I just saw this story on the CBC and had to write about it:

A stabbing attack in a Brampton, Ont., shopping plaza on Wednesday left two people dead, including a passerby who attempted to intervene and the woman he tried to protect.

Peel Regional Police said they received a 911 emergency call just after 12:30 p.m. saying there was an altercation between a man and a woman in the plaza on Red Maple Drive.

The two fought, and then the man began stabbing the woman and the passerby, police said.

Police said the woman and the passerby died as a result of their injuries. The male suspect also stabbed himself, but is receiving treatment in hospital.

The investigation is now in the hands of the province’s Special Investigations Unit, which investigates cases of serious injuries and deaths involving the police.

As a result, Peel Regional Police said they can no longer comment on the case.

I just can’t believe what happened.

This person, who gave their life to try and save another person, truly deserves our respect.

“Cowards die many times before their deaths
The valiant never taste of death but once.”

William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Today, the letters in today’s Telegraph-Journal were terrific. I am posting them here again in the hopes that more people will read them! Be sure to click here to post your comments in support of these letters.

Smart decision on vehicles

Saint John Common Council made a smart decision, at their last meeting, to replace larger, more expensive, and environmental unfriendly service vehicles with four Smart Cars.

These Green Fleet Vehicles are environmentally friendly vehicles, and they represent a better way of doing business. They provide financial savings to taxpayers through both reduced fuel consumption and reduced purchase price, and they provide environmental savings though reduced CO2 emissions. Two thumbs up to Councillor Stephen Chase for his leadership on this better way of delivering environmentally friendly services to the citizens of Saint John. I know I can breathe easier knowing that city vehicles are producing less pollution and my taxes are being spent wisely.

Unions’ favours taint campaign

What are candidates thinking, accepting endorsements from the local firefighter’s union? We don’t want the firefighters controlling the politicians who are suppose to be controlling them.

This is not how our system is suppose to work. I expect elected councillors and our mayor to be politically neutral and sit around the horseshoe representing me, a Saint John taxpayer, with my best interests at heart. This cannot occur if you owe favours to a group.

I think this is inappropriate behaviour by both the firefighter’s union and the candidates that sold their impartiality. I think that Saint Johners are perfectly capable of choosing their own candidates themselves based on their own criteria without the help of others.

Candidates must deal with pension issue

On April 17th, a Telegraph-Journal write up tells of Ivan Court’s pleasure that the city’s inside workers’ union had endorsed his mayoralty bid.

Perhaps before the union takes this stand, they should take a look at Mr. Court’s comments on the city pension.

In my opinion, the city pension is the greatest issue the city taxpayers have to face. Mr. Court is quoted as saying “An independent expert suggested a month ago that the pension is not in bad shape.” Perhaps he should talk with the City Manager about this. Either he fails to understand the plan, or is painting a rosy picture to capture the unions’ favour.

The facts do not support his statement. The scary part is that Ivan Court may end up as our mayor and automatically become chairman of the pension board. In spite of Mr. Court’s comments, the securities markets are still very volatile and tougher times may be ahead.

Councillor Court says it will take “A major world disaster” to make us forget the pension woes. I would suggest that if the council elected on May 12th does nothing about the major flaws in this plan and its management, a major world disaster will not be necessary. The city will be spending more on propping up the pension plan than on any other item. The union and other employees of the city would be wise to become familiar with the facts in the pension debate and support the major changes that will soon become necessary.

According to polling done for the Telegraph-Journal, Ivan Court is currently ahead in the race for the mayor’s seat.

Court was leading with 21%. Hooton and Ferguson trail at 19% each. McFarlane was in fourth with 14%.

My analysis - be scared. You thought the Great Fire of 1877 was bad, just image what would happen if Court is elected on 21%. That would be mean 79% voted against him.

Who do you think will be running the city then? Just look at the signs around town, the Firefighters and CUPE will be leaning on him hard to push their own agendas. Forget lower taxes, forget safe drinkable water, forget a solution to the pension plan, forget moving forward - we will be heading back.

The problem is that there are four strong candidates running. The issue is further complicated by the fact that people who vote for Court are not likely going to vote for any of the others; however, the people who support Hooton, Ferguson, and McFarlane will move their votes around.

Now is the time to pick a candidate and rally behind them. That means the choice is between Hooton, Ferguson, and McFarlane. I really don’t see Norm having enough support to win, and thats why I think he should step of of the race and support another candidate.

Remember those percentages earlier? If the support from Norm shifted to another candidate, they would be sitting at 33%, enough for a clear win.

How likely is this going to occur? Not likely; however, without the majority of citizens backing a single candidate for mayor, we run the risk of having our vote split three ways allowing Ivan Court to win on 21%.

Saint John - this is your wakeup call, it’s time to make the tough decision and back a single candidate!

Today, my Letter to the Editor appeared in the Telegraph-Journal. Read it below:

During the first candidates’ debate it was disappointing to hear most of the candidates dismiss the option of public-private partnerships in service delivery. Yet ironically, these same candidates want to reduce the high taxes paid by all citizens.

If the future council is to address the issue of high taxes, consideration of all models of service delivery is required to assess the best value for taxpayers’ dollars. This means having the intestinal fortitude to weigh the value of traditionally operated public systems against partnership models with the private sector.

Private sector delivery systems are known to be highly efficient. Service delivery operated by the public sector with unionized workers must be able to demonstrate their competitiveness if they wish to be the sole purveyors of public service. All service delivery must be performance based and accountable.

Unfortunately, the true facts and reasons why public partnerships should be considered are clouded by the rhetoric promoted, for the most part, by the unionized public work force. For instance, fear mongering about losing control and ownership of the water supply is absolutely misleading.

