Letters to the editor

A12

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3 Comment(s)

I fully understand that socialized medicine means long lines and long wait times. It is something that we, as Canadians, have come to expect.

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This week, I stood corralled in line for three hours at the H1N1 Immunization Clinic in Sussex. This clinic was for those in the priority groups, which, in most instances, means those who are vulnerable to the infection. I attended with my two pre-school aged children, doing what any parent would want to do, protect their children.

Again, I understand the long lines, but to make those who are vulnerable stand outside in line for three hours is a shame. I witnessed small children not properly bundled for cold temperatures crying. I witnessed mothers standing, nursing their babies in line, an elderly woman covered in blankets in her wheelchair. The more I witnessed, the more ridiculous the scene became to me.

Why in the world could this not be done in a more civilized manner? Why couldn't the clinics be held somewhere like Harbour Station, where everyone could be given a number and an opportunity to sit down, in the warmth of the indoors, instead of being herded like cattle?

I'm embarrassed by this situation in our province. It is shameful. On another note, given what they had to work with, the nurses and public health workers there were fantastic and did the best they could with what they had to work with.

Thank you for making my children feel special after three hours of dehumanization.

LAURA BRIDEAU

Long Reach

Line jumpers show selfish behaviour

I have been listening, reading and pondering all the news and behaviours of the government and Canadians pertaining to the current H1N1 pandemic. Government behaviour aside, I find myself saddened and ashamed of many of my fellow Canadians. We have all been informed of the at "risk people" in our society and I understand the rationale behind these decisions.

What I don't understand is how normally reasonable people have ignored the rules and "line jumped" using numerable excuses or just plain lying to have their families and/or teams of athletes or politicians inoculated. Where is the fairness or justice in that? While parents stand in line for hours to have their children inoculated, two retired persons are languishing in the sunny south having received their shots by refusing to leave the clinic until they had them.

So, how many people that should have received their shots did not get them because of folks like this? We can't blame government for everything, and especially not when we exhibit such self-serving and selfish behaviour.

Two of my grandchildren have H1N1 right now so I understand the worry that people feel. I wish that they might have had the inoculation but they did not and so be it.

Meanwhile, until every at-risk person has been treated, I will not even consider asking about inoculation. And don't think about calling this attitude altruistic. How about it just being the right thing to do?

SHARON STOUT

Saint John

Power deal good, but needs tuning

Premier Graham is on the right track with his deal with Hydro-Quebec.

NB Power has proved on numerous occasions that it cannot efficiently produce and sell power profitably.

The terms negotiated for large and medium businesses are necessary and crucial for the growth of our province.

The flaw in the deal is that it's too open-ended, and leaves the other New Brunswick rate payers susceptible to arbitrary and mandatory price increases in the future.

Under the proposed terms, homeowners and small businesses will be subsidizing Quebec rate payers from the beginning. In order for us to be more than "electricity serfs" to the Hydro-Québec "power barons," our rate must be tied to those that Quebec homeowners and small businesses pay. Our rates should go up only when Quebec rates go up and by the same percentage.

At the start of the contract our rates should be five per cent higher than those in Quebec.

If that happens and rate increases are equal, our rates will always be five per cent higher than Quebec's. Under the current proposal, in 25 years we could be paying double Quebec rates.

Hydro-Québec is making money selling electricity to their citizens. If it sells to us at five per cent more, it will also make money. Hydro-Québec will recover its losses from a five-year rate freeze within the following five years.

Think long term. They want this deal more than you do, so start playing hard ball.

Close the deal and don't sell us short.

GARY T. FOSTER

Saint John

If debt is paid, rate should drop

I am not totally against the idea of selling NB Power. Attempting to eliminate the $4.75 billion debt is certainly going in the right direction. I do think there is a problem with the process, and the implications if it proves to be wrong are huge.

I would like some clarification.

The $4.75 billion debt is either NB Power or provincial. If it is NB Power then I assume the reason our electricity rates are higher is part of the payment goes to pay down the debt (or at least the interest). If it is provincial, then our taxes are higher to pay down the debt. It must be one or the other.

So why are our electricity rates and/or taxes not going down once this debt is paid off?

It looks to me that Hydro-Québec assumes our debt but we will continue to pay it off through our electricity rates. They get to keep the farm, keep the profits due to the unhindered access to northeastern states and we pay them for their troubles. Am I missing something?

Also, with a monopoly of access for Hydro-Québec to the northeastern states, will it make New Brunswick an island surrounded by provinces and states that have a huge dislike for us because of this sale?

Who is going to help us when we need it?

We need to think of now but it is very important that we look to the future and plan accordingly.

GORDON MacLEAN

Wilson's Beach

MPs' free vote showed sanity

Once again I am impressed! Imagine letting MPs have a free vote on the long gun registry and look what happens. A glimmer of sanity rears its head in the Canadian Parliament.

It seems some of them have listened to those they represent. I wonder what other sane things would show up in those "sacred" halls if more free votes happened? Canada is a great country of potential as long as we all stand up against party leaders who would impose their own agendas on us.

What about working together, crossing party lines, putting the good of Canada first in every way?

What novel ideas. Please MPs, impress me some more and try these "ideas."

CHRIS GILMORE

Logan Lake, B.C.

Give older workers grandfather status

Today in this province there are a number of men between the ages of 40 and 60 who have worked in a particular trade all their lives but who have no paper qualifications. As mills close and local work opportunities decline, these men are unable to re-locate to other parts of the province to find employment.

Recently we have seen labour unrest in Saint John, caused in part, by the importation of skilled foreign workers due to an apparent lack of local skilled labour. If we truly have a skilled labour shortage, perhaps now is the time for the provincial government to consider grandfathering those individuals who have worked in a trade as un-licensed skilled labour most of their lives. This would not only eleviate a labour shortage, but help deal with the pockets of high unemployment in parts of our province.

SALLY McGRATH

Taymouth

City should have a third bridge

Recent problems involving the Harbour Bridge and the Reversing Falls bridge traffic being backed up brings into focus the original concept of a major traffic bridge to accommodate provincial traffic to be built from Ragged Point to Milford.

Neither the Reversing Falls bridge nor the Harbour Bridge were designed to handle the heavy transport vehicles which have developed since the bridges were planned.

These have created extra unforeseen stress which is the cause of the present problem.

An example is the pipeline that now goes across up river from the falls. A third bridge should be located similarly.

If the St. Stephen border can have three bridges, why can't Saint john?

ERIC TEED

Saint John