(Conservative Candidate In Rothesay Margaret Ann Blaney) (File Photo)
The Conservative candidate running in Rothesay, Margaret Ann Blaney is cautiously optimistic about the latest poll numbers which indicate the Conservatives could be on the verge of winning a majority government.
She does say the reception when campaigning door to door has been good, if that's any indication.
Blaney tells CHSJ News people are telling her they're getting more comfortable with Alward, the more they are exposed to him and one man compared him to former federal Conservative leader Robert Stanfield.
(T.A.'s Earlier This Week At HarbourView High) (Photo By Jim Hennessy)
It's day five of a work to rule campaign by Provincial Support Workers.
Demonstrations continue at schools around Greater Saint John.
Corrine Kilpatrick is set up with her co-workers in front of Glen Falls school and tells CHSJ News, the average salary for a teachers assistant is $17,000 dollars but this dispute isn't about cash but more hours to be eligible for a full-time pension.
Kilpatrick says the union is more than willign to get back to the bargaining table as soon as the Province offers something fair and equitable.
Liberal Leader Shawn Graham says he wants to resume negotiations with the union to go over recommendations laid out in a recent report in which he hopes will resolve the dispute.
Turning the Union Deli on Union Street into a pub style restaurant will go ahead but not without some difficulty. The owner of the building, Jack Trainer had some trouble coming to an agreement with the city on what he will be allowed to do.
Common Councillor Donnie Snook is confident it won't turn into a dive but fellow Councillor Peter McGuire says he remains opposed because, in his view, that neighbourhood is too vulnerable to have another bar.
No entertainment will be allowed beyond 10:00 at night and it will be permitted to open at 7 in the morning for breakfast.
Insurance adjusters are assessing the damage from a fire outside the historic train station in Sussex which now houses a military museum and tourist information office.
Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr tells CHSJ News the fire was deliberately set which is very disturbing considering the target which is of historical significance.
The fire began in a garbage can located in a breezeway which connects two buildings and is used by people as protection from nasty weather.
Carr also tells us there was smoke damage to the inside of the museum and tourist office but it could have been alot worse. There is no damage figure yet with the insurance adjusters still to do an assessment.
The latest poll concerning the Provincial Vote is indicating the Conservatives are on the brink of being elected to a majority government. Liberal Leader Shawn Graham tells CHSJ News, the polls go up and down and the only one that counts is on election day.
He maintains his party is the only one that has brought forward a comprehensive plan that talks about the economy, education, health care, senior care and keeping people home.
After two back to back debates, political pundits are saying the Province's newest party leaders performed well against their more experienced counterparts which includes NDP Leader Roger Duguay.
Saint John Harbour NDP candidate Wayne Dryer tells CHSJ News many are wondering why he, as a pastor, would pursue politics because there is so much mistrust among voters.
Dryer adds he came to the conclusion that after five years as a pastor, he could only accomplish so much. Dryer adds he and Duguay are on a similar journey both having a background in the clergy.
(Provincial Green Party Leader Jack MacDougall) (File Photo)
Green Party leader Jack MacDougall says his party's election platform is built on the legacy we are leaving and what we can do to improve that legacy.
MacDougall told a Board of Trade session late yesterday the Premier's promise of creating 20-thousand high paying jobs falls short of helping to pay down the deficit and won't work. He claims those jobs would only produce about ten thousand dollars in provincial taxes.
MacDougall says his party is also proposing to roll back planned corporate and personal income tax cuts for high income earners. He is also proposing reforms in forestry practices and will bring back tolls on the Trans-Canada Highway.
CUPE Local 4569 representing Human Service Workers out picketing the offices of Saint John Harbour Liberal incumbant Dr. Ed Doherty. The union says it's members, who are mostly single mothers, have been without a contract and a wage increase for two years. CUPE's Mike Davidson tells CHSJ News minimum wage will increase $3.30 an hour next year but funding to the group home sector has not.
He says because of this it's put the whole profession of group homes in jeopardy. He says Social Development came in and removed 24 crying residents when four group home were closed this week. Davidson adds the four group homes that closed this week are located on Duke Street, City Line and Adelaide and Maple Street.
A Rothesay woman has waived her bail hearing during a brief court appearance.
