Traffic Concerns Raised By Common Councillors

(Common Councillor Peter McGuire)
                  (File Photo)

After hearing safety concerns, Common Council now wants to get information from City Police about the number of collisions that have occurred along Loch Lomand Road. Some residents claim there have been 7 or 8 of them along one stretch because of a blind knoll.

Council wants to make the traffic flow at Simm's Corner less dangerous but the estimated cost of doing that is 13 million dollars. Councillor Peter McGuire says this might be a good time to press the case with the provincial election just around the corner along with the road being designated as a provincial highway.

As for how dangerous Loch Lomand Road is, Councillor Joe Mott, who lives there, says there's too much traffic, too much speed and not enough police patrols.

Councillor Patty Higgins warns expanding Highway One to six lanes from the K-V into the city won't make it safer for drivers. She points to research showing the widening of highways results in greater speed and lane changes.

Charge Laid Against Striker

A new development in the strike which has seen picketers outside Brunswick Square, the Delta and the Chipman Hill parking garage. City Police say one of the strikers will be formally charged with public mischief at a court appearance next month. The 45 year old woman claimed a driver who was angry at being delayed at the parking garage threatened and then ran over her.

People's Alliance Party Officially Kicks Off Provincial Election Campaign

(People's Alliance Party Leader Kris Austin)
                     (File Photo)

The People's Alliance Party officially kicked off its campaign for the September 27th provincial election by focusing on what it calls the financial crisis facing the province.

Party Leader Kris Austin says nothing or very little has been mentioned so far about the growing provincial debt and string of budget deficits.

Austin says the People's Alliance is not proposing any tax increases but modest tax cuts for small businesses to stimulate economic growth.

The Provincial New Democrats are accusing both the Liberals and Conservatives of being irresponsible with all of their campaign promises.

Price Of Gas In City Rises

Gas prices have taken a hike after the weekly setting with maximum prices rising by a couple of cents. Self serve regular is now selling for 96.4 cents a litre around town with diesel up to $102.5. The maximum price for propane is listed at $101.7 a litre.

Saint John Getting Evaluated For North America's First Geopark

(Bill Merrifield who chairs Saint John's Geopark Committee)
                 (Photo by Tamara Steele)

If you were to judge the response of 200 people to evaluators and the local committee, Saint John is a step closer to becoming the first Geopark in North America.

A keen crowd at the New Brunswick museum last night listening to evalutors from Germany and Ireland sing the praises of Greater Saint John after two days of touring local geosites. Committee chair Bill Merrifield says they are touring 9 of the 10 geocities in the area by air or by ground including the Fundy trail.

Dr. Patrick McKeever, who is one of the evaluators, says geoparks are not a list but, a network.

Merrifield says the evaluators are coping well in the heat as the tour so far taken to Norton and St. Martin's and there are no bad vibes about this project. Merrifield tells CHSJ news Saint John will know if it was successful by early October.

Uptown Has Lost A Restaurant

(Boilerworks Restaurant in Market Square is closed)

(photo by Tamara Steele)

The uptown has lost a restaurant.
Boilerworks in Market Square put the lock on the door for the final time Monday.


A caller to our news-room says the ownership had been going over the numbers and decided things weren't adding up the way they had hoped.
No word on how many people are out of a job or if a new tenant will be found anytime soon.

A call to the Hardman Group, which manages the mall, says it will issue a news release on the closure tomorrow (Thursday).

Mounties Bust Pennisula Grow Op

Hampton RCMP seizing a large quantity of dope on the Kingston Pennisula.
Officers tell us they found 520 fully grown plants at a marijuana grow op in Long Reach yesterday.

The Mounties, Plain Clothes Unit, is still looking into but, no charges are being laid right now.

Finding Your Sleeping Pattern

A big transition is coming up for students and parents as summer vacation winds down.



Getting back into a normal sleep pattern.


Dr. Rachel Morehouse is a Sleep Specialist with the Horizon Health Network and tells CHSJ News, this heat wave isn't helping anyone get a comfortable snooze.


Dr. Morehouse adds it isn't that so much sleep has been lost over the summer months but your rythm or pattern has been knocked around since the end of June and the Long Weekend is a good time to get back on track.

Horizon Health New Board Members

Congratulations is in order for three new members appointed to the Board of Directors with the Horizon Health Network.


Donna Mazerolle, Larry Hachey and Madeleine Drummie are replacing out-going Board members Bryana Ganong, Bruce McCubbin and Jim Lutes.


Mazzerole is from Saint John, Hachey calls Quispamsis home and Drummie lives in Oak Bay.


Board members Cathy Carnahan, Jean-Eudes Levesque and Mavis Hurley were also reappointed for an additional three-year term.

Animal Merger

(Saint John Animal Rescue League Building)
          (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

The Saint John Animal Rescue League and S.P.C.A are becoming one after a years worth of negotiations.


With contracts still to sign, the deal will become official on the 10th and the organization will then be known as S.P.C.A Animal Rescue League.


Sara Stashick is President of the Animal Rescue League's Board of Director and says there are many benefits to this merger.


Stashick says if everything stays on schedule, they hope to move into their new facility at the former Peacocks location on Sandy Point Road by 2013.

Armoured Car Company Facing Strike

The company that fills up and empties ATM's for TD Banks in Greater Saint John could be facing a strike by it's employee's this month.


Unionized workers for G4S Armoured Car-Cash Service continue contract talks but will be in a legal strike position anytime after the 22nd.


Robin Steinberg is the Director of Communications with the company and couldnt tell us when the negotiations began or what the workers are looking for.
She did tell us how-ever the company is hopeful a deal will be in place soon.


A caller to our news-room tells us the company is pushing for a 4-year wage freeze and other concessions.

Atlantica Centre Give The Five Leaders Ideas On Energy Policy

The Atlantica Centre for Energy is hoping to draw the attention of the five party leaders to their five policy papers on energy.
The papers cover topics such as energy and economic development natural gas and regional collabatoration.

Tim Currie tells CHSJ News these papers were released in June.
He says the papers are short and fairly readable and they hope the leaders consider them when forming their party's energy policy.

To have a look at the five discussion papers check out this link:
http://www.atlanticaenergy.org/publications

Pedestrian Dies Near Moncton Airport

Tragedy on the highway near the Moncton airport after a pedestrian is killed early this morning.

RCMP are looking into the collision on Highway 15 which claimed the life of a 27-year-old Moncton man who according to police stepped onto the highway and was hit by a transport truck.

His name is not being released until family can be notified.

New Democrats Will Eliminate Unnecessary Spending

New Democrats say they could save 210-million dollars by eliminating last minute spending before the end of the budget year in March.

The party is proposing to make each department publicly report its unbudgeted expenditures each year to avoid having them spend every budget dollar prior to the end of the fiscal year.
The promise was made during a campaign event in Fredericton this morning.

Number Of Vacant Lots In City Centre Called "Staggering"

(Common Councillor Patty Higgins)
                (File Photo)

There are something like 150 vacant lots in the south-central peninsula alone. That's what Councillor Patty Higgins has been told and she calls the figure staggering at a time when the city wants more people living closer to the urban core.

Fellow Councillor Peter McGuire says there's no shortage of research available on what's being done in some American cities, like Cleveland and Flint, Michigan to revitalise neighbourhoods by turning vacant lots into playgrounds, community gardens and non-profit housing.

Councillor Donnie Snook says Moose Jaw has instituted an innovative tax exemption and replacement housing initiative which is also worth looking at.

Van Flips Over Along Highway

Traffic was disrupted eastbound yesterday afternoon along Highway One after a van flipped over at Musquash. One man was rushedto hospital and, around the same time, two people were taken to hospital  with injuries not considered to be life threatening after a two vehicle collision on Golden Grove Road.

