel, before eventually moving to Hotel Lumen in Paris.

According to prices advertised online and expense reports submitted by both Scott-Wallace and Hurley, the hotels charge about $800 and $600 per night, respectively.

Hurley's expenses also included receipts for visits to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, an unspecified British museum, the London Eye, and the Palace of Versailles.  

There appeared to be no specific charges for business meetings during the eight days by either the minister or deputy minister. Hurley's expenses eventually totalled $12,328 with Scott-Wallace charging $10,199.

Isabelle Theriault, the deputy Liberal leader and opposition tourism critic, said she is surprised to hear about the trip.  

By coincidence last September, the Tourism Department was in front of the legislature's public accounts committee two weeks after Hurley returned from Paris, and Theriault questioned her about departmental efforts being made to promote New Brunswick in Europe.   

A woman with long black hair looking slightly off to the side Liberal MLA Isabelle Thériault, the opposition tourism critic, says she finds it strange department officials did not disclose their European trip when she asked about promotions of New Brunswick being done there. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

The trip was never mentioned.

"If I had known I would have asked questions about it," said Theriault.

"If they just came back from those regions in Europe why didn't they tell me, 'We went there to work on how to attract people from those regions.' But they chose not to tell."

Hurley's largest expense in 2023 was not travel-related. After her return from Europe, she sold her house in Quispamsis and moved to Fredericton, ending four years of commuting.

That move cost taxpayers a further $19,321.17 in relocation costs.  

Those included $15,000 for the real estate commission paid on the house Hurley sold, $3,550.67 for movers and $770.50 in legal fees.

According to the New Brunswick government's relocation policy, moving expenses for an existing employee are allowed at the discretion of a departmental deputy minister "if" the employee "is transferred."

Hurley was not transferred to a new job, and she did not take a loss on the sale of her home, which sometimes adds to relocation costs.

Real estate records show the house sold last October for $405,000, well above the listed asking price of $324,900.

Nevertheless, Macfarlane said it was determined Hurley did in fact qualify to have moving expenses covered and emphasized she did not approve her own claim. He declined to say who did.

"As outlined in the relocation policy, in no case can the Deputy Head authorize their own relocation expenses," wrote Macfarlane.

"Another designate approved the relocation expenses within the policy directive. Although we cannot talk about specific cases, the relocation expenses fell within the policy."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Robert Jones

Reporter

Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
 
209 Comments 
 

 
Kyle Woodman     
If they went on a junket and had measurable results, like signing up new cruise ships or bus tours, it might make sense. This doesn't make any sense. It's not unusual for tourism people to do this, but it's usually promoted through government media. Like when they send people to the seafood expo in Boston, to showcase NB products, that makes sense. It's all over government media. This isn't that. Didn't have any expenses for meetings. What exactly were they doing?
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Paid vacation! Getting some cool pictures for her travel blog! 
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
Welcome back to the circus
  
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman   
 I actually follow Tammy Scott Wallace on social media, and she didn't make any posts about these trips. Nothing about what they were up to or anything. She posts about going to a coffee shop in Sussex on a Saturday. Weird. 
 
 
Frank Wentworth 
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
There's a story about TSW coming soon 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman  
This is graft, plain and simple. .




 
MR Cain
Higgs hired her on a contract, then appointed her, and signed off on her expenses. 
 
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/yennah-hurley-blaine-higgs-social-media-ban-1.5292250  

 
 
 
Alison Jackson 
"Former advisor to Blaine Higgs"

Of course she is.

 
 
Le Wier  
Maybe she was promoting Nordic walking as NB’s best kept secret.
 
 

 
Wilbur Ross 
Bahahahahaha ... and Higgs was the one complaining about Federal social spending the other day. Guess secret trips to Europe and moving bonuses are more his cup of tea.
 
 
Kyle Woodman   
Reply to Wilbur Ross   
How is it secret when it has been reported? Higgs does not deal with spending within individual departments, but maybe we should add that to his list of responsibilities. But I'm with you, this amount is the same as the federal gov't wasting millions upon million of dollars. I didn't know the premier drank tea, if he does, another failure of the Higgs government.
 
 
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Kyle Woodman
READ THE ARTICLE.
 
 
Albalita Rose 
Content Deactivated 
Reply to Wilbur Ross
 
 
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Albalita Rose
What? Gibberish ...
 
 
Le Wier 
Reply to Albalita Rose
The PM doesn’t have an ex. He is still married.
 
 
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Le Wier 
And this lady was never elected.
 
 
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Please stop Ronald
 
 
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Albalita Rose
Unelected junior provincial minister vs Prime Minister of Canada ... right. .
 
 
Frank Wentworth 
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Not yet  
 
 
Frank Wentworth 
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Ronald Miller is back posting as KW
 

 

james bolt  
probably attending some common sense conventions
 
 
Albalita Rose 
Reply to james bolt  
Vs attending nonsense conventions...
 
 
Frank Wentworth 
Reply to Albalita Rose 
Praise Jesus

 
 
Frank Wentworth 
We have a tourism minister and nobody knows her name because Higgs rewards her for remaining silent on all matters. Meanwhile we have Yennah Hurley, a long time personal friend of the Higgs family, living it up on our money. So much for Higgs being frugal!  
 
 
 
 
John Power 
A minister who embraces her job and researches what others are doing so she can better manage her portfolio!

N.B. is blessed. Would the complainers rather she stayed at home speaking to locals?

 
Eileen Kinley 
Reply to John Power  
It is not clear she had to tour those sites to find out what the governments there are doing to increase tourism.

 
Wilbur Ross
Reply to John Power 
She went on a trip to London and Paris. Nothing about work mentioned. Just tours paid for by taxpayers. You are easily misled.
 
 
John Powe
Reply to Eileen Kinley
Seems to be a necessity for the 700+++ of delegates attending COP on Canada's behalf though.

What was the bill for that junket?

 
Le Wier 
Reply to Eileen Kinley
And why was Scott-Wallace with her?
 
 
Kyle Woodma
Reply to John Power
Why didn't she mention her travel to the legislative committee?
 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to Kyle Woodman
In 2019 Hurley told CBC she didn’t know she was not permitted to post political rallies etc on her social media. Maybe she didn’t know she had to declare her travel expenses to the Legislature committee. Most likely that is what the public will be told. 
 
 

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2021/02/hand-picked-higgs-officials-living.html

Monday 22 February 2021

Hand-picked Higgs officials living outside Fredericton cost taxpayers extra

https://twitter.com/DavidRaymondAm1/with_replies

 

Image
Methinks the lawyer Logan and everybody else knows why I am not surprised to see Higgy taking care of his friends N'esy Pas Mr Jones?

 

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2021/02/hand-picked-higgs-officials-living.html

 

#Corruption

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-yennah-hurley-deputy-minister-travel-expense-claims-1.5920548

 

Hand-picked Higgs officials living outside Fredericton cost taxpayers extra

1 deputy got help with Fredericton housing and for drives to 24 meetings in Saint John area, where she lived

Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Feb 22, 2021 6:00 AM AT

 


Yennah Hurley was personally recruited by Premier Blaine Higgs to advise on tourism matters and eventually run the Tourism Department as its deputy minister. She lives in Quispamsis and billed the province for 24 trips to Saint John in 2020 to attend in-person meetings. (CBC archives)

Two New Brunswick deputy ministers who have been commuting to Fredericton from the Saint John area to run their departments accumulated thousands of dollars in accommodation and mileage expenses last year moving back and forth between the cities, records show.

John Logan, who lives in Saint John and heads the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, billed the province $9,219.08 for 85 overnight stays in Fredericton in 2020 to attend to business at department headquarters, according to his public expense records.  

In a statement, Nicolle Carlin, director of communications for Premier Blaine Higgs, said Logan regularly works in Fredericton, where his job is headquartered, but often chooses not to commute home at the end of the day.

"John Logan works mostly out of the Fredericton office," said the statement. "When he's in Fredericton, he usually stays in the city for more than a day."

Yennah Hurley, a deputy minister who runs the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, owns a home in Quispamsis.  


New Brunswick government officials have largely switched to online meetings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, including Higgs, shown here last week speaking with the New Brunswick Nurses Union online from his office last week. (Government of New Brunswick's Twitter)

Hurley was paid $9,550 to offset Fredericton accommodation expenses in 2020 but also billed over $900 in mileage charges for 24 trips she made up and down Highway 7 to attend meetings close to her home in Saint John.

The Saint John meetings were eight times more than the number in any other location Hurley visited outside of her office in Fredericton, but her department insists the charges were for legitimate government business.    

These were expenses for meetings related to the duties of the acting Deputy Minister at the time," Erika Jutras, the department's acting communications director, said in an email about the Saint John meetings.

Jutras dismissed questions about whether holding so many meetings in Saint John and submitting expense claims for them could be seen as an attempt to have the province subsidize Hurley's commute between Fredericton and her home in Quispamsis.

The expense reports do show the largest number of the Saint John meetings, 11, are dated as happening on a Friday and most occurred after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, when many government gatherings moved online. 

Hurley and Logan are among at least four senior officials hand-picked by Higgs to serve in key government roles who have not moved to Fredericton and whose expense accounts have included a variety of enhanced charges as a result.

Paul D'Astous is principal secretary to Higgs. He owns a home in Quispamsis and for most of 2020 received a $955 monthly 'living allowance,' one of four senior Higgs government officials paid extra to subsidize the cost of working, but not living, in Fredericton. (CBC archives)

In similar but separate arrangements, the premier's chief of staff and deputy minister, Louis Léger, and his principal secretary, Paul D'Astous, were paid the same $955 monthly "living allowance" as Hurley through much of 2020 to defray costs of staying in Fredericton without the requirement to provide receipts.

D'Astous, like Hurley, maintains a home in Quispamsis, while Léger has a residence in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent. Logan,  who once served with Higgs as an executive at Irving Oil, lives in Saint John.

Earlier this month, Higgs told CBC News that Hurley no longer qualifies for the living allowance since being named the permanent deputy minister of her department in December. Carlin said D'Astous also no longer qualifies after recently signing a new employment contract.


Louis Léger, chief of staff in the Premier's Office, has a home in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent. (CBC)

Logan does still qualify for payment of his Fredericton living expenses as does Léger, which Carlin said has been the case for previous chiefs of staff..

"Mr. Leger's position is not a permanent position with the civil service," said a statement issued by Carlin. 

"It is a job with a fixed time limit, and therefore most people who accept such a position would not move their home and family."

 

 

221 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.

 



David Amos
Methinks the lawyer Logan and everybody else knows why I am surprised to see Higgy taking care of his friends N'esy Pas Mr Jones?



David Amos 
Reply to @David Amos: Opps I meant to say NOT SURPRISED

 

 



David Amos
Methinks Higgy et al must recall the lawyer Lt Col Logan's doings with WorkSafe, the military, the Commissionaires Atcon, Grant Thornton and the Bank of Nova Scotia to name but a few N'esy Pas?

 

 


David Amos 
Methinks the West Island Blog deserve a little credit for their research On February 22, 2021 Aleksandar Krstic posted the following N'esy Pas?

Two New Brunswick Deputy Ministers Cause Huge Expenses To Taxpayers

"John Logan, who heads the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, has cost the province $9,219.08. All of this money is billed for 85 overnight stays in Fredericton in 2020, where he went to attend business at department headquarters.

Nicolle Carlin, director of communications for Premier Blaine Higgs, said that Logan works in Fredericton and that he often chooses not to commute home when he finishes his workday.

“John Logan works mostly out of the Fredericton office,” said the statement. “When he’s in Fredericton, he usually stays in the city for more than a day.”
 

