Rothesay Police Releases Citizen Satisfaction Survey

How are we doing? That's the question Rothesay Regional Police is posing to the public. 

They've released a citizen satisfaction survey to get the public's opinion on what they're doing right and what needs improving with questions about traffic and patrol, major crime, victim services, and more.

Constable Krystal Daley, their Community Relations Officer, tells CHSJ News they take the results shown in the final report very seriously, and the survey will help them map out where the department is headed in the next five years. 

The survey is released every three years. This is the first year that the survey has been released online. For a link to the survey, click here.

Moore Gets A Promotion In Harper Shuffle

Rob Moore has to be smiling. A massive cabinet shuffle sees the Fundy Royal MP land a promotion.

Moore has been named Minister of State for ACOA and Regional Minister for New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

In welcoming 8 new faces to cabinet, Prime Minister Stephen Harper kept New Brunswick MP Bernard Valcourt right where he was in Aboriginal Affairs.

The newbies include Shelly Glover as Heritage Minister, Michelle Rempel in the Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and Kellie Leitch takes on the Labour portfolio.

Rona Ambrose is now Minister of Health while Julian Fantino becomes Minister of Veteran's Affairs.

Looking For Fresh Info On February Armed Robbery

Crime Stoppers and the Woodstock RCMP are looking for a man responsible for an armed robbery in Lower Woodstock over four months ago.

About 10pm on February 24th,  police responded to a complaint of an armed robbery at Maliseet Fuels in Lower Woodstock.
 
A man entered the gas station armed with a hand gun and demanded money from the cashier.  He took off without getting anything and the clerk was not hurt.

The man is described as being about 5 foot 8, weighing 250 to 270 pounds wearing a blue or black cargo pants, a white shirt, a dark blue or black hoodie, black gloves with a balaclava over his face. 

To see video and find the numbers for police or Crime Stoppers, click here 
and click here

Portion of Road Closes as Four-Week Project Begins

Whether you're a walker or a driver, a four-week project starting today could have an impact on your routine. 

Part of Pettingill Road is barricaded and closed until approximately August 9th as Fairville Construction Ltd., the contractor for the town of Quispamsis, installs storm culverts and a sanitary gravity main. 

Director of Engineering & Works for the town, Gary Losier, tells CHSJ News they're replacing an old line that was installed in the early 1970s. Losier says it could be a substantial job, but they don't anticipate needing more than four weeks to complete the work.

Click here to see a map of alternate routes.

Common Council To Hear About The Need To Throw Out Less Trash

The Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission will be making a presentation to Common Council tonight on the need for more of us to recycle and compost with less garbage going into the landfill. 

It wants to see a long term plan put in place for the next 15 years or so.

Brenda MacCallum of the Waste Commission warns taxpayers won't want to incur the cost of another landfill before it's absolutely necessary because the cost would be immense. Crane Mountain cost 21 million dollars to open.
 
MacCallum admits there are challenges with the blue bins as well as how to make recycling and composting easier for people who live in apartments. The numbers for both recycling and composting have stagnated. 

In Malton, Massachusetts, residents are charged 2 dollars per bag of garbage with the amount being thrown out dropping by half and recycling rising by 74 per cent. MacCallum adds in jurisdictions where limits have been placed, there has not been a problem with illegal dumping.

Saint John M-P Not Too Concerned Over Latest Polling

Support for the federal Liberals nationwide dropped by 5.6 per cent in June from May but they still lead in polling with 34.4 per cent support. The Conservatives are next at 29 per cent followed by the NDP at 24 per cent. 

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News the Harper Government faced a number of tough issues during the last session of Parliament so he's not surprised at the numbers, especially if the Opposition is doing its job properly. Weston compares polling numbers to peaks and valleys.
 
In Atlantic Canada, support for the Liberals and their new leader Justin Trudeau is at 47.2 per cent and that's the highest of any region in the country.

