If it was in the Irving newspaper? It must have been really bad!!!!!
NB Telegraph-Journal | Saint John
As published on page B1/B3 on June 6, 2006
Council rejects hiring intervener
Council instead to send letter voicing its preference for underwater route
Mayor Norm McFarlane ask for ruling from clerk Patrick Woods during a debate over salaries at Monday’s common council meeting.
By John Chilibeck
Telegraph-Journal
The city of Saint John has rejected the idea of hiring an expert to intervene on its behalf at hearings that will consider putting a pipeline through the middle of the city.
Instead, the majority of common council voted Monday night to send a letter to the National Energy Board voicing opposition. The politicians want Emera, the company behind the project, to lay the natural gas pipeline across the Bay of Fundy rather than through the city.
At times the debate got nasty. Three politicians were adamant that the city hire a professional intervener. They were steamed that city manager Terry Totten took a long time to present his report and took issue with his recommendations. Mr. Totten wrote that going through Rockwood Park was the preferred option for the city if the National Energy Board decided that a marine route was unfeasible.
Coun. John Ferguson accused the city manager of releasing the report on Monday night to take attention away from two other controversial issues: the dire pension fund deficit and the big salary increase for city managers, approved last meeting.
"This is an interesting political manoeuvre," said Mr. Ferguson, as Mayor Norm McFarlane pounded his gavel and warned him he was way out of line.
"I will not have you accuse your staff in public," the mayor said.
Coun. Ivan Court also exchanged tense words with the mayor and the city manager.
He described the proposal to send a letter as "tokenism" and slammed Mr. Totten for taking so long to respond to his request for more information on the special tax deal for the liquefied natural gas terminal, information he asked for a year ago.
Mr. Totten defended himself by saying he couldn't give sound professional advice until he saw what Emera filed with the National Energy Board. The application and documents didn't go in until last week.
When the mayor tried to silence Mr. Court for arguing with the city manager, the vocal councillor stood up and said that he was leaving. His supporters in the gallery yelled at the mayor and stormed out too. Mr. Court's brother, Bruce Court, pointed at the mayor and hollered: "You're the worst mayor this city has ever had."
After a short recess, cooler heads prevailed and Mr. Court returned to his seat.
Deputy Mayor Michelle Hooton said it was unfair that the multi-million dollar property tax concession would give little benefit to the city, while the province and the federal government would still reap a windfall in income taxes and sales tax during construction of the LNG terminal and natural gas pipeline.
She persuaded the rest of council to ask the other two levels of government to consider intervening on the city's behalf.
The vote for the city manager's recommendations passed 5 to 3, with the mayor, the deputy mayor and councillors Peter McGuire, Chris Titus and Stephen Chase supporting the motion.
A motion by Coun. Ferguson to reject the city manager and hire an intervener anyway was only supported by councillors Bill Farren and Mr. Court.
Mr. Totten wrote in his report that the municipality cannot afford to hire experts to assess the feasibility of putting a pipeline across the Bay of Fundy. Instead, he recommends that the city simply write a letter indicating it prefers the marine option, and let the National Energy Board decide if Emera's findings are true.
"Council expects the (board) on behalf of this community to pay specific attention and detail to the marine route and to hold Emera strictly accountable for the professionalism, detail and facts contained in the various studies that have concluded that the marine route is not viable," he said.
If the board rejects the marine option, Mr. Totten says the city should state its preference for the Rockwood Park route over the other land-based alternatives, south and north of the protected green space. Mr. Totten says the Rockwood Park route would cause the least disruption for citizens' lives, would not tear apart streets and sidewalks and would be much safer.
Emera has filed an application with the board stating that a marine option is too tricky. Emera has built its case around two consulting firms that its partner, Duke Energy Gas Transmission, has used before in the United States for similar projects. Both consultants warn that pipeline construction in the Bay of Fundy could cause injuries or fatalities given the harsh conditions and climate.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
IVAN COURT ONCE AGAIN STANDS UP FOR THE PEOPLE!!!
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8 comments:
I was there last night at the COuncil Meeting. About an hour into it, Norm McFarlane told us all to clear the room and make room for skateboarders, yes, folks you read this right, in connection with a Skateboarding Park. Many adults, including Bruce Court, went outside and gave up out seats so skateboarders could pile into chambers.
Then we all waited outside until it was time to switch again.
Council chambers is so small in there, and it's like an oven in there too. Everyone was complaining, this is something, grown ups having to give up their space for skateboarders.
Ok to the LNG Pipeline issue.
Ivan Court ended up walking out of the meeting, all frustrated.
We're all fooling ourselves if we think we're going to change this.
The pipeline will go as planned, you'll all see.
I believe that Terry Totten, mayor and Council are filling their pockets on this one, by way of bribes.
All that Ivan is standing in the way of is progress in Saint John. He is aginst everything, for nothing, except his own political future, which I know will be very dim. The tactics of he and his brother as well as the two sidekicks Farren and Ferguson,are incredibly negative and they hold the future of this city hostage to their paranoia and suspicsion.
I agree with the above, both are full of nothing less, than a lot of Hot Air.
Bruce got cleaned in the candidate election nomination as well. People see through them both.
You are not informed and Councillor Court is great person and he is a sincere, honest, hardworking person. I have lived in my area for 29 years and 5 or 6 ago I met him and any problem small or big and live on the west, east, north or south, he does what he can and if he can't help he will find someone who can. People who make these comments don't know him and honestly have their own agenda which should be questioned.
Thank you for the blog.
Ivan is the best and has tremendous courage.
THe agenda by the paper is to take him out or tear him apart; they don't want someone who cares about the people first. They want want Councillor Court to be a yes man as many others like the Mayor and his select Councillors who don't have backbone. Come one wake up the Irving paper chewsup the good and trys to spin their version everytime.
The paper is so selfserving it is not a provincial paper it is an Irving Ragg!
"Everyone was complaining, this is something, grown ups having to give up their space for skateboarders."
These are probably the same folks that think you don't deserve a say if you're not a homeowner (because they don't think you feel the impact of municipal tax decisions).
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