Moncton contracts the treatment of drinking water to a private sector company. Moncton maintains control and ownership of the water. Moncton’s citizens pay $650 per year for fully treated water. Saint Johners pay $696 per year. This is the perfect illustration of why candidates should take a page out of Councillor Stephen Chase play book and thoroughly evaluate all options of service delivery in the best interests of the public.

Shawn Peterson
Saint John

I’m really glad that it was printed, and I am also glad that Stephen Chase has been so strong in his fight for the city to look at all options before spending our money!

I’d highly recommend checking out his website: http://stephenchase.ca and his Facebook group for the latest information on the campaign!

April, the baby monkey stolen earlier this week, was found by police after receiving an anonymous tip and returned to the zoo.

The caller told police to look for it in the East Side of Saint John (around Bayside Drive). Police later found April in a blue plastic box behind a building near a gas station. The baby monkey was returned to the zoo around 12:30 a.m. Friday.

“Everybody breathed a sigh of relief,” said zoo official Len Collrin. “As soon as we let it out, it chirped and everything seemed all right.”

The small animal, which is about 30 centimetres tall and weighs less than half a kilogram, was fed a hearty meal after being returned, Collrin said, and was allowed to rest inside a zoo office for the remainder of the night.

“We’re just totally amazed that it is here and very thankful,” Collrin said. “Deep in the back of our mind, we kind of wondered if we’d ever see or hear from this monkey again.”

Police are still investigating the case, said Sgt. Pat Bonner. He said police will be focusing on the anonymous telephone call, which came from a payphone, to see if the voice provides any clues to the theft.

I only hope they can catch those responsible. It’s a sick crime that should not go unpunished!

It’s a sad story; but, a baby monkey was stolen from the Cherry Brook Zoo on Tuesday night.

The monkey, a marmoset from South Africa, was less then a year old and part of an international breeding program.

The zoo is asking for the monkey back and does not plan to press charges, “We will not give a name, just please, please bring this animal back”.

A Facebook group has also been started to show support for the baby monkey.

One comment on the group is quite troubling, “We were told they baby would not survive long away from it’s parents and is on a strict diet and feeding schedule.”

Anyone with information should contact the zoo immediately at 634-1440!

How would you feel if the organization that supplies power to your home was printing ads in the Telegraph-Journal promoting a candidate who is running in the Saint John 2008 municipal election?

Personally, I find it quite offensive; but, Saint John Energy has decided to do it anyway. Click here for a larger image.

Just take a look at their motto: “Provide safe, reliable electricity at the lowest rates possible“. I guess the ‘at the lowest rates possible’, doesn’t include trying to save money by NOT buying ads in the local newspaper.

At the moment, it should be quite obvious that there is an election going on. People should have the brains to know that printing ads in the newspaper, for a candidate who is running in the election, could be seen as a conflict of interest. No, actually, it’s completely in a conflict of interest - the interests of the people paying for it - the customers!

Remember their motto, I think it needs a modification - “Provide electricity while forcing our customers to pay for election ads”.

I will be contacting Saint John Energy now, and I would encourage each of you to do the same.

I will also be writing a letter to the editor. Here is their email address, in case you would also like to send one in: tjletters@telegraphjournal.com.

This kind of wasteful spending should make you wonder why rates go up. One thing I can say with certainty - paying for election ads isn’t helping fight rate increases - and it goes directly against their motto.

Saint John Energy - take a lesson from me, “spend our money as if it were your own”. Remember that the vast majority of us couldn’t afford to pay for an ad in the newspaper, why should you?

It’s hard to believe; but, the Saint John Sea Dogs are heading into the QMJHL semi-finals in only their third year as a franchise!

They have been playing solid hockey and it’s been great to watch.

While tickets for games 3 and 4 against the Rouyn-Noranda Hukies go on sale tomorrow, I thought I would share a video montage for our team heading into the semis:

Playoff Round One Intro Video

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Ladies and Gentlemen

Hockey Night In Saint John

As I was having a lot of difficulty finding contact information for the candidates in the upcoming municipal election, I’ve decided to compile my own list. I’ll be keeping it up to date as the campaign continues.

I currently have information on the Candidate’s websites and phone numbers, and I plan to start linking to their Facebook groups next.

Check out my Saint John 2008 Municipal Election Information page! Remember to post your comments or feedback!

Also, check out the following Facebook group - City of Saint John Election 2008 - Candidate Questions.

Today is a great day for Saint John - Councillor Stephen Chase has announced his intention to run in the May 12, 2008 municipal election!

Read the press release below:

Saint John, NB – Today, Councillor Stephen Chase announced that he will run ‘at-large’ in the upcoming Saint John municipal election. Chase, an experienced City Councillor, was first elected to Saint John Common Council in 1998. Since then he has served three terms, where he has been a strong voice for fiscal responsibility, better city services, the environment, arts and culture, and improved transparency.

He has also taken on a number of community volunteer leadership roles as: President of the Saint John Branch of the Canadian Red Cross, Vice-Chair of the South Central Citizens Council, Chair of the United Nations International Year of the Family Celebrations, Team leader with the Atlantic Coastal Action Program, and Chair of Public Education for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“Making the right decisions in the best interest of the city and tax payers requires a fundamental understanding of the dynamically intertwined principles of livability, affordability and sustainability. I have demonstrated this understanding, and I am committed to continue these principles in my public service to the citizens of Saint John.”

For more information on Stephen Chase, please visit the official website: http://stephenchase.ca.

Contact Information:

Stephen Chase
30 Anglin Dr.
Saint John, NB
E2K 3P9
506-652-2966
stephen.chase@stephenchase.ca
http://stephenchase.ca

Make sure you check out the website, there is an incredible amount of information available!

Really now - who else has this much content available?

Also, check out the “I’m Voting for Stephen Chase on May 12, 2008!” Facebook group!