Penn and Teller: Bullshit! Environmental Hysteria

Before you decide that the Conservative party's Clean Air act is not going to save the sky from falling or beleive that Stephane Dion, the guy who led the Liberal's abysmall record on Kyoto you need to watch Penn and Teller show us that we are not ruining the planet...

Blue Blogger Update

Sorry for being a little lax in posting to the blog. Especially with the tremendous amount of action recently from the "nations" Capital. But as they say, life happens...

Some Items of Interest:

We have a new Conservative blogger linked to our site. Conservative in NB is a Fredericton based blogger who cover a vast array of issues. Check it out!

Looking forward to this weekend's AGM in Moncton. It's on December 2, 2006 at the Mapleton Rotary lodge in Mapleton Park from 9:00AM – 12:00PM (doors open at 8:30AM). A continental breakfast will be served.

I'm also hearing through the grapevine that we should have a fairly competitive race for the Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe candidate race for the next election. Seems like Brian Murphy may face some very stiff competition next time around.


T'ill next time...

The Blue Blogger

Will NB Liberals break their promise on autism?

During the last provincial election I offered Harold at Autism NB to post to our blog to debate the issue of autism in NB. While Harold did endorse the Liberals in the end, it was based on a commitement made by the Liberal leader to Autistic children and their families.

We'll it seems that just like the HST rebate on home heating, the Liberals are looking for a way to wiggle out of another key election promise. Here's a post by Autism Reality NB on our site:

Will Bureaucrats Convince Liberals to Break Autism Pledge?

The Liberal party pledged during the recent election to provide UNB-CEL Autism Intervention Training to 100 Teacher Assistants and Resource teachers a year for the next 4 years. Now though it appears that Department of Education bureaucrats are trying to push the Minister of Education to break that very specific pledge by promoting a variety of alternatives to the Minister. These alternatives essentially include options such as requiring persons applying to work as TA's with autistic children to have obtained the training on their own or having the training provided by the Department itself even though the Department lacks the expertise to provide proper training. This is the same department which has resisted for several years efforts by the ASNB to have the Department provide effective education interventions for autistic children by trained personnel for several years. The bureaucrats' strategy also includes by passing the provincial Autism Society New Brunswick in setting up education workshops for autistic children even though the Department regularly consults disability organizations when those organizations are in agreement with the Department. If past experience is a guide the Department will also adopt a divide and conquer strategy and try to sow dissension within the autism community. Their strategy is already under way. In a meeting this week with ASNB representatives Minister Lamrock preferred to characterize the Liberal pledge as a "raising of expectations in the autism community" as opposed to having made a commitment.

The express pledge made by then Opposition Leader Shawn Graham during the election campaign was set out in an email to Autism Society New Brunswick President Lila Barry:

From: Graham, Shawn (LEG)
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 2:37 PM
To: lila barry
Subject: Liberal Platform

Dear Ms. Barry:

Thank you for your letter and for sharing your concerns with me. In our Liberal election platform that will be released this week, we are committing to the implementation of the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on Autism released in November 2001. Although we realize this document is now nearly five years old, it does provide a basis on which to develop, in partnership with the stakeholders, a strategy that will assist children with autism from early childhood and into adulthood.

As well, we will take two concrete steps to address the immediate needs of children with autism in two areas: a case management process and UNB-CEL autism training.

A new Liberal government will:

1. Integrate services for young children and their families by enhancing and expanding the Early Childhood Initiatives Program to ensure a smooth transition into public school for children identified as at risk or those with special needs, such as autism.


2. Provide UNB-CEL autism training for 100 additional teaching assistants and Methods and Resource teachers each year for four years.

I commend you and the members of the Autism Society of New Brunswick on your tireless advocacy on behalf of children with autism. You are truly making a difference in many lives. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Yours truly,

Shawn Graham

Leader of the Official Opposition

The Autism Society New Brunswick recommended that its members, friends and family members of autistic persons vote Liberal during the recent very close election. It did so because of this very specific commitment from then Opposition Leader Shawn Graham. Now that Mr. Graham is Premier it is expected that he will keep his word and honour the pledge that he made to the ASNB and to autistic children. Education Minister Lamrock is under intense pressure by department bureaucrats to dishonour that commitment.

We shall see what happens.

Let's see how the Liberals get out of this one....

The Blue Blogger

CANADA’S CLEAN AIR ACT: PUTTING AN END TO LIBERAL HOT AIR

Over the last 13 years of Liberal rule, Greehouse Gas Emissions have actually gone up 35%! Far from reaching the Kyoto targets of 6% below 1990 levels, the Chretien and Martin governments took our country’s environment in the wrong direction. Predictably, when a Conservative government introduced legislation that would actually produce reductions in smog, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions - the opposition parties spit in the face of the Canadian public and demonized the proposals.

For months the Liberals and NDP cried, “they have no plan...” all the while having nothing to offer themselves other than the paper tiger of Kyoto. While the opposition was playing origami with hot air credits, our government was crafting a plan that would produce immediate, short-term and long term results in a measurable way. The era of sound bytes has been replaced with the era of sound policy.

In order to meet our 2010 Kyoto targets, we would not only have to reduce emissions by 6% below 1990 levels, we would also have to eliminate the additional 28% increase in emissions that the Liberals allowed. To put it simply, we would have to shut down nearly ½ of the greenhouse gas emitting machinery to meet Kyoto targets!

Which emitters should we eliminate overnight - ½ of Canadian cars and trucks? Perhaps we should lay off ½ of Canadian workers and shut down the industrial manufacturing emitters they work for. Maybe we should close the coal fired electrical generating plants throughout the country and give out blankets and sweaters instead!

The fact is that, due to the inattention and neglect of the former Liberal government, we have no hope of meeting our Kyoto target in 2010. That does not mean we will abandon the plan, it simply means that we have to be realistic about the time frame.

The Conservative Clean Air Act proposes to tackle air pollution and greenhouse gas at the same time because they often come from the same sources. We are moving away from voluntary standards set by what industry is comfortable with to strict, enforceable targets that will give Canadians some breathing room.

The patchwork system of bureaucratic Liberal quagmire is being replaced with clear, comprehensive national standards. This requires consultation with the provinces so that everyone is on the same page. That is not a delaying tactic, it is just smart government.

One of the biggest criticisms by the opposition and groups like the Sierra Club is that we have set a target of 65% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050. Every Liberal leadership candidate has set lesser targets: Michael Ignatieff 50% by 2050; Bob Rae 50% over the next 45 years; Stéphane Dion 60% by 2050; Ken Dryden 50% over the next 45 years*.

Minister Ambrose told the Parliament “We will also be negotiating over the next four months with every province and territory and industry sector short term targets to be put in place by spring.” Targets supported by the provinces, industry and good science are not irresponsible, they are good government.

- TruBlue

*Source: The Hansard, Thursday October 19, 2006

REALITY CHECK: THE NEWS THAT DOESN’T GET REPORTED

I have been trying to deny that there is such a thing as media bias against conservatives. When the media blitz against the $1 billion in budget savings came out against the Conservative government, I decided to do a little research. This humble scribe has no special access that is not available to any honest reporter and yet they were either unwilling to dig for the facts or they were content to simply regurgitate the anti-Conservative spin foisted by the opposition. It is easy to say that the Conservative government should do a better job of communicating, and perhaps that is an honest criticism. The problem is however that the media is so jaded that they take all press releases issued by the government as partisan spin and immediately go to the "critics" for a "realistic assessment."

If you will take note of the tone of Opposition criticism, you will see that they are mostly reduced to criticizing what the new Conservative government hasn't addressed yet. After the Throne Speech, "Look at what they didn't say anything about." After the budget was introduced, "Look at what they didn't give more money to!" And now after deleting money that was deisngated to a general program, but had no specific allocation, "The Conservatives are against women and want to make Canadians illiterate!" The facts about the budget cuts indicate that they were responsible eliminations of programs that weren't even coming close to their targets, and cleaning up a lot of loose money that the Liberals left lying around. The details about the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program (ALLESP) as I have found them are as follows:

