Province Commits to Hospice Saint John

[Health Minister Mary Schryer- - -File Photo]

Provincial cash and plenty of it was being handed out by the Liberal Government in Saint John yesterday. Premier Graham and Health Minister Schryer announced the Province's commitment of $730,000 dollars every year as part of the operating cost of Hospice Saint John. Schryer tells CHSJ News, a deal to become partners was solidified last year:

 This facility in West Saint John is the first of it's kind in Atlantic Canada and Premier Graham tells CHSJ News, this will give patients at their end of their life the dignity they deserve:
Schryer also presented Mindcare with a cheque earlier in the day totalling ten thousand dollars to go toward the 23rd annual Investors Group Skate to Care. The over $142,000 dollars raised will go toward mental health projects around the Province.

Hospice Money Reaction

Sandy Johnson is the Executive Director of Hospice Saint John and tells CHSJ News, every year at the Regional Hospital, 400 patients with a paliative illness die but only two hundred of those spend their final days in the paliative unit.

Johnson says Hospice's financial commitment to the ten bed facility every year is $700,000. Renovations to the West-Side facility should be finished by next month with an opening expected in the fall.

It's Tax Season

Whether anyone likes it or not it's time to start getting ready to do your taxes. Roger Haineault is with Help for Taxes and tells CHSJ News, it's hard to believe but the computers in Ottawa get turned on tomorrow.

Haineault says it's important to keep an eye on your mail for any receipts and your T-4 slip and start gathering up any receipts that show your medical expenses or you donated to a charity. The deadline for you to file is April.30th.

A Change of Pace This Valentines Day

If chocolates and flowers aren't your thing, the Bank of Montreal has an alternative for you on this Valentines Day. Recognizing that money can be the root of relationship break-ups, BMO believes planning for the future can build a strong relationship. Larry Mosser is regional manager for investments and tells CHSJ News, instead of setting a date for dinner, set a date to speak with a financial planner.

Mosser adds while it doesn't sound as romantic as a dinner or a walk along the beach, meeting with a financial planner will help your relationship look at the big financial picture.

CUPE Sends Valentine Cards

Members of CUPE Local 2745 are giving out Valentine's Day cards to members of Provincial government.

Provincial President Sandy Harding tells CHSJ News the Premier, Finance Minister and Education Minister all received their own cards.
Harding adds that Finance Minister Greg Byrne's card points out how non-teaching staff positions like Teacher and Library Assistants not having full time hours is a negative impact on all children in the school system.

District 6 Education Council Surplus

[District 6 Superintendent Zoe Watson-----File Photo]

The District 6 education council is looking at a surplus by years end in regards to it's budget. Superintendent Zoe Watson tells CHSJ News, as of January 29th, there is over 10 thousand dollars in the fund but is expected to drop by the end of the year adding the leftover money will go towards purchasing anti-bullying posters
.Watson says at recent consultation meeting with parents, anti-bullying messages were a top priority adding any money left after the purchase of the posters will go towards buying more books.

Rothesay Gets Some New Gear

The town of Rothesay is spending some cash for new public works equipment. Over $165 thousand dollars is going toward a MT6 Trackless multi purpose sidewalk tractor. Director of Municipal Operation Scott Hatcher says this is equipment that is used by every municipality.

The town is also spending $23 thousand dollars on a Bobcat utility vehicle and 13 thousand dollars on a pavement marking line painter.

Watermain Break in East Saint John

Quick work by City Works Crews last night saved a lot of businesses in East Saint John grief on the busiest night of the week. A watermain broke at the corner of McAllister and Westmorland Drives just after six o'clock but crews quickly isolated the problem and no businesses were affected by the break.


The city will be back on the scene Monday to fix the problem and a heads up for vehicles, the inside lane along McAllister Drive right near the movie theaters has a huge crack in it so keep an eye out for that.

Person Struck Near Rothesay Avenue

The overpass on Rothesay Avenue is closed after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle.
City police are rerouting traffic, as the reconstructionist team investigates what happened.
Not many details are available, as the investigation begins, but the Staff Sergeant tells CHSJ News, the pedestrian suffered serious injuries.

Bay of Fundy at the Olympics

The world famous Bay of Fundy will be represented at the Olympics starting today.
Bay of Fundy tourism will have a display promoting voting in the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign.
Terri McCulloch of Bay of Fundy Tourism tells CHSJ News all four provinces are represented at Atlantic Canada House on Granville Island in Vancouver.
The display starts today and runs until February 28th.
To vote for the Bay of Fundy go to www.votemyfundy.com

A Celebration for Rothesay

[Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop----File Photo]

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Town of Rothesay with the celebrations starting this summer.

Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News, the goal is to get the community involved as much as possible.
Bishop says the town has applied to Heritage Canada for a grant of $50 thousand dollars and is confident it will be approved. The town has established a committee to coordinate a number of events starting in August.

