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Re: Sale of NB Power

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Congratulations to Hydro-Quebec for negotiating such a wonderful deal for the province of Quebec during a time of financial stress.

They will have successfully cornered the lucrative New England market for electric power, which is due for a resurgence when the U.S. comes out of recession, and effectively eliminated all competition from the Atlantic provinces.

They will have increased their assets at a rock bottom price just as some big banks do when others are in trouble.

Quebec companies will have preference when it comes to power plant maintenance and equipment supply contracts, thus enhancing Quebec industry.

Any consulting work can conveniently be moved to Quebec, and academic research can also be done by Quebec universities instead of those in New Brunswick.

Highly qualified staff in the nuclear field can be recruited from Point Lepreau and centred in Quebec.

Furthermore, Point Lepreau can become a career opportunity for French nuclear personnel.

In short, it is a fantastic deal for Quebec, with no long term advantage for New Brunswick.

Robin Chaplin

New Maryland, N.B.

What if something happens to me before I get the vaccine?

Re: H1N1 flu shot clinics

On Nov. 5 I raced to the Brookside Medical Clinic to an unannounced H1N1 flu shot clinic.

I was mortified to find out that even though I have illnesses that should and I thought did put me in the high risk category, I was not welcomed to get it.

The lady told me if I were pregnant, a child or aboriginal, I could have it.

What is going on? Why was the government not be better prepared for this?

Every time I go out my door I am fearful of my health because of this situation, fearing that I will get it and then it will be too late.

I am a severe asthmatic, I have a neurological disease called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (for which there is no cure), high blood pressure (which is higher right now) and various other health problems.

At what point am I going to be able to get this shot? Every time a clinic is posted, it is postponed.

Why do certain people get the opportunity to get the shot, when others like me cannot, even with the severity of health problems?

I am thoroughly infuriated right now with the government and those in charge of deciding that someone else with no health issues is more important than I am!

I know I am not alone in this, but the government or whomever is in charge should have prevented those who had no health issues from getting it in the first place without letting the priorities go first.

I know there is still more time, but what if something happens to me or someone else who has health issues in the meantime?

Is the government going to say "Oh well, it was just a fluke?"

Tammy Darling

Fredericton

Try to catch a speeding bus

Re: School zone speeding

My grandson drove me home the other day and I kept telling him there was a school zone up ahead.

So we slowed to 30 kilometres an hour (maybe even 25). But a city bus in front of us zoomed through the school zone going nearly 50!

And so did a second bus coming the other way. Can you believe it?

You don't need to be a rocket surgeon to see the problem here. Buses are driving faster now and the kids are going to miss the bus. If the kids always get a bus that drives 30 kilometres an hour, won't they be late for a bus going 50?

All of a sudden they will have to move 67 per cent faster to get to the bus stop on time. That is just elementary math. And the problem really arithmetics me off!

Back when I served, we had a graduated system when we wanted to make something better. We didn't jump 10 toes in with these new-fangled 50-kilometres-an-hour ideas. We'd set a small goal, then later set a higher goal once everyone got better.

So to help the kids, maybe the city buses should first start driving just 35 through school zones and work their way up to their target of 50 kilometres an hour by year's end.

This might even make the soft youth of today even fitter, trying to catch a speeding bus. Now wouldn't that just pop your corn!

Here's my early congratulations to public transit for thinking of the children and making the city a healthier place!

Lou Skannon

Fredericton

We need lots of discussion and a vote

Re: Sale of NB Power

No government of New Brunswick has a mandate to sell off assets owned by the people of New Brunswick without first receiving permission via a plebiscite.

All of this should not be sprung on the people in this manner.

It should have been well discussed before any memorandum of understanding was signed.

What were we, the owners of NB Power, able to "understand" without any knowledge of this behind-our-backs scheme?

NB Power is the only thing New Brunswick has to call its own. When we lose control of NB Power, we will truly be a have-not province.

This government is selling us out and if possible, a court injunction should be issued to stop this from going any further until it is fully, publicly discussed and voted on by the people of this fast-fading province.

Harold R. Rice

Lakeville Corner, N.B.

Don't tear down York Arena

Re: Ice time availability

I am the parent of two young boys who play hockey.

My youngest son plays in the FYHA; my oldest son plays Peewee AAA.

I am concerned about the fact that 11 and 12-year-old boys have to go all the way to Fredericton Junction to play and practise hockey because the City of Fredericton does not have enough ice surfaces to accommodate the population within the city.

It takes about 35 minutes to get from our doorstep to the Tri-County Complex in Fredericton Junction, and that is if there is no traffic and good road conditions.

On Wednesday evenings, my 11-year-old son arrives home at 10 p.m., and who knows what time he will arrive home when winter rolls around.

I find it deplorable that city council would even consider tearing down the York Arena when we are suffering such a shortage of ice surfaces.

Even when the Grant*Harvey Arena is built, there will still not be enough ice to accommodate the demand, and yet they would have the population believe that there is.

I know for a fact that there are many parents in this city who are facing the same predicament with their children having to travel well outside of the city limits in order for their children to play hockey. For example, the Bantam AAA team has to travel to Burtts Corner.

What is it going to take for our city council to be proactive and understand that we as taxpayers are forced to travel outside the city on dangerous roads so our kids can play hockey.

So, here is the burning question: Is it going to take a tragic accident for them to realize they must not consider tearing down the York Arena?

Angie Burtt

Fredericton