Brunswick Smelter in Belledune to close permanently, putting 420 people out of work Brunswick Smelter in northern New Brunswick will close permanently, putting about 420 employees out of work, Glencore Canada Corporation announced on Wednesday, citing poor business results and financial forecasts. The decommissioning of the lead smelter in Belledune will begin immediately, and the plant will permanently cease all operations by Christmas, spokesperson Alexis Segal told CBC News.Unionized workers, who represent more than half of the smelter's employees, have been off the job since April 24 in a contract dispute that included safety concerns. New Brunswick 's education minister is making rare use of the Canadian Constitution's notwithstanding clause to ensure his new legislation on mandatory vaccinations won't be overturned by court challenges. Dominic Cardy introduced the bill , his second attempt to eliminate New Brunswick lawmakers will debate a bill that would make childhood vaccines mandatory , as the legislature resumes sitting Tuesday. The legislation also invokes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ notwithstanding clause , meaning if passed, the bill cannot be challenged in court on

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FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government has invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield vaccination legislation tabled today against charter challenges.

Education Minister Dominic Cardy says the law making vaccinations mandatory for children in schools and daycares unless they have a medical exemption is needed to prevent outbreaks of diseases.

Cardy acknowledges Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which allows governments to override parts of the charter, is rarely used.

But he says the province is prepared to use every power it has to ensure schools and daycares are safe for children.

The new rules, scheduled to take effect Sept. 1, 2021, were introduced this year amid a measles outbreak in southern New Brunswick.

Cardy says New Brunswick's proposed vaccination rules are in line with similar decisions elsewhere in the world.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2019.

The Canadian Press