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My husband and I moved to New Brunswick almost two years ago to raise our family. In Calgary, we heard the public relations of Premier Lord and Premier Graham to come to New Brunswick. We were willing to accept the lower salary for a better life.

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I graduated from early French immersion in western Canada and have enjoyed many advantages during travel, in employment opportunities and in friendships made with Canadians of francophone descent. I never thought to be concerned with this program option's availability in New Brunswick when we were making our decision to relocate.

I still cannot believe that this province will follow through with such a poor decision as the elimination of early French immersion and rob anglophone children of the opportunity to achieve an advanced level of bilingualism. I have refused to lose hope that saner minds would prevail. How can French immersion be so successful in western Canada and determined to be such a failure in New Brunswick?

I don't want to uproot my family again but one of the most important parental responsibilities is to ensure their children's education. The cognitive benefits of early second language learning matter to me.

Mr. Lamrock, your plan is not going to deliver what I want for my children nor will it deliver what you say it will. My children are my first responsibility. Take the time for consultation with the prime stakeholders in children's education - the parents - and allow for processes to find solutions amenable to all.

ERIN LUKIE

Morrisdale

A solution for Red Head erosion

After watching a program on the Discovery Channel about dredging in the USA and the islands they build with that waste I came up with a simple solution to the Red Head problem.

We dredge our harbour every year and it is hauled up the shoreline and just dumped in the water again up there. And every year we hear conservation groups and fisherman complain that the fish are being smothered by it. So rather than do this dumping every year and harming the fish why can't they haul the waste to the Red Head shoreline and dump it along there? This would rebuild the shoreline that has been washed away and prevent further erosion.

Sure, over the next year the waste we dump there may erode away, but we would be starting dredging again so it would be replaced. And not all of last year's build up would have eroded so eventually the shoreline would be built back up to a safe level and people's back yards would stay where they are.

And if need be, I am sure the city and the port could work out a deal so the port doesn't have to foot the whole bill for dredging as they do now. Now that we have a new council and mayor I thought I would just throw in my two-cent idea.

KEN DAVIS

Saint John

New respect for Saint John voters

I have new respect for the voters of Saint John, they weren't conned by the Telegraph-Journal's endless barrage against anti-LNG tax dealers, even going so far as to claim Santa wouldn't support Ivan and Bruce Court!

Kudos to the voters!

PETER WHITEBONE

Saint John

Politics at its best still possible

Late on election night, after the results were in, I witnessed two opposing candidates, Carl Killen (elected) and Carl Trickey (not elected), engaged in a conversation about ideas and about projects for Ward 3.

Given the timing and the circumstances it was obvious to those of us present that this was grace and intelligence at work.

This was politics at its best. It is my hope that we see a lot of this over the next four years.

PETER BUCKLAND

Saint John

Voters seem to prefer status quo

The city has spoken. For those who bothered to vote, apparently they would prefer more of the same, if not worse. Now that the Brothers "Grim" have been ushered in, we can look forward to four more years of bickering, grand standing, name calling and posturing, or as a wise old farmer once said "Roostering."

I honestly hope that this council will have the courage to actually say "That's not right," and change things with the long-term future in mind, regardless of the back scene pressure being put on them for short-term gains.

However, having sat in on the Ward 4 and mayoral debates, things don't look promising. History, as usual, seems to be repeating itself on a small scale. The U.S. was stuck with G.W. Bush after their 2000 election, then watched how useless and dangerous he was in power and picked him again in 2004.

I know that I grow more rigid in my body and my ways as I get older, and the Courts are no different. The citizens will need to constantly remind our new leaders that "Civil Service" isn't a guise for other agendas.

JAMES JACKSON

Saint John

Visit to Calais takes scary turn

I would like to relate an incident that happened to me recently.

My husband and I were crossing the border between St. Stephen and Calais. He had to mail a couple of parcels. I was just going along for the ride, but we were both told to go inside. They sent him in one room and me in another. I was told to leave my purse on the counter and step over to the side.

The female officer proceeded to handcuff and frisk me while another officer went through my purse. I couldn't believe this was happening and in a panic asked what was going on. They wouldn't answer me, just eventually told me I could leave with no explanation, no apology or anything. I said I have the right to know what it was all about and they said there was an escaped murderer with the same name as me. Although my first and last names are very common, I doubt she has the same middle name, birth date or looks like me.

I just want the public to know the way the customs apparently have the right to treat totally innocent people.

PATRICIA WILSON

Rothesay

Income Tax Act strikes again

Let us strike another blow for women's lib! Canada Revenue Agency has informed me that even though lawyers from both sides confess ours was a picture perfect divorce; even though our children share homes between us on fair and equal basis; even though my ex makes twice my income, they are making a policy change. And why, you may ask - because they and not the courts make the decisions when it comes to income. Yours, mine and theirs. Ironically, while married our combined income made us ineligible for the Canada Child Tax Benefit or the Goods and Services Tax/harmonized sales tax credit. So be it, I was employed. He was employed. Life was livable.

Now I am in the category of the majority of women, who are single parents, and the government has made a policy change by choosing to rotate this monthly benefit because we share the custody of our children equally. Seems under the guise of fairness, they are giving him six months of benefits.

There is just one catch. His salary will make him ineligible to receive any benefits, so the end result will be, the government will save themselves six months worth of payments. I am now unemployed and the government has written to confirm I am "still eligible." What a joke!

Apparently, the courts have no business interfering with the mechanisms of the Canada Income Tax Act. Who knew it would be single unemployed mothers who would pay for their bragging rights?

CHARLENE THOMPSON

Quispamsis

Be careful when purchasing a pool

With summer approaching, it's the season to install pools. This letter is just some friendly advice - be careful in choosing a pool installer. Don't get caught like I did - five years ago I had a pool installed and had trouble with it for all the first four years.

Some suggestions - get quotes from more than one installer, ask for a written, detailed breakdown of the anticipated work, costs and time line for installation. Ask for references and go see pools installed by the company you are considering and ask the customer if they are satisfied.

Most importantly - check the background of the pool installer. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are issues there, also check to see if there are any court cases with the installer in regards to their work - this is public information.

There are some incompetent installers out there - do your research. A pool is a huge investment, don't take it lightly.

VONA MacMILLAN

Dalhousie