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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Official Opening of the Canaport LNG Terminal



The Canaport liquefied natural gas facility has officially opened it's doors.  CEO and Chairman of Repsol Antonio Brufau says the opening of this facility is a significant milestone for his company. Brufau says the Canaport LNG terminal is largest industrial investment ever made by a Spanish company to Canada.

The facility is the first LNG terminal in Canada, and is the only one built in the last 30 years on the North East.

Province Offers to Expand Blood Service Centre in Saint John













[Premier Graham During Media Scrum----Photo by Dave Briggs]

The provincial government is willing to front the bill to expand the Canadian Blood Services facility in Saint John.
Premier Shawn Graham says CBS indicated it needs a 50 thousand square foot facility in Halifax, compared to the 40 thousand square feet in the city.
Graham says Saint John is the perfect centralized location for a blood services centre.
Graham says the exact cost of the expansion is not known at the moment, but the offer is on the table.

The Ribbon Cutting For Saint John Transit's First Articulated Bus




The Saint John Transit Commission has unveiled it's first articulated bus. General Manager Frank McCarey says the accordion-style bus will be used to transport passengers from Hampton to Saint John, and the second one will service Quispamsis.

McCarey says he is expecting the accordian style bus will be on the road by mid-October, and the city transit will receive the second bus in about 10 days. He says during times when the bus isn't needed for the two Comex routes it will be utilized in other areas.

Moose Warning from City Police











(Photo Courtesy of DNR)
With the start of moose season, City Police are warning motorists about the increase in wildlife on the roads.

Between September and November, there is an increase in accidents involving deer and moose.
The traffic division is asking motorists to be aware of the hazards with peak times being morning and evening.

Money for Provincial Trails and ATV Clubs

Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore announced funding today for local trails and recreation groups.


The announcement in Hampton of more than 43,000 dollars will be used to rehabilitate 31 kilometres of approved ATV trails between St. Martins and Hanford Brook.


Another part of the project will see signs placed along the trails and three culverts installed to allow proper water drainage.

Ottawa's contribution is just over 19, 000 dollars and the release stated that the federal funding is a result of the hard work and support of the Saint John ATV Club and the New Brunswick ATV Federation.

New Doctor for Trauma System



(Photo Courtesy of GNB Web-Site)

There is a new doctor coming to Saint John. Dr. Marcel Martin, a general and trauma surgeon from Quebec, has been named the medical director of the new provincial trauma program for the Province. Martin will be based here in Saint John, but his role will be provincial, so he will be on the road a lot.


Provincial Government representatives says the hiring of Dr. Martin is a huge step forward toward setting up a province-wide trauma network.

Search on for Missing Man


(Photo courtesy of RCMP)

RCMP in Manitoba is asking for your help in locating Christopher Parlow. He was last seen on September 5 and has not been in contact with family, friends or co-workers since September 9. He is 48 years old, 5"10" and weighs 300lbs. Officers think he is driving a grey 2006 Ford Fusion, Manitoba licence plate DTX 117.


Based on information from police they believe Parlow may be heading here to Saint John. You can go to our website and check out a photo of Parlow and if you see him, contact RCMP or crime-stoppers.

Coyotes in Quinton Heights

First it was bears and now home-owners in Quinton Heights are being plagued with coyotes. A caller to our 648-3000 news-line tells us they have been seen and heard howling through the neighbourhood in recent days. Gary Moore is a regional biologist with the Department of Natural Resources and tells CHSJ News, it's not unusual that the animals are on the move like they are every fall.

Moore says coyotes have a reputation of being afraid of people but it's good practice to not leave garbage lying around and keep an eye on your pets.

Fire Destroys Home in Canal

Fire has destroyed a home in Canal, just a few kilometres north of St. George earlier this morning. A man and woman escaped the flames with no injuries. Still no word on what sparked the blaze.

The Red Cross tells us so far this year, there have been over 300 significant fires where people have been permanently or temporarily displaced from their houses or apartments throughout Atlantic Canada. 12 people have been killed in house fires so far this year.

Provincial Greens Have a New Leader

The Provincial Green Party has a new leader and his name will ring familiar to those in Saint John. Jack McDougall captured the title by acclamation at the end of the leadership nomination period. He has been serving as advisor to the parties executive council and tells CHSJ News, the party felt it needed someone to lead with experience and organization.

McDougall admits he is not the best person to lead the party into the future since he is unilingual and has never been elected to public office, but his experience in grassroots organizing in both politics and community campaigns gives the party a great edge.

Moose Hunting Season Underway
















(Photo Submitted by a Listener)

Don't be suprised if you see a lot of people wearing hunters orange over the next three days. Today marks the opening of moose hunting season around the Province and 3000 people this year are eligible to bag a swamp donkey. Over 50,000 hunters apply for the computerized draw in the summer.

Officials with the Department of Natural Resources remind all hunters to be safe in the woods and respect your fellow hunters. They also remind all that once you bag a moose, you must take the entire animal to a Natural Resources Office or tagging station. The office in Welsofrd tells our news-room that a woman from Fredericton has bagged a bull. She was in to register just after 9:30am this morning.

Gas Prices Hold Steady









The price of gasoline is about the same as yesterday as the Energy and Utilities Board releases its weekly price schedule. The maximum price for regular self-serve gas is 94.5 --plus a possible two cent delivery charge. That's down from 94.6 last week.

Diesel fuel has gone up just over a penny to land at 98.3, furnace oil has climbed two pennies to 83 cents a litre, and propane has also gone up two cents to rest at 98.8.

Food Basket Cuts Ribbon on New Cold Storage

The Saint John Community Food Basket has officially cut the ribbon on its new cold storage facility at the port. Thanks to donations from businesses and the public, the food bank has a 43-foot refrigerated trailer and a 20-foot refrigerated shipping container on land provided by the Saint John Port Authority at its Lower Cove Terminal.

The food basket receives large quantities of frozen food from McCain Foods Limited and a cold storage is considered essential to being able to provide the frozen goodies to families and individuals. The refrigerated trailer has been donated by GE Trailer Fleet Services.

MP's Host Food Bank BBQ

The KV Food Bank is getting a boost today as the MP's for Saint John and Fundy Royal host a free BBQ to collect non-perishable food items. There will be face-painting and music by local musician Dan Cyr from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at the Meenan’s Cove Park – Beach House.

Eco Salmon Featured on Algonquin Menu

There is something new on the menu at the Algonquin Hotel in St Andrews. Cooke Aguaculture and the hotel restaurant have team up to serve Certified Eco Label Salmon. CEO Glen Cooke says they are hoping to have their product in as many restaurants in Atlantic Canada as possible.

Cooke says the have been working with with Fairmont Hotels across the country but he says it's nice to start with your home town to kick of the Eco label.

Lily Fair Kicks Off Tonight

A celebration of women's music will take place every month at Lily's Cafe in Rockwood Park. Karen Palmer is the organizer of Lily Fair, which kicks off tonight with Jaclyn Reinhart from Fredericton.

The fair will feature a new female artist from the Maritimes on the last Thursday of each month from 7pm until 10pm.

Garage Lost in Fire

A garage on the Lorneville Road is a complete loss after a fire yesterday evening. One car beside the garage also received minor damage.
No word on a cause at this point.

Girl Struck By Car

A six year old girl taken to hospital last night for minor injuries after being struck by a car. Police tell CHSJ news the girl was walking with her father when she darted out into traffic at 2452 Westfield Road.

No charges are expected and the girl is expected to be just fine.

Saint John Company an Award Contender

A Saint John company might take home some hardware at the National Awards for Tourism Excellence in November. T4G Limited is nominated for the Online Innovation Award for a project with New Brunswick Tourism and Parks called "My Trip Planner".

The awards will be handed out in a gala at the Tourism Leadership Summit here in Saint John.

New City Transit Bus to be Unveiled

Referring to a City Transit Bus as a forty-foot limo takes a new twist today. Transit officials will unveil their new articulated bus or what is better know to most as an organ bus. That's because it bends in the middle and can hold 60 riders as compared to 43 in the current fleet of 40-foot limos.

Several digniataries will be on hand for the ceremony including Transportation Minister Denis Landry. The ceremony will be held at the new transit commission building on McDonald Street strating at one o'clock.

Local MLA to Retire

Saying it is the right time......Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre is calling it a politicial career. After 15 years in the provincial spotlight, he will finish out this current mandate and then officially retire. It has been well documented in recent years that MacIntyre's health hasn't been the best undergoing bypass surgery earlier this year. MacIntyre tells CHSJ News, health certainly played a factor in his decision.

Home will be in a new garden home in Quispamsis with his wife after spending 33 years in Champlain Heights. As for any regrets, MacIntyre says he enjoyed every minute while on the job for his constituency.

Mayor Confused with Latest Turn of Events Regarding Long Wharf

Who is going to clean up the site? That appears to be the multi-million dollar question when it comes to the former lantic sugar site and the future use of Long Wharf. The International Longshoreman's Association feels the sugar site should be cleaned up before any exchange of land takes place. Irving Oil wants to construct it's headquarters on Long Wharf. Mayor Ivan Court tells CHSJ News, he is confused by the Port Authorities recent moves.

Court says it appears to him the Port Authority is backing out of the deal. An official with Irving Oil tells CHSJ News, they hope to come up with a solution over who is responsible for cleaning up the sugar site with-in a few weeks.

Former MP Comments on Point Lepreau

With still no answer for the Provincial Government and NB Power from Atomic Energy of Canada concerning the refit at Point Lepreau, a former MP is adding his voice to the fray. Paul Zed tells CHSJ News, Prime Minister Harper needs to come clean with Premier Graham and Energy Minister Jack Keir.

Zed adds it has become quite clear over the past three years, the Harper Government has cut off a lot of funding for AECL making it a black hole that no one seems to understand.

Ribbon to be Cut at Canaport Site

Premier Graham is just one of several dignitaries that will be on hand at the Canaport LNG site this afternoon. This as the ribbon is cut to officially open the facility for business. Fransisco Garcia-Tobar is the Planning and Control Manager and tells CHSJ News, three and a half years of hard work will be celebrated today.

Garcia-Tobar adds at the peak of construction they averaged 1600 workers with 70 permanent employee's to be on site when work on the third storage tank wraps up. That is expected to be in the first half of next year.