1. Since 1994, under the previous government, the number of Canadians with low literacy skills has actually increased.
2. Canada’s new Government is refocusing funding for literacy programming and directing funds at projects which deliver measurable results.
3. Over the next two years, Canada’s new Government will be investing $81 million directly towards programs for adult learning and literacy skills.
4. Canada’s new Government is committed to helping Canadians improve literacy levels NOW with a higher percentage of dollars going to direct, on-the-ground training - not more studies and consultations to tell us people need help! This is just another example of Canada’s new Government getting things done for Canadian families and taxpayers.
5. Not a single organization with an existing agreement has had its funding cut. Every agreement is being honoured.
6. This refocusing only affects future calls for proposal. Moving forward, funding will be directed towards projects that advance national objectives and deliver tangible results for Canadians. All organizations that are currently receiving funding are encouraged to apply for future funding.
7. Canada’s new Government is proud to support Canadian men and women to improve their skills and secure a better future for themselves and their families. Some of the other programs are:

• $28 million this year for the Enhanced Language Training Initiative, which includes the new Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement
• Another $900,000 for the Essential Skills and Workplace Literacy Initiative
• $73 million over two years for the Workplace Skills Initiative
• $2.6 billion over two years for the Aboriginal elementary and secondary education program
• $4.6 million for the Computers for Schools program
• $1.5 million for the Adult Education Skills Development in PEI
• $63 million a year for the Sector Council Program which supports workplace skills and literacy programs in key economic sectors

Now, dear reader, tell me that the above is not at odds with what is reported in the media. It seems that we have a fourth opposition party which influences our electoral process without any accountability - it is called "The Press." Individual reporters may not be biased, and certainly they are entitled to their editorial views, but it's time we had some honest reporting in this country. If this private citizen can ferret out the facts with a few hours on the computer, perhaps editors should extend the deadlines so that their reporters can give the public accurate information. Veritas excelsior!

- TruBlue

Can Graham take New Brunswick from worst to first?

Can Graham take New Brunswick from worst to first?

We will take New Brunswick from WORST to FIRST in education and that means creating educational opportunity for all NB children,” said Graham.

I WON'T BELABOR the point here as I have written ad nauseum on this very topic before, in that, politicians should never make promises that they are incapable of living up to. Not only is Mr. Graham's educational policy unrealistic and flawed, it is extraordinarily difficult to pursue a strategy of "worst to first" in such an economic setting as New Brunswick without a major increase in spending or ultimately raising taxes. As well, it has already been found that throwing more money at public education will not improve test results in the province. From 1997 to 2004, New Brunswick increased its educational spending by 18 per cent only to see it matched by woeful student underachievement. According to an education expert at AIMS, "only 49 per cent of 16-year-old francophone students and 62 per cent of anglophone 16-year-olds met national expectations in science, a seven percentage point drop for English students and an 11-point decline for French students over the 1999 levels".

Moreover, I believe that rather than following the 95 recommendations made by the Mackay report on education to increase spending at all levels in hopes of unrealistically propelling the fledgling system straight up the ladder to first, New Brunswick must rework its educational system, in that, it can become more accountable for the investments that have already been made. Not to mention, we must support a system that would organize our school financing so as to empower parents and students with the ability to choose schools. A system that has been very successful in Alberta where, in turn, they have one of the most efficient and successful school systems in North America.

With the educational approach that NB Premier-designate Shawn Graham is about to embark on, I don't anticipate that Albertans have anything to worry about anytime soon, especially given the fact their student's test scores rank highest amongst most OECD countries in math, reading and science. However, NBers need clear and committed leadership on education. We do not need a leader who overpromises and plays politics with our children's futures, on the contrary, we need a leader who recognizes how difficult it will be to put this egg back together. Unfortunately, I don't believe Graham to be that man. Let's hope he can prove me wrong and make New Brunswick #1 in education in Canada.

In the meantime, check out this week's article from the Economist below on Alberta's flourishing education system, an educational system that we should definitely be modeling our system after here in NB:

[Via The Economist]

Many educators acknowledge that over the past 30 years Alberta has quietly built the finest public education system in Canada. The curriculum has been revised, stressing core subjects (English, science, mathematics), school facilities and the training of teachers have been improved, clear achievement goals have been set and a rigorous province-wide testing programme for grades three (aged 7-8), six (10-11), nine (13-14) and twelve (16-17) has been established to ensure they are met.

It is all paying off. Alberta's students regularly outshine those from other Canadian provinces: in 2004 national tests, Alberta's 13- and 16-year-olds ranked first in mathematics and science, and third in writing. And in international tests they rank alongside the best in the world: in the OECD's 2003 PISA study, the province's 15-year-olds scored among the top four of 40 countries in mathematics, reading and science (see table above).

