Mayor Court Talks About Budget

    




(Mayor Ivan Court - file photo)

Saint John Mayor Ivan Court says he is feeling no pressure when it comes to finalizing the budget. The question was asked because with the exception of Grand Bay Westfield, all of the outlying municialities have cut their tax rates but Court tells CHSJ News, Saint John provides most of the infrastructure for those people living in those communities to come to work so he can't see how the city budget can be cut by the five cents recommended by the Province.


Court says the budget for Saint John will be handed down the first or second week of January.

Cable Breaks on Westfield Ferry

   (WestField Ferry in Action)
            (File Photo)


An update on the ferry from the Westfield landing which broke loose earlier today. Department of Transportation spokes-person Andrew Holland tells CHSJ News, the ferry has been towed back to shore and everyone on board, including a school bus and it's driver are fine.


Holland says it will take some time for inspectors to figure out what made the cable snap but it could be something as simple as wear and tear.

Ambulance New Brunswick Grabs Saftey Award

Ambulance New Brunswick is being awarded the first ever EMS Safety Foundation Award. It's to recognize the companies dedication to world-leading ambulance safety policies and practices. Matt Crossman is vehicle safety manager and will take possession of the hardware early in the new year.


Ambulance New Brunswick has more than 900 paramedics stationed across the province.

Province on Board With Saint John 225

(Tourism and Parks Minister Stu Jamieson at City Hall)
                 (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Just days after announcing the line-up for the Saint John 225 celebration, the Province has come on board with some funding. $225,000 dollars was presented to chair Peter Buckland at City Hall earlier today. Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson says this is a winning formula the Province is happy to be part of.

Ottawa is on board with $750,000 dollars in funding for the event and the City has matched the Province with $225,000 dollars.

Canada Games Stadium Upgrade

    (Canada Games Stadium in Millidgeville)
                    (File Photo)

Premier Graham remains committed to kicking in some provincial money to help with the six million dollar make over of the Canada Games Stadium and track. Graham tells CHSJ News the province is working with Ottawa to get some federal cash to help with the expansion of internet broadband in the province -- cash which could be directed to projects like the Stadium upgrade.

The federal government has already committed 1.4-million dollars to the project while U-N-B -- the city -- and -- the private sector have also committed funds.

Saint John Store Broken Into For a Third Time

The Long and McQuade Music Shop on Rothesay Avenue at McAllister Drive was broken into for the third time. A window was smashed and city police have one person in jail with charges pending including probation violation.

Price of Natural Gas Could Go Up

The price of natural gas in the province could rise January 1st if Enbridge Gas gets approval from the Energy and Utilities Board for an interim increase on its delivery rate. A hearing is being held in Saint John today.
If approved, delivery rates for residential customers will rise by about 10 per cent until the company gets a formal ruling on its request to make the increase permanent.
But some large corporate clients would see their delivery rates double if the interim increase is approved. The town of St. Stephen is opposed and will talk about the impact a 114 per cent increase on delivery rates would have on the community's two major employers, Flakeboard and Ganong Brothers.

Fire in Lower Burton

Remembering to check the battery in a smoke detector helped save a family from disaster when their house caught on fire early this morning in Lower Burton.

Around 3:30 the family of 5 woke up to the smoke detector and were able to escape injury.
Canadian Red Cross volunteers are arraging emergency accomodations while the insurance adjustors inspect the damage and process the claim.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the Oromocto Fire Department says it looks like it started in the chimney and spread through the walls.

Holiday Travel Tips

[President and CEO of Saint John Airport Bernie LeBlanc---File Photo]

Adding to the chaos of this time of the year is those who are travelling to be with loved ones for the holiday. Nobody knows about the traffic ramping up better than the President and CEO of the Saint John Airport. Bernie Leblanc tells CHSJ News, if your travelling with gifts, leaving them unwrapped until you arrive at your destination is going to be a big help:
Weather is also a big factor when travelling this time of the year and Leblanc points out, weather can change very quickly so get to the airport a little early and keep an ear to the latest weather forecast.

