The Purple Violet Press

Come one, come all...

2012-02-28T08:00:00.003-08:00

Come and Hear Another Side of The SHALE GAS STORY
Based on Research done by the Taymouth Community Association

Blackville United Church Hall
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
7:30 pm

Refreshments Will be Served
For More Information Call 261-5001

Leo Hayes students hold anti-bullying protest today

2012-02-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

Leo Hayes anti-bullying protesters speak to media in front of school

2012-02-27T09:28:00.001-08:00

Leo Hayes student explains protest and ejection by Principal Pottle from school today

2012-02-27T09:27:00.001-08:00

Leo Hayes student describes how bullies justify behaviour

2012-02-27T09:26:00.001-08:00

Potential city council candidate, DEC member and parent on bullying

2012-02-27T09:25:00.001-08:00

NDP slams Business New Brunswick for record of failure

2012-02-27T07:35:00.003-08:00

ACOA architect Donald Savoie joins New Democrats in call for agency to close

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick’s New Democrats emphasized the need to end corporate welfare following a damning report by the Canadian Press stating that 23% of Business New Brunswick (BNB) investments over the last six years went to companies that have since declared bankruptcy or closed their doors.

New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy said, “Liberal and Conservative governments threw more than $150 million dollars down the drain. Money we need for schools, for research and development, to tackle poverty. Mr. Premier, shut down Business New Brunswick. Put a stop to corporate welfare. Liberal and Tory businesses will have to go somewhere else to find money to waste.”

New Democrats proposed ending corporate welfare in the 2010 provincial election. The party is pleased Professor Donald Savoie, key architect of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, has said the time for corporate welfare programs has passed.

Said Cardy, “Progressive parties, including mine, used to hope governments playing favourites with business could strengthen the economy. The idea was tried. It did not work. The people who benefit most from corporate welfare aren’t New Brunswick businesses or taxpayers. The people who benefit most are Liberal and Conservative insiders; too often Business New Brunswick has been used to pass money to their friends and family members. Just look at Atcon – nearly $70 million dollars to a company with direct connections to the last Liberal government.”

Cardy expressed surprise after a BNB spokesperson said many failed BNB-backed businesses reopened with the help of additional government money. He said, “Liberals and Conservatives believe the only way New Brunswick can survive is by bribing bad companies. I don’t buy it: I believe in a rich and fair New Brunswick where people with a great education, living in safe, green communities, apply for jobs with New Brunswick companies that grew because they were world class.”

Cardy said, “Existing companies will move to New Brunswick because they see a province that values new ideas, that’s open and creative. A New Democrat government will work hard to make sure our people have the skills they need, that they are healthy, that our regulations and infrastructure make sense.”

The New Democrats have proposed programs to replace BNB including a revenue-generating New Jobs Tax Credit to reward companies that create jobs.

Balsam fir likely to disappear from New Brunswick's forest - Conservation Council

2012-02-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

Forest management needs to seriously consider climate change

FREDERICTON- According to a new Canadian Council of Forest Ministers' report, balsam fir, New Brunswick's provincial tree, is likely to disappear from most of New Brunswick by the end of the century as a result of climate change. The report states: "Balsam fir is likely to disappear from Nova Scotia and most of New Brunswick, and shift north into northeastern Quebec and Labrador." Balsam fir, New Brunswick's preferred choice for Christmas trees, has historically fed the pulp and paper, and timber industries in this province.

"It's not too late for the provincial government to seriously address climate change in future forest management," said David Coon, CCNB Action's Executive Director. "If we are serious about adapting to the effects of climate change, then we need to choose forest diversity over plantations. We need to refocus our cutting plans and silviculture spending on creating a resilient and diverse forest. We are currently favouring the regrowth of spruce and fir by cutting other species or by planting softwoods and spraying the hardwoods that try to grow back. We must focus on restoring our forests' natural diversity to adapt to a future of climate change," said Coon.

According to CCNB Action, going with status quo forestry will further degrade out forest's diversity and weaken its ability to recover from disturbances like fires, pest outbreaks, winter thaws, droughts and floods that come with climate change.

"The Alward government will decide next month whether to adopt the previous government’s plan to intensify the production of spruce and fir in the public forest by permitting the clearcutting of wildlife habitat zones and more than doubling the amount of natural forest converted to plantations or shift gears and manage for diversity and resilience in our public forest," said Tracy Glynn, CCNB's Forest Campaigner.

Forests play an important role in carbon capture and storage. Researchers have concluded that old forests continue to store and accumulate carbon at a much greater rate than had previously been thought, a fact yet to be considered in forest management plans.

The fracking frontline: a tale of two Pennsylvanias - The Guardian UK

2012-02-24T13:53:00.002-08:00

In what the Pennsylvania governor says will 'level the playing field for gas exploration', a controversial bill has been passed, rendering previous zoning laws void. With the new bill hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can take place as close as 90 metres (300ft) from residential houses. This film visits Dallas township where the citizens' engagement has kept the gas exploration at bay – for now

Boiestown area vote to continue with shale gas concerns local group

2012-02-24T13:05:00.001-08:00

Companies can go on to drill in area

- from the Upper Miramichi Stewardship Alliance:

As previously reported, in the summer of 2011 SouthWest Energy (SWN) broke provincial regulations by conducting seismic testing for shale gas within the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi (RCUM) without permission. As a result in October 2011, UMSA made a presentation to the RCUM mayor and council asking them to take action by:

• Writing a letter of admonishment addressed to the Premier, the Minister of Natural Resources and Shale Gas group expressing disapproval of SWN for carrying out exploration without permission.

• Passing a motion denying permission for further shale gas exploration in the RCUM.

• Passing a motion denying permission for shale gas production in the RCUM.

In response, at the monthly council meeting held on Dec 19, 2011 Mayor Clowater stated that council had discussed the issues and had decided not to take further action against SWN and described SWN’s disregard for regulations as “an honest mistake”. In a three to one vote, the council went on to pass a motion allowing SWN to continue shale gas exploration within RCUM’s boundaries. Councillor Fowler was the sole dissenter.

What does this mean? According to provincial regulations, companies looking for oil and gas deposits in New Brunswick must obtain permission to explore within municipal boundaries. Once testing is complete, these companies do NOT require further permission to start drilling for production. Therefore blocking exploration is the only means to prevent oil and gas companies from entering our community. Once drilling begins, there is no way to ask them to leave.

Pet policy reversal a step in the right direction - NDP

2012-02-23T19:34:00.001-08:00

"Now deal with the rats, drug dealers, and other pests" says New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy

FREDERICTON - New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy thanked Social Development Minister Sue Stultz for doing the right thing by reversing the eviction orders for NB Housing tenants in Moncton and ordering a review of the no-pets policy. The sudden reversal, two days after the Minister called on social housing residents to turn themselves in if they had a pet, comes in the face of mounting concern about serious health and safety concerns in NB Housing including reports of rat infestations, mould, drug use and other criminal activity. The New Democrats have worked with residents to make their concerns heard.

Cardy said, “As New Brunswick’s constructive opposition New Democrats join the seniors and other residents of NB Housing in recognizing Minister Stultz¹s decision to apologize for and reverse the eviction orders, and to let the residents keep their pets.”

Cardy said, “This controversy has brought up important issues around the way NB Housing operates, and concerns over the maintenance of its properties. I hope that Minister Stultz will, in addition to reviewing the pet policy, take action on the problems of health, safety, and crime that are a serious problem in many NB Housing complexes. We are happy residents get to keep their pets but now we have to make sure rats, drug dealers, and other unwanted pests are cleaned out of buildings paid for by New Brunswick taxpayers. New Brunswick's New Democrats look forward to working with residents of NB Housing, the government, and other partners to make life better for all tenants in social housing.”

Information from the Ministry of Social Development on the policy states:

• There will be no evictions in connection with letters that were recently sent by the Moncton regional office.
• Residents that recently received a letter asking that they find other accommodations for their pets can disregard that letter. It was sent in error.
• Minister Stultz has instructed that Social Development immediately begin an internal review of what reasons would be considered medically required to allow a pet.
• The objective of the review is to ensure the no-pet policy balances the obligation to protect residents from dangerous pets or unhealthy living environments while respecting the important medical benefits a family pet can bring.
• While the review is taking place, the no pet policy will be suspended for current residents. But consideration will be given if concern is raised about pets that pose a danger to the community."

The Eviction: Occupy Fredericton vs City of Fredericton

2012-02-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

By Andre Faust
The Lefteye blog
February 23, 2012

Occupy Fredericton took physical occupation of Phoenix Square October 15, 2011 which is located by City Hall. The Occupy tent remained there until 5:00 am January 03, 2012, Orders from the mayor were given to the city workers to physically demolish the camp, city workers proceed to demolish the camp while there were still occupiers residing in the tent. Alex Davenport one of the occupiers was struck on the head by falling a 2 x 4, no serious injury was reported.
Two and a half days prior to the order to tear down the tent, the occupiers at Phoenix square where hand delivered two letters one from Mayor Brad Woodside, the other from city engineer Jamer Murray.
The Letter from The Mayor informs the occupiers that they are prohibited from:
1. Installing, erecting or maintaining a building or other structure in contravention of Section 5 of By-law No. T -4, A By-law Respecting Streets and Sidewalks. A written notice from the Director of Engineering and Public Works is attached to and forms part of this Notice.
2. Placing or causing to be placed an enhanced attraction signage in contravention of Section 12.01 (5) of By-law No. T -4, A By-law Respecting Streets and Sidewalks.
The second letter from the city engineer states that:
Pursuant to Section 5 of By-law No. T-4, A By-law Respecting Streets and Sidewalks, you are hereby given three (3) days notice to remove any and all structures that are located in Phoenix Square, being a public square and a public place in the City of Fredericton.
If you fail to remove any and all structures from Phoenix Square after three (3) days you will be in violation of By-law No. T-4. Please be advised that
every person who violates any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
In addition, please be advised that under Section 12 of By-law No. T-4, A By-law
Respecting Streets and Sidewalks, enhanced attraction signage is not permitted on a street, which includes a public square or any other public place in the City of Fredericton without the permission of City Council.
Both of the letter and the notice refers to section 5
5. BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
The Director of Engineering and Public Works shall give to any person who erects or maintains a building or structure contrary to this section three days notice in writing to remove the same or such portion thereof as may be within or over a street. If such person fails to obey the notice, the Director of Engineering and Public Works shall report the facts and circumstances to the City Clerk.
Included in the notice is the penalty clause section 16.
16. PENALTIES
Every person who violates any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
According to Dr. Groarke, Section 5 creates and offense, but legislation as such contains three separate parts.
part 1. A Substantive clause that prohibits some form of
conduct.
part 2. a clause providing for Notice.
part 3. A penalty clause that sets out what the penalty is for violating part 1.
The problem is that there is no clause that prohibited the erection of the tent, therefore was no violation so the notice become void.
On numerous occasions Occupy Fredericton has ask the City to take the matter to the courts for a decision. The city refused to have the matter heard in the courts and countered with “Other municipalities have taken the matter to the courts and won on constitution grounds, there is no need to waste the tax payers money”. However the Fredericton situation was different because this is not a constitutional question but an action from the city on a clause that doesn’t exist. In all likelihood the city would have failed if the matter would have been taken to the courts because of the missing provision.

Local citizen frustrated with MLA Brian MacDonald's lack of publicity for meetings on shale gas

2012-02-22T12:42:00.000-08:00

Below is an e-mail local resident Mark D'Arcy sent MLA Brian MacDonald, from whom he has yet to receive a response.

Dear Honourable member Brian MacDonald,

This is a follow-up to my phone request a couple of weeks ago. I requested information on when your town hall meeting will take place as part of public consultation on shale gas. I did not hear back from your office.

At a speech to Moncton Rotary Club and Moncton Chamber of Commerce on October 03, 2011, Premier David Alward promised that MLAs would host town hall meetings in each provincial riding as part of public consultation on shale gas. He promised that these town hall meetings would take place in October.

When I was speaking with your office in early January, I learned that you held a meeting on November 17, 2011 at the Stepping Stone Senior Centre. I understand that there were no notices for this meeting in the newspapers, no notices using e-mail or social media, and no notice posted on your MLA website. Your office said that there were radio announcements about the meeting.

A meeting without public notice is not a public meeting.

When will you be holding your town hall meeting as part of public consultation on shale gas?

Sincerely yours,

Mark D’Arcy

Village of Doaktown clarifies stance on shale gas

2012-02-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

Press release sent out today to clear up confusion

The Village of Doaktown is open for business to any endeavor, be that an industrial or commercial operation which would include Shale Gas Operations.

