CHSJ News: Mar 17, 2009

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Market Studies Institute Calls Budget Way to Self Sufficiency

2009-03-17

18:12:59

The Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies says the provincial tax plan goes beyond what any other government in the region is doing. Charles Cirtwill tells CHSJ news lowering taxes will encourage investment in the province.

Meanwhile, Cirtwill says the province could have gone further with the budget by moving to a flat tax rate-- and-- says a faster and larger increase in the basic personal exemption would have done more for low income earners.

Board Of Trade Gives Budget A Cautious Thumbs Up

2009-03-17

17:40:09

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(Pat Darrah of Saint John Construction Association and Imelda Gilman of Board of Trade discuss provincial budget - photo by Gary MacDonald)

The local business community is giving good marks to the provincial budget -- Board of Trade president Imelda Gilman says the budget is tackling items which are in tune with the Board's own priorities in the areas of infrastructure and tax cuts.
But Gilman says the Board will be watching closely to see if the government can meet its commitment to return to balanced budgets within four years especially with the projected increase in the net debt.
Pat Darrah of the Saint John Construction Association says the Graham Liberals have done a good job of balancing what he calls "strategic spending" in health care and education.

Independent Businesses Optimistic About Budget

2009-03-17

16:11:20

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the personal and corporate income tax cuts will shift the provincial economy back into gear by putting millions of dollars into small business owners’ hands. Director of Provincial Affairs, Andreea Bourgeois tells CHSJ news when taxes are lowered small business owners invest the savings in their business.

Bourgeois says their biggest concern is that half of the deficit is to put money back into the public pension fund. She says the regular tax payer is funding pensions for a few lucky in the province.

St Stephen Area Couple Fit For Trial

2009-03-17

16:04:31

A provincial court judge has determined a Moores Mills couple is fit to stand trial in the death of their baby.
27 year old Rodney Miller is facing first degree murder charges, and 19 year old Sarah Russel has been charged with manslaughter and accessory after the fact.
RCMP determined the baby was killed and then the body was hidden.
The couple had been sent for a 30 day psychiatric evaluation but have been determined to be fit for trial.
The couple has elected a trial by judge alone.
Miller will return to court April 14th to set a preliminary hearing date, and Russel is due back in court April 20th.

Graham Government Cutting Taxes - Programs - Civil Service

2009-03-17

15:01:01

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(Finance Minister Victor Boudreau purchases new tie for his budget speech - photo by CNB)

(By Kevin Bissett - the Canadian Press)

The Graham government is axing jobs and programs, and plunging the province deeper into debt with a budget it claims will guide the province through the economic storm    The $7.8-billion package released today adds close to a billion dollars to the province's net debt, reaching $8.3 billion by 2010.
Finance Minister Victor Boudreau confirms 700 jobs will be cut from the civil service in the year ahead, and says additional jobs will be eliminated as more programs are reduced.
Personal and corporate income taxes will be cut by $144 million in 2009-10 and the number of tax brackets will be reduced from four to two by 2012.
Boudreau says the province will return to balanced budgets by 2012, but he's not counting an expected $300-million pension payment, which would leave the 2012-13 budget in the red.    The government is spending $2.3 billion on health care, but is reintroducing ambulance fees that were eliminated by the previous Conservative government.

Highlights of the New Brunswick budget:

- 2009-10 budget projects a $741-million deficit in a $7.8 billion spending program.

- Net Debt to reach $8.3 billion by 2010, an increase of $969 million. Share of debt for every person in province is about $11,050.

- A total of 700 jobs to be cut from the civil service in 2009-10 and wages frozen for two years.

- $144 million in tax cuts. By 2012, personal income taxes will move from the current four-rate, four-bracket system to two rates and two brackets.

- General corporate income tax rate will be reduced from 13 per cent in 2008 to eight per cent in 2012.

New Party Supports Trade Barrier Agreement

2009-03-17

14:06:59

A new provincial political party is supporting an agreement between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to to eliminate a trade barrier. Premiers Shawn Graham and Rodney MacDonald recently reached an agreement to eliminate the dual weighing of trucks when passing over the provincial border. The Atlantica Party supports the idea of a regional free trade zone encompassing all four Atlantic provinces.

The party, founded by a group of concerned citizens, is based in the Atlantic region with its leader Jonathan Dean in Nova Scotia.

St. Patrick's Day Re-Dedication

2009-03-17

12:33:57

(Council Meets for Regular Meeting Last Night - Photo by Diane Henry)

Saint John has re-dedicate the park at the end of Prince William Street as St. Patrick Square. Common council approved the symbolic motion last night to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and the Irish immigrants who landed in Saint John in the 18th century. The original motion was passed in 1967.

Councilor Bill Farren sported his infamous green bow tie at last nights meeting as he does every year for St. Patty's Day. A couple of other city councilors and staff also wore bits of green for the occasion.

Woman Dies in Snowmobile Crash

2009-03-17:

11:40:45:

One woman is dead after a late night ride on a snowmobile. RCMP were called to Inkerman this morning at one to find the woman from the Val-Comeau area died after hitting a tree.

No name is being released and RCMP continue to look into the matter.

Air Quality License Approved

2009-03-17:

11:39:56:

The province is issuing a new air quality approval for Connors Bros. Clover Leaf Seafoods to operate its fish processing and fishmeal plant in Blacks Harbour. The new approval takes effect on the 15th of next month and is good for five years. The renewal follows public consultation that included a 120-day public review between Oct. 7 of last year and Feb. 13 of this year.

Questions and comments raised by the public have been addressed and do not require further formal consideration.

Donation Made to Local School

2009-03-17:

11:39:04:

Champlain Heights School is sporting three new Smart Boards today compliments of Irving Oil. This latest gift is to celebrate the one year anniversary of the partnership between Irving Oil and the school. To date, the school has recevied ten smart boards which cost $40,000 dollars.

Irving Oil is making a committment to buy a new smart board for each class-room by 2011.

Work Almost Done at LNG Site

2009-03-17:

11:38:18:

It won't be much longer now before the Canaport LNG Terminal is ready to go on-line. Construction is over 95% complete and by the end of the summer, mechanical completion should be finished. There are still 1100 workers on site and spokes-person Carolyn Van Der Veen tells CHSJ News, their head office recently made the move out to the terminal site as well.

Van der Veen says they are very pleased with the progess of construction.

Power Out for Many on West-Side

2009-03-17:

11:37:29:

West-Side homes and businesses were with-out electricity for a few hours earlier today. The juice had to be cut as fire crews tried to smother the flames at the fires along Manawagonish Road. Saint John Energy President Eric Marr tells CHSJ News, they were called in to cut the flow of power at around three this morning.

Marr says he hasn't received any reports of damage to any utility poles but they are doing an inspection today.

Update on West Side Fires

2009-03-17:

11:36:42:

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(Fire ravaged building on Manawagonish Road - photo submitted by Mark McGraw)

Still no word on what sparked a fire on the West-Side today that rolled through three homes. Crews were called to 693 Manawagonish Road just after midnight to find flames shooting 30-40 feet out of the basement apartment. Flames quickly spread to 685 and 687 Manawagonish Road and Fire Chief Rob Simonds tells CHSJ News, they are still assessing the damage.

Fire investigators are also trying to figure out what sparked a fire that ripped through 45 Elliot Row last night that left 15 people with no place to go.

Health Minister Moving On Private Clinics

2009-03-17

09:26:35

Health Minister Mike Murphy says he will be introducing legislation later this spring clearing the way for private health care clinics.
Murphy tells CHSJ News it's nothing more than having another option to provide services in a timely manner.
But -- Murphy says it's not something to you just plunge into with almost 20-thousand people working in health care in the province and 2.5-billion dollars of infrastructure in place.
A recent Corporate Research poll shows 57-percent of New Brunswickers are in favor of privately delivered - publicly funded health care services.

Rash of Fires Leaves Many Homeless

2009-03-17

08:47:50

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(Elliot Row Blaze Leaves 15 Homeless - photo submitted by Mark McGraw)

It will be days before investigators piece together what started fires that ripped through four buildings in Greater Saint John. The first call came in just after eight o'clock at 45 Elliot Row where fire-fighters found flames and smoke rolling from the 12-unit building. All 15 people inside got out safely but the building suffered heavy damage. Fire Crews were then called 693 Manawagonish Road just after midnight to find flames shooting from a basement apartment.

Fire quickly spread to two adjoining homes at 685 and 687 Manawagonish Road. All of the families inside escaped with no injuries but their homes have been gutted by the flames. The Church of Good Shepard has opened it's doors to give the families shelter from the cold. No word on how the fire started.

Council Gets the Details of the Finn Report

2009-03-17