 
 
 


David Amos
Earlier this month David Coon told CBC News that it's not the first time he's complained about civil servants receiving a living allowance "I've been through this once before with a former minister of transportation and infrastructure staff who had their lodgings covered in Fredericton. So this should not be happening again."

Methinks he lost that argument because Higgy maintains that Logan does still qualify for payment of his Fredericton living expenses N'esy Pas?
 
 
 



PHIL INNIS
Higgs should make her earn the money she's being paid in one of the outbreak homes. Tourism is dead



David Amos
Reply to @PHIL INNIS: Dream on




Ben Haroldson
I attended a course at a tech in Dallas back when i was with Aliant, April 2001. The instructor commuted 4 hours, EACH way. BTW, there was a sign on the door, " Please Check Your Guns at the Front Desk ".



David Amos
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Speaking of free rides Methinks Higgy et al will never explain why many Bell Aliant vans have had government of NB plates for many years but at least they know I have pictures to prove what I say is true I bet you do too N'esy Pas?

 
Johnny Jakobs 
Reply to @David Amos: Bell, the only company that penalizes long time customers for their loyalty.



David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Methinks the Irving Clan could teach Ma Bell a trick or two N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROB CLARK
I am quite pleased that the worst dirt that can be dug upon this government is that someone is spending less than 10 grand on accommodation for 85 nights(108 a night, where is this dude staying the city hotel) , and some lady is milking us for gas money to SJ.

Oh the horrors.
 


David Amos
Reply to @ROB CLARK: Methinks if folks wish to did up some dirt on Higgy et al they would have to leave the CBC domain For instance It was not rocket science me as to why Ministers Stewart and Mason and her deputy were replaced as soon as Higgy won a majority. Some of my words still stand to this very day within articled I posted the heading of below I bet Higgy Holland, Northrup Crossman Oliver and Wilson didn't vote for me as I ran again Fundy in while the lawyer Flemming just laughed as usual N'esy Pas?

Top legal official contradicts Higgs on duty to consult to First Nations
Deputy attorney-general says 'the duty to consult is quite clear' after premier called it vague
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 11, 2019 5:00 AM AT
 
 
ROB CLARK
Reply to @Pete Kropotkin: How so Pete?
 
 
ROB CLARK
Reply to @David Amos: More tin f oil Dave
 
 
Pete Kropotki
Reply to @ROB CLARK: Such garbage ... jog on will ya.
 

 

 

 

 


Taxpayers foot bill for 2nd residence in Fredericton for deputy tourism minister

Offered a government job? Move or commute, says David Coon

When so many New Brunswickers are having a tough time keeping up with rent increases, the government shouldn't be paying for secondary residences for civil servants, says Green Party Leader David Coon. 

"I don't see any rationale whatsoever for the accommodations of a deputy minister to be covered unless they're travelling for work," Coon said Wednesday. "Not coming to their job and residing somewhere else."

According to the government's listing of senior executive travel and other expenses, Yennah Hurley, the deputy minister of the Department of Tourism, has a secondary residence paid for in Fredericton. 

Hurley is a resident of Quispamsis, a community outside Saint John roughly an 80-minute drive from her government office. 

"If you're a public servant and you accept a job somewhere else different than where you live, then you have two choices — move or commute," said Coon. 

"But taxpayers shouldn't be paying for secondary accommodation or secondary lodging to be able to do your job." 

 Green Party Leader David Coon said it's simple: if you're offered a job in the civil service, move or commute. (Graham Thompson/CBC)

While cabinet ministers who live in other parts of the province are normally granted a "monthly living allowance," a spokesperson for the Treasury Board said there is only one deputy minister receiving an allowance to cover accommodations in Fredericton. 

According to her expense claims posted on the government's website, Hurley claims a $955 monthly living allowance, a monthly car allowance of $558.54, and a $690 monthly amount called an "expense allowance." All that adds up to a minimum monthly claim of $2,203.54. She also gets mileage per kilometre on top of that. 

That's all in addition to her salary, which falls somewhere between $150,000 and $174,999, according to the government's listing of employee salaries

Higgs again turns to outside consultants to reshape government

Hurley's appointment by Premier Blaine Higgs drew criticism in 2019 from some who said she wasn't qualified to be a deputy minister, especially since the Tourism Department's budget had been slashed by 37 per cent. 

"So you want to cut, but then the premier gets to hire a personal services consultant, a friend of his that he met two years ago," Liberal MLA Jacques LeBlanc said at the time.

In 2012, Hurley toured the province in an RV and was a weekly guest on CBC's afternoon radio show Shift New Brunswick, dispensing tips about what to see and do around the province. 

This monthly claim — from last April, the height of the lockdown — shows the $955 claim for a secondary residence in Fredericton. (Government of New Brunswick)

In 2019, amid criticism of her appointment, Hurley said her experience as a self-employed tourism operator was an advantage. 

"Budget cuts allow people or challenge people to be more innovative or more creative," she said. "That's where I come in. I'm an entrepreneur. I've worked with tight budgets before."

Hurley was asked for an interview on Wednesday, but so far, has not responded. A spokesperson for the department did respond, by email, to ask the nature of the request. Despite further inquires from CBC, no one replied by publication time.

Jennifer Vienneau, the director of communications for Finance and Treasury Board, did respond to questions about expenses and said "certain ministerial staff," as stipulated in the terms and conditions of their employment, are entitled to claim the monthly living allowance. 

She said deputy ministers on personal services contracts are responsible for negotiating their own terms and contracts with the Office of the Premier.

Coon said it's not the first time he's complained about civil servants receiving a living allowance. 

Each month, Yennah Hurley claims a minimum of $2,203.54 on top of her annual salary that falls somewhere between $150,000 and $174,999, according to the government's website. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

"I've been through this once before with a former minister of transportation and infrastructure staff who had their lodgings covered in Fredericton. So this should not be happening again."

He said he would be concerned about such allowances at any time, but it's particularly incongruous now.

