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Excerpts of a letter to Energy Minister Jack Keir.

I write on behalf of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights.

We have learned your government is replacing the established home heating assistance program by turning to the private sector to help low-income New Brunswickers. The heating program has always been managed by the province and it should continue to be managed by public funds.

The Coalition is completely opposed to the government disengagement of its social responsibilities by turning over the reins to the private sector. As reported, the new program will receive 50 per cent of its financing from the government and the other funds coming from the private sector.

If our information is correct, the program will be managed by the Salvation Army.

To have this program administered by a non-profit organization is troublesome. We do not accept that the management of a governmental program be given to a community organization. This is a government responsibility.

Seniors in New Brunswick already experience hardship by the government's downloading of senior care to private agencies. For these reasons, we ask that you reconsider your proposal.

It would be more appropriate and beneficial to put together a governmental heating aid program similar to the one in Nova Scotia. Their program offers assistance to more people who meet the income-related criteria and covers all forms of energy.

All MLAs must be accountable for such changes if you decide to proceed with this proposal.

I look forward to your response.

CECILE CASSISTA

Executive Director, Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights

Kudos to Canaport LNG for playground

There's a quiet little street called Celebration Street in the central valley of Saint John - off the end of Winter St. The residents of Celebration Street haven't had a lot to celebrate the last couple of decades.

The only thing drawing visitors has, for many years, been the small playground tucked away at the end of the street - wedged between the thruway's fence and the back of the houses on Wright Street.

It's been a dull, after-thought kind of place, despite perennial efforts from neighbourhood residents to spruce it up.

Within the last couple of months, however, things have been happening at the Celebration Street playground. Canaport LNG has adopted the playground as their most recent community project, and has transformed it. The few sparse pieces of playground equipment have been replaced by new swings, a new central play structure and a beautiful zip line! Benches and small tables have been added for the comfort of supervising parents and the playground has been landscaped to add beauty to the site.

Residents of the neighbourhood have something to celebrate again! As MLA for the riding that includes Celebration Street, I would like to thank Canaport LNG for taking on this project, which should delight kids and adults in the area for years to come.

I'd like to say to the citizens of the Central Valley that I hope you enjoy your new play park to the fullest. To Canaport LNG I say thank you and congratulations on a job well done!

Dr. ED DOHERTY

MLA, Saint John Harbour

Housing units pose tough problems

I feel great empathy for Mr. Culligan and others in similar situations. I do know that Bethany Thorne-Dykstra is a tireless and sincere advocate for the disadvantaged in our community.

It is my hope that the Department of Social Development is not being painted with a collective negative brush. Through my affiliation with the Moncton Regional Learning Council and the Greater Moncton Southeast Region United Way, we have worked in partnership on several projects with the Department of Social Development. Its staff has been professional, caring and doing its utmost best to carry out their jobs under difficult circumstances. Staffing levels, especially with the maintenance division, must be addressed.

I would offer up a couple of suggestions to the Department of Social Development to help combat the backlog of repairs to empty units.

Perhaps the apprentice trades students at our local community colleges could be used to do some of their hands-on training work terms, bringing these housing units up to snuff.

I would also suggest that the Department of Social Development invest in technology that allows them to easily track unit availability information with a flick of a switch, and to compile a provincial list of the names of people who have caused excessive damage to units, so that they are not given priority or consideration in another income-assisted community.

I do wish Mr. Culligan, and the many others in a similar situation, speedy success in finding affordable housing.

CATHY BATES

Dieppe

All should support city's ward meetings

Kudos to city staff, councillors and the mayor for their participation in the current round of ward meetings. Congratulations to the Telegraph-Journal staff and a particular thanks to Herb Duncan for his loyal attendance and biting follow-up pieces.

Concerns both great and small were skillfully drawn out by Andrew Beckett from those patriotic citizens striving for a better Saint John. Although the size of the audience varied, and the feelings around some issues were strongly stated, the documentation of concerns, the explanations, and the sharing of plans for the future made for a hopeful direction for our city.

Strong efforts towards transparency and accountability seemed much in play. I encourage all citizens who can, to go out and support this growing trend of community involvement and ownership.

DOUG BREEN

Saint John

Tips to battle credit crunch

Credit is a necessity of life these days. But it has drawbacks when people start living on credit. Easy credit lures everybody to start living a life beyond their means which may lead you toward bankruptcy. Here are few tips to save yourself from the crunch of easy credit.

1. Keep one or two credit cards.

2. Pay your credit card bill in full at least 10 days before due date.

3. Never pay the bill of one credit card by withdrawing cash from another credit card.

4. Always try to save at least 20 per cent of your income and keep this money in separate saving account.

5. Never use more than 40-50 per cent of your credit limit.

6. Advise your credit card company not to increase credit card limit after certain level that you do not need.

7. Never transfer cash through credit cards. If you receive cheques from credit card companies, just throw in the garbage.

8. If you bought an item on a pay later plan (a year or more), immediately start putting money in monthly installments in your savings bank. Remember, those companies charge heavy interest rates if you do not pay by the due date.

These tips are very simple and most of us know the downfalls for buying on credit, but it is a good time to remind ourselves again so that we can get ourselves out of this credit crunch.

ANIL SHARMA, CGA

Saint John

Speak up for a pesticide ban

In response to "Give pesticide ban talk a rest" (Oct. 30), of course there are more toxins to worry about than just pesticides.

In schools over the past 10 years toxic cleaners have been removed, carpets ripped up, moulds cleaned up and leaks repaired. It is an ongoing battle.

NGOs have worked for years to raise awareness of toxins in our homes and most recently, in our babies, with the banning of bisphenol A in baby bottles.

No, pesticides are not the only issue, but are a major issue because they contain more chemicals in their supposed inert ingredients that hurt children than any other household product sold today. And to say the links have not been made between cancers and pesticides is downright irresponsible.

Just ask the Cancer Society why they are convening an international gathering of experts on Nov. 12 in Toronto on the issue of pesticides and children's health. Would they go to all that trouble if pesticides did not cause cancer?

No one, not one single company or government agency, is worth the life of a child. My daughter died from a disease caused by pesticides. As the least-toxic family in a 2006 Canadian study, we know Mary's pesticide exposure did not happen at home.

Until there is a ban I pray that we continue to speak up for those who can't speak for themselves - our children, who are exposed more before they learn to read then after.

So yes, literacy is part of the issue.

PATTY DONOVAN

Quispamsis