Nursing Home Dispute Raised In Legislature

Concerns are being raised about proposed changes to the provincial act which governs essential services in New Brunswick nursing homes.

The Higgs government introduced changes to the Essential Services in Nursing Homes Act on Tuesday.

The changes would allow for binding arbitration with a series of conditions, including the province’s ability to pay.

During question period Wednesday, Restigouche West Liberal MLA Gilles LePage questioned why the government feels it is necessary to add conditions.

“There are many levels to what happens before binding arbitration,” said Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard in response.

Shephard instead focused on the changes which would implore the two sides to come up with a designated level of essential services in the event of a strike.

“We have put in that the labour board will facilitate conversation between government and the nursing home employees to get to those designated levels,” she said.

“Essential services designation is in place so that workers can be assured that they have a meaningful position from which to negotiate and/or strike.”

But Shephard said they remain hopeful the two sides can negotiate a “fair settlement” to avoid a strike.

The changes come in response to a 2018 labour board ruling which found part of the act was unconstitutional. A judge upheld the ruling earlier this year, giving the province until Jan. 2, 2020, to fix it.