******* again, in the Maritimes -- LNG & $$$

Democracy in the US actually encourages dissent and moneymaking. Companies court . . . while in NB, powerful businesses demand, threaten and . . . well, read all about one example.

Protest building in N.B. to proposed LNG facilities -- "Developers are already offering local communities in Maine millions of dollars in incentives to allow the LNG plants to go ahead.

That's in marked contrast to the situation in New Brunswick where Irving Oil demanded tax concessions" Chris Morris, Aug. 22, 05

How does delicately put this . . . other than scr**** again in the Maritimes?

ST. ANDREWS, N.B. (CP) - Growing opposition to proposals for liquified natural gas projects in Maine could fuel a fight between Canada and the United States over access to the pristine waters off southern New Brunswick.

Two companies are looking to build LNG facilities . . . .

Greg Thompson, the Conservative MP for southwest New Brunswick, has called on the Canadian government to refuse the supertankers access to the tricky Canadian waters leading into the [Passamaquoddy] bay. [. . . . ]

There is only one overriding fact of life you have to know about NB; there is one family who always get what they want. You know, the port facilities built supposedly for the orimulsion from Venezuela, which included an LOU but NO written contract, $35-million taxpayer dollars toward the port facilities for the import of the orimulsion which will not be coming to NB and, by golly, guess who can use that port for LNG? Why, what a piece of luck! The port won't go to waste. The same family wrangled a massive tax concession out of St. John City council so it wouldn't take its LNG ball and go elsewhere to play, at least so I assume, since it was a quickly handled done deal before the good citizenry knew much about it. Other businesses will pay more. Now, you know all you need to know about business in NB . . . oh, except for the fact that, if you need $$$, speak with MP Andy Scott and ask about an ACOA grant. Suggestion: Find out first what Liberals you might bring onto your team. Oh, they're already there? How fortunate! But what do I know? Just guessing. Still, it makes sense considering past government "business" loans / grants / forgiveable loans to largely Lib-friendly firms in the Maritimes.

Oh, and why am I writing this when you should be able to read it in the NB newspapers? Why, because this same family owns most, if not all, the newspapers and so I've been told, most of the radio/TV stations, too. Check.

Owning most of the media outlets in NB means never having to say you're sorry. NJC

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