Auto Dealers Upset With Rothesay Avenue Traffic Lights

The Saint John Auto Dealers Association has sent an open letter to Common Council complaining about the traffic tieups with the lights at Rothesay Avenue and Ashburn Lake Road by Deluxe French Fries and looking for a permanent solution.

The auto dealers claim businesses along Rothesay Avenue are getting fed up with the lights which are designed to lead up to Costco and Eastpoint from the highway. 

The letter states drivers, at times, have to wait through 3 or 4 light changes before they can make their left turn. 

This was supposed to be a temporary fix but it's been six years now and the auto dealers say there appears to be little concern after a meeting with the mayor and no time frame for constructing a permanent intersection with better traffic flow.

Setting Off Fireworks In City Illegal, Dangerous Says Fire Department

For some, a sparkling fireworks display isn't a spectacle reserved just for the first of July. However, the fire department is reminding people the sale, display and setting off of fireworks in the city is not only illegal, but downright dangerous.

Division Chief Mark Wilson tells CHSJ News fireworks are very hot and when they're set off, they may not fully ignite. Meaning, a dangerous piece of material would be on the ground which could lead to someone becoming badly hurt. He says they can be especially dangerous if they land on someone's roof as they have the potential to set a house ablaze.

Wilson says if you're not qualified to set off fireworks, you need a permit, signed by the Fire Chief himself, to have your own spectacle.

Motorcyclist Injured In Collision

A motorcycle driver is suffering from serious injuries after a crash. It happened at 9pm yesterday at the intersection of 137 A and Route 111, in front of the fire station.

Rothesay Regional Police say from their preliminary investigations, they believe a car tried to make a U-turn and the motorcycle collided with the vehicle. The motorcyclist was brought to hospital. 

Police say they had to bring in an vehicular accident reconstruction expert, and charges are most likely pending under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Fatal Moncton Shooting Involving Police Under Investigation

A man is dead following a confrontation with police early Saturday morning.

It began just before 6am, when Codiac Regional RCMP responded to a complaint of an armed person trying to break into a vehicle near the Moncton Coliseum. But by the time they arrived on the scene, the suspect was gone. 

An hour later, as they were trying to track down the man, shots were fired in the Whitney Avenue-Jordan Avenue area of the city. Later, a man in his thirties was pronounced dead. 

The incident is being investigated by the Fredericton Police.

Slow First Half For New Home Starts

New home construction in the greater Saint John area remains sluggish this year - figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing show 78-new units breaking ground in the first half of this year - about 40 less than the same period last year.

C-M-H-C says new home starts in Moncton have also slowed this year while Fredericton is running slightly ahead of last year's numbers fueled by a surge in multi-residential construction.

No Charges In East Side Crash That Snapped Pole

No criminal charges are being laid in the case of a truck crashing into a utility pole on Loch Lomond Road, snapping it in two.

That's according to City Police, who say the driver, who was brought to hospital after the vehicle went into a ditch, is suffering from non-life threatening injuries. 

Traffic was blocked, and police were on scene for close to an hour. It was dark in the homes of 1800 NB Power customers, as power outages swept through Saint John and Willow Grove. It's since been restored.

Mounties Investigating Fatal ATV Rollover

Police in the northern part of the province investigating a fatal ATV crash on a beach east of Miramichi. 

A 36 year-old man died on the scene from his injuries after the vehicle flipped over as he was driving on L'abbature Beach. RCMP did not release his name, however they're confirming he is from Pointe-Sapin.

Uptown Home Invasion Causing Injuries

A man sustaining minor injuries after a home invasion in the uptown area.

Sergeant Magee of the Saint John Police Force says the 43 year old man in the house was hurt in the incident, which happened in the early morning hours.

No arrests have been made, and it's currently being investigated by the city police's Major Crime Unit.

Driver of Overturned Dump Truck Hospitalized

Photo courtesy of Musquash Fire Dept.

After being treated at the scene by firefighters, the driver of an overturned dump truck was taken by ambulance to the Saint John Regional Hospital with injuries.

The vehicle veered off the road, and was empty when it rolled over, landing on the driver's side along the shoulder of Highway 1, westbound near kilometre 76. 

