I WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROTESTERS BUT I WASN'T ARRESTED!!!

Today began with a downpour of rain! The old saying that the Irvings call in the fog if they wish to pollute the City, came true but this time around it was heavy rain!!!!



Would this discourage the protesters from showing up? Good question?



Ever since my arrest yesterday? I had many concern citizens telling me that I shouldn’t be walking alone.



I told my friends that I am not concerned about this issue. I’ll be ok!

My buddy Tim Smith decided that he would come with me. Tim was very upset of the way I was treated.



He decided in the pouring rain that he was going to join me this time around.



We met the young protesters at a certain location and we began our little walk toward the Lord Beaverbrook arena to meet with the Labour Unions.



Take a close look at these pictures of the way the rink is being populated.




I quickly found out that many people confronted me and hug me in the rink.



They were very concern of the way I was handle by the Saint John Police Force < Irving Gestapo >

This gave me a very good feeling that I had a large crowd of supporters out there.



I was surprise that so many people knew of the arrest.

I was in the crowd taking pictures of the event but this time around it was different because I had Tim Smith somewhere also in the crowd clicking his camera away.



I was approached by Brain Maclean for an interview on CFBC!


I was also interviewed by the French station CBC!



I might add that I’m going to be a guest on CBC information morning on Monday morning.

I guess the interview will be at 7:15am!

My god? I wonder why the Irvings Newpapers don’t wish to interview moi???..lol...



I really don’t care but it goes to prove my point of the reason I used this picture? It’s the monopoly of the media. The Irvings do order their editors not to cover certain people.

The protest began after the speeches and the long walk began toward the trade convention Centre.



It was a good walk and the protesters were very lively. I would say there must have been 500 + people present in the heavy rain.

While the march was going on? The rain was almost nil. The protesters were loud and the citizens beeped their horn in support.



I can’t believe the support that all protesters are receiving in the City. Many of them are too afraid to come froward and who can blame them?

They have relatives who works for the Irvings Empire and is they speak out? Their relatives would be fired on the spot.



Once at the Market Square area. I decided that I couldn’t follow the protesters because the cops told that if I did? I would land in jail till July 25th.

I stood at this line and watch the ceremonies. The second the speeches began? The heavy rain came down very hard.



I shouted - IRVINGS ARE POWERFUL!!!!HE CALLED IN THE RAIN!!!

The protesters stayed put and the protest continued. After the protest was all done? A few reporters from the French CBC station wanted to interview me.

I told them that this will be different because this is the first time that I said the interview en Francais.

One reporter said- Tu peut paerler Francais?

What I meant was that I’m from Memramcook, We speak le chiac.

You know- Uh va allez au store me cherchez un packet de smokes.

I had to remember a few words in that whimpy french from Quebec?..lol....

This morning < Sunday > my arms are very sore and I can’t believe that I’m that sore?

The Saint John Police Force < Irving Gestapo > really handle me rough. I can’t believe the way they treated me?



One French reporter asked me if I believe it was the Irvings who sent the cops after me?

I told them that I would let New Brunswickers answer that question?

I should have told them that I always respected J.K., Jack, Arthur and Kenneth. If I bumped into them? They would always give me the time of day.



My battle is with Irving Management who took upon themselves to deny New Brunswickers the right to write letters to the editor against the Irvings.

I’m going to blog a lot of picture during the day so stay tune.

MY FEW HOURS IN JAIL WITH THE SAINT JOHN POLICE < IRVING GESTAPO >

Pictures 022, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Ok...Here we go.....I’m going to try to give a detail account of what happened yesterday.

It all began in the morning after I phoned the talk show’ “talk of the town” telling the listeners about Atlantica!!!

Afterwards, I walked to King’s Square!!!

Once I arrived, there must have been around 50 people in the area.

I was a little surprise because if you took the protesters from Fredericton and Halifax out?

There wouldn’t be too many left from Saint John!!

I made it very clear in the Capital that I would be present as a Blogger and not as a Protester. I have a little blog and I will spread the word of the going ons of what happens during the protest.

