Summer/Fall Newsletter Hon. Tammy Scott-Wallace |
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A Message to ConstituentsWhat a strange and challenging year-and-a-half it has been living with the COVID-19 pandemic. New Brunswickers have faced tremendous hardships. Families and friends were separated as borders were closed and we were asked to stay home to help slow the spread. Businesses were devastated by difficult but necessary closures and restrictions. Fourty six New Brunswickers lost their lives to the virus and were grieved by their families, friends and province. At times, it felt like there would be no end to the pandemic as restrictions and measures had to be altered and added to adapt to the ever-changing threat of COVID-19. But today, due to the success of New Brunswick's vaccine rollout and the hundreds of thousands of New Brunswickers who lined up to do their part by getting vaccinated, measures have continually been lessened and we are now in the Green Phase, meaning life is returning to normal. Families and friends are being reunited, students will be returning to in-person learning full time in the Fall, and businesses across all sectors are seeing recovery. We are at this point because a tremendous show of creativity, strength, versatility, and collaboration throughout the pandemic. For that, I could not be more proud to be a New Brunswicker. Now that we have entered Green, I thought this would be great timing to reflect on the progress we have made together in the riding of Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins over the past year, as well as what we have to look forward to on the horizon. - Hon. Tammy Scott-Wallace MLA, Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister responsible for Women's Equality |
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Investing in Our Communities |
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2020-2021 Community Investment Fund Waterford Community Centre - $2,080 Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce - $500 St. Francis Xavier Cemetery Improvement - $5,000 Town of Sussex - $14,500 Quaco Museum Improvements $4,000 Kirkhill Cemetery Improvements - $5,000 Note: Includes funding since Fall 2020 |
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2021 SEED Funding Recipients Abundant Life United Pentecostal Church Apohaqui Community Church Ax, The Arts & Culture Centre of Sussex Camp Tulakadik Crosswinds Occupational Activity Centre Fundy Trail Parkway Hans Lammens Tennis Centre Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Kiwanis Nursing Home Nutrien Civic Centre Princess Louise Park Show Centre Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce Sussex Lions Club Sussex Sharing Club Town of Sussex Village of St. Martins Village of Sussex Corner WE Believe Charity |
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Funding Provided to Fundy Guild for Strategic Tourism Plan In July, the provincial and federal governments announced an investment of $394,000 to allow Fundy Guild Inc. to develop a strategic tourism plan for the Upper Bay of Fundy region. The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture recognizes that each region is unique and requires a customized approach when developing their tourism plans. To succeed, industry leaders and community stakeholders need to be informed, engaged, connected and supported, which is what Fundy Guild will do. We are happy to support the collaborative efforts to bring together the Upper Bay of Fundy region to prepare for travel to the region in the years to come. |
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Local Infrastructure Projects |
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Second-Stage Transitional Housing In my capacity as MLA for the area and Minister responsible for Women's Equality, I was proud to announce the provincial government's financial support of $35,000 for new, second-stage transitional housing in the Sussex area. While Sussex is already home to emergency transitional housing, this additional housing will provide a longer-term solution for women and their children experiencing domestic abuse and/or housing crises. With incidence rates of domestic abuse increasing dramatically throughout the pandemic, this announcement was a crucial one for supporting local victims. |
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Road Work The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure's 2021 Capital Plan includes over 45 road work projects within Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins, totaling approx. $1 million toward improving the safety and navigability of our roads. With travel restrictions being eliminated and so many travelers eager to pay a visit to our neck of the woods, these projects will ensure it is enjoyable to travel between all of the many wonderful establishments and attractions we have to offer. |
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2020 December Flood Relief |
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Last year's December flood event caused devastation to the homes of so many Sussex residents. It was yet another wrench thrown in at the end of an already challenging year, but I was so proud to be a Sussex resident after witnessing the immediate local response from neighbours, friends and family so willing to lend a helping hand to those who needed it. |
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In partnership with our federal colleagues, our government was able to quickly assemble a Disaster Relief Financial Assistance program that ended up providing over $1.2 million in flood relief to residents, including over $12,000 in mitigation support. Our government looks forward to finding ways to support the Town of Sussex and Village of Sussex Corner in their future flood mitigation efforts, including a committment of $32,000 for an upcoming study. |
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#ExploreNB Travel Incentive Program |
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Financially, tourism & hospitality has been one of the hardest-hit sectors since the start of the pandemic. That's why since Fall 2020 our government has been offering various iterations of the #ExploreNB Travel Incentive Program to encourage New Brunswickers to 'staycation' and support the NB tourism sector by offering a 20% rebate on NB vacations that include an eligible overnight stay. As Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, I am happy to report that the program has seen well over $17 million in claims, giving a much-needed boost to tourism operators across the province, including all of the amazing local businesses and restaurants right here in the riding of Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins. The Summer implementation of the program runs from May 27 to October 31, 2021, and our neighbours visiting from the Atlantic provinces can take advantage of the rebate this time around! | | |
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In addition to the Travel incentive to support tourism in the province, we established the NB Fish & Hunt Promotion which saw outfitters receive a 20% rebate on all hunting and fishing packages they sold to New Brunswick residents, allowing them to offset their prices. This incentive has brought much-needed support to outfitters and has encouraged more New Brunswickers to enjoy our province this past spring and summer. I'm happy to say the incentive has been extended to the end of October to continue to support outfitters through the Fall hunting season. |
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