Your View - New Brunswick

Shouldn't the goal of every government around the world be self-sufficiency? It is the details that will differ from place to place. How should New Brunswick be more self-sufficient? That is the question that Mr. Graham needs to answer.

A good idea but needs yo keep eye on the sparrow - attend to the needs of today.

a piece of goverment foolishness.

The most remarkable thing that nobody seems to be pointing out about this agenda is that it is naive and ridiculous for any government to make proposals beyond the mandate it is given, let alone for 17 years after beyond it. It is easy to make promises and long term plans for a time frame that you never realistically expect to live up to.

Either this government is arrogant and believes that it will continually be re-elected for the next five election cycles and reach 2026 still in power, or it is devoid of short term answers, and feels its easier to make promises it never has to live up to or be responsible for should it (or, rather, when it) loses power.

Politics in NB features an ingrained 2-party concept, and it is purely a power game. The populace in general has realized that there is no governance or representation anymore, just the desire to be in power. We can see this in the recent defections of the Stiles' pair to the "winning" side. It is going to take the emergence of a strong 3rd option to make any kind of progress in this province.

We just lost a paper mill here in Dahousie hundreds of jobs lost in the forestry secter again,people walking around with there heads down wondering what to do. what will ever become of this province we live in.Where will the goverment stand on this issue how much more can we take before this whole province shuts down.

To the person who suggested getting the paper mill out of saint John... I absolutely agree! In fact, in consideration of today's news that the mill is closing in Dalhousie putting 330 people out of work that would seem a great place for it to go... The plant will need modernization and significant restructuring... lots of jobs there and a nice new mill to work at in the end with higher wages for the more technical skills required to operate the modern equipment... and instead of Moncton and St. John each having a newspaper... we could have one completely billingual newspaper produced in Dalhousie with a reported hired for each county covering local news in addition to the national/global scope of the current newspapers... in the meantime... Moncton and Saint John are both crying for workers!

It was great to see the children getting outside enjoying softball this past summer with their new equipment and uniforms.. rather amazing to see how such a small investment could generate so much happiness!

I definately agree we have to give Premier Graham a chance because team work takes time, transformation takes time, and, like the saying goes... Transformers are GO BOTS in disguise, figures of action, defenders of the weak and champions of change so please be patient - especially UNBSJ students! I feel confident that the final decisions will be the most beneficial to everyone concerned!

Cry some more people. We sent Graham in for change, and he is proposing change. The plan is going to take a significant amount of time, energy and ideas. He is taking the first steps in a long process. If the ideas were and plans were easy and available don't you think they would have been done a long time ago.
We are screaming tell me exactly what you are going to do to completely change and improve the economy, health care, education immediately. It can't be done in 1 year it is going to take 16 years, (you know the amount of time it takes a average person to complete Grades 1-12 and University) Try to gain some perspecitive.

Remember we asked for these changes. He will make it happen but give them some flexibility and a chance.

I was posted to Edmonton, but I am from Hampton.

I can't believe you voted out Bernard Lord in favour of Graham. You could have at least waited for the Liberals to get a leader.

I am afraid that the false promise of self sufficiency should have been as clear as glass. This is the kind of project that will take decades, and is not something that causes someone to be elected. If you demand something, write to your MLA and get your friends to do the same.

This current government is there for one reason, in New Brunswick, we do not vote a government in, we kick the other one out. Too many NBers do not understand what they are voting about (because of misleading campaigns), get upset at the image of the person in charge, and then sway to the other only party able to govern.

If you demand change, pick the side that you think is competent, stick with it, and write letters to whoever gets voted in.

One more thing, stop voting opposite of the federal government at least once, if only to see if it makes a difference.

These last few months have been absolutely baffling. New Brunswickers from all over are united in their eagerness to help move our province forward and take pride in our accomplishments. Shawn Graham and his Liberals would like very much to facilitate this development; provided, ironically, New Brunswickers themselves do not actually get involved. Graham's gang is either: a) completely silent about where it stands on the most important issues; b) willing to wait a long, long time before commenting (and even then giving only vague, generic answers) on issues that deserve concrete responses and not carefully inserted buzzwords, or c) clueless as to how to make any of its self-sufficiency goals materialize. New Brunswickers are helpless; we must watch as frightened sheep lead our province, and the worst part is that they hold our very futures in their trembling hooves.