The protesters decided they would walk down King Street toward the Trade and Convention Center just for a try out and afterwards they would meet at noon at King Square.

The protesters walked down to Market Square and I was surprise they were allowed in the trade convention centre.

There were three cops around but I could feel some tension in the air.

The protesters walked to the main area in Market Square and took the stage and began preaching their message via a bullhorn.

I was surprised by this approach and security quickly came to put the matter to an end. The police chatted with the protesters and they seem to come to an agreement.

From there they continued their march to the Library where the Labor Leaders were holding a news conference.

I took a few pictures and met a few people who I haven’t seen for a long time. I took a few pictures for souvenirs.

I left the area because I had to meet someone at 11:30am.

At noon, everyone gathered at King’s Square to plan for their next step.

Myself and David Thompson decided to leave the protesters alone and began walking towards Market Square.

I met a lot of people while walking around. I bumped into media personal Robert Jones, Mike Cameron and others.

They went and asked for a pass to attend the news conference that Kenneth Irving was holding.

I noticed two cops who gave me a very dirty look but I just ignored them. I went to the front desk and asks if I could attend the conference as a blogger?

Sorry, not allowed! I wonder why?..lol...

A few business people shouted at me a Hi Charles!!!

I was maybe hoping to get a picture of me and Kenneth Irving?



He’s one of the Irvings who always been good to me. I like this young Billionaire, he pretty interesting to listen to.

I decided to walked around toward Market Square until I bumped into one of the young female protesters.

I asked her - Where’s are the protesters?

She didn’t know. I noticed convicted thief Carl White walking by and I just turned my head and continue chatting with the young girl.

She was chatting on a radio. The next thing I knew, the protesters showed up at this entrance.

They opened the door and began running like crazy.

One by one they zoomed by me. I didn’t really know what was going on?

I began to take pictures while they ran past me. In the past, I protested on many occasions but not in this style.



They had masks on and where shouting very loud.

I quickly decided to followed them from behind. Hey? I’m sure I could take some good pictures. This could end up being a good blog?



They open an fire exit door and walked in the entrance of the Convention.

If they would have took a right? They would have ended right in the middle of the conference.

They didn’t.

They went right at the main entrance. I took many pictures while following these protesters. There were two cops at the front door and a confrontation took place.



I stayed back and I was clicking away while the mayhem continued.

The media quickly left the conference to witness this showdown.



The Saint John Police < Irving Gestapo > quickly put one of the protesters on the ground.

I continued to take pictures.

I was beside a CBC cameraman until one of the police Irving gestapo singled me out!



Surprise surprise surprise!!!



The young protesters were trying to force their way into the Conference and at the same time the Police singled ((me)) out????

The Officer quickly put my arm behind my back and push me against the wall!



I told the cop that I was an independent Amateur Journalist. I’m not with the protesters!

He got really angry and walked me 20 feet until they forced me on the ground.

You see, only journalists who dedicated their life and soul to the Evil Irving Empire will be considered at true journalist! Sorry...I just had to add that one...lol

I noticed that all the media was filming the Irving gestapo.

Once on the graound I shouted- I’m a Blogger!!!! I WAS TAKING PICTURES!!!

The woman had her knee on the back on my neck. They handcuff me and I was surprised that they didn’t carry me out the front door.



Just like the citizens in France a few years ago. They paraded them in the streets before sending them to the Guillotine.

This time around they carry me through the convention in front of the business people.

I shouted again- What are you doing??? I was taking pictures!!!!

I wanted to attend the conference but not in this style?

It was degrading because I knew a few of them.

Once outside, this undercover cop and the female gestapo read me my rights.

They treated me like dirt and I told them that I don’t understand some English!

Je suis Acadian!!!

Well? That didn’t go over to well because I believe it was at that very moment that they really decided to give me a hard time.

Acadians have been hunted down for years in Saint John and this was no exception.

They drove me to the Police Station. Once there, a cop walked by and said- Hey Charlie!!! Long time no see???

It was a cop that I knew on the streets. I quickly said - In the past, I came here drunk but this is the first time that I’m sober!!! I showed that I had a sense of humor but it didn’t work.

They told me to remove everything from my pockets as well as removing my sneakers and rushed me in a jail cell.

Around 15minutes later, they connected me to a lawyer via an old phone. I couldn’t hear the lawyer.

He shouted that if I couldn’t hear him? It’s no use for him to chat with me.

I told the cops what happen and I expected to be transferred to another phone. But to my surprise that didn’t happen!

They rushed me into the cell and it was only after two hours that I finally got to talk with a lawyer.

I might add that both of the cops were there and the female was very selfish.

I told the other inmates beside me that these cops were racists! They won’t even allow me the right to a lawyer! I really didn’t understand the charge of obstruction?

The female cop said - You want a french lawyer??? We’ll get you one.

I told her to drop it!!! I knew by the tone of her voice that it could take days to find a french lawyer in the Loyalist City!

I had no right to be in the jail cell and I believe that they knew it! I predicted that I would be arrested by the Irving Gestapo and that’s exactly what happen.

Beside me were two protesters from Halifax.

We couldn’t see each other but I felt sorry for them because they had to listen to this ADHD Blogger in the cell and they couldn’t escape....lol....

I noticed that my eye had a little bump so I asked the cop for a bag of ice? I was surprised that the paramedics showed up.

They took my blood pressure and told me that I was in perfect health. I was surprised that my blood pressure was normal after all that excitement. They gave me a bag of ice and left.

This morning, I noticed a lump on the left side of my head and I’m sore all over the place. I’m getting up there in age.

One inmate heard my voice and said - Charles LeBlanc? Is that you???

He was a fan of mine. He always listens to me on talk of the town. I will have a lot to say come Monday morning.

Finally, after a couple of hours, they put me in contact with a french lawyer. He told me that the police will let me go if I signed papers agreeing to certain conditions and restrictions but that I’ll also have to return on July 25th.2006
for a court appearance to answer to obstruction charges

I told the lawyer that I wasn’t one of the protesters.

I was just an innocent bystander taking pictures.

He told me they would let me go
but that wasn’t the case. I’m certain because I demanded my service en Francais? It took the cops 45 minutes to get me out.

They went to each individual in the cell and read them their charge. Each of them were charge with 4 charges.

In my case? It was only obstruction in which I will fight these Irving gestapo real hard.

The Saint John Police Forces < Irving Gestapo > weren’t done with me.

They told me that I wasn’t allowed anywhere in the uptown area ((or)) I would be arrested on the spot! They forced me to sign these papers and If I refused I would stay in jail for a long time until my Court date which would have been until July 25th 2006.

I just wanted to get the hell out of there!!!

The cop asked me - DO YOU WORK??? I mentioned in a soft voice. I work at the Leg!!! ..lol...

He said - WHAT???

I told the cop that everything I got to say?

You’ll hear about it! Trust me!

He shouted- YOU’RE A TROUBLEMAKER!!!! (( Labeled Me))

Yes, the Irving Gestapo were tempting me but I wasn’t going to bite. No way!!!

I got my camera and once outside. I noticed that all my pictures were deleted. Even the ones I took of good friends. All gone!!!!

This is were the theme IRVING GESTAPO came from!

The Gestapo in Germany controled the media and the Saint John Force should have never deleted all my pictures!

I walked out and it was nice to enjoy a smoke.

I will write another blog later on.

Now, I more than anyone knows that I can get things twisted a bit at times but in all honesty the CBC news peace clearly shows that this had absolutely nothing to do with me being connected to these protesters in any way Stay Tuned on this shameful episode.

WILL THE TELEGRAPH JOURNAL BE THE TRUE OLD GERMANY???

irvin-Emp, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

It’s Midnight and I have to blog this story before the Irvings media can shout - STOP THE PRESS!!!!

Will the Irvings crucify me in today's paper?

If the Irvings even mention my name without even interviewing me first?

Well? This goes to show New Brunswickers what their newspapers is like?

We are going to find out if the Irvings are truly an Old Germany style of Newspaper?

I’m bloglling this one at midnight because I believe they cannot stop the press in time!!!!..lol...

Lets watch and see what’s in the Irving morning newspaper about my episode?