The Mayor and Village Council are not against fracking or hydraulic fracturing, forest operations or any other industrial operation. We do as that any operation be done safely and responsibly.

The Mayor and Council did pass a resolution at a regularly scheduled Council meeting on February 9, 2012 to protect the water supply of our residents.

The energy companies currently operating under license in our area have taken no exception with the resolution that we passed on Feb. 9, 2012 and they are committed to protecting the environment and any water supply.

The Mayor and Village Council have worked closely with SWN Resources and their agents with their efforts in and around our area last summer. SWN Resources have been highly professional and cooperative in their dealings with the Village of Doaktown. The Village of Doaktown and SWN Resources are committed to continue to work together for our mutual benefit.

The Village of Doaktown was recently the victim of a press release by others to indicate the Village had taken position against shale gas, and that is not true. Anyone making a false representation of our policy may be subject to legal action.

Mayor Charles E. Stewart

Doaktown Village Council

Rats, not cats: Minister Stultz's message to assisted-housing residents

2012-02-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

New Democrats message to Stultz: apologize or quit

FREDERICTON – New Brunswick New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy is calling on Social Development Minister Sue Stultz to end her cruel crusade against pet owners in assisted housing.

Cardy said, “Minister Stultz was aware of a rat problem in Parkton Heights in the fall of last year. Months later the rats are still there. Other residents have complained about mould in basements and used needles
littering the common areas.”

Cardy said, “Now the government is taking action. Not to fix the rat problem. Not to fix the mould problem. Not to fix the problems of drugs and crime that can make life in assisted housing difficult. No, Minister
Stultz is spending taxpayers money to make people’s lives even more difficult by forcing them to choose between their pets and the roof over their heads.”

Minister Stultz has sent pet eviction notices to residents of two assisted housing complexes. In one case residents have less than one week to get rid of their pets. Resident Melanie Dennis said, “My son and I have been through a lot of difficult times, and our dog Zane helps him through it. We have so many other problems in our community - why is Sue Stultz targeting our pets?”

On Monday, Minister Stultz said residents in assisted housing who own pets, in some cases people who had previously told her department about their dogs and cats “should be calling [her office] and saying well why
aren't you enforcing this [eviction notice] because we do have a pet.”

Cardy said, “Minister Stultz, don’t ask your tenants to do your job. Fix this problem: You can change the rule that justified this cruel campaign. You can fix the serious problems affecting assisted-housing. And if you’re
not capable of performing your duties you should resign.”

On Tuesday, NB Housing made an exception to the no-pet policy for Mr. Sonier, a man from Parkton Heights with cerebral palsy, and is allowing him to keep his dog Molly.

“I’m happy that Mr. Sonier will get to keep Molly. Now Minister Stultz has shown she has a heart. Why spend tax dollars enforcing a rule that has been ignored for so long? Make the change, and let everyone keep their pets.”

New Democrats are calling for the Minister to focus on problem tenants, not pets, and for the government to amend the Residential Tenancies Act to remove the right of landlords to evict people because they own pets. The New Democrats are calling for protection for all landlords and tenants and to target criminal behaviour and the other serious problems affecting public housing.

Lepreau re-start should wait until earthquake studies complete - CCNB

2012-02-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

CCNB Action is calling on NB Power to delay the re-start of its nuclear reactor at Point Lepreau until the public utility has completed its earthquake hazards studies and made them public.

On February 17th, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) renewed NB Power's license to operate the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant and granted permission to re-start its nuclear reactor. As a condition of its decision, the CNSC ordered NB Power to carry out site specific seismic hazard assessments and make them available to the public. NB Power's license renewal application relied on earthquake assessments that were decades old.

CCNB's Saint John Chapter argued at the regulatory hearings in December that Point Lepreau could not withstand a serious earthquake in the area, a point of controversy when Point Lepreau was originally constructed.

"We brought forward evidence from Ken Burke, a seismologist and expert on the history of earthquakes in New Brunswick that the next significant earthquake in southern New Brunswick would be in the Passamaquoddy Bay region," said Sharon Murphy, a CCNB Director who chairs the organization's Saint John chapter. "We used NB Power's own data to demonstrate that Point Lepreau is not adequately designed to withstand tremors from a significant earthquake in the Passamaquoddy Bay region," she said.

CCNB's intervention before the CNSC convince the nuclear regulator to require NB Power to carry out new site-specific seismic assessments.

"It makes no sense to re-start the nuclear reactor until the earthquake assessments are completed and released to the public," said Murphy. "We are asking NB Power to err on the side of caution and delay the re-start of the nuclear reactor at Point Lepreau until they have assessed the earthquake risks," she said.

NDP Convention in April

2012-02-21T07:16:00.000-08:00

The New Brunswick New Democrats will have their biennial convention from April 13th – 15th.

The convention will be held at:
Delta Brunswick
39 King St
Saint John

Convention activities will begin at 5:00pm on Friday, April 13th and end at 1:00pm on Sunday, April 15th.

For inquiries, please contact Kat Heaney at 506-470-65449 or kheaney@nbndp.ca.

New Democrat leader calls for stop to government department donations

2012-02-21T07:10:00.000-08:00

FREDERICTON – New Brunswick New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy is calling on Premier David Alward to put a stop to government departments and agencies making donations and sponsoring events.

In recent weeks the PC Party has been forced to return donations from two separate government agencies. Horizon Health and WorkSafeNB came under fire after it was discovered they purchased tickets to an “Evening with the Premier” fundraising dinner.

Sharon Tucker, the chair of WorkSafeNB and three time Conservative candidate, attended the fundraiser on behalf of WorksafeNB. Ms. Tucker knew it was a party fundraiser before attending.

“New Brunswick’s tax dollars should be spent on public services, not private parties for political insiders,” says Cardy. "Premier Alward must investigate government department spending for donations and sponsorships, report the totals to the public, and stop this practise for good.”

“Premier Alward put your foot down and stop government departments from making these type of donations,” says Cardy.

In 2011, Business NB and Invest NB sponsored a provincially funded Enterprise Fredericton golf tournament and reception.

“New Brunswickers should not be footing the bill so bureaucrats can rub elbows with politicians,” says Cardy.

In 2006 former Premier Bernard Lord ordered all New Brunswick Crown Corporations to stop donations after NB Power donated $400,000 to the University of New Brunswick.

“Premier Lord made the right decision. Premier Alward enforce the rules,” says Cardy.

“A New Democrat government would stop government departments and agencies from donating to charities and other government departments,” says Cardy, “and put that money towards the front-line services that New Brunswickers need.”

Message to Caller

2012-02-21T06:59:00.000-08:00

To the gentleman who called this morning regarding Windsor Energy and Ittihad Capital Corporation: Your message was difficult to comprehend due to accent and technical difficulties. Also your contact number was a dead end when your call was returned.

If you would like to contact this publication and pose the questions you say you have, please e-mail at thepurplevioletpress@gmail.com

Your inquiries are welcomed.

Thank you.

Cheryl Norrad
Creator, Publisher, Editor, Reporter
The Purple Violet Press

Maude Barlow reports on the water war

2012-02-17T17:10:00.000-08:00

Above, Maude Barlow relates a story from the water wars during her
talk at UNB last night.

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - International water activist Maude Barlow spoke at UNB Fredericton last night to a packed auditorium, and overflow room, at the Wu Conference Centre as part of the university's Andrews Initiative speaker series, 2012 Year of Water.

Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, spoke bluntly on the worldwide water crisis, beginning with other countries around the globe and relating it to the situation in Canada and New Brunswick.

"We are running out of water on the planet," said Barlow, blaming pollution, improper crops and land-based industrial systems that use up water.

China, with its booming economy, she said, is quickly using up its water supply, while India has already hit the bottom of its water table, along with Australia and countries in the Middle East.

"Four thousand cities in China are in danger of being deserts, including Beijing, where tumbleweeds have been seen blowing down streets," said Barlow.

Citing U.N. statistics, Barlow said by 2040 two-thirds of the planet will be in water stress. Already there are conflicts arising due to the unequal distribution of water supplies. Calling it water theft, Barlow described how Mexico City runs a pipeline almost 100 miles into the countryside, taking water from rural citizens to supply urban dwellers. Uniformed security guard the pipeline and anyone caught trying to stop the water being pumped to the city is dealt with violently.

China is taking water from the Tibetan Himalayas through large dams it has constructed, diverting it for use. This is causing dissension with India and will likely lead to a future conflagration over water between the two.

Barlow said the crux of the global fight over water is between it being a commodity versus it being a human right. The commodification of water includes water utility companies running on a for-profit basis and bottled water companies. Barlow gave a shocking example of the scale of pollution and waste by the bottled water industry.

"In one year, the amount of discarded empty bottles of water can go to the moon and back 65 times," she said.

When water becomes a tradable property, it can become too expensive to afford. Barlow said the Australian government gave companies water rights for trading and selling, but when it realized what it had done and tried to buy the rights back, it couldn't. The water was too expensive.

She also said many are surprised to hear the water crisis is hitting the United States, one of the richest countries in the world.

"Water supplies in Detroit have been cut to 90,000 families because the city can't afford more."

Barlow opened the part of her discussion on Canada's water situation about how Canadians are used to having water on tap as much as they want, when they want it.

"We have a myth of abundance," she said. "We have to change our thinking."

Describing water policy in Canada, Barlow said the national water law is forty-two years old, the country has no national standards on water and the national water supply hasn't been mapped by governments.

"There is no national energy policy in Canada...Harper believes in nothing but open markets...an invasion of the North is coming to get our resources there...Harper is dangerous," she said.

The shortage of water in Canada can be seen in how ninety per cent of First Nations don't have running water in their homes, Lake Winnipeg is dead, and the Great Lakes are being overextracted and could be bone dry in 80 years. Experts predict Alberta will be the first province that won't have water due to the ravages of industry.

Worrying Barlow the most is the coming Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) Canada is currently negotiating with Europe that will give big European water corporations the right to challenge any province or municipality that doesn't open up its market.

"CETA is bigger than NAFTA, corporations from Europe will have access to 'sub-national procurement' where all federal monies for provincial and municipal spending will go into public/private partnerships and outside companies can bid on [water] contracts."

Barlow also forsees more civil disobedience in Canada over the water issue with First Nations taking the lead in the protests.

Turning to New Brunswick, Barlow showed she was fully aware of water issues here by mentioning the plight of the people who've lost their wells in Penobsquis, the expanding potash industry and lamented last week's announcement on wetlands by Environment Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney as a "disgrace to government."

"New Brunswick water is not protected due to the voracious appetite of industry...it's clear the Alward government is giving preference to industry and putting communities on the backburner," Barlow said.

She also brought up the contentious shale gas fracking issue that has been making headlines in the province in the past year, describing the impact of the industry on water and how it has brought protest groups together.

"The Council of Canadians will stand one-hundred per cent with you and call for a moratorium on fracking; we have to get a moratorium on fracking in this province," said Barlow to applause.

Concerning to Barlow is the fact New Brunswick is the only province in Canada with no ban on commercial water exports.

"If water becomes a tradable commodity under NAFTA, American companies can take it," she said.

Barlow advised the audience to fight the fracking industry here by using laws beyond its borders.

"The right to water is an international law...signatories are bound by three obligations...the right to respect [is one] where no one can come in and take the water. This should be used to fight fracking," she said.

Circling back to her description of the water war being one between commodities and rights, Barlow outlined the Council of Canadians position on water rights as a threefold approach: 1. Water has rights; it is sacred and must be protected through restoration and watershed planning. 2. Water is a public trust where government has a fiduciary responsibility to entrench water as a public trust necessary for life. She gave Vermont as an example of this with its legislation saying the state's water belongs to the people of Vermont. 3. Water is a human right and it's equitable distribution around the world has to be ensured.

Barlow ended her talk by encouraging New Brunswickers to fight for their water as "water warriors" because, "...the local fight for water is part of the global struggle."

CAPP bold in bringing its power to bear on NB

2012-02-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

The reach of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers lobby in New Brunswick and how the province is quietly going along

By Cheryl Norrad

Last month provincial media became aware Angie Leonard, a member of the province's steering committee on shale gas, was hired by the most powerful oil and gas lobby in Canada, The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). But overlooked in the discovery of that knowledge was an agreement made between CAPP, and a locally created provincial lobby group headed by employees of CAPP and industry.

"As part of a memorandum of agreement reached in December 13^th, 2011, CAPP and the New Brunswick Oil and Natural Gas Association have formed a task group comprised of representatives from both associations. The task group's objective is to engage with communities, business leaders, governments and people interested in an open, fact-based dialogue about natural gas and oil development.," wrote CAPP spokesman Markus Ermisch in a press release dated January 18, 2012 to online financial publication, Canada Newswire.

CAPP made no mention of Ermisch's announcement on it's own website, and there is no information available online for The New Brunswick Oil and Gas Association (NBOGA). Leonard, and CAPP manager for Atlantic Canada, Paul Barnes, who is co-chairman of NBOGA, are the only two publicly noted as being part of this gas association lobby group in the press release.

However, when contacted, Ermisch said the group is comprised of about 9 members, including SWN general manager Tom Alexander and Corridor's Phillip Knoll.

It seems the full court press for industry is on and bearing down on little NB.

After formally releasing it's principles for the hydro-fracking industry a few weeks ago, CAPP's Vice-President of Operations, David Pryce, spoke on behalf of the companies he represents during a two-day media tour here, telling the province what it should do to implement CAPP's principles.

"What we're saying is if these things make sense, we'd certainly encourage the province to look at how they might adopt them and apply them in a regulatory world...there is a gap that we're trying to fill," said Pryce in an interview with Terry Seguin of CBC's Information Morning Fredericton a few weeks ago.

The province, on the other hand, has been reluctant to admit it's close relationship with CAPP, and didn't reveal the Leonard defection to the lobby until it's hand was forced by local media. The Alward government has often been truculent in it's dealings with media since coming to power, but has been especially so on the shale gas file, keeping reporters at bay by ignoring e-mail and telephone inquiries.

However, research on how CAPP and the province became connected is revealing.

A spokesman for CAPP said recently the New Brunswick government sought out the services of the powerful energy advocate after leaning of it's work in British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Members of the Alward government visited these provinces as part of a learning tour about shale gas after the administration came into power in 2010.

"A request for submissions went out by the New Brunswick government to BC and Nova Scotia for information on our work in those provinces," said Travis Davies from his CAPP office in Calgary.

In learning of the request, Barnes got in touch with the New Brunswick government to advise the province on how to proceed with its burgeoning shale gas industry, bringing with him the power of an organization that advocates for companies producing about ninety per cent of the country's natural gas and oil.

Ermisch also said CAPP has been involved over the past year with the shale gas industry in New Brunswick, but got "directly involved" when Angie Leonard came on-board.

This contradicts the impression the Alward government is projecting on this file in formulating what it calls it's own unique set of regulations for the province's shale gas industry. Four were created and announced last June in response to growing public worries over environmental effects of shale gas fracking expected to begin within the next few years. They are as follows:

conduct baseline testing on all potable water wells within a minimum distance of 200 metres of seismic testing and 500 metres of oil or gas drilling before operations can begin. These will be minimum requirements and may be increased depending upon the situation;

provide full disclosure of all proposed, and actual, contents of all fluids and chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracing) process; and

establish a security bond to protect property owners from industrial accidents, including the loss of/or contamination of drinking water, that places the burden of proof on industry.

The provincial government has also committed to develop a formula so landowners and nearby communities can share in the financial benefits of the natural gas industry.

"These are some of the toughest regulations in North America," said Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup.

However, those regulations have yet to be officially legislated as part of the province's Oil and Gas Act.

In fact, the government was caught with it's pants down last fall when shale gas companies Windsor Energy and SWN Resources were discovered to have broken municipal laws by not informing local communities of seismic exploration work within their boundaries. There were no existing rules to deal with the violations, showing regulations that had been established to be inadequate.

Both Premier Alward and Northrup called for regulations to be tightened, with the Natural Resources department announcing in December it was working on doing so. However, the influence of CAPP on the process has never been directly acknowledged.

"Considerable work has been done so far by several departments, and we look forward to releasing full details of the world-class regulations..." said Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup in a press release dated December 14, 2011.

Pryce also claimed in his interview with Seguin that, to his knowledge, CAPP has had no input in the province's regulatory process. But the optics beg to differ.

This publication noticed a link to CAPP last fall on the new shale gas website set up by Natural Resources. When inquiries were made twice via e-mail about whether CAPP was working with the province to formulate regulations, there was a reluctance to acknowledge the presence of the biggest oil and gas lobby group in Canada, or that there was already a link to it on the website.

"Everyone will have a chance to input on any change to regulations as is the case with any regulation changes made by government...We would fully expect that CAPP...will be sending us feedback when they are put on the site," said Marc Belliveau, a spokesman for the Natural Gas Group.

It was after these questions about CAPP the link to it on the shale gas website disappeared, never to return. Perhaps it was due to the the company's mission statement:

Maintain a positive, collaborative profile for the industry with governments and the public, thereby facilitating achievement of the goals of CAPP

Maintain a proactive communication plan that supports CAPP's mission and goals
Implement issue-specific communication plans that deliver consistent and effective messages to internal and external audiences.

Belliveau also claims only a vague awareness of NBOGA, deferring to CAPP as having a better knowledge of who is operating within this province.

"I saw reference to them in a news release by CAPP a few weeks ago. It's a fairly new reference, but it is the group of oil and gas producers and exploration companies working within the province. You may want to check with CAPP for a more detailed explanation though of the organization," he said.

Obviously a relationship exists between CAPP and the province. But it seems no one wants to come clean about how deep into the regulatory framework CAPP has penetrated.

In September 2011, CAPP released it's Guiding Principles for Hydraulic Fracturing to industry members, outlining the obligations it formulated for member companies to follow.

The language of the CAPP document is very similar to that found in Northrup's release on December 14, 2011 about tightening up regulations, which itself was entitled Guiding Principles for Natural Gas Regulations.

The September CAPP statement:

We will safeguard the quality and quantity of regional surface and groundwater resources, through sound wellbore construction practices, sourcing fresh water alternatives where appropriate, and recycling water for reuse as much as practical.
We will measure and disclose water use with the goal of continuing to reduce our effect on the environment.
We will support the development of fracturing fluid additives with the least environmental risks.
We will support the disclosure of fracturing fluid additives.
We will continue to advance, collaborate on and communicate technologies and best practices that reduce the potential environmental risks of hydraulic fracturing.

The December DNR statement:

monitoring to protect water quality;
addressing the need for sustainable water use;
protecting public health and safety;
protecting communities and the environment;
reducing financial risk and protecting landowner rights;
addressing potential impacts of geophysical (seismic) activities;
taking steps to prevent potential contaminants from escaping the well bore;
verifying geological containment outside the well bore;
managing wastes and taking steps to prevent potential contaminants from escaping the well pad;
addressing air emissions;
maintaining an effective regulatory framework; and
sharing information.

The provincial announcements have comparable language and buzzwords to that of CAPP. And with Angie Leonard jumping from the Natural Gas Group steering committee to NBOGA, which also has CAPP personnel onboard, the influence is unmistakable.

Although the government said it wants regulatory input from other stakeholders, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick (CCNB), a leading provincial environmental lobby on the other side of the debate, has yet to be consulted. When Minister Northrup was asked by this publication in December for the reason, he stated the government has it's own experts for that work.

CCNB spokesperson Stephanie Merrill isn't surprised by what looks like double-teaming by industry lobby groups to hold sway over the government as it forms it's regulations.

"As the shale gas debate continues to remain heated, we would expect to see more and more lobby by professional oil and gas associations. It is tough to compete with the money and influence backing these lobby groups. We would hope however, that the provincial government would give the respect due to the people of this province, to listen to them first and foremost, as the people who have the most stake in the future of this province."

In January, CAPP announced it's operating practices for the hydraulic fracturing industry Canada-wide. The Alward government is set to unveil it's finalized regulations in March.

Doaktown votes to ban shale gas exploration and extraction

2012-02-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

On February 9, 2012, the Doaktown Village Council, in a public meeting , unanimously adopted a resolution asking the province, “to establish a formal well field protection area” for the village after completion of a “hydro-geological survey of the aquifers” .

“Following determination of the parameters of the aquifers: the Village asks the Province to ban any and all exploration for natural gas, or extraction within or near those well field areas."

Read the motion in full below:

Resolution of Council

February 9, 2012

Whereas the Village of Doaktown considers a safe and secure water supply essential for the existence of its citizens;

Whereas the Village antiquated sewage system threatened Village water;

And Whereas the Village of Doaktown with the assistance of the other two levels of government has spent approximately $9,000,000 since 1983, to upgrade and expand its sewage and water systems;

And Whereas it has decided to spend an additional $1,200,000 to install water treatment plant beside its new well on the North side;

And Whereas the Province’s granting exploration companies the right to test for commercial quantities of natural gas in and around the Village may jeopardize the Village’s water supply;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Village of Doaktown asks the Province to:

Complete a hydro-geological survey of the aquifer(s) that supply both the Village springs on the South Side and the new well on the North Side;

To establish a formal well field protection area for both North and South Sides based on the survey;

Following determination of the parameters of the aquifers in question; the Village asks the Province to ban any and all exploration for natural gas or extraction within or near those well field areas.

The Village further asks the Province to provide bench mark tests of all wells and springs, including the Village’s 30% residents dependent on their private wells or springs, within its municipal boundaries at no cost to the home owner or Village. These bench mark tests shall be given to the Village and affected home owners and shall become the baseline for any potential damage to the water supply now or in the future resulting from the exploration or extraction of natural gas.

Should any damage or contamination to the Village’s water supply occur from either the exploration or extraction of natural gas, or any connected potentially damaging activity, the Province would automatically assume any costs for remediation up to and including purchase of any and all affected properties at replacement value. Such payment would be immediate and it would be the Province’s responsibility to recover its costs from the gas exploration or extraction company.

The Village of Doaktown has assumed a large and onerous tax burden to provide this essential water service and cannot responsibly permit the Province to threaten its purity through its issuing leases to gas drilling companies. Since the Province has made the decision on this issue, it must be accountable to any and all persons suffering damages.

Further, since the surrounding communities of Storeytown, Hazelton, Blissfield, Grand Lake Road, Bettsburg, Nelson Hollow, and Big Hole Brook, are an integral part of the greater Doaktown, the Council asks that the same protection be given to them as well.

BE IT MOVED by Councillor Price and seconded by Councillor Gillespie to duly adopt the preceding Resolution of Council.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Natural gas leak forces evacuation in St. George, NB

2012-02-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on February 15, 2012, a member of the District 1 RCMP on patrol in St. George, N.B. detected a foul smell near the intersection of Main and Portage Streets. The St. George Fire Department and Enbridge Gas were called to the scene. The source of the smell was found to be a leaking natural gas meter serving a local business.
Ten residents of a nearby apartment building were evacuated as a precaution. They were allowed to return to the building about an hour later. There were no injuries.
Foul play is not suspected.

Maude Barlow to speak at UNB

2012-02-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

photo credit: national speakers bureau

Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the public advocacy group, The Council of Canadians, will be at UNB in Fredericton on Thursday, February 16, at 7:30 pm in the Harper-Kent Auditorium, Wu Conference Centre.

Barlow, an internationally recognized activist, will be taking part in the university's speaker series, 2012 Year of Water. Her talk is entitled the Global Water Crisis and the Challenge for Canadians. Admission is free.

Hospital revenues should not be executiver social slush funds or politcal war chest

2012-02-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

-People's Alliance want re-investment in actual health care services

There has to be a better way to spend money on New Brunswick's health care system than by attending high-priced fundraising dinners says The People's Alliance of New Brunswick party.

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick recommends both the governing Progressive Conservatives and the executives at Horizon Health Network provide the people of this province more than an 'Oops... we misunderstood.'

People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said it's nothing short of nauseating to see this type of mismanagement of health care funding and the deceit of trying to pass everything off as mistakes.

"The Horizon Health Network is cutting front line services while sending executives to fundraisers that they don't know what the money is going towards," Austin said. "Either Horizon or the PC government isn't prioritizing the needs of the people in this province, they're replacing the public's need with their own greed."

Austin added with last fall's announcement of 65 health care job cuts it almost seems as if the health authority lacks a sense of direction in its upper echelon of management.

"Last October, Horizon knew there would be 65 jobs cut, but couldn't say if they were management or front line. Now we have executives going out for an evening and spending a few thousand dollars and they have no idea who they were giving the money to," Austin said. "And if all it takes to make up for this is a simple, 'Oops, I'm sorry,' all it will do is make them and the Alward PC's more cautious the next time they want money to go from one wallet to the other."

People's Alliance party president Jason Inness says he finds it a difficult pill to swallow that the Conservatives didn't know Horizon Health was unaware it was a political fundraiser.

"The PC Party took the money without question and the only reason they care is because the media found out," Inness said.

Inness added it all comes down once again to members of the two traditional parties, the New Brunswick PC's and Liberals, having a firm belief that they are above the average New Brunswicker.

"Members of these two parties, their associates and many top executives of government departments continue to function like aristocrats at a king's court," he said. "Meanwhile the people who pay the taxes and need these services continue to suffer from the poor management skills of the current political class."

The People's Alliance firmly believes there are better ways to use revenues generated at our hospitals, such as aiding in fundraisers for better equipment.

"From this point forward the health care system needs to focus on re-investing the revenues they generate back into the system," Austin said. "And that should go for all revenues the hospitals take in. The last thing we want to see is hospital executives using the money collected from vending machines going toward entry fees at the Liberal's annual golf tournament."

STU professor spoke Saturday on destruction of Occupy shelter

2012-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

Serious legal questions have arisen from the destruction of the Occupy Fredericton shelter at 5AM on January 3rd, 2012. Dr. Paul Groarke, a St. Thomas University criminology professor, discussed these issues at STU on Saturday by analyzing the relevant facts, such as the letters presented to Occupy Fredericton protesters, Charter rights, Fredericton by-laws, and what appears to have been the exercise of brute force instead of lawful authority. Handouts were provided to attendees, and a discussion period followed the lecture.

You can find Dr. Groarke's lecture notes at the following link: https://t.co/mQFVf6u6

Dr. Groarke is a criminal lawyer with over thirty years of experience, as well as a professor of criminology. He has not been retained as legal counsel by Occupy Fredericton or any of its members, as the Law Society of New Brunswick has not granted him permission to do so. He does, however, have an interest in the rule of law as a citizen and academic.

- video courtesy Andre Faust

Canadian abducted by Israel in Fredericton this week

2012-02-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

David Heap, a linguistics professor at the University of Western Ontario and Palestine solidarity activist, was on board the Canadian boat, the Tahrir, when it was seized by the Israeli navy in international waters. The Tahrir was part of an ongoing global solidarity movement challenging the blockade of Gaza and working for the freedom for Palestine.

Heap will speak in Fredericton on Thursday, Feb. 16th, 7:30pm at Carleton Hall, Room 139, UNB Fredericton. Free admission.

Three Canadians, who were forcibly abducted from the Canadian ship Tahrir by Israel and detained without charge this past fall, are demanding the Conservative government press Israel return the boat and its contents. And they are taking this message directly to nine communities from coast to coast in an upcoming speaking tour beginning February 15 to address Canada’s role in the blockade of Gaza and give their firsthand account of the capture at sea of the Tahrir.

On November 4th last year, with a wink and a nod from the Canadian government, Israel sent a clear and unambiguous message to Canadian activists intent on challenging the illegal blockade of Gaza: Israel will not hesitate to use military force against you, and your government will do nothing to stop us.

Londoner David Heap, Montrealer Ehab Lotayef, and Karen DeVito of Vancouver, were on board at the time and are calling on the Canadian government to demonstrate its commitment to international law and the treaties to which it is a signatory, by:

exerting all necessary diplomatic pressure for the prompt recovery of the Tahrir, the medical aid, and all Canadian property illegally seized during a lawful, peaceful voyage to Gaza and to facilitate the completion of its mission;

insisting that Canada meet its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1860 and press Israel to facilitate the unimpeded movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza, including by sea as mandated by International law.

"The Tahrir was purchased with donations from hundreds of ordinary Canadians and Canadian civil society organizations," said Heap. "Our grass-roots fund-raising campaign lasted more than a year, and now Harper’s Conservatives are doing nothing to help in the delivery of our ship and the $30,000 in medical aid on board, which the civil society in Gaza is waiting for," he added.

Israel has held the Tahrir and its contents in its possession without justification since November 2011. “Israel has never found, or even claimed to have found, anything dangerous or prohibited on the Tahrir,” said Lotayef. “Even according to Israel’s own arbitrary list of blockaded items, our vessel and its contents should be allowed to reach Gaza without delay. Yet this theft is added to the countless reckless actions for which Israel is being granted impunity by the Harper Tories,” added Lotayef.

For more info, visit: www.tahrir.ca

Organized by the Fredericton Palestine Solidarity, Jews for a Just Peace Fredericton, UNB Dept. of Political Science, Fredericton District Labour Council, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Fredericton/Oromocto Local and the Fredericton Peace Coalition.

Nadeau employees in Fredericton today to help lobby for government regulations

2012-02-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - About a half-dozen employees of St-Francois-de-Mawaska-based, Nadeau Poultry, were in Fredericton today to show their support of the company's attempts to have the government regulate the province's chicken processing industry. The regulations, if brought about claims Nadeau, would save jobs at the company, a significant employer in the province's northwest for 50 years.

"We're asking [the government]...to get a board, like they do with the milk, buy the chickens from the farmers and split it in half between the two slaughter houses [Nadeau Poulty and Westco]..." said one of the employees standing with placards across the street from the Centennial Building on King St.

The Nadeau action comes as the company stares down the prospect of looming closure due to what it says are unfair competitive practices by the other poultry processing company in the area, Westco. Nadeau blames the government for not regulating the industry and letting what it sees as Westco getting away with bending the rules, forcing it out of the chicken processing business. Nadeau wants the government to create a new chicken marketing board to make a fairer playing field so the company can stay afloat.

According to Nadeau, the dispute between the two companies, which began during the last decade, could've been avoided, had the provincial government set up a regulatory body years ago when it signed a federal-provincial agreement on the supply management system. As part of the deal, the province was obliged to set up the body, but failed to do so in successive Liberal and Conservative governments.

"Premier Alward's government must live up to their duties and take action now to save our jobs, our chicken industry and the National system that protects the security of our food supply," said literature Nadeau employees were handing out today to passersby.

The result of the government's failure to act, the information goes on to state, has allowed:

one single group to gain control of the majority of New Brunswick chickens, putting the entire industry at risk.

80 per cent of New Brunswick grown chickens to now be process in Quebec, causing the loss of 165 jobs in the province.

forcing Nadeau to face the prospect of going out of business and taking with it 200 jobs in the small St. Francois-de-Madawaska community.

The Nadeau employees standing on the street corner today said they just wanted the government to do it's job and set up the board for the sake of their employment.

"I'm doing this because I want to save my job, and I want New Brunswick to create jobs...we need some jobs up north," said one employee.

Nadeau employee comments on company lobby for new chicken marketing board:

2012-02-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

Atlantic premiers led regional businesses on Atlanta trade mission

2012-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

ATLANTA (CNB) – Premier David Alward led seven New Brunswick companies on a Council of Atlantic Premiers' Trade Mission to Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 6-8.

“As an export-driven province, New Brunswick has an important and long-standing relationship with trading partners in the United States,” said Alward. “This mission was an opportunity to engage new partners and promote the benefits of doing business in New Brunswick. It was also an opportunity to showcase innovativeNew Brunswick businesses that are poised to grow.”

Alward joined Premier Kathy Dunderdale of Newfoundland and Labrador, Premier Darrell Dexter of Nova Scotia, and Premier Robert Ghiz of Prince Edward Island, and a delegation of more than twenty Atlantic Canadian business leaders, on the trade mission.

The purpose of the mission was to strengthen and enhance trade partnerships between the four Atlantic Provinces and the southeastern United States, especially Georgia. The premiers and their delegations showcased how companies from this region can quickly and efficiently supply companies in Georgia with the goods and services they need. They also promoted the attributes and strategies of Atlantic Provinces relating to their location, entrepreneurial leadership and expertise, skilled labour and export opportunities.

The list of New Brunswick companies which participated in the mission are:

●   ACCREON, of Fredericton;

●   Greater Moncton International Airport, of Moncton;

●   GreenNexxus, of Fredericton;

●   Imperial Manufacturing Group, of Moncton;

●   Industrial Rubber Co. Ltd., of Bathurst;

●   MASITEK Instruments, of Moncton; and

●   PQA (Professional Quality Assurance), of Fredericton.

Alward and the other premiers participated in a number of events including a visit to Lockheed Martin and a breakfast speaking engagement before the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

UNB professor discusses government's poor forestry management

2012-02-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

FREDERICTON - Professor Tom Beckley of UNB addressed concerns about the future direction of the province's forest policy yesterday, as part of the Occupy Speaker series at STU.

The discussion was timely, given the Alward government's release earlier in the day of the Task Force Report on Private Woodlots. Beckley's talk was part of a community discussion and debate about the future of the province's forest policy.

“Increasingly, risks of forest management are being assumed by the public, while the benefits are being privatized,” Beckley said. While 100 jobs were recently created by the re-opening of the old Weyerhaeuser mill in Miramichi, the federal and provincial governments pitched in $17 million in loans, loan guarantees and capital contributions.

In the past, government subsidies, tax incentives and public expenditures for key infrastructure helped the forest sector become the primary economic engine of the province. The long, historic trend of companies substituting machines and technology for human labour has meant that while production and profits have remained relatively constant, the number of workers those firms employ has steadily dwindled.

The old social contract saw the government grant access to fiber and favourable rates in order to attract industry investment. Industry employed large numbers of people and paid royalties that contributed to government coffers as firms assessed and assumed risk. For a time, it was a win, win, win but in recent years, industry has demanded increasing government subsidies and guarantees while providing fewer and fewer jobs, Beckley said.

“Because of the budget crisis and the government’s desperate need to generate revenue, the forestry debate has remained squarely on trying to fix industry’s fiber supply issues, and government continues to offer industry indirect subsidies such as preferential power deals in order to lower their costs,” Beckley said.

Issues of greater concern to the public, such as biodiversity maintenance and water quality have taken a back seat to short term profits and budgetary concerns that appear to be driving industry and government agendas.

Beckley is a professor in UNB's Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management. He has been active in the past, advocating for new directions in forestry management. He is co-author of a 2008 survey that showed New Brunswickers would prioritize ecological values, such as water protection and biodiversity in forestry management.

Report on timber objectives for private woodlots now online

2012-02-07T19:00:00.001-08:00

FREDERICTON (CNB) – A task force report on timber objectives for private woodlots is now available online, Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup announced today.

Northrup said he would welcome comments from the public on the recommendations and suggestions made by the Private Forest Task Force.

“I thank chair Don Floyd and committee members Robert Ritchie and Tony Rotherham for carrying out this important work,” said Northrup. “Their report will greatly assist us as we work to establish timber objectives that will provide a stable wood supply from private woodlots.”

Another task force, the Crown Land Task Force, submitted its report in November 2011.

“Establishing timber objectives for Crown and private land will focus the efforts of private woodlot owners, industry and government on putting in place the right policies and practices to improve the competitiveness of our forest sector,” said Northrup. “This will allow us to grow this sector.”

He said the recommendations and suggestions made by the Private Forest Task Force will be considered by the provincial government as it works to set timber objectives for private and Crown lands and to establish the next management plan for Crown forests.

“I encourage all those who are interested in our forests and the role they play in our economy, our environment and our way of life to read this report and submit their comments by Feb. 24,” said Northrup.

Comments can be submitted to dnrweb@gnb.ca.

LINK:

● Department of Natural Resources: www.gnb.ca/naturalresources

Timber objectives for private woodlots - province striving for balance among players

2012-02-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

Timber objectives for private woodlots - making resources available for industry longterm

2012-02-07T17:14:00.000-08:00

Northrup defends Arbec deal; 15 million to company not corporate welfare

2012-02-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

F'ton Ward 6 council candidate Letourneau hip to social media for campaign updates to voters

2012-02-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

Premier announces accountability and responsible government panel

2012-02-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

FREDERICTON (CNB) – Premier David Alward announced today a new advisory panel to help establish a more focused, efficient system of program and service delivery.

"We must make significant changes to how we spend public money if we are to balance the budget and continue to deliver services that are affordable and sustainable," Alward said. "This panel will help move that vision forward."

The Premier's Panel on Accountability and Responsible Government will advise and assist government to implement business practices designed to preserve or enhance services, reduce costs and monitor process improvements with a mandate that includes providing advice across government.

The panel will be chaired by Robert Youden, a partner in Savarin Consulting and chair of the board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Youden will be joined by a number of independent business people with expertise in key areas. A full list of panelists will be released in the coming weeks.

"New Brunswick is a small province with limited resources and like any organization, government needs to focus on key areas to be effective," Youden said. "I am looking forward to working with the civil service’s leadership to implement business best practices; and to improving the level of service while spending less money."

The panel will report regularly to the premier over the course of the next year. Their initial work will be aligned with government renewal efforts and will focus on:

●   creating an action plan to identify cost savings opportunities including activities such as process reviews, benchmarking studies, and examination of current business practices;
●   establishing a set of targets and performance measures and creating a process to ensure that the critical metrics are managed appropriately; and
●   reviewing progress in priority areas and making recommendations to improve or accelerate change and meet targets.

"Through government renewal, we are working to change the culture of government by introducing formal process improvements, balanced scorecards and performance monitoring," Alward said. "Altogether, these measures demonstrate how we will involve New Brunswickers to restore fiscal stability and live within our means."

Gonzo meets Purple: Introducing columnist Jon MacNeill

2012-02-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

In a move to broaden the appeal of The Purple Violet Press, local freelance journalist Jon MacNeill has been asked to contribute a column to the blog.

Jon will lend his twenty-something perspective on whatever he feels like at the beginning of every month. He has a unique style that is in the freewheeling Gonzo vein, but which is also tempered by his own voice.

A graduate of STU's journalism program, Jon has worked for both the Telegraph-Journal and The Daily Gleaner, while working on various projects of his own. He has travelled to various exotic locales including Africa and Sussex, NB, writing about his experiences in between.

When he's not eking out an existence in the frail provincial economy, Jon can be found hanging out in pj's watching TV with his pre-schooler daughter.

I am grateful Jon has agreed to join in this experiment. I hope you will like it, and if you feel so inclined, send me your feedback at thepurplevioletpress@gmail.com

Cheryl Norrad
Editor-in-Chief

JON MACNEILL

My old man spent arguably the best years of his life down in a hole underground, going all winter without seeing the sun, save on weekends. He did this, like a whole pile of other men and women from my hometown, because the money was good, the work was steady, and the reward was sweet: a good education for their kids, comfortable lifestyle, and a retirement package that was worth the dust, dirt and long dark winters.

But then Wall Street happens. A bunch of white collars make a bunch of risky investments, bet against them and wait for the pay-day crash. Some other white collars catch wind of it, kick themselves for not thinking of it sooner, and join in.

Then it all busts, and my old man, this miner, and all his coworkers, just miners, watch their pension funds evaporate faster than the alcohol they oughta spend the rest of their days copiously consuming just to deal with the bill of goods they’d been sold.

But they can’t spend the rest of their days drinking it off, though, or licking their wounds. They gotta get back underground.

In about six months during the “financial collapse” in the States, their pension funds were drained what it took over five to 10 years of miserable work to save up. More than five years of savings, gone. Not vanished, just in someone else’s bank account now -- offshore, no doubt.

And the most frustrating part about the whole thing isn’t how we let it get to that point, where one financial market in one sovereign nation can go belly-up and start a worldwide quagmire; it’s not how we let corporations get so unwieldy to the point where only a handful of companies, with scores more before them in the public eye, control major industries across vast spaces; no, the most frustrating part of it all is how my generation, the bright-eyed twenty-somethings, just line up to play along. Knowing full well it’s the same old game, same old rules, same old results.

We have the luxury, painful as it is, of seeing firsthand what our current economic model gets you, where it got our parents - still slagging it out in the fucking dirt at 65 years old - and yet we’re just gonna go out and all get ourselves some careers, those RESPs, RRSPs and pensions plans, and assume we’ll have better luck.

The Baby Boom Generation, they got hosed. A system built up around’em, they bought in, and the bankers cashed out. But for us, the cards are already down, and if we take the seat at the table they’ve reserved for us, we’re nothing more than Generation Chump.

Letourneau announces bid for Fredericton City Council

2012-02-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

press release

Last May I attended various Congress events, one of which was a lecture given by former Governor General, the Right Honorable Michaelle Jean and her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond. At the end of the event, I asked if more artists should get involved in politics. As a writer who constantly thinks about my relation to the world and my community, and as someone keenly interested in politics, the question had been on my mind for some time. Lafond answered simply: “Yes. Yes, for sure.” He believes, as I do, that art – and by extension artists – can make valuable contributions to public life.

So it is with great pleasure that I am announcing today my candidacy for city councillor in Ward 6 – Barker’s Point Area. My goal, should I be successful in my bid, is to make Fredericton a better place and to stand up for the residents of Ward 6.

Let me tell you a bit about myself. I am a freelance writer and editor, and I am the author of two books of poetry. I volunteer heavily with the arts and culture sector as a board member of the WFNB, as Poetry Editor of The Fiddlehead magazine and as Associate Poetry Editor with Goose Lane editions, Canada’s oldest independent literary publisher. From time to time you may hear me on CBC’s Information Morning as Local Books Columnist. In the last year, I have also taught as part-time faculty at St. Thomas University and as an editor at Skillsoft. I first moved to Fredericton in 1994 to attend UNB, and I’ve lived here since, except for 2004-2010 when I lived and worked for a time out west. I live with my wife and son in Barker’s Point in a house on Watters Dr.

My commitments should I get elected on May 14 are:

- greater transparency,

- a more sustainable city,

- my full and unwavering support of local culture and business, and

- to dream big so that Fredericton’s reality can meet its potential.

All these things can be accomplished while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Over the weeks and months to come I will be releasing more specific ideas under my commitments. Everywhere I have gone or visited, everyone I have talked to, I have made it a point to present Fredericton as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, highlighting the community that exists here, the trail system, the architecture, the people. It is truly one of the greatest places to live. I am proud to call it home, and if elected in Ward 6 on May 14, I will be proud to serve it as city councilor.

Please visit my website – ward6fredericton.blogspot.com – or follow me on twitter @ianletourneau for more information.

RCMP release video of suspects in armed robbery, Zealand, N.B.

2012-02-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

Video - Store surveillance video of robbery in Zealand on January 18, 2012.

The RCMP has released surveillance video taken from a robbery at a convenience store in Zealand, N.B. on January 18, 2012. The video shows two men assaulting the store owner. The owner was later taken to hospital with serious injuries. He has since been released from hospital.

The suspects were both wearing snowmobile suits. The man holding the gun in the video appears to be approximately five feet and five inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The second man with the baseball bat appears to be about six feet tall and weighs approximately 250 pounds. Both men spoke English.

The Zealand robbery took place at around 9:30 p.m., approximately 90 minutes after a similar robbery at Estey's General Store in Millville, N.B. While initially reported that the men may have been travelling on snowmobile, that has not been confirmed and they could have been using another mode of transportation.

The RCMP is continuing to follow up on a number of public tips. At this point of the investigation, there have been no arrests.

Anyone who has information on the identity of these suspects or information on the robberies, can contact the RCMP at 1-888-506 RCMP (7267). Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 TIPS (8477), or online at www.crimenb.ca. Information leading to an arrest could qualify you for a cash award of up to $2,000.

The People's Alliance - Province's tourism marketing rules seem like underhanded patronage clause

2012-02-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

With each passing month it becomes clearer and clearer the left and right hands of the Alward government are not working together in the best interest of anyone except their own inner circle.

The PC's pledged time and again in the election they would make numerous spending initiatives and bring us out of deficit at the same time. Ever since, the Tories have made one excuse after another to cut services and delay those same spending promises, while continuing to run a deficit, said People's Alliance party leader Kris Austin.

Now we see from a CBC story this Tuesday that the Alward government has found a new way to reward its friends and allies through the patronage system by not allowing marketing firms to represent anyone but the interests of the governing party if they are to win the bid on the tourism marketing contract.

Austin said this can all be traced to the fact the current government believes it is above the average New Brunswicker when it comes to acting ethically and practicing self-restraint.

“The core of the problem is this government thinks the money they award to contracts is their own,” Austin said. “And by that logic, the Tories think they can decide ahead of time who gets the bid even if it is blatant partisanship.”

The People's Alliance feels the former conflict-of-interest rules that prohibited firms from working on the tourism strategies of competing tourism markets were sufficient.

“What the Alward PC's have done is slap New Brunswickers in the face one more time with their total contempt for the people in this province that didn't occupy the election campaign bus and don't hang out in the government backrooms of the legislature,” Austin said.

"Gasland" documentarian Josh Fox arrested at House Science Committee Hearing

2012-02-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

The kerfuffle in the House after Fox arrest - from House committee live feed

2012-02-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

January is over - no shale gas reg report or SWN investigation results

2012-02-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Letter to the Editor

2012-02-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

There is a possible interesting wrinkle to the Aug. 18, 2011 confrontation between Geokinetics and anti-shale gas protesters on the English Settlement Road near Taymouth. Geokinetics and SWN decided to cancel their planned geophysical work upon encountering the local protesters. The road was conveniently "under construction" on that day, or so the D.O.T. road signs said. Section 28 of regulation 86-191 of the Oil and Gast Act O-2.1 states:

28. Where a highway or road is under construction, no
permittee shall conduct geophysical exploration on that
portion of the highway or road under construction until
permission to do so is obtained from the person actually
in charge of the construction and, in the case of a highway,
from the District Transportation Engineer.

As the right-of-way in question is a "road" and not a highway, I would guess that Geokinetics and SWN did not have the permission from the local supervisor in charge of the construction when they decided to fold their tent and hightail it to the safety of the Route 8 By-Pass. Presumably they did have the permission of the District Transportation Engineer to be on the right-of-way, but the "road" presented another level of required permissions.

Was there more to Geokinetics backtracking on that day than met the eye? Who arranged to have overlapping road construction and geophysical testing? The plot thickens.

Lawrence Wuest
Stanley, NB

NDP leader candidate Thomas Mulcair lectured on fracking at UNB Tuesday; discusses CAPP regs and industry in NB

2012-01-31T23:23:00.000-08:00

NDP leader candidate Thomas Mulcair lectured on fracking at UNB Tuesday

2012-01-31T17:30:00.000-08:00

Offline rest of week - investigating story

2012-01-31T07:22:00.000-08:00

I am currently working on an investigative piece that requires all my time and attention, therefore, I will not be posting any new written stories for the next few days. However, I plan to have a contribution by a friend tomorrow in my place that may turn into a regular column. I hope you will give him a read and send me your thoughts at thepurplevioletpress@gmail.com. Thank you in advance. - Cheryl Norrad, editor-in-chief, The Purple Violet Press.

Recently formed No Shale Gas NB group mounting legal injunction

2012-01-30T06:18:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Norrad

UPDATE: Comment from Chris Rendell, one of the founders of No Shale Gas Group NB, on why organization formed:

"The injunction project was started because it became clear that the Alward government was not listening to the people of New Brunswick. The project began with a short discussion at the Christmas Craft Fair at Kredl's in Hampton at the end of November. After several meetings with our group, and with David Lutz, we developed a proposal which was then circulated amongst friends and other warriors in the fight against Shale Gas. The first donations arrived before the end of the year.

It took several more weeks of fine tuning and the work of a dedicated group of volunteers to arrive at the point where we were ready to publicize the first version of our website (on Thursday, January 26). The first online donations arrived within days.

There is much work to do to reach our goal, but we are confident that this goal will be reached. Anyone that is interested in helping with this project is asked to contact us at: HamptonWaterFirst@gmail.com "

Chris Rendell
on behalf of Hampton Water First

FREDERICTON - A provincial lobby group has sprung up in the province recently with a plan to bring a legal injunction against the province to stop the shale gas industry in New Brunswick.

No Shale Gas NB has created a Facebook page and website to begin it's fight against the province to stop the shale gas industry in New Brunswick. It wants to raise $500,000 to bring in an an outside legal firm to mount its challenge, and pay for expert witnesses.

It is unclear who is responsible for the initiative, although Hampton Water First, an anti-shale gas organization in the Kennebecasis Valley, is the e-mail contact on the group's Facebook page, NoShaleGasNB.

Since no one The Purple Violet Press contacted at the page was heard from before publication, the following mission statement from the group's page is reprinted below:

NoShaleGasNB is a group raising funds to bring a legal action against the province, in order to put a stop to the ShaleGas industry in New Brunswick.

Since the government of New Brunswick has shown that they are not willing to consult the citizens of New Brunswick in a meaningful way, and that they are not willing to hold a commission of inquiry, we have no choice but to pursue this matter before the courts.

We propose the formation of a new initiative, with a board of representatives of existing ‘stop-shale-gas groups’, to raise the funds needed to bring an injunction against the Provincial government to prevent them from permitting any additional activity for Shale Gas development in the province.

In order to mount a serious and effective court challenge, we need to raise a ‘defense fund’ of $500,000 or more. This is the amount of money that is required to hire an effective (out-of-province) legal team, and to bring in expert witnesses for trial. Although daunting at first, this number is achievable if 5000 people donate $100 each. If we are not successful in raising the required amount, all funds will be returned less an administrative fee of $5.00 per refund cheque.

The goal of this action is to have a judicial review of the evidence, and ultimately, to find that the Shale Gas industry is detrimental to the environment, detrimental to the people of New Brunswick, and that it should not be allowed to proceed.

