Helicopter Searches Grand Lake After Possible Crash

A Cormorant Helicopter and a Hercules aircraft conducting a search of Grand Lake after reports of a plane crashing in the area this afternoon.


Major Paul Doucette of the Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre in Halifax tells CHSJ News no planes are reported overdue and they have no confirmation that a plane crashed in the water.
 He tells us they received eyewitness reports of a plane going into the water so based on the evidence and the detail they decided to respond.
Doucette adds there were no distress calls in the area.

Pension Board Lawyer Paints Ferguson As Evasive

Pension Board Lawyer Barry Morrison says defended John Ferguson has been difficult to deal with during the entire legal proceedings of his defamation suit.

Morrison says Ferguson has been hard-nosed in his defense, evasive during the the discovery process, and had to be ordered by a judge to answer certain questions

He says Ferguson would do things like not accept statements of claim and has exasperated the case but Ferguson counters he was acting on the advice of his lawyers.

Morrison also questioned Ferguson about why he dropped his justification defense, which would have required Ferguson to prove that all of his statements were true.

Ferguson says he believes in what he has said and the only reason why justification was dropped was because his insurance company would not pay to go down that arduous route.

Ferguson resumes his testimony tomorrow morning at 9 at the Court of Queen's Bench.

Penobsquis Farms Gets Over $300K To Expand

Between Fredericton and Ottawa, a Penobsquis farm receives over $300,000 in funding.


Cardwell Farms Compost Products will use the money to expand its compost, topsoil and bark mulch operations to meet increasing demand.

The company produces quality certified organic soil amendments and mulches.

With markets in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States, Cardwell Farms has the capacity to produce about 65,000 tonnes of compost and soil amendments a year.

Rothesay Police Warns Of Stolen Items For Sale

Rothesay Regional Police issuing a warning about some hot construction equipment that some people may be trying to unload in the valley or beyond.


On the 10th, Police got a complaint about a theft from a construction company.

Over 10 thousand dollars in equipment was stolen including chainsaws and generators but the theft was only recently discovered.


Police tell CHSJ News some of these items may be sold to unsuspecting citizens.


If you think an item may be stolen, contact police and have them check the property.


If you have any information about this theft, please contact Sgt. Craig MacDougall at 506-847-6300 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Sea Dogs Not Dismissing Chicoutimi As Lesser Challenge

It's back to business tomorrow night for the Sea Dogs who will play Chicoutimi in the opening game of the third round at Harbour Station.


Very few people expected Chicoutimi to get by Shawinigan in the second round or for that matter, Halifax to beat Quebec after losing the first three games of that series.


Sea Dogs President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News nothing can be taken for granted and he expects a tough physical series.

 The Sea Dogs are staging the “Paint the Town Blue” contest encouraging fans in the Saint John area to show their community pride by displaying Sea Dogs logos and colours prominently in their homes or places of business.


You then upload your photos and the three highest totals of “Likes” in each of the two categories will win prizes.

To take part in the contest, click here

Mel Norton Opens Campaign Office

By the sound and size of the crowd, you would think the job was in the bag.
Saint John mayor candidate Mel Norton speaking to supporters today at the packed opening of his campaign office.

Norton tells CHSJ News maintaining his law practice if elected will not impact his ability to be the mayor.

He wants everyone in Saint John to remember that the number one priority for whoever is elected is the job of mayor.  Norton says as he talks with people he hears concerns about the pension crisis and the state of city sidewalks.

What Did Saint John Have To Do With San Diego?

Former Common Councillor John Ferguson's comparison of the pension plan problems in San Diego with those of the city took up much of the cross examination at his defamation trial.

Ferguson told the court he was referring to both pension plans being underfunded and not the serious allegations of fraud that were being investigated in San Diego.
 
Nevertheless, City Solicitor John Nugent called the comparison "egregious" and former Fincne Commissioner Andrew Beckett charged Ferguson was implying extortion was taking place. Ferguson vehemently denies making any such accusation. 
 
Pension Board lawyer Barry Morrison challenged Ferguson by suggesting all the publicity over his criticism of the city's pension plan was part of his plan. Ferguson disagreed claiming his concern was that the pension plan was not getting any better in spite of double digit returns on its investments.

Mayoral Candidates To Take Part In Social Development Forum

In what will be the first of many forums, the 4 mayoral candidates will taking part in a discussion about social development in the city.

The event is being hosted by the Human Development Council and UNB Saint John's Urban Institute.

HDC Executive Director Randy Hatfield tells CHSJ News there will be no talk of the 3 P's -- Peel Plaza, the pension, or parking garages.

He says the forum will be about social development and he wants the candidate's positions on poverty reduction, neighbourhood revitalization, recreation, and transportation.

The forum takes place tomorrow at noon at the UNB Grand Hall.

Hatfield wants the public to submit questions to the candidates and you can do so by clicking here.

Province Releases Health Budget

The Department of Health releasing it's 2012-2013 budget, which is up up 49 million dollars to a total of 2.58 billion dollars.

Key spending in the budget includes 2 million for the recruitment of nine new family physicians and one specialist, 5 million for primary health care and 1.75 million dollars for the implementation of the provincial colon cancer screening program.

The department will also invest 49 million in health facilities and equipment.

Pharmacists Warn Of Cuts To Service

The Executive Director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists' Association says serious changes could be in store thanks to changes in the province's Generic Drug Policy.

The prices of generic drugs will be dropping in June and Paul Blanchard says the province needs to increase dispensing fees and mark-up in order to keep in the black.

