NB politics pot pourri 3

The Gallant government is bringing in new criteria that will trigger more studies of possible school closures.

Education Minister Serge Rousselle says the policy requires a series of three public consultations before a district can recommend closure of a school. (CBC)

Education Minister Serge Rousselle says from now on, school districts will have to study the future of any school with fewer than 100 students, or that has a population below 30 per cent of its capacity.

The new triggers "seem to me to be quite reasonable," he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/serge-rousselle-introduces-new-triggers-for-school-closure-reviews-1.3012214

30% occupancy seems reasonable. But as Dominic said today there are schools that have run out of room and are using cafeterias for some classes and are lacking teachers such as Ecole St Anne in Fredericton where kids have to skip some class periods over it. That to me is a bigger problem than busing.

The big news today is in fact Minister Rousselle being mistaken about the supreme court ruling he quoted in defense of duality in busing. This issue could then be resolved by a relatively quick judicial review. If theres millions at play here its hard to defend any possible savings. The public wont go to the gates over this especially if new taxes and education cuts are in Tuesday's budget.

CBC Coverage of NB budget.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-budget-hits-up-wealthy-seniors-for-cash-1.3016388

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/8-ways-the-new-brunswick-budget-may-touch-your-pocketbook-1.3016426

Certainly to the right of the last few PC NB budgets.

The Liberals are investing a fair bit in trying to take the Saint John riding in October. Their candidate, Wayne Long, President of the Saint John Sea Dogs, is omnipresent.

4 gov agencies/crown corporations are merged but the interesting aspect is that the new agency which will be called Service NB will have a new admin structure:

http://www.acadienouvelle.com/actualites/2015/05/28/facilicorp-est-aboli...

FREDERICTON – Le gouvernement remplace quatre agences provinciales par une nouvelle société de la Couronne responsable des services partagés. Facilicorp, le ministère des Services gouvernementaux, l’Agence des services internes du Nouveau-Brunswick et Service NB sont abolis dans la foulée.

Des pertes d’emplois découleront de la mesure qui doit permettre à la province d’économiser 30 millions $ d’ici 2020, a admis le ministre responsable de la Révision des programmes, Victor Boudreau.

La société sera dirigée par un conseil d’administration formé de 13 membres, dont 7 du secteur privé.

Elle sera responsable notamment des services financiers, des technologies de l’information et de l’approvisionnement auprès des ministères provinciaux et des réseaux de la santé.

13 member board of directors will feature 6 public servants and 7 from the private sector. Giving the private sector primacy in decision making. From a friend who works in schools and manages a budget for provisions he says they are already sole sourcing supplies at higher cost through Facilicorp NB, one of the crown corporations to be merged, than would normally be the case from a wider range of providers.   In his case from an, surprise surprise, Irving company.

Saint John councillors voted on Monday night to open the vault on a controversial property tax deal granted to Irving Oil Ltd. in 2005.

Coun. Gerry Lowe co-authored city council's motion to dig into the financials surrounding the LNG property tax deal.

"It's the full disclosure that we want," said Lowe.

"We want ... a full disclosure of everything that took place in 2005 and what took place in the last 10 years, because yes, it's changed." 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-seeks-full-disclosure-over-canaport-lng-tax-deal-1.3123855

Gov't files its appeal brief.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/province-files-appeal-court-brief-schools-decision-1.3229038?cmp=rss

Cardy is probably joining the PCs.