39 – Charlotte – Campobello
My name is John Craig, I have been working in the retail grocery industry for 30 years. During that time I have served 8 years as a volunteer firefighter, coached basketball teams, served on a local community channel board, 3 years as a Town Councillor, 3 years as a Public Safety Chairman, and currently serving my 3rd term (9th year) as Mayor of Saint Andrews.
I am married to Debbie (Carson) for the last 27 years and we have two daughters – Christine, age 20 and Sarah age 14. I am a family man who knows what it takes to bring up a family in Charlotte County. I know what it is like to work hard for family and community.
During my time as Mayor we have never raised the tax rate because we learned to live within our means. Raising taxes not only hurts those on fixed incomes and small families but those businesses trying to stay in business. Lately the Liberal Government has not ruled out the idea of raising the HST as they did in Nova Scotia and the Conservatives would do the same.
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As a PANB Candidate in the September 27th Provincial election in the riding of Charlotte Campobello I wish to continue to state where I stand on issues. I also wish to challenge the other candidates where they stand on these and others.
One area that is important not only to our riding, but the entire province is that of the user fee on the New Brunswick Ambulance service. I believe that this fee should be removed so that people will decide to call an ambulance when they are not feeling well. This is much better than dying in their homes because they simply cannot afford the service. Another justification is so that people will not attempt to drive themselves to the hospital further endangering themselves and those on the road to a major accident. Furthermore, an untrained relative being asked to drive would very likely be upset and nervous to do a job of professional EMT.
If the Provincial Government needs to impose a fee because of the misuse of the service then there has to be alternatives. One of those options could be granting everyone in the province 2 free calls per person per year. Most people would certainly not use the service at all during the year. Granting two will most certainly cut out the nuisance calls.
This Ambulance fee has to be revisited because it is the right thing to do for all the people of this province. People’s lives are at stake. Let’s make this a priority now because every life is important and precious.
After travelling around the riding of Charlotte Campobello , I learned many of the concerns of citizens in the riding.
It’s not if Campobello gets its year-round ferry, but rather when. The study the province is funding is a good first step. From the preferred option or options, the mayor and council can begin to petition their MLA and MP to acquire this year-round service.
This service must be subsidized by the provincial and federal governments in order for residents to be able to afford to travel as they do in Deer Island.
For residents to travel in their own country, they have to travel through the U.S.A., essentially isolating them. Campobello needs to have the opportunity to survive and as a nation we need them to survive. We have to get all levels of government to stop turning their back on a beautiful part of our province and to understand that Campobello needs our help and needs it now!
My message to the American LNG companies -y ou have received the position of Canada from its highest office- Our Prime Minister – and our Ambassador to the US who has restated that position to the new administration in Washington DC. It is time for you to respect our Nation, our Nation’s leaders and to withdraw your projects. You will never get the opportunity to destroy Passamaquoddy Bay!
Head Harbour Passage and Passamaquoddy Bay is off limits to Liquefied Natural Gas and our Government will ensure that this area remains safe, protected and most of all sovereign waters. This area is not only risky and dangerous for navigation but most importantly these are vital-internal,Canadian waters that are the foundation of our society!! As a PANB MLA I will continue the fight against this major threat to our economy, our environment, our way of life, our children’s future and especially our existence.
I ask for your support to help make a difference in NB- it is time for the people to finally have a voice in our province’s future.
Keep the watch John. What is publicized out of Ottawa and what is verbalized behind closed doors may be completely at odds with each other. What was initiated by moron balogna has been run amok. Lets buy back and keep Canada’s sovereignty. I, for one, have no desire to be part of an corperate ‘New England Corridor’