Earlier this week, the NB Coalition for Tenants Rights asked the province for relief for tenants, including retroactive rent caps, a moratorium on evictions, and a rent bank fund for people struggling to pay the rent.

Issues related to tenants' rights in New Brunswick have come to the forefront after a number of buildings in cities across the province were bought up, only to see rent increases.

In the letter sent to Premier Blaine Higgs on Tuesday, the coalition recommended a two per cent rent cap retroactive to Sept. 1, 2020, be put in place until the COVID-19 vaccine is available to all, and the province reaches the green phase of recovery.

In January, Higgs said there were no plans to implement rent controls during the pandemic, but he has asked for a report to see if rent increases are a widespread issue. 

On Wednesday, in his state of the province address, Higgs acknowledged growing concerns about affordable housing and said there would be a 90-day review of the rental market in New Brunswick.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/09/blaine-higgs-hire-unaware-of-social.html


Tuesday 24 September 2019

Blaine Higgs hire unaware of social media ban on politically partisan posts

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies





Replying to and 49 others
Welcome to the Circus Madame Hurley Say Hey to your buddies Rob Moore and Mr Higgs for me will ya?

I trust that the comedian Mr Gauvin knows why I am still laughing 



https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/09/blaine-higgs-hire-unaware-of-social.html






https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/yennah-hurley-blaine-higgs-social-media-ban-1.5292250





Blaine Higgs hire unaware of social media ban on politically partisan posts

Yennah Hurley says she didn't receive that information in her HR package upon hiring






One of Premier Blaine Higgs's hand-picked experts appointed to shake up the civil service is apologizing for politically partisan social media posts.

Yennah Hurley says she didn't know until Friday that the terms of her appointment include a ban on publicizing political events.

She said a letter from the province's human resources department was mistakenly left out of her hiring package earlier this year.

"I apologize, because apparently in my original HR package should have been a letter that told me this information," Hurley said in an interview late Friday afternoon.

"I was not aware of that. As you know, I am very new to the government. This is my first government job ever and I was not aware of this situation."


Hurley shared this event invitation on her Facebook page. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
She didn't know about the missing letter until CBC News asked Higgs's office about the posts on Friday.

"Now I am well aware and it will not happen in the future," Hurley said.

On Sept. 10, Hurley posted an invitation to a Progressive Conservative barbecue in Quispamsis, the premier's riding. She later posted photos from the event.

Hurley said she was "not at all trying to advertise for it [but was] just inviting people to come because I was also attending this barbecue in my own community."


In June, she attended a major PC fundraising dinner in Fredericton. On her public Facebook account, she posted several photos of the event and praised Higgs's speech, mentioning he got a standing ovation.

Hurley, who said she is not a PC party member, said late Friday afternoon that she still had not received the letter, so she was not sure if she is banned from attending partisan events altogether.

"All I know for now is that I'm not supposed to put anything on social media," she said.

New job


She also said she was unsure whether she would have to delete the old posts. Most of her Facebook posts are about New Brunswick tourism destinations, which falls within her job duties.

Hurley was one of three consultants appointed by Higgs earlier this year whose hiring was criticized by the Opposition Liberals.

She is described on the government website as a senior adviser to the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
The other two consultants are John Logan, who worked with Higgs at Irving Oil and is handling special projects at the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Bob Youden, a former J.D. Irving executive providing strategic advice in the premier's office.

Hurley founded an outdoor adventure company and in 2012 wrote a travel blog about New Brunswick. She toured the province in an RV and was a weekly guest on CBC's afternoon radio show Shift New Brunswick, dispensing tourism tips.



Hurley said she didn't know she couldn't post pictures on Facebook from partisan events such as this barbecue. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
 
Higgs said he met Hurley, who lives in his riding, in 2017 and was impressed by how "extremely passionate" she was about tourism in the province.

In the legislature, he called the consultants "subject matter experts," though the Liberal opposition called them "shadow deputy ministers."

Hiring before firing

 

Hurley, one of Premier Blaine Higgs’s hand-picked experts, said she didn't receive a letter from human resources telling her she couldn't publicize political events. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

Hurley was put in place in February, just weeks before Higgs fired Francoise Roy, who had been the deputy minister at the department.

Her appointment came as the PC government cut spending on tourism from $20.2 million last year to $12.8 million this year.

Hurley said Friday that she had not made any major changes yet but has "rejigged the strategy a little bit … You'll be hearing about that very shortly."

Higgs said earlier this year that Hurley and Logan were earning deputy-minister-level salaries of $150,000 to $175,000 per year on two-year contracts, while Youden would be paid by the job.


CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 


82 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.



David Raymond Amos 
Content disabled

Nearly 12 hours ago I posted

"Welcome to the Circus Madame Hurley Say Hey to your buddies Rob Moore and Mr Higgs for me will ya?"

I trust that the comedian Mr Gauvin knows why I am still laughing


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Gauvin as a comedian as well as a politician is droll, but nit in the sense of funny.






John Cannotha
"I was not aware of that. As you know, I am very new to the government. This is my first government job ever and I was not aware of this situation." - Around here we don't ask for permission, we ask for forgiveness !  


Michel Jones
Reply to @John Cannothan: That sounds liberal to me.  
 

Roy Nicholl
Reply to @Michel Jones:
Red-tie, blue-tie ... it's still a tie. 



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: YUP 






Matt Steele
Not sure what the big issue is as there are tons of political appointments working within govt. . In many cases , upper level Civil Servants have their whole families working in govt. in various departments .The Govt. could easily cut the Civil Service by 20% to 30% , and not notice any change in the level of service . Govt. Services has been used as one GIANT MAKE WORK PROJECT for many , many years !


David Raymond Amos   
Reply to @Matt Steele: As I said to you many times you NDP dudes can cry me a river





David Raymond Amos   
Welcome to the Circus Madame Hurley Say Hey to your buddies Rob Moore and Mr Higgs for me will ya?