Funds Roll in for Q-Plex

[Breaking Ground For the Q-Plex---File Photo]

With another sponsor brought on board earlier this week for the Q-Plex, where do things stand with the Capital Fundraising Campaign. The new goal is $1.5 million and Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News, the original goal was an even one million dollars:

Driscoll adds they anticipate the Q-Plex will come in on budget but the more sponsorship dollars they can raise, the less of a burden on the tax-payer.

LeBlanc Reacts to Jamiesons Resignation

[Saint John Lancaster M-L-A Abel LeBlanc---File Photo]

Many people are still searching for answers after Saint John Fundy MLA and former Tourism Minister Stuart Jamieson resigned from cabinet late last week. Abel Leblanc is the MLA for Saint John Lancaster and tells CHSJ News, he and Jaimeson are good friends and he feels bad about the situation:

Premier Graham says Jaimeson broke the ranks of cabinet when he spoke out against the NB Power/Hydro Quebec proposal saying it should be out to a vote. We spoke to Leblanc days before he lost his temper in the Legislature on Thursday, flipping members of the Conservative party the bird and doubling up his fist with a challenge to meet him outside.

Skate to Care Gets Underway Today

Harbour Station provides the back-drop for the 23rd Investors Group Skate to Care today. 36 teams have been fund-raising for months and are now ready to hit the ice. The goal is to raise between $140 and $15,000 dollars for mindcare. Donna Gates is Executive Director and tells CHSJ News, this is her first year in running the event with Peggy Brittian stepping down:

Gates adds anyone interested in applying for funds can do so until the 26th at www.mindcare.ca. The opening ceremony gets started at noon.

St. Stephen Robbery

RCMP are investigating a robbery in the Bordertown around 12:30 this afternoon.
Police tell us a man entered a bank on Milltown Boulevard walked up to the teller and demanded money. The suspect received an undisclosed amount of cash.
He is described as white, 5 foot 7 inches tall, in his early twenties or thirties and he may
also have cuts on his face.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call St. Stephen RCMP at 755-1132 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Prisoner Re-captured

It was a short stint of freedom for a prisoner from the Westmorland Institution in Dorchester. At eight o'clock last night, Harry Hamilton Davies was taken back into custody after escaping from the prison and was quickly transferred to a medium security facility.


Hamilton-Davies is serving a sentence of two years seven months for conspiracy to commit an indictable offence involving the Importation of Drugs and Trafficking. A complete review of how the prisoner escaped is underway.

Leblanc is Silent While Blaney Speaks

(Rothesay Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney)
                         (File Photo)

After having plenty to say yesterday, Saint John Lancaster MLA Abel Leblanc is keeping a low profile today. Several calls to the Liberal members cell-phone goes straight to voice-mail and the receptionist at his office says he will not be in today. Rothesay Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney on the other hand spoke to the media before today's session of the legislature calling yesterday's incident uncomfortable and awful.

Blaney adds the speakers decision to suspend Leblanc is both prudent and a good one. The Conservatives are demanding Leblanc apologize before returning to the Legislature and speaker Roy Boudreau says such behaviour will not be tolerated. The three day suspension begins today with-out pay.

Senator Mike Duffy is Going to the Olympics

(Senator Mike Duffy at the Delta Earlier This Week)
               (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Helping to promote his home province, Conservative Senator Mike Duffy will make an appearance at the Winter Olympics. Each province has a day set aside to help promote itself and maybe get a few people to consider a visit in the future. Duffy tells CHSJ News, this is a wonderful initiative.
Duffy says New Brunswick is the only one that will not have a Provincial Day at the Olympics and can't figure out why. CHSJ News placed a call to the Premier's office earlier this week for an explanation but have yet to hear back.

Section of Route One is Ripped Up

Another section of roadway in Greater Saint John that has seen better days is Route One west-bound near the Irving Circle "K". Huge sections of asphalt have broken away where repair work was done last summer leaving behind huge craters for motorists to dodge. Andrew Holland is a spokes-person for the Department of Transportation and tells CHSJ News, as soon as they get into a stretch of cold, dry weather, they can apply some cold mix asphalt.


Holland adds no communities are immune from this problem and ask motorists for some patience as they look to fix the problem.

Leblanc's Finger Still Hot Topic

(Saint John Lancaster MLA Abel Leblanc Flips the Bird)
                           (File Photo)

People and politicians are still talking about yesterday's incident in the Legislature where Saint John Lancaster MLA Abel Leblanc flipped the bird to Rothesay Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney and the entire opposition bench. Politicial Scientist at UNB Saint John Don Desserud tells CHSJ News, he doesn't expect Premier Graham will ask Leblanc for his resignation.


Desserud adds there is a lot of stress on the Liberal side of the Legislature and this incident certainly proves that.