A5

Paul Chapman
For the Telegraph-Journal

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Edmunston - Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and MP for Madawaska-Restigouche Jean-Claude D'Amours met the mayors of Bathurst, Campbellton, and Edmunston, last evening in advance of a Liberal Party fundraiser to discuss economic development in Northern New Brunswick.

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Paul Chapman/For the Telegraph-Journal

Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatief, left, met with northern New Brunswick mayors in Edmundston on Thursday to discuss regional issues. With Ignatieff are Campbellton Mayor Bruce MacIntosh, left, and Bathurst Mayor Stephen Brunet, second from left, Liberal MP Jean-Claude D'Amours, seciond from right, and Edmundston Mayor Jacques P. Martin, right.

Unable to attend was Miramichi Mayor Gerry Cormier, although the four northern mayors regularly discuss the challenges of northern New Brunswick and requested this meeting with the leader of the federal Opposition.

Bathurst Mayor Stephen Brunet said the mayors wanted meet with the leader to discuss the future of the northern New Brunswick. They discussed topics such as research and development, job creation and pensions.

"We live in the woods up here and the government is investing in research and development for biomass in Ottawa," Brunet said.

"I have nothing against Ottawa, but we are the ones living in the woods down here."

The mayors also wanted to talk about attracting and maintain good quality jobs.

"We are surviving you know, but we are also worried about the future," Brunet said. "We want to keep Edmundston mayor Martin's mill operating.

"The mills in the other three cities are closed, but we want Fraser (Papers) to stay open, but we also need jobs."

They also emphasized the need to attract good-paying jobs to Northern New Brunswick.

"If we want to retain and attract young people, we need jobs that pay $15 or $20 an hour. Not temporary jobs, or make work jobs"

Edmundston Mayor Jacques Martin said they also discussed pensions with the leader. "We are very concerned with pensions and there are many people who worked in the mills of north who had problems with their pensions, problems that they never even dreamed would be a problem."

The mayors felt they received an excellent reception, and that Mr. Ignatief was on top of the issues they brought to the table. "He was on top of the issues we raised right away. He seemed very aware of the challenges Northern New Brunswick is facing and the meeting was very positive."

Ignatieff will be in Fredericton today to speak at the opening ceremonies of the New Brunswick Liberal Association biennial meeting.