On a recent episode of This Week Uncut on CHCO-TV, co-hosts Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon spotlighted a series of escalating challenges across Southwest New Brunswick — from physician shortages and housing failures to emergency management breakdowns — offering viewers a rare, unvarnished look at the pressures facing rural communities.

Primary Care in Crisis

In Charlotte County, where access to a family doctor has become increasingly elusive, Dr. Julie Levesque-Taylor is trying something new. At her practice in St. Andrews, she’s introduced a collaborative care model — based on the “Patient Medical Home” system — that brings nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and allied health professionals into a team-based structure.

The model, which Dr. Levesque-Taylor developed independently using her experience in Manitoba, will allow her to take on about 400 new patients this year alone. However, she notes that the gains come with trade-offs.

Her clinic’s approach mirrors the provincial government’s broader goal of establishing 30 collaborative care centres across New Brunswick by 2030, with new clinics planned for St. Stephen later this year and for Blacks Harbour by 2026.

Wildfire Response Lacked Public Alerts

The episode also revisited the 2023 Stein Lake wildfire, which exposed serious gaps in provincial emergency communications. Despite the fire's proximity to homes and roadways, New Brunswick’s Alert Ready system — designed to notify residents of emergencies in real time — was never used.

“The official report called communication between departments, agencies, and the public ‘challenging,’” said Sturgeon, who covered the story. “People relied on social media or word of mouth to decide whether to evacuate.”

Recommendations following the incident included better coordination across agencies and clearer public alert protocols, especially in rural areas.

Public Housing System Under Strain

New Brunswick’s public housing crisis was another focal point. A report from the New Brunswick Housing Corporation found that 85% of required interior inspections had not been completed, and that emergency repairs were frequently delayed or ignored.

“What this report very clearly says is that even getting into public housing means continuing to live in substandard and sometimes unsafe housing conditions,” said Housing Minister David Hickey in an interview with CHCO's Aidan Raynor that aired during the broadcast.

There are over 21,000 individuals on the public housing waitlist. To begin tackling the backlog, the province has announced plans to hire more inspectors and increase the pace of maintenance work.

Local Philanthropy Filling the Gaps

While government solutions remain slow-moving, community members are stepping up. Sue and Vern Lister, longtime residents and philanthropists, have donated land for a new affordable housing project in Charlotte County aimed at housing essential workers and seniors. 

Looking Ahead

The episode wrapped with previews of upcoming stories on CHCO-TV and in The Courier, including the ongoing water crisis in Blacks Harbour and a look at the career of retiring RCMP Sergeant Scott McKenzie, who spent decades serving communities across Southwest New Brunswick.