Atlantic Canadian Politics Thread

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Since when did we give indigenous people the power of veto over any and all development projects? This needs to be stopped for once and for all. Governments have a duty to consult and hear their opinions, nothing more.

If various groups or individuals decide to blockade roads or railways because they don't get their way then it becomes a law enforcement matter......and various police forces need to actually enforce the law and make mass arrests......not wring their hands and worry about "escalating" the situation like they did over the rail blockades. Rule of law is fundamental to a functioning society and allowing people to ignore laws or defy court orders without serious consequences is a dangerous precedent.

I'm pretty sure that isn't the case here, we have Treaties in place that clearly establish a framework for sharing this land.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

I'm pretty sure that isn't the case here, we have Treaties in place that clearly establish a framework for sharing this land.

So how does that work? Did First Nations green light the construction of the Saint John Refinery… or the pulp mill near the mouth of the Wolastoq River?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

I'm pretty sure that isn't the case here, we have Treaties in place that clearly establish a framework for sharing this land.

I'm pretty sure the only treaties we have here in NB are "peace and friendship treaties."

This is why the Mi'kmaq and Wolastoq have started proceedings demanding 100% of the province back.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I'm pretty sure the only treaties we have here in NB are "peace and friendship treaties."

This is why the Mi'kmaq and Wolastoq have started proceedings demanding 100% of the province back.

Exactly, and unlike later treaties signed in other parts of Canada, the Peace and Friendship Treaties did not involve First Nations surrendering rights to the lands and resources they had traditionally used and occupied, that is well documented and upheld by past court rulings.

Also, that is a misrepresentation of the land claims, they are not asking for "100% of the province back," they are seeking title claim over land and are limited by a recent ruling to only seek title or compensation over Crown land. Yes, they are appealing the ruling, but the focus is on resource areas under private title (ie. woodlands), however it doesn't look like that will change the fact that they would not be able to win a veto over decisions made on privately held land – such as a mine being dug – or seek a share of profits from private firms that make money off the land, such as tree harvesting.

[sailor734]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns...-mount-allison-holt-government-9.7103023

Great idea! ......because cutting post secondary education does so much to create the educated and job ready society needed for economic growth .....right?.....

[paperplane]

Jenica Atwin is running for mayor of Fredericton.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by sailor734

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns...-mount-allison-holt-government-9.7103023

Great idea! ......because cutting post secondary education does so much to create the educated and job ready society needed for economic growth .....right?.....

Well, it certainly helps to reinforce the point that the government of NB does not care one iota about higher education for anglophones in southeastern NB, if they intend to ensure that both anglophone universities in the region (MTA and Crandall) are private institutions not receiving any government funding whatsoever.

Should we remind them that the majority of the population in the southeast is still anglophone, but the only provincial university in the region is francophone, and that that university is festooned with professional and post graduate programs, while their (private) anglophone counterparts struggle with providing comprehensive baccalaureate programs (I'm referring to Crandall here).

Tuition at the provincial francophone university will be subsidized, while tuition at the anglophone universities in the SE will not have this luxury, and no doubt will be reflected in the cost of their programs.

Seems entirely fair - right????

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Well, it certainly helps to reinforce the point that the government of NB does not care one iota about higher education for anglophones in southeastern NB, if they intend to ensure that both anglophone universities in the region (MTA and Crandall) are private institutions not receiving any government funding whatsoever.

Should we remind them that the majority of the population in the southeast is still anglophone, but the only provincial university in the region is francophone, and that that university is festooned with professional and post graduate programs, while their (private) anglophone counterparts struggle with providing comprehensive baccalaureate programs (I'm referring to Crandall here).

Tuition at the provincial francophone university will be subsidized, while tuition at the anglophone universities in the SE will not have this luxury, and no doubt will be reflected in the cost of their programs.

Seems entirely fair - right????

Oh absolutely fair.......at least when viewed through the lens of New Brunswick language politics. Dog, meet Tail....hope you enjoy being wagged.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by paperplane

Jenica Atwin is running for mayor of Fredericton.

Interesting.

Now if only a former MP or other high quality candidate would announce for the Saint John mayoral race!

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

In my opinion Atwin and high quality candidate don't go together.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Not sure where else to put this, and figured this is about the closest thread we have.

From “Backyard History” on FB:

🪧 History in New Brunswick is an endangered species. Already the lowest funded heritage sector in the country, it faces extinction in the coming budget.

Meanwhile, New Brunswick is literally surrounded by examples of places that don’t just preserve history, but profit from it. Nova Scotia, PEI, Maine and the Gaspe all invest in their tourism sectors and see massive financial returns.

New Brunswick, not so much.

(📸 Pictured: Visiting the museum for Andrew Bonar Law, the New Brunswicker who was elected Prime Minister of Britain. OR is it a ghost of heritage future if these cuts go through?)

Let’s talk numbers.

In 2022, the arts and culture budget was $13 million. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, the return on this investment, according to ArtsLinkNB, was a whopping contribution of $609.6 million to New Brunswick’s GDP, supporting 7,311 jobs.

Funding our culture, heritage and yes, our museums is not mere nostalgia — it is good economic sense!

