Latest news with #NewBrunswicker
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
St. Stephen gets new doctor, adds to collaborative clinic
At least two primary care providers and a doctor have been hired in St. Stephen, according to Horizon Health Network and the municipality. The community is one of 10 areas promised to get a collaborative care clinic within the first 18 months of a Liberal mandate – which we're nearly seven months in to. Deputy Mayor Ghislaine Wheaton confirmed one doctor has also been hired and successfully recruited by the town. However, there are thousands of people in southwestern New Brunswick waiting to be matched with a primary care provider. 'Since then, we've gotten more information about what the province wants to do,' she said during the July 16 Committee of the Whole Meeting. 'They gave a really nice update.' The update was provided by Horizon Health Network – the regional health authority responsible for health care facilities in the region – including its continued widening of access to the Charlotte County Collaborative Wellness Centre on the third floor of the Charlotte County Hospital. It also said it had hired one respiratory therapist and one social worker as part of ongoing recruitment efforts for the collaborative clinic – which offer much greater continuity of care and promote cooperative efforts of primary health care providers and allied health professionals. 'We appreciate the efforts the town council in St. Stephen has put forward in terms of incentives, and we continue to collaborate on local recruitment and retention strategies to attract health care professionals to the area,' the update from HHN read. In recent months, the council has brought forward a proactive incentive package, offering money in exchange for time commitments to the community. Wheaton said she has received calls from individuals who are struggling to get an appointment, but asked people to be patient as the work continues to improve access. Premier Susan Holt has said she hopes to see every New Brunswicker attached to a clinic by 2029. 'This way, then you have the whole team,' Wheaton said, speaking to the benefits of the collaborative model. Wheaton explained the clinic will also work with other clinicians in the community – meaning access will also be granted to those patients. She added she understands it may be difficult to understand the process and many people may feel frustrated by the wait. 'I know if you're sick and you need a doctor, you'd like to have one now,' she said. The council has also been engaged in helping the new doctor build roots within the community, according to Coun. Emily Rodas – work she believes is also critical to overall incentive package. Dr. Wael Saber has been touring the community – seeing what St. Stephen has to offer. 'His wife Amal is also a physician, which is wonderful news,' Rodas said. 'She is working with the college [College of Physicians and Surgeons] to try to obtain her license as well.' Rodas posted to social media about taking the Saber family to the local farmers market, the Border Cafe and the Chocolate Museum. ' I feel like every other day we're with the family,' she said. 'We connected them to sports … we've talked with the high school principal about doing a tour.' Together, they've been able to secure the family – who also has young children – a long-term rental while they get settled. So, if you meet them in the community, I've noticed people stopping by their house and saying, 'welcome, hi, how are you?',' she said. 'Just remember they're also citizens,' she said 'Don't hop into the physician problems right away, but just give them a warm welcome to the community.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Province paid Dr. John Dornan nearly $1.8M in settlement over firing as Horizon CEO
The provincial government ended up reaching a $1.8-million settlement with now-Health Minister Dr. John Dornan over his firing as the head of Horizon Health Network following the death of a Fredericton ER patient. That's 90 per cent of the original record-breaking $2-million payout Dornan was awarded by a labour adjudicator in his unjust dismissal case in 2023, which the province initially appealed. The amount of the year-old settlement was disclosed for the first time Friday in a written statement from Dornan. Both he and the province had to waive a non-disclosure agreement in order for the amount to be made public. "As I said during my campaign and now acting as a Minister of the Crown, I am committed to full openness and transparency with the people of New Brunswick regarding the outcome of this case," Dornan said in the emailed statement. "The total settlement awarded to me was $1,785,000, which was issued on April 18, 2024, with taxes appropriately withheld," he said. "At the time of my initial dismissal, I received $360,000, which was the equivalent of one year's salary for the position. All associated legal fees and taxes have been fully paid." The Department of Justice and Public Safety could not immediately say how much money the province spent on its legal fight with Dornan, or whether it's more or less than the $215,000 difference between the settlement amount and his original award. Dornan now earns $94,523 per year as the MLA for Saint John Portland-Simonds, plus $62,952 per year as the minister of health. At 'pivotal moment' in career He filed his grievance under the Public Service Labour Relations Act in the summer of 2022 after then premier Blaine Higgs publicly announced his firing as president and CEO of Horizon during a news conference. It was part of a larger shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership following the death of a patient in the waiting room of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital's emergency department in Fredericton. Darrell Mesheau, 78, spent about seven hours waiting for care before he was discovered unresponsive by a nurse around 4:30 a.m. on July 12, 2022. Dorothy Shephard was also replaced as health minister and the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité were removed. Dornan was only four months into his five-year contract when he was fired. He was "at a pivotal moment in [his] career," he said in his statement. He had served as interim president and CEO for about seven months when he agreed to take on the role permanently. He gave up his previous position as regional chief of staff for Horizon in Saint John and his endocrinology practice to do so. "Like any New Brunswicker whose employment is unjustly terminated, I pursued my right to file a claim for unjust dismissal," Dornan said. "Following due process, the courts determined that my dismissal was indeed without cause, and I was subsequently awarded a settlement for unjust dismissal." 'Mutually satisfactory resolution' In February 2023, adjudicator George Filliter awarded him special damages of about $1.8 million, representing the value of lost salary, pension contributions and health benefits, plus $200,000 in aggravated damages for "breach of the employer's implied obligation to act in good faith when dismissing him." It was the largest employment compensation award in the province's history, Dornan's lawyers said at the time. The province promptly requested a judicial review, seeking to have the award quashed. But Court of King's Bench Justice Kathryn Gregory upheld the labour arbitrator's decision and awarded Dornan costs of $4,000, plus HST and "reasonable disbursements." The province subsequently appealed, arguing Gregory "erred in fact and law." Then in April 2024 — just four days before the case was scheduled to be heard — the province dropped its appeal. In a statement at the time, then health minister Bruce Fitch said only that the province and Dornan had "reached a mutually satisfactory resolution."
