SJ Energy Gives $50K To NBCC

Higher learning in greater Saint John receiving a nice shot in the arm from Saint John Energy.
 
The company is donating $50,000 the New Brunswick Community College over 5 years.

The money will be used to equip the multi-purpose Public Engagement Facility which will be in the new “E” Building at NBCC Saint John opening in September.
 
The building will offer students and staff hands-on workshops and professional development training and also be available to business and industry leaders.

 

Pedestrian Killed on Whitehead Island

District 1 RCMP Grand Manan are investigating a fatal pedestrian motor vehicle collision that occurred on April 10, 2012, at approximately 7:15 a.m., on White Head Island off the coast of grand Manan.

A 75-year-old man died as a result of the collision. Police are looking into what caused the crash.

New Home Construction Lagging

        New home construction remains flat in the greater Saint John area – the latest numbers from Canada Mortgage and Housing show five new units started last month down from 10-units in the same month last year.

         Overall – the federal housing agency reports new housing starts off by ten percent in the first quarter of this year compared to last year.

         Moncton remains the hotspot for new home construction with 110-new units under construction in the first quarter of this year compared to 13-last year.

John Ferguson Defamation Trial

Council Debates Options for Safe Water

Common council considering going for a public private partnership for the city's water. While the resource itself would stay in the public domain, City manager Pat Woods sugesting certain plants, distribution systems, and equipment be opened up to private hands as a way of generating revenue.



Mayor Ivan Court emphasized the city will always control its own water supply.


Patty Higgins says water provides big bucks to all levels of government and a public private partnership wouldn't be appropriate. Councillor Mel Norton disagreed, saying a P3 would bring us closer to safe, clean drinking water which is what the electorate wants.

West Side Businessman To Be Laid To Rest Friday

Funeral arrangements have been finalised for Andy Hughes, who owned and operated the Pet Corral stores on the west side and in Quispamsis. 

He died in an A-T-V crash over the Easter weekend. 

His funeral will be held 2:00 Friday afternoon at St. Mark's United Church on Dexter Drive.

Hughes is survived by his wife Carol and two daughters.

Core City Services Facing Cuts Without Changes To Pension Plan

We're looking at deep cuts to core services unless the province grants us pension reform.

That warning from City Manager Pat Woods, presenting a document to Common Council outlining what will happen if the city does have to face a $4 million dollar shortfall. 

If reform isn't approved, the city will be looking at more reductions to fire services, libraries, and roads.
 
Mayor Ivan Court emphasized that the city is actively working to finalize the needed reform, meaning most of the cuts likely won't happen.
 
Councillor Gary Sullivan referred to the review of core services as a "dark exercise"--but he and a number of councillors agreed that some of the cuts would make sense whether reform is granted or not. 

Woods is calling the review a balancing act between affordability for taxpayers and sustainabily for the beneficaries of the pension plan.

Rothesay Kids Aid Developing Nation

A group of local kids are reaching out to help kids overseas. Thirteen students from Rothesay high school will be traveling to the Dominican Republic to rebuild a school in the developing country. Heinz Schaerer is a proud papa who's helping to organize the trip.

He tells CHSJ News the school--which has 130 students--badly needs a helping hand. It's currently running out of a bus and two dilapitated buildings.

The kids at Rothesay have raised about $20,000 to fund the trip. They're holding their major fundraiser, called A Night at the Races, this coming Saturday in which attendees will bet funny money on pre-recorded horse races. There will also be a live and silent auction. 

For more information, contact RHS at  847-6244.

Saint John MP Says P3 Funding Is On Track For City

Saint John MP Rodney Weston is confident that Saint John will be able to secure funding for clean drinking water despite recent cuts in the federal budget.



Weston tells CHSJ News the committment to public-private partnership funding from the government has always been there and investing in infrastructure is a top priority because it pays off in the long run.

Weston says everything is on track with the city's P3 funding application and he is confident the city will secure the funding.

The Save The Paramount Project To Change Hands

Organizers of the Save the Paramount campaign are getting ready to pass the torch.

The board of Uptown Saint John has opted to look for another group or individual to take the project forward after being denied funding from the province and the feds.

Peter Asimakos of Uptown Saint John tells CHSJ News the money that was raised was a drop in the bucket compared to what was needed to refurbish the building--and unless the project gets more backing, the future is uncertain.

He says it could very well not happen and then it may happen and that will depend on what kind of support comes from the community.

Asimakos says the building is still structurally in great shape.
Uptown Saint John had proposed turning the building into a multi-purpose performing arts space.

Boil Water Order Rescinded

A Boil Water order for Milford Road and Francis Street has been rescinded.

Test results confirm the water at homes from 5 to 46 Milford Road and on 5, 20 and 22 Francis street is now safe to drink.

Residents who have been home for the past few days should run the water for washing and those who have been away should take a few minutes to flush out the water in your plumbing. 

Saint John Water recommends turning on each of the taps in your home for a few minutes.

Boucher Is New Y President and CEO

It's offical...Shiloh Boucher is the president and CEO of the Saint John Y.
She takes over for Pat Davis who passed away last year.
 
Boucher tells CHSJ News working with Pat taught her that little things make a difference.

She told her to take a moment to thank people and recognize them adding she also taught her how to fundraise which is crucial for the Y.

Boucher says there is no doubt having the Y in the North end will be transforming for the community adding they expect to add at least 40 to 50 jobs on top of the 120 employees they have now.

West Side Business Honours Deceased Owner

A tribute on the sign of the Pet Corral location on the Golden Mile in honour of owner Andy Hughes who died over the weekend.

Federal Labour Minister Pays A Visit

Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt making a stop at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal -- she made a quick stop to talk about the federal government's economic action plan in the wake of the 2012 budget.

Raitt tells CHSJ News it's important to talk about efforts in building the economy in the wake of budget and job cuts.

She says speaking at a port holds significance as infrastructure money is available in the budget for ports to the tune of 27-million dollars.

She says Long-Term Disability Insurance has also received a 1.5 million dollar boost.

Construction Work on Broad Street Today

 Road work on Lower Cove Loop could slow you down today.

Crews are digging up a section of Broad Street as you make the turn from Crown Street up the hill.

Shale Gas Legal Challenge Won't Come Cheap

The Provincial Green Party is all for a court challenge to halt shale gas development being led by Hampton lawyer Dave Lutz. The problem is coming up with the 500 thousand dollars needed to mount such a legal battle.

Premier David Alward is promising regulations to safeguard the environment but that doesn't impress Green Party renewable energy advocate Rick Roth of Sussex who says all you have to do is look what has happened to the people who live in Penobsquis.

He also tells CHSJ News shale gas exploration with fracking is so new, there are no norms for safety.



Roth says the opponents of shale gas exploration are seeking for individual donations of at least 100 dollars.

Common Councillor Reveals Interest Charges On Pension Deficit

City taxpayers are being hit big time in just interest payments on the city's financially beleaguered pension plan. 

That word from Ward 2 Common Councillor Patty Higgins who tells CHSJ News Council was told the daily interest payments amounted to almost 40 thousand dollars a day when the deficit wasn't as high as it is now. 

Meantime, the defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson is heading into the home stretch. Testimony resumes tomorrow morning with City Solicitor John Nugent winding up his cross examination and then Ferguson will take the witness stand.

West Side Man Dies In A-T-V Crash

The owner of the Pet Corral stores died over the weekend in an A-T-V fatality on the west side at Riding Way and Millard Robson Lane.

Andy Hughes, who was in his forties, owned the Pet Corral for almost 18 years. 

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalised.

Real Estate Official Says Higher Land Transfer Tax Won't Hurt Sales

Candidates To Tweet Up on Friday

With the May 14th election approaching, candidates are turning to Twitter and Facebook to communicate with voters. On Friday April 13th, people will have a chance to meet a number of candidates they may have only corresponded with online.

