Fredericton – Green Party Leader and MLA for Fredericton-South, David Coon, is calling on the provincial government to provide a wage subsidy to help farmers recruit and retain farm workers, and to permit them to apply for exemptions to the order barring temporary foreign workers from entering New Brunswick.  

“While the Chief Medical Officer of Health has repeatedly said we may have to take further measures to tighten our borders in order to minimize the introduction of COVID-19 to New Brunswick, this last minute decision to close our borders to Temporary Foreign Workers, just before planting season begins, is depriving farmers of trained and experienced essential workers they need now,” says Green Party Leader David Coon.

“Farmers who can demonstrate they have all necessary supports in place to properly quarantine their workers for 14 days and provide for physical distancing in their accommodations, should be eligible for exemptions from the order barring temporary foreign workers.  A wage subsidy must also be made available so farmers can avoid debilitating labour shortages.”

A significant number of Temporary Foreign Workers were scheduled to arrive over the next few weeks to work in seafood processing plants and on farms.

– 30 –

April 15, 2020

Green Party leader supports former Provincial Librarian's call for an inquiry into of the hiring process for the executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library System

Fredericton – Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton South, David Coon is supporting the former Provincial librarian's call for a public review of the hiring process that led to the appointment of the current executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library System, Kevin Cormier.

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April 9, 2020

Green MLA proposes solutions to increase NB’s food sovereignty during COVID-19

Fredericton – MLA for Kent-North, Kevin Arseneau, has been working to ensure that New Brunswick farms are supported and able to increase production for the 2020 season so that New Brunswickers have a stable food system and supply here in the province during this global pandemic.

Green Party Leader, David Coon, brought Arseneau’s proposal to the Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 which led to the creation of a committee by the Department of Post-Secondary Education and Labour made up of staff from the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, as well as farmers, food processors and others.

“This committee is a good first step, but it’s not going far enough, it needs to be have all-party representation and should have included the only elected farmer in the Legislature.  We have a fragile food system in the province, we produce only 3% of what we eat overall. Although we must support all farmers, fishers and harvesters, we must direct our efforts to our weakest links: especially annual fruit and vegetables but also grain, and livestock,” says Arseneau.  “The province’s biggest weakness is fresh vegetables and fruits.  We import 92% of the vegetables and fruits that the province consumes, much of that from the United States.  These are seasonal crops that need to go into the ground very soon, given the window of opportunity is quickly closing that’s where we need to focus our time and energy right now.”

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April 5, 2020 

Memramcook-Tantramar MLA announces task force to respond to community needs during the pandemic 

I am announcing today on behalf of myself, Sackville Mayor John Higham, Dorchester Mayor JJ Bear, Port Elgin Mayor Judy Scott, and Fort Folly First Nation Chief Rebecca Knockwood, the establishment of the Tantramar COVID-19 Task Force (TCTF). The TCTF will include key community volunteers from unincorporated areas of Tantramar, such as Aulac and Cape Tormentine. 

The TCTF has been mandated to coordinate an appropriate community response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I have been communicating with colleagues and with volunteers in Memramcook to address the needs of the community. I want to ensure that the organizations in this community can continue to respond to the needs of Memramcook residents. One important area of focus that has been identified is food security, and we are working to respond to these needs. 

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David Coon, February 25, 2020

In his role as an opposition party leader and member of the Green caucus in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, David Coon held forums in 14 communities around the province to hear about the priorities New Brunswickers have for the 2020-2021 provincial budget.  The results of what was heard are consolidated here and formed Mr. Coon’s submission to Finance Minister Ernie Steeves budget consultation. --READ MORE--

Fredericton - Green Party Leader David Coon and his caucus colleagues, Megan Mitton and Kevin Arseneau welcome the decision by Premier Higgs to pause the drastic changes planned for six New Brunswick hospitals by the regional health authorities, two of which are in the ridings of Ms. Mitton and Mr. Arseneau.

“The three of us have been meeting and speaking with community leaders, citizens and medical professionals in the six regions that would be negatively affected by the dramatic downgrading of health services in their hospitals,” said the Green Party leader.  “The Premier has done the right thing in shelving the plans and committing to visit each community to discuss health care.”

Coon said that he and his colleagues look forward to contributing to much needed change that puts the well-being of all New Brunswickers at the heart of health care reform.

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February 10, 2020

Green Party Leader launches provincial Budget with Heart Tour

Fredericton – Green Party Leader and MLA for Fredericton-South, David Coon, is launching his Budget with Heart tour to consult with New Brunswickers about how we could put people’s well-being at the heart of the New Brunswick Budget.

.. READ MORE ..

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February 11, 2020

Green Party Appalled by Lack of Consultation on Proposed Health Care Reforms

Fredericton – Green Party MLAs raise serious concerns with the Higgs’ government’s proposed health care reforms, including the overnight emergency rooms in six provincial hospitals and day surgery at the Sackville Memorial Hospital.  Sackville Memorial Hospital is in MLA Megan Mitton’s riding of Memramcook-Tantramar and Stella Maris Hospital is in Kevin Arseneau’s riding of Kent-North. .. READ MORE ..

Hear Green Party Leader David Coon and MLAs Megan Mitton and Kevin Arseneau talk about New Brunswick issues from a Green perspective and ask them your burning questions.

This gathering is open to the general public as well as Green Party members and will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:00 pm at the Nick Nicolle Comunity Centre, 85 Durham Street, Saint John, E2K 1V6 at the corner of Victoria and Durham Streets in the North End.

What :   Meet the NB Green Party Caucus!
Where : Nick Nicolle Community Centre, 85 Durham Street, Saint          
              John, E2K 1V6
When : Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00 pm

After being inspired by our MLAs, local riding association (RDA) meetings* will take place simultaneously from 8 :30pm to 9pm so you can hook up with like-minded folks and get involved in preparing the next election campaign.

Those short meetings will be Annual General Meetings (AGMs) for the following local riding associations (RDAs):

• Rothesay
• Saint John Harbour
• King Centre

In addition, we are hosting foundation meetings for these districts:  

• Saint John East
• Portland Simons
• Saint John Lancaster
• Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West
• Quispamsis

Grab a friend and bring your questions.

Register here: http://www.greenpartynb.ca/saint_john_gahtering 

We can’t wait to see you there!

Wayne Dryer,

President, Saint John Harbour Registered District Association

*Everyone is welcome to participate in the local district association meeting, but you must be a member 14 days ahead of time to be able to vote.