21-year old Mary Lisa Carrier is accused of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in the chest at a Scott Avenue apartment during the Labour Day Weekend. Sargeant Craig McDougall with the Rothesay Regional Police's Major Crime Unit tells CHSJ News, the charge could be dropped to aggravated assualt before her trial is set to start the first week of November.
(Liberal Leader Shawn Graham Speaks To The Media) (Photo By Gary MacDonald)
If re-elected a Liberal government is commited to providing dental and vision care for children of low income families and double school supplements available to children on social assistance from fifty to one hundred dollars.
Also as part of the pledge starting in 2012 a prescription drug plan will be provided to everyone with no insurance.
During a campaign stop in Norton, Shawn Graham is promising to provide volunteer firefighters in the province with a $200 tax credit for training.
(Members Of Cupe Local 1252 on Graham's Trail) (Photo By Jim Hennessy)
While travelling through Greater Saint John today, Shawn Graham has some company. They are from Cupe Local 1252 which represents front line health-care workers including paramedics, food service and house-keeping who are looking for a boost to it's pension plan. Roseanne Carter tells CHSJ News, the union has agreed to a 2% increase but the Government will not. Carter says when you look at the pension benefits MLA's voted themselves back in the spring it is like salt in an open wound.
(Demonstrators Hang Sign Near Kings Square) (Photo By Jim Hennessy)
We live with-in our means, please tell Shawn Graham. That is what signs in Kings Square read today as a small protest is speaking out about the growing provincial debt. Spokes-person David Bishop tells CHSJ News, they are not promoting any other party just trying to get leaders to think. Bishop says realistically, the NDP is the party closest to what his group's message reads but says he is confident they wont form the next government.
There is at least one member of Common Council who doesn't think the city is getting value for the 400 thousand dollars it gives to Enterprise Saint John annually. Peter McGuire is making no bones about the fact he's struggling about voting in favour of that in next year's budget.
Mayor Ivan Court takes a different view claiming Enterprise Saint John is attracting companies and promoting local business.
McGuire is suggesting economic development could be handled by city hall but the Mayor disagrees especially since Deputy City Manager Andrew Beckett decided to move on leaving a void.
A new programme has been completed in partnership with Saint John airport to better enable taxi drivers to be tourism ambassadors for the city.36 cab drivers, dispatchers and managers have completed the first customised taxi driver customer service programme in the province.
The executive director of the Tourism Industry Association, Real Robichaud tells CHSJ News taxi drivers can help make or break how visitors view Saint John because they can be the first people visitors talk to when they fly into the airport. That means they have to be able to answer questions about what there is to do and the best places to stay and eat at. Robichaud also says their cabs have to be clean as well.
It's estimated tourism spending by visitors in Saint John exceeded 246 million dollars in 2008 with the number of passengers flying into the airport increasing for three consecutive years.
Another increase in the price of gas after the weekly setting. Self serve regular is up by just over a cent to 97.7 a litre. Diesel has also increased to $103.5 with the maximum price for propane higher at $103.2. Heating oil rose as well to 90.4 cents a litre.
(Samuel de Champlain's Satellite School In The K-V) (Photo by Tamara Steele)
About 60 people who want their kids to get a french education in the Kennebecasis Valley turning up for a meeting on interest in a Francophone school. The Parent's lobby group hosting the meeting at the francophone daycare which is almost full to capacity.
Researcher Christina Taylor tells CHSJ News 243 students travel to Samuel Du Champlain every day from the valley with 600 eligible students in the K-V right now. She adds those numbers are higher than the precedent set by the Supreme Court.
The kindergarten class at the Samuel Du Champlain satellite school across from the daycare is full and has a waiting list. The committee was gathering the names of parents interested in helping the school development planning committee provide the government with testimonials on the need for a francophone school in the K.V.
(Meeting In Quispamsis On A New Francophone School) (Photo by Tamara Steele)
Quispamsis Liberal candidate Mary Schryer supports the idea of a francophone school in the KV and would like to see it built in Quispamsis. She says the numbers speak for themselves.
Schryer tells CHSJ News a change of government in Fredericton may put this project in jeopardy.
NDP candidate Matt Doherty and Conservative candidate Blaine Higgs were also on hand at the meeting saying they both support a new Francophone school to serve the Kennebecasis Valley.
