The rural community of Campobello will be placed under the administration of New Brunswick authorities because of the local government's loss of membership on the elected council. The resignation of Councillor Katherine Breton has left the council without a quorum, thus unable to meet and carry out the duties entrusted to it by the voters. Breton's departure followed those of Raymond Brown and Candace Phinney, whose resignations were announced during the January council meeting, before the COVID-19 lockdown was even contemplated. At the time of the Brown and Phinney departures, it was expected that the selection of new members would follow the usual schedule.  
     Byelections have been postponed by provincial authorities as a pandemic precaution, leaving the island bereft of self government. Normally elections would be held June 15, but at this point in time Elections New Brunswick not only does not list any candidates, but it does not show a projected date for the referendum. Mayor Brett Newman and longtime Councillor Kevin Sawtelle are the sole remaining members of the five person panel.
     Newman says Breton's recent resignation "was the result of a number of things.”
     Kim Poffenroth of Elections New Brunswick confirms the process. "It is up to the minister to appoint an administrator," she says. The timing of the election process is in the hands of the legislature, she says, but it must take place not later than May 2021. St. Croix municipal elections will be held prior to that date, she says, which may be extended to include the Campobello byelections.
     Newman calls the situation an "outrageous experience," adding, "It was hardly what I expected when I ran -- to have half the island run off generators, then the COVID-19 situation and now this." He has been advised by provincial authorities that they will designate a supervisor, but it may be as long as eight weeks before that individual is named. Newman was elected in 2019 to serve the remaining one year of the position formerly held by Stephen Smart, anticipating potentially facing reelection in June 2020.
         Paul Harpelle of Elections New Brunswick explains that because of the legislature's mandated schedule, the island's byelection must take place by May 10, 2021, essentially bypassing the establishment of a new council any time this year. Anne Mooers of the Department of Environment and Local Government points out that the terms of this process are stipulated within the Local Governance and Municipal Elections acts. Statistics provided by that department show that Campobello Island is the smallest rural community within the province, with 2019 revenues of $136,353 less than half of the second smallest: Cocagne.
         In the meantime, Newman worries about the effect of the lockdown. "We lost the marathon for this year," he says. Fogfest will continue, but only in the virtual world. "I'm excited about that," he says, but he is still concerned about the effect of the pandemic's travel ban on local tourist based businesses, particularly as most visitors must use the international bridge. The Roosevelt Campobello International Park -- a major regional draw -- normally opens in late May but currently remains closed with no projected opening date listed on the website. SummerKeys, a Lubec based summer long event that draws many visitors across the bridge, has also been cancelled for the year.
         Justin Tinker, communications director for the Year Round Ferry Committee, seconds Newman's concerns. "I expect cobwebs for the local economy," he says, based on current tourism restrictions, "and that's for 2021 also." He observes, "There are four restaurants on the island and only one has been able to open, and they have limited hours." As far as the ferry operations are concerned, he has been in regular contact with the operator. The ferry to Deer Island is expected to begin running for the season on June 15.
         If the tourism businesses cannot open, the ferry may not be able to attract sufficient numbers of passengers to be financially viable, Tinker fears. "I have approached the province to provide a subsidy," he says, but so far that has not been decided.
         At this point in time, the future remains uncertain. If all restrictions were to be lifted overnight -- an unlikely occurrence -- the time needed for reestablishment of normal business and tourism would still be a guess.