The so-called Tweet-Up (in case you're clueless, a combination of "tweet" with "meet-up)  is being organized by strategic connector Jeff Roach. He stresses it's vital for politicians to get with the technology. Roach has some criticisms for Mayor Ivan Court, whose executive assistant updates his Twitter account for him. According to Roach, the whole point of social media is to be social--and getting someone else to do it for you defeats the purpose.

Morgan Lanigan, Mel Norton, Graham Steward Robertson, and Ray Strowbridge are just some of the candidates signed up to attend.

The Tweet-Up happens at 4:30pm on Friday, April 13. Don't expect any banners or speeches, says Roach: it's going to be a casual event that simple provides candidates and voters with a chance to connect in a non-virtual environment.

 For details click here. People City is a blog by Jeff Roach and Mark Legere.

Joshua Group Fundraising For Permanent Home

The Joshua Group has just over two months to raise $120 thousand dollars to give the group a permanent home.

They have made a conditional offer on the old Peacock's property currently owned by the SPCA Animal Rescue League.

Treasurer Kathy Urwin tells CHSJ News the location would meet their needs.

 She tells us the location on the Sandy Point Road is ideal since a lot of the kids they serve live in the McLaren Boulevard area and it would help them with transportation costs.

The Joshua Group "Toonie Day" is coming up on April 20th.   Organizers are challenging individuals, groups and schools to collect toonies and they can start now.

For more info on the event and how to get involved, click here

Coastal Transport Calls Ferry Problems "Teething Issues"

Grand Manan Islanders who rely on the ferry, the Grand Manan Adventure, to reach the mainland have been wondering why she seems to be off its run a lot lately.

Gregg Ryder, General Manager of Coastal Transport, tells CHSJ News the problem was a faulty seal and they've been working with the Florida company that built her to fix the problem.

The ferry was out of service from March 30th for 9 days, and was put back in the water yesterday (Sunday). Ryder says he thinks she's a good ship, but a new one--and with any new piece of machinery that big and complex, there are bound to be teething issues. 

At the end of May, Coastal Transportation will have a redesigned website where people can get instantly updated on the status of the ferry. Ryder reminds members of the public the Coastal Office is open 365 days a year and inquiries from the public are welcome.

Vimy Ridge Anniversary Marked

A proud yet tragic moment in Canadian history being marked today. It was 95 years ago today that the battle of Vimy Ridge began. Over the following 3 days nearly 3,600 Canadian soldiers died--but managed to capture a strategically vital piece of ground.

History teacher Barry Ogden says the battle marked a turning point in how Canada was perceived as a military power. The French and English made numerous attempts before Canada--then perceived as a backwoods, rural nation of only a few million people--managed to seize the decisive piece of ground.

At the National War Memorial, the anniversary is being marked as cadets stand vigil and wreaths are laid.

Photo: The Battle of Vimy Ridge, a painting by Richard Jack. Canadian War Museum. Via Wikipedia.

Love Beer? This One's For You

If there's one thing Saint Johners love, it's an ice cold beer. Fans of the suds will soon have a chance to sample over 90 beers at the first annual Saint John Beer Festival. Co-chair and Alehouse owner Peter Stoddart tells CHSJ News the Fest offers a great bang for your buck--because you don't need to buy a whole six pack to try something new. 

Beer geek Craig Phinney will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the latest trends in brewing. The Alehouse, Lemongrass, Grannan's and the valley's Smoking Pig Barbecue are providing beer-themed dishes including pulled pork, mussels, oysters and lamb. Circus performers will be busking throughout the atrium and performing three separate fire shows.

Tickets are available at Harbour Station http://www.harbourstation.ca/event/saint-john-beer-festival

Tickets can be phone in order or picked up at the box office $49.50 plus tax and service charge, which works out to $60. 

For more information, click here here.

Police Commission Will Consider Union Recommendations On Saving Money

Chairman of the police commission Chris Waldschutz says he will analyze and consider recent money-saving suggestions made by the police union.