Also late yesterday afternoon, Firefighters had to evacuate the fourth floor at the Loch Lomand Villa apartments because of all the smoke from a pot that was left on a stove too long. The building had to be ventilated before the residents were allowed to return to their apartments.

Warning Issued About High Humidity

With record-breaking temperatures this week, it's no surprise that people living inland are being warned to stay safe in the heat.

Environment Canada and Province's Department of Health have issued a joint health and humidex advisory for Sussex, the K.V., Kings, St. Stephen and Northern Charlotte counties.

The humidex will reach close to 40 degrees by this afternoon.

Meantime, the Atlantic region is expected to feel the effects of Hurricane Earl on Friday or Saturday.

Striking Union Describes Some Drivers At Parking Garage As Idiots

Tensions have boiled over this week as drivers try to make their way through the picket lines set up outside the Chipman Hill parking garage.

The United Steelworkers Union claims four of its members have been struck by vehicles.

Area rep Laurence McKay tells CHSJ News one of the picketers was threatened before being run over with the driver showing no remorse and not even apologizing.

McKay says when something like this happens, the union will be calling police and pressing for charges to be laid.

 He's quite blunt when saying a few of the drivers are acting like idiots by using their vehicles as weapons.

 Picket lines have also been set up outside Brunswick Square and the Delta.

The strike action began last Saturday.

Liberals Question Conservative Plan To Add More Doctors

(Provincial Health Minister Mary Schryer)
                  (File Photo)

Plenty of questions coming from the Liberal candidate in Quispamsis about the Conservative plan for doctor recruitement and retention. Mary Schryer who held the portfolio of Health Minister before the writ was dropped tells CHSJ News, the numbers don't add up to simply say your going to double the number of doctor seats in medical schools.

She says it's one thing to blurt out you want to double the number of seats in medical schools but where are they going to come from?

Schryer adds a team led by Dr. Pam Jarret continues it's recruitment drive to fill vacant doctor positions including five in the Saint John area alone.

Minimum Wage In Province Rises

The first day of the new month means a little more money for many today.

The provincial minimum wage goes up 50 cents to $9 an hour.It's the seventh increase since October 2006 when minimum wage was $6.70 an hour.

There are two more increases before the province reaches $10 an hour. It will go up another 50 cents to $9.50 next April and up another 50 cents a year from now.

Steel-Workers Union Strikers Hit

Police reports have been filed after four of the picketers outside the Chipman Hill parking garage have been struck by drivers apparently not happy about being held up.
Star Gooden tells CHSJ News she was threatened and run over by a woman yesterday.
Besides the parking garage, picket lines are also up outside the Delta and Brunswick Square.

New Look Possible For Union Street

The old Union Deli building, across from the Golden Ball, has been sitting idle for far too long according to the building's owner, Hector Train.
He has received approval in principle to set up a pub style restaurant similar to the Portland Pub in the north end.
There are nearby condos a few doors down and Train says he has talked to the owners.
Before final approval is granted by Common Council for rezoning, Train must negotiate hours of operation, noise levels and what sort of entertainment that will be on offer with the city's planning department.

Another Weather Record Is Shattered In Saint John

For the second day in the row, Saint John has record-breaking heat.
The old record for this date from 1973 of 30.6 was shattered when we hit 32.6 degrees at 3 this afternoon.

You may be noticing a bit of relief now since a windshift caused a significant drop in the temperature from the high 30's to the low 20's around 3 o'clock.
Environment Canada meterologist Linda Libby tells CHSJ News cool air off the Bay of Fundy is responsible for the drop.

Environment Canada and Province's Department of Health have issued a joint health and humidex advisory for Sussex, the K.V., Kings, St. Stephen and Northern Charlotte counties.

The humidex will reach close to 40 degrees by tomorrow afternoon.

Changes On The Way For Enbridge Gas

Cost efficient for the company and the rate-payer.


That is the way a new piece of technology is being presented from Enbridge Gas.


The company is going to install automated meter reading devices on all of it's exsisting and future meters.


Jamie Leblanc is a company spokes-person and tells CHSJ News, no word yet on where the conversion will start.


The new gear will allow the company to read up to 10,000 meters on a single route by driving through a neighbourhood with the equipment mounted on a vehicle.


Enbridge says it will begin converting it's exsisting meters in October with the complete over-haul of the system to take two years.

Conservative Campaign In Greater Saint John Area Today

Dealing With The Heat

Find some shade, drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids or hang around where there is air conditioning.


Just three of the tips on staying cool from the Regional Health Protection Branch as the Province remains under the sun lamp.


Douglas Walker is Regional Director with the Health Protection Branch and tells CHSJ News, if you have to work outdoors, take plenty of breaks and don't over do it.


Walker adds seniors and infants are the most vulnerable in this heat as they have the most limited heat dissipation mechanisms such as sweat.

City Councilor Speaks About His Role

(City Councilor Carl Killen)
         (File Photo)

Carl Killen stepping away from the business of council during the Provincial election was supposed to but never came up during last night's session.


Killen is flying the banner for the Conservatives in the riding of Saint John Harbour and tells CHSJ News, this move should avoid anyone thinking there is a conflict.


Killen says Mayor Court's only concern is he wants to make sure he is present if there is a crucial vote.


Killen is also donating his council salary for the writ period to charity and will miss three meetings in total.

Changes Coming To The Traffic Pattern

The Peel Plaza development will cause big changes with the traffic flow in the vicinity of Union Street this week.

Starting on Thursday, Dorchester Street will be two way and no left turns will be allowed from Dorchester onto Union Street.
Wellington Row will be closed to thru traffic for about 2 months for construction.
The city is warning of congestion, especially during the morning rush hour, with between 5 to 6 thousand vehicles.
The city is also letting drivers know Lancaster Avenue is closed to traffic between Prince and Duke Streets and down to one lane at Dunn Avenue to allow for construction by Saint John Water.


Paving is expected to take place on Thursday and there's also paving in the area of Fundy Drive.

Tories Promise To Double The Number Of Doctors

(Conservative Leader David Alward At The Podium)
              (Photo By Gary MacDonald)

Attracting and retaining doctors the focus of an announcement by Conservative Leader David Alward today.


If elected as Premier next month, Alward promises to put several new initiatives in place including doubling the number of doctors being trained in Saint John and Moncton.


The Liberal Government is also vowing to hire 55 more doctors over the next two years.


Alward says it's time to move ahead with more colabrative and family care models.


Alward is also pledging to revamp the existing physician recruitment strategy by setting higher targets and providing regular reports on progress.

Another Traffic Disruption Along Highway One

(Courtesy DOT)


For the second day in a row, the east and westbound lanes near the Crown Street Exit will be shut down for fifteen minutes at two o'clock.

Crews need to blast another area as work on the One Mile Interchange continues.

Also, a large concrete pour for the project begins this morning at seven and is expected to last until tomorrow morning at five. This means additional lighting, equipment and noise will be heard in the area.

Common Council Gets Evaluation Of Recreation In The City

(Common Councillor Bruce Court)
               (File Photo)

Even though many Saint Johnners may disagree, a study on recreation has concluded the city has an over abundance of facilities.

That study also concluded, however, there isn't enough money to properly maintain them. Chief City planner Ken Forrest says Common Council will have to make some tough decisions.

The city will come up with a master plan for recreation to cover the next quarter century.
 
Council did approve spending money to buy new equipment, including swings, for the playground on Glen Road which Councillor Bruce Court claimed was in a state of disrepair and he had asked everyone but the Pope to do something about it.

Rockwood Park Sparks Another Clash At Common Council

(Common Councillor Patty Higgins)
                (File Photo)

More angry words at Common Council over Rockwood Park........This time between Councillors Donnie Snook and Patty Higgins.

They locked horns over whether the Rockwood Park Advisory Board should be given more time to give its two cents worth as part of the planning study for future development along Sandy Point Road.

Higgins maintains if the land is not in the park, then why should the Advisory Board have an opinion but Snook argued the Advisory Board has as much right to have a say as the Friends of Rockwood Park and it was granted an extension to the latter part of next month.

Health Care To Be Focus of Provincial Election Campaign Today

(Provincial Conservative Leader David Alward)
                      (File Photo)

Health care is taking center stage on the provincial campaign trail this morning -- both the Liberals and Conservatives have health care related announcements scheduled.

Conservative leader David Alward is rolling out his policy during a stop in Grand Bay-Westfield.

Premier Graham makes his announcement in Fredericton followed by an education related announcement later in the morning in the provincial capital.

Liberal Campaign Stops In City Today

Update On Body Found In River

Work continues to piece together who it was found floating in the Saint John River over the weekend.


City Police tell CHSJ News, it will be a few more days before they can identify the body that was spotted by people on the Highland Road in the North End just after four o'clock on Saturday.


Officers says the body is so badly decomposed, it is going to take DNA or dental records to make a positive identification.

Seadogs Like Their Chances For Memorial Cup

The Saint John Seadogs are loving a decision by the Q-League at it's Board of Govenors meeting held over the weekend.
An independent committee will select which Q-League city plays host to the 2012 Memorial Cup.
The team announced it's intention to host the tourney over a year ago.
President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News, their bid is solid.
Long says the Seadogs bid will have to be in to the league office by the end of November with the selction committee to arrive in the city for a site tour in February or March.

Ottawa Announces More Internships

      (Saint John MP Rodney Weston)
          (Photo by Jim Hennessy) 

33 additional internships have been announced through the small business internship program.


This is for University graduates and small businesses in Atlantic Canada.


Saint John MP Rodney Weston says this program funds up to 75% or ten thousand dollars of a salary for 12 weeks.

Weston says this program has proven to be a success since it was launched last year.

Record-Breaking Heat In Saint John Today

You are experiencing record-breaking heat in Greater Saint John today.
Meterologist Linda Libby of Environment Canada tells CHSJ News we broke a 37-year-old record this afternoon.
The old mark was 28.3 set back in 1973 and as of 3 this afternoon we hit the 30 degree mark.

Libby says they will get official confirmation later this afternoon.
She adds the temperatures this week are about 10 degrees above normal.

Conservative Commitment To Small Business

(Saint John Portland Conservative Candidate Trevor Holder)
                         (File Photo)

Anger....that is what the Conservative candidate for Saint John Portland is being greeted with by small business owners on the campaign trail.


Trevor Holder tells CHSJ News, he has never seen it like this and is vowing to make changes.


Holder says his party is proposing big changes for small business including rolling back the huge tax break for large industry to re-invest in the small business sector.

Provincial Forests Are Dry

It's no surprise to hear the forests in our province are dry given the warm temperatures this summer.
Wildland Fire Prevention Officer Charles Beaulieu tells CHSJ News we are still in better shape than last year with fewer fires and the fires we have are small.

Beaulieu says the forests are dry and some rain in the forecast for this weekend will help out. Most of the province is under a burn restriction and Beaulieu tells us by tomorrow afternoon the entire province will be restricted since the hot weather will stick around.

Premier Commits Money For Martinon

(Premier Graham campaigning in Martinon)

(photo by Gary MacDonald)

Premier Shawn Graham is committing $750,000 for a new railway overpass on the Westifield Road in Martinon.
The Premier made the commitment during a campaign whistle stop in the suburban area.
City officials say construction will be carried out next year to replace the old narrow bridge.
The road is being upgraded with sidewalks planned but the old bridge presented a roadblock because it's too narrow to handle sidewalks.
Residents in the area have been pushing for the upgrades to improve safety.

Mental Health Issues Pop Up On The Campaign Trail

Mental health issues creeping into the provincial election campaign today -- Premier Graham stopped to speak to some of the striking Brunswick Square workers as he was doing some glad handing along King Street late this morning.

And he met up with Sherry Branscombe who told the Premier not enough is being done to help the mentally challenged:


The Premier pledged to do his best to help her brother and others like him to which Branscombe said the Premier should make that a mandate promise and Graham said he was going to do that.
Graham continued his main streeting stopping for lunch at Market Square before heading to other Saint John area ridings.

Graham Speaks In King Square On Job Creation

Job creation and re-organizing Business New Brunswick.....two highlights of a speech delivered by Premier Graham today in Kings Square. Graham says the Conservative plan of splitting the department's duties and creating a new agency called InvestNB has been tried before and won't work:
He says within 18 months they recognized the importance of putting it back together.
He calls it an important tool for creating jobs saying Business New Brunswick is responsible for half of the 10,000 new jobs in the Province.

Graham says a new unit within Business New Brunswick, a business development agency, would be established to focus on creating high-paying jobs in high-growth sectors like information technology, biosciences and oil and gas.

Cash For Waste-Water In Quispamsis

The Liberals are committed to paying a third of the price tag for Quispamsis to connect their wasterwater collection system to Wildwood Park.


Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News they've been trying to get this funding since September 2009, but they had to get ownership of the facility in Wildwood Park before moving forward.


Driscoll says the project will allow for more homes to open up in the area without the threat of the current facility in Wildwood park operating inefficiently.


The Province's share of the cash is conditional to Ottawa committing a third of the funding.

The Ex Opens Today At Exhibition Park

It's the final week of August and that means new events and plenty of old favourites are set up for the Saint John Ex. Exhibition Association President Blair MacDonald tells CHSJ News, along with new rides and events through-out the four days, there will be a lumberjack show.

MacDonald adds they changed the name because the Atlantic National Exhibition seemed a bit grand. Admission to the midway is free and everyday is bracelet day.
 
The EX is here until Friday and the gates open daily at noon starting tomorrow with a fireworks display as well starting at ten.

Highway Traffic On East Side To Be Disrupted

It won't be for long, but there will be a major traffic snag on Highway 1 today. The Department of Transportation is closing down both the eastbound and westbound lanes on the highway near the Crown Street off ramp.

The closure will take place at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and will last for about 15 minutes while blasting takes place for the One Mile House Interchange project.
 
You can expect noise and delays and drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes.

Common Council To Receive Petition Tonight From Friends Of Rockwood Park

(Entrance To Rockwood Park)
           (File Photo)

Common Council will be receiving a petition tonight with more than 2 thousand names on it opposing development within Rockwood Park against the backdrop of uncertainty over where the boundary is. The petition was circulated by the Friends of Rockwood Park.

Despite all the controversy, improvements are continuing within the park. Project Manager Peter Hanlon tells CHSJ News the bridge by the duck pond has to be redone and causeway opened up a bit.

Hanlon calls the concentration of ducks in such a small area to be an environmental mess and warns feeding them is actually making matters worse.

Teachers Are Back In School In District 6

(District 6 Schoolboard Superintendent Zoe Watson)
                           (File Photo)

The students may still be at home, but it's back to school for the teachers today in District 6.

Superintendant Zoe Watson says the teachers will be kept busy attending Development Days and says motivational speaker Ron Morrish is returning to present to them on student discipline.

Watson says Morrish will also be giving parents advice tonight at 7:00 in Sussex Regional High school and on Wednesday night at 7:00 in Kings Valley Wesleyan Church.

District 8 Getting Schools Ready For Next Week's Opening

(District 8 Schoolboard Superintendent Susan Tipper)
                           (File Photo)

School supplies and new clothes are essential when heading back to school but their classrooms have to be ready for them.

District 8 Superintendent Susan Tipper tells CHSJ News has some of the oldest infrastructure in the Province so the work is costly and time consuming.

Tipper says one of the biggest challenges for the district was when a transformer blew at Forest Hills school leaving it without power for a while but, it has since been fixed and the school will be ready when classes start next week.
 
Tipper adds they are also working to make every school in the district wheelchair accessible.

3rd Annual Learn and Go Program

A program to give neighbourhoods with low income a chance to learn a skill and choose a project is underway for a third year.

It's called Learn and Go and spokes-person Bonnie McGraw tells us, all five of the priority neighbourhoods in Greater Saint John are taking part.

Projects that have been completed in the first two years include better bus access to the health center on the West Side and improved lighting in some neighbourhoods.

Powered Seating At Saint John Airport

Convenience is coming to the Saint John Airport in the form dual power-USB outlets.

Twenty spots with-in the terminal will allow passengers to use these seats to power up their electronics in the arrivals, departures, restaurant, and public waiting areas.

Airport officials expect the work to be finished by the middle of next month.

Cruise Ship Greeters Needed

If you'd like to get involved with the cruise ships that are rolling into Saint John, the Trinity Church is in need of volunteer greeters.
 
Jim Brittain tells us 52 ships are expected to come to port between the end of August and late October.
 
Brittain says the people that normally serve as greeters have work-terms that expire at the end of August, which is why there's a need now.
 
He says all volunteers are expected to do is answer questions and hand out information brochures.
 
For more information call Jim Brittain at 333-9523 or email jmb@nb.aibn.com.

Strike At Brunswick Square

(Members of Local 1306 stike outside of Brunswick Square)
(Photo by Sherry Aske)

After trying to hash out an agreement with their company for six days, workers with Local 1306 are on strike.

Ron Arseneau is the Union Griever for Delta Brunswick and Brunswick Square and tells us they took to the picket line at 8am Saturday Morning.



Arseneau says the strike affects the whole Brunswick Square Complex as well as the parking garage and includes everyone from maintenance workers to restaurant servers.
 
Arseneau says their housekeepers are doing 16 rooms a day for 10.86 an hour, and with minimum wage going up, that has to change.
 
He says the union is open to talks at all times and they're hoping the strike won't last long, but says it's up to the company.

Alward On Business New Brunswick

(Conservative Leader David Alward)
(File Photo)

If elected in September, Conservative Leader David Alward says he'll attract new jobs to the province by making real changes at Business New Brunswick.

Alward says Liberal Leader Shawn Graham has used BNB as his personal political piggy-bank and he spent taxpayer’s money on failing businesses like ATCON, luxury golf courses and bailouts.

Alward says he'll create a new crown corporation called InvestNB, that's led by a private sector board of business leaders, to develop the economy.

Man Assaulted Outside The Studio

Police also looking into an assault.

A man was found unconscious outside the Studio Club on Sydney Street at 1:20 in the morning.

Police say his head was seriously injured and he is still in hospital.

The Major Crime Unit looking into that as well.

Body Found In Saint John River

(The Water Rescue Unit leaves to look for the body)
(Photo by Doug Epton)

City police retrieving a body from the water yesterday afternoon.

Police got word a body was floating in the Saint John River near Highland Road just after 4 o'clock.

The Water Rescue Unit was sent out and the Major Crime Unit is investigating.

The body has not been identified yet.

Saint John Business Man Dead

(William Walsh, Owner of Walsh Luggage)
(File Photo)

The Saint John Business community is mourning the loss of a friend.

William Walsh, owner of Walsh Luggage in Market Square has died at the age 78 at the Regional after a short illness.

Walsh started his business career in Nova Scotia but made his was to the Port City in 1965 and along with operating the business, drove a school bus and sold diesel trucks.

Visitation is Sunday at Fundy Funeral home between 2-4pm and 7-9pm with the funeral scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Nova Scotia.

Dragon Boat Festival Is Back

The sixth annual Dragon Boat Festival goes today on the Kennebecasis River at Renforth Wharf.

