Letters to the editor

A6

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Speak Up

The major problem of Peel Plaza is, by admission, someone's idea.

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The late brilliant Canadian architect, Arthur Erickson, once said in a television interview that "Architecture has nothing to do with ideas."

If planning is anything then, it's putting functions in the correct place.

For instance the Carnegie Building (once the library and now The Arts Centre) was dedicated to the pursuit of intellectual excellence, and across the street was the YMCA dedicated to "Spirit, Mind and Body," both public functions of a high ideal. Now that the YMCA is gone, please have the common decency to protect the one remaining public function and indeed an historic building of which all Canadians may be proud.

The plan is a million dollars of concrete landscaping, on top of a million dollar tunnel, designed to hide a police car, all of which will partially hide the historic Carnegie Building, and two streets are to be closed. A poet once said "if it isn't right in the beginning, no amount of fixing will help it."

Courthouses are traditionally on the town square, where indeed our historic courthouse is, and the new one should be built next to it, along with the police headquarters which would be next to the existing Fire Department headquarters.

Through the "luck of history" we have inherited a city of beautiful buildings, a city built for people, a city where there has been constant harmony between the home, play and workplace. Please consult the planners and architects before initiating someone's idea.

RICHARD PURDY

Architect, retired, Rothesay

Volunteers aren't just basement savers

I am a volunteer firefighter in Rexton and our fire department covers more than 3,000 square kilometres in primary and mutual aid firefighting, we have helped saved hundreds of lives and saved millions of dollars in property, but to the uninformed and ignorant, volunteer firefighters are still basement savers.

Volunteer firefighters in New Brunswick are constantly training and advancing our rescue skills, and working very hard to have the best equipment to do the job efficiently, we provide firefighting, motor vehicle accident extrication, ice rescue, first aid, water rescue, off road rescue and are a vital part of emergency services for our own and surrounding communities. But the most important part of our job is that we play a part in the rebuilding and healing of the people affected in the tragedies, these are our neighbours, our friends, our family.

We don't take holidays, we don't call in sick and there is no quitting time; we go no matter what, no matter when, no matter where.

The majority of volunteer fire departments are very active and are in good shape, offering protection services second to none, so the next time you want to discuss volunteer firefighting in New Brunswick you might want to find out more information and not from two paid employees.

As well please note, the issues that a couple of fire departments may have, does not translate to all of us.

We are not basement savers and we are not going anywhere.

RANDY WARMAN

Volunteer firefighter, Rexton

Will deal make us second class?

I guess it had to come to this. For years NB Power management has made what at best can be described as a series of questionable decisions, the latest being the refurbishment of Point Lepreau.

These decisions have finally led to them putting the last nail in their own coffin.

While I don't feel any sadness for those responsible, I do question the proposed deal and what it holds for New Brunswickers. For $4.75 billion, Quebec is getting a refurbished Point Lepreau with a lifespan of 30 more years, as well as all of our distribution and power transmission systems. That in itself to Quebec is well worth much more than the money being paid.

Quebec will also bring industrial and commercial rates in line with Quebec's rates for these same industries which is excellent and will help make these industries more competitive and ensure job retention.

However, homeowners will have but a five-year rate freeze and even so, we still will be paying way more for our power than Quebec consumers.

If Quebec is going to supply our electrical service, and if they can give industry the same rate as Quebec industry then why not treat New Brunswick consumers the same as all Quebec customers. It makes us look like second-class citizens to Quebeckers.

The only way to make it fair is for all consumers to pay the same rates - New Brunswickers and Quebeckers alike.

Let's go into this as equal partners.

DONALD BOUDREAU

Fredericton

Public should refrain from panic

A letter to Premier Graham.

I was very pleased to see the quick response with which you and the Liberal caucus responded following Premier Danny Williams' reaction to the talks New Brunswick is having regarding NB Power.

I have to admit that I sometimes admire the fact that Premier Williams is quick to speak up on behalf of Newfoundland and Labrador, but the talks are just that at this point, talks.

Unfortunately, Premier Williams is a gun that went off half-cocked.

Likewise, for David Alward. How can one inform the public until one has the information to convey?

As you have clearly conveyed, this is a situation of vital importance to the economic well-being of New Brunswick and consequently, the rest of Atlantic Canada.

Also, in the New Brunswick government we are fortunate to have a minister responsible who has more than just a working knowledge of the issue.

I hope that the public will refrain from panic until there truly is a reason to do so.

TERRY ALBRIGHT

Saint John

There's no mandate to sell NB Power

Shawn Graham has got to go! He calls the proposed selling off of our power company to Quebec a "partnership."

There is no partnership.

This is an outright sell off. He says that residential rates will go down, when in fact rates will not change"¦ then go up.

The only beneficiaries will be industry.

Be assured that Quebec only has their own interests in mind, not ours.

He also is threatening us by saying that if this deal does not go through our power rates will jump.

This was said in an interview with CBC on Thursday night.

He will try to make us forget about this deal by not changing the NB Power logos on the trucks.

He sees the writing on the wall that come next election he will lose his job, but one wonders if part of this proposed deal is a chair with his name on it on the board with Quebec hydro.

We need an election before this proposal is finalized and allow us, the owners of NB Power to decide.

MARGARET PHILLIPS

Kingston

It's time to listen to protesters

Re: Climate change protest disrupts question period.

It's time to listen to the youth climate movement.

The response to the youth protest that disrupted Question Period in the House of Commons on Oct. 19 has missed the mark.

As participants of Power Shift Canada, the climate change summit that brought together more than 1,000 young Canadians to engage legitimately with our democratic institutions, we feel obligated to respond.

What's striking is not that there was an eruption of overt civil disobedience.

What's striking is why just 48 hours before this much-maligned protest, a decidedly more peaceful demonstration took place on Parliament Hill.

On Saturday afternoon, a crowd 3,000 strong added their voices to the chorus of discontent over government inaction on the climate crisis.

Even as the uproar rose to a fever pitch, it fell on deaf ears. For the Canadians who tuned into their morning news, there was barely a whisper.

This silence speaks volumes more about the current state of environmental dialogue in Canada than the stifled cries of protesters.

The present reality of this great silence is that without such outbursts of collective frustration, no one is listening.

Now that we have the national ear, what do we want?

We want Canada to demonstrate a commitment to environmental justice and a sustainable, clean economy.

We want Canada to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen as a positive global force for a fair, ambitious and binding treaty.

Don't ignore us any longer.

It's time to listen.

CHRIS CONNOLLY

Quispamsis