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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Fee For Ambulance Starts Today

The fee for using an ambulance is going to effect today.
As outlined in the 2009-10 budget, from now on it will cost $130 dollars to take a ride in an ambulance.
Former Health Minister Mike Murphy said the fee was being put back into place after the conservatives removed in 2005 because people were abusing the service----using it like a taxi.
Opposition MLA's are concerned about how this fee will affect seniors and low income families.
The social development office will need to budget for those who cannot afford to pay the fee.
The Graham government is expecting nearly $6 million dollars annually from reintroducing the charge.

Canada Day Festivities


[Flea Market Uptown-----Photo by Dave Briggs]

Flea Market and a people parade........just two of the events to highlight an activity filled day to celebrate the country's birthday in Saint John. The boardwalk has plenty for the entire family including a giant bounce ride for the children, basketball, and sidewalk chalk competition. The people parade gets started at eleven on King Street and finishes up with the flag raising ceremony at City Hall.
If it rains, the events will be moved inside to the Trade and Convention Center. Quispamsis, Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfield, St. Martins and the all of the outlying municipalities have plenty on the go as well. For details, check their websites. As for the fireworks in Saint John tonight.....they are go at 10:15pm unless the fog rolls in.

Busy Night for Police

No problem keeping busy for city police last night responding to over 80 calls last night.Just before four in the morning police picked up a man in his late thirties acting drunk and obnoxious.They brought him into the station to sober up a bit, and released him, only to pick him back up nearly 20 minutes later for kicking in a window at the Trade and Convention Centre at Market Square.He will be in front of a judge at a later date.
Police also arrested a man for kicking in a window at Prince Edward Square, who will also be facing a judge later on.
There was also a fist fight on King Street that resulted in a man in his 40's breaking the tooth of a man in his 20's.The man was picked up on Union Street shortly after the fight and will be facing charges of assault causing bodily harm.

National Pride on the Rise

National pride among Saint Johners appears to be on the rise. Heather Peterson with the Canada Day Organizing Committee says more people are turning out for events that celebrate the nation's birthday. She tells CHSJ news celebrating Canada Day matters--whether you're at home with family or in the uptown with thousands of others:
Peterson says there are a lot of people who would love to move to Canada.

Parking Rates Increase Today

It takes effect today but because of the holiday, you won't have to worry about having more change to park in the uptown until tomorrow. Common council gave final approval two weeks ago for a 25 cent increase for on-street parking fees to land at $1.50 an hour. An expired parking meter fine will also go from ten dollars to fifteen bucks if paid within 7 days and a ticket for parking in a handicap, loading or bus zone will go from 35 dollars to 50 dollars.
This is the first parking fee increase in five years.

The Future of the Waterfront to be Presented

The final idea of what the development at the boardwalk will be presented to the Planning Advisory Committee early this fall.The anticipated timeline for the project will be presented at the September 15th PAC meeting to determine whether the project meets all the criteria set forth by the city.Members of the PAC will get 11 days to review the project, rather than the normal 3 because the project is so large.