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At 12:30 p.m. on Monday I was steaming about a response I received from the City of Saint John concerning a boil order for the east end. Ten minutes earlier I got a call from my husband that a customer of his told him that there was a boil order issued and had I heard about it. I had the radio on but I did not hear anything so I called the city and was told yes there was an order in place for the east side.

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I had signed up with the city for e-mail notification but upon checking my email I had not received anything. I was told the order was issued an hour earlier and that things were crazy at their office because of it. She did say that the order was placed on the city's website.

I moved to Saint John in January and I am not impressed with the way boil orders are issued. The water situation is deplorable and I feel that this should be a top priority for the new council. When the City sets up a notification system, I would think that issuing that e-mail concerning a boil order would be done immediately for obvious health concerns.

Clean drinking water should be at the top of the list of issues for this city. People coming to Saint John for jobs will think twice about moving into the City when they can live on the outskirts where there are no water issues.

PAT COOKE

Saint John

Changed needed to parking restrictions

I was attending an uptown establishment with some friends Saturday and had a few drinks. I usually don't drink as I prefer to drive my car home and not leave it on a random street.

Because I decided to consume a few beverages, I deemed it best that I not drive my car home and did the responsible thing and walked. I was appalled the next day when I went to get my car and found that I had received a parking ticket.

I believe it's atrocious that the Saint John Police Force is ticketing people who are making responsible decisions. Countless people leave the bar drunk and get into their vehicles and drive home without penalty. In my opinion they are advocating drunk driving.

Why would there be no parking on an uptown street between midnight and 7 a.m., especially on a weekend? There is no need of this.

The city wants to promote the uptown economy, but has rigid parking restrictions, day and night.

If you are going to allow bars and pubs in the uptown area and not allow people to park, what other options are there?

Let's face it, my chances of getting stopped for drunk driving are hands down less likely than the 100 per cent chance that I will receive a parking ticket. It appears to be the lazy man's way of tearing money out of the hands of hard-working, responsible people who are already being sucked dry. Let's stop penalizing responsible people.

BRIANNE BURBRIDGE

Saint John

Waiting for the airport fog to lift

It amazes me how airport managers around the country all want a nice fancy, impressive facility. Big windows, tile floors, bars, restaurants, and shopping, but neglect the real issues that effect the ability of airlines to operate safely in reduced visibility.

Saint John is no different. They would rather spend their surplus money on an unneeded terminal expansion instead of runway centreline lighting which would effectively eliminate delays, cancellations and diversions in foggy conditions. Let's hope the new terminal has a nice waiting area while you wait for the fog to lift.

TERRY BURT

Rothesay

No reason for loan extension

The old axiom, Monday's always bring me down brings new meaning to Liberal leader Stephane Dion and his shotgun, Michael Ignatieff as they seek extensions from Elections Canada to settle up leadership campaign loans, whose deadline terminated midnight Tuesday.

Grounds for granting an extension under elections Canada act, Section 433(3) are lucid and specific. The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless the evidence satisfies him or her submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of:

The absence, death, illness, or misconduct of the chief agent or a predecessor;

The absence, death, illness or misconduct of a registered agent of the registered party or of an agent, a clerk or an officer of the chief agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.

It is evident none of the aspirants has grounds for an extension, and they will be in contravention of the Elections Act. Assuming Elections Canada rejects the Liberals' request for an extension, then what? Delving into the Elections Act there is nothing to suggest what option is open to EC. Will EC step in to protect these individuals with partisan exclusive treatment and an extension?

Extensions would unmistakably signify Elections Canada bias.

RONALD J. YASCHUK

Quispamsis

Is garbage resolution near?

An open letter to City Hall:

Al Rouse, the "right hand man" of the new mayor, is quite open about the fact that he runs a home-based business from his Millidgeville residence.

My question is this: Have you subjected Al to the same harassment and uncertainty of garbage collection as other small home-based business owners have had to bear for the last two years? If not, why not. If so, will you continue to do so, as the matter is still unresolved.

I, and the home-based business community, would be most interested in your comments.

BRIAN STONE

Saint John

Liberal MLAs: Take a stand

To the Liberal MLAs: Rest assured while education may not be your portfolio, you are all being tainted with Minister Lamrock's experiment in social policy.

In private, you may have questions about his plan to eliminate EFI or force all children into an experimental intensive French program. You may even completely disagree with his decision, but we the public will never know unless you take a stand.

Great politicians and public servants are not known for their ability to toe the party line. Rather, we respect and admire those willing to take a stand against poor policy and bad decisions.

After this fiasco, Kelly Lamrock will be nothing more than a footnote in the pages of New Brunswick political history. Those that step forward to put an end to this mockery of our bilingual culture will be the individuals our children will be learning about and discussing as models years from now. Take a stand, MLAs. You represent the people of New Brunswick, not the Liberal Party of New Brunswick. Force the Premier and Education Minister to reverse the FSL changes.

SUE PARK

Saint John

Ministers part of silent 'majority'

Well I guess it is too late to change some things now but as Minister Lamrock puts it, I am not one of the silent majority therefore what I say does not count.

Who is the silent majority this Graham government refers to? I have seen, heard, and read about all kinds of folks opposed to this government and the decisions that they are making and in my opinion there are not many silent ones.

The only silent people I'm aware of are our Saint John ministers, who seem not to stick up for us as they may fear losing their perks, and the other ministers who cannot provide facts or anything concerning decisions. The election in 2010 is coming and I hope we don't fall for fake promises. Let us show the Graham government we are not the silent ones and our voices and votes count.

DANY CURRY

Saint John

Ambulances another government control

This new ambulance service under Ambulance New Brunswick means another government-controlled operation.

I would ask first where are the ambulances that were operating before the government took it upon themselves to cause even more problems with the life line to the public with their medical help?

I will guarantee that none of the elected will ever be waiting, no matter where they are when they have a medical emergency, for any of the percentage times they keep referring about.

"It's going to be an excellent system once a few of these bumps in the road are ironed out. Like anything, there's is going to be growing pains," Don Wilson is quoted as saying.

Mr. Wilson, tell your "hiccups" story to someone waiting or on their way to hospital.

JOHN EVANS

Saint John