Every dollar invested in museums multiplies through the local economy, hiring staff, supporting local authors and artisans, maintaining historic buildings, and keeping visitors here longer. That money flows to hotels, restaurants, cafés, pubs, and shops.

If you don’t like these cuts, you need to tell the people making the decisions. And angry Facebook reacts don’t count! But the Association Heritage New Brunswick has made it easy.

Using this spiffy site, it only takes seconds to generate an email to contact your MLA:

➡️ saveourmuseums.ca

Download that letter and email it to your MLA. You can find their contact information here:

➡️ legnb.ca/en/members/current

That’s it. It's like three clicks. It'll take like thirty seconds plus one email to stand up for more than 100 museums across this province. You can do it, I believe in you! And it really does matter to these MLAs!

As Canadian economist John Ralston Saul put it: “Cuts can’t produce growth or prosperity or effectiveness … We must force ourselves to concentrate on the content that is at stake.”

And what’s at stake is our story.




______


I’ve always felt NB does a terrible job at marketing the province and our cities as tourist destinations, while all the other provinces (and regions) within Atlantic Canada do a pretty good job.

Why did NB take “the picture province” off the license plate? Could we not simply issue English and French plates with the slogan prominently displayed in either official language with the other official language less prominently displayed?

Not mentioned in the post (but something I’ve brought up on here countless times) is the abysmal interprovincial bus service (Maritime Bus deserves far more funding support). But also, I think it’s beyond a missed opportunity not having a bus service between New Brunswick and New England. A bus to Boston or even just Bangor would open up the province to an entire segment of US tourists in the US Northeast who either don’t drive, don’t fly, don’t take cruises, or simply prefer traveling by bus. A bus service to Bangor (or Brunswick to link up with Amtrak) would be huge for NB Tourism, and really wouldn’t cost that much to fund.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

In my opinion Atwin and high quality candidate don't go together.

Yes, haha. that’s why I simply said other former MPs (not referring to her haha)… the other quality candidates would be other people. Perhaps I needed a comma or something to make that clear.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

My bad for misreading it. Again I wil say if there are any other serious contenders for Fredericton mayor Atwin will not win. She put a lot of people off with her party switching and other things she did.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

My bad for misreading it. Again I wil say if there are any other serious contenders for Fredericton mayor Atwin will not win. She put a lot of people off with her party switching and other things she did.

The taste of power must be so intoxicating for some individuals that they cannot fathom having to give it up. It's an affliction which cuts across party lines and all levels of politics.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Well, it certainly helps to reinforce the point that the government of NB does not care one iota about higher education for anglophones in southeastern NB, if they intend to ensure that both anglophone universities in the region (MTA and Crandall) are private institutions not receiving any government funding whatsoever.

Should we remind them that the majority of the population in the southeast is still anglophone, but the only provincial university in the region is francophone, and that that university is festooned with professional and post graduate programs, while their (private) anglophone counterparts struggle with providing comprehensive baccalaureate programs (I'm referring to Crandall here).

Tuition at the provincial francophone university will be subsidized, while tuition at the anglophone universities in the SE will not have this luxury, and no doubt will be reflected in the cost of their programs.

Seems entirely fair - right????

I could imagine the howls of outrage if the Higgs government proposed this. He would be painted as anti-education and the SANB would attack him as anti-Acadian to dare mentioning the possibility of merging the UdeM campuses.

Why the hate on Mt. Allison and St. Thomas by Suzy's government? Do they not recognize the value primarily undergrad universities such Mt. A and STU provide?

UdeM has certainly carved out a nice little protected fiefdom for itself.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

UdeM has certainly carved out a nice little protected fiefdom for itself.

The Liberal Party of NB is largely an Acadian party. UdeM is quite safe.

They are only tolerating Holt as leader. They realize they have to alternate anglophone/francophone leaders. She is weak and easily manipulated, and, she speaks French well enough for the SAANB.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The Liberal Party of NB is largely an Acadian party. UdeM is quite safe.

They are only tolerating Holt as leader. They realize they have to alternate anglophone/francophone leaders. She is weak and easily manipulated, and, she speaks French well enough for the SAANB.

Haven't been following NB politics that closely since the last provincial election. Are there any upcoming Francophones to assume the Liberal leadership should Holt be shown the door? Would Dom ever consider returning to NB to be Premier?

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Haven't been following NB politics that closely since the last provincial election. Are there any upcoming Francophones to assume the Liberal leadership should Holt be shown the door? Would Dom ever consider returning to NB to be Premier?

Wouldn't be surprised if Dom needs therapy after dealing with the Trump administration.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JEoKnF6Eq/
First person to annouce their candidacy for mayor in Eastern Charlotte. Councilor Detorakis.

[sailor734]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/susan-holt-online-comments-9.7107126
https://tj.news/new-brunswick/premier-ta...202026-03-01&utm_term=BNI_EIC_Newsletter


Looks like they tossed this idea out as a trial balloon but Holt backed off pretty quickly when it got shot down. Anybody remember Shawn Graham's plan to roll UNBSJ in with NBCC and create a degree granting polytechnical school and the overwhelmingly negative reaction it got in Saint John?......... Looks like Holt does.

That doesn't change the fact that there is no way they are going to get spending even remotely under control without ruffling a lot of feathers among some of the electorate. The upcoming budget will be interesting!