CBS Looks To Increase Donations Near Thanksgiving

Canadian Blood Services is currently in "signal mode".
Michelle Thibodeau says it's just a rallying to get people to come in, donate blood and save lives.
She tells CHSJ News they always encourage people to donate on Holiday weekends because their regular donors are often away.

She says they do see an increase of accidents and they can require up to 50 units of blood which is the equivalent of an entire blood clinic.
The Saint John Blood Donor clinic at 400 University Avenue will be closed on Monday and will reopen Tuesday from 11am to 8pm.
To book an appointment, click here

Premier Says Its Up To The City And Its Unions To Solve Pension Deficit

Premier David Alward in town amid what many see as a crisis with the city's pension plan and its burgeoning deficit.

Mayor Ivan Court has called on the province to step up to the plate but the Premier doesn't seem to be in any hurry saying the city and its employee groups have to get together and work out a solution.

City Manager Pat Woods is hoping to come up with a recommendation on what to propose to the province for approval this month.

Alward says he's not aware of the charge made by the Police Association that the province's actuary, who rejected the city's proposed changes to the pension plan, might be in a conflict of interest after earlier being given the heave ho by the city and its pension board.

Trump Offers Advice In Saint John

Two famous Americans and one controversial Canadian commanding the attention of more than 2000 people at Harbour Station.

The SPARK event featuring Donald Trump and former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told the crowd a story of a construction worker picking up and hugging former US President George W. Bush three days after the 9/11 attacks during a visit a ground zero.

Williams spoke of taking Newfoundland and Labrador from near bankruptcy to becoming a "have" province with as many visitors last year as they have residents.

Trump telling the crowd to have passion and go against the tide and if anyone screws you, screw them five times harder.

Body Of Missing Man Found

The body of a 67-year-old Chipman area man, Harold Barton, who had been missing since Tuesday night when he was last seen at the Chipman Bowling Alley has been found.
It was thought Barton was on his way home or to his camp at Cold Creek near Grand Lake.
A truck was found submerged in Grand Lake. Divers confirmed the body of the missing man was inside that truck.
Police say they do not suspect foul play and an autopsy will be carried out.

NBCC Hosts Open House

NBCC in Saint John hosting an open house for high school students today at the Grandview Avenue campus.

The campus will also host an open house for the general public between 5 and 7pm.

Police Association Says Province Could Be In Conflict Of Interest Over City Pension

The Police Association would like the city unions and Mayor Ivan Court have a face to face sit down meeting with Premier David Alward and the M-L-A's. 

Bob Davidson of the Police Association says the case could be made directly why the province should accept the city's original reforms to its pension plan which their actuary decided would work.

Davidson says the province is now using an actuary the city got rid of and he questions how unbiased that arrangement can be and questions whether the province is in a conflict of interest because of its choice of actuary.
 

C-A-A Wants to Keep M-V-I's

The Canadian Automobile Association believes it would be a mistake to get rid of yearly motor vehicle inspections. The provincial government is looking at making changes and wants to hear from you.

Gary Howard of the C-A-A tells CHSJ News an inspection can uncover problems with your tires and exhaust system the driver may not even be aware of. He says your tires normally have a life span of two to 3 years before you need new ones.
 

Howard says he can go along with brand new cars not undergoing an inspection for two or three years.

You can make your views known tonight at a town hall meeting which gets underway at 6:00 in Ganong Hall on the campus of U-N-B Saint John.

SPARK Is Underway At Harbour Station

Three well-known speakers offering their expertise in business, politics and more as SPARK gets underway at Harbour Station.
The event featuring Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Danny Williams.
In his welcome address, Premier David Alward told a crowd of more than 2000 it takes vision, resilience and leadership to build and re-build.

Alward says these three leaders have demonstrated these qualities many times in their careers.    Former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams shared his story with the crowd including how four months before his first election win he was forced to have back surgery.
SPARK continues at Harbour Station today with Giulani and Trump.

Police Commission Told To Stand Up To Common Council

Don't be bullied by Common Council.........That message was delivered to the Police Commission by the Saint John Police Association which is responding to the request for a hiring freeze until the 2012 city budget is finalised.

The Police Association's Bob Davidson says Common Council is exceeding its authority under the law unless it wants to disband the Police Commission.

He argues the only authority Council has under the Police Act and the Municipalities Act is to either approve or reject the police department's budget but cannot interfere in its day to day operations.
 

Davidson also told the Police Commission there are lots of police officers now talking about retiring.

There has been no public response from the Police Commission whose Chair Chris Waldshutz told Davidson he didn't want this to turn into a media circus.

Volunteers Sought For Palliative Care Unit

You may think it requires a thick skin but volunteering in the palliative care unit at the Regional hospital requires a special skill set.
 

Volunteers need to manage a patient's pain and symptoms and assess their spiritual needs.
 