The union wants to see six non-police positions eliminated, like the Chief Administration Officer and the Director of Finance.  It is also recommending the elimination of the Staff Sergeant rank.

Waldschutz tells CHSJ News there are no sacred cows but he does know that some of the suggestions will not fly due to legislation like the Police Act.

The union says the recommendations will save the police force over a million dollars.

As far as the accusations that the Chief of Police does not have open communication with the union or staff, Waldschutz there is always more than meets the eye.

He says he is willing change the paradigm if it becomes necessary.

Snowfall In April Not Out Of The Ordinary

Environment Canada says getting a blast of winter around this time of the year isn't usually out of the norm -- but many were still surprised to see the white stuff on the ground yesterday after weeks of mile weather.

We received about 10 centimetres of snow over the weekend and Environment Canada Meteorologist Darin Borgel tells CHSJ News it wasn't an anomaly as we usually get 22 centimetres of snow during the month of April.  He says the warm spell in March made it all the more surprising.

Fredericton got about the same amount of snow but Moncton was hit much harder with 22 centimetres.

Borgel says snow is not expected in the long-term forecast.

More Route 1 Work Starts Today

On the drive in today, you may notice more construction work in areas you didn't before relating to the Route 1 Gateway project.

Work begins today on continues until June on the Rothesay Avenue overpass at Exit 129 and on the Riverview Drive overpass near the Harbour Bridge.

Motorists should no experience delays as the most of the work will be completed from the shoulder of the road.

In the Four Corners area of Sussex, work will be conducted on the westbound Smiths Creek Road overpass at Exit 195. 

The westbound overpass will be reduced to one lane until the middle of June.

For more info, call 1-888-Route1NB (1-888-768-8316) or email, info@R1G.ca or click here

Quispamsis Girl Could be Miss Universe

The next Miss Universe Canada could be the girl next door--Quispamsis native Signa Love is competing against 60 other delegates from all over Canada to take the crown next month. Love is a classically trained singer with a background in performance, which she says will be assets when it comes to strutting her stuff

She tells CHSJ News she's thrilled to be taking part--and especially excited for the charity component of the title. The pageant organizers will send the winner to Nicaragua to do charity work.

Car On Fire At UNB Saint John

City fire crews putting out a car fire at the UNB Saint John parking lot.

A fire erupted in the engine compartment of a parked car around 6 o'clock last night.

No one was hurt but there was extensive damage to the vehicle.

The fire department is looking into the cause.

ATV Crash Sends Man to Hospital

An ATV Accident on the west side has sent one man to hospital.

Police and fire officials responding to the call close to 1am. An ATV had crashed on Riding Way and Millard Robson Lane causing considerable injuries to the driver.

According to early reports, a firefighter ended up driving the ambulance.

Investment Scammers Busted

A pair of scammers getting their comeuppance after being busted by the provincial securities commission. An Alberta couple named Steven Weeres and Rebekah Donszelmann came to New Brunswick in 2009 and struck up a relationship with a woman here, who they defrauded out of tens of thousands of dollars by spinning lies about false investment opportunities

Rick Hancox of the commission tells CHSJ News they scammed their victim by pretending to have bought a hotel and courting investment in it

The panel ordered the two to pay out a total of 250-thousand dollars and Donszelmann was banned from the NB capital markets for 20 years. Hancox says it's important that people report frauds of this sort because that's the only way justice can be reached.

Teen Rises Out of Tragedy to Fight Drunk Driving

At only 17 years old Kali O'Dell's life has already been changed by drunk driving. But the high school student, whose mother and father were both killed in  a car accident caused by an impaired driver --to become a spokesperson against driving under the influence.

She's recently been recognized for her efforts, as TD Canada Trust has granted her a $70,000 scholarship for her work as founder of Teens Against Drunk Driving (TADD) at her high school.

O'Dell tells CHSJ News she's worked so hard to get the message out to teens because as the next generation of teachers, politicians, and public servants they will shape tomorrow's policy on drinking and driving.

