Health care town hall next week with Horizon CEO and MLA Megan Mitton
Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton is hosting a town hall session with Horizon Health officials next week in Sackville. The Future of Our Healthcare meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 18, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre. Mitton will be joined by Margaret Melanson, CEO of Horizon Health Network, and possibly some other Horizon staffers.
There will be plenty to talk about. This summer, Sackville is losing two family doctors, further adding to the primary care crunch that’s happening across the region and the province. Horizon has promised to open a temporary primary care clinic in the town to help cover that gap. There’s also changes afoot at the Sackville Memorial Hospital as they make room for a future class of nurses from the yet-to-be-accredited Beal University Canada nursing program. And the reduction in emergency room services at Sackville Memorial Hospital continues, with the ER open only 8 hours a day, from 8am to 4pm.
Mitton says the impetus for a healthcare-focussed meeting came out of another community meeting she held in May, where healthcare was one of the key topics. “I do hope that this will be an opportunity for there to be really direct, transparent communication,” says Mitton, “to help people understand what exactly is happening right now, and to be able to ask questions.”
Mitton says she and Melanson will present briefly, and then move to a Q&A session.… Continue
Higgs threatens court action over funding to protect Isthmus, Mitton calls out ‘politics being played’
Premier Blaine Higgs has threatened to take the federal government to court if it doesn’t agree to cover 100% of the cost of the Chignecto Isthmus protection project. The premier made the statement in a letter to federal infrastructure minister Dominic LeBlanc on July 4.
However in the same letter, the premier also reserves the right to agree to a hypothetical two-thirds federal funding formula.
Higgs’ letter is in response to one from LeBlanc on June 23, denying the assertion by Higgs and his Nova Scotia counterpart, Tim Houston, that the project should be fully funded by Canada, and setting a deadline of July 19 for the provinces to apply for 50% funding under a federal climate adaptation fund.
In his July 4 letter, Higgs writes that he was profoundly disappointed with LeBlanc’s letter. “Your government’s refusal to recognize and act upon its constitutional responsibility for this project will have negative ramifications for this vital transportation gateway and the Canadians it serves,” writes Higgs.
The premier goes on to say that the Constitution Act of 1867 outlines the responsibility of the federal government to “maintain and secure transportation links between provinces.” Because the Isthmus supports major transportation and communications infrastructure, Higgs argues that the protection of the land bridge also qualifies as a federal responsibility.
“If the federal government refuses to accept its constitutional responsibility in this manner, it will be up to the governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to ask the courts to enforce our nation’s supreme law,” writes Higgs.… Continue
Investigate environmental factors potentially causing ‘atypical neurological decline,’ group tells province and feds
Patients and families struggling with symptoms of a neurodegenerative illness are calling for a new investigation into potential environmental causes of the condition.
Their demands come 13 months after the province announced that the “neurological syndrome of unknown cause” doesn’t exist.
The provincial Green Party held a news conference on Tuesday alongside people affected by the condition.
There are now 147 people “demonstrating a rapid onset of severe neurological symptoms,” according to the group. They said more than a third of those patients are under 45 years old.
Listen to the audio report:
Medical testing has shown that many of the patients were exposed to “multiple environmental toxins,” said Stacie Quigley Cormier, whose stepdaughter is among the patients.
In particular, she pointed to the herbicide glyphosate, which is widely used in forestry and agriculture.
“We want to confirm that in recent months, patients have tested positive for multiple environmental toxins, including glyphosate, with detectable levels between four and 40 times the average limit,” she told reporters.
Few details were immediately available, but she said “many patients have been tested.”
Her stepdaughter, former Mount Allison University student Gabrielle Cormier, is one of the youngest patients affected by what officials previously called a neurological syndrome of unknown cause.… Continue
Crucial green energy source or radioactive boondoggle? Legislative committee hears from witnesses on small modular nuclear reactors.
It’s an issue that never fails to generate controversy: nuclear energy. At stake is the future of the planet and billions of dollars.
NB Power says the controversial energy source is key for its strategy to generate low-carbon electricity.
The utility already operates the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, a CANDU reactor located about 50 km southwest of Saint John.
Among other sources, New Brunswick’s power mix also includes electricity from NB Power’s coal-fired Belledune Generating Station on the province’s north shore.
The federal government says that facility, one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the province, has to stop operations by 2030.
NB Power plans to build what’s called a small modular nuclear reactor, or SMR, at the site of the existing Point Lepreau nuclear site, on the Bay of Fundy.
Government and industry describe SMRs as “considerably smaller in size and power output than conventional nuclear power reactors, with enhanced safety features.”
