Credible Candidates?

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In 2006, Prime Minister Harper's government announced the Clean Air Act which was greeted with thunderous silence by Canadians. Canadians want faster action on the environment. Harper shuffled his cabinet and then announced a series of tweaked versions of past-Liberal plans with an important twist; now they would be acted upon.

While this first step in environmental awareness on the part of Harper's government is good news, Canadians should still seriously question Harper's commitment to the environment. For instance, the Canadian Government's official website on Climate Change (http://www.climatechange.gc.ca ) was last updated on June 30, 2006 at which time it was made "unavailable." Mr. Harper' commitment to the environment is just not credible.

Not to be outdone, new Liberal leader Stephane Dion suggested that Marc-Yvan Cote be allowed to regain his Liberal Party membership. Why does this matter? Mr. Cote was suspended from the Liberal party for life for distributing $120,000 in $100 bills to 12 Liberal Candidates during the sponsorship scandal. Mr. Dion is not credible on ethics and accountability.

When the next federal election comes about, Canadians would do well to look at the credibility of these two leaders and the parties they represent.

Premier Graham - an Environmental Convert ... Not!

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On Jan. 29, 2007, Premier Graham claimed in a CBC interview that there's no conflict with his new-found environmental streak and his support for a second oil refinery. He argued that we are only meeting the growing demand for energy in New Brunswick. ...

With all due respect to Premier Graham, I must heartily disagree with his statement that while there are environmental effects to a second refinery, these effects must be balanced with the energy demands of New Brunswickers.

It is not at all clear to me that New Brunswick energy demand has grown at a rate that exceeds our productive capacity. The natural gas from the LNG plant will largely be shipped to the US Northeast. The natural gas from our own McCully Field outside of Sussex is being shipped to the US Northeast. The International Power Line from Point Lepreau will transport power to the US Northeast. The Irving Oil website claims that 58% of the refined product from the existing refinery is shipped to the US Northeast.

New Brunswick already exports all this power to the energy-hungry US Northeast because neither New Brunswickers nor Atlantic Canadians can use it all. So how is it that a second greenhouse gas-producing oil refinery can help meet the growing energy demands of New Brunswickers when we already produce more than we need?

In my opinion, Premier Graham's argument is based on spin rather than fact. The reality is, business and the government in New Brunswick are willing to trade environmental quality for short term profit. As long as New Brunswickers support such a tradeoff, New Brunswick will continue to be America's solution to its NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) problem.

Rob Moir

Fundy Royal Nomination Meeting Announcement

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We invite everyone to attend the Nomination meeting for the Fundy Royal NDP candidacy in the next Federal Election. The event will be held Sunday February 4th, at the Nauwigewauk Hall.

Memberships will be available at the event. We appreciate your continued support!


Driving directions:

From Moncton, exit Highway 1 at Hampton, right on Hall Rd., then left to William Bell Drive which becomes Highway 100. Continue through Nauwigewauk to Station loop Rd. Then right onto Darlings Island Road. The Hall is first building on right.

From Saint John, exit Highway 1 at Quispamsis-Nauwigewauk exit, follow rte 100 over Hammond River Bridge, and take next left, Station Loop Rd., left again at Darlings Island Road. The Hall is the first building on the right.