I might add that I’m not allowed to write a reprisal!!!

I’m writing every details so stay tune!!

SAINT JOHN POLICE FORCE < IRVING GESTAPO > IN ACTION!!!

Pictures 022, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I'm stress out or just wired up but I must write a blog about this one. Stay tune,,,,

SAINT JOHN POLICE FORCE < IRVING GESTAPO > DELETES ALL EVIDENCE!!!

All my pictures have been deleted from my camera. Is there anyway to retreive them???

SAINT JOHN POLICE FORCE < IRVING GESTAPO > ARREST PROTESTERS AND CHARLES ALSO!!!!

Stay tune for more....I just got out on jail and it's going to be interesting how the media handles it! Watch ATV News tonight....I might add that I have a small black eye!!!!

AGENT ORANGE WEBSITE IS ONE YEAR OLD!!!

spray-orange, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

http://www.agentorangealert.com/forum.html

Happy Birthday www.agentorangealert.com !!!

Today June 9, 2006 is the one year anniversary of the www.agentorangelaert.com website. It has changed my life.


I created this website after the death of my father Owen Connnolly who proudly served 26 years in the Canadian Army Forces.

This website was built to try and make sense of his death. It was built to try and make sense of the premature deaths of my brother and sister and the illnesses of other family members.

I thought perhaps there were other people who lived at CFB Gagetown who might be interested and asking questions as well.

Never could I have imagined the numbers who are interested and have been harmed or affected by the spraying of deadly defoliants at CFB Gagetown New Brunswick.

As of today the website has received 1,471,924 "hits". Hits from around the world.....Canada, United States, Europe, Vietnam, Australia, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The site has been a work in progress and continues to be one.

I have received literally thousands of emails. Not one email has ever criticized the aims of this website nor questioned that the truth is being told here.

Many who have lived at Gagetown have stepped forward and shared their stories, their pain and their fear.

Many who have been nowhere near Gagetown have stepped forward and shared their empathy, compassion and shock that Canada is the first nation in the world to spray its own people.

I have met many, many new friends, definitely a family :) Wonderful friends who have made me cry, laugh, scream in anger and most of all friends who have comforted me in my times of need.

I am referring to an amazing group of people who have made the government have to stop and explain its actions. A group that has formed a non-profit corporation dedicated to helping those harmed at CFB Gagetown and to educating the public.

A group dedicated to finding the truth.
A group dedicated to finding those responsible.
A group dedicated to making those responsible accountable.

I am very proud of the work that has been done and will be proud of the work that will be accomplished.

I am proud to stand beside the people who are searching for the truth. I am proud to call them my friends. I am so very proud to banded with those who WILL continue to DO THE RIGHT THING.

Art Connolly

GATHER AT NOON TODAY IN KING'S SQUARE!!!!

fred, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Lets see what's going to happen? Should be interesting.

The Alternate View of Atlantica!!!

Pictures 005, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

The Alternate View of Atlantica
from Vivelecanada

While pundits keep arguing about the need to 'return to the past' to
solve the maritimes problems, there are many issues they are
neglecting-or
outright lying about.

First, there is little attention to the fact that it was the US
which
cancelled free trade in the 19th century. Currently, they do not talk
about
cancelling NAFTA, mostly because they need our oil, but also because it
seems that any time they simply ignore NAFTA, Canada will capitulate to
their needs. This has been shown with the dangerous addition of MMT to
our
gasoline, softwood, as well as the beef industry. However, the US is
a
finicky trader, so attempting to put 'all the eggs in one basket' is a
dangerous precedent-especially when there is an alternative.

Second, and more importantly, the main reason for the existence of
'Atlantica' is the oft repeated mantra that confederation created an
'unnatural' east-west trade regime to replace the previous north-south
trading routes. This is a complete fabrication, in fact, reality is
completely the opposite. It was freight rates which meant
consolidation of
manufacturing within the five hour stretch between Montreal and
Toronto. It
was also blatant war profiteering that had Canada's Minister of
Industry,
the american CD Howe, close down manufacturing throughout Canada's
hinterland, in favour of purchasing from the US during the second world
war.