Ottawa Citizen
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Sea Dogs select top prospect in QMJHL draft with first pick overall
Article content The Saint John Sea Dogs secured a major player for their future and the Moncton Wildcats landed a top hometown prospect as the QMJHL draft unfolded over the weekend in Quebec. Article content Saint John, which finished 17th overall in 2024-25 and then landed the top pick overall in the draft lottery earlier this spring, landed six-foot-four centre Alexis Joseph with their No. 1 pick Friday evening to kick off the annual draft. Article content Article content Article content Joseph was rated at the top of many draft prognosticators' lists because of his size and abilities with College Esther Blodin in Quebec, where he racked up 56 points in 42 games with the Quebec U18 AAA squad. Article content Article content Saint John also secured five-foot-seven-and-a-half speedster Nolann Heroux of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que., with the No. 10 pick overall, and six-foot-one-and-a-half inch goaltender Jase MacPherson of Montague, Prince Edward Island, with its third pick, 29th overall. Article content Heroux recorded 50 points in 41 games with St-Eustache in Quebec U18 AAA this past season while MacPherson was 11-7 with a .908 save percentage with the Kensington Wild of the NB-PEI Under 18 Major Hockey League. Article content The Sea Dogs entered the draft with the No. 18 overall pick as well, following a trade with Rimouski that finalized a deal for former captain Eriks Mateiko in January. Article content Article content However, Saint John shipped that pick to Rouyn-Noranda for a series of picks, including a No. 2 and No. 4 on Saturday, a first rounder in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2027. Article content Article content The Gilles Courteau Trophy champion Wildcats waited until the second round to make their first pick and after a trade with Rimouski to drop to No. 24 overall (while gaining additional picks), they landed centre Marc MacPhee of Moncton. MacPhee was also the top New Brunswicker selected in the draft. Article content MacPhee, a five-foot-eight-and-a-half inch centre, racked up 38 points in 33 games with the Moncton Flyers of the NB-PEI Major under 18 league and then added seven points at the Telus Cup national championship.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.B. lotto winner decides against lump sum — opts for $1,000 a week for next 25 years
Barbara Nelson of Saint John, N.B., has worked at the same chain restaurant for many years. Most mornings, she picks up a Scratch'N Win lottery ticket on her way in and plays it in the break room before her shift. That simple routine just changed her life, with Nelson winning the top prize with her Set for Life ticket. The jackpot comes with a choice: lump-sum payout of $675,000 or $1,000 a week for the next 25 years. The New Brunswicker decided to go with the latter, and now, she's ready to hang up her apron and head into early retirement. 'With the way the economy has been going, I didn't figure I would get to retire early, or retire at all,' Nelson said. 'This says, 'Yes, you can.'' Nelson chose the annuity, giving her a reliable income stream for the next two and a half decades. That $1,000-a-week payout also adds up to $1.3 million — almost double the lump sum. With summer just around the corner, Nelson says she's especially looking forward to reclaiming her weekends, something she rarely had off while working. 'All the things that go on through the summer all happen on the weekends and I was always working the weekends,' Nelson said. 'Now I can do what I want and figure out what that is, instead of trying to pay bills. I can enjoy the summer.' She purchased her winning ticket at the Esso Proxi Church in Saint John. Her prize marks the seventh and final top prize awarded in the 4091 series of the game. For Nelson, that top-prize means one thing: retirement and freedom to enjoy life on her own terms. 'I like the Set for Life prize, that's why I get that ticket,' she said. 'Now I'm just going to sit back and see where it leads me and let what comes, come.' If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.B. lotto winner decides against lump sum — opts for $1,000 a week for next 25 years
Barbara Nelson of Saint John, N.B., has worked at the same chain restaurant for many years. Most mornings, she picks up a Scratch'N Win lottery ticket on her way in and plays it in the break room before her shift. That simple routine just changed her life, with Nelson winning the top prize with her Set for Life ticket. The jackpot comes with a choice: lump-sum payout of $675,000 or $1,000 a week for the next 25 years. The New Brunswicker decided to go with the latter, and now, she's ready to hang up her apron and head into early retirement. 'With the way the economy has been going, I didn't figure I would get to retire early, or retire at all,' Nelson said. 'This says, 'Yes, you can.'' Nelson chose the annuity, giving her a reliable income stream for the next two and a half decades. That $1,000-a-week payout also adds up to $1.3 million — almost double the lump sum. With summer just around the corner, Nelson says she's especially looking forward to reclaiming her weekends, something she rarely had off while working. 'All the things that go on through the summer all happen on the weekends and I was always working the weekends,' Nelson said. 'Now I can do what I want and figure out what that is, instead of trying to pay bills. I can enjoy the summer.' She purchased her winning ticket at the Esso Proxi Church in Saint John. Her prize marks the seventh and final top prize awarded in the 4091 series of the game. For Nelson, that top-prize means one thing: retirement and freedom to enjoy life on her own terms. 'I like the Set for Life prize, that's why I get that ticket,' she said. 'Now I'm just going to sit back and see where it leads me and let what comes, come.' If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
