Good morning,
Interim Progressive Conservative Leader Glen Savoie says his focus will be on listening to grassroots members and reflecting their views in the legislature, a radical stylistic change from Blaine Higgs’ criticized “top-down” leadership style. Savoie, who won’t seek permanent leadership in October, said last week that rebuilding grassroots influence is key to renewing the party. He acknowledged past failures to engage members, noting Higgs didn’t hold a single policy convention. “Parties should reflect the grassroots, not the leader,” Savoie said. With Savoie out, the leadership race remains wide open, though candidates have until fall to join by paying the $35,000 fee.
New Brunswick is on the “right track” expanding family health teams, aligning with trends across Canada, says Dr. Margot Burnell, Saint John oncologist and new president of the Canadian Medical Association. Over the past year, more than a dozen teams opened, connecting thousands to care. Vitalité Health Network now has 21 family health teams, with five more coming soon to serve 161,000 patients. Horizon Health Network has added four teams, removing 4,400 from the provincial waitlist, with five more planned. Horizon CEO Margaret Melanson says they'll also strengthen 46 existing teams. Burnell stressed the important role primary care plays in improving outcomes and reducing ER visits.
The federal government says 1,794 people now work at the Miramichi pay centre, with no plans to cut staff as the troubled Phoenix pay system is replaced. The new system, Dayforce, is entering its final build and testing phase, but deployment timing remains uncertain and won’t affect current staff for now. Originally staffed by 540 employees, the centre has tripled in size due to Phoenix-related issues. Ottawa has spent $5.1 billion addressing those problems. Despite the transition, compensation staff will continue to play a key role. The government will also run both Phoenix and Dayforce systems simultaneously during the switchover.