Currently, according to statistics canada, 90% of New Brunswick's
trade
is with the US, NOT with Canada. That seems to be a very odd 'east
west'
trade structure.

However, there IS an alternative, namely, the one people have been
discussing for decades, and that is the interprovincial trade barriers.
Currently, it is far easier to trade with the US than it is with
central
canada in many respects. Contrary to popular belief, the main
transportation structure which AIMS is espousing is NOT 'north south'.
It
is simply a more efficient route to central canada. Business has often
complained about Quebec's lack of interest in improving highways in
Quebec,
in particular the road from the New Brunswick border to Riviere Du
Loup.
However, the issue rarely gets serious attention.

Mulroney's closing down of Moncton as a CN Rail hub didn't help
either,
but that was one of the final nails in the coffin for rail
centralization in
the maritimes to central canada. Now, the claim is being made that a
NEW
rail should be set up, one that skirts northern New Brunswick entirely.
The
odd thing is that AIMS claims that this will in fact HELP northern
business.

Now that the Trans Canada has almost been twinned all the way
through
the province, AIMS comes along and claims that it is no longer
necessary, it
is far more 'efficient' to create AIMS and try to get the americans to
build
a super highway that will let industry transport avoid those aspects of
Atlantica where there is no market-no wonder they also want labour
mobility!

So once again this is the same old thing we've heard so many
times
before. How corporations can get goods through the area while paying
for as
little as possible. It's ironic that the main proponents of Atlantica
are
staunchly keen on the idea so as to 'avoid the culture of dependance on
Ottawa', while their first recommendations are to build up
rail/highway/and
ports-all to be paid for by Ottawa.

The alternative referred to above, is to emphasize the 'natural
corridors' which exist in Canada. 'Natural' because they all exist
within
one country. Ontario does little trade with the maritimes, yet all
provinces have energy structure problems to deal with, yet each does it
in
isolation. Ontario incentives in the maritimes could have wind power
all
along the coasts, with excess energy going to Ontario. Likewise, food
issues are becoming an issue due to the massive increase in pollution
and
energy caused by lengthy transit. While southern ontario hasn't the
farming
area for such crops, the maritimes certainly does.

Ontarians have an vested interest in such inter provincial trade.
Unlike the US, equalization means that they have to pay to keep less
successful provinces up to standards. There are also interpersonal
interests, as there are huge numbers of maritimers living in Ontario
and
across Canada with family 'down home'.

These issues haven't even been addressed, primarily because
politicians
have bought into the 'north south' trade routes. Transport
infrastructure
can come in many guises, rebuilding national rail links, high speed
rails,
doubling rails, improving highways, and making interprovincial trade
top
priorities. This leaves Canada less at the whim of US trade
fickleness, it
is also the most constructive way of nation building. AIMS and their
partners talk about spending massive amounts of money in 'lobbying' to
get
redress in the states, if that money were instead used to create
inter-canadian trade and knowledge, perhaps so many people wouldn't be
fearing for Canada's sovereignty.

HEAVY WEEKEND AHEAD?

Pictures 023, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

ATLANTICA PROTESTERS LANDS IN SAINT JOHN!!!

Pictures 022, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Let the games begin.

Once in Saint John??? Ohhh nooo...not you again!!! Daddy moved!!!

Pictures 015, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

EVERYONE WILL HAVE A CAMERA!!! THE IRVINGS WILL BE WATCHING ALSO!!!

Pictures 011, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

ALL ABOARD TOWARDS SAINT JOHN!!!

Pictures 012, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

NOT EVEN CRUTCHES WILL STOP THIS PROTESTER!!!

Pictures 006, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

GETTING EVERYTHING READY FOR SAINT JOHN!!!!

Pictures 003, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

GETTING PREPARE FOR THE WEEKEND!!!!

Pictures 005, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

GETTING READY FOR ATLANTICA!!!!

Pictures 008, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Will it come down to this? I don't think so but who truly knows?

CANADIAN ARMY LOOKING FOR DRUG DEALERS IN FREDERICTON!!!