Just like our federal Liberals Shawn Graham is doing nothing but trying to pull the wool over our eyes. And the sad part is, he is succeeding. The Liberals won a majority in this province the election after their federal cousins lost to the conservatives. After 13 years of rule by the federal liberals who were voted out by the rest of the country. NB now decides to put the liberals in provincially .

We all know the records the liberals have for breaking promises yet,You (Not Me) voted them in . I have lost all hope for NB. I no longer work in the province although I still have a residence in NB. But very soon I may dispose of that and watch NB leave In my rearview mirror. I just wish people would learn and start seeing that a bunch of promises by any governmnet means nothing more then a promise to raise taxes. Wake up people.

And some free advice for you Mr. Graham. If you want to raise teh population and attract people home to NB try lowering the taxes income as well as property. Instead of having to spend Millions on advertising. Word of mouth can do wonders

This government makes me very nervous. They seem bent on making radical changes in crucial sectors (health; education; energy) for the sake of change itself, in order to prove their capacity for "leadership." They have offered no concrete plans or timelines, or, in many instances, even adequate reasons for the changes they are proposing. For example, the only reason they can come up with for threatening to decommission three university campuses and create a new level of expensive bureaucracy is that they have heard of instances of some students having difficulties transferring credits. This is incredible! These people are reckless and misguided. They don't seem to have consulted with either their accountants or their lawyers. Or, more to the point in terms of "self-sufficiency," with any economists. The only people this government is helping towards "self-sufficiency" are the major players in the energy sector, who hardly need their help, and at huge cost to the taxpayer. I just hope we can survive the rest of their term.

Hopefully self-sufficiency for Graham's government does not mean that programs in health and education will be cut so deeply that New Brunswick will no longer need transfer payments.

What I find interesting about the government’s self-sufficiency agenda is the fact that the politicians talk about made-in-New Brunswick solutions, but achieving those home-grown solutions need federal monies and federal input.
The premier himself noted during Question Period (28 Nov 2007) that Kevin Lynch, the Clerk of the Privy Council, is involved in working out an “action plan” for the self-sufficiency agenda. Also, earlier this Fall when questioned by the media Stephen Harper indicated that his response to overtures from New Brunswick would depend upon the Liberal government’s willingness to make the hard decisions needed to bring about the kinds of changes that would demonstrate a certain seriousness of intent.
Just what kinds of deals are being made as Graham and the Liberals seek support for their elusive and ill-defined goal of self-sufficiency?

I'm only young, but I have lived all over Canada, and I pride myself from where I came from first, Saint John. SJ is an amazing place to grow up in, and the people are truly what make it the greatest city in Canada. But for too long have we been without a true leader.

The hardest time to live in Saint John is between the ages 20-30, because that is when you can't find anything other then a call center to work for. Most in that age bracket move out west, where I currently live. We leave because it is our only way of making a living, we don’t want to leave.

In Saint John the first thing that must go is the pulp and paper mill at the mouth of the Saint John River. I know there are lots of high paying jobs there, a rarity in Saint John, but if the city wants to grow from within like every successful city does, the pulp mill must go, or build it further up river. It’s an eye sore, it's practically downtown. Inner city residential and commercial growth would prosper. Think how nice reversing falls would be without a stinky eyesore right beside it!

Build the second Irving proposed oil refinery far from anything residential or commercial, but in city limits for municipal tax purposes. Continue with the downtown development of Harbour Passage and keep attracting more cruise ships every year. Finish building the cruiseship terminal; spend money to make money!

To increase New Brunswick's population I would say follow Premier Danny Williams idea and give families tax breaks, or some type of compensation if they have a child. Most people can't afford starting a family. Why do you think Alberta has the highest birth rate in Canada?!

