Letters to the editor

A6

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Herb Hunter (letter, Nov. 12) must be joking when he writes that Jean-Marie Nadeau "suggests that communism is the way to fight poverty in modern society."

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Nadeau's remark about "redistributing wealth equitably" applies to democratic societies, which make quite different choices about how incomes are to be distributed.

According to UNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre, 13.6 per cent of Canadian children live in households with less than half of median income, a commonly used measure of relative poverty. In Denmark (not a communist country last time I checked), it's 2.4 per cent.

The difference has nothing to do with private charity, Hunter's outdated biblical prescription. It has everything to do with different institutions and public policies in the two countries. Danes are much more serious about preventing poverty than Canadians.

ROD HILL

Dept. of Social Science, UNBSJ

Dieppe's bylaw practises fairness

In Moncton, there is a new mobile sign announcing that the city of Dieppe with its new proposed language bylaw practices racism.

It should be noted that racism refers to a false belief in the superiority of a race over another one, which is not the same as discrimination.

But what is discrimination? It is an unfavourable treatment of people based on race, colour, age or sex. Discrimination includes other factors such as language, social status, and the like.

In the case of Dieppe, by wanting to establish a new linguistic bylaw, the councillors are simply requesting that all new external commercial signs be written not only in French, but in English as well, so as to respect the cultural and linguistic identity of their community. By this process, they are trying to gradually eliminate the linguistic discrimination that its citizens have been exposed to for so long. When we pass through this wonderful and proud city, where the majority of its people are French - in the proportion of 85 to 15 per cent - the business signs speak otherwise.

Therefore, when a business in a bilingual environment uses only French or only English commercial signs, this is, in my humble opinion, a linguistic discrimination but does not constitute racism.

ALCIDE F. LeBLANC

Moncton

N.B. needs to look at alternatives

Selling NB Power for $5 billion is like selling a $20,000 car for $8,000 simply because you owe $8,000 on it.

Rebuilding NB Power's transmission and distribution alone would cost 40 per cent to 60 per cent more that the $5 billion we will receive. Hydro-Québec will be paying pennies on the dollar of New Brunswick's investment in NB Power.

Our government should look into alternatives that benefit New Brunswick in the long term, rather than simply focusing on the next five years.

Perhaps we should examine creating an MOU with Hydro-Québec (or the new Churchill Falls project, or both) allowing them to purchase additional transmission capacity from New Brunswick. We could then put New Brunswickers to work building additional transmission lines to the U.S. market to satisfy the need for this additional capacity.

MIKE McDONALD

Rothesay

Does price depend on Lepreau plant?

I have one simple question for the government regarding the proposed deal. How much of the sale price depends on the "Lepreau closing" referred to in the MOU. I have asked this question to the premier, and minister Keir via e-mail on several occasions and received only the standard fact sheet in reply.

To me this is the most important question of all, considering the current state of affairs at Point Lepreau. My guess would be that the figure would be at least half of the $4.8 billion price that will only be paid when the plant is refurbished and licensed again. I have read where a fully refurbished and licensed nuclear plant would have a value of at least $5 billion. Considering the power production over the projected 30 year life of the refurbished plant, this does not seem unrealistic.

How can it be a good deal for N.B. if Hydro-Québec gets all the assets they want and pay less than the value of a newly refurbished Point Lepreau?

On the obverse of this coin, NB Power (read NB Taxpayers) will be stuck with the decommissioning costs of all the oil- and coal-fired plants with no help from Hydro-Québec, and could be stuck with decommissioning Lepreau if the refurbishment cannot be completed.

Please, someone explain to me how this is a good deal.

R.J. McCREADY

Saint John

Alward should demand election

I think the article "Code name - Cartwheel" (Nov. 13) is well timed. If the Opposition Conservatives needed something to use as evidence that the proposed deal to sell NB Power is a farce, this revelation should provide it in spades.

In essence, Shawn Graham is willing to do the very thing he said the then-ruling Conservatives had no mandate to do - sell Point Lepreau and Coleson Cove generating plants. Graham "demanded" an election over the sale of any part of the Crown corporation in 2003.

Jeannot Volpé, the energy minister in 2003, said that Point Lepreau could not be sold as any part of a deal involving NB Power. It could only be leased, due to the liability involved were Point Lapreau to cause any environmental damage. Has that situation changed?

Graham, I believe, vowed in the Liberals' election platform to preserve NB Power for the people of New Brunswick.

If Graham demanded an election over the situation in 2003, then Opposition leader David Alward should demand the same. If this deal goes through, I hope there is a chair in the boardroom of Hydro-Québec with Shawn Graham's name engraved on it, because he is committing political suicide with this deal.

BRIAN GAMBLE

Hampton

'Gun nut' had a lot of wisdom

I'd like to tell Max Wolfe about the "gun nut" who taught me about firearms and hunting - my father.

His love of the outdoors and reverence for all living things made him my idol. He served in the British Army in Korea and emigrated to Canada in the early 1960s to make a better life for his family. The outdoors was his getaway from day-to-day problems. It was also his pantry. He taught all of his children to hunt and fish and even though some of us no longer go afield we still look back fondly on this education he gave us. He presented me with my first firearm, a .22 cal Cooey Model 64, which I still own. He also willed me his .303 Lee Enfield which I will never part with, all of which are registered.

According to Wolfe these tools are lethal and need to be destroyed. I've had these weapons for 30 years and my father had them before me. To date, they have killed no one.

It's not the gun that kills, it's the gunner, and that's the gist of the repeal of the long-gun registry. Put the onus for crime on the criminal, not the tool or the law-abiding gun owner.

My dad taught me that firearms were just tools, to be used responsibly, and that to use them irresponsibly shall have dire consequences. Where did he learn to be so wise? Maybe during his 40-year career as a United Church minister.

GARY MICKLETHWAITE

Winnipeg

Horses missed at Santa parade

As a horse lover I was disappointed this year because there were no horses in the parade,

As a kid growing up and as a mother of two, I have been to the Santa Claus parades and there were always horses dressed up for the holiday season and they were beautiful to see. This year we went to the parade and were disappointed that there were no horses. Hopefully next year some horse owners will put their horses in the parade. This year it just wasn't the same. The horses were missed.

CAROL McPHEE

Saint John

Belleisle clinic had no problems

I wanted to pass along a big thank you to the staff at the H1N1 clinic held at Belleisle Elementary School on Nov.13.

I went with my seven-month-old son, prepared to wait in a lengthy line, but was very pleasantly surprised. My son did not have to wait in line at all, and the staff were courteous, helpful and kind. There have been so many negative stories about the H1N1 clinics that I wanted to be sure to pass along my positive experience. Thank you again.

SARAH BRANNON

Nauwigewauk