O'Dell plans on using the scholarship to attend UNB Fredericton and major in English and History.

Revenge of the Nerds: Geeks Unite in SJ

If you see a posse of strangely-dressed young people roaming around town, Halloween hasn't come early. Saint John is catching on to an international fad known as cosplay--or costume play, in which folks dress up as their favourite characters from comic books, films, or anime. In case you haven't heard that's another term for Japanese animation.

To some, it seems strange pastime but it's one a lot of people seem to enjoy. So much so that there's a whole convention dedicated to nerdy pursuits coming up this summer. Organizer Meghan Milne tells CHSJ News the event--called Harbour Con-Fusion--is a place for fans of sci-fi, horror and fantasy to meet and talk about their favourite works of geeky art. And wear their crazy costumes, of course.

 Harbour Con-Fusion will be held at the Holiday Inn Express in Saint John, NB, on Saturday July 28th and Sunday July 29th, 2012. In the meantime, the group will be holding smaller, geeky get-togethers and raising money for the Animal Rescue league.

Official Site: http://www.harbourconfusion.ca/

Join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/groups/197099307057650/

Rollover Leaves Woman Trapped

An elderly woman getting trapped in her vehicle after a crash this morning.


According to early reports, the car hit a pole this morning on the intersection of Bay Street and Gault Road aroung 9:10am, causing it to roll over.


Police and Fire officials were able to free her from the car within twenty minutes or so No serious injuries have been reported at this tme.

Winter's Not Over Yet: Snow Expected This Weekend

After an unseasonably warm winter, New Brunswick getting a reminder that this is still a regular Canadian March.

 Meteorologist Claude Cote with Environment Canada tells CHSJ news there's a storm system developing south of Sable Island and curving toward Cape Breton. It's going to hit the Saint John area with 5-10 centimetres of snow beginning late this evening.

Moncton and Bathurst are expected to get 15-20 centimetres. Cote says things will have mainly calmed down by Sunday around midday, although we could receive an additional 2-4 centimetres.

Workplace Injuries Go Down In Province

WorkSafe NB had a banner 2011.
 
According to it's annual report, injury frequency decreased by 1 percent while the province recorded the second lowest injury rate in the country.
 
WorkSafe President and CEO Gerard Adams tells CHSJ News he's very happy with the results.
 
He says there was also a decrease in the average assessment and our rates remain the lowest in Atlantic Canada. 

WorkSafeNB was also able to record a 55 million dollar surplus.

Provincial Government Wants Your Opinion On Proposed Natural Gas Changes

Court action is still possible over the proposed new natural gas regulations from ther Alward Government. The General Manager of Enbridge Gas Dave Charleson tells CHSJ News legal avenues are still be explored. 

In the meantime, Charleson says Enbridge Gas has let the government know any expansion of the natural gas system in the province would grind to a halt and he claims would be a shame for those people who want more affordable energy but don't have access to it.
 
The provincial government is looking for feedback on its proposed changes which have been denounced by former provincial cabinet minister Bud Bird as over reach. 

Ganongs and J-D Irving have been quite vocal in claiming they pay too much for natural gas.

Doctor Is Running In Rothesay For Election To Town Council

Dr. Nancy Grant, a radiation oncologist, will be running for a seat on Rothesay Town Council. 

She tells CHSJ News the town should development a youth strategy because it isn't immune to the same problems experienced in the city when it comes to young people. 

She also is calling for an affordable housing strategy and more accessible housing for people who are disabled.
 
Dr. Grant, who served on the old Renforth Council 20 years ago, says the town has done a good job handling its finances and she would like to continue keeping the tax rate low.

North End Councillor Will Seek Another Term

Another member of Common Council confirming she's running again. 

Patty Higgins is in Ward 2 and has locked horns publicly with Mayor Ivan Court over what she sees as inaction on the city's massive pension plan deficit.
 
In a commentary, Higgins accused the Mayor of playing fast and loose with the truth. 

Higgins points out the money that's going into the city's pension plan means frontline services like public transit, police, fire and water are doing without. 