Both the Musquash Fire Department and Blacks Harbour Fire Department responding to the rollover and working to contain and diesel fuel leak from the truck. Firefighters spent several hours on the scene, as the dump truck was taken away by a wrecker.

It's the second rollover the Musquash Fire Department has responded to in as many days.

Dump Truck Flips on Highway 1

Crews from the Musquash and Blacks Harbour fire departments responding to an overturned dump truck on Highway 1 just before 6pm.


It happened in the westbound lanes near kilometre 76.

Police Identify Body From Long Wharf

City police confirming the identity of a body found in the Harbour last month is that of a missing Korean woman.

45 year old Yeonhee Choi was reported missing back on April 22nd.

A body was discovered in the water at Long Wharf on the morning of June 24th.

City police offering their condolences to her family and want to thank both the public and the media for their help in the matter.

Tourism Minister Says No To Drive Thru

Provincial Tourism Minister Trevor Holder says it's time we bury the myth that we are a drive through province.

Holder says he only hears that from New Brunswickers and he tells CHSJ News his department has been promoting our unique features like the Bay of Fundy - our river systems - beaches - and - Acadien culture that attract new visitors and new money to the province.

The Minister says if we continue to focus on those things and show our pride in what we have then the sky is the limit in terms of reaching our potential.

And he says that potential will translate not only into new money for tourism operators but also provincial coffers that will help fund schools - hospitals - and - roads.

UPDATE: Truck Snaps Pole Knocking Out Power To Many

Traffic is blocked along the Loch Lomond Road after a truck went off the road and hit a pole snapping it in half.

No traffic is getting through past the airport near First Loch Lomond Lake as many wires are down in the area.

The truck that hit the pole is in the ditch. No word on the condition of the driver.

Crews from Saint John Energy and NB Power are on the scene along with other emergency personnel.

Two unplanned NB power outages are impacting more than 1800 homes and businesses in the City. 

NB Power says the lights should be back on by 8pm tonight.

ATV Federation Responds To Loss Of Funding For Trail Development

Publicly owned lands in the province should be open to all trail users with no exclusions for ATV's. 

That's the reaction from the Provincial ATV Federation to word the Trans Canada Trail Foundation lost out on 1.5 million dollars to develop a 50 kilometer section of an abandoned railway line into a non-motorised greenway trail. 

ATV Federation President Daniel Boucher tells CHSJ News the province also wants to get maximum value for its scarce dollars and that only happens when you have multi-use trails. He argues very few non-motorized groups use and have enough funding to maintain the trails on their own.

The New Brunswick Trails Council complains the 1.5 million dollars in funding was lost because ATV's would be using the trail and the donation was contingent on that not happening.
    

Effort Will Be Made to Restore Beach in Passamaquoddy Bay

A big beach cleanup will be taking place Saturday in Passmaquoddy Bay at Simpson Island. 

Andrew Holland of the Nature Conservancy tells CHSJ News the island may be uninhabited but there's alot of garbage on the beach including old fishing nets that have to be removed because birds can get caught up in that and both birds and fish can choke on the plastic styrofoam.

Holland says they're hoping to gather enough garbage to fill from 90 to 150 big bags despite the fact the island is uninhabited. 

The volunteers for the cleanup are meeting at the Stuart Town Wharf on Deer Island and then taking a boat trip to the island for the cleanup between 10 and 4.

Pettingill Road Closure Starts Monday

If you live near the Pettingill Road area of Quispam, a major construction project starting Monday might impact your life.

As the Town of Quispamsis begins a project to install storm culverts and more,  it will require the closure of Pettingill Road between the CN Railway crossing and civic address #79 between July 15th and August 9th.

A detour will be in place and they point out the area will not be open to pedestrians as it will not be safe.

For more information on the work, click here 

To hear more detail about the Pettingill project, be listening to CHSJ News on Sunday and Monday.

Bordertown Woman Upset Over Bilingual Only Job Postings

A St. Stephen woman is sounding the alarm about the Official Languages Act. 

