Masters in Our Own House

Day 569, 08:27 Published in Canada Canada by Rigour6

"I was elected to govern New Brunswick. Nobody ever said I had to live there." - Richard Hatfield

Richard's famous quote (the true author may have been Dalton Camp) was designed to deflect criticism for his travel, ostensibly making contacts for New Brunswick, but in hindsight I think we all understand RBH left enough room in the schedule to dance at Studio 54. All work and no play etc.

But Richard WAS a New Brunswicker, through and through, and nobody could ever say he didn't love this place and want what was best for it and its people overall.

Spem Reduxit is on record as having no argument with NBers seeking travel and work opportunities abroad. Our goal instead is to create those opportunities at home. We do not expect government to be the agent of this change. We demand that it not be a hindrance. We would be delighted if it was a partner.

Nor do we wish to criticize individuals specifically. We do not know the representatives of our province in Parliament and we have no reason to suppose them as other than honourable, self-less men. That said, the practice of absentee representatives is an affront to versimilitude, a violation of fundamental principles of democracy, and can scarcely be other than a hindrance to the future prosperity and viability of those territories so shackled.

While this is an acutely Maritime problem, it is by no means restricted to us and is indeed the common disease of all territories with low quality health care (See Spem Reduxit Vol 1, No. , "Where to Live in Canada"). Nova Scotia, with its strategic significance, is well served and indeed the Prime Minister himself holds his wildcard seat there. But in the "have not" provinces (NB, PEI, Nfld, Sask, NWT, Yukon) only 3 of 10 representatives makes their home in the territory they represent - and one of those, hilariously, is a member of the Parti Quebecois.

As with all matters, Spem Reduxit feels that the solutions for New Brunswick must be found within New Brunswick. It is surely a truism that one works most for one's own home. Accordingly, Spem Reduxit will consistently and repeatedly call on eNBers to vote solely for candidate who live in our fair province, and asks them to be prepared to be courageous in crossing party lines to ensure that this principle of democratic representation is respected.

As a final clarification, we wish to make it clear that this should not be a matter of jingoistic confusion. One's residence outside the eworld is not at issue, and if our province wishes a bright future it must welcome both immigrant and e-immigrant alike. Nor is this an invective against temporary and needed foreign travel. However, while we would allow and accept foreign travel by our respresentatives, we would not be satisfied by "tourist" candidates, who jump in for the campaign and depart immediately afterwards with the spoils. Finally Spem Reduxit can even contemplate situations where history require our province be generous in providing a seat for a national figure, as we did for a certain Monsieur Chretien in the past. However, the practice of absentee governorship is an abomination and an affront. Spem Reduxit asks its readership to keep it in mind as elections approach. We shall be vigilant.

SR vol 1 number 3
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