Grand Falls courthouse closure done deal, says Chuck Chiasson

Liberal MLA Chuck Chiasson sayshe's not going to fighthis government's plan to close the Grand Falls courthouse in his riding ofVictoria-La Valle.

The mayor of Grand Falls has floated the idea of having local businesses build a new courthouse,butChiassonsays the decision is done and it's time to move on.

Chiasson, a first-time MLA, says he lobbied against the courthouse closure in caucus, but willfocus now on future decisions for the community.

The Grand Falls courthouse is one of four the Liberals are closing this fall.

Theones in St. Stephen, Grand Manan and Sussex will be merged with the Saint John Law Courts, while the one inGrand Falls will be merged with the Edmundston court.

Progressive ConservativeMLA Brian Keirsteadhas described theclosures asan attack on rural areas.

"This moves services further away from ordinary New Brunswickers in rural communities," Keirstead said in the legislature.

Chiassonsayshe expects toget an earful at home this weekend about theGrand Falls closureand believesopponents will attack him in the next election.

But he notes Grand Falls hasn't been singled out.

"We've taken a balanced approach and we've been fair, and the cuts and the pain have been pretty evenly distributed across all parties and across all ridings."

On the other hand, Chiasson says hehopes this hit will be offset by future Liberal spending decisions.

"My riding and my people were impacted,and hopefully that will be part of the conversation as we move forward."