Year in review: Stories of local crime, tragedy attracted the most attention in 2022
Listen to Tantramar Report for Wednesday, January 4, 2023:
Year in review: CHMA looks back on 2022 with veteran local journalist Bruce Wark
Listen to Tantramar Report for Monday, January 2, 2023:
Year in review: Student union president reflects on university life in 2022
Rohin Minocha-McKenney, president of the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) and chair of the NB Student Alliance, joined CHMA this month to look back on the issues that affected students in 2022.
Topics included the latest round of tuition hikes, sexual violence prevention on-campus, mandatory masking, and the Higgs government’s sudden cancellation of EI Connect, to name a few.
Of course, no conversation about student life in Sackville would be complete without a discussion of New Brunswick’s ongoing affordable housing shortage.
Check out the interview here:
MLA Mitton reflects on a ‘turbulent year’ in provincial politics
There was no shortage of drama in provincial politics this year.
Major events included the resignation of then-Minister of Education Dominic Cardy, whose explosive open letter in October shone an unflattering light on Premier Blaine Higgs.
Health care policy was also a big source of controversy.
During the summer, the death of a patient in an ER waiting room prompted Higgs to fire the CEO of the Horizon Health Network and to dissolve the boards of both health authorities, replacing them with trustees.
The political scene was also marked by intense debates over issues such as affordable housing, labour relations, inflation, systemic racism and more.
Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton spoke to CHMA on Wednesday, December 21, to share her thoughts on the issues that shaped New Brunswick this year.
‘I hope it makes others feel more valued’: Diversity of faiths celebrated at Mount Allison chapel
Light amidst darkness is a theme among diverse faiths around the world at this time of year, something to keep in mind as people deal with the heavy realities of our time, such as war and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To bring people together and to share who we truly are, and to reflect on what gives us hope, I think it’s a beautiful thing,” said Reverend Ellie Hummel, multi-faith chaplain and spiritual care coordinator at Mount Allison University
She made the comments as members of the university community gathered for a weekly craft-making session in the chapel on-campus.
“Today’s gathering is different, because it’s an opportunity to make holiday decorations, but we’re not just talking about Christmas, we’re talking about all the beautiful holidays that are happening this time of year.”
She spoke to CHMA about diversity, faith and hope for a better world:
‘I hope it makes others feel more valued’: Diversity of faiths celebrated at Mount Allison chapel
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, December 22, 2022:
‘In our lifetime, I think we will see fusion reactors’: Mount A. subatomic physicist on U.S. Department of Energy breakthrough
Listen to Tantramar Report for Monday, December 19, 2022:
Province says ‘no concerns have been raised’ by school district about air quality at Tantramar High
An area resident is raising concerns about air quality in schools after her 14-year-old son caught COVID-19 and became gravely ill.
Laura Beazley has two sons, both of them at Tantramar High. The youngest, a Grade 9 student, has Type 1 diabetes.
That condition makes people more likely to have serious complications with COVID-19, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Sure enough, when he returned to school in September — with mask mandates no longer in effect — he became sick with COVID, and his condition quickly deteriorated.
Medical ordeal
“The time from testing positive to being in full blown diabetic ketoacidosis was so fast, it was 17 hours,” Beazley said, noting that his sickness coincided with the arrival of Hurricane Fiona. “And he was in critical condition.”
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a condition that can lead to a coma or death. He recovered after being hospitalized twice, but has suffered from other “mysterious illnesses” following his recovery.
Listen to the interview that aired on CHMA FM on Dec. 14, 2022:
Beazley, whose family is fully vaccinated and boosted, says his story shows the provincial government should step up and ensure schools have clean air.
But a spokesperson for the Department of Education says “no concerns have been raised” by the school district about conditions at Tantramar High.
The Anglophone East School District and Tantramar High didn’t respond to queries from CHMA.
Last month, school principal Susan Lafford told parents that about one-third of students were absent daily because of illness, and that many staff were off sick.… Continue
Housing Minister calls MLA Mitton’s comments ‘inflammatory’ as province limits debate on controversial bill
Controversial legislation affecting tenants and landlords is making its way through the Legislative Assembly, with opposition parties crying foul over time limits imposed on debate.
Discussions became heated Wednesday as Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton sparred with Jill Green, Minister of Service NB and Minister responsible for housing.
“The Minister of Housing has finally admitted that she won’t protect tenants by keeping the rent cap in place in the New Year,” Mitton said during Question Period on Wednesday. “Tenants are terrified of losing their housing if they haven’t already… how can the Minister of Housing justify denying renters the protection of a rent cap next year?”
Green, who took over the contentious housing portfolio in October, defended her government’s record and called Mitton’s remarks “inflammatory.”
“When I listen to the language that is used and the inflammatory way the question is asked, it doesn’t even make me want to answer her question,” Green said.
Mitton replied: “I do not appreciate the tone policing when I’m talking about people losing their housing.”
Last month, Green introduced Bill 25, An Act Respecting Residential Tenancies. Instead of extending rent control, the bill would create a “phase-in” mechanism for rent increases.
If a rent hike exceeded the Consumer Price Index, the Residential Tenancies Tribunal could choose to phase in the increase over the course of up to three years. … Continue
‘I do not appreciate the tone policing when I’m talking about people losing their housing’: Debate grows heated as MLAs vote on rent hike legislation
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022: