Listen to Tantramar Report for the following stories:

Sackville rallies (again) in support of the Sackville Hospital

Listen in to Tantramar Report for the highlight reel from Wednesday’s rally at the Sackville Memorial Hospital, featuring the voices of: Elaine Smith, Audrey Hicks, Ross Thomas, Hannah Ehler, John Higham, and the four area mayors: Maxime Bourgeois of Memramcook, Debbie Wiggins-Colwell of Dorchester, Jason Stokes of Port Elgin, and Shawn Mesheau of Sackville.

Town sends critical response to province over amalgamation plans

Also on Tantramar Report today, we listen in to Monday’s Sackville town council meeting as they approve a letter to local governance minister Daniel Allain, critical of his plans to amalgamate Sackville, Dorchester and surrounding areas. The discussions about what went in the letter were held in camera, before the public meeting of council on Monday.

The full letter is available on town’s website.

One of the key criticisms in the town’s letter to Allain, is that the transitional powers the province is taking over municipalities for the next year are just too wide-ranging and undemocratic. The letter suggests Allain ensures that currently elected municipal councils “are fully consulted and have control of their decision-making powers throughout the transition.”

The letter also says the timeline for the transition is “too ambitious and hostile,” and suggests a two year timeline for the restructuring.

The letter raises a number of concerns about taxation, and the challenges of consolidating three fire departments, two water distribution systems, and two separate policing contracts. There’s also the issue of the collective agreement with Sackville town staff, which is set to expire this year.

Approval of the letter around the council table was nearly unanimous with one holdout: Matt Estabrooks declined approval of the letter, saying he support the local governance plan as is. On Tantramar Report, we hear from Estabrooks, as well as councillor Bill Evans who supported the letter, but was frustrated by the town’s slow response.

A record 174 new cases reported Thursday

On Thursday New Brunswick recorded its highest ever single day new case count, with 174 new cases, most of them of unknown origin, reported by public health. More than half of the new cases–94 of them–were reported in the Fredericton region.

And just under half of new cases are in children. 44 of the new cases reported Thursday were in kids under 10, and another 38 are in kids 19 and under.

Another two people, both in their 50s, died from COVID-19, bringing the provincial death toll to 138.

There are now 892 active cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, and 167 in Zone 1.

Over in Moncton, three staff in the COVID-19 unit at the Moncton Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19. Horizon says the transmission occurred at the hospital, and so has declared an outbreak in the unit. Enhanced cleaning and personal protective equipment protocols (PPE) were already in place on the unit.

As of Thursday morning, 32 patients and 11 staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in relation to outbreaks in five units at the hospital, including these most recent three cases.

The outbreak started on Monday, Nov. 22. Horizon says it continues to test patients and staff regularly.

Vaccine clinics this weekend

A pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinic is slated for this Saturday at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre, open to any kids between 5-11 years old. Then on Sunday, the centre will host a vaccination clinic for anyone 12 and older. Another clinic on Dec. 17 will be open to kids and adults.

Anyone 50 and over who had their second shot before June 30 is eligible for a third, booster dose.

Homocide in Petit-Cap

The New Brunswick RCMP’s Major Crime Unit is investigating the homicide of a man in Petit-Cap. On Dec. 8 at approximately 12:40 a.m., Shediac RCMP responded to a report of break and enter at a residence on Route 950 in Petit-Cap. When police arrived, they discovered the body of a deceased man, later identified as 55-year-old Nicholas Trenholm. Police are looking for two men involved in the incident, who fled the scene in a vehicle before police arrived. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the RCMP Major Crime Unit at 1-888-506-RCMP (7267).

Shemogue church destroyed in fire

A 105-year old wooden church in Shemogue has been destroyed by fire. Saint Timothée Catholic church caught fire early Thursday morning and firefighters from five area departments responded to the blaze.

The RCMP have arrested a 26-year-old man from Cap Pele in relation to the fire.

Around 100 to 150 people attended the church before COVID-19, and the community had been working to preserve the wooden building.

Green Resilience project wants you to talk income security and climate change

Local leader Margaret Tusz-King is looking for people interested in talking about climate change, income security, and community resilience this Monday.

As part of the Green Resilience project, Tantramar is one of 40 communities across Canada invited to host conversations with people who are or who will be most affected by climate change, to provide perspectives and recommendations to the national project aimed at influencing public policy going forward.

Tusz-King says she expects Tantramar residents to have a lot to say, given local issues of inland and coastal flood risks, and lower-than-the-national-average median incomes in the mostly-rural area.

The Green Resilience project is organized by climate crisis and basic income advocacy groups.

Tusz-King has room for up to 30 people to attend the meeting on Monday evening, and anyone interested can get in touch with her by email.

Listen to the Tantramar Report below: