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Sunday, March 30, 2014

Report Shows High Return On Investment For Colleges

You often hear people say education is the key to success, and a recent study is backing up that statement. 

The report analyzing data from four Atlantic Canadian community colleges revealing for every dollar a student puts into college, they get four dollars back in higher future earnings. 

New Brunswick Community College President Marilyn Luscombe tells CHSJ News they looked at the impact of student productivity including how much savings are generated. 

She says there's a strong correlation between having a post-secondary education and the reduction in social spending on health care, the criminal justice system and income assistance.

The study also showing Atlantic colleges inject about $4.7-billion of income into the economy every year. Click here to see the full report, released by the Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium.

Sluggish Start To Province's Maple Syrup Season

A not-so-sweet season so far for the province's maple syrup producers. 

Yvon Poitras of the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association tells CHSJ News the season usually begins in mid-March, however it's been at a standstill because everything is frozen up and not moving due to the long, cold winter we've had here in the province.

The sap will flow when the weather is around five degrees during the day and minus five at night, and though they've lost some time, Poitras says they are hoping for a late season this year.

A typical maple syrup season is from four to eight weeks.

Freezing Rain And Rainfall Warnings In Effect

Over 50 millimeters of rain could fall over Saint John and surrounding areas from now until Monday evening, as a low pressure system sweeps through the province.

Environment Canada issuing rain and freezing rain warnings for the Port City and meteorologist Stephen Hatt tells CHSJ News stormy conditions will continue until approximately mid-week. He says the storm system will start to pull away on Tuesday, but we will still be seeing some flurries from the system during that day.

The freezing rain is going to continue for the rest of the day, and will change to rain this evening and overnight. That will turn back to freezing rain and ice pellets during the day tomorrow according to Hatt. Police in both Saint John and the Kennebecasis Valley warning road conditions are very bad right now and urging drivers to be careful.

The Fredericton area is under snowfall and winter storm warnings with up to 40 centimetres of snow expected.

Lots Of Ideas Emerge From Policy Form On Economic Development

The New Brunswick economy is headed in the wrong direction......That's what the Provincial Liberal Party's policy forum at U-N-B Saint John on urban economic development was told by Larry Hachey, former President of the Saint John Board of Trade. 

Hachey tells CHSJ News when it comes to growing the provincial economy and creating jobs, it's time provincial governments stopped trying to hit what he calls "home runs" with big job announcements when 80 per cent of the job growth in New Brunswick comes from small companies.

He says we need a Premier to be market driven, who looks at possibilities. The policy forum was also told New Brunswick needs a culture change where we start selling ourselves better to outsiders and stop selling ourselves short.

Hachey says the province should be aggressively attempting to attract business immigrants who will set up shop here and we need to be looking at best economic practices from elsewhere.

Liberal Leader A No Show At His Party's Forum On Economic Development

If the provincial economy and how to turn it around is going to be the big issue in the next provincial election, some people might find it odd that the Liberal party's policy forum on urban economic development was held without Provincial Party Leader Brian Gallant. 

Instead, Dieppe Centre M-L-A Roger Melanson served as co-chair and tells CHSJ News Gallant will be well informed of what was said and the ideas that were put forward.
 

Melanson says one idea that stuck out for him was the need to ditch short term solutions to spur growth and come up with a long term economic plan that would span from 10 to 15 years.

Highway Rollover Sends Man To Hospital

A rollover on Highway 1 sending the driver to hospital. 

Platoon Chief Barry Oickle of the Saint John Fire Department says the incident happened westbound, near exit 128 just before 6:30 this morning. 

When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle on its side and a man trapped inside, and they had to cut off the roof in order to rescue him. 

His injuries are not thought to be serious.