The leader of New Brunswick’s Green Party is calling the current situation surrounding the Nova Scotia border restrictions, a calamity.
David Coon says the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Premiers need to come together and negotiate, “Whatever led to this point is history and what we need to do now is make sure that Premier Higgs and Premier Rankin negotiate a solution here, find a compromise so that we open the Atlantic bubble properly and fully.”
Coon says he has indicated to the Premiers office that he is willing to mediate that discussion.
He says he was shocked with Nova Scotia’s decision to put restrictions on New Brunswickers who are fully vaccinated, “I was expecting some sort of response from Nova Scotia because of the weakening of some of New Brunswick’s requirements specifically reducing the 14 day isolation for people who are not vaccinated to seven and eliminating any requirements for people who are only partially vaccinated. But I was shocked to see that Nova Scotia put restrictions on New Brunswickers who are fully vaccinated. “We shouldn’t have gotten to this point where there seems to be this tit for tat going on between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We’ve got to deal with this as grown-ups and let’s have the Premiers negotiate.”
Coon says he has heard from New Brunswickers in his riding and from other parts of the province who are impacted and extremely disappointed, “I’ve heard from all kinds of people who were planning on heading out to see an ailing mother who they haven’t see in so many months. Others who had their cars already packed to head out to see family who they haven’t seen in so long. It is affecting so many people, which you would expect because really when you look at the Maritimes, we are like one giant community because we have family spread throughout the provinces.”
Green MLA Megan Mitton who is currently on maternity leave, tweeted earlier today that she was caught in traffic on her way to Amherst for a medical appointment.
“I have been waiting in line for over an hour to get into NS for a medical appointment in Amherst. There is a blockade at the border and multiple RCMP checkpoints. Most vehicles are being turned back to NB including healthcare workers and patients of the Amherst Hospital.”
I have been waiting in line for over an hour to get into NS for a medical appointment in Amherst. There is a blockade at the border and multiple RCMP checkpoints. Most vehicles are being turned back to NB including healthcare workers and patients of the Amherst Hospital. pic.twitter.com/Pr03gCsvLF
— Megan Mitton (@meganmitton) June 23, 2021
As of 11:30 this morning Coon had not heard a response from the Premiers, “First, they have to make a decision that they are going to sit down and find a solution to the problem.”