Dr. Chris O'Brien tells CHSJ News it's rewarding fulfilling work that does not just deal with the end of life. 

Volunteers must have pain and symptom management skills and must also be good at assessing the psycho-social and spiritual needs assessment for patients and their famillies.
 

A one-day palliative care training workshop for volunteers is being held today at the Regional Hospital.

No Big Change With Gas Prices

A slight change with gas prices after the weekly setting. 

The maximum price for self service regular rising by a cent a litre while the price of diesel also went up by just under a cent.

Heating Oil rose by under a cent to $1.12.9 a litre and propane is unchanged at $1.16.1.

Parkway Mall Evacuated Due To Possible Natural Gas Leak

A fitness club Parkway Mall on the east side along with two neighbouring stores were evacuated between 4:30 and 5 yesterday afternoon due to a possible natural gas leak.

District Chief Joe Armstrong says a natural gas smell was coming from the electrical room at the fitness club although they could not get any readings. 

The gas supply was cut off and the area checked for leaks. The smell eventually dissipated and things returned to normal.

Metal Shredder Expansion To Get Power Thanks To Saint John Energy

The powering of the American Iron and Metal shredder expansion that drew the ire of a group of west side residents is getting power but not via the controversial route initially proposed.

President of Saint John Energy Eric Marr tells CHSJ News his company is expediting work on a west side distribution line that will allow NB Power to power the shredder for two years.

Marr says he's unsure what a permanent solution will be but now NB Power has the luxury of time to figure that out.

The expansion work is expected to be completed by December.

New Cruise Ship Terminal To Be Ready For Next Year

The Saint John Port Authority sharing some details into what will be going into the second cruise ship terminal on Water Street.

The 15.5 million dollar building will have a public viewing space on the roof as well as a tower with a replica of the dome that was on the Old General Hospital.

President and CEO Jim Quinn tells CHSJ News the need for the new facility is quite simple: growth of the cruise industry has grown exponentially and cruise ships are getting larger and larger.

The long wharf slip will also see some improvements and rail access along the lower cove loop will also be enhanced.

Construction of the building is set to begin in November and will be completed by August of next year.

Nearly 1200 In The Dark

Tree branches hitting power lines keeping NB power crews busy and homeowners annoyed and in the dark.

Nearly 1200 people are currently without power province wide and that includes more than 700 people in Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfied and the Kingston Peninsula.


For more info, click here

Three Ships And A Ferry Cancel Trips

It's a whole lot quieter uptown today because three cruise ships will not be docking in the city.
The Caribbean Princess, the Regatta and the Norwegian jewel would have brought over 6000 visitors to the uptown but the wet and windy weather in the North Atlantic have caused the cancellation.

But another triple ship day is not far off -- the cruise ship season is scheduled to finish with three cruise ships in port on the 25th.

The winds also cancelling the Princess of Acadia sailing from Saint John at 11 O'clock tonight.
The crossing from Digby at 4 this afternoon and 8 tomorrow morning are also cancelled.

Natural Resources Critic Wants Real Dicussion In Shale Gas Town Hall Meetings

Opposition Critic for Natural Resources Denis Landry says the Alward government is taking a step in the right direction with the recently announced town hall meetings on shale gas.

He tells CHSJ News it needs to be a true opportunity for everyone to express their views -- good or bad -- about the shale gas industry.

He hopes it won't become a Conservative platform on the benefits of the industry.

One of those meetings is scheduled to be in Saint John.

As for the new shale gas website launched by the province, he says the information being provided is all positive toward shale gas and there is no true way to have an open discussion on the matter on the webpage.

Seadogs Say They're Ready To Roll

The Seadogs have all their players back to make a run at defending their Memorial Cup championship. 

So says Team President Wayne Long who tells CHSJ News the acquisition of defenseman Charles Olivier-Rousel, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators, fills the void left by Simon Despres. 

Long admits they were worried forward Jonathon Huberdeau with Florida and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu with Montreal wouldn't return.
 

The Seadogs are back in action this Saturday night at the Station against Rimouski.   

Hansen Visits Saint John 25 Years Later

The "Man In Motion" making a stop in Saint John at City Hall this morning as part of his 25th anniversary relay.
Rick Hansen tells us it was also a chilly fall day when he was here back in 1986 on the original tour.

He says the enthusiasm of New Brunswickers filled him with enthusiasm back then and it's the same feeling today.
The tour keeps moving across the country wrapping up next spring in Vancouver.

Two Cruise Ships Cancel Calls To The Port City Today

The wild wet and windy weather forcing the cancellation of two cruise ship visits in Saint John today.

The Caribbean Princess and the Regatta with a capacity of near 3800 passengers combined were both due in port today.

A third ship was due to make a call today, the Jewel of the Seas, and the Port of Saint John will be dertermining the status of that call by 10:30 this morning.