Joyce Wright is concerned how the Act is affecting Charlotte County in striving to provide a 50% bilingual workforce in every provincial place of employment.

Wright says this doesn't make sense in Charlotte County where almost 92% of the population is English only.

She says as new positions become available they are posted as bilingual mandatory adding their english-only citizens are being denied jobs simply because they speak english only.

Wright says everyone deserves the right to be served in the language of their choice -- but there are other ways of accomplishing it -- like using technology, instead of denying jobs to English-only people.

Wright has started a petition on the issue,  to contact her call 1-506-466-2431 or email at djwright@nbnet.nb.ca

Former Dog Signs With Anaheim

Former Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant has a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

Grant was selected first overall by the Sea Dogs in the '05 Q League entry draft.

The Antigonish native spent three and a half seasons with the Dogs and was named captain in his third year. 

He ranks fourth on the Sea Dogs all-time scoring list for defencemen with 124 points.

 

Trails Council Tries But Fails To Keep ATV's Off Trans Canada Trail

The New Brunswick Trails Council expressing disappointment with the province for its refusal to keep the Trans Canada Trail throughout the province free of ATVS. 

Executive Director Paul Jorgensen tells CHSJ News the decision to keep the trail motorized meant they lost out in $1.5 million in funding and it's not what the users want. He maintains they don't feel safe when the A-T-V's are there when they want to walk and cycle. 

Jorgenson claims there are enough legal ATV trails as it is.

Car Lands On Roof In Water

There was a single vehicle crash along Route 790 in Chance Harbour last night shortly after 6. 

When Musquash firefighters got there, they found a car on its roof in the water near the Cemetery Loop Road. 

The driver, though, had managed to get out of the car and suffered just minor injuries.

(Photo courtesy of Lt Paul Poirier, Musquash Fire Department)

Doucet Finds Alward Government Crafty With The Truth On Lepreau Overruns

Despite claims to accept nothing less than full compensation for the cost overruns on the Lepreau refurbishment, the Liberals are seeing zero action on that.
 
The M-L-A in Charlotte County, Rick Doucet tells CHSJ News the cost overruns prove the Alward Conservatives can't stand up to the federal government.


A memo prepared for the Prime Minister's office estimates the refurbishment could wind up costing 3.3 billion dollars, almost a billion dollars more than previously estimated.

He says it's like the tax increase on July 1st adding the government is crafty by withholding the whole story from taxpayers.

Doucette says we won't see rates increase to cover NB Power's debt until after April of 2015, long past the next provincial election.

Alward Thanks Volunteers

The Premier is thanking people in the province for stepping up to help in the wake of summer tragedies.

David Alward also thanks the Red Cross for guiding the efforts to help the victims of Alberta and Ontario flooding and those suffering following the train disaster in Quebec.

He points out the Atlantic team of volunteers also provided help to those displaced after the Wabush forest fire in Labrador and another in northern Quebec.

You can donate to the Red Cross to provide help to those impacted by Alberta flooding and the aftermath of the Lac Megantic train derailment.

To make a donation, call 1-800-418-1111.
 

Bad Luck For Wannabe North End Thief

A 30 year old man is now facing a list charges as long as your arm in connection with an incident shortly after 1am today.

Sergeant Jay Henderson tells CHSJ News police spotted a man looking in windows and checking cars near McLaren Boulevard. When they ran the name of the person, they found he van was stolen.When the man realized he was caught, he tried to run and a short foot chase followed.

He's now facing 6 charges including possession of stolen property, theft of a vehicle, possession of break and enter tools, drug possession,  resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer.

He is also being investigated for a theft earlier in the evening at Sobeys on Westmoreland Road.

Police Search For Suspects In Reversing Falls Break-In

Police are looking for the public's help nabbing the culprits in a break in at the Reversing Falls Jet Boat office.

Sergeant Jay Henderson tells CHSJ News the call came in shortly after midnight.

A cash register and an unknown amount of money were stolen.