Higgins has proposed the city pension plan be switched from defined benefits to an R-R-S-P model.

Rising Gas Prices Won't Last

A prediction from someone who should know that gas prices might still go up a bit before going down in Atlantic Canada.

So says Dave Collins of Wilson Fuel. He says speculators are driving up gas prices at the moment but a look at the futures market for gasoline shows a drop coming with the August price expected to be seven cents lower.

It's estimated speculation can drive the price up anywhere from 10 to 25 per cent.

Inter City Shuttle Bus Service Bites The Dust

A Prince Edward Island company has failed to get approval to start a door to door van shuttle service in the province.
    

Advanced Shuttle Services proposed to set up a reservations only shuttle service using 15-seat passenger vans but the Energy and Utilities Board rejected the application ruling the proposed service isn't covered under the province's Motor Carrier Act and didn't include a regular route.
   

The company was looking to run two shuttles which would make stops at the Regional Hospital and U-N-B Saint John. There would also be stops in Port Elgin, Moncton and Fredericton.

The company will be allowed to establish a charter service if it so desires.
 

Update On South End Stabbing

No one has been charged yet in the stabbing of a man in his 40's on Queen Street yesterday afternoon. 

City Police say a woman was taken in for questioning and then released. 

The victim was treated in hospital and released with the investigation continuing.

Some Milford Residents Under Boil Water Order

Residents on Milford Road and Francis Street will be boiling their water over the Easter weekend.

Contractors putting in a new sewer main on Milford road accidentally broke a water main.
To fix it, crews from Saint John Water had to isolate a section leaving some residents without water.

The Department of Health is aware and the boil water order impacts the civic numbers 5 to 46 Milford Road along with 5, 20 and 22 Francis Street.

Water should be brought to a rolling boil for a full minute and then cooled before it can safely be consumed.

Two consecutive clean tests are needed before the boil water can be rescinded.
The boil water order is expected to last into early next week.

Cameron Supports 1.5T MRI For The Regional

The President and CEO of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation welcomes the addition of a 1.5T MRI calling them the 'workhorse used in the vast majority of MRI scanning'.
 
Tim Cameron tells CHSJ News while the 3T MRI would be good news for tertiary cares hospitals like the Regional, 5 new 1.5T MRI machines benefit everyone.

He says the 1.5T MRI machines are meant for the public for secondary care while Cameron adds the 3T MRI is a highly advanced machine mainly used for neuro surgery.

Cameron adds they would have to raise the million dollars they offered the government and he'd love to do it now saying it would be the easiest campaign they have ever done.

Nugent Calls Presentation By Ferguson "Outrageously Defamatory"

City Solicitor John Nugent continuing his testimony in the John Ferguson defamation trial.

Defense lawyer Rod Gillis trying to get Nugent to agree that Ferguson's presentation to council about alleged wrongdoing was not defamatory but Nugent saying that taken as a whole, he found the it "outrageously defamatory."

Nugent would also not agree with Gillis that the "sweeping things under the carpet" comment was about the city and not the pension board.

Nugent also vehemently denied that he kept a log or diary of all of Ferguson's comments.

He said if anyone did, he had no knowledge of it.

when asked by Gillis if he planned on suing the Provincial Finance Minister for his recent gambling analogy when describing the city's pension plan.

Nugent told the court he was no longer on the board.
 
The trial resumes on Wednesday  -- John Ferguson is expected to take the stand at that time.

Stabbing On Queen Street

City police on the scene of a stabbing on Queen Street.

A man has been taken to hospital with non-serious injuries and the Major Crime Unit is interviewing the other person that was involved

The stabbing happened around 4pm.

Health Critic Says MRI Move Is Two Years Late

The Opposition health critic says the Conservatives have changed their tune on 3T MRI's since they came to government.

Liberal MLA Bill Fraser telling the Legislature that when Premier David Alward was the opposition leader in July of 2010 he promised 3T MRI's for Bathurst and Edmunston but as premier later backed out of giving them to Saint John and Moncton.

