News > Cabinet shuffle bodes well for Chaleur region

Cabinet shuffle bodes well for Chaleur region

Published Tuesday November 18th, 2008 a6 Paul Chapman We are stacking up cabinet ministers like pulpwood up here around the Chaleur Bay. Donald Arseneau, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, is from Dalhousie Restigouche. Roland Haché Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for the Northern New Brunswick Initiative is from Nigadoo-Chaleur. And now, Bathurst MLA Brian Kenny, is the Minister of State for Seniors Minister responsible for Community Non-profit Organizations. Three in a row. All things considered, over the next couple of years, we should theoretically see our access to post secondary education expand through the use of technology, have the centre for alternative energy research and development and related upstart industries located in Northern New Brunswick, and the best served seniors, cared for by happy, well-funded, non-profit community organizations. We understand they have to say they are ministers for all of New Brunswick, but we know how it works, don’t we? (Wink, wink.) While there may be some element of truth to our underlying expectation that you will “get more” if you have a cabinet minister representing your riding, it really is a balancing act for them. As ministers, they have to work with people who have other interests to accomplish their goals. At the end of the day, it is government and it is not always fast. However, there is strength in numbers and what is most encouraging is we have three voices around the cabinet table from Northern New Brunswick who understand the reality facing our communities over the next couple of years. With commodity prices dropping like the price of gas, the closure of Brunswick Mines looming on the horizon, and with the present state of the forestry and fishing industries, we may face some difficult days ahead. The positive side is all three men have portfolios that do and will have a lot of impact on our future. We have an aging population and the expectations on how we serve our senior population will only increase. Education and training are critical, if not the most critical, to the success of our future, and with his neighbour the Environment Minister with his hands on the purse strings of the Northern New Brunswick initiative, some good have to come out of all of that. Congratulations to Brian Kenny on his recent appointment to cabinet. I know for a fact he works hard, and has earned this appointment. Paul Chapman is a local freelance writer.