Citizens demand apology from Bruce Court

As you may have noticed in the newspaper this week, there have been several letters to the editor around comments made by Bruce Court at the Ward 4 debate (comment’s that brought cheers from his supporters).

So what were these comments? Court compared the controversial LNG tax deal with the death of 21 people on June 21, 1977 at a Saint John jail. Just watch this CBC archived video for more information. One man, talks about losing his son, who was being held for using a bad credit card. As you can imagine, these comments have left many citizens in the city demanding an apology.

The first letter was from Kevin Goggan, who apologizes for not calling Court out on his comments right away:

Candidate apologizes

As a candidate for Saint John Council in Ward 4, I participated in the Telegraph-Journal sponsored debate at the Latimore Lake Community Centre on April 30. Though taking part in a political meeting, where points are meant to be scored and votes won, there are lines which should not be crossed and I wish to apologize for an omission on my part.

Another candidate compared the recent LNG deal to Saint John’s Great Fire and the Uptown jail fire as our greatest disasters. Though I did not object at the time, I should have. The LNG deal was badly handled but in no way does it compare to the loss of 20 lives in the jail fire, and the heartbreak suffered by their families, friends, loved ones and our community. Money can be replaced, people cannot.

I wish to express in the strongest terms my personal regret to those in our community who still mourn the loss at the jail, and ask for your forgiveness. If you find my apology self serving, my only answer to you is that no election is worth compromise of conscience.

Kevin Goggan
Saint John

Next next day, another letter appeared that called for a full apology from Court:

LNG comparison requires apology

In the reference to your article in May 5 Telegraph-Journal “candidate apologies” I have to somewhat agree with candidate Kevin Goggan that there should be an apology given out.

I feel it should not be him, but instead from want-to-be councillor Bruce Court for statements he made at a ward 4 debate comparing the LNG tax break to the 21 lives that were lost in the fire on June 21, 1977 at the Saint John lockup.

How could this man make such a comparison? The family members lost maybe their father, brother or son in this real tragedy. The city lost money on the LNG deal which can be replaced.

Mr. Court should stand up and retract the statement and sincerely apologize to the family members of fire victims for trying to gain political points.

Also, the standing room crowd who cheered for him after he made this statement should hang their heads low in shame.

Kenneth Kay
Rothesay

The request has been put out there, the question is will Bruce Court apologize?