Higgs government’s review of gender diversity and inclusion policy in schools prompts backlash
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, May 18, 2023:
Some students snub former diplomat honoured by Mount Allison; Lyons responds, says work ‘misunderstood’
In a silent protest during this week’s convocation ceremonies, some Mount Allison graduates turned their backs on a former high-ranking Canadian diplomat as she received an honorary degree from the university.
Deborah Lyons, Canada’s former ambassador to Israel and Afghanistan — and former head of a UN mission to Afghanistan — received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mount Allison on Monday.
She also gave a speech to the graduating class, saying her actions as ambassador and UN mission leader had been “misunderstood.” The speech can be viewed in full here.
Critics accuse Lyons of whitewashing human rights violations by the State of Israel and fault her for cooperating with the Taliban while Afghanistan collapsed in 2021.
As she delivered her speech on Monday, a number of students rose from their seats and turned away from the stage, according to people who were present at Convocation Hall.
“As you may know, and as may be obvious at the moment, there are some students and faculty who aren’t so happy that I’m speaking to you today,” Lyons said in her remarks.
In video from the event, someone can be heard heckling Lyons at the beginning of her speech, prompting scattered applause.
Protesters aren’t visible in the video but photos from the event appear to show at least 30 people standing with their backs turned against the stage. … Continue
Former football Mounties Lucas Cormier and Reece Martin in training following CFL draft
Two athletes from Mount Allison University are in training after being drafted into the Canadian Football League.
The 22-year-old athletes join the league through the Mounties football program.
Sackville-born defensive back Lucas Cormier was drafted in the second round by the Ottawa Redblacks, as the 10th overall pick.
Reece Martin, a defensive lineman, was chosen by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the fourth round as the 31st pick overall.
CHMA reached out to both players and spoke to Cormier this weekend, between practices in Ottawa. Cormier said he always aspired to join the CFL, and he believes the Grey Cup is within sight this year.
Listen to the interview from CHMA:
Protest expected as Mount Allison goes ahead with plans to honour ambassador
Activists plan to hold a protest on Monday as Deborah Lyons, Canada’s former ambassador to Israel and Afghanistan, receives an honorary degree during convocation ceremonies.
A peaceful demonstration will take place outside of Convocation Hall, while inside the building, “students and faculty will also be making their opposition known,” according to an update from Lara Khattab and Krista Johnston.
The two Mount Allison professors launched an online petition last month demanding that Mount Allison rescind the honorary degree.
CHMA’s interview with Lara Khattab and Krista Johnston:
The petition states that, as ambassador, Lyon helped whitewash human rights violations by the State of Israel.
It also criticizes her for cooperating with the Taliban when she represented the United Nations in Afghanistan. The petition had gathered 1,181 names by Sunday afternoon.
University to abide by decision
A spokesperson for Mount Allison confirmed this week that the university is following-through with a decision by its Senate to honour the career diplomat.
The Senate selects recipients from a list recommended by its Honorary Degrees Committee, according to acting media relations officer Renée Belliveau.
That committee “consists of representatives of Senate, students, and Board of Regents,” according to the university website.
“Deborah Lyons was nominated in 2020, and her nomination received the support of a majority of Senators, as required under the procedures,” Belliveau said in an email. … Continue
Tenants’ voices, rural focus missing from housing summit: critics
A housing summit organized by the Higgs government — in partnership with an association representing realtors — took place in Saint John this week, attracting protesters who believe the provincial housing strategy is bound to fail if it doesn’t include a rent cap.
Critics say the event, which took place on Tuesday in Saint John, was heavily weighted towards business interests, leaving tenants’ rights advocates feeling steamrolled.
Listen to the report from CHMA:
“I found out when we got there that it was actually the New Brunswick Real Estate Association that co-hosted this summit,” Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton said in an interview with CHMA.
“Real estate and developers are part of the conversation when we talk about housing. But for those voices to be there, but then not other voices, is extremely problematic, especially because… what’s at stake is people’s lives, and people’s housing. And there are literally people who are dying outdoors.”
She said the event was also marked by a lack of focus on rural homelessness.