Twin the highway to Maine as soon as possible, the government has held it back long enough. Saint John brings in the most taxes because we have the largest corporations (home to Irving), and most people. That and Saint John has the 4th largest seaport in Canada, we need safe highways to transport to the States and promote growth.

The goal of self-sufficiency is laudable; Govt's "plan" for achieving it is not. Govt doesn't seem to have much of a plan at all, just a collection of slogans, catch phrases and buzz words that are becoming increasingly tiresome.

One of the worst issues is that of the PSE report and its threat to the future of post-secondary education in NB. In its platform Govt promised to "add 12,000 new spaces at the NBCC over five years." Instead of pursuing that goal by improving the NBCC and freeing them from governmental interference that has strangled them for decades, Govt has tried to sell a ludicrous program of closing UNBSJ, UMCE & UMCS to appropriate their infrastructure for NBCC. As if that wasn't disastrous enough, Govt then plans to impose on universities and colleges alike, through the proposed NB PSE Commission, a model of corporate governance that will destroy any academic freedom and institutional credibility.

Govt will not admit that the major problems with PSE in NB -- the shortfall of college programs and student vacancies -- is the result of previous governmental interference with the colleges. To be sure the PCs did nothing to fix the problems during their tenure, but the fact of the matter is that the greater part of the problems were created under the previous Liberal govt.

Having Graham and his cabinet tinkering with higher education in NB is like having a troop of chimpanzees tinkering with a Swiss watch -- neither understands the object being observed; both resort to smashing it because they know no better.

Destroy education and whither self-sufficiency? Does Graham think that he can attract either "ex-pats" to come home or new immigrants to put down roots here after he has destroyed opportunities and choices for education and social advancement? It would be interesting to hear him try to rationalize these two thoughts, live, in front of a well informed and critical reporter.

Anon may have missed my point which was that the Liberal Government (according to Mr Graham) has suggested that it is the beacon and sole purveyor of hope -- by taking *responsibility* for it.

My major difficulty with that -- and with Anon's characterization -- is that in fact the Liberal Government (this government right now, the one currently in power) is ignoring the will of the people who elected it. Thousands of emails, thousands of postcards, thousands of rally-ers have been dismissed, ignored, and patronized by the representatives of the *people*. In so doing, the Government has abrogated its responsibilities to govern -- let alone to offer hope. Thus, I suggest we find our hope elsewhere -- in our education, in our youth, in our Universities, in our mills, in our forests, in our past. In so doing, we may fulfill the promise of our provincial motto -- Hope was restored -- by our self-sufficient selves.

And now, I have to go make supper ...

Linda Hansen

I heard a small report given by CBC radio after the throne speech that included a statement about fair market access for the small private woodlot owners. As folks may be aware, the previous liberal government erased ‘primary source of supply’. Thus stifling any fair market in the private wood sector. We have been in talks with government over this situation via our marketing board representatives for a long time and seem to get no where. I have a woodlot where I spend a good deal of time tending and nurturing it. Some of my activities have been partially funded by the government's private land silviculture program. But, if I can't sell some wood in the future from my management activities, and make a reasonable profit, I might as well use it to sequester carbon. I wouldn't be able to cut it or sell it in a time frame that suits my management needs. It would seem the industry does not need it. If I have to build and maintain roads, maintain property boundaries with neighbors, control insects, and make a living as they expect in their operations, seems to me it should be reflected in the price for my wood to. I mean the price of crown wood is calculated based on these variables. Industry argues that we woodlot owners need to become more efficient and that traditional logging is a thing of the past. Well folks, we can't afford equipment valued more than the wood volume growing on our woodlots. If some of these industry players have to import wood it's because they can buy it cheaper, no other reason. The private woodlot owners of New Brunswick have wood for sale. Price has to reflect cost of production plus profit. Simple economics folks. Seems to me the efficiencies need to be tightened at the mills. I'm a well intentioned woodlot owner and forester looking for equality and fairness. I hope I can continue to work with my fellow woodlot owners for a long time to come.

Hope comes when people speak up and share their views on how we can all work together to build a better New Brunswick.

Hope comes from the dreams of those who have been forced to sit back and have their dreams ignored by previous governments not willing to do what it takes to move this province forward.

Hope comes when tourism websites and attractions reflect a multicultural New Brunswick that is welcoming to all visitors and discriminatory against none.

Hope comes when students become more aware of the greater needs of the entire province and are willing to share their resources to help ensure that no group (rural New Brunswick students) are left out and denied the opportunity to be educated in their trade of choice.

Hope comes when the law and policy makers recognize that making laws and policies do not make facts and changes in lifestyle happen overnight or even across decades if they do not provide people with the tools necessary to implement those changes... yes, I am referring to the language act and the increasingly difficult burden it has placed on our healthcare and educational systems.

Go to immersion and get bilingual just doesn't cut it... there are no bilingual newspapers or other media and locally available educational tools to help the general population get with the program...

Hope comes when non-biased books are finally available and all children learn from the same book no matter which language is used..

Hope comes in the form of home efficiency grants, GO NB and Canadian Tire Jump Start Programs and new ways to communicate with someone about those kinds of programs since the task force on non-profits was completed.

Hope comes when people return home and share their education and skills with their old communities and get involved in helping us build a better places to live.

Most of all.... hope comes when all the people get together and tell it like it is and share thoughts, ideas and solutions ...

Hmm, where do I start?

Mr. Graham has said:

"As government we have to provide hope for the future. But that hope has to come from within. Everywhere I travel across the province, I hear people saying the status quo is not an option."

I am not sure where Mr Graham got the idea that government provides hope for the future, but if that is the case, how then does hope come from within -- within the government? within the people? within the province?

As for the status quo not being a option, well, the status quo right now includes a horribly flawed PSEC report, a University left in limbo, and a Liberal majority government which seems strangely reluctant to listen to the will of the people that elected it

So, in an effort to assist Mr Graham in his quest for (self-sufficient, one assumes) hope, may I suggest:

In response to the first *status quo*, consign the PSEC Report to the trash heap of history

In response to the second *status quo*, save UNBSJ.

In response to the third *status quo*, well, perhaps the results of the next election will give Mr Graham a suggestion about that.

Spem reduxit --- Hope Was Restored

Linda Hansen

In my opinion, Shawn Graham and his government have no common sense.
If they want and need to increase our population, why not do what it takes to bring our husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles and families back home from the west. When my husband recently left to go west to provide for our family, I was finding myself being refered to as a "Western Widow"....This is insane!! There are so many of us here without our spouses that we are actually being labeled! Where is the concern for our families and the well-being of our children? Even children are only numbers to this government!
I also wonder why the government does not take the common sense approach to helping people to help themselves??
I know many people who depend on "the system" to survive, but that is all they do, survive. They will give a person an assistance cheque if the person is not doing anything to help themselves(not working.But, if a person is trying to help themselves(working)but is still unable to make ends meet(because of such low wages and high taxes) they won't help at all...if they would give a hand to more people who are trying and less to those that are able and just won't, I think we would see a huge drop in the poverty levels and crime rate.
Alot of what the government likes to call, "organized crime", is just frustrated people who have resorted to what is called "criminal activity for financial gain" just to be able to provide for their families and to give them a financially higher standard of living.
Something is drastically wrong when the elected government is so lacking in basic common sense!

The report is nothing more then a marketing gimmick from the Liberals. Have you seen a single detail on how this will occur?

You have to realize this government wants to close our University, continue to raise taxes, and put money in the pockets of their supporters.

Why bother having a plan when you can just get people to study issues? This worked for post secondary education right?

New Brunswick, self sufficient ?
With almost every mill in the province shut down and our biggest natural resource sitting dormant, our workforce leaving for the west,all I can ask is what planet is Graham visiting us from ?

The report is smoke and mirrors---hope this and hope that, but no substance. It appears the government will let the UNBSJ situation dangle until people get the message that it is too much of a gamble to go there and then they (Gov't) will have an excuse to get the changes they want because enrollment will drop due to all the uncertainty and the university can become a tech or poly tech.. And as everything is cyclic what will happen when we have too many tradespeople and the work is not there and a lot of bright young New Brunswickers have left the province to go to universities elsewhere?