N.B. tourism workers concerned about reduction in hours at some provincial parks
Provincial tourism workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 1190 spoke out Thursday, saying some provincial parks are cutting back on their worker hours.
Mike Bravener says he’s been told he’ll working 31.5 hours a week, compared to 36 hours last summer. Bravener is an actor and performer at Kings Landing living museum – a New Brunswick provincial attraction celebrating its 50th season.
“You see the nice ads, you see the nice promotions and yet when you walk into the park it's almost looking like it's a bit of a ghost town,” he said.
The union represents 550 tourism workers, most whom work on a casual basis.
Local 1190 president Jonathan Guimond said some parks won’t be open as long, or there will be fewer people working within them when they are open.
The union is pointing its finger at the tourism minister and her deputy for a trip the duo took to Europe that cost taxpayers more than $22,000. They wonder why there was money budgeted for that journey.
“They’re a bit taken aback that they need to suffer reductions and the parks the quality that they provide are suffering reductions when there's funds available for things like that,” Guimond said.
Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace said just two locations – Kings Landing and the Village historique acadien – will see a reduction in some areas, but that’s not happening to all parks across the province.
She also said the European trip she took was valuable for building relationships in key areas like France and the United Kingdom.
“It's unfortunate to me that the people who work in our parks and attractions would feel that any time the minister goes across the province or outside of the province or outside of the country, to promote tourism and to bring new visitors to the province, that they don't see a value to that,” she told reporters.
The union says the cost of that trip would have equated to several hundred worker hours at the parks.
For Bravener, he’s concerned about maintaining the magic that can be found at Kings Landing.
“I think people are coming and they're going, ‘Oh, this isn't open. Oh, I thought this was happening today. Where's the theater? There's no theater. Where is the dances in the fields? How come there's no barn dance anymore?’” he said. “It's that kind of impact.”
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.