EMS Development Symposium

It shouldn't be hard to find help if you need it this weekend in Saint John. The 16th annual Emergency Medical Services Development Symposium is underway at the Regional. Spokes-person Jean Boles tells CHSJ News, there is plenty for all to take part in.

Boles adds this is a great opportunity to spend time with your colleagues as well to share information on how better to serve those in need. The symposium finishes up tomorrow.

KV Chamber of Commerce has a Request

The KV Chamber of Commerce wants the town of Rothesay to review its by-laws for signage. President, Phil Brodersen says the town should develop a policy to address the issue and report back to the Chamber of Commerce in about 3 weeks.


Brodersen says they also want the town to increase lighting along Scott Avenue and work on decreasing traffic. Council has agreed to meet with the Chamber of Commerce to continue talks regarding the concerns.

Green Partys Says It Is Readey for an Election

The Leader of the Green Party says they are ready for a federal election----anytime. The party feels it was burned by Prime Minister Stephen Harpers fixed election date last year, believing it was actually a law. May tells CHSJ News, they are now prepared to prove they can run this country.


May says unlike Harper and Finance Minster Jim Flaherty, her party would reduce the payments Canadians have to make on Employment Insurance by both employees and employers.

Soldiers Setting up Shop in Sussex

Local soldiers will conduct training in the Sussex area today and tomorrow. Soldiers from the 8th Canadian Hussars will participate in several exercises within the town and the Piccadilly Potash Project Site. Officials tell us there is no need for any home-owner to be alarmed with blank ammunition being used.


Military vehicles will be travelling slower than the posted limit so try to use caution when driving in and around these vehicles.

Provincial Departments Keeping Tabs On Flaring Incident

(Heightened flaring can be seen just over container crane last Saturday afternoon - file photo)

The provincial Environment Department is waiting for a report from Canaport L-N-G on last weekend's flaring incident at the natural gas terminal.
A spokesperson tells CHSJ News the report will be reviewed by department officials to make sure all 63-terms and conditions of the facility's air quality permit were - and - are being met.
Meantime -- the Public Safety Department tells us it's not aware of any structural issues and none of the pressure vessels - piping - nor fire suppression systems were damaged.
A spokesperson tells us if any damage had occurred - the department's Technical Inspection Services would have become involved.

Money for the Huntsman Marine Science Centre

A nice chunk of cash from Ottawa and the Province for the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews. The centre is building a 20,000 square-foot Discovery Centre to replace its existing aquarium. Both the Province and the Federal Goverment announced 2.5 million dollars today to develop the Discovery Centre on the lower campus property of the Huntsman Marine Science Centre.

Poverty Rally in Kings Square

(Fern Bennett with Make Poverty History)
            Photo By Jim Hennessy

A sobering statistic from an anti-poverty rally today.......every three seconds, someone in the world dies from poverty. The group Make Poverty History staged the demonstration in Kings Square and spokes-person Fern Bennett tells CHSJ News, some strides have been made to help those living in poverty in Saint John but more needs to be done.

 Bennett adds she is waiting with baited breath for the Provincial Government to hand down it's budget December.1st to see if any positive changes will be made to the current social set-up.

Saint John Area Nursing Home Workers Rally

It was a double-feature in Kings Square as nursing home workers rallied to bring attention to their plight as well. They have been with-out a contract for a year after reaching a tentative deal in March. That was dismissed by the Provincial Government who ordered public sector unions to implement a two year wage freeze to deal with the projected deficit. President of Cupe Local 1603 Tammy Nadeau tells CHSJ News, any chance of getting back to the bargaining table are slim.

As for any chance of strike action......Nadeau says their union has been off the job twice in forty years and they don't want to go down that road.

Graham Government Comments on Rally

A representative from the Graham Government was on hand for the rallies. Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre says the Graham Government has tried to maintain a good working relationship with the nursing home workers.


MacIntyre adds the nursing home workers pension fund was short and the Graham Government topped it off with $25 million dollars or it would have been bankrupt.

A Resolution in Walsh Case

Attorney General Mike Murphy has announced that civil action between Erin Michael Walsh, the Province and others has been resolved. Walsh was convicted of second-degree murder following the shooting death of Melvin "Chi Chi" Peters in 1975 and sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 10 years. The conviction was upheld on appeal in 1982.

The Province does acknowledge and agrees that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred respecting the 1975 conviction because of the timelines, processes and procedures of the day. Both the Province and City have agreed to pay compensation to Walsh and his wife. Details of the settlement are confidential.

New Homes for Quispamsis

(New Accessible and Seniors Apartments in Quispamsis)
                   Photo by Jim Hennessy

A project that started back in June is nearing completion along the Old Hampton Highway. The finishing touches are being put on 16 new accessible and seniors apartments in Quispamsis. Total cost is $1.8 million dollars and President of Ken-Val United Church Suites Clifty Long says this is filling a need for many in the Kennebecasis Valley.

