Today, I attended ACAP’s March Creek Cleanup with Stephen Chase. The event was sponsored by Canaport LNG.

While the weather wasn’t the nicest, the turnout was more then the organizers expected! I think that says a lot about our community. Freezing weather along with the chance of rain won’t keep people from making Saint John a better place to live!

I was on team 8, and we cleaned the area behind Michael’s to Rothesay Avenue. I was pretty suprised by the amount of garbage and trash that ends up in the waterways around the malls.

One interesting thing that we did discover was the remains of a copper stripping operation. It looked like the wire was stripped for the copper, and the insulation was left in a pile not far from Rothesay Avenue.

Anther discovery was a groundhog living nearby this mess. We found several deep holes, then we found him sticking his head out of another hole near the water. Just goes to show the wildlife that lives right beside our malls!

I do feel bad for the groundhog though, The water was really gross. It was reddish colored, and it smelled pretty bad.

After the cleanup, we headed back behind Parkwall mall where we were able to see the amount of garbage picked up by each team. It blew me away to see so many rusting shopping carts that were picked up.

The strangest thing that I found was several backpacks containing crushed beer cans near an empty bottle of Colt 45. As strange as that may be, that is nothing compared to the winner of the “strangest item” contest. Someone actually found a bong. How stange of a thing to end up in Marsh Creek!

It was definitely a successful event, and I would be interested in participating again next year!

I saw this hilarious video today. Someone translated the video into English; but, it’s not a normal translation, they just put down what it sounds like in English. Even if you don’t find the words funny, you will find the video to be exceptionally ridiculous!

You gotta check it out:

Today, my latest letter to the editor was published. I find it really disappointing how much they try to attack the one candidate who stands up for the taxpayers in Saint John.

Recent attack ads are uncalled for
Telegraph-Journal

This week, I’ve had the displeasure of listening to a special interest group’s attack ad on the radio. This group does not believe that the citizens of Saint John are able to decide who to vote for on their own.

To sway voters, they have launched attack ads on the radio. The person that they attack is Councillor Stephen Chase. Unknown to many, he is the councillor who made the historic motion to reaffirm the city’s commitment to public ownership and control of its water supply.

Stephen continues to support looking at all options in service delivery and selecting the one with the best value for the taxpayers - after all, it is our money that council is spending.

Shawn Peterson
Saint John

Last night, Campaign by the Clock took place in Market Square.

The event was organized by Fusion Saint John and the Saint John Board of Trade.

We were able to attract most of the candidates, including everyone running for Mayor, who took the time to speak with the people on-on-one.

Although we didn’t get a huge crowd, a few first time voters were out meeting with the candidates, which is something that I am very happy to see. I believe that every person that we can get out and engaged early on, is likely to keep voting as they get older.

For more information, check out the Telegraph-Journal’s writeup here.

Today, Stephen Chase set the record straight on the radio attack ads targeting him personally.

“I feel like I’m a prime minister in a federal election,” Chase said Thursday, referring to the very personal nature of Federal politics.

Who is responsible?

The radio ads are being played by the “Coalition for Concerned Citizens”, the same group that tried to boycott the Santa Clause parade in the past.

Bruce Court involvement?

Bruce Court’s brochures say that he is the chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, Unions & Small Business; however, he says that he stepped back from the group when the campaign started.

“It’s nothing to do with me,” Court said. “I don’t even know what the ads say.”

He said the correct person to talk to would be Linda Stoddard, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

Special Interest Groups Interference

“It’s all very interesting,” Chase said. “It’s unfortunate that special interest groups want to misrepresent my position for self-interest.”

Chase has come under attack before over his stance on the city’s water infrastructure. The Canadian Union of Public Employees has been distributing signs and pamphlets urging “no to water for profit,” while Chase says he has no intention of selling Saint John’s water.

He says he only wants council to look closely at whether the private sector can do a better, more cost-effective job running the filtration plants than the city’s union workers have.

Stephen’s Public Ownership Motion

Keep in mind, Stephen was the Councillor who made the motion to Council that reaffirms the city’s commitment to public ownership and control of the water supply. This is something that CUPE fails to mention in their disinformation campaign.

Chase wants for safe, clean drinking water

Chase says citizens want public ownership of the water itself and safe, clean drinking water - in both cases, he wants the same, he said. But if a private company can do a better job running the plants then council should consider it, he said. If the research shows that the union workers are still the best choice, Chase says he can live with that. But he says he won’t let the union management control the agenda.

I read an interesting story on the CBC today.

A Tim Hortons cashier, in London, Ont, gave away a Timbit to a customer with a fussy child. She was later confronted by three managers and fired. They said she was giving away free food which violated company policy.

“I was crying,” she told the newspaper. “I was like, ‘I’m a single mom with four kids and you are going to put this on my record? You should bring all the staff in here and fire them all and yourselves, too.’ People give out Timbits to dogs in the drive-through all the time.”

Company spokeswoman Rachel Douglas said Wednesday the company regretted the action and had rehired Lilliman. “With an apology from management, Ms. Lillian has been rehired by the franchisee at another location.”