Fraser thanking Conservative MLA Dr. Jim Parrot for standing up to his government and his premier on this issue adding two years have been wasted when those machines could be up and running right now.

City Solicitor Questioned About Where His Loyalties Lay

City Solicitor and Pension Board trustee John Nugent was questioned over his conflict of interest and where his obilgation was at the defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson.
 
Nugent testified his obligation as a trustee was to members of the city's pension plan which prompted Ferguson's lawyer, Rod Gillis to ask what was his obligation to the city. Nugent told the court to suggest this was self serving was wrong and the makeup of the Pension Board was not some scheme concocted by employees.

The trial heard about how the comparison of Saint John's pension plan problems with those in San Diego came about. The Pension Board objected to the comparison because of lawsuits and a fraud investigation into San Diego's pension plan.

 Ferguson's lawyer Rod Gillis pointed out it was former City Finance Commissioner and Provincial Auditor-General Darryl Wilson who emailed Ferguson suggesting San Diego had similar pension problems as Saint John. It was Wilson who suggested someone from Saint John should contact the people in San Diego. 

Gillis told the court eliminating early retirement in 2005 would have saved more than 32 million dollars and deindexing would have saved another 29 million when the pension plan's deficit was 45 million dollars.     

BREAKING NEWS - Government Moves On Powerful MRI

The Alward government is now moving toward the eventual purchase of more powerful so called 3-T M-R-I units.

Health Minister Madelaine Dube says an MRI advisory group will be established by May 1st to review the technology and decide how to proceed with implementation of the units - and - file a report to government by the end of October.

Meantime -- Dube says the province will continue with upgrading older M-R-I units around the province to new 1.5-T M-R-I units.

The governing Conservatives found themselves in the center of a debate after the Regional Hospital Foundation offered a million dollars to help purchase the more powerful unit for our hospital.

The department of health confirming to CHSJ News that Saint John will be receiving one of the new 1.5T MRI units.

John Ferguson Defamation Trial

Do Not Drink Water Order Lifted

The folks who live in Blacks Harbour can now drink their water again. 

Blacks Harbour Mayor Terry James says the Department of Health has rescinded the Do Not Consume Order as the water test results it took were acceptable.

The do not drink order was imposed after the water became discoloured last weekend.

Mulcair Coming To Saint John

Saint John will be getting a visit from the new leader of the Federal NDP this month. 

Thomas Mulcair is one of the scheduled speakers when the provincial NDP holds its annual convention in the city starting on April 13th.

Mulcair's visit comes as the latest poll puts the federal Conservatives and New Democrats in a statistical dead heat.    

The survey carried out by Canadian Press-Harris Decima shows Conservative party support at 34 per cent while the N-D-P is at 32 per cent. The poll is seen as a sign the N-D-P got a boost from Mulcair's election as party leader almost two weeks ago. 

The Liberals, meantime, have dropped back to 19 per cent.
  

Hefty Increase In Price Of Self Serve Regular

As expected self serve regular has gone up in price and is now more expensive than diesel.

The rise, after the weekly setting came to almost 3 cents a litre and is being sold in the city for $1.39.6.

 Diesel is unchanged at $1.38.4 a litre.

Heating oil is a bit cheaper at $1.21.5 and propane is also down with a listed price of $1.04.9 a litre.

Saint John Y Honours Cohen & Peterson

An advocate and mentor loved for her enthusiasm is how the 2012 Red Triangle Award recipient Erminie Cohen was described.
The Saint John Y handing out the award in a gala ceremony at the Trade and Convention Centre.

The retired Senator tells CHSJ News volunteers have to care and want to give back to their communities.
She says once you make a difference you want to keep going.

Stephany Peterson, a UNB Saint John student and employee, is the 2012 Leader to Watch.
She says the school's sense of community exists in the whole city not just at the Tucker Park campus.

Over $50, 000 dollars was raised at the Red Triangle Awards for the Saint John Y's Strong Kids campaign.