David Raymond Amos    
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Trust that your boss Mr Gauvin will understand why I will enjoy debating the aptly named lawyer again

https://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=13004&EV=51&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=NB&PROVID=13&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1






Stephen White
What a farce...


David Raymond Amos    
Reply to @Stephen White: Methinks the lady's boss the comedian who is now our Minister Heritage would no doubt be enjoying this farce nearly as much as his buddy Kris Austin N'esy Pas?

Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: As a comedian as well as a politician, the lady's boss is droll, but not in the sense of funny.




Dan Lee
Lady.....dont take this the wrong way but......you have no bussiness working there.............

A few years ago...Premier Lord hired a company to cut back......and now we hire this...........
no wonder i turned to green party



David Raymond Amos   
Reply to @Dan Lee: Methinks Kris Austin will be disappointed to read that N'esy Pas?





Lauchlin Murray
The real loss here to New Brunswickers was the firing of Francoise Roy. Ms Roy has both the formal training and accumulated on the job experience to better handle that mandate than most others available for the post. It's incredibly unfortunate elected leaders can't look past short term party desires and financing to consider and protect the interests of New Brunswickers, first. Francoise Roy as deputy minister would have maintained a continuity and professionalism within the department she served, which is essentially the primary role of a deputy minister. Having someone try to fill those shoes who claims their ignorance of law and policy is OK in their case - when it never is for anyone else - brings New Brunswick as a whole down another five notches or so. It's clear Francoise Roy has the maturity, great sense of public service - my god, she was an excutive with the Cancer Institute for over nine years, and that's not about petty politics - and all of the other experience and qualities best suited for public service; I know she'd never be claiming she 'didn't get the memo' to defend her behaviour. And her credentials convince me she'd never lie about 'not getting the memo.' 


Matt Steele
Reply to @Lauchlin Murray: .....Obviously you are not aware of Francoise Roy's background , and how she was able to move up within govt.

David Raymond Amos   
Reply to @Matt Steele: Whats your point?





Rosco Holt
No, it's not true(srac). Higgy appointed another partisan hack in the civil service. What a shack up?
Appointing incompetent party followers at a expansive price tag, while preaching austerity.



David Raymond Amos   
Reply to @Rosco holt: Methinks its merely par for the course for the Big Bad Backroom Boyz in Blue as they make their plans on the Back 9 N'esy Pas?

 

 

Higgs again turns to outside consultants to reshape government

Liberals describe 3 consultants as 'shadow deputy ministers'

Premier Blaine Higgs is defending his recruitment of a small number of outside consultants that he calls "subject matter experts" but the Opposition Liberals describe as "shadow deputy ministers."

Higgs confirmed in the legislature last month that he had hired the three consultants to help with "setting up a different model" of how government should work.

Two of the consultants are former senior managers with Irving-owned companies.

John Logan, who worked with the premier at Irving Oil, is working inside the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, while Bob Youden, a former J.D. Irving executive with a broad business background, is in Higgs's office providing strategic advice.

The third consultant is Yennah Hurley, who founded an outdoor adventure company and wrote a travel blog about New Brunswick that caught Higgs's eye. She's working at the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

 

Yennah Hurley is one of three outside consultants hired by Premier Blaine Higgs to establish a new model for government operations. (Yenna Hurley)

Higgs said in an interview Monday they will provide "a different view, a different attitude, a different perspective" on what government can do. All three report directly to him.

Hurley and Logan are on two-year contracts and will be paid the equivalent of deputy minister salaries, while Youden will be paid "by the job," Higgs said.

The Progressive Conservative premier first confirmed the consultants' presence when he was asked about it by Liberal Leader Denis Landry on March 27 in question period.

Landry didn't criticize the move but referred to the trio as "shadow deputy ministers" and asked Higgs to explain how they were chosen.

Opposition leader Denis Landry described the consultants as 'shadow deputy ministers.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)

Youden was on Higgs's transition after the previous Liberal government lost power. His consulting firm, Savarin Consulting, billed the previous PC government of David Alward $139,000 when Higgs was finance minister, according to public accounts documents.

Asked by Landry about Logan's time at Irving Oil, Higgs confirmed that he had worked with Logan at the company "for many years."

"Do you know what he was focused on doing, as I was? Getting better value for money."

'Sense of urgency'

The consultants were put in place despite Higgs's frequent tributes to the province's existing permanent, non-partisan civil service.

"I am so proud to be working with a workforce of over 50,000 — 50,000 strong — that want a better New Brunswick," he said in the legislature March 29.

"I am excited about the potential that is being unleashed within the workforce across this province to help fix the parts they are involved with each and every day."

Higgs has defended the hiring of the outside consultants when questioned by the opposition. (Radio-Canada)

Higgs repeated that praise Monday but said he needed the three consultants to transmit his "sense of urgency" for change into the bureaucracy.

"I can have a sense of urgency and I do have a sense of urgency, but I can't do that alone," he said.

"There's wonderful people in the system but they've been accustomed to what I would call political abuse for years. They've been accustomed to not leading because they've been waiting to follow the political will of a government."

Higgs said he doesn't plan to add any more consultants "at this point, though I don't know that there won't be more."

In at least one department where a consultant has been installed, there's been a change at the top. Hurley started work at Tourism in February, and Higgs confirmed on March 22 that Francoise Roy, the deputy minister at the department, had been fired.

That was less than a month after Higgs shuffled some deputy ministers, the normal time to remove someone. He said when he confirmed Roy's departure that he was not running "a government of normal practices."

He wouldn't say why she was let go.

Not the first time

Higgs has shown a liking for outside consultants before. As finance minister in the David Alward government, he led a "process improvement" initiative that saw consultants scour departments for ways to save money.

During last year's election campaign, the Liberals released a 2013 report by consultants at Ernst & Young that proposed to Higgs the elimination of 545 teaching positions and the closure of up to 79 schools.

