Car Fire Blocks Highway

A burned out shell is all that remains of a small car after it burst into flames on Highway 2 Northbound just outside Fredericton late this morning. The highway was blocked for about an hour while firefighters snuffed out the flames. No word on injuries.

(photo by Deborah MacDonald)

Assaults and Drunk Drivers Make a Busy Night for Police

Drunk drivers and fights making it a busy Friday night for the Saint John Police force.



Police getting a call just after 2am that a fight had broken on out King Street East between four men. Two were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Although no one was arrested, police say they'll be dealing with the men at a later date.


A woman was also picked up for assault on the corner of Priness Street. The injuries weren't serious.


Two drivers were also picked up on Rothesay Avenue and Welesley Avenue in the city's north end after reports that they were weaving all over the road. Both were charged with driving under the influence.

Allegedly Impaired Driver Crashes Into Police Car

Talk about running into the law -- literally.

A 20 year old Saint John man striking a police car head-on early this morning in St. Andrews after allegedly failing to obey a stop sign.

A police officer receiving minor injuries and the driver was believed to be impaired.

His license has been suspended for 90 days and he will be appearing in court at a later date to face charges.

Job Fair Aims To Help Atelka Workers

There is good news for the 142 Atelka call centre employees that got pink slips this week.


Contact NB and Enterprise Saint John are teaming to host a job fair later this month in hopes of finding the workers another job.


Mike Bacon of Contact NB tells CHSJ News they have put the call out to local employers, call centre and otherwise, to take part.



It will be those employers who want to meet with the affected Atelka employees and discuss with them some career options for the future.

A similar event last for employers at the RCI call centres in Saint John last year that saw 7 of 31 employers confirm multiple hires as a result of the event.

The Atelka job fair is coming up on February 18th with a location to be dertermined.

For more info, click here

Bail Denied In Sexual Assault Case

25 five year old Bradley Scott Wilson being denied bail -- he's been charged with aggravated sexual assault, assault causing bodily harm, and unlawful confinement in an incident at the Buccaneers Pub on the West Side. 

It's alleged on Jan 12th, Wilson sexually assaulted a 46 year old bartender as she was closing the place down.  She also suffered a broken leg while trying to escape.

Wilson has pleaded not guilty and will remain in police custody until a trial date is set on February 16th.

More Time Needed For Pension Payment

Mayor Ivan Court says the city needs more time to make it's pension payments.

Under the proposed pension reforms, the city could receive a 15 year repayment period.

But Court says that may not be enough time and the city may need 20 to 25 years to make the payments.

City Manager Pat Woods says even with the bare bones budget, pension reforms are still critical.  If not approved, the city would need to come up with an additional 6.4 million dollars in payment money.  The total deficit is now up to 190 million dollars.

Two Men Facing Drug Charges After Three Month Invesigation

A 33-year-old Canterbury Street man faces drug charges after a three month joint police investigation.

Russell William McCain was in court today and has been remanded into custody before another court appearance next week.

Members of the Street Crime Unit and Fundy Integrated Intelligence Unit making the arrest yesterday and in the process seizing one and a half pounds of cocaine and over a half pound of marijuana.

A 53 year old man also faces charges and will be in court at a later date.

M-L-A Tells Mayor Not To Blame Province

A former member of Common Council who's now an   M-L-A is accusing Mayor Ivan Court of playing the blame game.

Glen Tait of Saint John East tells CHSJ News the province is not to blame for the pension plan's growing deficit and city budget cuts stemming from that.

He points out it was the city which missed the deadline to have proposed changes to the pension plan considered during the fall session of the legislature and should take responsibility for that lapse.

Tait says the problems with the city's pension plan started back in 2001 but nothing has been done expect to put more money into it.

Don't Risk Getting Towed

The City pointing out to motorists that under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act, any vehicle parked on a street more than 24 hours is considered abandoned and can be towed.

In a release, they say City streets are for the movement of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians and not for long term parking and street maintenance can be hampered by parked cars.
 To report an abandoned vehicle in your neighbourhood, you can call the Saint John Police Force at 648-3333 or for more information click here

Local Ad Company Will Not Bid For Provincial Contract

A Saint John based ad agency will not be throwing it's hat in the ring as the province consolidates it's marketing down to a single company.

Revolutions Strategy has been working with New Brunswick Tourism and Park since 2009 but says the requirements and direction that the tourism department is taking does not align with the company's goals.

Revolution's current contract ends this summer and it will layoff 4 people who worked exclusively on the tourism account.

Chief Releases Statement On Budget Cuts

The Chief of Police releasing only a brief statement regarding the 1 million dollars in cuts for the police force in the new city budget.


Bill Reid says the force is committed to upholding the safety of citizens and its officers but decisive leadership will be required to reduce any impacts to public safety.

He adds the police force will adapt its current operations to meet the realities of the new budget.