The group appears to have arisen in early January and so far has 95 members on its Facebook page, several of whom are part of the wider anti-shale gas lobby in the province.

A website is also part of this group's efforts where more information can be found by the public to learn about it's purpose at http://NoShaleGasNB.ca. Donations to the group's legal action fund can be made can be made at this site.

From Texas to Canada: Harper gov't also now calling environmental activists "radicals", "terrorists"

2012-01-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

http://thepurplevioletpressnb.blogspot.com/2011/11/anti-shale-gas-protesters-referred-to.html

January almost over; no shale gas regs report or SWN investigation results

2012-01-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

NDP's Cardy reacts to State of the Province address

2012-01-27T14:15:00.000-08:00

Liberal Opposition leader Victor Boudreau comments on State of Province Address

2012-01-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

“We were very disappointed at the lack of substance in the premier’s speech. We were expected some details on a plan to create jobs, because he’s been promising that now for 18 months. Unfortunately it was another missed opportunity for the premier. The speech was long on rhetoric and short on details and specifics. It’s also hard to listen to him say things like poverty reduction is a priority for him. His government has completely ignored the poverty reduction plan. They’ve turned their backs on New Brunswickers who need them the most, our seniors, our children, those living in poverty and those looking for a good job. Once again the premier had nothing to offer ordinary New Brunswickers.”

Alward delivers 2012 State of Province Address

2012-01-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - Premier David Alward delivered an optimistic, but tempered State of the Province address this evening at the Convention Center in Fredericton to a sold out crowd of 900 ticket holders. The event was sponsored by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce in concert with the Telegraph Journal and smaller businesses.

The crowd mingled to the tune of "Fix You" by Coldplay until the lights went down at 8:30 pm for opening remarks by Andrew Steeves, President of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce and Robert Warner, head of Brunswick News and the Telegraph Journal, who introduced the Premier to the stage.

Warner, new to New Brunswick and his post at Brunswick News, echoed much of what has already been discussed regarding the province's dire financial situation since Alward came to power.

"The Alward government has the reigns of power at a terribly difficult time in this province's history," he began, blurring the lines between media and politics by going on to parrot rhetoric heard on both sides,while trumpeting the Telegraph repositioning itself behind an online paywall as, "...the first step on the long road to tomorrow."

Alward's speech was as much a report card on the work of his administration for the past 16 months as it was cheerleading to buck up the populace for the hard economic road ahead. It focused on the necessity of innovative business vision, balanced with fiscal responsibility, to pull the province out of it's economic quagmire.

"We have a lot of work to do, we can get there together...the government will assist and help, but we are not job creation experts or a bank...we will foster an environment to succeed...but the rest of the time we will get out of the way," he said.

The presentation began by pointing out the triumphs of prominent home grown business visionaries, including Wallace McCain and Ian Fowler, as take charge New Brunswickers who embodied the achievements the province's citizens are capable of.

But that confident opening was offset by painful ways the administration will have to address a ballooning debt such as highway tolls and HST increases (through a referendum or election), pension plan adjustments, consolidating local governments, changes to the Official Languages Act and integrating government departments.

"Our economy is tied to the rest of the world...the U.S. economy is shaky and that affects us. 2011 was tough for the New Brunswick economy," said Alward.

The Premier outlined ways the government has already taken steps to provide a scaffold for some businesses in the province such as a fuel tax exemption for farmers and lower energy rates so money can go back into business operations elsewhere.

"...natural gas distribution rates were changed to fix a flawed system in New Brunswick [creating benefits] to pass on to New Brunswickers, to the economy, jobs, businesses and consumers," said Alward.

Innovation weaved it's way throughout much of the presentation, used as a by-word for dynamic business solutions to the province's economic woes, while at the same time meant as a prescriptive for doing more with less.

"Innovation is the rocketfuel of our economy," he said, citing the information and communication sectors as areas the government wants to help foster growth.

Although no concrete framework was announced, Alward outlined other areas the government will help to prosper including, aerospace, bio-sciences, industrial fabrication and value-added food.

"We are investing 250 million over four years across the province," he said, while teasing the crowd with hints of a coming announcement by Invest NB on new jobs to the province through a pharmaceutical and medical supply company McKesson.

The Premier said the government will continue to provide services in core responsibilities such as health care by looking at best practices to prioritize where to put money.

"Services and programs are being reviewed for appropriate affordability and sustaining services for New Brunswickers," he stated.

Other plans were also mentioned for paring down the debt by decentralizing economic development to regions around the province, letting local communities decide how best to help local businesses.

"Aspects of change are coming to small communities...there will be negative results if we don't go forward," he said.

With shale gas exploration a major issue dominating the headlines in the past year, Alward addressed the province's natural resources, saying the potential for a shale gas industry in the province an economic driver behind the overall economy in the province to create jobs. However, he stressed, it will be regulated for safety.

"Responsible development of natural resources in New Brunswick will not sacrifice clean water, clean air or clean soil...[there are] strong regulations to protect the environment...a strong regulatory regime for oil and gas exploration. There will be no tradeoff in the protection and safety [of the environment] for economic gain." he said.

Alward went on to point out that in his State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama stated the shale gas industry is a massive job creator for the country.

After taking some scripted questions from a few business owners via video, Alward finished up his address saying the last major review of government services was done over 40 years ago and since the debt has grown to 9.4 billion, a strategy to do a new overhaul is required, for which a panel has been struck and will be announced next week.

The Premier left the stage to the dynamic sounds of "Clocks", another Coldplay tune, giving a hopeful impression of his administration's future management of New Brunswick.

Motor vehicle collision sends four people to hospital, Bathurst , N.B.

2012-01-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

At approximately 2:00p.m., on January, 25, 2012, Bathurst RCMP responded to a collision on Route 11 at the Vanier Boulevard exit in Bathurst. Four people were sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after two vehicles collided. An RCMP collision re-constructionist was on scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

RCMP would like to remind motorists to slow down when emergency vehicles are on the side of the road and to follow traffic directions given by emergency personnel.

The plight of blogger Charles Leblanc goes Hollywood

2012-01-26T12:14:00.000-08:00

Reason magazine has a blog entitled Reason - Hit and Run operated out of Hollywood, California that has done an online piece about Fredericton blogger Charles Leblanc, and his latest run-in with city police on charges of criminal libel.The piece can be found at this link: http://reason.com/blog/2012/01/26/police-charge-canadian-blogger-with-crim

Congratulations Charles, you've made it to Hollywood.

Occupy Fredericton Speaker Series

2012-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

Occupy Fredericton has taken its message indoors and is holding a bi-weekly speaker series around the city. See below for the schedule and locations if you would like to attend:

Occupy Speakers’ Series Schedule

Tuesdays, 4 PM, Sir James Dunn Hall, Room 108, St. Thomas University
Saturdays, 11 AM, Conserver House, 180 St. John Street

Tuesday, January 17: Matthew Hayes, STU Sociology (Occupy Tuition: What Students Can Learn From the Occupy Movement)
Saturday, January 21: Susan Machum, STU Sociology (The Politics of Food Production)
Tuesday, January 24: Jim Gilbert-Walsh, STU Philosophy (The Attack of the Trolls: Occupy, Ideology and Social Media)
Saturday, January 28: Julian Walker, STU Journalism (The Once and Future New Brunswick Free Press)
Tuesday, January 31: Brad Cross, STU History (How the City Shapes Your Life [And How You Can Shape the City])
Saturday, February 4: Karen Robert, STU History (Social Movements: Lessons from Latin America)
Tuesday, February 7: Tom Beckley, UNB Forestry (Current Directions in New Brunswick Forest Policy)
Saturday, February 11: Jean Sauvageau, STU Criminology (The Harper Government and the Criminal Law Agenda)
Tuesday, February 14: Tony Myatt, UNB Economics (The Provincial Budget)
Saturday, February 18th: Bill Parenteau/Stephanie Merrill, UNB History/CCNB Action (Budworms, Hydroelecticity and Hydrofracking: Public Engagement and Natural Resource Management in New Brunswick)
Tuesday, February, 21st: Shaun Narine, STU Political Science (Inequality, Globalization and Canada)
Saturday, February 25th: Michael Boudreau, STU Criminology (The Person of the Century: The Protestor in Canada)
Tuesday, February 28th: Tracy Glynn, STU Environment and Society (It's Bigger than Bling-Bling and the Banks: Women's Stories of the Origins of Our Stuff and the Messages of Occupy)

Occupy Fredericton - passion still there; plans for spring

2012-01-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

More from pre-budget meeting: Cardy doesn't want budget balanced on backs of poor

2012-01-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

More from pre-budget meeting: Eloquent plea by student for funding; wants to stay in NB & make difference

2012-01-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

Leonard responds to economist slagging at pre-budget meeting Tuesday night

2012-01-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

VOX POPS - Do you know who Brian Gallant is?

2012-01-25T14:58:00.002-08:00

2012-01-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

Provincial Liberal party leadership hopeful Gallant in Fredericton today

2012-01-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

(photo credit: Charles Leblanc)

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - Provincial Liberal leadership candidate Brian Gallant made an appearance in Fredericton today, part of province-wide barnstorming to launch his bid for party leader and future Premier.

Introduced by Miramichi-Baie du Vin Liberal MLA Bill Fraser, campaign co-chairs Mary Schreyer, a former cabinet member in the Graham government, and federal Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc, lauded Gallant's potential to be the great white hope for the rejuvenation of New Brunswick's ailing Liberal party.

Praising Gallant's fresh approach to politics Schreyer said, "Brian is taking the conversation out on the road to ask people what they think went wrong with the Liberal party...to find out how they think the province can move ahead and manage issues in the province differently."

During his remarks, LeBlanc said Gallant has the qualities of a strong leader by being hardworking, with an ability to relate to the small business person and having compassion for people struggling. He added, "It's a good day for the renewal of the Liberal party of New Brunswick, and a very, very bad day for the do-nothing government of David Alward!"

Striding into the room to the tune of "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane, Gallant shook the hands of party faithful lining his way to the podium, stopping to embrace Schreyer and LeBlanc in front of a crowd of close to one hundred supporters, who cheered as he stood at the mic.

"I'm extremely excited to embark on this adventure," said Gallant after thanking his co-chairs, then launched into his plan for the party in the coming years.

Gallant cited buzzwords like restructuring and renewal, saying the Liberal party is learning from it's mistakes.

"The Liberal party has been through tough times before and the party will be stronger than ever after the renewal process," he said.

Gallant also outlined the path of the change the Liberal party is on, pointing out 2011 was a time to fix the structures and problems of the party, while 2012 will bring re-invigoration of the party with a leadership race, and 2013 will be a time to engage New Brunswickers with productive ideas to ensure the election in 2014 fields good local candidates to represent the populace.

Focused on engaging the youth of the province, the charismatic twenty-nine-year-old Gallant said education has to be a priority to retain young people and build the economy for tomorrow that will be transparent, inclusive and accountable in a Liberal administration.

"We will keep our promises by making promises we can keep," he said, the crowd reacting with roars and a standing ovation as Gallant walked into their arms, and into his future.

Gallant speaks to media after candidacy speech

2012-01-25T14:11:00.001-08:00

Brian Gallant throws hat in ring for Liberal leadership

2012-01-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

MONCTON - Moncton lawyer Brian Gallant today declared he is seeking the Leadership of the New Brunswick Liberal Party. Gallant made the announcement to a large gathering of enthusiastic Liberal supporters at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton following earlier stops in Caraquet and the Miramichi.

“It’s time for a new approach to politics in New Brunswick,” said Gallant. “We can make this province a more prosperous and progressive place. We can grow our economy and protect our social programs. And we can put our financial house in order,” said Gallant. “But we can’t keep using the same methods that have failed in the past and are failing New Brunswickers today.”

“The first step is the renewal of the Liberal Party,” noted Gallant. “We need to rebuild the party from the grassroots up and ensure every Liberal has a voice in party policies. We need the party to be transparent and inclusive.”

Brian Gallant first came to political prominence in 2006, when he very nearly defeated incumbent Premier Bernard Lord in the riding of Moncton-East, earning 41 per cent of the vote.

Brian Gallant grew up in Shediac Bridge. While still a student, he started small businesses to pay his way through university, going on to earn business and law degrees from the Université de Moncton. After being called to the New Brunswick bar, he worked at a major law firm in Moncton for over 3 years. He recently earned his Masters in Law from McGill University in Montreal. He currently practices corporate and commercial law in the Moncton area.

Brian Gallant’s campaign is co-chaired by Dominic Leblanc, MP for Beauséjour, and Mary Schryer, former MLA for Quispamsis.

Following his campaign launch in Moncton, Gallant will make further campaign stops on Wednesday in Fredericton at 3 pm in the St. John Room, Crowne Plaza hotel, Saint John at 5:15 pm at the Delta hotel and Woodstock. For the remainder of the week, he will make several campaign stops in northern New Brunswick and in the furthermost regions of the province.

Liberal leadership candidate Gallant behind fresh idea for vote campaign in 2010 provincial election

2012-01-25T09:08:00.000-08:00

Pre-budget consultation meeting coverage

2012-01-25T01:14:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - Finance Minister Blaine Higgs held a pre-budget consultation meeting in Fredericton last night at the Forestry Complex to a standing-room-only crowd who presented their concerns, ranging from double tenant tax to small gas station owners being gouged by giant Costco and tuition costs for university students.

Higgs began proceedings shortly before 6:30 pm with a Powerpoint presentation, giving an overview of the province's financial situation, and how the plan will tighten things up. He stressed during his speech everyone will have to do their part in taking responsibility for pulling the province out of debt, and people will have to do more with less. After the 30 minute presentation, Higgs sat down and the floor was opened to the public.

Presenter Sherry Wilkins of District 18 addressed her concerns regarding school library funding, reduction of school districts and the job losses with it. However her biggest concern was the potential loss of retirement allowances for civil servants. In response, Higgs asked if there were any suggestions for saving money. Wilkins cheekily replied, "Not with the salary I'm making," to the laughter of the crowd.

Another presenter, Karen Ross of Kidney Cancer Canada, requested Higgs' department fund catastrophic drug costs, since New Brunswick and PEI are the only provinces in Canada without it. Higgs responded by saying, "We are committed to making that area a priority."

Speaker Andy Hardy raised the pulses of the crowd when he suggested at the mic that bonuses across the board received by some in the senior civil service and crown corporations be done away with completely. Hardy, a department of transportation employee, also said the government was overbuilding highways in the province with some projects unnecessary. "Someone in government has to have the guts to go into the highway contracts and cancel them because it's costing too much money," he said. He added, "The Lord government got us out of the highway tolls, there should be away out of some of these contracts."

New Brunswick NDP leader Dominic Cardy was also in attendance and worked his way through the line-up to the mic, saying he questioned the transparency of the process, adding focusing on the needs and wants of the province misguided; that a vision for the future of the province is needed. Cardy drew the biggest response from the crowd when he brought up government's addiction to corporate welfare, funding business to stay in the province over and over when it was something that doesn't work. Higgs prefaced his response to Cardy with a sly grin and said, "That was a great stump speech opportunity," before going on to answer the NDP leader. Higgs said the government is focused on creating accountability, and an open, transparent process by looking at all sectors. He added companies and banks are being asked to do their part.

A common refrain by Higgs after each member of the public spoke at the mic was, "...we have to balance our priorities and see what our needs are." No concrete promises were made, but Higgs took copious notes when members of the public spoke, taking down their suggestions and concerns. The meeting ran over it's scheduled adjournment at 9 pm, going until 10:30 pm which allowed everyone lined up at the mic to have their chance to speak.

At the end of the meeting, Higgs spoke with reporters. This publication posted video below of Higgs answering some of their questions.

Along with Alward, Higgs kept awake about issues too

2012-01-25T00:21:00.000-08:00

Business plan concept coming for government departments

2012-01-24T20:33:00.000-08:00

Quality services but not everywhere in NB - Higgs

2012-01-24T20:31:00.000-08:00

"Nursing homes have to do their part," - Higgs

2012-01-24T20:28:00.000-08:00

Frack Off - The Concert

2012-01-24T10:17:00.000-08:00

The heady days of Occupy Fredericton; is the passion still there?

2012-01-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

Councillor Marilyn Kerton doesn't support legislated bilingual policy for the City of Fredericton

2012-01-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

An afternoon with Michel DesNeiges, Legal Counsel, NB Environmental Law Society

2012-01-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

(photo credit: elements.nb.ca website)

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 2 pm

Bass River Hall, 20 Fearon Cross Road, Bass River NB

Free Admission. Everyone Welcome!

Stormdate: Saturday, February 04, 2012 at 2 pm.

Freewill donation will be requested to cover the costs of sponsoring this presentation.

Protecting Ourselves from the Deep Shale Gas Mining Industry

Residents of Kent County are very concerned about what shale gas exploration and mining will do to our fresh water wells and aquifers as well as human health, health of livestock and wildlife, and local land and air quality. Upriver Environment Watch! has recently formed, to inform ourselves and our neighbours about this issue. We are working together with Kent County's Our Environment/Our Choice to sponsor this public information event.

The Alward government is vigourously promoting the economic development of our provincial deep shale gas resources. To set our minds at rest, our trustees in Fredericton are promising they will soon produce a “world-class” set of standards, so that these industries understand they must not pollute our families, homes and rivers in the beautiful Kent County region.

The creation and enforcement of even the strongest regulations by the Government of New Brunswick will not guarantee that we are protected from the health and environmental hazards associated with this industry. Leaving aside the larger and major environmental concerns, this deep drilling and refracturing technology is scientifically exceptionally unpredictable. It is too new, too unknown, and very unsafe. Further, how does the Alward government propose to fund a top-notch regulatory and enforcement system that opens in high gear, and can operate 24/7/365 as needed? That is an expensive proposition.

In October 2011, Minister Northrup said that natural gas companies have been “made well aware that they may not explore where they are not welcome.” WE DO NOT WELCOME shale gas exploration in our Kent County communities, but we expect to see their equipment back here by Spring. How do we protect our properties, families, farms, drinking water, watersheds, wildlife, and livestock from this environmental threat?

Mr. DesNeiges will cover these and more topics in his talk. He will also answer questions from the audience. His presentation will be in English but he will take questions in French or English.

Councillor Jordan Graham on speaking truth to power

2012-01-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

Fredericton Police Chief MacKnight on criminal libel investigations; takes questions from blogger Leblanc

2012-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

After a Council-in-Committee meeting this evening, Fredericton Police Chief Barry MacKnight, above, answered questions pertaining to criminal libel investigations without going into specifics about the Leblanc libel case since it's an ongoing matter. This publication spoke to him before the above scrum, but MacKnight had no comment. He was more forthcoming as reporters gathered around him before he headed into the regular Monday night council meeting. Interestingly, blogger Charles LeBlanc was one of those reporters and he asked questions of his own to MacKnight captured in the video.

The People's Alliance Party makes suggestions to Higgs for paring down budget

2012-01-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

Minister Higgs,

Thanks for the opportunity to meet with you today. Although I do hope we will see a return to a public meeting forum in Miramichi next year. A stakeholders meeting is fine, but as a party, the People’s Alliance does question why your government doesn’t consider all taxpayers stakeholders in the budget process.

During your presentation you make mention of the need for political parties to avoid making campaign promises they cannot fulfill. Given the number of times your government has backed off, tweaked, reversed or totally neglected many of its promises I wish you the best of luck in this endeavour as you explain this to your colleagues at the legislature.

Our party has listened to many initiatives you’ve brought forth as finance minister to bring in new revenue and decrease spending. Some we agree with and some we don’t. But at the end of the day, all we can hope for is that your government has the political will to do the right thing and bring us back to balanced books in order to start paying down the debt.

One thing you’ve said in the past is your government can leave no stone unturned in the efforts to find decreases in spending. If that is truly your intention then I would please ask you to consider the following ideas from the People’s Alliance:

1) Roll back MLA salaries to 2008 levels and establish annual salary increases more similar to that of the average New Brunswicker. We also don’t believe that the argument is legitimate to say New Brunswickers need quality individuals to run for office and they need to be paid accordingly. By that logic I would find it hard to believe that more than half of the current government cabinet, who ran for office prior to the 2008 increases would have considered themselves poor quality. The only other point I’ll make on this issue is to ask how your former employers at Irving Oil would have dealt with you and your former colleagues giving themselves raises without the boss’s knowledge and consent.

2) Sell the government plane. You speak of wants and needs quite often. From the amount of excessive use by a handful of your colleagues, I would say this government resource falls under the want category, when commercial airlines can provide much cheaper travel fare. All it would take to achieve a balance between work in Fredericton and people’s home ridings is more responsible scheduling of time commitments by your cabinet colleagues.

3) Reduce the amount of travel expenses that MLA’s and cabinet minister’s claim. Regardless of how much travel is required, when you have MLA’s spending well over $30,000 a year and sometimes hitting $40,000 a year and they aren’t even part of cabinet, I question whether our tax dollars are being put to the best use when MLA’s are spending more than an average New Brunswickers annual salary on food, gas and hotel bills.

4) One can understand if a premier wants to have a couple trusted advisors at their side in order to work steadily and freely. But when governments begin handing out jobs to political friends and campaign workers as a reward for their support regardless of their qualifications at the alarming rate which continues to grow with each successive PC and Liberal government, then I would suggest the governing party kick in some funds from their own bank account to pay for these salaries. Although you weren’t a part of the last Progressive Conservative opposition who lambasted the former Liberal government for appointing their friends to various positions, your government has been no slouch itself. The best result New Brunswickers could hope for is to end the patronage machine once and for all. Make a select few of these positions by contract only and don't hand away anymore secret pensions cloaked in cabinet confidentiality.

5) If you do want a suggestion of where to invest some money, give the auditor general's office the resources and staff to fully investigate government spending through a full audit of the books. It would also be nice to see the person holding that position to hold more clout when highlighting when governments, department officials and individual elected members begin to abuse taxpayers money.

These are just a few ideas our party has Mr. Minister, not to mention ones that could be done very easily if the political will is there. If you should choose to discuss these ideas or any others further, the People’s Alliance is always willing to work with other parties to achieve the best results for the people of this province and would be willing to sit down with you.

Kris Austin, Leader

Jason Inness, President

Carl Bainbridge, Vice President

Rhonda Smith, Treasurer

Michael Marsh, Secretary

Blogger Charles LeBlanc back in business

2012-01-23T17:24:00.000-08:00

Blogger Charles LeBlanc is officially back in business with computer equipment donated by supporters that was set up this afternoon by an IT professional sympathetic to his plight. Leblanc's equipment was removed by police during the execution of a search warrant last Friday after a lengthy investigation into whether one of their own, Cpl. Fred L'Oiseau, was libeled in a post by LeBlanc on his blog.

A steady stream of well wishers has been visiting LeBlanc's home since Friday, giving him cash and cheques to help him with legal fees in his fight against criminal libel charges if the Crown chooses to move forward on the file.

An exhausted LeBlanc was grateful for the outpouring of public support and vows to continue doing his work in highlighting issues affecting the less fortunate.

Reminder - Fredericton City Council Meeting, Provincial Pre-Budget Consultations

2012-01-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

From 5 pm to 9 pm, the regular Monday evening city council meeting in Fredericton convenes.

Tomorrow evening, from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, Finance Minister Blaine Higgs will be holding a pre-budget consultation meeting with the public in the theatre at the Forestry Complex on Regent Street.

Correction

2012-01-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Last week it was posted to this blog that CBC provincial affairs reporter Jacques Poitras was reporting rumblings of a cabinet shuffle on his Twitter feed. However, in an e-mail to this publication, Poitras pointed out this wasn't the case:

"I did not, and do not, report on rumours. I was responding to others who were speculating about a shuffle, by providing my thoughts on whether it would or would not be too early for such a move.

The way you've phrased it suggests I was the first to broach the subject, and that I was doing so based on rumour. Neither is the case."

This publication regrets the error. - ED.

Editorial: Criminel libel, mental illness and police overreaction

2012-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

Taxpayers should hope the Leblanc libel case gets thrown out

According to the Criminal Code of Canada, under section 298 (1), defamatory libel is defined as, “…matter published, without lawful justification or excuse, that is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or that is designed to insult the person of or concerning whom it is published. “

In section 298 (2), the mode of expression of the defamation is defined as, “being expressed directly or indirectly by insinuation or irony, (a) in words legibly marked on any substance ; or (b) by any object signifying a defamatory libel otherwise than by words.”

When an alleged defamatory libel is published, as per section 299 of the Criminal Code, a person becomes libel, "(a) when he exhibits it in public, (b) causes it to be read or seen; or (c) shows or delivers it, or causes it to be shown or delivered, with intent that it should be read or seen by the person whom it defames or by any other person.”

Punishment for defamatory libel ranges from two to five years in jail. If, in section 300 of the Code, if a person is aware the information published is libel, he can receive a term not exceeding five years. If he doesn’t know it’s libel, as stated in section 301, then the term is not to exceed two years.

