City Will Host Info Session On Public Space At Peel Plaza

If you're curious as to what will be going on with the public plaza space at Peel Plaza, you will get your chance tomorrow night to find out.

The city is hosting an information session tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Saint John Arts Centre.

You'll be able to get a look at the plans as well as provide feedback.

CUPE Wants Report On Regional Jail Released

A third party report on conditions at the Regional jail on the Old Black River Road is now in the hands of Public Safety Minister Robert Trevors. 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is calling on Trevors to release the report. Mike Davidson of CUPE tells CHSJ News the union believes the report is scathing in its criticism of how the jail is being run.

He says the guards are being treated horrendously so it's no surprise that beatings among the inmates and riots occur at the facility.

Davidson argues the overcrowding makes the situation even more dangerous and inmates are also threatening the guards and their families.

Amalgamation Not Happening For Rothesay and Quispamsis

Amalgamation with Quispamsis is dead for now -- that from Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop.

Bishop tells CHSJ News a joint committee had meetings this year but neither side could bring any recommendations back to council.
 
He expects the joint committee to be disbanded in the new year.

Blood Symposium To Be Held In City

Premier David Alward is being asked to hold off making any decision on blood services until after a public symposium is held at the Trade and Convention Centre on January 24th.

Mayor Ivan Court says anyone can have their say that night on the transfer by Canadian Blood Services of the blood production centre from Millidgeville to Dartmouth.

Enterprise Saint John General Manager Steve Carson says there are economic ramifications besides the loss of jobs which would be the ability to attract skilled workers to the health cluster that's developing at Tucker Park, with the medical school, and the Regional Hospital. 

The Premier, Health Minister Madelaine Dube and Opposition Leader Victor Boudreau will all be invited to the symposium as will Canadian Blood Services. 

According to Court, there are really just two options here with are either go it alone or stay with Canadian Blood Services but with an enhanced blood centre on University Avenue. 

The Mayor maintains it is not fear mongering to point out that people who undergo surgeries and receive fresh blood have a higher life expectancy. He maintains the future of healthcare in the province is on the line.

Survey Says More Apartment Options Available

If you're apartment hunting -- you may find you now have more options available.
A new survey from Canada Mortgage and Housing says the apartment vacancy rate in the Saint John area increased to 5.9-percent in October from 5.1 a year ago.
And while there may be more choice - rents are creeping up - the survey pegs the average rent for a two bedroom in October at 670-dollars a month -- that's a 25-dollar bump from the same month a year ago.
By comparison - the average rent for a two bedroom in Moncton came in at 715-dollars in October.

Rothesay Holds Tax Rate For 2012

The 2012 budget for Rothesay is in and it's good news for residents -- despite a 5.3 percent increase to the fire and police budgets, the tax rate will remain steady at $1.19 per $100 assessed.

The only jump in the bills comes in the form of the sewer service charge, which is going from $265 dollars to $285.

Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News the $8.9 million dollar capital budget will be put to good use.  Projects will include Oakville Acres and the Rothesay Arena.

Despite additional increases in costs to garbage collection and transportation, Bishop says the town has managed it's money well and reserves will make up the shortfall.

The General Operating budget of the town for 2012 is 15.9 million dollars.

Lots Of Views Voiced About New Direction For Development In City

There was no shortage of reaction voiced to Common Council about the proposed new municipal plan that will serve as a blueprint for future development in the city once approved. 

Chris Boudreau of Uptown Saint John maintains more and more people are moving back to the core of the city and this plan encourages that. He believes density will solve alot of the city's problems. 

Odette McGrath of Latimore Lake doesn't want to see any more gravel pits operating in her area. She complains the roads in her part of the city are not being repaired and the snow plowing leaves much to be desired. 

Developer Camille Debly says a large scale housing development in Millidgeville, the Cambridge Estates subdivision, is under threat unless it's put back in the designated growth area. 

Mac Blair of Blair Construction vows he will not be building homes in Saint John after this year and predicts property owners will be taking the city to court.

Both Enterprise Saint John and U-N-B Saint John spoke in favour of the plan which is expected to be approved with changes next month.
 
There's still time to make changes but the plan is expected to come before Council for adoption early in the new year.

Alward Government Rolls Out Capital Budget Today

The Alward government unveils its 2012 capital budget later today in the Legislature -- a budget Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says is not tough by business standards - but - tough by government standards.
Higgs says the Highway One twinning is taking the lion's share of spending while other needed projects and maintenance items will get some funding.
And the Minister tells CHSJ News he's taking a cautious approach as he readies the operating budget to be delivered in the spring.
Meanwhile -- Premier Alward says his government is working to get spending under control before considering any increase in taxes to battle the deficit.

St. Stephen Remembers Flooding Nightmare

A good chunk of Charlotte County was underwater this time last year after heavy rains lead to widespread flooding.
The Bordertown's businesses suffering serious damage along with over 100 homeowners who had their basements floods.
St. Stephen town manager John Ferguson tells CHSJ News says co-ordinating relief was a challenge.

He tells us getting donations and materials to people in a timely fashion was a real struggle after the flooding.

