News

  • Subsidies Needed for Low Income Families to Ensure Universal Access to the New Brunswick Drug Plan

    Posted by · December 11, 2013 12:00 PM

    11 DECEMBER 2013

    The Green Party welcomes the introduction of the New Brunswick Drug Plan to ensure New Brunswickers can afford the drugs they need, when they need them.   However, Green Party Leader David Coon expressed concern that the initial phase of the Drug Plan will be too costly for low income New Brunswickers to participate.

    "I urge the Minister of Health to enact a regulation as soon as Bill 27 becomes law, to ensure that low income families can obtain a subsidy for premiums and co-payments if they cannot afford them," said David Coon, Green Party Leader.

     

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  • We Can't Grow Our Way Out of Debt

    Posted by · December 09, 2013 12:00 PM

    The Green Party says that New Brunswick's spiralling debt highlighted in the Auditor General's report should be a reality check for New Brunswickers and political leaders alike.

    "The numbers in Ms. MacPherson's annual report reflect the reality that we live in an era of slow growth. Our governments have refused to recognize this fact over the last decade," said David Coon, Leader of the Green Party.

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  • On the Passing of Nelson Mandela: Statement from David Coon

    Posted by · December 06, 2013 12:00 PM

    06 DECEMBER 2013

    FREDERICTON: In recognition of the passing of Nelson Mandela, David Coon, Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick released the following statement:

    "Nelson Mandela showed the world that love and hope can triumph over hate and despair, with the power to alter the destiny of an entire nation.   He was an inspiration to billions of people around our precious beautiful planet because he spoke to our shared humanity. How we live our lives matters to everyone. He made us truly feel like members of one human family. The struggle for justice in South Africa was our struggle. The pursuit of freedom from oppression is ours to pursue. The defeat of fear is ours to achieve. The power of love is ours to summon, and the triumph of hope is ours to grasp. If we remember these things, we shall never forget Mandela."

  • Petition Calls for Referendum on Electoral Reform ≈

    Posted by · December 03, 2013 12:00 PM

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  • "Students for Democracy" launch petition for a more proportional voting system

    Posted by · November 15, 2013 12:00 PM

    15 NOVEMBER 2013

    Students at St. Thomas University are collecting names on a petition calling for electoral reform in New Brunswick.

    Matthew Belyea and Amanda Gallant, both social work students at St. Thomas University and founders of Students for Democracy in NB, say that our current first-past-the-post system is not accurately reflecting the will of voters. “The process by which our votes are translated into representative seats is not proportional, and that’s an injustice to the voting population,” says Belyea.

    “If we want to see change in other areas of our life, we need to change how we are represented” says Gallant. “We are targeting youth and students, but we are by no means limiting this initiative to that demographic. This affects all of us.”

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  • Green Party Leader Wants Free Vote on Shale Gas

    Posted by · October 24, 2013 12:00 PM

    24 OCTOBER 2013

    New Brunswick's Green Party Leader David Coon wants a free vote on suspending shale gas licenses when the Legislative Assembly resumes sitting in two weeks.

    "I want to see the representatives of the people in this province consult their constituents, search their consciences, and freely vote on suspending the licenses government has issued for shale gas exploration," said Coon.   "It is vital that each Member of the Legislative Assembly stand and be counted on this issue, unscripted by their Party and bearing no obligation to vote with their Party," said Coon.

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  • Greens Ask Ombudsman to Launch a Public Inquiry into the Events of October 17.

    Posted by · October 22, 2013 12:00 PM

    22 OCTOBER 2013

    The Green Party is calling for a public inquiry into the events of Thursday October 17 at the shale gas protest site outside of Rexton.

    "October 17th was a dark day for New Brunswick. The only way to clear the air and get to the truth amid all of the accusations and innuendo is through a public inquiry. I have written the Ombudsman, Mr. Charles Murray, requesting that he launch an inquiry as soon as possible," said David Coon, Green Party leader.

    The Ombudsman's mandate is to investigate complaints against administrative decisions and acts of officials of the NB government, agencies or organizations, and any of the municipalities of the province to determine if the decisions or actions were unreasonable, unjust, oppressive or discriminatory, or made under a mistake of law or fact, or contrary to law or by an abuse of discretion.

    "Violence by any party is never an acceptable way of resolving a dispute. New Brunswickers need to know what happened and why," said Coon.

     

  • Green Party Leader Wants Premier to Call Emergency Meeting with First Nations

    Posted by · October 18, 2013 12:00 PM

    18 OCTOBER 2013

    The Green Party of New Brunswick is calling on Premier David Alward to immediately hold an emergency meeting with the elected and traditional leadership of all First Nations in New Brunswick following the RCMP assault on what had been a peaceful protest against fracking near Rexton.

    Green Party Leader David Coon wrote the Premier two weeks ago urging him to meet with the leadership of Elsipogtog. In his letter, Coon wrote that Elispogtog's decision to assert its stewardship over the surrounding Crown lands presented an opportunity for the Premier to begin a new relationship with First Nations in New Brunswick.

     

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  • Dear Premier Alward

    Posted by · October 04, 2013 12:00 PM

    04 OCTOBER 2013

    Dear Premier Alward:

    In the wake of the resolution of Elsipogtog's Chief and Council to reclaim their stewardship over all unoccupied Crown land in the Signigtog district of the traditional territories of the Mi'kmaq, I am writing to urge you to meet with Chief Arren Sock and his Council at the earliest possible time.

    The provincial government has maintained its relationship with First Nations is one of government to government. As you know, First Nations in New Brunswick have always maintained that Crown lands are lands that are held in trust by the Crown on their behalf since they were never ceded by treaty. However, at the same time, the Government of New Brunswick treats these lands as its own.

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  • Elizabeth May's Save Democracy Tour Comes to New Brunswick Thursday 23 SEPTEMBER 2013

    Posted by · September 23, 2013 12:00 PM