Elsewhere in Canada, especially British Columbia and Ontario, dissatisfaction with public-school standards is increasingly driving parents to pack their children off to private schools. Over the past decade, the proportion of students in such schools has risen by 20% in Canada as a whole, and double that in Ontario. But the private system does not have the same appeal in Alberta, where some 80% of parents say they are happy with the public schools.

This is especially true in the province's capital of Edmonton, which is noted for its innovative system stressing choice, accountability and competition. Funding there is based on the number of students in a school. Each school controls its own budget, spending money on its own educational priorities (such as improving aboriginal-student results), while following the provincial curriculum. Students are free to (and 57% do) attend any school in the city, not just in their own neighbourhood. They can seek out schools specialising in the arts, sports, leadership skills, girls-only education, aboriginal culture, Mandarin, and many other alternative programmes—or simply choose the schools with the best academic results. Students in every grade are tested annually and their scores published.

The results are also used to improve teaching. There is currently a citywide push to ensure that all children in Edmonton can read competently by grade three (88% now can). Far from fearing private-school competition, the city's public system has embraced it: it has already absorbed three private religious schools (two Christian, one Hebrew). “In Edmonton,” says Angus McBeath, the city's recently retired schools chief, “the litmus test is that the rich send their kids to the public schools, not the private schools.”

Another litmus test is the extent to which Edmonton's ideas are being studied by educators from elsewhere (mostly the United States, but some also from Ontario and British Columbia) and are now being emulated. Pilot projects on the Edmonton model have already been launched by school boards in Colorado Springs, Oakland and New York City.

All this is not to say that they have all the answers in Alberta. Their rigorous measurement scheme has revealed that schools still need to do a lot better teaching aboriginal and immigrant children and ensuring that more students finish high school. At present, about 30% of students drop out early, compared with 25% for the country as a whole. That, Alberta's educators admit, is an embarrassing statistic. But in the province's red-hot economy, a 17-year-old with a driver's licence can drop out and easily make C$60,000 ($53,300) a year driving a lorry serving an oil-drilling camp. That's tough competition.

-Scott

Good News, Better News and Really Good News:

Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, announced today that the new Conservative government has recorded a $13.2 billion surplus. This should put to rest the fearmongering by the Liberals in the last election that a Conservative goverment's spending would bring the country back into a deficit. "If you elect a Conservative government, they will take us back into deficit..." came the call throughout the last campaign. In reality, our economy continues to grow at record levels after giving our military a much needed boost, sending millions of dollars in aid to help rebuild Afghanistan, cutting the GST by 1%, safely evacuating Canadians from war-torn Lebanon, compensating victims of hepatitus C and launching an inquiry into the long neglected Air India bombing - PM Harper still managed to post a record surplus.

The news got even better when Minister Flaherty announced that all the money will go to paying down the debt. This Conservative government has done more, in a shorter time, than any government in recent history. When you subtract the summer months when Parliament was not sitting, this government has had less than 4 months in which to govern. During that time they have introduced the Accountability Act to clean up government. They have issued the first checks from the new Universal Child Benefit. They have cracked down on violent criminals and repeat offenders. Their agenda and its execution have been so focused that the opposition has been reduced to commenting on what the Conservatives haven't fixed yet (see opposition response to the Throne Speech and PM Harper's address to the UN). When they can't find fault with what you say, they trot out another paper tiger and blame the Conservatives for not slaying it yet!

The really good news was delivered by Treasury Board President, John Baird. His department has been able to trim over $1 billion dollars in fat from budget spending on programs that were inefficient and ineffective. One of the first items to feel the blade was Cabinet itself which was downsized under PM Harper to produce a savings of $47 million. Other savings were found under items that had money allocated, but which was never spent. Former PM Martin made (and re-made) so many spending announcements that they must have lost track of what they promised to whom! CBC news reports that "The single largest saving, at nearly $380 million, will be made by reclaiming unspent money." "We have uncovered numerous examples of waste and duplication," Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said.

Opposition criticism was typical, 'I can't believe you're cutting programs when you're sitting on a $13.2 billion dollar surplus!' Thankfully those holding the purse strings in the Conservative government have a better sense of public responsibility and believe that you don't keep throwing money at problems that don't exist. Good job guys, I'm anxious to see what the new fall agenda holds in store for our country. Keep making your promises come true and the voters might just reward you with greater responsibility next time.

