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speakup

This is an open letter I have sent to Premier Graham, Ministers Lamrock, Murphy and Burke:

Dear Sirs, I, like many others, have voted Liberal all my life.

I am not currently a member of the Liberal party, although I was previously, because I concluded that I did not want to affiliate myself so permanently with the political machine, such as it is.

I favour maintaining my independence and ability to express my opinions without the chokehold that is part and parcel of party affiliation.

However Liberal values have always best reflected my own, although not perfectly.

I am one of many such citizens who, in the days since Friday’s announcement, has publicly stated that I will not vote for this Liberal government and I will work tirelessly to convince others that you do not deserve the vote of our citizenry.

If citizens could take down a government over highway tolls, so help me, we can take down your government over the elimination of Early French Immersion.

This is not about people being uninformed, misguided and emotionally attached to an educational program over another, as Mr. Lamrock and his minions have attempted to characterize such parents and citizens who have already spoken out against this plan.

This is about doing the right thing, long term, for our children and our province.

This is about the government eliminating proven choices for parents and families and imposing one-size-fits-all solutions that are not designed to meet the stated goals.

This is about the government basing its decisions on sound information and expertise, and when it doesn’t, its members are not fit to govern.

You do not even know the volume of voting citizens who have already started to rally together to bring our message to you, our elected representatives. You represent us, we do not serve you.

I believe you will see, Mr.

Graham, and others, how your lack of leadership and your refusal to speak publicly about your views on this issue will affect you politically.

Mr. Lamrock, you and your friends in government should be ashamed that you have not exercised due diligence in making this decision.

The fact that you based your decision on this absurdly ill-prepared and poorly written report that many of you have clearly not even read, and have wholly adopted its recommendations, is something that all New Brunswickers need to know, no matter how they feel about the actual decision itself. Whether or not one supports the decision you made, Mr. Lamrock, the public needs to be aware that you did it based on such a bogus document as this report.

So far, I have appreciated the efforts of you, Mrs. Murphy and Burke, as relates to your respective portfolios.

Sadly, that is not enough to counterbalance the devastating effects of Mr. Lamrock’s decision.

This is your collective responsibility and you shall be held collectively accountable.

Alison Ménard