Noise and the St. Hubert airport

Noise management at the St-Hubert airport… I recall some facts in this letter published on 17 March 2011.

A random survey that pours oil on the fire…

Not a month after the Quebec Superior Court rendered its judgement (February 18th, 2011) and confirmed that DASH-L had the power of recourse to regulations to limit the noise from flying schools (thus validating the recommendations of the Flanagan report), the MP for St-Bruno/St-Hubert, Carole Lavallee, decided to take a survey and pour oil on the fire. This survey, improvised solely to hasten the development of the airport, would bring to nothing the laborious efforts of citizens who have legitimately mobilized to express their complaints and try to find a route to a solution.

Is it not surprising that an MP would thus discredit the claims of people who have won their case before an impartial judge? The scene had been set for DASH-L (the real manager of airport operations and development) to take on its task conscientiously while respecting the concerns of those living around the airport. The signal sent by this judgement called for respect for citizens. The Bloc MP is trying to wreck everything by pulling out figures that can only be divisive when we should be looking for a consensus. While taking fully into account the technical, economic, social and environmental (noise pollution) issues, it is necessary to encourage frank and open discussion between the parties in order to reach the best decision. Considering the complexity of this question involving a very large number of people (including the entire citizenry, for sure), we might expect initiatives that are much more constructive and certainly more conciliatory on the part of an MP.

If job creation is the main objective of the St. Hubert airport development, why do the Bloc MPs fail to support the F-35 fighter program and thus turn their backs on thousands of workers and their families who count on these jobs in this period of economic recovery? The aerospace industry is a shining light in the Quebec economy. This is the only place in the world where all the components of aircraft construction can be obtained. Gilles Labbe, president of Heroux-Devtak, said on Jan. 14th that the fighter program would open up unprecedented procurement opportunities for Canadian firms, ensuring work and benefits for 30 years to come.

No one would ever think of closing the airport or abating the noise as a solution. Putting the issue in such simplistic terms is offensive to the 2,250 people who signed the petition (more than the 602 who replied to the random survey and may live some distance from the airport). The MP for St-Bruno/St-Hubert, who is taking superficial studies as a guide, is a good example of Bloc MPs who can allow themselves to say whatever they please without being called to account. But poking fun at public opinion in this way can be a dangerous game.

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Budget rejected

A VERY SENSIBLE BUDGET REJECTED! WHY?

Letter (not yet published) that I wrote and sent to newspapers on 28 March, 2011.

As a responsible manager and informed economist, Prime Minister Harper introduced, on March 22nd, a very sensible budget designed to assure us of a full economic recovery in the midst of worldwide instability.

The people of St-Bruno/St-Hubert know as well as anyone how important it is to pass a healthy economy and public finances on to our children. The opposition parties opposed a budget that would have reduced the deficit from $55.6 billion in 2009-10 to $1.7 billion in 2014-15.

Rather than undertake costly expenditures, the Conservative government presented a budget containing a multitude of measures that were good for families, good for the economy and good for all regions of Quebec.

By rejecting the budget the opposition parties blocked the next phase of the economic action plan, a plan that would enable Canada, the last to fall into the global recession, to be the first to come out stronger and more solid.

While the Canadian economy is the envy of the world, this is not the time to compromise our economic recovery with expenses we should not undertake. It is time for the people of St-Bruno/St-Hubert to empower their riding by electing a Conservative MP who will be in the seats of the decision-makers.

Une bonne nouvelle pour les familles…

Lettre (non encore publiée) que j’ai écrite et envoyée aux journaux le 31 mars 2011

Après avoir appliqué l’excellent principe du fractionnement du revenu des personnes retraitées (2007), le Parti Conservateur, s’il est réélu, poursuivra dans la même direction avec le fractionnement du revenu familial. En effet, dès que le budget sera équilibré, les couples avec enfants à charge de moins de 18 ans pourront partager jusqu’à 50 000 $ de leur revenu familial aux fins de l’imposition fédérale. Cette mesure offrira une baisse d’impôt (évaluée en moyenne à 1 300 $ par année) à 1,8 million de familles.

Les familles vivent des situations très diverses et le Parti conservateur comprend que les solutions doivent l’être tout autant. Le régime fiscal actuel défavorise nos familles qui devraient pouvoir partager non seulement leurs dépenses mais aussi leurs revenus.

Alors que le chef du Parti Libéral propose de s’ingérer dans les champs de compétence provinciaux et d’imposer une solution unique aux familles canadiennes, le Parti Conservateur croit sincèrement que les familles sont les seules à savoir ce qui est bon pour eux et bon pour leurs enfants.

C’est pourquoi un gouvernement Conservateur s’engagera à redonner l’argent aux familles de toutes les régions du Québec afin qu’elles puissent continuer à élever leur famille de la manière qui leur plaît.