-TruBlue

Is the media above the law?

I suppose we all smiled along with Liberal leadership candidate, Joe Volpe, as we watched news coverage of two protesters haunting him with signs.

CP/Jonathan Hayward

The MP showed class by taking it in stride when his campaign is being assailed for paying to sign up new members, and registering members who have been dead for years. Unfortunately, the press did not show the same decorum as the embattled Liberal candidate. After Mr. Volpe went in to his press conference, reporters present outside began to assault the protesters in an effort to reveal their identities.

How do you suppose those same reporters would have fared if they tried to unmask the protesters at a G-8 Summit or similar event? Perhaps overcome by curiosity, reporters pulled violently on the protesters' hoods and then chased one of them down a busy thoroughfare. (See video of assault here).

CP/Jonathan Hayward

The legal definition of assault is "intentional touching without consent." There is no doubt that these harmless and humorous protesters were assaulted in front of television cameras, but charges will likely never be laid because the protester would have to reveal his identity. I'm sure the ambitious reporters knew this, so they rolled the dice because it was just too tantalizing to imagine that their identity might prove embarrassing for someone else. The question arises, "Should the media, in the course of reporting, be above the law?" Watch the video again; perhaps the first attempt could be considered light-hearted fun - but then the repeated attempts to unmask the protester, and chasing him through traffic? I could think of a host of charges that could be laid, were the victim perhaps a racial minority...

My point is this: we have come to expect bad behavior from the Liberals. So when Mr. Volpe's campaign allegedly signs up Sebastiano Sperduti (a man who has been dead for 17 years) we just shrug our shoulders and say 'That's just the way politics works.' And when we witness members of the media battering a peaceful protester on national TV, we are willing to overlook their 'indiscretion,' because we too are intrigued by the possible identity of the victim. We live in a parliamentary democracy that is supposed to be governed by the rule of law - unless of course you carry a press badge. So a couple of individuals wanted to have a little fun at Mr. Volpe's expense; his campaign may take children's money for donations and sign up dead people - but at least they don't commit assault on the public!

- TruBlue

Liberal Contempt for Border Guards

<>Today in Question Period Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, was answering a question about Border guards who walked off the job because they were not able to protect themselves. During Minister Day’s answer, Derek Lee (Liberal, Scarborough-Rouge River), was heard to call out “Wimps!” (referring to the Border guards). When admonished by government members to cease and desist, he proceeded to hurl the same epithet at our Border Services another 10-15 times.

At the end of Question Period, Mr. Day rose on a point of order and asked the Liberal MP to offer an apology to the brave members of the Border Services. Mr. Lee stood to respond and, rather than apologize, he continued to excoriate the Border guards. He stated clearly that his respect extended only to those who chose to stay on the job and refused to apologize to the guards who left their post because of an imminent threat against which they had no means to respond.

<>To his credit, NDP member Charlie Angus joined Minister Day in his plea for an apology; none was forthcoming however. This is yet another example of the Liberal contempt for the security of our borders, and the brave men and women who police them. Paul Martin’s idea of protecting our sovereignty was to “talk trash” against the Americans. Thankfully our new Conservative government has taken a different tack and offered our Border guards the arms and training they need to credibly protect our borders. Together with the investments in our military and the assertion of our claim on the north, PM Harper’s initiatives are proving to be practical and material, rather than the harsh rhetoric and bluster from the Liberals. Perhaps there should be a ‘hot air credit’ under the Kyoto Accord for all the smoke and pollution on the Liberal side of the aisle. <>

- TruBlue

2006 NB Election Thoughts

The 2006 NB election is now over and the electorate has chosen a "majority" Liberal government. While I accept the results of Monday night, I do want to share some thoughts from a Tory perspective.

Firstly, those who say that the PC party is finished have to look at the results closely. While riding redistribution played its part at cementing a small Liberal majority, the PC party still won the popular vote. Not yet in power, Shawn Graham has stated to the media that they stop asking him if he will honour Lord's commitment to hold a referendum on electoral reform in 2008. Of course, he will not! Because has nothing to gain by it.

