NDP Calling On Government To Fix Water

NDP Provincial Leader Dominic Cardy is calling on the provincial government to fix and regulate water contamination in a Moncton residential area.

Cardy tells CHSJ news a private lab in Fredericton conducted a test on a home in Stoney Creek that showed levels of diesel and barium had gone up significantly. He says you could smell the benzene in the water and it affects several dozen people in the area.

According to Cardy residents don't even touch the water. He says the chemicals come from years of oil drilling, and is asking the government to step up their game in oil and gas regulations.

Several Highway Bang-Ups, One Fatal

A 52-year-old Fredericton man has died, after his vehicle went off the road into a steep ditch in Nashwaak Village. It happened on Route 8 on July 31st shortly after after 4:30pm

So far, police believe that the man’s Jeep first rear-ended another vehicle,injuring a 53-year-old woman. The man continued driving and left the road about a kilometre away. The man died at the scene.The name of the victim is not being released. RCMP is asking that anyone who may have witnessed the 2007 Jeep Sahara driving on Route 8, to contact 1-888-506-RCMP (7267), or Crime Stoppers.

Meanwhile, The Musquash Fire Dept responding to a crash on Highway 1 in Musquash this morning near the Ducks Unlimited Marsh around 7:30 am that a car had rolled over into the median. The one woman in the car was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Alleged Robbery on Harbour Passage

A 42 year old man has been taken to hospital for observation after an alleged robbery in the wee hours this morning.

Constable Jay Henderson of the Saint John Police Force tells CHSJ News the man was walking on the Harbour Passage when he was robbed an an undisclosed amount of money seized.

Massive Open Pit Mine Proposed Near Stanley

A proposal for a massive open pit mine outside of Fredericton has some up in arms. Forest Ecologist Larry Wuest tells CHSJ news the tungsten and molybdenum  mine near Stanley would have a devastating effect on the land.

He asks the public to imagine standing on King's College Road in Fredericton and looking out across the river as far as the giant flag on the other side. That is the area, Wuest says, that the proposed mine would fill up with debris, and would stretch even further out fro the bridges on either wide.

Wuest further says the tungsten and molybdenum there are of poor quality, and there's a higher than normal arsenic and lead content in the area. He calls the idea is both ecologically and economically short-sighted, because the claim the mine would create hundreds of construction jobs isn't yet substantiated.

Police Affadavit In Oland Murder Case Released

A little bit of information has been released from the Richard Oland murder investigation with the police affadvit which talks about the delays in analysing the evidence partly because two of the forensic people who do the analysing had health issues to deal with, the reluctance of witnesses to come forward because of all the attention and concern over the spreading of rumours and false information by social media.
 
According to the affadavit, 378 pieces of evidence were seized, 243 of which require analysis. 60 interviews were conducted and police Constable Stephen Davidson argues even release of the cause of death and how Oland was murdered would jeopardise the investigation. 

Media lawyer David Coles says the delays in processing the evidence he finds troubling especially considering the Oland case is a high profile murder investigation.
 
More hearings are scheduled later this month on what information from the search warrants themselves can be released. Judge Leslie Jackson has already decided what he thinks can be released but that could change depending on the arguments presented.

Travel Podcast Highlights Saint John

Saint John is getting international attention from an American travel journalist.

Well-known writer and CBS travel editor Peter Greenberg hosts the three minute video that shows what it's like to be a local. In the podcast Greenburg explores Market Square, the New Brunswick Museum, where to eat and more. Called "Travel Tuesday", the weekly podcast spotlights different cities around the world.

Lawyers Need More Time In Oland Case

Lawyers Gary Miller and Bill Teed have told the court they need more time to go through the stack of search warrants in the Richard Oland murder investigation.

There was more police testimony in a closed hearing. Miller and Teed will be back before Judge Leslie Jackson, who will decide what information can be released, on August 13th. They will make their case at that time whether any further material should be kept sealed.

There's another hearing scheduled August 16th and 17th to allow the media lawyer David Coles (picture) the opportunity to argue whether more information should be released.

Cyclist Dies After Hit & Run

A cyclist has died after a hit and run collision in Moncton last night.

The 58-year-old Dieppe man died in hospital as a result of his injuries. RCMP responded to Lewisville Road near the intersection of Dowd Street just before 11 o'clock after receiving reports of a hit and run.

Shortly after a 23-year-old Dieppe man was arrested in connection to the incident and was later released.

The name of the victim has not been released.

Robbery In Hampton

The RCMP in Hampton are investigating a robbery that occurred on July 29th at the Red Brick Bar on Railway Crescent.
 
Police say at around 11:30 that night, someone came into the bar demanding money and then taking off with an undisclosed amount.
 
The suspect's face was concealed but the robber was wearing white painters coveralls, under a green, waist-length jacket.
 
Police are asking anyone with information or who may have been in the downtown area around that time and seen a person matching the description, to contact the RCMP at 506-832-5566. 

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca, or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

More Information Could Be Released On Oland

The prosecution has withdrawn an application to prevent the release of search warrants in the investigation of the killing of businessman Richard Oland.

Instead, provincial court Judge Leslie Jackson has been asked to decide what, if any, of the information can be released.

Lawyers will be back in court Wednesday arguing what information can be released and what should still be kept under wraps.

Oland was found dead in his office on Canterbury Street last year.

The Crown had previously argued that releasing the documents could jeopardize the ongoing police investigation but a lawyer for media organizations has said the prosecution didn't produce any evidence to support its request to keep the documentation sealed.

Canada Wide Warrant For Missing Man

RCMP need your help in finding a man missing with an outstanding parole warrant.

21-year-old Brandon Anderson failed to return to a half-way house in the city, and now a Canada wide parole warrant for his arrest has been issued. There's belief he's heading to Halifax.
 

Anderson was on parole for manslaughter and investigators believe he poses a risk to the public. He is described as white, 6’ tall, 210 lbs., with green eyes and brown hair.

Anderson is considered dangerous and police advise you shouldn't approach him. Anyone with information is asked to contact Saint John City Police (648-3333) and Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS [8477]).

Locations & Jobs With New Air Service

More travel locations and jobs is what you can expect from the Saint John Airport this fall.

Quebec aviation company PASCAN will open up daily flights, five days a week from Saint John to Bonaventure, Quebec City, and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador. Saint John Airport President Bernie Leblanc tells us it's a targeted service that will benefit the province for business and leisure travel.

LeBlanc says the timing was great. He says it's booming in Labradors so they thought it's a great opportunity to launch it. He adds they'll have to make sure people will use the aircraft so the service keeps growing.

PASCAN President Serge Charron says the British C-FPSJ planes link small communities. They hold about 19 passengers and the company owns 13 of them. Charron estimates the service will create 6-7 direct and indirect jobs in Saint John.

Saint John Airport is the first in the province to work with PASCAN.

How Much Money Should Be Spent Consulting The Public

What is the price of public consultation and how far do you need to go? The new Common Council is grappling with that dilemma as it looks to save taxpayer dollars.
 

Ward 4 Common Councillor David Merrithew says if the city didn't hold public meetings as part of  budget consultations, it could save 50 thousand dollars. Merrithew is proposing the consultations be limited to online. 

Ward 2 Councillor Susan Fullerton says she did plenty of consulting while on the campaign trail and if you don't know what Saint Johnners want, you need a medical evaluation.
 

Besides that, Fullerton questions "why ask people how the city should spend money it doesn't have"? It sounds a bit ridiculous to her.

Ward 3 Councillor Donna Reardon argues the public still needs a voice at the table but if it can be accomplished online then that would be great.

Work Set To Resume On Welsford Bypass

There may be no construction activity at the moment - but - the provincial Transportation Department says that's about to change.
A department spokesperson tells CHSJ News a 3-million dollar contract for grading and paving of the Welsford Bypass will be awarded soon.
The contract involves grading and paving of 5-kms of new highway and four ramps in the Welsford area - and - we are told that work will start in about 3-weeks.
The 60-million dollar project is now scheduled for completion in the fall of next year - about a year later than originally planned.

Two Councillors Not Happy At Committee Proposal

Not everyone on Common Council is over the moon about what's being proposed for a committee form of local government. 

Councillor Donnie Snook points out Vision 2015 envisioned more direct participation by Saint Johnners.

Fellow Councillor Bill Farren thought one or two people on each committee would be members of the public. Farren wonders whether these committees will be viewed as just a rubber stamp and not pass what he calls the smell test.

Farren objects to the Mayors, whomever he or she is, appointing the chairs of each of these committees fearing that could lead to favourtism.
 
Common Council will be hearing directly from its counterparts in Fredericton about how it works there and why Bathurst decided it wasn't for them. The councillors may even attend council meetings in Fredericton and Sussex to see first hand how the committee system works.

Common Council hears Pros And Cons About Changing The Way City Is Run

Common Council hearing about the benefits, for the most part, of switching to a committee form of local government where the back and forth would take place before various committees, depending on the issue, with less debate before the full Common Council. 

Common Clerk Elizabeth Gormley says there could be separate committees for growth and development, the environment, transportation and water with a co-ordinating committee dealing with the city budget.
 
Gormley says each committee would meet once a month and the full Council would still meet every two weeks. 

She maintains this form of city governance would lead to better decisionmaking, greater public participation and transparency although there are pitfalls which could include buck passing. 

Common Council wants to hear directly from Fredericton Council on how the system works in that city but also from Bathurst where it was tried and then discarded before deciding.   

Common Council Undecided About Mixed Martial Arts

Common Council isn't ready just yet to allow mixed martial arts bouts to be staged in the city at the L-B-R. It wants to first hear from City Solicitor John Nugent on the legal ramifications, if any. 

Councillor Ray Strowbridge wants the city to move ahead, saying it will allow Saint John to compete on this level with Moncton and Halifax. He also argues mixed martial arts is one of the hottest sports around these days and staging bouts in the city would boost the local economy.
 
Council also wants to hear from the city's Leisure Services Committee before it decides whether or not to spend 3 and a half million dollars to turn the ice surface at the L-B-R into Olympic size which would benefit figure skaters in the area.

Belleisle Ferry No Go Tomorrow

You need to change your travel plans if you hope to take the Belleisle Ferry tomorrow.

Starting at 8:30am it won't be running until late in the afternoon for scheduled maintenance and repair work.

Man Fined More Than $17,000

A fifty-eight year old man has been fined more than $17,000 after pleady guilty to charges related to contraband cigarettes.
Harold Ronald Davidson from Lincoln was arrested in May after an eight-month long RCMP investigation where police seized 24,000 illegal cigarettes and a quantity of cash.
Davidson pleaded in Burton Provincial court.

New Virtual College In Saint John

Classroom learning this September is getting virtual.

The Atlantica Centre For The Arts announcing their new "virtual" college. Unlike online courses, the program offers real-time, virtual classrooms complete with live lectures, classmates, study rooms and even a Foosball table.

Atlantica President Mike McGraw tells CHSJ news the virtual classroom is the first of it's kind in the world, a combination of traditional and online learning.

Mobile app development will be the first course taught, which McGraw says is the worlds fastest growing sector of the economy.

The course will be a year long and cost under $15,000. The first four instructors are from Saint John, but McGraw says students and teachers from around the world have access to be a part of it.

For more information on the program, click here.