Auditor General Kim MacPherson was critical of a contract between Ernst & Young and the previous PC government. (Michel Corriveau/Radio-Canada)

Another contract awarded by the previous PC government to Ernst & Young was later criticized by Auditor General Kim MacPherson for several reasons.

In a 2017 audit, MacPherson said under the contract with the Department of Social Development, consultants were allowed to evaluate their own performance and were paid millions of dollars based on "anticipated" savings, not real savings.

While the goal was to save $47 million, only $10 million had been saved by June 2016, she said, adding the actual benefit of the hiring "remains unclear."

Earlier this year, the deputy minister of social development told a committee of MLAs that the savings have now added up to $45 million.

Higgs said he has no plans for a similar "broad, sweeping" initiative now that he's premier. He said there have been enough studies and, with a minority government that may not last four years, he wants to make changes quickly.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

114 Comments 
 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
I suspect a lot of PC party members are suffering from Deja Vu today EH?

Higgs defends hiring of Conservative consultants at taxpayer expense

Premier admits their views are ‘in line with our party’ but says it ensures ‘a diversity of opinion’

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2024 4:19 PM ADT

 
 
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy's reshaping government aint working out so well lately N'esy Pas?

Tourism minister faces more questions on deputy's spending

Green leader says taxpayers should not pay real estate fees when public servants sell their homes

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 24, 2024 4:45 PM ADT

 
 
 
Rosco holt  
Higgs is reshaping government into what exactly? 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Rosco holt
I doubt he knows He is just doing what he is told
 

 

Roland Godin   
Unlike non for profit board members elected politicians are not accountable or personally liable, you are when you give them a blank check in the voting booth...et voilà.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Roland Godin
C'est Vrai
 
 
 
 
Lou Bell
Why don't the parties just set up a Dept. of Patronage ? They all do it .Just fill the vacancies in this department with all the useless ,unqualified buddies they now put in positions to the detriment of the Province and it's people ! We all know who these people are, how they got where they are, and why ! Otherwise, just kick the bah mbs out in the street.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Lou Bell
 The same holds true for Higgy et al Correct?? 
 
 
 
 
Michel Jones  
Reply to David White  
Premier Higgs said he would lead and by jove that's what he is doing, appointing conlsultants is part of his job.
 
 
Lewis Taylor 
Reply to Michel Jones
Reply to @Michel Jones:

Lead us to a grinding halt by jove

 
David Amos 
Reply to Lewis Taylor
Amen
 
 
 
Janice Belliveau  
lol......’Shadow ministers”coming from Gallants camp,,,Thank you Liberals for the shadow minsters comments,,You know what that’s all about as all your ministers either retired,, quit or lost their jobs from the Atcon scandal $63.4 million down the toilet when every accountant with a brain said don’t sigh this deal.....The Grahams made sure they were looked after as the Senior was on a board that made sure Atcon was approved,,Victor ( trailer park mathematician ) Bourdeau signed off on it..Thank you Victor for doing due diligence in making sure our money was safe.
 
 
Marc Martin  
Reply to Janice Belliveau  Reply to @Janice small: Didn't the Cons sell out all our forest for a penny to the Irving's ? Your no commented on that ?
 
 
Dan Lee 
Reply to Janice Belliveau 
Reply to @Janice small
how much did we lose on the Orimulsion.......how much did we lose on Pointe Lepreau.......
 
 
Michel Jones  
Reply to Janice Belliveau 
Reply to @Janice small: It is a bit rich to hear this from the Liberals.
 
 
Michel Jones  
Reply to Dan Lee
Reply to @Dan Lee: So it's somebody in New Brunswick's fault Venezuela went socialist and aren't we get good safe electricity from Pointe Lepreau !! You must have been thinking about Hatfield's Brinklin. 


Lewis Taylor 
Reply to Janice Belliveau 
Reply to @Janice small: Atcon again??? Remember Orimulsion....$750 million down the drain. We could go back to Confederation if you want. 
 

Lewis Taylor 
Reply to Michel Jones
Reply to @Michel Jones:  No not rich at all...i just paid my income taxes. 
 

Lewis Taylor 
Reply to Michel Jones
Reply to @Michel Jones:  It still was like more than 10 Atcons...still paying for it.

 
David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Reply to Lewis Taylor
At least I don't pay income taxes because the liberals deleted my SIN years ago
 
 
 
 
Archie Levesque  
Higgs needs to hire a "deliverology" expert like the Federal Libs
 
  
David Amos 
Reply to Archie Levesque
Perhaps he has and the expert is still hiding in the shadows
 
 
 
 
Marc Martin    
I wonder what his boss K. Austin has to say about this ?
 
  
David Amos  
Reply to Marc Martin    
Perhaps you should ask him 
 
 
 
 
douglas Canoe 
The Irving’s run a very good corporation, it makes a profit if it doesn’t they cut, the problem is a corporation has no compassion, you can’t run a government a democratic government without compassion.   
 
 
Michel Jones  
Reply to douglas Canoe  
Reply to @douglas Canoe: In what school did you learn that crock, in the Marxist college?  
 

Rosco holt  
Reply to douglas Canoe
Reply to @douglas Canoe:

"The Irving’s run a very good corporation"

A corporation that keeps getting hand outs from government(s), a good corporation really!?

 
David Amos 
Reply to Rosco holt
Well put
 
 
 
 
Graeme Scott   
Well, if anybody knows how to get every last cent of value for every dollar spent it would be an Irving exec.
 
 
Rosco holt 
Reply to Graeme Scott
Reply to @Graeme Scott:

Yep, spending taxpayers money. What great value for the Empire and Bermuda, not so much for New Brunswick and it's residents.


David Amos 
Reply to Rosco holt
Oh So True
 
 
 
 
Paul Bourgoin 
Higgs has been planning this Leadership, was instructed on what to do, when to do it and why? Higgs also was discussing with his old outside government working teammates for direction and scheduling. The What, When and Where? By Who? What task will the elected officials play versus those appointed and who do they embody or stand for?
 