 Anyone with any information on their or any other break and enter is asked to contact police immediately Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Rothesay Told How Much New Arena Will Cost

A new arena in Rothesay would cost an estimated 13 million dollars which is less than half that of a multi-purpose field house. 

The town's Finance Committee expects $6 million would be contributed by the federal and provincial governments. The President of the KV Basketball Association Peter Bourque would like to see the old arena renovated with three or four courts. 

He says they are running short of gym time, so they have had to cut back the amount of time kids can play and the amount of teams they can support.

Bourque has been told the town will do all it can to accommodate more space for basketball.

Documentary On Hampton Man To Premiere Saturday

If you ever drive through Hampton you've probably seen the John Hooper statue of John Peters Humphrey--but how much do you know about the local man who wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? 

Filmmaker Greg Hemmings tells CHSJ News his new documentary, "The Boy Who Was Bullied" sheds some light on Humphrey's troubled childhood. Humphrey was a child amputee and a frequent victim of bullying. This film will show how he not only endured but eventually triumphed, becoming dean of law at McGill. After World War II, as part of a committee led by Eleanor Roosevelt, he drafted the document that is arguably the greatest achievement of the United Nations.

It includes the right of every person to live in safety.
 
The movie shows how Humphrey rose above his struggles to write one of the most influential documents in the West. It premieres on CBC Atlantic on Saturday at 8:00 pm AST.

Gas Prices Rise Significantly

As the price of oil continues to rise on world markets, we're feeling the effect of that in Saint John after the weekly setting of gas prices. 

Self serve regular is over 5 cents a litre more expensive this morning at $1.29.6 in the city. Diesel rising, as well, to $1.33.1. 

Heating oil is up to a maximum of $1.15.8 a litre but propane is down a bit at a maximum price of 95.7 cents.
  
The price of oil closed yesterday at its highest level in 16 months. The price has jumped 14 per cent in the past two and a half weeks because of rising demand in the U.S. and upheaval in Egypt.

Finance Critic Calls For Fiscal Update, Job Summit

With a rise in the province's unemployment rate, the Opposition Liberals are calling for an update from the Finance Minister on the fiscal situation in New Brunswick.

But Finance Critic Roger Melanson tells CHSJ News that's not all that's on their wish list — they also want a job summit hosted, something they've been asking about for the last two years.

Melanson says the Alward government doesn't have all of the solutions, and he wants to see different stakeholders from around the province come together and have a serious conversation about how to address the job crisis and financial situation. 

He says the job crisis is affecting the quality of life of New Brunswickers because services are being cut.

Child & Youth Mental Health Services Research Gets $2.5 Million

A group of researchers from the Maritimes trying to make life a little easier for parents of children and youth suffering from depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses, getting a financial boost.

The group getting $2.5 million from the Department of Health to identify gaps in services available for kids and young people who have mental illnesses. Dr. Scott Ronis is a professor at UNB and the team's provincial representative, and tells CHSJ News their end goal is to make it easier to get help.

Part of the project is creating a web portal, where people can find and contribute information about the services they're getting. Ronis says that will change over time, so the idea would be to follow what is happening on the ground.

The funding announcement was made by Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq on June 26.

Users Alone Aren't Enough To Pay For Recreation

Recreation doesn't come cheap......Just ask the town of Sussex where the arena is saddled with a huge deficit and in danger of closing. 

Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Losier waged her own battle a while back in a vain attempt to persuade people outside the town in the local service districts to pay for recreation they may not necessarily use at the River Valley Community Centre.

She says you can't just depend on the users to pick up the tab and recreation can mean alot when it comes to growing the population and even enhancing the chances of selling your home. 

The Fundy Regional Services Commission will, at least, talk about regionalising recreation but not before hearing a presentation on what it means to have proper recreational opportunities.

What's Happening With The Gothic Arches?

Although the Gothic Arches was sold to a Toronto developer back in November, to the casual observer  there hasn't been any visible progress on the proposal to turn the historic church into condos.

 We checked in with Saint John real estate agent Bob McVicar, and he tells CHSJ News the project is exactly where they expected it to be, considering all the factors that need to be taken into account. All of the groups that were using the space have been relocated and the space is ready to go, says McVicar.

Developer Jody Cairns has moved to Saint John to oversee the project. According to McVicar there could be from 20 to 80 units put into the Arches depending on what happens with the local real estate market--which could change radically if the West-East oil pipeline comes to fruition.

Mayor Is Confident About Rail Safety

There has been some concern expressed in light of the train disaster in Quebec about how safe rail traffic through the Saint John area is these days.

 Mayor Mel Norton is confident what happened in Lac Magentic last weekend would not take place here. Norton explains Saint John has an excellent safety record with trains over the years which are never parked on inclines.

Rothesay Council isn't as confident as Norton is and wants more information about rail activity through the town with concern over the number of cars and the speed they're travelling at.

Little Local Restaurant Getting Some Major National Attention

A little restaurant in the countryside outside of Sussex is going to be getting some national attention.

Giermindl's  Old Bavarian Restaurant is being featured in the reality show You've Gotta Eat Here. Founders Adolf and Olga Giermindl along with 9 of their 11 children immigrated to Canada in 1976. They chose the Knightville, Kings County property to settle on because the rolling hills reminded us of their native Bavaria region in Germany.

Manager Claudia Giermindl tells CHSJ News it was quite the experience working with show host John Catucci--even though she had a thing or two to teach him about traditional German cusine

The family-owned restaurant raises all their beef, lamb and pork on their own farm and specializes in traditional dishes like cabbage rolls, pork hocks, and schnitzel. To check out the website click here

Man Killed In Train Incident Identified

The Saint John Police Force are confirming that the victim of July 6th train incident involving a 48 year old man, who was killed on the train tracks is Paul Kenneth Lorne Hayward of Saint John.
 
The incident occurred at or near Marsh Creek at approximately 5:45 AM.

Greater Regional Policing Shot Down

The idea of one regional police department for the entire Saint John area has gone down in flames at the Regional Services Commission, even the option of leaving Rothesay and Quispamsis out of the equation didn't fly. 

Mayor Mel Norton wanted to have options put on the table with how much they would cost. He sees the Regional Services Commission as a forum to have such a discussion and expressed disappointment the other members didn't appear open to new information.

Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Losier warns a study of this kind would be a waste of time, wind up costing as much as 250 thousand dollars and for what at the end of the day since no one is interested.

Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop told the Commission the only two options he could see for greater regional policing would be the RCMP or a whole new police department. 

When asked about the RCMP in Saint John, Norton replied by saying we have a good police department but Common Council is dedicated to finding better ways to deliver value for tax dollars.

Toughest Law Enforcement Officers Could Compete In SJ

With any luck, North America's toughest cops and firefighters could be showing off their skills in Saint John in 2018. The Port City has been shortlisted for the Can-Am Police-Fire Games. 

Volunteer Gail Bremner tells CHSJ News the Games have something for everyone, such as SWAT, police service dog, toughest firefighter alive, pistol, and toughest competitor alive.   

The last Canadian city to host the Can-Am Police-Fire Games was Saskatoon. According to Bremner, if Saint John is selected  it could inject as much as 6 to 8 million dollars into the local economy. We'll find out the results in November.

Tories "Tone Deaf" On Women's Issues, Says Cardy

Women looking for alternatives to a traditional hospital birth are out of luck in New Brunswick---at least for now. 

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy tells CHSJ News cutting funding to the Midwifery Association of New Brunswick is a backward move which fundamentally infringes on a woman's right to give birth where she chooses. 

According to Cardy, the $10,000 the association needs to function is about equal to the cost of a single ministerial car--and the potential savings associated with midwifery are significant in light of the province's struggling healthcare system.

Using a midwife is $800 cheaper per hospital birth and $1800 cheaper per home birth according to the Ontario Department of Health. Cardy says with doctors in the province already overtaxed it makes no sense to cut a program we already promised to implement back in 2010.

