Justin Trudeau visits ice storm victims on Acadian Peninsula - Action News
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New Brunswick

Justin Trudeau visits ice storm victims on Acadian Peninsula

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has arrived in the Acadian Peninsula to visit with ice storm victims and volunteers.

Prime minister visiting warming centres and a military station in Neguac and Lamque

RAW: Prime Minister arrives in Neguac

8 years ago
Duration 0:33
Prime Minister visits areas affected by last week's ice storm.

Prime Minister JustinTrudeauhas arrived on the Acadian Peninsula to visit ice storm victims and volunteers.

Trudeau arrived inLamque, his second stop,at around 7:15 p.m., where he spoke to more than 300 people at a warming centre at Notre-Dame-des-Flots church.

There, he was joined on stage by Premier Brian Gallant, Fisheries and Oceans Minister and Beausjour MP Dominic LeBlanc, and local MP Serge Cormier.

Speaking French, Trudeau told the audience members that they are extraordinary.

After joking, in French, that he had been there before during the Tintamarre in nearby Caraquet, Trudeau said that the country is here for New Brunswickers andknows that this is a difficult time for them.

He added that he is proud to see the army in New Brunswick and is proud of its leadership.

In English, he said the heart of being Canadian is being there for each other.

While inLamque,Trudeauplannedto visit themilitary operations centre to thank personnel who have helped with the cleanup for the past week.

Trudeau'sfirst stop was at the Royal Canadian Legion inNeguac, where he arrived around 6:30 p.m., about 50 minutes behind schedule.

Trudeautold the crowd inNeguacthe most vulnerable storm victims will continue to receive help in the coming weeks and months.

After spending about 30 minutes in the legion, whichhas served asa warming centre,Trudeaudeparted forLamque, about an hour away by vehicle.

Prime Minister Visits Acadian Peninsula

8 years ago
Duration 1:27
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits areas affected by last week's ice storm.

The prime minister is not scheduled to speak with reporters during his visit to the Acadian Peninsula.

Trudeauwas in Quebec City on Friday afternoon, attending funeral services for three of the victims of a shooting at a mosque.

3,500 outages remain

At about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, NB Power reported 2,888 customers remained without service. All but 38 of them were on the Acadian Peninsula.

At its height, more than 130,000 customers across the province were without power. In total, about 200,000 customers have been affected.

Tracadie expected to lift state of emergency

The warming centre at the Royal Canadian Legion in Neguac was crowded in advance of the arrival of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Bridget Yard/CBC)

On Thursday, the Town of Shippagan lifted astate of emergency, and Tracadie was expected to do the same Friday.

About 1,000 households remained without power in the municipality Thursday morning, general manager Denis Poirier said in an interview with CBC.

But town officials decided they will likely liftthe state of emergency declared last Friday, sinceservices to help the town will continue, he said.

"We can declare it again if we need," Poirier said.

After experiencing a shortage of food and water in Tracadie, the local food bank is receiving money from the province to help people affected by the storm.

The manager ofthe Au Rayon d'Espoir food bank, Roger St. Pierre, said the organization looked after 138 people this week. On a regular, busyday, theyfeed about 40 residents, he said.

Carbon monoxide cases climb

Despite two deaths and dozens of hospitalizations resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning in the wake of last week's ice storm, some people continue to flirt with danger by using generators and other flame-burning devices in their homes and garages, NB Power president Gatan Thomas said Thursday.

Be ready for CO: Here's how to keep your home safe

8 years ago
Duration 1:18
Two people died from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning after last weeks ice storm, and more than 30 others were sent to hospital with symptoms of poisoning.

The number of people to be hospitalized from carbon monoxide poisoning has now risen to 45.

"There are still stories I saw it personally of people trying to use barbecues or generators inside the house, inside the garage," said Thomas.

"With all the communication we did, it's still happening."

With files from Viola Pruss