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The proposed privatization of Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission amounts to the selling out of New Brunswick's injured workers. It's bad enough that over the last 16 years, both the Conservative and Liberal governments have been eroding rehabilitation services just to ensure cheaper assessment rates. Now the liberals intend to privatize a Crown corporation.

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Shame on them! Privatization of the WHSCC will lead to a staggering decrease in services and accessibility. Privatization will result in fees for service, increased wait times and increased claims periods.

It will mean a "cream skim" of healthier patients to avoid the costs that come with treating our injured workers.

Assessments will be subsidized by increased service costs. Privatization will result in a decrease in accountability because of its complete undermining of the Meredith Principles, the cornerstones of worker's compensation. And if all of this is not bad enough, profits will be diverted into the pockets of shareholders rather than into the development of better and more readily accessible services for our injured workers.

Hard-working New Brunswickers and their families deserve better. We want the complete restoration of WHSCC facilities, programs and fundamental services.

Finally, being a public service should ensure the process of public consultation. Dismissing this process begs the question: Does this government support its people, the very people who have built and are continuing to build this province?

New Brunswickers deserve to have a say in what happens to their WHSCC. Privatization is snake oil and our injured workers deserve better.

ROGER DUGUAY

Leader of NDP

Give pesticide ban talk a rest

The feverish campaign to ban domestic pesticides has elicited some harsh and emotional comments which, at times, can defy understanding.

When it isn't someone besmirching Canada's Health Protection Agency or insinuating lack of concern for public health by pesticide-manufacturing companies, it's someone highlighting the grim texts used to describe pesticides that are basically safe and beneficial to urban dwellers.

Following his own logic, shouldn't the writer of 'Illiteracy adds to pesticide risk' be more concerned about illiteracy as it relates to the use of non-prescription medication found in most Canadian households?

The same kind of dire warnings (some a lot more alarming) as those cited in the above letter for cosmetic pesticides also appear on these products.

Just take a look at the warning labels on some common cleaning products or headache and migraine medicine, to name but a few of the hundreds readily available to anyone.

If illiteracy is of such concern, shouldn't this be a first priority for those aware of the chilling poison symptoms listed on those labels? Especially regarding those alleged 300,000 New Brunswickers unable to fully understand and follow written instructions on medicine labels.

I should add that it's unfair for the author to link lawn/cosmetic pesticides to serious diseases like "brain cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, birth defects, leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," for which there is yet no empirical evidence.

It's time, folks, to dismount this overburdened urban-pesticide ban.

THADDÉE RENAULT

Fredericton

Protect zoo for future generations

Since becoming a member of the Cherry Brook Zoo board of directors in June, I have learned much in terms of what the zoo has to offer the citizens of this city and surrounding communities.

The zoo provides an excellent opportunity for families to get together. Parents have a place to take their children, have fun, attend special events and enjoy some quality time together.

Many families purchase yearly memberships. The zoo is also a drawing card for many families considering relocating in this area.

I am pleased to see the invaluable educational experience which the zoo is for our schools and various youth groups. Many return to volunteer because of what they learned at the zoo. It may even awaken an interest in some to follow a career in working with animals.

The zoo is recognized on an international level for its dedication and hard work toward saving our endangered species and educating our youth people about the importance of saving our animals.

I was disappointed to discover the city had cancelled its financial support for this gem. We must not let this zoo to struggle along on bequests, donations and fundraisers. We need to insure that it will be here for those coming along in the future as well as those who make repeat visits. Let's hope council will see the wisdom in reinstating funding to the zoo.

It's our zoo. We need to keep it alive and can only do so with financial support.

TERRY MULLIN

Saint John

N.B. should have bilingual university

New Brunswick is a bilingual province, so why not have a bilingual institution? Such an institution could provides degrees to French, English and aboriginal graduates. It would be a first for Canada and it would be a beacon for all the small "one horse towns" of the nation who have seen their biggest employer shut down because of economic conditions.

The cornerstone of any community/province is one on which continuing education and available access to it is a priority, a necessity, and above all a positive for future generations of New Brunswickers and all from other provinces and nations to appreciate.

ALVIN HARQUAIL, Jr.

Dalhousie

The problem with fixed election dates

Fixed election dates is an issue both federally and provincially. In 2006 Mr. Harper brought in legislation to limit the term of a federal government to four years; thereby fixing the date of the next general election to the fall of 2009.

Assuming the government has not lost confidence, the timing of the election call resides with the prime minister and is a considerable advantage for the leading party.

By taking advantage of short-term events, opposition weakness, or sudden good news the prime minister can sway an election to his or her advantage. Manipulation of election dates for political gain erodes the citizen's view that elections are important and should be participated in. So fixed election dates are correctly deemed a good thing.

Mr. Harper said in 2006, -¦ fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan political advantage."

However, fixed election dates cannot work. Canada and its provinces use a confidence system of governance. If the government loses the confidence of the House it must resign and an election must be called to restore confidence, regardless of any fixed election date.

Also, the right of a prime minister to ask for dissolution of Parliament is constitutionally protected. Any law passed fixing election dates cannot interfere with that power.

Fixed election dates is a needed reform but is incompatible with our confidence-style of governance.

So let us take a hard look at whether Canada and its provinces should move beyond confidence-based governance.

JONATHAN DEAN

Leader, The Atlantica Party

City Hall staff discourages business

I don't live in Saint John anymore, but I am a native.

Twenty years ago or more, it was impossible to do business in Saint John, with all the negativism and bureaucratic red tape. I remember thinking that if City Hall staff spent as much time trying to help as they did trying to discourage business or finding reasons why something couldn't be done, it might be quite a place to flourish.

But that wasn't the case then and it sure isn't the case now.

Saint Johners ought to thank their lucky stars that the Telegraph-Journal isn't a national publication, because council would be the laughing stock of the country.

Council is a joke! Here they are, on the verge of an unprecedented boom in the history of the city, and they're fighting about what? Sick time, staff wives and potholes. Give me a break!

Get rid of the city manager and all the baggage.

Don't you realize how counterproductive that is? Wake up and smell the roses! What is wrong?

Well, congratulations! You'll go down in history as the most anti-business bunch ever elected and the biggest squanderers of opportunity that ever was elected.

I hope you're proud of yourselves.

STEVE APPLEBY

Florenceville