Northern mayors say they'd be strong voices in a PC government
CBC
Allan Dickson's on a crusade — and this, he figures, may be the best time to make some progress.
Dickson's been complaining loudly about the poor state of Route 11 in northern New Brunswick, and he knows with a provincial election coming, it's an opportune moment to get the attention of politicians.
"It's terrible," he said during a mini-tour of the road in what used to be Tide Head, a village that was amalgamated with Campbellton during local government reform last year.
"It just seems to be neglected, neglected, neglected. All through the years we seem to get the tail end of everything."
He pointed out crumbling shoulders, bumpy sections of road, and what he considers poor patching work that may not survive next spring's frost heaves.
Dickson contacted CBC News in June about the issue, knowing that the campaign was on the horizon and that the Progressive Conservatives under leader Blaine Higgs are — for the third straight election — hoping for a big breakthrough in the province's north.
The influence the region could have if PCs were elected here has become the dominant message in the party's run-up to its re-election campaign.
Higgs alluded to that Wednesday night when he credited Bathurst Mayor Kim Chamberlain, who was officially nominated as a PC candidate, with persuading him as premier to have the province buy and demolish the former Smurfit-Stone mill in the city.
"Imagine the impact when we have voices all across the north," Higgs said at Chamberlain's nomination meeting.
About 60 people attended the PC meeting, though many of them were candidates or party members from ridings other than Bathurst.
Chamberlain, one of two northern mayors running for the PCs, said the Liberals have taken the riding for granted and said that has to end.
"I know that the decisions are made by those who sit in government in Fredericton, and that's why I'm running in this provincial election," she said.
"I think it's important that there will be new, strong, northern voices at the government table."
Dickson wouldn't say whether he thinks the neglect of northern roads predates the Higgs government, which took office in 2018.
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