Nowhere in this section of the Criminal Code of Canada, pertaining to defamatory libel, is new social media such as blogging addressed within the context of these definitions. It only mentions newspapers as related to publication. There is no specific legislation dealing with unconventional reporting online such as blogging.

Libel, or defamation, can be dealt with in a criminal or civil action in Canada. A civil action is filed through a lawsuit and settled with monetary damages. Criminal action can result in a jail term, hence the punishment portion of section 300 and 301 in the Code. But criminal defamation is rarely enforced in Canada and has been ruled unconstitutional in three provinces. When it has been trotted out for use in the past, it was mostly by authority figures seeking redress for damage to their reputation.

The most commonly known libel case in New Brunswick is that of Beutel v. Ross. Editorial page cartoonist Josh Beutel was sued for defamation by teacher Malcolm Ross in 1993 after depicting Ross in a cartoon comparing him to a Nazi. Ross was known for his anti-semetic views, and had gotten press for expressing them inappropriately in a classroom. Beutel was found libel in the case in 1998 and ordered to pay damages to Ross of $7500. However, Beutel appealed the decision and it was set aside in 2001, with Ross ordered to pay Beutel $5000.

The Beutel v. Ross case was a civil action. There is no known case of criminal libel being brought forth in New Brunswick that this publication could find in it’s research on the issue. Until last Friday.

On that day, Fredericton City Police executed a warrant to search and seize computer equipment from local blogger Charles Leblanc on charges of criminal defamation against one of its own, Cpl. Fred L’Oiseau.

For some time it has been known there is no love lost between Leblanc and L’Oiseau, the two having crossed paths in the past and taken a dislike to one another. Some call it the local version of the wider family squabble under the francophone roof of Acadian vs. Quebecois, the two having feuded for centuries after landing on North American soil, with the Acadians calling the Quebecois arrogant, while the Quebecois treat their New Brunswick brethren as something akin to country hicks. The situation between Leblanc and L’Oiseau was compounded in June of last year when L’Oiseau singled out LeBlanc on the street and ticketed him for not wearing a helmet while on his bicycle, a minor by-law infraction that is often broken by the general public in the city’s downtown under the noses of police.

LeBlanc went home and wrote on his blog about what he felt as being unfairly ticketed for something that is a common occurrence, noting also that police are aware he is on social assistance and couldn’t afford to pay the fine. Leblanc began lampooning L’Oiseau regularly on his blog. In a July post, he inferred that during their exchange, L’Oiseau allegedly touched him inappropriately, referring to L’Oiseau as a “pervert”. Speculation suggests this is where the police began their investigation that culminated in the raid on LeBlanc’s premises last Friday.

It is clear, given the definition of defamation in the Criminal Code of Canada as outlined above, that Leblanc has some explaining to do. Often he cities his ADHD mental illness as the reason for much of his impulsive behaviour, and while it is indeed likely the strongest explanation for LeBlanc thoughtlessly skewering some public figures on his blog, his refusal to take medication for the illness puts part of the blame on him for his current woes. LeBlanc has been heard to question why he should take a medication that makes it easier for society to deal with him when it is society that needs to learn how to deal with people who have mental illness. And while he has a point, it does nothing for his immediate situation. The longer LeBlanc goes without medication to regulate his illness, the more he will deteriorate as he ages which could lead to further problems with authority figures. Nobody wants to see that happen.

L’Oiseau, for his part, is also to blame for his predicament of being the object of ridicule on LeBlanc’s blog. He tweaked the nose of the lion by doing something as petty as issuing a by-law ticket on a minor infraction when it was common knowledge Leblanc didn’t have the means to pay for it. Such action gives credence to LeBlanc’s claims against L’Oiseau, and the Fredericton City Police at large, as being a corrupt organization with little respect or compassion for the less fortunate. How, one wonders, does it help the situation when police torment a mentally ill man that lives in poverty by issuing him tickets for minor offences he can’t pay for, and then storm into his home to silence him because they don’t like him complaining about it in a public forum? The resources of an entire department are being used to bully one man who is often dismissed as crazy. Simply because he’s considered crazy doesn’t give officials the right to trample Leblanc’s civil rights. The mentally ill are entitled to their rights as much as the next person, and the police need to be properly trained to understand how to deal with them. It doesn’t appear the Fredericton City Police currently have the skills to do so. Perhaps Chief MacKnight could consider sending his personnel on a few courses to learn how, starting with Cpl. L’Oiseau.

The entire exercise on Friday smacks of what is known as “libel chill”, a term that describes how in using such heavy-handed tactics in the name of criminal libel, the state sends a message to society that this is what will happen to those who loudly protest its actions. It is a way to quiet dissent. Regardless of what city-dwellers think of LeBlanc, it should make them nervous their police force is acting in this manner. It is a slippery slope that can lead to the erosion of respect for other rights that could impact their own quality of life.

In the meantime, both sides in this situation need to pull back and look at the bigger picture because it will be the taxpayer left holding the bag for court costs in what is looking more and more like than an ego-filled pissing contest. LeBlanc needs to find more suitable ways of discussing his displeasure with the Fredericton City Police or his blog will soon have no readers because many taxpayers are his readers, and they will be fed up. The police need to look at the optics of this thing, i.e. city taxpayers already had to pay $200,000 for the Const. Stafford debacle and now it looks as though they may be on the hook for costs because a police officer has nothing better to do than worry about the blathering of a small-time blogger.

Things are out of hand.

With the Crown yet to decide on whether it will move forward on the charges against Leblanc, there is a window of opportunity for some sanity to prevail. It can decide not to pursue the criminal route and send the file back. Barring that, it is hoped if proceedings move forward, a judge will throw it out for being the ridiculous dispute that it is, forcing cooler heads before a man is sent to jail, and a fine police force is permanently damaged in the eyes of those it serves.

Conservation Council reaction to Leonard move to CAPP

2012-01-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

Greedy Lying Bastards Film Trailer

2012-01-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

Blogger's frame of mind after arrest and raid at his home yesterday morning by Fredericton police

2012-01-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

Blogger Charles LeBlanc chronicles events of arrest and raid at his home yesterday morning by Fredericton police

2012-01-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

Blogger Charles LeBlanc negotiates with Cpl. Bobbi Simmons - officer who arrested him - for modem back

2012-01-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

LeBlanc's request for modem back denied I

2012-01-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

LeBlanc's request for modem back denied II

2012-01-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

Stay Tuned

2012-01-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

Blogger pleads for help to replace some seized equipment taken in raid yesterday morning by Fredericton police

2012-01-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

Rumblings of coming provincial cabinet shuffle...

2012-01-20T11:59:00.000-08:00

The CBC's Jacques Poitras is reporting on Twitter there are rumblings of a cabinet shuffle circulating in political circles surrounding the provincial government. What this means for high profile departments such as Natural Resources and Environment on the hot seat in the past year related to shale gas and water issues remains to be seen. This publication will continue to follow events on this story as they unfold.

Fredericton City Police arrest and search home of Blogger Charles LeBlanc

2012-01-20T06:53:00.000-08:00

RCMP release sketches of suspects from armed robberies, Zealand and Millville, N.B.

2012-01-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

The RCMP have released sketches of two suspects in a pair of armed robberies on Wednesday night at convenience stores in Millville and Zealand.

The sketches were compiled by the RCMP's Forensic Artist based on surveillance video and witnesses.

District 2 (Oromocto) and District 7 (Carleton-York) are investigating the robberies with assistance from the Fredericton Police Force.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police or N.B. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

BREAKING...Blogger Charles LeBlanc arrested on defamation charges; blog shut down

2012-01-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - Local Fredericton blogger Charles LeBlanc was arrested by Fredericton Police earlier today on charges of criminal defamation. Police raided LeBlanc's home this morning, taking his computer equipment and means of producing his blog. After being processed, LeBlanc was released from police custody and will appear in court on the matter April 20.

Above, LeBlanc's desk minus computer equipment after police raided his home and seized his computer today

On Monday, LeBlanc pleaded guilty in court to violating a city noise by-law. The case stemmed from LeBlanc protesting in front of the city police station last summer using a bullhorn which authorities claimed gave disturbed locals cause to complain. LeBlanc was trying to draw attention to the fact he was ticketed for not wearing a helmet while riding his bicycle based on a third-party complaint without police witnessing the violation.

The Purple Violet Press is continuing to follow this story and will update it as details emerge. In the meantime, this publication has learned friends will be donating computer equipment to LeBlanc and he will be back online with his blog tomorrow morning. Police remain tight-lipped on the matter, providing no comment to media.

Below is a link to LeBlanc's blog detailing events of today.

http://charlesotherpersonality.blogspot.com/2012/01/blogger-charles-leblanc-apartment.html

Blogger Charles LeBlanc makes video statement after arrest by Fredericton city police

2012-01-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

More photos of armed robbery suspects in Zealand and Millville

2012-01-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

The RCMP in New Brunswick has released photos of two suspects in connection with an armed robbery at a convenience store in Zealand, N.B., on the evening of January 18, 2012.

One of the men is described as being approximately 5'5' tall and weighing about 140 lbs. The second man is about 6' tall and weighs approximately 250 lbs. Both were wearing snowmobile suits.

Anyone with information about this armed robbery, or the one that occurred 90 minutes earlier in Millville, is asked to contact police or N.B. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).

Conservation Council of NB Reacts to Leonard defection to CAPP

2012-01-19T12:23:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Norrad

FREDERICTON - A high profile New Brunswick environmental group is concerned a recent defection by a provincially employed bureaucrat to a national oil and gas lobby will influence the government further with shale gas exploration in the province, against the wishes of many in the population.

Stephanie Merrill, above, of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Stephanie Merrill of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick said Angie Leonard's move from the province's natural gas steering group to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), may give the powerful lobby group access to inside information on shale gas development in New Brunswick.

"Her taking with her to industry, to the biggest [oil and gas] lobby group in Canada, information that she's gained through working with the Natural Gas Steering Group...information that is sensitive and potentially confidential...the biggest concern for us is industry exploiting that information..." said Merrill.

Angie Leonard, above, in an image from her Twitter account

Leonard, sister of Energy Minister Craig Leonard, was employed by the province as an executive with the natural gas steering group, a committee struck in April 2011 by Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup to regulate and oversee the evolution of the burgeoning shale gas industry in New Brunswick. She was also present on several panels speaking to the public at community meetings held by the province on the contentious issue of shale gas, attempting to ally fears of potential environmental damage felt by the populace.

Leonard, third from left, is seen on a natural gas group panel consulting with the public in the community of Taymouth during the summer of 2011

Although shale gas is a high-profile issue in the province, no announcement was made by government about Leonard's move to a player with a strong interest in seeing the industry take off here. The CBC's Jacques Poitras broke the story and Natural Resources spokesman Steven Benteau responded saying Leonard would be given no access to senior officials on the shale gas file.

"They have decided that they will not be meeting with this individual on the natural gas file, and this would be do to the perceived appearance of a conflict...especially in that she is also a relative of a cabinet minister, who is a member of the natural gas steering committee," said Benteau.

But for Merrill, the government saying Leonard will have no access to senior government officials on the file is irrelevant.

"She still has access to communities...other governments like municipal councils and business groups...in a communications capacity and that will be big asset," said Merrill.

Leonard has declined to comment on the controversy surrounding her new position with CAPP. Her Twitter feeds have also been quiet.

- with files from CBC.ca/nb

RCMP investigating two armed robberies, Millville and Zealand, NB

2012-01-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

An image of one of the suspects has been released, above, from a security camera during last night's robberies.

On January 18, 2012, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the District 7 RCMP responded to an armed robbery at Estey’s General Store, on Route 104 in Millville, N.B. A masked man, carrying a firearm, entered the store. A shot was fired, but no one was injured. The store clerk and a few patrons were in the store at the time. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes. He ran from the store and left the scene on a snowmobile.

About 90 minutes later, the District 2 RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at Zealand Convenience, on Route 104 in Zealand, N.B. In this case, two masked men entered the store. One had a firearm, and a shot was fired, but no one was hit. The store owner was assaulted and taken to hospital, where he was treated and later released. An undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes was stolen. The suspects fled to a nearby trail.

The suspects in both robberies were wearing snowmobile suits. One man is approximately 5’5” tall and weighs about 140 lbs. The second man is about 6' tall and weighs approximately 250 lbs.

Due to the similarities in the two incidents, police believe the robberies may be linked. The RCMP Police Dog Service and Forensic Identification Service assisted at both scenes.

Anyone with information about these two crimes is asked to contact RCMP at 1-888-506-RCMP (7267). Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or www.crimenb.ca. Information leading to an arrest could qualify you for a cash award of up to $2,000.