Long expects the first tenants will move into their new homes on the first week of next month. Ottawa has put $480,000 dollars toward the project and the Province is on board for one million in rent supplements.

Another Hurdle for Residents at Ten Scott Avenue

Just days after residents on Scott Avenue were breathing a sigh of relief, a new problem is on the horizon. Rothesay Council on Tuesday pulled their application to purchase the four mixed income apartment buildings on the street off the table but CHSJ News has learned, one of the buildings is up for bids at a public auction on the 26th in Sussex. The assessed owner is listed as Kenneth and Helen Griffin and an apartment building and lot at 10 Scott Avenue is just one of several properties listed under their name.


Another interesting point is at the bottom of the listing, it says the Provincial Tax Commissioner was made aware of the properties sale on the 16th of last month. Griffin is quoted as saying he had no interest in selling the property to the town.

Rallies to be Held in King Square

There will be a few extra bodies in Kings Square today at noon. This is due to a pair of rallies including one for nursing home workers in Greater Saint John. They have been on the job for a year with-out a contract after signing a tentative deal back in March. That is when the Graham Government ordered public sector unions to implement a two year wage freeze to deal with the projected deficit. The union is asking if a deal can be reached with doctors....what about them.

Also, according to Face Book.....a take action against poverty group also plans to rally in the Square to bring attention to their cause. Things also get started at noon.

Marco Polo Update

Construction on the replica of the Marco Polo project is done for another season. With colder temperatures early in the evening and mornings, work crews are putting away their tools until the spring. Project spokes-person Barry Ogden tells CHSJ News, the vessel is over 90% complete.

The problem is.....they don't have a final resting place chosen for the replica just yet. Ogden says they would love to berth it anywhere between Water Street and Long Wharf but continue to consult with the Port Authority.

Need for Self Reliant Energy

[New Brunswick Green Party Leader Jack MacDougall----Photo by Dave Briggs]

The new provincial leader of the Green party says this province doesn't need nuclear power.
Jack MacDougall tells CHSJ news, this province should start looking at ways to incorporate more self reliant sources of energy.
MacDougall says once the province supplies it's own energy, than anything left over could be exported.
He says what concerns him most about the refurbishment of Point Lepreau is what is going to happen with all of the nuclear rods when they are finished making power.

Green Party Leader Says Delays At Point Lepreau Are Predictable

[Green Party Leader Elizabeth May----Photo by Dave Briggs]

The leader of the Green Party is not holding back when saying the refit project at Point Lepreau being behind schedule was completely predictable.
Elizabeth May tells CHSJ news, her party warned the project would run behind schedule.
May says the Atomic Energy of Canada continues to prove itself as incompetent. She says the crown corporation is unable to be transparant with how it spends it's money.
May says there needs to be a massive energy retrofit program implemented across the country.

Weapons Charges for Barnesville Man

A 25-year-old Barnseville man is facing weapons offences after shots were fired in the community last night.
The RCMP Response Team conducted a search of the house around midnight when three shots were fired at the front entrance. No one was hurt in the incident.
Jeffrey Defazio is being held until a bail hearing tomorrow in Saint John.
RCMP says additional charges will be laid after a search of the home.

Could More Saint John Jobs be on the Hook?

With jobs at Canadian Blood Services on their way to Dartmouth, there is word from Fredericton more Saint John jobs could be on the line. Since June, Ottawa has been working on setting up a National Securities Commission and appointed William Belliveau to be the representative for this Province. As the model for the new commission is still being worked out, Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister Mike Murphy has sent a letter voicing a few concerns.


While he assures Ottawa they will work with them on this new set-up, he also notes that sacrificing the New Brunswick Securities Commission at the expense of a national regime is not an option. NBSC employs more than 30 people at it's office on King Street.

Moosehead Light Lime Finds a Year Round Home

If over the past few months you have become a fan of MooseHead Light Lime, there is some good news. Due to how popular the product has become in such a short time, the company has decided to make it available year round. In its first month, over 50,000 cases were sold here and on the Island.

This makes it Mooseheads third-best selling brand behind Alpine Lager and Moosehead Light.

Alward Promises Changes to Social Assistance

(Provincial Conservative Leader David Alward)
              Photo by Jim Hennessy

Provincial Conservative Leader David Alward is promising major changes to the Department of Social Development. This comes just weeks before the final draft of the Poverty Reduction Plan is due to be unveiled which they Conservative Party has been part of. The question was posed to Alward is this nothing more than trying to beat the Graham Government to the punch which he denies.
If his party is elected, Alward promises around social development include getting rid of the economic unit policy and changes to the health card including not losing drug coverage to take a job.