I have also noticed much speculation about the future of Premier Lord. Provincial Tories try to convince the leader to remain in NB while pundits suggest he will jump ship into federal politics. Will Lord stay in NB to fight another day, move to pasture or will he "Move West" to Ottawa? Time will tell, but I would encourage the former Premier to consider the impact he can have as representative for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe as our Conservative MP. Many say that his star quality is no longer there, however; there are many examples of political comebacks. Two that come to mind are Clinton and Churchill. I would strongly suggest to the Premier that he take some time to recharge the batteries and return to cement his legacy as a nation builder. To offer some wisdom from one of the greatest leaders of all time:

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
Sir Winston Churchill
British politician (1874 - 1965)

I would also like to offer a word of encouragement to my fellow PC members in the wake of a crushing defeat. Get ready! Get ready to validate our existence to the people of NB, so that they remember how a PC government balanced the budget for 7 years, reduced unemployment, reduced the deficit and laid the foundation to fix a troubled health care system.

People of NB, you will soon see just how much Shawn Graham’s Liberal platform will cost you and our children. I look forward to holding his team accountable to an increased deficit, increased tuition, increased unemployment, higher property and income taxes, toll highways, gambling, increased red tape and cronyism in the form of over paid supercrats.

I look forward to the next provincial election…

-Blue Blogger

MP Dominic LeBlanc: An Embarrassed Embarrassment

The venerable Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal trade critic, continues to embarrass himself and his party in opposition to the Softwood Lumber Agreement. In an exchange on Tuesday in Parliament, M. LeBlanc implied that a 15% export tax was engineered to be a "cash cow" for the federal government. Before pointing out that Atlantic Canada overwhelmingly supports the deal, government Trade Minister Emerson corrected M. LeBlanc: "Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know, if in fact he has read the softwood lumber agreement, that any export tax revenue will be flowed back, …to the provinces."

<>Indeed M. LeBlanc went on to attack the Trade Minister personally, accusing him of “being a Republican lackey willing to do the United States' dirty work” because he had successfully brokered the deal after crossing the aisle to sit as a Conservative. One could almost feel Dominic’s face turning red when Minister Emerson retorted: “Mr. Speaker, that hon. member should come clean. That [Liberal] party was prepared to settle for far less than this government has achieved in negotiations with the United States. That member and those who vote against that agreement are supporting continued litigation, dumping duties that will climb, and dislocation in the softwood lumber industry in Canada, and in Atlantic Canada in particular. <>David Emerson was an acknowledged expert on softwood lumber when sitting as a Liberal, and certainly was in a position to know the state of negotiations by the Liberal government. The unmitigated gall of Liberal MP LeBlanc in characterizing the current Conservative deal as a “sell out” is astounding! <>

The embarrassment grew as MP Gerald Keddy pointed out that, while Dominic LeBlanc and his Liberal pals opposed the agreement, the Maritime Lumber Bureau supports it! Mr. Keddy went on to say: “The member for Beauséjour has praised the deal stating ‘as an Atlantic Canadian, I'm certainly pleased that this agreement protects the rights we have fought hard to ensure are protected’. However, now he is indicating that he will be voting against the deal.” According to Campbell Morrison (Times & Transcript, Sept. 20, A4), “Outside the Commons, Keddy said that LeBlanc should put partisan politics aside and support local industry. ‘There is a time to play politics and a time to do the right thing. This is a good deal for Canada and a good deal for Atlantic Canada,’ Keddy said.” M. LeBlanc defended his position by saying that the Liberal opposition would not be "bullied and blackmailed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper." While acknowledging that the Softwood Lumber Agreement has the support of Maritime industry, M. LeBlanc pointed out that it has some opponents in PQ, ON and BC. (As if any negotiated settlement would have unanimous consent!).<>

The Conservative softwood agreement “puts over $5 billion Canadian cash into the pockets of Canadian companies. It creates stability and it protects provincial forest management policies.” Furthermore it “has over 90% support from the industry in Canada and over 90% support from the industry in British Columbia. The agreement has the very strong support of the government of British Columbia and the governments of other lumber producing provinces.” The agreement is overwhelmingly supported by provincial governments and industry across Canada and in the Maritimes. It is absurd that Liberal MP’s like Brian Murphy and Dominic LeBlanc would stand shoulder to shoulder in opposition, simply because they want to prove that PM Harper can’t bully them! So much for representing the best interests of your constituents. <>

-TruBlue