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Re: Federal election local debate

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Fredericton is home to two universities, and hosts over 11,000 students from across the world.

The young people at these universities represent New Brunswick's best chance to move ahead and become a more prosperous society. Today's youth will lead Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Canada though the 21st century.

As such, it is extremely disappointing that Keith Ashfield and the Conservative Party would snub these students, and skip the debate held at UNB on Wednesday evening. Mr. Ashfield explained his absence by saying his time would be better spent elsewhere.

Student and faculty associations at both institutions sponsored this event, and Mr. Ashfield missed an excellent opportunity to explain how he and his party will help both students and post-secondary education - one of the economic foundations of our city.

Our economy is going through extremely challenging times. The teenagers and twenty-somethings of today will be most affected by the slowdown. Our ability to pay our student loans, get our first jobs, and buy our first homes will be affected by decisions made by the next government in Ottawa.

A candidate who wishes to represent Fredericton in Parliament must be willing to listen to what students and young people are facing today, as they represent a sizeable portion of his constituency. Ignoring these problems will not make them disappear.

If Mr. Ashfield is not willing to stand up and defend his platform during an election, perhaps his time could be better spent somewhere other than Ottawa.

Robert Hoadley

Fredericton

Dion is too big a risk

Re: Federal election

With federal election day close, Canadians should seriously ponder the very future of our country.

The leaders of all parties are making interesting promises, but which ones are do-able and within our financial means? We all know promises can be broken.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion is promising to provide expensive drugs not presently covered by medicare which could amount to millions annually. A noble idea, but if his Liberal government were to get elected, would this promise ever be fulfilled? It sounds much like the 1993 election when Liberal leader Jean Chrétien promised to eliminate the GST.

Another serious concern is his proposed carbon tax. If large corporations were hit with such a tax, how many would move to another country? The ones that do remain will obviously pass the added cost on to consumers, many of whom are already financially overburdened.

Another danger with such a tax would be to alienate the western oil producing provinces, which were severely hit by the Trudeau Liberals' energy bill in the 1970s. They obviously haven't forgotten. Alberta already feels they provide more than their fair share of revenue for equalization payments to Ottawa, amounting to over $14 billion annually.

For the past few years there have been rumblings that if not treated more fairly by Ottawa, the western provinces would consider separating from Canada.

If Quebec can do so, other provinces could do likewise. These party leaders should be well aware that if this were to happen, Quebec and the Maritimes would soon freeze in the dark.

This is in stark contrast from the time of Confederation when the Maritimes were the engine driving the economy. Now we must accept welfare from Ottawa just to maintain a reasonable standard of living.

For Canada to continue to survive as a nation we must keep a steady hand at the helm. Canadians outside Quebec must also remember that Stéphane Dion has been quoted as saying Quebec's Bill 101, which puts limits on the English language there, is a great law.

Only he deserves power who has the wisdom to use it wisely.

Ronald Bubar

Douglas N.B.

Harper wrote the book on chaos

Re: Federal election

In 2007 the Conservative Party printed a secret 200-page handbook on how to disrupt parliamentary committees and create chaos. It offered suggestions such as storming out of meetings and tutoring biased witnesses. Embarrassed after this book was leaked to the media, Stephen Harper asked for them to be returned.

It would seem his MPs took these guidelines to heart. Doug Finley, Conservative campaign director, had to be forcibly removed from the room when he was asked to testify on the Conservative in-and-out scheme, other MPs have ignored their summonses, and current candidates have attempted to manipulate the public by spreading falsehoods about the Liberal platform.

Despite the fact that almost all the legislation put forward by the Conservative Party was passed during its minority government, Stephen Harper complained the opposition parties had created chaos and virtually paralyzed parliament, making an election necessary.

He broke his own fixed-election date legislation to call an election that only he wanted.

Chaos indeed - made-to-order chaos, just as the Conservative manual described.

On Oct. 14, let's storm Harper out of office, and send a message that this sort of behaviour will no longer be tolerated.

Carol Stevens

Quispamsis, N.B.

Conservatives have nothing to say

Re: Federal election local debate

Last week I attended the Fredericton federal candidates debate at the Stepping Stones facility at Wilmot Park. I'm glad I went because I learned a great deal about each of the candidates and their respective platforms. But there was one glaring omission. Keith Ashfield, the Conservative Party's candidate, did not show up.

The Liberals, the NDP, and the Green Party were all represented, but there was no one there to articulate the Conservative position.

Perhaps this is because there isn't much of a Conservative position to speak of. As I write this, the Conservatives have yet to present a platform to Canadians. This is astonishing. Mr. Harper has been asking Canadians to grant him a majority government, but he won't tell us anything about what he plans to do.

It's much easier to attack others than present solutions. This seems to be the Harper way. It's also easier to muzzle your MPs and your candidates than it is to let them speak out. This also seems to be the Harper way, as Mr. Ashfield's absence from some of this local debate has demonstrated.

This is no way for a democracy to function. Canada deserves better, and so does our riding.

Eileen Malone

Fredericton