“Sometimes the issues around being unhoused can be more hidden in rural areas,” she said. “And sometimes people end up moving to urban areas because they don’t have services in rural areas. So it’s all connected.”
The Government of New Brunswick says it’s using information from the summit to create a housing strategy that’s expected to be released in June, just a few weeks from now. … Continue
Workers fed-up with declining standards of living, says labour leader; former Ambassador to Israel shouldn’t receive honorary degree: petition
Listen to Tantramar Report for Monday, May 1, 2023:
This edition of the show was updated at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023, to include up-to-date information about a tentative agreement between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the federal government. … Continue
Food insecurity among children ‘an ongoing concern,’ says school district; Provincial, federal initiatives to address hunger in schools too slow, says MLA
The provincial and federal governments have said that they want to make sure kids are getting the nutrition they need during the school day.
But progress is happening too slowly, according to Megan Mitton, the MLA representing Memramcook-Tantramar.
“This is a constant issue that I’ve seen whenever I’ve visited or spoken to teachers,” the Green Party MLA said in an interview on Tuesday.
Listen to the report from CHMA:
“It’s frustrating for things to move so slowly, because what we’re talking about here is about making sure children have eaten.”
The question of school food programs came up Tuesday during a legislative committee meeting in Fredericton, at a time when inflation has put additional pressure on household food budgets.
During a testy exchange with Mitton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Bill Hogan said the government’s goal is to have a food program in every school. “We know children that are hungry cannot learn,” Hogan said.
He indicated that approximately 245 of New Brunswick’s schools have some kind of food program, but that another 50 do not.
There are breakfast programs at “pretty well” all of those 245 schools, with lunch or take-home food at some, depending on what kinds of community partnerships those schools have developed.
He said the provincial government is currently working with the other 50 schools to “make sure that they have a food program.” … Continue
Upgrade dikes ‘as quickly as feasible’ before major flood hits Chignecto Isthmus, Amherst mayor tells provincial governments
This article was updated at approximately 9 p.m. on April 14, 2023, to include a comment from the Government of Nova Scotia.
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia say they’re negotiating with Ottawa over the financing of a multi-million dollar infrastructure project that would protect the Chignecto Isthmus from flooding.
The Chignecto Isthmus is the narrow strip of land that connects the two provinces.
Upgrades could cost up to $300 million, according to a study published last year. The feds have offered to pay half that amount, but both provinces say talks are still ongoing about how the project should be financed.
And New Brunswick’s Minister of Infrastructure Jeff Carr reportedly stated last week the $150 million offer isn’t enough.
Mayor David Kogon of Amherst, N.S., says the provinces should quit haggling and speed up the process before it’s too late. Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black has also called for the provincial government to take swifter action.
Listen to the report from CHMA:
The dikes were built in the 1600s by Acadian settlers to hold back floodwater from the Bay of Fundy. Officials from both provinces say the current height of the dikes is no longer sufficient because of the effects of climate change.
CHMA spoke to the Mayor of Amherst this week after he met with the Daniel Allain, New Brunswick’s Minister of Local Government. … Continue
Fundraising continues for people affected by devastating fire in downtown Sackville
Fundraising is ongoing to support people affected by a devastating fire in downtown Sackville.
The blaze destroyed Joey’s Restaurant and the apartments of four students and a university staff member that were located upstairs. No injuries were reported.
The fire began on Friday morning. Local roads were closed as firefighters fought the blaze, using water brought in water from Silver Lake in addition to municipal fire hydrants.
A newly-purchased excavator from local contractor Beal & Inch Construction was brought in to tear down the building to keep the fire from spreading.
Mount Allison said in a Facebook post that university officials were in contact with the people whose apartments were destroyed and would provide them with short-term accommodations and other necessities. The university also offered counselling on Saturday.
The university also said that about 20 students living in the area were affected.
They left their homes due to the smoke and it was unclear when they would be able to return home. The university said it was in contact with many of those students and would stay in touch to determine how it could support them.
The university set up an intake centre in the basement of the university chapel to accept donations from the community such as clothing, personal hygiene items and gift cards. … 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