Author Archives: brucewark

New NB book celebrates victory in historic CUPE strike

Posted on February 4, 2023 by brucewark

A new book outlines what happened when Premier Blaine Higgs pushed public sector workers too far, leading to a 16-day strike by 22,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees in the fall of 2021. “Our victory was not … Continue reading →

Posted in New Brunswick government, New Brunswick politics | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Tantramar council approves Winterfest fireworks

Posted on February 2, 2023 by brucewark

In a 7-1 vote, Tantramar Town Council approved a $2,000 fireworks display today to be held on Friday, February 10th in Bill Johnstone Memorial Park as part of this year’s Winterfest activities. Council also approved closing Ford Lane from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Tantramar | Tagged | 10 Comments

New flood pond for Sackville; dogs, salt & fireworks

Posted on January 27, 2023 by brucewark

At its meeting on Tuesday, Tantramar council heard about flood control in Sackville as well as answers to questions about dogs, salt and fireworks. Council was told that work could begin soon on the third and final phase of Sackville’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Tantramar | Tagged | 5 Comments

Tantramar mayor invited to international wetlands conference

Posted on January 24, 2023 by brucewark

If Tantramar Town Council gives its approval next month, Mayor Andrew Black will receive funding to attend an international wetlands meeting at Amiens in northern France from June 8th to 10th. He’s the only mayor in North America invited to … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Tantramar | Tagged | 25 Comments

Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black blocks a vote on who will be his deputy

Posted on January 11, 2023 by brucewark

In a move that surprised many observers, Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black prevented council from electing a deputy mayor at its first meeting on Tuesday. “We have just sat as the new council of the Town of Tantramar,” Black said. “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Tantramar | Tagged | 7 Comments

Tantramar Town Council says no to holding a public question period

Posted on January 10, 2023 by brucewark

At its first meeting tonight, Tantramar Town Council voted against amending its agenda to allow members of the public and media to ask questions. The agenda did not include the public question period that has been a tradition in Sackville … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Tantramar | Tagged | 7 Comments

Activist makes fun of new NB jail, calls for defunding police

Posted on January 6, 2023 by brucewark

As the New Brunswick government pressed ahead last fall with its controversial plan for a $32 million jail in Fredericton, poet, activist and university professor El Jones poked fun at it during a speech at Mount Allison. She suggested that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Allison University | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

It’s official: Tantramar council sworn in and ready to go

Posted on December 20, 2022 by brucewark

“We find ourselves here tonight as the new council of the Town of Tantramar being sworn in, in the Village of Dorchester and that is a fantastic start to the next four years,” Mayor-elect Andrew Black declared to an audience … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Tantramar | Tagged | 9 Comments

Little fanfare as Sackville town council holds its final meeting

Posted on December 15, 2022 by brucewark

More than 119 years of Sackville history came to an unceremonious conclusion on Wednesday when Mayor Shawn Mesheau declared the final meeting of town council adjourned. “I think that’s momentous,” Councillor Sabine Dietz told reporters a few minutes later outside … Continue reading →

Posted in Town of Sackville, Town of Tantramar | Tagged , | 18 Comments

MLA not surprised local French & English-speaking voters may be heading for divorce

Posted on December 12, 2022 by brucewark

MLA Megan Mitton says she’s not surprised at the proposal to split her riding of Memramcook-Tantramar along linguistic lines. In a preliminary report released today, the Electoral Boundaries and Representation Commission proposes to create a predominantly French-speaking riding called Dieppe-Memramcook … Continue reading →

Posted in New Brunswick politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Ombud rejects conflict of interest complaint against former Sackville CAO

Posted on December 11, 2022 by brucewark

New Brunswick’s Ombud has ruled that Sackville’s former Chief Administrative Officer Jamie Burke was not in a conflict of interest when he refused to release a consultant’s report on the operations of the town’s fire department. Christine LeBlanc, a senior … Continue reading →

Posted in Sackville Fire & Rescue, Town of Sackville | Tagged | 8 Comments