IMG_3994, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Minutes ago, I heard someone in the alley way. I stretched my arm outside and took this picture. They're lucky that I wasn't a sniper in Afghanistan???

PANHANDLER ASKING FOR MONEY BUT HIDING FROM FREDERICTON POLICE. I WONDER WHY???

IMG_3979, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

ROLAND HACHE IS BACK AT THE NEW BRUNSWICK LEGISLATURE!!!

IMG_3987, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

He's weak but he's ok!!!

IT'S COLD AND WINDY BUT THE PROTESTER IS STILL THERE!!!

IMG_3985, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

CITY BENCHES ARE IN OFFICER'S SQUARE!!!

IMG_3984, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Comments section is now working...

Blogger has been having a lot of problems lately. Maybe it's time to start my own little website? I got people ready to step forward with money to do it but we'll wait and see?

WHY IS BEV HARRISON REFUSING TO FLY THE NEW BRUNSWICK FLAG AT THE OLD COUNTY COURT HOUSE ON QUEEN STREET???

IMG_3922, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

WILL ATLANTICA COME DOWN TO THIS???

ATLANTICA, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I don't believe so because New Brunswickers are pasive people.

I believe that everything will be ok but one thing is certain! I'll be right in the middle of the action with my camera taking pictures.

Stay tune in this blog for hourly updates!

If they don't arrest me first?....lol

HERE PAPER SUPPORTS ATLANTICA!!!! SURPRISE....SURPRISE...SURPRISE...

charlies pics 005, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Sure would have been nice to know how the HERE paper without having the Irvings as the owners would have handle ATLANTICA??? Sigh...We'll never know.....

More Atlantica Stories in HERE (Irving Owned Media)..
--

By Fern Bennett


Atlantica to the rescue...
Maybe yes...maybe no

Atlantica sounds like a city for super heroes, and according to some
that may just be the case. The Atlantica concept rose out of a sense of
injustice for eastern Canadian provinces and northern New England
states
due to economic prosperity coming to other parts of North America, but
eluding them. Its proponents are upset over the status quo and want to
do something about it. They claim that this geographical area's
problems
stem from being forced to trade on an east/west axis instead of a more
natural north/south direction simply because the area is carved up
between two different countries. Moreover, both areas have seen their
governments show greater favour to larger centres, in our case -
Ontario
and Quebec.

The advocates for Atlantica plan to come to our rescue, to bring
abundance and wealth. Sounds so good I could almost hug them. One
aspect
of the solution is to reconnect and strengthen networks between
Canadian
and American sides of Atlantica by proactively jumping on the
international globalization bandwagon, opening new markets on both
sides
of the border. While many business transactions occur over the
Internet,
goods still need to be physically moved from one place to another.
Therefore, the creation of a highway connecting Atlantica on a
north/south axis will enhance trade opportunities.

Moreover, developing the port in Halifax to handle Post-Panamax sized
cargo ships will shave a day's travel off European shipments to and
from
North America, giving this area an advantage. Maritime and Northeast
Pipeline has already forged a connecting network between the two
regions. (A network that takes Canadian resources into America for
production and distribution in the U.S.) Another weakness defined by
Atlantica proponents is what they term "public policy distress
factors,"
which are: 1. Size of government relative to the economy (a measure of
the burden the public sector places on the private economy) 2.
Government employment as a percentage of total state/provincial
employment (a measure of public sector efficiency) 3. Total government
revenue from own sources as a percentage of GDP (a measure of
dependence) 4. Minimum wage legislation (a measure of labour market
flexibility) 5. Union density (a measure of labor market flexibility)
(www.atlantica.org) I don't know about you, but items four and five
make
me very afraid. Not only do I no longer want to hug these supposed
saviours of eastern Canada, but I want to sound the alarm.

Current minimum wage legislation is woefully inadequate; however, it is
better than having no minimum wage at all. Do we really want to be able
to compete with places like China, and India if it means working longer
for less? Lower, or non-existent, wage laws may be a dream for the
business sector, but what about the majority of us who are working for
these businesses?

As for unions, how do we think labour laws favourable to the working
population came to be? It wasn't out of the benevolence of business
owners who decided one day that perhaps, shorter work-days/work-weeks,
higher pay, and benefits would make them sleep better at night.

While there are exceptions to the rule, generally speaking, business is
all about making money for business owners and shareholders. It's not a
holistic approach whereby corporate health and employee health are
accorded the same reverence.

Today, unions may have a bad name as some union leaders identify more
with company and personal interests than their fellow employees' needs.
Moreover, media tend to represent strikes in a negative light whereby
strikers are viewed as rebel rousers threatening the health of the
company. However, if it weren't for unions, where workers collectively
unite and withhold their labor, our working conditions would be more
reflective of sweat shop conditions one sees in the developing world.
It
would be better to band together and demand that their labor conditions
rise up to our standards than to have ours devolve toward theirs.

If you are a business owner you can welcome Atlantica with open arms,
but if you work for someone other than yourself "BEWARE" - the vultures
are hovering. The APCC are hosting a conference in Saint John from June
8-10 called "Reaching Atlantica: Business Without Boundaries."
Concurrently, "Resisting Atlantica" will also take place in Saint John.
Which side will win, has yet to be determined.

In a perfect world, they would both be winners because fair (not free)
trade could produce economic prosperity for both sides of the border,
and employees and business owners could share the benefits of business
prosperity.

One thing for sure, is that we cannot count on our government to step
in
and protect the public's interest, not because the government has
forgotten its role, but because government has been co-opted by
capitalism. Politicians bow to corporate pressures because of favours
owed for financial support, and because they have bought into the myth
that what's good for business is always good for people. Saint John is
in need of superheroes, but only if those heroes regard people as
dearly
as they regard profit.

Comments welcome at: t184u@yahoo.ca

THE IRVINGS ARE BEGINING TO BRAINWASH THE READERS ABOUT ATLANTICA!!!

Picture 028, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

NB Telegraph-Journal | Provincial News
As published on page A1/A2 on June 8, 2006

Atlantica: Back to the future
Vision for new trade bloc harkens to history

Click to zoom (Provincial Archives of New Brunswiick)
Scene at the foot of King Street and Market Slip in Saint John, ca. 1885. The corner building in the foreground is Campbell Berryman’s hardware store. A door or more to one side, James McConnell kept a boot and shoe store.
By David Shipley
Telegraph-Journal

SAINT JOHN - Hundreds of business professionals and bureaucrats gathering in Saint John today will be looking to the past in order to plan for a better economic future for Atlantic Canada and New England.

Together they will be talking about Atlantica, more formally known as the International Northeast Economic Region, an idea which has been on the minds of CEOs, think tanks and to a lesser extent, politicians in the region for more than five years.

Though its name, Atlantica, sounds like a lost exotic city waiting to be discovered, the regional trade bloc concept potentially represents something much more real:

Prosperity, booming economies, growing populations, increased immigration and a renewed sense of hope for the have-not states and provinces of the East Coast.

The ideas sound simple: improving transportation infrastructure to move goods to and from the United States, developing energy policies that will draw commerce and boosting tourism.

But there are challenges and obstacles.

The idea will form the basis for the discussions which will take place during the Reaching Atlantica: Business Without Boundaries conference in Saint John this week. The conference begins tonight with an opening reception and kicks into high gear Friday with sessions geared toward tourism, energy and transportation.

At its core, the Atlantica concept represents a focus on the historic north-south trading relationships which once made New Brunswick and its regional neighbours economic powerhouses.

Advocates of the Atlantica concept argue it will address some of the roots of the economic decline in the East Coast, which can be traced back to the period just prior to Confederation.

Before Confederation, the Reciprocity Act of 1854 created free trade in a host of goods between Canada and the United States, powering the economies of the Maritime provinces and New England states.

Among the goods flowing through the border were grain, flour and breadstuffs, animals, meats, fruit, fish, poultry, tallow, coal and lumber. Between 1854 and 1865, trade between Canada and the United States doubled.

For New Brunswick, the period was a high point for prosperity, with lumber mills fuelling the booming shipbuilding industry in Saint John. The development of rail lines turned Moncton from a rural agriculture-based community to a major shipping hub for the Maritimes.