Since last year's flooding, Ferguson says the four Charlotte county municipalities purchased the Sentinel computer system to monitor their inventory.
So if they need a pump in one area and don't have it, they can locate it quickly and bring it there.

Unionized Workers Confront Premier In Quispamsis

Province Signs Potash Deal In Sussex

The Alward government signing a deal giving Saint John's Atlantic Potash Corporation the right to explore and develop a confirmed potash deposit near Sussex.

The deposit about 10 kilometres west of Sussex in Millstream was discovered more than 25 years ago.
The Premier says the company has committed to spend at least 4.5 million dollars on exploration.

David Alward says if a mine is economically viable, it would mean hundreds of jobs.

Government Workers Say They're Being Attacked

Canadian Union of Public Employees vice president Sandy Harding tells CHSJ News they're worried about losing some long standing benefits as the Alward government tackles the deficit.
Harding says they're demanding some recognition and respect for the services public sector workers provide -- she says they're not only workers but also tax paying New Brunswickers as well.
A group of CUPE workers greeted the Premier as he arrived for a party fund raising breakfast in Quispamsis this morning.

Elderly Man Found Safe

It's likely been a scary two days for him and a worrisome 48 hours for his family.

RCMP locating an 83-year-old man from Kingston missing since Friday.

He was found safe last night in Chipman.

The Mounties are thankful for the help from the public.

East Side Armed Robbers Sentenced To Prison

Provincial Court Judge Bill McCarroll says 90 per cent of the cases that come before the courts involve the abuse of drugs and alcohol. The Judge made the observation while sentencing two armed robbers to prison terms.

A 20 year old Champlain Heights man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to committing 3 armed robberies along with 9 charges of stealing gas and having his face concealed during the holdups.

Lucas Bradley Hebert held up two Petro Cans, one on Bayside Drive and the other on Loch Lomand Road along with a convenience store on Hickey Road.

The court was told he had no previous criminal record but developed a severe addiction to painkillers. The court was also told Hebert has a five month old son.

21 year old Zachary Golden who remained outside during the robbery of the Petro Can on Loch Lomand Road while armed with a knife, acting as a lookout, got 2 years and 8 months.

Alward Downplays H-S-T Increase

Premier Alward is all but ruling out any talk of an increase in the H-S-T in the new year.
Alward tells CHSJ News his mandate during last year's election campaign didn't include any move to raise the tax.
He says the government's fiscal house isn't in order and that has to happen before any increase in revenues.
And Alward says under existing legislation any move to increase the H-S-T would have to be put to a referendum.

Premier Greeted By Unionized Workers

A large group of unionized public sector workers on hand this morning to greet Premier Alward as he arrived for a party fundraiser in Quispamsis this morning.
Alward and Finance Minister Blaine Higgs met briefly with the group before going into the breakfast meeting at th Q-
The workers are concerned about the impact of cutbacks on union members and the services they provide.

This Winter Should Bring Average Temps and Snowfall

Remember how terrible last winter was with all that snow?   According to the Weather Network, it really wasn't the way we remember it.
Weather Network Meteorologist Patrick Cool tell CHSJ News the snowfall was average between October and April but February changed everything.

He says February was a snowy month and that's what people remember is the two big blizzards from last winter.

The Saint John area normally receives about 50 centimetres of snow in February while last year it was nearly 100.
As for this year, Cool says we can expect average snowfall this winter.

138-Year-Old Church Destroyed in KingsClear First Nation

A historic church in New Brunswick was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning.

Volunteer firefighter Rick Hunter says the blaze started at the 138-year-old catholic church on the Kingsclear First Nation reserve near Fredericton at about 1 a.m.

He said about 30 firefighters were able to save two stone walls and the church's cross, and the flames were extinguished within 15 minutes.

Hunter says the cause of the fire is not known and could not say if it is suspicious.

He says community members are grief stricken and have been gathering outside the church to look upon the rubble.

On Saturday, the century-old Victoria Presbyterian Church in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, was also destroyed in a fire.

Comparison of Costs in Saint John And Prince George, B.C.

The first person out of the gate seeking a seat on Common Council has released a comparision of what it costs to provide police and fire services in Prince George B-C as opposed to Saint John.

John Campbell chose Prince George because he tells CHSJ News the two cities are similar in population, age and makeup.

He found the fire service to be ten million dollars less costly in Prince George. It must be pointed out Saint John does have an oil refinery and L-N-G terminal which Prince George doesn't have.



Campbell says policing costs were far less in Prince George, as well, where they use the RCMP.

Proposed New Muncipal Plan Up For Public Discussion Tonight

You'll get your chance at a public hearing later today to have a say on the proposed new municipal plan that Plan SJ is getting ready to propose for the approval of Common Council.

The provisions in this plan will guide future development for the next generation.

Jacqueline Hamilton of Plan SJ says the aim is to focus development closer to the uptown core and that means there will be limitations imposed on residential rural development within city limits although it won't be eliminated altogether.



Hamilton says they have received more than 30 submissions to date and most support the new direction.

The public hearing starts at 5:30 in Council Chambers.