–NDP Hosts a public discussion on the `Security and Prosperity Partnership’ in Fredericton, NB.

Following the August 20 Leaders’ Summit in Montebello Quebec concerning the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the Fredericton NDP is hosting a gathering for discussion.

Please join Peter Julian, Member of Parliament, NDP International Trade Critic, and Kelly Comer, Fredericton NDP candidate to learn more about the SPP agenda.

Ted Daigle Auditorium, Edmund Casey Hall, Saint Thomas University
August 29, 7:00 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm

NDP Hosts a public discussion on the `Security and Prosperity Partnership’ in Fredericton, NB.

Following the August 20 Leaders’ Summit in Montebello Quebec concerning the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the Fredericton NDP is hosting a gathering for discussion.
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Monday, August 20
7pm, Renaissance College, 811 Charlotte St.
Fredericton, NB

A panel discussion with:

* Roland Chrisjohn, professor, Department of Native Studies, St. Thomas
University, on First Nations and the SPP.

* Judy Loo, Breaking the Silence Network, on how SPP threatens immigrants,
refugees, and non-status individuals.

* Charles Fournier, Fredericton Peace Coalition, on how SPP commits Canada
to increased militarization.

* Graham Cox, Canadian Federation of Students, on how SPP accelerates
privatization of public services such as education and health care, and how
SPP threatens workers.

* Tracy Glynn, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, on how SPP is pushing
for deregulation in areas of environmental protection, pesticides use, food
safety and water exports.

* Kelly Comer, NDP federal candidate in Fredericton, on the NDP’s concerns
and actions taken in parliament over the lack of transparency and
democratic oversight around SPP.

* Marylou Babineau, Green Party federal candidate in Fredericton, on the
Green Party’s concerns with SPP.

* Alex Corey, UNB student on the multiple ways to get involved in the
resistance.
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–Support the Friends of Rockwook Park.

–There is a new news agency coming into being. The Real News is a grassroots, donation funded, uncompromising news distribution network which will also have reporting and the like. It is a nice idea, but to have real effects you have to be able to get into the living room of the general population… something that the people who seem to control the media system are not likely going to let happen. The internet is useful in getting the message to the people that are interested in finding it (ie: those that already look for it) but getting real information to the masses is something that takes more than production of a news network… you have to get those that control it to let the message through. I would commend the initiative, but it has to get support from the people first. Spread the news and we will see if it can work.

–We must demand better.

Conservation Council of New Brunswick News Release

May 29, 2007

Fredericton - On May 27, 2007, a harvester was spotted levelling the forest near the Portage Vale/Elgin area in Albert County. The area is the proposed site of the “Quintessential Canada” tourist resort; a gated community of 2,000 luxury homes priced between $600,000 and $1.2 million each, a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, 200,000 square foot conference centre, sports village, racino and spa. Ann Collins Property Ltd., an investment property specialist based in Ireland, is planning to build a multi-million dollar exclusive tourist resort on land that includes 2,800 acres of public land.
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Following close on the heels of Environment Minister John Baird’s decision to exempt industry from hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions, the Minister has exempted the first Canadian oil refinery to be built since global warming became a concern, from assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Today, on the UN’s International Day for Biological Diversity, CCNB is calling on Premier Shawn Graham to safeguard the forest conservation areas on public land that the Self-Sufficiency Task Force wants to slash.

Three well known mining activists will be speaking in Fredericton on Tuesday, May 22 at 7pm at the UNB Art Centre, Memorial Hall. They are Joan Newman Kuyek, National Coordinator of Mining Watch Canada, Aviva Chomsky, Professor of History and Coordinator of Latin American Studies at Salem State College in Massachusetts, and Inka Milewski of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

FREDERICTON, NB — “I promise to donate $$ to UNB if they follow their own stated guidelines in the development of the UNB Woodlot.”

On their own website - www.unb.ca/lms/woodlot/wprinciples.html - UNB’s “Guiding Principles” for the Woodlot Development, include “sustainable mixed-use development”, “demonstrate UNB’s commitment to excellence in development and management”, and “increase UNB’s profile as an environmental steward and community leader”

smartgrowthUNB.ca is a website launched to accept pledges of money from UNB alumni, students, and other supporters. (Please don’t send us any money!) You can choose to remain anonymous or to have your name added to our list of pledgers and your graduation year from UNB.

JUSTICE BUILDING
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16TH
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

The provincial government refuses to provide adequate access to funded abortion. Dr. Morgentaler is suing the provincial government in an attempt to expand access.

On May 16th the government is bringing a motion to try to stop the law suit. Come and tell the government to stop using out money to attack our rights!

The provincial government continues to claim that it provides adequate access, but the facts show that access was cut sharply last June when the hospital in Fredericton stopped offering abortion service. There are more women than ever seeking abortions at the Morgentaler Clinic.

The government has repeatedly stated that it will not change its policy without public outcry. Government officials have started to sit up and take notice since the April 11th event in Fredericton where almost 300 people spoke out for choice. We need to keep the pressure up.

COME TO THE JUSTICE BUILDING ON MAY 16TH TO VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR ACCESS TO SAFE AND PUBLICALLY FUNDED ABORTION!

WE ARE NEW BRUNSWICK! WE ARE FOR CHOICE!

ORGANIZED BY: Abortion Access (NB) with support from: The Morgentaler Clinic, Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, Law Students for Choice, Abortion Right Coalition of Canada, National Abortion Federation.

For Immediate Release

Self-Sufficiency Task Force exporting New Brunswick’s future

07 May 2007

FREDERICTON, NB — Fredericton Youth for Sustainability puts forward the following statement on the occasion of the release of the final report of the Self-Sufficiency Task Force:

Self-Sufficiency Task Force exporting New Brunswick’s future

The New Brunswick Liberal government is wrapping up its Self-Sufficiency Task Force with the supposed aim of getting New Brunswick off federal equalization payments. But taking a closer look at the work of the Self-Sufficiency Task Force, one finds another agenda at play that does not genuinely involve the public.
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Once again we see that the current NB Liberal Government does not understand the word ‘democracy’, nor does it understand that it is expected to govern in the interests of the people, not private business.

By the Editors of The Citizens’ Press
Leftnews.org is a project of the Citizens’ Press

Mike Murphy, the once President of the New Brunswick Liberal Association (A.K.A. the Liberal Party of New Brunswick), now private insurance lawyer, has seemed to have found the perfect place in government to increase business for lawyers: become Minister of Health and promote the privatisation of NB Health Care.

With the recent suggestions of a private health-care system being implemented in the province, we are once again witnessing the NB Liberals promoting policy that goes against the desires and the interests of the vast majority of New Brunswickers. It is an about face for Shawn Graham, who in the 2003 election campaign challenged then Premier Bernard Lord on what specific “New Brunswick health-care services [the Tories] would privatise.” In fact, Graham stated that a Liberal government would not promote further privatisation of our health-care sector.

Were the Liberals lying then, or are they lying now?
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On the Friday April 27 edition of CBC’s “The Current, federal Minister of the Environment gave his blessing to the proposed second oil refinery for Saint John.

CCNB believes he has compromised his position as Canada’s Minister of Environment as he has legal responsibilities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to make a determination about a federal environmental assessment for the refinery proposal and then rule on results of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

From behind closed boardroom doors into the public eye, demands Julian

OTTAWA – The Standing Committee on International Trade will hold the first ever hearings on the so-called “Security and Prosperity Partnership” (SPP) of North America thanks to the efforts of NDP International Trade Critic Peter Julian (Burnaby - New Westminster). Julian is pleased that he succeeded in bringing this before the committee and that the members will have the opportunity to study the North American deep integration project that has until now been discussed only behind closed boardroom doors. The televised hearings will be held on April 26, May 1st and 3rd, 2007 in Ottawa.
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Join others who care about the future of the Woodlot and want to show their public opposition to the proposed development of this treasured unique green space in our city. Bring your kids, dog, friends, and a picnic lunch.

1:30pm, Sunday, April 22. Gather at entrance across Regent St from Regent Mall, next to the Forestry Complex.

*A facebook group (www.facebook.com) called “I don’t want the UNB woodlot turned into Big-Box strip malls” has also been created. Key words: UNB Woodlot. Membership currently stands at over 1500.

*There will be an info session with Michael Baldwin, Manager, Real Estate & Planning for UNB on Wednesday, April 25, 7pm, at Conserver House, 180 St. John St. All are welcome.

*Email forest@conservationcouncil.ca to join the Woodlot Watch group.

Join a public meeting with presentations and discussion on Atlantica, the
Self-Sufficiency Task Force, Dirty Energy & Global Warming.

7:30 PM, Monday, April 23

Centenary-Queen’s Square United Church, 215 Wentworth St., Saint John.
For more info, visit: stopatlantica.org or contact Tracy at tracy@jatam.org/458-8747.

Council of Canadians challenges Environment Minister on bulk water exports

Environment Minister John Baird’s response to a leaked document that reveals bulk water exports will be discussed at a trinational meeting in Calgary is full of holes according to the Council of Canadians.
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–The Polaris Institute continues its tradition of writing the truth and poking holes in the greenwashed image of Coca Cola and other environmentally destructive corporations.

OTTAWA – The Canadian Labour Congress calls on the government of Canada to join with the other parties in the House of Commons and move towards adoption of Bill C-269 to bring justice and a measure of economic security to Canada’s unemployed workers.

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–Something to think about for those that are interested in providing affordable housing for those most oppressed in our society. Affordable housing is less and less common in Fredericton which forces people into deeper poverty. How about calling for some of this money going into co-op, non-profit housing projects where people can actually have some input and a say in the development of the project?