C7

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

1 Comment(s)

My husband and I went to one of our favourite place in Mactaquac Park last week.

We were confronted by orange tape marking numerous mature trees in the ravine bordering the campground.

Since this ravine is a marvelous ecosystem, filled with various species of plants, animals and insects and transected by a lovely stream, the only logical explanation was the trees were part of a scientific study.

We were wrong.

We are appalled to discover that this area has been selected for the construction of a "zip line," a business where people are transported through the remaining treetops attached to a pulley system.

This will destroy one of the most peaceful and secluded areas in the park. If this proposal is permitted to proceed, gone will be the tranquility of a brook-side hike, the restorative power of bird song and gentle breezes on a hot summer's day and the pleasing rustle of fallen leaven beneath one's feet on an autumn afternoon.

We talk so much of wanting to encourage our young people to get out and enjoy the world around them. That includes nature. Why not encourage a more natural pastime? We do not need to commercialize this area of the park.

If the aim is to increase the number of people using and staying in the campground, then use the money to upgrade the hook-ups. Provide water to the campers at their sites. Don't turn the ravine into an amusement park ride.

Bonita Hallett

Douglas, N.B.

Grade 1 students deserve better in September

It been hot these past weeks in New Brunswick, and the temperature doesn't appear to be dropping.

But I'm not talking only about the weather. I'm talking about the issues surrounding French which will impact our bright batch of students entering Grade 1 this September.

These children are excited and full of potential. The problem is, they and their parents have no idea what their classroom will look like in September, nor who will be teaching them, let alone in what language.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock says he will announce his decision regarding French Second Language training on Aug. 5. Clearly, this will be met with resistance no matter what he decides.

But what about the kids who are caught in the middle? Depending on what he chooses, some children will go to one school, or maybe another. Perhaps at the same school as their older siblings, but maybe not. Their after-school arrangements will hinge on the decision ahead, with only weeks for parents to make plans. Further, most of the new alternate plans coming forward include a French language experience in Kindergarten, which the new Grade 1 students have already missed.

My heart goes out to these children who are being caught in a mess that is driven only by politics. I hope some common sense comes into play, and soon.

Sadly, Lamrock's track-record on this issue hasn't had much of it.

Joan Wilson

Saint John, N.B.

Grey power, unite

Some say this province is a wonderful place to retire because of the lower cost of housing. Well, the news got out.

All this retirement money is coming into the province and big tax changes are on the move. Who voted this bunch into office on that platform?

Changing our early French immersion program; taxes at 10 per cent across the board, which is good for the rich; the HST going to 15 per cent; property taxes on the rise (look out local services districts); rural communities losing health care; and seniors and lower income earners cannot heat their homes.

How many of us retired folks are keeping our children and theirs, so they can pay their student loans? And for what, so they will leave for greener places?

There must be a lot of citizens in my age group - retired, or what I call Grey Power. I can still come out of retirement and make some kind of a difference. It cannot be a hard act to follow this government of ours.

To all the grey power out there, wake up for just one more good fight - for our kids.

Weldon Moore

Burton, N.B.

MacKinnons, MacNaughtons will reunite Aug. 3

The annual reunion picnic for the MacKinnon and MacNaughton families is again being held at the First Eel River Lake at Pearl Pillsworth's cottage.

The date is Sunday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. There will be a potluck supper as usual.

For more information, call Diane at 446-5060. Otherwise, see you there.

Diane Peck

Waasis, N.B.

Emery deserving of medal

Gleaner columnist Chris McCormick claims at the end of a mostly sensible piece that Marc Emery (Canada's prince of pot) is not quite deserving of an Order of Canada medal because he has not changed the law.

I must disagree with the writer and note that this is not a proper test for one's worthiness of Canada's highest honour.

Some of the recent inductees are people who simply had a notable impact on society, and Emery certainly fits the bill.

Wallace McCain received the medal after being recognized as a great philanthropist. Raymond Moriyama was inducted for being an inspiring architect. Marcel Trudel was inducted for enriching our heritage as a notable historian. Jocelyne Alloucherie, Gail Asper, Randy Bachman and others never changed the laws in Canada.

In fact, most Order of Canada inductees were never law makers or people recognized for being integral in changing the laws of our nation. Whether it be for inspiring rock music, painting a pretty picture or leading a community to prosper, Order of Canada recipients receive this honour for a reason that has nothing to do with Parliament Hill.

The Order of Canada's motto is "desiderantes meliorem patriam," which means "They desire a better country," and certainly Marc Emery is the embodiment of this motto. Emery has fought from early on to see change in our society which he thinks will improve the Canadian fabric.

As a constant thorn in the sides of those who hate rabble rousers, today, Emery has ensured that an important, multi-billion dollar issue has been constantly considered by Canadians and that cannabis is a word every politician may need to refer to at some point in his or her career.

Even early on as a book seller in London, Ontario, Marc Emery refused to abide by the laws that banned certain literature. He flouted Sunday shopping laws and even refused to pay out mandatory fees to the local business association.

All of these actions resulted in real change of the laws which dictated how businesses were run. Marc Emery's influence dates back quite a while and it is a notable influence indeed. Whether or not you agree with his positions, one thing is clear. Marc Emery desires a better country and he has been fighting for it for decades.

It's high time we recognize him for that and see that he is nominated for induction into the Order of Canada.

Ethan Erkiletian

North Saskatoon, Sask.

Off-peak residential metering not offered by NB Power

I was quite interested to observe two installations of the use of heat storage equipment in Nova Scotia recently.

They consisted of thermal storage equipment in residential homes which are charged during off peak electric energy periods (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.), metered during that time at off peak rates (50 per cent of standard rates), and the heat released to the home during peak energy time periods.

Chores in the home such as clothes drying and dish washing can be timed to occur during this period, benefiting from the low rate.

One home, similar in size to my New Brunswick home, has an annual electrical heating cost of approximately 60 per cent of my cost.

In a request to NB Power to see if they offered off-peak residential metering, the answer was no. My question is, why not?

Herb Walsh, PEng

Fredericton