John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2001

Letters to the Editor
Telegraph Journal
P.O. Box 2350
210 Crown Street
Saint John, N.B. E2L 3V8

Dear Editor:

Re: Judge will rule in Peacemakers case May 18, March 14, 2001

It is unfortunate that the so-called "Christian Peacemakers" have chosen to misrepresent the November 1999 Marshall decision of the Supreme Court of Canada and to forget some of their own story.

Much is said of the work of the Christian Peacemakers amongst those who would fish illegally, but none of their work amongst regular commercial fishermen who are now being marginalized and pushed out of the fishery.

Father Holmes mentions that Jesus spent time finding ways to promote justice outside the legal framework of his time and place. While I would not wish to quarrel with Father Holmes, I would remind him that Jesus also liked to hang out with the local law-abiding commercial fishermen of his day and on at least one occasion helped out with the fishing. He even advised his followers to behave like fishermen.

Therefore, I am a little surprised that the Christian Peacemakers haven't taken a little time to hang out with the hard-working commercial fishermen in Miramichi Bay, Malpeque Bay and St. Mary's Bay.

Yours sincerely,

John Cummins

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For more information, please contact:

John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957
(613) 970-0937 (Cell)