Dear Editor,
In regards to your letter from Liberal Party candidate, Jati Sidhu ('Voters need to be aware of electoral boundary changes', June 4). First of all I would like to thank Mr. Sidhu for pointing out that the electoral boundaries have changed, and the very good people of Agassiz, will now be voting in the new Electoral District, of Mission/Matsqui/Fraser Canyon.
Perhaps, more importantly, one should know that because of the newly passed bill, "The Fair Elections Act", that not only do voters have to be registered with Elections Canada, ahead of time, you will also be required to produce two pieces of ID at your local voting station.
As well, because of this newly passed piece of legislation, a great many voters have been taken off the voters list, and will have to register again, in order to cast their ballot. I would recommend that all voters check with Elections Canada, and make sure they are on the list, or you won't be able to vote come Oct.19.
Also, I find it ironic that Mr. Sidhu, and his Liberal Party, supported the Harper Conservatives, with the Foreign Investment Protection Act(FIPA), which gives China and the whole of Southeast Asia unchallengeable rights to all our mineral resources and energy stocks for a minimum of 31 years. Not only is this contrary to promoting local economic development and job creation, it depletes our competitiveness in primary and secondary manufacturing, and actually exports jobs out of the country.
If this isn't bad enough, Mr. Sidhu and his Liberal Party also supported the Conservatives, European Trade Agreement, which will decimate farmers in the Fraser Valley, especially in the Dairy sector. There is no possible way the Dairy Farmers in the Fraser Valley can compete with the highly subsidized mega farms in Germany and France. This will inevitably destroy the secondary manufacturing of dairy products in Canada as well as the Fraser Valley.
Other than that, I would like to wish Mr. Sidhu good luck and all the best in the upcoming Federal election, and look forward to all the debates and challenges put forth.
Art Green, Candidate
Green Party of Canada
Mission/Matsqui/Fraser Canyon