Spokes-person Jill Logan tells CHSJ News, there are 44 teams entered.

Logan says all monies raised this year will go toward minimally invasive spine surgery equipment for the extended day surgery program at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

In the first five years, the event has raised over $1.25 million dollars.

Independent Firm To Look Into Allegation

An independent firm will be responsible for looking into allegations stemming from the 2006 provincial election.

Mike Quinn, the province's chief electoral officer says there's an allegation that someone may have breached the Political Process Financing Act by making unreported cash payments during the previous campaign.

Quinn made the decision to hand the case over to a third party after meeting with the auditor general.

He says he doesn't want his office to loose focus on delivering a voter-oriented election, and says the investigation should be done by an independent team in a timely manner.

Is A Federal Election Looming?

(Saint John MP Rodney Weston)
(File Photo)

Now that they ""official"" campaign is underway for the Provincial vote next month, there continues to be chatter about a Federal Election in the spring.

Saint John MP Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News, since being elected back in 2008, the rumblings of an election haven't stopped. 

He says a lot of the speculation comes from political pundits but when it comes from the opposition, then it needs to be taken seriously

Weston adds if and when the Federal election writ is dropped, he is ready to stand by his record and let voters be the judge of the service provided.

Car Tires Fuel Suspicious Fire

City fire crews responding to a fire at First Stop Auto on the corner of Adelaide and Metcalf Street last night.

District fire chief Gerry Morris says flames were coming from the back of the building when crews arrived on scene just after 12:30 in the morning.

He says the fire was being fed by discarded car tires that were piled at the back of the building and then it entered the building through the roof.

Crews were on scene for 2 and a half hours.

Morris says the building did sustain damage but should be open for business on Monday.

He says the cause of the fire is suspicious at this time.

Light Pole Knocked Over In Accident

(A traffic light is knocked down during an accident)
(Photo taken by a Road Warrior)

An accident at the intersection of McAllister Drive and Westmorland Road causing some havoc for drivers.

Traffic lights are off at the busy intersection and one light pole has been knocked down completely.

No one was injured, but still no word on when the lights will be back up and running.

New Appointment At Irving Oil

(President Of Irving Oil Limited Mike Ashar)
                 (File Photo)

Mike Ashar has been appointed President of Irving Oil Limited. 

He is responsible for all aspects of day-to-day management of the company.


Arthur Irving Sr. will continue in his role as Chairman.


Prior to this, Ashar was in charge of several operating units.

Update on Premium Gasoline Mix-Up

It seems there has been a problem with Irving Oil gasoline longer than first expected.

The company has completed it's review of off-spec premium gasoline which was necessary after a malfunction at one of the loading racks at the Refinery.

Octane levels have been lower than expected since the beginning of 2008 but to a significantly lesser extent than this year.

Beginning on Monday, anyone who believes they paid for premium gasoline but did not get it can file a claim by going to www.irvingoil.com with the deadline set for September 10th.

Irving Oil will then review all the claims and make sure everyone who is in line for a refund receives it.

Stone Hammer Flag Flying at City Hall

RCMP Warn About Making Online Purchases

A warning from Sussex RCMP after a person there was selling an item on the internet where a vendor was in contact with a buyer and a price was agreed on.
The buyer sent the vendor a cheque for more than $2200 over the purchase price with instructions to cash the cheque and send the money and the item to an address with a post office box number.

RCMP warning the public when paying for something online they should use a certified cheque or money order for the exact amount of the purchase price.

GeoPark Site Evaluation Draws Closer

(Chair of the StoneHammer Project Bill Merrifield)
              (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

Excitement is building in anticipation of next week’s visit of the Global Geopark Network Evaluators.


Saint John is looking to be established as the first in North America.


Chair Bill Merrifield tells CHSJ News, we live around wonderful things all are life but until it is underlined, we don't take notice.


Merrifield says the tour will include an aerial view of the entire 2500 square kilometers of the geopark Monday morning with a final decision expected in November.