Minister Dube is being bombarded by a speaker from the floor who is very unhappy with NB Governments work on the CBS issue. His comments are being met with loud and repeated applause from the floor.
And its getting heated!
Lots of yelling and some applause.
One speaker just stormed out and Minister Dube’s response that it was CBS’s decision and not the NB Governments. That was met with some booing from the crowd.
Mayor Court appeals to the crowd for respect after the last commentor from the floor strorms out yelling… and continues to yell from the hallway. He seemed upset about job losses in the province and the ability of various MLAs.
I stated eariler that I missed the name of the CBS Representitive. Her name is Amanda Cullen. She is being questioned now from the floor about other consolidations in Canada and if any others were out of province consolidations. (They were not)
Lineup for comments from the floor started quickly after the floor opened up.
With emotion in his voice Mayor Court is speaking about his son Chris who died at age 18. Says cutbacks to healthcare are the reason he is here tonight.
Says no doctor he spoke to agreed with CBS moving to Dartmouth NS. Says that he spoke with Doctors and some were unable to attend tonight and some felt it was not proper for them to be here for various reasons. Mayor Court says that someone is interfering with out health care system.
Mayor Court now outlining reasons CBS should stay. These are all paraphrased of course.
Land was given to CBS in trust for $1
Only 2 exporting provinces. We are saving lives.
The audit done at CBS shows we are creating safe products and excellent service.
Consolidation doesnt mean that quality of blood will be enhanced.
Consolidation does not mean NB will save money. Only that tax dollars are going to Nova Scotia.
Consolidation means the loss of 31 highly trained workers.
In provincial legislature there was cross party support for CBS to stay
Premier Alward stated during the election that they would fight for CBS to stay in Saint John.
Fresh blood saves lives.
Mayor Court stated that he had 10 reasons but I think he may have run 2 together. I appolgize if I missed one.
Mayor Court ends with a standing ovation.
Says this is not a Saint John issue but a provincial issue and says that this government needs to be held accountable for throwing in the white flag.
Big applause after those comments.
Now he is talking about people he has spoken to and their concerns about CBS leaving. Very passionate remarks.
More applause.
Echoing statements from the video he is referencing Premier Alwards broken promises. Now referencing NFLD and their track record of standing up to big business. Says Alward Government monitoring CBS does not make his doubts go away.
More applause.
In strong statements he says the NB government unwillingness to go it alone puts your life at risk. Referencing medical studies he states that the further blood travels the less safe it becomes.
More applause.
States possible upcoming CBS changed are “scary.” In a loud voice he annouces that the pass was shut down today due to a transport truck fire and the airport was down because of poor weather. “How are we going to get our blood?”
He ends with a standing ovation.
Mayor Court up next.
Speaking now he states that he is disapointed with the NB Alward Government and their handling of the CBS issue.
He is making strong statements about Tory MLAs going silent on this issue and the absence of Premier Alward from tonights symposium.
Calls the symposium “a funeral” because the Alward Government did not wait to announce their plan until after tonights event.
I appoligze but I missed the speaker’s name.
She has stated that she believes that the NB Governmrnt has made the right decision and notes that blood donations have increased in NB year over year.
Quick speach. All finished.
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