Opening the Atlantic Bubble and other news highlights

The Atlantic bubble opened this week, and already thousands of Atlantic Canadians have crossed into New Brunswick. Due to immediate long lines and wait times at the provincial borders, Public Safety was initially letting some cars through without having to show required documentation in order to deal with congestion. In a statement, Public Safety stated:

"We are developing a technology-enabled solution that will be launched in the coming days and will help speed up traffic flow. Until the new technology is fully implemented, travellers entering New Brunswick can help speed up the process by printing and filling out the roadside questionnaire and having it ready when they arrive at the border." 

The electronic border check system launching this week will allow drivers to register their vehicles online before traveling to New Brunswick.

The Town of Saint Andrews has already taken proactive measures to deal with high tourism traffic this summer. On Monday night, town council debated the success of the Water Street Pilot Project nearly two weeks after its launch. Feelings were mixed between the councillors as to whether or not the extended sidewalks and temporary one-way street in the downtown commercial area, which are meant to allow for more social distancing space for pedestrians, are actually proving to be effective. Ultimately, councillors decided that they need to consult with the business community before making any decisions about the pilot project's future. 

"We need to hear from the business community before we make a decision," said Deputy Mayor Brad Henderson at the council meeting. 

New Brunswick Green Party leader David Coon spent Tuesday visiting Campobello Island to see the social and economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Campobello. 85% of tourism to the island normally comes from Americans who are restricted from visiting this year, and the seasonal ferry connecting Campobello to the rest of the mainland has only been operating for three weeks. Coon met with Mayor Brett Newman and Justin Tinker, Chair of the Board of Accessible Campobello, a committee dedicated to securing year-round access to the mainland for the island. 

"Mayor Newman and Accessible Campobello were pleased to welcome MLA and Provincial Green Party Leader David Coon to Campobello Island to discuss COVID-19's impact on Islanders and seasonal residents, as well as the economic impacts felt by Island businesses in a difficult tourism season, and current and long-standing transportation challenges facing Campobello," said Tinker.

With the seasonal ferry set to cease operation in September and no vaccine for COVID-19 on the horizon as well as clusters of cases of COVID-19 in northern Maine, islanders are in need of a solution to their unique and critical transportation issues. 

Finally, Premier Blaine Higgs and other government leaders will meet again this week with over 15 First Nations chiefs to discuss the issue of systemic racism within the province’s policing and justice systems. On Monday, CHCO launched a news TV series of dedicated to taking an in-depth look at systemic racism in New Brunswick. The first guests appearing on the special series are Saint John lawyer and public speaker Neil Clements, and Dr. Timothy Christie,  Regional Director of Ethics for Horizon Health. Clements and Christie shed light on how systemic racism exists in our society and why provincial and federal legislation needs to be changed to make racial discrimination a criminal offence.