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Saturday, March 8, 2014

Demonstrators Greet Premier

There were demonstrators outside the Conservative party's Saint John East nomination meeting at Champlain Heights School and they got a chance to talk to Premier David Alward about their stalled contract negotiations.

 Local 1251 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents jail guards. Union President Everett Godfrey tells CHSJ News after 33 months, they haven't even talked about a wage increase and there aren't many options to get things moving because of the large number of workers who would be deemed essential in the event of a strike.
 

The union would like to go to binding arbitration but there has been no response from the province. Alward told Godfrey he would see what he could do, as Premier, to get some movement.

March Is Fraud Prevention Month

Before you fork over any of your hard-earned cash or personal info to someone on the phone or internet, take a second to think about whether you're being targeted by a fraudster. 

It's Fraud Prevention Month and Marissa Rignanesi of the Financial Consumer Services Commission tells CHSJ News a good rule of thumb to go by is the old saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. She also advises you to take time to make sure to read and understand any contract or paperwork you're given before you sign it, and to be sure to check if there are any license requirements.

Rignanesi says if you realize you are being targeted by a scam artist, it's important to report it, because while it may be obvious to you that it's a scam, it may not be obvious to others.

Springing Forward Can Take A Toll On Your Health

The time change this weekend could be hazardous to your health.

10 to 15 per cent of us are sleep deprived already and losing an hour's sleep because of the clocks moving ahead doesn't help. 


A study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008 found the number of heart attacks went up significantly in the three days after the shift to daylight time. Other studies have found the number of traffic and workplace accidents also go up in the first week after the change. 

Dr. Adam Moscovitch of the Sleep and Fatigue Institute in Toronto warns the effect of that one hour change can last an entire week.

Don't Forget To Turn The Clocks Ahead

We'll get to enjoy more sunlight in the evenings when daylight savings time begins tomorrow.

People are reminded to set their clocks and watches ahead one hour at 2 am, or this evening before going to bed.

Watches and clocks aren't the only items that need adjustment. Ovens, microwaves, car clocks, electronic devices, and automatic timer lights also need to be turned ahead.


It's also a good time to clean dryer vents to prevent fires, and change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and replaced every 10 years.

Court Testimony Backs Deputy Premier

There was testimony at the trial of a senior official at the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture that corroborates Deputy Minister Paul Robichaud's contention that he did not interfere with an investigation of his brother.  

Peter Andrews, a senior official in the department is charged with obstruction of justice.
 

Wilbert Sabine, the head of enforcement with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, told the court the decision not to charge Robichaud's brother was made before a meeting between the Deputy Premier and Fisheries Minister Micheal Olscamp. Robichaud has consistently denied interfering with the investigation. 

Former Fisheries officer Gaeten Germain earlier testified he was told to drop the charge after the meeting was held and he was later told to lay the charge by a senior prosecutor in Bathurst because it was in the public interest to do so.

Celebrate International Women's Day


Today is International Women's Day.

The day was established by the United Nations in 1977 as a day for women's right's and international peace. Canada proclaimed March 8th International Women Day's following the move by the UN.

Back in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

International Women's Day is an official holiday in many countries including Afghanistan, Cuba, Russia and Zambia. In China, it's a holiday only for women.