The Police Commission will be meeting Tuesday and will likely have more to say about the cuts. Mayor Ivan Court and Common Councillor Peter McGuire are members of the Commission.

There are fears initiatives to reduce crime in the city will be a casualty of the budget. The Police Association has a no layoff clause in its contract agreement.

North End And West Side Most Affected By Cuts To Fire Budget

Saint John Fire Chief Kevin Clifford says the 750-thousand dollars worth of cuts in the new city budget will have a definite impact on fire protection.

Clifford tells CHSJ News the North End and the West Side could see increase in response times as one of the trucks from the north station will now be moved to the fire station on Courtney Avenue. He says the response time could go up by as much as 4 minutes.

16 positions will be lost due to the budget cuts and he says it will be difficult to handle multiple incidents at the same time.

Chase & Morgan To Visit China

Two New Brunswick country stars are taking their act on the road all the way to China next month.


Kevin Chase of the Kingston Peninsula and Melanie Morgan of Cap Pele are doing a 5 stop tour finishing in Shanghai.


Chase tells CHSJ News he's excited and nervous at the same time about the trip.

He says they leave on March 5th and play 5 major Chinese cities back to back which will be busy but, Chase says it will be exciting to play for the Chinese.

Chase wouldn't say his music is exactly popular in China but that's the point to create awareness about his brand of Canadian country in that part of the world.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation Reacts To Rising Pension Plan Deficit

The deficit with the city's pension plan could get even worse before it gets better.

That warning from Kevin Lacey, the Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who tells CHSJ News a rise of more than 60 million dollars in a year to 190 million dollars is a real mind blower for a city the size of Saint John.

He says it should raise questions about how it got so high and why such a huge increase in just one year.

Lacey adds the city will have to take another look at eligibility and payouts. He warns depending on the province to bail the city out is an iffy proposition, at best, considering the sad financial state of its pension plan.

$750 Baby Greek Tortoise Is Still Missing

"Herman" the baby tortoise is still on the loose!
Three people facing charges after a $750 tortoise was stolen from an East Saint John pet store.

Sgt. Glen Hayward of the City police tells CHSJ News three men ages 21, 22, and 23 were charged with theft and released. One of them also faces a charge for posessing marijuana.

Pets Unlimited Manager Joe Mullet says it's the second time the baby Greek tortoise has been stolen.
He tells us a former employee took "Herman" before Christmas and last night someone broke the lock on his cage taking him a second time.

Mullet says the store's staff is upset adding everyone is pretty attached to "Herman".

Self Serve Gas Rises

It will cost you more to fill up with self serve regular after the weekly setting. 

It has increased by 2 cents a litre and is selling for $1.27.8 in the city. 

There is no change in the price of diesel. It's still at $1.37.3 a litre. 

Heating oil is virtually unchanged at $1.19.5 a litre with propane declining slightly to $1.06.8.

Police Investigate North End Fire And Stolen Tortoise

Arson is thought to be the cause of a small fire early this morning at an apartment building owned by non-profit housing at 200 Main Street North. The call came in shortly after 2:30 and City Police tell us the fire started in a hallway. 6 or 7 people who live in the building have been forced out of their apartments into other accomodation.

City Police are also looking for a stolen tortoise which is worth something like 700 dollars. It was taken from the Pets Unlimited store on the east side. 3 people were arrested nearby but later released. The tortoise, meantime, is still among the missing.

Rothesay Regional Police telling us a man suffered a broken arm when he was struck by a passing highway plow on the Gondola Point Arterial yesterday afternoon. The man was walking along the side of the highway against the flow of traffic which is what you're supposed to do when he was hit by the plow's blade.

Mayor Vehemently Against New Budget

Mayor Ivan Court and Councillor Patty Higgins the only ones voting against the Plan B budget. 

Court wanted council to stand together and believe the pension reforms were coming.

He says he cannot vote for a budget that brings down the quality of life so drastically for citizens.

He adds the passing of the plan B budget will affect the trust between city hall and the people.

Council Passes "Plan B" Budget Containing Cuts Across The Board

After much publicized grappling with the city budget, the issue has finally been put to bed.

Common Council has approved the 2012 budget as well as passing the tax rate at $1.785.

Council has approved the Plan B budget, which contains millions in cuts to fire, police, community grants, and city services.  This was done in case pension reforms are not approved by the province.

City Manager Pat Woods says while he originally supported the first budget, which assumed pension reforms, he says he can't do so now because the city would have needed to find an extra 13.2 million dollars if pension reforms were not achieved.
Woods revealed last night that over the course of the year, the pension deficit has now grown by 64 million dollars to a total of 190 million dollars.

Council Passes Budget "B" & Tax Rate

Saint John Common Council passes version "b" of the 2012 budget and the tax rate.


Mayor Ivan Court and Councillor Patti Higgins are the only nay votes.