Supporters say it will be a key component in global efforts to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
But opponents of nuclear energy say SMR technology is untested and risky, both for the environment and government coffers, and that it could even contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation.… Continue
‘Exemplary in their service to others’: 21 area residents honoured with Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal
Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton hosted a small ceremony Monday night to honour 21 area residents with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
The recipients were, in alphabetical order:
- Christoph Becker
- Robert Bourgeois
- Carolle de Ste-Croix
- Pat Estabrooks
- Dr. Janet Hammock
- John Higham
- Dorothy Kean
- George R. LeBlanc
- Roméo H. LeBlanc
- Diane Carmel Léger
- Patricia Léger
- Marilyn Lerch
- Dr. Vett Lloyd
- Quinn MacAskill
- Amanda Marlin
- David G. McKellar
- Captain Connor Poirier
- Nicole Porter
- Reginald (Reg) Tower
- Margaret Tusz-King
- Linda Varner
The 21 medals awards in the Memramcook-Tantramar riding are among a total of 3000 awarded across the province. That number includes medals awarded to members of the Order of Canada and Order of New Brunswick, as well as MPs and First Nation chiefs.
According to the province’s website, “the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal [for New Brunswick] was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The medal honours The Queen and her lifelong service to Canada, as well as those residents of New Brunswick who, like Her Majesty, have been exemplary in their service to others.”
The program is administered by New Brunswick’s Office of Protocol, in partnership with MLAs, Senators, various governmental departments, Indigenous leaders, the RCMP, and the Canadian Armed Forces.… Continue
Years of planning and a salmon dinner lead to major public funding commitment to future of Ralph Pickard Bell library
The Ralph Pickard Bell library just took a giant step closer to a renewal project that has been in the works for years. On Tuesday afternoon, dignitaries, media, and members of the Mount Allison community gathered for a joint announcement from the provincial and federal governments of a combined $36 million in funding to help make the renovation a reality.
MP for Beauséjour and federal minister of infrastructure Dominic Leblanc announced $26 million towards the project coming from the green infrastructure stream of the Canada-New Brunswick bilateral infrastructure agreement. “There were a number of hundreds of millions of dollars that had not been allocated in the existing Canada-New Brunswick agreement,” said Leblanc after the announcement on Tuesday. “This is one example of the decisions that we made with the government of New Brunswick to access that funding, to do important infrastructure projects around the province.”
Leblanc says the project fits under the green infrastructure stream since the renovations will make the Ralph Pickard Bell Library “world-leading in terms of its environmental footprint.”
Two of New Brunswick’s provincial ministers also attended Tuesday. Minister of Health and Mount Allision alumnus Bruce Fitch was there, along with Post-Secondary Education minister Trevor Holder, who announced New Brunswick’s contribution to the project.
“I’m incredibly proud to announce today a $10 million commitment from the provincial government to support the programming needs here at Mount Allison University,” said Holder, to applause from those gathered.… Continue
Last chance to weigh in on the new riding of Tantramar
This week is the last chance for provincial voters to weigh in on changes to electoral boundaries that will see the Memramcook-Tantramar riding split up, creating a new Tantramar riding which will be the smallest in the province.
The commission charged with reviewing New Brunswick’s electoral boundaries is hosting eight online sessions between Wednesday and Saturday this week. A session on Thursday evening from 6pm to 8pm will focus on southeastern ridings, including the new proposed Tantramar district. There are also two sessions open to province-wide input. (Scroll down for session dates and times.)
At first glance, voters in Tantramar might not have too much to complain about, as their votes will carry more weight in electing an MLA in the next provincial election, according to Mount Allison politics professor Mario Levesque.
The proposed Tantramar riding would have 9058 electors, while neighbouring Shediac-Beaubassin-Cap-Pelé would have 13,317 electors, the highest number in the province, and 4,259 more potential voters than Tantramar. “From a democratic perspective, you can question that,” says Levesque. And the discrepancy in elector population will likely get worse over time, he says, as other areas of the southeast are expected to grow faster than Tantramar.… Continue
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.
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
Lewis Estabrooks on over 25 years of providing affordable housing in Sackville
It’s hard to find places to live in Sackville, and in particular affordable places. An increasing population and in-migration is taking rental homes off the market. At least one building housing several units is slated for demolition. And Harper Hall, which normally houses somewhere in the range of 150-200 students, is closed for renovations in 2022. Combine those local factors with rising rental costs across the province and country, and that means the squeeze is on, especially for people on low to medium incomes.
But there are some rental units in Sackville that are resilient to rental increases and housing market ups and downs: four units in two buildings operated by Sackville and Area Housing, a not-for-profit group that has provided subsidized housing to Sackville residents since 1988.
For decades Lewis Estabrooks served as president of Sackville and Area Housing, sometimes using his skills as an accountant to manage the bills and mortgage payments, and sometimes contributing pure elbow grease to clean and paint units to prepare them for new tenants. In March, MLA Megan Mitton recognized Estabrooks for his service in the provincial legislature, calling out his “dedication and contributions to the Sackville community.”
This month, CHMA paid a visit to Lewis Estabrooks to ask him about his time with Sackville and Area Housing, which continues to this day. The 87-year-old is the vice president of the group, working with current president Alf Walker.… Continue