On Friday’s Tantramar Report, we talk to CAO Jamie Burke about the knowns and unknowns when it comes to Sackville’s impending amalgamation with Dorchester and surrounding areas.
We’ll also hear from one Sackville resident who was turned away from a rapid test pick up site in Port Elgin on Wednesday, the day the province announced it would no longer hand out test kits to anyone without symptoms and an appointment.
And we hear from CHMA’s new local reporter David Gordon Koch about how local Sackville institutions are being affected by isolating workers.
That, and these other stories:
Winterfest cancellation, by-law changes on council agenda for Monday
Sackville town council will have its first meeting of the year on Monday, January 10th. Council will be asked to approve changes to the street traffic and parks bylaw, and hear about pandemic related changes to upcoming town events, such as the cancellation of the Winterfest festival, which was slated for February.
Southeast Regional Service Commission planner Lori Bickford will present 2021 figures on building permits in the town, which have more than doubled compared to 2020.
The commission issued 52 permits in 2021, with a total construction value of $5.4 million. In 2020, they issued 44 permits worth $2.1 million.
Mt. A closes campus to general public
Mount Allison has announced it will be closing its campus to anyone but students, staff and faculty in an effort to control the spread of the Omicron variant.
The Ralph Pickard Bell library will be closed to the public, but curbside pickup will be available.
The Owens Art Gallery will remain closed for the first two weeks of the winter term, until January 24th, but the gallery’s virtual exhibitions remain active.
The fitness centre will re-open tomorrow, but only to students, staff and faculty.
There will be no public in-person events or performances until after January 24, including drama, music, and speakers.
COVID-19 update: person in their 30s dies, number in hospital rises
Public Health reported another COVID-related death on Thursday, bringing the total to 169. The latest death was a person in their 30s in Zone 3, the Fredericton region.
There were 63 people in hospital, compared to 59 on Wednesday. Nineteen of those patients were receiving intensive care, and 11 of them were on a ventilator. Forty-six of the patients in hospital were over the age of 60.
There were 227 recoveries and 672 new cases of COVID-19, based on data from PCR tests.
Public Health previously acknowledged that PCR tests – which are now reserved for the people at the highest risk of being hospitalized – don’t provide a “true reflection of the severity of the situation.” Of the new cases, 135 were in Zone 1.
Nearly 21,000 new doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the province over the past week. The lion’s share, about 16,000, were booster shots. Just over 3000 people got their first shot in the past week, and about 1200 received a second shot.
Based on data provided by the government of New Brunswick’s COVID-19 dashboard. Chart by Erica Butler.
About 14% of the province’s population remain unvaccinated, including kids under 5 who are not eligible. Just over 20% of people are fully vaccinated with three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Climate change consultations coming at the end of the month
Public consultations on New Brunswick’s climate change action plan will begin later this month, according to the provincial government.
The current plan, called Transitioning to a Low-Carbon Economy, was released in December 2016.
The provincial Climate Change Act requires a review of the plan every five years.
Residents can provide input about the new plan during an online consultation period from Jan. 24 to Feb. 24
Also this month, the standing committee on climate change and environmental stewardship is slated to hear presentations from subject matter experts and representatives from First Nations.
That committee will meet beginning next Thursday, and the new action plan is expected to be released during the summer, according to the province.