 
Michel Jones     
Reply to Paul Bourgoin
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Sounds organized to me.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Paul Bourgoin
I Wholeheartedly Agree
 
 
 
 
Jef Cronkhite  
Is this even legal?? We ELECT our our government, we do not HIRE them. We already pay Ministers to do a job, and Higgs is now hiring outside help, that WE didn't vote for? Paying them a Deputy Minister's salary, when they were NOT elected by the People of NB?

Personally, I have a BIG problem with this!!

 
Lewis Taylor
Reply to Jef Cronkhite 
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite:  
"We" elected a Premier who had not idea beyond the word "CUT" and now has to hire "smart" people to help him figure out what next. that is where we are at in NB. Not much talent on all sides.
 
 
Lewis Taylor
Reply to Lewis Taylor
Reply to @Lewis Taylor:
 *no
 
 
Frank Knowles
Reply to Jef Cronkhite 
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: if anyone thought Higgs was anything but an Irving puppet they were fooling themselves. Now he's going to better shape the government to the Irvings wishes. The 3rd non Irving consultant is just a smoke show.
 
 
Marc Martin  
Reply to Jef Cronkhite 
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: If you voted CoRservatives or PANB then live with your mistake.
 
 
Steve Gordon
Reply to Marc Martin 
Reply to @Marc Martin: Will gladly live with it, far better than the lying, tax&spend you to death SANB party.
 
 
Marc Martin
Reply to Steve Gordon 
Reply to @Steve Gordon: What is the SANB party ?  
 
 
Sean Lebeau 
Reply to Jef Cronkhite 
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: Of course we hire our government. The article mentions the 50,000 civil servants in the government. Consultants can be a valuable resource when they provide a point of view and expertise for a short period of time but in the long run it is better to hire a civil servant. These consultants are not taking the place of ministers who are elected officials. The article calls them shadow deputy ministers which is a civil service position, and usually a highly political one.Time will tell whether this was a good move or not.  
 
 
Michel Jones
Reply to Jef Cronkhite 
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite: And your problem is simple, it happens all the time, you just didn't pick up on it.
 
 
Lewis Taylor
Reply to Steve Gordon
Reply to @Steve Gordon: PANB is worse.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Jef Cronkhite 
"Personally, I have a BIG problem with this!! "

Trust that you are not alone

 
 
 
Rosco holt  
These hiring begs the question, are the ministers of these department losers?

Higgs need to hire "consultants" to run these departments.

 
David Webb  
Reply to Rosco holt
Reply to @Rosco holt: Anyone can be a politician, it doesn't mean they are knowledgeable or qualified to be a minister of anything. A leader on the other hand should be selected based on their experience, knowledge and ability to lead and inspire, and has the smarts to inquire with other knowledgeable individuals be they be politicians or not. Unfortunately we cannot force the leaders out there to run for election. 
 
 
Michel Jones
Reply to Rosco holt 
Reply to @Rosco holt It's done all the time by companies and g'ments alike, they offer a different perspective on routines that are otherwise bogged down, often by habit or lack of motivation. 
 
 
Rosco holt
Reply to Michel Jones 
Reply to @Michel Jones:
The motivation that the problem. Government is suppose to be there for the people, not for an individual or corporate entity.

Taxes are paid to provide services and infrastructures, not lining bank accounts of businesses.

 
Rosco holt 
Reply to David Webb
Reply to @David Webb:
We are paying twice, once for the politician and the other for the consultant. This when government is cutting services to the sick and disabled.

What expertise does these consultant really have for the departments that they were hire for?

 
David Amos 
Reply to Rosco holt
"We are paying twice, once for the politician and the other for the consultant"

Methinks Mr Outhouse resembles that remark N'esy Pas?

 
 
 
 
Murray Brown
This is the continued Irving-ization of the civil service... It all started with the 'lean six sigma' cult that Higgs instituted back when he was Finance Minister, because of his previous experience with that 'method' when he worked for the Irving's... And it continues on. The Irving's bought into six-sigma and works great for them because in the end, they make 'all' the decisions just like Higgs does as Premier... He doesn't pay attention to reason... He just does what he wants and the senior civil service obliges. Saying 'Yes' is your key to becoming a black belt and then deputy minister.
 
 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Murray Brown
Reply to @Murray Brown: *six sigma* It didn't anything much for his mills, as al the cuts he made they had to re-hire another person to do the job.  
 
 
Shawn McShane 
Reply to Marc Martin
Reply to @Marc Martin: From what I have read about former Irving employees is that they left for a reason...
 
 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Shawn McShane
Reply to @Shawn McShane: You left Irving ?
 
 
David Amos 
Content Deactivated
Reply to Marc Martin
Can you read?
 
 
 
 
Mario Doucet  
Anybody notice since the liberals were forced out of office the bilingualism BS is much reduced?
 
 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Mario Doucet 
Reply to @Mario Doucet: How so ?
 
 
Rosco holt 
Reply to Mario Doucet  
Reply to @Mario Doucet: Yep, it is replace by more conservative party BS.
 
 
Lewis Taylor
Reply to Mario Doucet  
Reply to @Mario Doucet: I have not noticed a drop in anti- bilingualism BS here at all.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Lewis Taylor  
Nor I
 

 
 
Rosco holt
Patronage is alive and well in NB.

Where did Higgs find the money to pay his friends?

 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Rosco holt
Reply to @Rosco holt: The same place he took it to promote Andrew Sheers campaign NB tax payer fun.ded
 
 
Rosco holt  
Reply to Marc Martin
Reply to @Marc Martin: I bet Higgs didn't tells his buddies to move west to get deputy minister level salaries.
 
 
Michel Jones 
Reply to Rosco holt
Reply to @Rosco holt: If you can't answer your own question, the right answer means nothing to you.
 
 
Rosco holt  
Reply to Michel Jones 
Reply to @Michel Jones: I know the answer, he hired them.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Rosco holt
Bingo
 
 
 
 
Alison Jackson
Since he was elected:

1. Pushing to open fracking moratorium back up (Irving benefit)

2. Pushed for the energy east pipeline (Irving benefit)

3. Refused to participate in federal carbon pricing ( Irving benefit)

4. Has appointed former Irving oil executives to help 'reshape' the government (Irving benefit).

5. Not much else...maybe remove a front license plate...ummm....can't think of anything else....

 
Steve Gordon
Reply to Alison Jackson 
Reply to @Alison Jackson:

1. provides needed jobs and royalties to NB benefiting everyone

2. Again provides jobs and royalties to NB

3.as he should, it was a campaign promise and one I fully support. Carbon TAX in just another liberal tax grab which will do nothing but make EVERYTHING more expensive.

4. How does hiring a former Irving exec help Irving?

 
Ben Haroldson
Content Deactivated 
Reply to Alison Jackson
 
 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Alison Jackson 
Reply to @Alison Jackson: You got it....Now the question is why did people vote for him ?  
 
 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Steve Gordon 
Reply to @Steve Gordon: *1. provides needed jobs and royalties to NB benefiting everyone * It has been proven that fracking would provide less then a few hundred jobs..You failed there...

*2. Again provides jobs and royalties to NB*

Wrong again.

*3.as he should, it was a campaign promise and one I fully support. Carbon TAX in just another liberal tax grab which will do nothing but make EVERYTHING more expensive. *

Either way there is going to be a carbon tax, Andrew Sheers plan is too taxe the big corporations who will then pass it on to the consumers so what's your point ?

*4. How does hiring a former Irving exec help Irving? *

They only have big corporations in their plan.

 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Ben Haroldson  
Reply to @Harold Benson: I don't mind them taxing drinks or foods that are not healthy and costs us billion in medical care as long as they give incentives for buying healthy food. 
 
 
Alison Jackson
Reply to Steve Gordon 
Reply to @Steve Gordon:
Oh Steven, lol. Have you learned nothing about the oligarchs influence on politicians for all these years? Look around you boy. It has zero to do with jobs, lol. This corporations concern is its bottom line...not the welfare of its people. If that was the case, KC would never have set up a Bermuda tax haven back in '71 to skip on paying their fair share. That owed money (somewhere in the vicinity of $40Billion at this point) would have lifted the province completely out of being a have-not. But I guess you're OK with that huh? Tow that line dude, tow that line.
 
 
daryl doucette
Content Deactivated 
Reply to Alison Jackson 
 
 
john smith  
Reply to Steve Gordon  
Reply to @Steve Gordon: carbon tax is awful them trudeaus eh first they take our money in the 70 now gonna take our fuel and cows how we gonna get around teams of rabbits rickshaws

 
Rosco holt 
Reply to daryl doucette
Reply to @daryl doucette:
That is if we get royalties. The agreement on fracking was they don't need to pay until they show a profit.

There is many way for businesses to make their profit disappear, so 50% of 0 is still 0.

 
Steve Gordon  
Reply to Marc Martin
Reply to @Marc Martin: Guess you failed at math. a few hundred is greater than 0.

Too bad CBC doesn't have an ignore user option because all your liberal posts are tiring. 

 
Lewis Taylor 
Reply to Steve Gordon
Reply to @Steve Gordon:What jobs and royalties????
 
 
Lewis Taylor 
Reply to Steve Gordon
Reply to @Steve Gordon: Now you know how we feel with all the PC love
 
 
Marc Martin   
Reply to Steve Gordon
Reply to @Steve Gordon: I was waiting for that reply, is a few hundred jobs worth pollution ? Not to me it aint.    
 
 
Michel Jones  
Reply to @Alison Jackson
Reply to @Alison Jackson: Get real, when you do your taxes don't you use all the tools at your disposal to avoid taxes legally... Companies do the same legally.

 
Michel Jones  
Reply to Rosco holt
Reply to @Rosco holt: Not if they are audited. 
 
 
Rosco holt 
Reply to Michel Jones
Reply to @Michel Jones: When was the last time a big corp. got audited in the province? What about all the shell companies that lose money year after year and are still in business? 
 
 
David Amos   
Reply to Alison Jackson 
Everybody is to busy trying to get a ticket to ride on Higgy's Gravy Train
 
 
David Amos
Reply to john smith
"carbon tax is awful"

It appears that chicken has come home to roost on our border and rather afraid of the Axe

Poilievre visits convoy camp, claims Trudeau is lying about 'everything'

Trudeau responds, accusing Poilievre of welcoming ‘extremists’

Catharine Tunney · CBC News · Posted: Apr 24, 2024 3:29 PM ADT

 
 
 
Kenneth Dwight
"Two of the consultants are former senior managers with Irving-owned companies."

Dear NB voters: You get what you vote for. Reshaping government huh? NB is now an official subsidiary of Irving Corporation.

 
Marc Martin 
Reply to Kenneth Dwight 
Reply to @Ken Dwight: Yep exactly.
 
 
Dianne MacPherson
Reply to Kenneth Dwight 
Reply to @Ken Dwight: Here we go.......FAKE NEWS !!!  
 
 
Rosco holt 
Reply to Kenneth Dwight
Reply to @Ken Dwight: Didn't that happen a few decades ago, when government catered to their every whim.  
 
 
Archie Levesque 
Reply to Kenneth Dwight  
Reply to @Ken Dwight: It already has been for over 30 years 
 
 
Michel Jones 
Reply to Kenneth Dwight 
Reply to @Ken Dwight: Does it mean anything to you that the Irving company is very successful or are you just not interested in politics?
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Michel Jones
Need I say your questions was a very telling thing?
 



Mark George  
Meet the new boss.......... same as the old boss.
 
 
Michel Jones  
Reply to Mark George   
Reply to @Mark (Junkman) George: Wrong, Premier Higgs' life experience is proven.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to Mark George
Amen

 

 

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