Premier Sends Condolences To People Of Lac-Mégantic

Premier David Alward expressing his condolences to the people of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and says the province stands ready to offer any material support that may be helpful.

The small town east of Montreal devastated after a train derailment over the weekend. When the train went off the tracks on Saturday, it caused explosions, destroying buildings and killing at least 13 people.

To read Alward's message in its entirety, click here.

Curbside Recycling Close To Reality In Rothesay

With cans, bottles and other recyclables piling up next to blue bins around the town, one councillor is saying Rothesay is close to getting curbside recycling. 

Matt Alexander, who sits on the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, tells CHSJ News they've been talking about curbside recycling for the past year, and are looking at implementing it in the fall. 

However, he's just been named the town's representative to look at regionalization of waste and says talks on that front could affect the plan to start curbside recycling then positively or negatively. 

Alexander says collaborating on the waste issue will be a good thing. He says by working together, there's the potential to save money. He says we need to find ways to increase education on recycling and composting and create programs to deal with the stagnating levels. 

The Fundy Solid Waste Commission looking for a new regional approach to increase recycling and composting in place by next summer.

Recycling And Composting Hit Brick Wall

The amount of material being recycled and composted in the Fundy Region is stagnating.....So says Brenda MacCallum of the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission who wants to see a review of what can be done to get people to throw away less garbage. 

She tells CHSJ News one option is a pay as you throw system with people being charged for the additional garbage they toss out.
 
MacCallum says the town of Hampton has imposed a limit on garbage with success without illegal dumping. The town of Rothesay is moving towards curbside recycling.

The Solid Waste Commission would like a regional approach and a decision made on what that should be by next June.

Town Council In Rothesay Takes Official Stand Against Greater Regional Policing

Regional Policing is supposed to be talked about at today's meeting of the Fundy Regional Service Commission and Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop will be voicing that town's opposition. 

Rothesay Council has passed a motion to make clear it has no interest in such an arrangement after hearing opposition from both the police commission and police union in the K-V. 

Mayor Mel Norton is pushing for the idea of one regional police department for the Saint John area but Bishop says he has not been shown where the economic advantage is for the town. 

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll has also come out against. Both say the two police departments co-operate with eachother and they want to see that to continue.

Rothesay Concerned About Rail Safety

Rothesay Council wants a report on train traffic going through the town these days, wondering how safe it really is. 

This item was put on the town's agenda by Deputy Mayor Nancy Grant long before the train derailment over the weekend in Quebec. She says the train tracks are very close to homes and that scares her.             

Grant says the only way to evacuate the people in Kennebecasis Park would be by water since the train tracks are at the only access to and from K-Park. 

She's also expressing concern at seeing trains with as many as 82 rail cars passing through the town and almost all of them are transporting petroleum which is highly combustable. 

Councillor Peter Lewis says he lives near the rail tracks and would like the see the trains go at a slower speed through the town. Municipalities have no say over trains and can't even impose a speed limit.

Parking Lot Being Expanded At Airport

An increase in business is prompting an upgrade of the long term parking area at the airport.
 
Work is underway until July 19th on expanding and reconfiguring the parking lot with the addition of 90 spaces. 

Airport President and C-E-O David Allen says the current lot is at capacity thanks to unprecedented growth in the winter seasonal flights by Sunwing and growing numbers for Air Canada. 

If you have to use the long term lot, access to it may be relocated temporarily but Allen says when it's all done, manoevering about will be alot easier.

Province Cuts Funding To Midwifery Council

The President of the Midwives Association of New Brunswick calls a funding cut by the provincial government a shameful loss.

Citing financial constraints, the government is suspending the work of the council in implementing policies and standards necessary for the implemention of midwifery services.
 
Association President Nathalie Pambrun tells CHSJ News cutting funding is short-sighted and makes no sense at this time.

She says they have some good momentum with the work the council has already done and she finds it very unfortunate that it should close for such a small amount of money.

Pambrun says they are disappointed by the government's decision adding people have been waiting for access to these services since the government announced the implementation of the Midwifery Act in 2010.