But protectionist forces in the United States succeeded in killing the act in 1866.

Unable to get a new agreement, the Canadian government led by Sir John A. Macdonald decided to reorient trade from the Maritimes from a North-South axis to an East-West one.

Though the signing of the Free Trade Agreement in 1988, and later NAFTA in 1994, eliminated many of the trade barriers which rose after the end of the Reciprocity Act, the legacy of more than 100 years of transportation infrastructure geared toward east-west trade remained.

While the Atlantica concept looks to the past for examples of the benefits of a north-south trading relationship, it's also looking to the future.

With globalization a reality of the business world, Atlantica as a region is poised to become a crossroads in trade between Asia, Europe and North America.

With a new generation of massive container ships now travelling from Asia through the Suez Canal and over the Atlantic to the east and with overcrowding in major ports such as New York, the port of Halifax is poised to become an eastern gateway for trade.

From Halifax, trade will flow by road, rail, and by sea to smaller ports in the region such as Saint John. From Saint John, goods could travel by improved road links through Maine to the U.S. markets. Goods can also flow through Atlantica to central Canada, making the region a gateway for North America.

Stephen Kymlicka, a policy analyst with the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, said investments in transportation infrastructure will mean hundreds of millions of dollars for the port of Halifax and billions for the entire region.

"For a container to come in and get loaded on a truck or a train is worth about $1,000, when you add all the benefits together. So what we say is that it's not unreasonable for the port of Halifax over the next few years to double its capacity. If they do that, it's an additional $550 million for the economy," he said.

"If we're talking about $100 million (in benefits to the port), we're talking about literally billions for the economy as a whole."

But it's not just the port or big business that will benefit from the Atlantica concept, he said.

"By expanding these corridors, we have multiple options where we don't today. If you're looking at northern New Brunswick, virtually everything goes to Montreal right now. If you have no time constraints, maybe you can put it on a train and in three months later you get something down into lower New England," he said.

"But if you can open a real north-south corridor into Boston, then that opens new markets so all of (companies) that are captive to single buyers in Montreal now have options and can start developing their firms straight across Atlantica."

Atlantica is also a recognition of the growing trade relationship between Atlantic Canada and northern New England.

In a report prepared for the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, Mr. Kymlicka noted more than 15 per cent of Atlantic Canada's foreign trade is with northern New England. That trade grew by more than 19 per cent between 1999 and 2004, while Atlantic Canada's trade with the rest of the world grew by just over seven per cent.

Goods headed to northern New England include footwear, forest products, agricultural products, distribution services, fishing products, and power generation transmission.

In addition to cross-border trade, Atlantic Canadian companies are also making significant investments south of the border. Companies such as Aliant, Emera, Connors Bros., McCain Foods and various enterprises owned by Irving Oil and J.D. Irving, Limited all have a stake in the northern New England market.

Neville Gilfoy, publisher of Progress Magazine, has been one of the most vocal supporters of the Atlantica concept. While the major ports and cities along the transportation corridor from Nova Scotia through New Brunswick and into Maine stand to gain from improved trade access, other businesses will also benefit, Mr. Gilfoy said.

At its core, Atlantica is about Canadians and Americans working together to compete in a globalized market, he said.

"That's what Atlantica is - American companies partnering with francophone-owned companies in New Brunswick to do business in Germany and actually take a bigger chunk of global market share," he said.

Anthony T. Eyton, a former senior federal government bureaucrat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and now a trade consultant, said while Atlantica was an interesting concept, a major hurdle for it will be finding money to pay for transportation infrastructure upgrades.

"The amount of investment involved in improving infrastructure is quite enormous and is enormous in the context of the size of the economies of Atlantic Canada and the northeastern United States," he said.

"Those are big expenditures of tax dollars."

Mr. Eyton said Atlantica will be worthwhile even if all it accomplishes is closer ties between the Atlantic provinces.

"The individual economies of the four provinces of Atlantic Canada are so small that they do not have economies of scale, but together they would have."

Tomorrow: The ties that bind - how improved transportation links will bolster the region.

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