He says if changes are not made, it's the customer that will end up paying the price.

Pharmacists may have to start charging for adapting prescriptions -- something he says they do about 20-thousand times a month as well as cut jobs and reduce store hours.

He adds the province plans to reinvest less that 30 percent of its savings into pharmacy services whereas other provinces reinvest an average of 50 percent.

John Ferguson Defamation Trial

Two Suspects Sought For Home Invasion On West Side

We know a bit more about the home invasion and robbery late Tuesday night between 11:30 and midnight in the Milford Trailer Park.

Police are on the lookout for two men, thought to be in their 20's, believed responsible.

A 66 year old man was home by himself at the time but didn't sustain any injuries. 

Police are asking anyone with information that could lead to arrests to give them a ring at 648-33-33 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-tips.

Ferguson Gets Grilled Over Council Presentation

Pension Board Lawyer Barry Morrison taking defendant John Ferguson to task over his three main assertions during a presentation to common council about problems with the pension board.

Morrison says Ferguson never had any documentation about independent pension advice being never provided, that the early retirement plan cost the pension plan far more than what was reported, and that there were errors in the city's financial statements.

Ferguson testified that motions being struck down on looking for advice would be his proof, there were discrepancies in the 2003 to 2005 financial statements, and a document from then city finance commissioner Andrew Beckett showed that the retirement packages cost 2.2 million dollars.

But Morrison countered and said that council at the time were only discussing the 2005 financial statements and there was no number to compare the 2.2 million dollar cost to.


Morrison also asked if it ever occured to Ferguson to mend fences with senior staff memebers in order to get to the root of any pension issues.

Ferguson testifed that if he had to do it all over again, he would but with greater resolve.


Ferguson returns to the stand tomorrow morning at 9 at the court of queens bench

Ordained Minister and Business Owner Wants To Be Mayor

The 33 year old business owner running for mayor thinks Saint John's pension crisis needs to be dealt with first.

Matthew Thompson tells CHSJ News part of the solution is finding ways to keep the pension going.

He says we must deal with the pension deficit that gives an immediate resolution and there are still ideas that haven't been explored.

Thompson is an ordained minister who owns two businesses including a construction company.

Body Of Missing Blacks Harbour Fisherman Found

Foul play is not suspected in the death of a 50 year old Blacks Harbour man who didn't come home from a fishing trip.

Last night about 10:30, St. George RCMP received a report of a sport fisherman who failed to return home.


Ralph Bradley Ramsey had left his home early in the morning to go fishing in the Bonny River area.

The Mounties found his body about 120 metres from his truck next to a canoe.
An autopsy has been ordered.

Coastal Transport To Provide Fundy Isles Ferry Service

The province announcing a 15 year agreement worth more than 13 million dollars with Coastal Transport of Saint John to operate and maintain the ferries serving the Fundy Isles including Deer Island.


Transportation Minister Claude Williams says at Deer Island, Coastal Transport will taking on most of the employees adding efforts will be made to reassign remaining staff with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Coastal Transport already operates the Grand Manan and White Head ferries under the Fundy Isles Ferry Service with the company taking over the ferry service officially as of May 28th.

A new $4.7-million ferry is expected to be in operation for Deer Island in 2014.

Rinehart Opens Campaign HQ

Councillor-at-large candidate Shelley Rinehart opening up her campaign headquarters in Brunswick Square today.

She tells CHSJ News the fiscal sustainability of the city is paramount and there are two key things that have to be dealt with: our debt and find other sources of revenue.

She says she won't promises she cannot keep and the city has to live within its means.

An Empty Storefront On King Street Is A Concern

At the end of next month, Pictures Plus on King Street will be joining the Bargain Shop as empty storefronts.


Uptown Saint John General Manager Peter Asimakos tells CHSJ News they are looking for options for that building as they focus on the area surrounding King Square.

He says it'll take a bit of an effort to to work with the landlord and explore possible uses at least for the ground floor adding a vacant space of that size is a concern.

As for the municipal election, Asimakos hopes the new council is full of people with diverse backgrounds.

Ferguson Facing Many Accusations At Trial

Former Common Councillor John Ferguson has been accused of acting with reckless disregard of the truth by Pension Board lawyer Barry Morrison with his criticisms of how the city's pension plan was being administered.

Ferguson told the jury he stands by his statements and events have proven him to be correct. Morrison accused him of attacking Pension Board trustees but Ferguson claims he made no accusations against the Pension Board but wanted senior city staff members, who were on the board, to step back from giving advice to Common Council about the pension plan.

Morrison also accused Ferguson of having an agenda which he denied.

Morrison and Ferguson clashed frequently during the cross examination about what exactly the former Common Councillor understood about the city's pension plan when he was raising his concerns.

Morrison is accusing Ferguson of wanting to portray himself as the saviour of Saint John taxpayers who would uncover wrong doing on the part of the Pension Board. Ferguson disagreed with that characterisation but added he felt we were in a bad way and was seeking solutions to the pension shortfall.

Collision Between Car And Bike In Valley

Rothesay Regional Police are investigating a collision between a bicyclist and car on Millenium Drive last night.

They report a group of four cyclists were travelling on Millennium Drive when a car travelling in the same direction pulled out to pass them.

 One of the bikes was hit causing the cyclist driving behind him to fall. The victim suffered injuries to his face, legs, arms and hip.

Police are reminding drivers to make every effort to accommodate bicyclists when they are on the road but bicyclists should be wearing all proper safety equipment and reflective clothing when riding at night.