Proposed legislation would allow New Brunswick to join class-action lawsuit against opioid industry
Listen to Tantramar Report for Wednesday, June 7, 2023:
Cosmic Mix
Tuesday 6pm. David Coish. Tunes that are out of this world. Cosmic Mix is full of tunes pulled straight from Star Lord’s Walkman. If you like groovy tunes, or that one song from a movie you watched 20 years ago but can’t quite remember the name of, then Cosmic Mix is the show for you.
… Continue
‘Disappointment’ over latest round of tuition hikes; University posts $2M deficit, says costs rising faster than revenue
The students’ union at Mount Allison has expressed “disappointment” after the university released a budget with a three per cent tuition hike.
The increases bring overall tuition to more than $10,000 annually for domestic students, following a $290 increase, and more than $20,200 annually for international students, with a $590 tuition hike.
“Any increase will impact a student’s ability to attend university, whether that’s big or small,” said Mount Allison Students’ Union president Alivia Warr.
A statement from MASU acknowledged that some “key budgetary requests” were addressed – notably $100,000 for physical accessibility projects on campus – but it said the student union is “deeply disappointed” with the tuition hike.
Asked about how the government should ensure accessibility to post-secondary education, Warr said MASU doesn’t have a political stance.
“We just want to work with all parties who can impact accessibility and affordability of students’ education.”
In addition to the general increase in tuition fees, there are separate increases for new aviation students, and also for residence fees and meal plans.
During legislative hearings on post-secondary education earlier this year, Mount Allison administrators said costs are rising faster than revenue, especially with rates of inflation that broke records going back four decades when they reached 8.1 per cent last year.
Last month, Statistics Canada reported that the country’s annual rate of inflation had reached 4.4 per cent.
The university’s operating budget is based on a two per cent increase in a grant from the provincial government.… Continue
Mount A students’ union ‘deeply disappointed’ with latest tuition hike
Listen to Tantramar Report for Thursday, June 1, 2023:
‘We’re writing a new future’: Sackville artist to launch community art project on anti-fracking movement
A Sackville-based artist wants to help people reimagine collective possibilities in the age climate crisis.
“We won’t build a new future with the same tools that got us to this crisis point,” says Shoshanna Wingate, Sackville’s former poet laureate.
“So we’re writing a new future, a new story for our future.”
Wingate is among three artists taking part in From Harm to Harmony, an artist-in-residency and mentorship program organized by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
“Their time with the Conservation Council will culminate with a community-engaged art event that will encourage New Brunswickers to take action to protect our planet and provide them with an avenue to do so,” the non-profit group announced last week.
Wingate’s project will focus on the movement in New Brunswick against shale gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” a controversial technique to obtain fossil fuels from shale rock.
The Indigenous-led movement against shale gas in New Brunswick came to a head in 2013, when the RCMP cleared an anti-fracking encampment that blocked a facility belonging to SWN Resources Canada.
In 2014, the provincial government under Liberal premier Brian Gallant introduced a moratorium against fracking.
The Progressive Conservative government under Premier Blaine Higgs “quietly carved out a small exemption” to the moratorium in 2019 for an operation near Sussex, according to the CBC. Recently he has pushed for new shale gas development in New Brunswick.
Higgs contends shale gas development will result in a financial windfall and provide “very clean natural gas” to Europe amid the energy crisis prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. … Continue
Former Sackville poet laureate joins Conservation Council’s artist-in-residency program
Listen to Tantramar Report for Monday, May 29, 2023:
New era for local greenhouse operation as co-op launches social enterprise
An open house is taking place at a nursery in Middle Sackville on Saturday to mark the beginning of a new era for a local gardening institution.
Former Anderson’s greenhouse operators Heather and Blane Smith announced last year they would retire after 37 years operating the nursery.
Then, in November, Heather Kristine Smith – née Heather Anderson – died at the age of 64.
Open Sky Co-operative – a group that works with neurodivergent young adults at an 11-acre farm, also located in Middle Sackville – is part of an effort to keep the greenhouses running.
Listen to the report from CHMA:
The group has launched a social enterprise that’s meant to create a new source of revenue for Open Sky, while also providing its participants with new opportunities.
Sam Bliss was the first-ever summer student at Open Sky. He’s now in his ninth season working at the greenhouse operation, and is coordinating the program.
“Everything’s sort of come full circle for me,” he said, while giving CHMA a tour of one of the greenhouses.
“My dream was always to open my own greenhouse, and knowing the folks at Open Sky really helped,” he said.
He’s working with participants from Open Sky, along with fellow greenhouse worker Jess Paget, who has been working there for the past two seasons.… Continue
Review of gender diversity and inclusion policy in schools prompts backlash
News that the Higgs government is reviewing its policy on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools has generated controversy in New Brunswick.
Policy 713, which came into effect in 2020, is meant to set “minimum requirements” to create safe environments for LGBTQ+ students in schools.
The Department of Education has said the review will look, in part, at whether schools should inform parents if their children under 16 want to use a different name or pronoun.
Premier Higgs has said schools should have the obligation to pass that information to parents. Critics have warned that could put the safety of queer and trans children at risk.
At least one Sackville resident travelled to Fredericton for a demonstration against the review on Saturday, May 13.
“Using an individual’s correct pronouns, and chosen name — that has a real, measurable impact on your mental health,” said Patricia Kelly Spurles, a professor at Mount Allison University.
She’s concerned about the review not only as an educator, but also as the parent of a child who came out as trans a few years ago.
In the Legislative Assembly, Higgs defended his approach to the issue during Question Period recently, suggesting it’s a matter of the rights of parents, and that students can have private conversations with school councillors.… Continue
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