New Brunswick’s premier says the legislature and the COVID-19 cabinet committee will meet this week to discuss more protections for New Brunswick workers and the Emergency Measures Act.
Blaine Higgs said Wednesday the legislature will reconvene Friday to discuss ways to help those who have missed work due to COVID-19.
“Our goal is to protect the jobs of New Brunswickers who either have COVID-19 or who can’t go to work because they are taking care of someone who does have COVID-19,” Higgs said.
The province’s COVID-19 all-party cabinet committee met Wednesday evening to discuss amendments to the Emergency Measures Act.
Higgs says the cabinet had originally been considering increases in fines for not following social distancing measures, but the low number of cases provincewide means those increases may not be necessary.
Moving forward, the premier hopes the low number of cases means more businesses will soon be able to reopen, so long as New Brunswickers continue to practice social distancing measures.
“There are a lot of things we will be able to do, but it depends on the success of the next couple weeks in terms of our case-load and what we’re finding throughout the communities,” said Higgs.
The premier also used Wednesday’s daily briefing to encourage New Brunswickers to patronize local shops and restaurants which have remained open or have reopened since the provincial state of emergency was declared.
“It certainly isn’t business as usual but I thank everyone for doing their part,” Higgs said.
