Tories introduce changes to local government funding – what does it mean for Tantramar?
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, October 6, 2022:
Following ‘mix-up,’ voters may receive notices falsely stating no election in November: Elections NB
Local government elections are slated to take place on November 28 across the province, including for the new Town of Tantramar.
But local residents may receive a notice in the mail stating incorrectly that no election is taking place.
And in parts of the province where, in fact, no election is planned, residents may receive the opposite information.
That’s because of a “mix-up” involving a quarter of a million households, according to a statement issued by the government agency on Wednesday.
“A mix-up in the name on files sent to the vendor who printed the content and packaged the envelopes for Elections NB resulted in over 260,000 households being sent the wrong election message,” the statement said.
“The mistake, introduced after the files were sent to the supplier, was not caught by us during the proofing process,” chief electoral officer Kim Poffenroth added.
Several communities don’t have elections scheduled in November, including Belledune, Dieppe, Moncton, Saint John, and about a dozen other places.
That’s either because they were unaffected by municipal reform, or their total number of voters will increase by less than 15 per cent.
But Sackville, Dorchester and other communities that will be merged into the future Town of Tantramar are not on that list.
At least one Sackville resident told CHMA she had received one of the erroneous notices by Wednesday.
Voters and candidates with questions about the November election can contact Elections NB at 1-888-858-VOTE.
More information about the election is available on the Elections NB website.… Continue
Outages raise questions about emergency preparation in Sackville; ‘Hay bale teddy bear’ built for Truth and Reconciliation Day
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, September 29, 2022:
Power failures, uprooted trees and a collapsed warehouse: Hurricane Fiona’s effects on Sackville
In Sackville, Hurricane Fiona caused prolonged power outages as hurricane-force winds knocked down trees and caused at least one building to collapse.
The warehouse on Crescent Street belongs to FRS Flooring Solutions.
“It was still standing Friday night,” said Damon Doncaster, a sales associate with the company. “I went to check on it… I think it was about 11 o’clock on Saturday morning, after I had heard a few rumours that the building had fallen.”
Sure enough, the old storage facility was a wreck.
Listen to Damon Doncaster speaking to CHMA on Tuesday, September 27, 2022:
Firefighters responded to about a dozen calls during the hurricane, according to Craig Bowser, chief of Sackville Fire and Rescue.
“Most of those calls were related to trees down on power lines, or power lines dangling, and we needed to secure an area for public safety,” he said.
Listen to Craig Bowser speaking to CHMA on Tuesday, September 27, 2022:
The Town of Sackville opened the Civic Centre as a warming centre for residents affected by power outages.
But very few people — perhaps just one or two — ended up using it, according to the municipality.
And one elderly Sackville resident said people on Devon Avenue were without power for more than 48 hours.
‘This storm scared me’: Fiona leaves Sackville with uprooted trees, power outages
Listen to Tantramar Report for Monday, September 26, 2022:
‘There’s still so much that we’re not doing’: Divest MTA leads climate protest Friday
This Friday, the students of Divest MTA will lead the Mount Allison community in another Fridays for Future global climate strike protest. Divest MTA is a long standing collective movement that is demanding Mount Allison divest its endowment funds from fossil fuels companies. But Friday’s protest has a broader call, says Divest member Kate DesRoches.
“It’s definitely part of a bigger movement that pushes for comprehensive climate action,” says DesRoches. “Our main ask is still divestment, but the Fridays for Future strikes are part of a global movement that is pushing for climate action in general.”
Divest MTA is starting the academic year on the heels of some successes from last year.
“We have a lot of momentum right now, despite the pandemic,” says DesRoches. “This past year, we’ve received a lot of support from the Mount A community. Even the university president has publicly supported us.”
One feather in the cap of the Divest MtA collective was a university talk featuring David Suzuki in November 2021, when the long-time environmentalist lambasted the University for its continued refusal to divest from fossil fuels.
“I think it’s disgraceful that after seven years Mount Allison hasn’t divested,” said Suzuki.… Continue
Shine Day 2022 is here: students hit the streets Saturday to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research
On Saturday Mount Allison students will take to the streets in the annual Shine Day event, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research and support. This year’s chair of Shinerama, Sajid Bin Afaz, says the day will start early for students with a breakfast at Jennings Hall complete with a surprise guest speaker there to speak about their experience with Cystic Fibrosis.
“After that we split ourselves in different sites in Sackville,” says Bin Afaz. There will be some games at Bill Johnstone park, and a car wash beside the McDonald’s on Main Street, says Bin Afaz. “There will be volunteers and students all around Sackville with posters, with donation boxes, Bluetooth speakers playing some music, and asking for donations,” he says.
Depending on how many students end up joining Shine Day, there could be a mini-parade in the works, says Bin Afaz. “And we are ending the day with a pretty awesome party at Ducky’s,” he says.
Shinerama fundraising will continue into the fall, with the annual Garden Party happening later this month, and collaborations in the works with other clubs and societies at the school. “We also have collaborations with small businesses like House of Tarka and the Sip,” says Bin Afaz. Plans are also afoot for game nights during the football and cricket World Cups which are slated for this fall.… Continue
New book examines how Canadian companies accumulate profits through ‘dispossession’ at home and abroad
A Mount Allison professor is launching a new book in Sackville next week.
Dave Thomas is an associate professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Mount Allison University.
His work focusses specifically on the role of Canadian actors in the Global South.
He is the co-editor of a new book from Fernwood Publishing titled Capitalism and Dispossession: Corporate Canada at Home and Abroad.
Thomas spoke to CHMA about the book on Wednesday.
Canadian corporations at home and overseas under scrutiny in new book by Mount Allison professor
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, September 1, 2022:
Firefighters’ union warns of cancer-causing chemicals in protective gear
Listen to Tantramar Report for Friday, August 26, 2022: