In October, we hired a lobbying firm to represent our interests and advocate for our members to remain open during the orange phase and we were successful. At that time, the red phase had never been activated in New Brunswick and it was far more restrictive along the lines of the new lockdown phase that was implemented in the Edmundston area in January.
As a result of the implementation of the red phase and the lockdown phase, we re-engaged the lobbying firm in January. Their mandate has been to assist us in convincing the government to allow our members to remain open in the red phase. Although those restrictions were lifted shortly after we re-hired the lobbyists we were proactive and continued pushing for change for a potential future red phase which is now affecting our members in the Edmundston region.
Unfortunately, we have not yet been successful but we continue to push at the political level.
CANB and our lobbyist have had discussions on behalf of members at the highest levels of government, including the premier's office, the health minister's office, and the head of public health. These conversations continue this week.
In addition, we are also pushing the government to amend its Small Business Recovery Grant which currently unfairly excludes our members who are sole proprietors.
We need your help to continue to push this forward. We have found that our current efforts are unsuccessful in part because the government does not recognize the urgency of the matter. We are encouraging all CANB members to write and call their local MLAs with a particular emphasis on Progressive Conservative MLAs who form the government. We have attached a guide on how to craft your message.
We will continue our efforts and ask for your continued support. Together, we can overcome these challenges.
Please ensure that you notify any staff or fellow cosmetologists of this information. Stay safe. We are all in this together.
29 March 2021 FREDERICTON (GNB) – The area in which the Red level applies in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) has been extended. Beginning at midnight tonight, Saint-Léonard, Grand Falls, Drummond, New Denmark, and Four Falls will be included along with the previously indicated areas of Edmundston and the upper Madawaska region.
Whereas the Board of Directors has been considering certain amendments to the Cosmetology Act for the purpose of bringing about clarifications regarding certain provisions of the Act.
Whereas such requests of the legislative amendments will be presented to the office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly for the Province of New Brunswick.
Whereas such legislative amendments are within the authority of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.