IT WOULD TAKE A GENIUS TO PREDICT THESE TWO GUYS ACTION????

tank and frank, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I must admit that I never saw this coming? I must have a chat wit that boy when he gets back from Montreal?????...lol

NB Telegraph-Journal | Politics
As published on page A1/A10 on April 11, 2006

Premier's absence covered by Branch
Independent MLA will travel with premier to Montreal, helping to protect the Tory minority

By Chris Morris
Canadian Press

FREDERICTON - Premier Bernard Lord will take no chances with his tenuous government when he travels to Montreal to discuss the country's fiscal imbalance with other first ministers.

Mr. Lord revealed Monday that Independent MLA Frank Branch will accompany him to Montreal for the meetings today and Wednesday.

With Mr. Branch in tow, Mr. Lord's government should be able to survive any surprise votes in Fredericton.

The Conservative government is in a minority situation in the New Brunswick legislature and Opposition Liberals are anxious to force a spring election.

"We asked the Liberals to pair, but we never got an answer," Mr. Lord said. "Frank has agreed to come with us on the trip. That's the safest pairing we can have."

Mr. Lord said Mr. Branch, a Liberal supporter who is sitting as an Independent while he is under investigation for financial irregularities, isn't invited to the first ministers' meetings.

That raises the question of exactly what Mr. Branch will do while in Montreal.

"You'll have to ask him," Mr. Lord said after a long pause.

Mr. Branch will be in Quebec at the expense of N.B. taxpayers.

The premier said he is optimistic about fixing the fiscal imbalance because at least Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the new Conservative government agree it exists.

"The previous Liberal government would not even acknowledge that there is a fiscal imbalance," he said.

Poorer provinces like New Brunswick are struggling to maintain health and social programs while Ottawa posts record surpluses year after year.

Most provinces want the equalization program updated and more cash for federal transfers.

Mr. Lord said the federal Conservatives could increase funding for post-secondary education, which would directly help education and ease the imbalance.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty wants federal transfers increased to benefit all Canadians, not just those living in provinces that receive equalization payments.

Currently, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario pay into the equalization program, which distributes money to poorer provinces to help maintain national program standards.