I wonder how much time and effort has been wasted over that sixteen cent Timbit.  She also makes a valid point about giving them out to dogs.  Is that a company policy, or are the employees just being nice?

As I had posted a few days ago, citizens are demanding an apology from Bruce Court for comments he made at the debate. Court compared the controversial LNG tax deal with the death of 21 people on June 21, 1977 at a Saint John jail.

Today, a daughter who lost her father in that same fire mentioned by Bruce, wrote a letter to the editor:

Candidate thanked for his apology

I am writing in reference to the letter sent in by candidate Kevin Goggan (May 5). I would say that as the daughter of someone who died in the jail fire that tragic night, I was shocked and saddened by the comments made by one particular candidate.

As I sat in the second row the night of the Ward 4 meeting I could not believe that someone could make such a comparison of the loss of life to the controversial loss of money.

I would like to say thank you for your apology and compassion for other’s feelings. I truly appreciate your understanding of the full magnitude of what Mr. Court had said.

Debra Mitchell
Saint John

Again the question is - where is Bruce Court’s apology? Why does he continue to remain silent on the issue?

There was a really great editorial in the newspaper today.

What is it so great? Simply because it reminds people as to what Bruce and Ivan Court do once they rally up their mobs.

Santa’s not voting Court
Telegraph Journal

In November, 2005, this newspaper published a commentary by Coun. Ivan Court. In it, the councillor steadfastly defended his brother, Bruce Court, and the political movement his brother headed.

Coun. Court wrote, “thank God that there are citizens like my brother who, when asked by some citizens living in the Red Head area to chair their lobby group, was willing to put his neck on the line. That original group of 10 concerned citizens today has grown to a membership of 400. This group has evolved to become the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, Unions and Small Businesses. This coalition is made up of citizens representative of all three political parties and from all walks of life. Make no doubt about it: this group has the support of thousands of citizens.”

The allegations he was defending the anti-LNG movement against? Trying to bully organizers of the city’s Santa Claus parade into changing their minds about who would wear St. Nick’s jolly red suit that year.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the movement’s support among “thousands of citizens” began to fade shortly after.

Since both Court brothers are running for public office, Ivan for mayor and Bruce for ward councillor, we thought it only fair to remind voters what some anti-LNG protestors were engaged in back in 2005. Council meetings were disrupted; councillors were subjected to harassment and vandalism; intimidation tactics were employed. Even Santa Claus was lucky to escape the wrath of the mob.

Here’s what we wrote of the movement then: “Protesting Santa epitomizes this group’s approach to the political process. Rather than working to build a stronger, more positive community, its members have tried to control local politics through disruption and intimidation. They’re bullies - and, to the extent that they duck responsibility for the actions of their members, they’re cowards, too.”

We stand by that assessment.

Coun. Court felt our words were unfair, and argued it was unreasonable to draw a link between the Courts’ public advocacy and the actions of unknown protestors.

We disagree.

As the foremost public spokesmen of the anti-LNG movement, the Court brothers had the credibility and the opportunity to urge greater restraint among residents who shared their cause. As a city councillor elected to serve the public at large, Ivan Court had an obligation to do so. Yet they did not, in any substantial or effective way.

That speaks volumes about the quality of their leadership, their respect for council as a political institution, and their commitment to serve all Saint Johners, not just those who happen to share their point of view.

I would encourage everyone to not vote for Bruce or Ivan Court.

Their campaigns are being fronted by special interest groups, they have a history of not working with people, and their policies are not in the best interests of the people - they look out for themselves and their unions only.

Today, I had the displeasure of listening to a special interest group’s attack ad on the radio.

Why attack ads?

This group not believing that the citizens of Saint John are able to decide who to vote for on their own, have stepped in to sway voters towards candidates who think the same as them - candidates who will not question the current state of city services and will not look at all options in service delivery.

They want you to vote for candidates that will keep everything as-is:

• Because you currently have access to reliable, safe, clean drinking water, right?
• Because your roads are cleared quickly during the winter, right?
• Because the further away from the city you get, the services are still the same, right?

Well, some people - gasp - disagreed with the above statements. This is where special interest group’s comes in.

After launching an extensive (and expen$ive) sign campaign and mailing requests to their members to not vote for certain candidates, they decided to launch attack ads on the radio to scare you into agreeing with those above statements.

Who do they attack?

They attack a person who has a spine, who is willing to stand up and ask if we are getting the best value for our tax dollars, who makes decisions in the open, and who believes in looking at all options before making a decision.

They attack Councillor Stephen Chase.

What can you do?

Educate yourself, find out about the issues, talk to the candidates, and make up your own mind.

No union or special interest group should be bullying (or scaring) you into voting their way, keep in mind that they are not doing this with your interests in mind, they are only concerned about losing jobs in the future.

The only person who really understands what is important to you, is you.

The choice is in your hands, and you have chance to make a difference on May 12, 2008.

Further Reading

Recent newspaper articles are doing a good job of explaining the current political situation:

Today, votesj.ca released more exclusive interviews with the Mayoral candidates.

Michelle Hooton’s video:

Norm McFarlane’s video:

Ivan Court’s video:

Mike Richardson’s video: