Listen to Tantramar Report for the following stories:

CUPE members “satisfied and happy to be back at work”

On Friday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced that 10 of 11 CUPE New Brunswick locals has ratified a deal with the province.

One local representing school custodians and bus drivers voted against the deal due to concerns over language in the agreement on pensions. Local 1253 has agreed to continue working while further negotiating that agreement with the province.

On Tantramar Report, we talk with local shop steward Pat Lekas to hear her reaction to the ratification and the end of the strike action.

Nursing Home Without Walls extended and expanded in health care plan

Nursing Home Without Walls is a pilot project running out of four nursing homes in the province, including the Westford Nursing Home in Port Elgin.

Last week, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced the program would be extended and expanded to 16 locations in the next two years, as part of efforts to improve senior care in the province.

Dr. Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard is Research Chair in Population Aging and a full professor of nursing at Université de Moncton. She came up with the idea for Nursing Home without Walls, and spoke with Tantramar Report about how the project works, and why its needed.

COVID-19 Update: active cases on the rise

New Brunswick Public health reported 157 new cases of COVID 19 on Saturday and Sunday. The number of active COVID-19 cases has climbed to 640 in the province, and 234 in Zone 1. On Sunday afternoon there were 32 people in hospital with COVID 19, and 18 of those are in intensive care.

Kids vaccine approved and on the way

Health Canada has approved a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, and the province says it expects the first shipments of this pediatric vaccine to arrive this week.

The rollout will not take place in schools, but in clinics and pharmacies similar to the rollout of the adult vaccine. More details will be coming this week from the province.

Chief Medical Officer Jennifer Russell says she is “encouraging New Brunswickers to start having family conversations about how vaccination works and how it protects the health and well-being of our families, friends and classmates.”

Washroom doors returned at TRHS

The washroom doors at Tantramar Regional High School are back on their hinges this week following a decision announced Friday to change tacks on preventing vaping and vandalism in student washrooms.
On Tuesday, TRHS removed the outer doors from student washrooms, leaving only the interior stall doors for privacy. After a small student protest and an online petition that garnered nearly 350 signatures, the decision was reversed on Friday.

Principal Susan Lafford wrote to parents outlining new ways to keep vaping and vandalism at bay, including regular washroom checks, and limits to the number of students allowed in a washroom.

Mobile Eco-depot in town this week

The ECO 360 mobile eco-depot will be set up at the Tantramar Civic Centre Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 8pm for residents to dispose of items not picked up in regular waste collection. Check here for the details on what you can drop off.

Rapid tests kits available for pick up Tuesday

Also at the Civic Centre tomorrow, the Horizon van will be on site distributing COVID-19 rapid test kits from 10am to 2:30pm, or until supplies run out.