Saint John Community Arts Board Looking for New Members

Tomorrow nights Common Council meeting will put some focus on finding new members for the Saint John Community Arts Board. 6 members of the board will be stepping down in the new year. So far names brought forth to replace members include Stephen Tobias, Steve Carson and Signe Gurholt.
The Board was established in 2003 to develop, advise, and recommend to Common Council, policies, activities, and initiatives in arts and cultural matters in Saint John.
Council starts tomorrow at 6:30.

Another Run For Dr. Ed Doherty

The Minister of Supply and Services is sticking with Provincial Politics. Despite alot of speculation to the contrary, Ed Doherty tells CHSJ News, he will re-offer next September:

One member of the Liberal Party that won't re-offer is Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre and Saint John Fundy MLA Stuart Jamieson told our news-room back in October he still hasn't made a decision on whether he will re-offer.

Nearly $400,000 Expected From Hospital Home Lottery

Another Hospital Home Lottery has come and gone so what was the bottom line. Executive Director of the Foundation Tim Cameron tells CHSJ News, he is very pleased with how things finished up....22,000 tickets sold.
Cameron expects when the numbers are added up, they will be close to $400,000 dollars which will be used for cancer, heart and mental health projects at the Regional. As for next year, Cameron tells us the draw will be the same but different.

The Home For the Holidays Program

The Delta Brunswick is again giving during the Christmas season. The Home for the Holidays program is in affect again this year and General Manager Paulette Hicks tells CHSJ News, this is the 20th year they have put the offer out for families needing a place to stay.
The program runs between the 23rd of this month til the 3rd of January. Families interested in taking part in the program should contact the hospital at 648-6000.

Long Wharf Lobster Sale

Lobster for Sale at Long Wharf

In case you couldn't make it to Long Wharf for the Lobster Sale.....here are some pictures taken by Jim Hennessy.

          (Fishing Vessels Pull into Long Wharf)

        (Lobster Fans Line-Up for Crustaceans)

          (Cooked Lobsters Ready to Be Sold)

     (The Line-Up for Lobsters Continued to Grow)

Lobster For Sale on Long Wharf

(Line-Up at Long Wharf Looking for Fresh Lobsters)
                  (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

They were hoping for a big crowd and that is exactly what local lobster fisherman got. The line-up started at ten in the morning and a steady stream of people with coolers continue to show up at Long Wharf for an amazing deal on crustaceans. They are going for between four and five dollars a pound. Colleen Lynch is spokes-person for the Fundy North Fishermans Association and tells CHSJ News, they should have known plenty of people would turn out but you never want to take anything for granted.


Lynch adds an important part of today is to keep awareness front and center that there is a local fishery. The lobster are on sale until three o'clock.

Pemier Graham Talks About Proposed NB Power Sale To Hyrdo Quebec

Wrong Way Driver

One man charged with impaired driving last night after driving the wrong direction on the highway. Early this morning police followed a vehicle heading eastbound in the westbound lane on Highway 1. The 28 year old driver proceeded to hit an oncoming vehicle before pulling over on the Fox Farm Road.

No one was injured. The man has been charged and released.

Impaired Driving

A Rothesay Regional Police officer thinks a move by the Conversative opposition to tougher the penalties for drunk drivers is a good idea. The Conservatives want to see the number of days a person's licence would be suspended if they blow a warning after a breathalyzer from 24 hours to 5 days.
Sargeant Evan Scott tells CHSJ News any kind of a deterent against impaired driver is a positive move. Scott says their officers will be out doing random checks through the Holidays looking for impaired drivers. He encourages anyone who suspects they see an impaired driver on the road to call 911.

Randy Nelson Trenholm Inquest

The death of Randy Nelson Trenholm will go under the spotlight during an inquest to be held in the new year between Feb. 22nd and the 26th. It was back on June.2nd of 2007 that Trenholm was unresponsive while in the custody of RCMP. Emergency medical services transported Trenholm to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Presiding coroner John Evans and a jury will publicly hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses in order to determine the facts surrounding the death. The jury will have then make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths under similar circumstances.