Moncton Woman Killed in Crash

A 22-year old woman from Moncton is dead after an accident this morning on Highway 11. RCMP say the vehicle the woman was driving north-bound, lost control and hit an on-coming truck. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.


Her name will not be released until family have been notified and no word at this point on what caused her vehicle to lose control.

Conditional Discharge for Noonan woman

A woman from Noonan who claimed to be abducted back in August and taken to Ontario was in court today.
44-year-old Marcia Simmons was charged with public mischief with the intent to mislead police back in October.
In court today in Burton, Simmons recieved a conditional discharge and probation for two years and she must pay a victim fine surcharge of $100.

Property Owner Considering Going Back to Oil

With Enbridge Gas New Brunswicks proposal to increase distribution rates in the province, several businesses are speaking out about negative affects.

President and CEO of Killam Properties Philip Fraser says Enbridge isn't improving the distribution lines enough to justify increasing the rates.
Fraser says he has properties in other provinces, and it's a lot cheaper to use natural gas elsewhere.
Fraser says his company has been looking at converting back to oil over the last month, and says in several cases they've already switched. He says if the proposal is accepted by the EUB, Killam Properties has a concrete plan to convert buildings back.

Enbridge Gas New Brunswick Looking to Increase Rates

The Energy and Utilities Board is mulling over whether to approve Enbridge Gas New Brunswicks request to increase delivery rates.
EGNB General Manager Dave Charleson says even if the rate is increased, natural gas will still be competitive.
Charleson says due to the size of the market in this province, it will never see the same rates as other provinces in the country. He says New Brunswick just doesn't have the demand other provinces do.

Mayor Court Talks About Budget

    




(Mayor Ivan Court - file photo)

Saint John Mayor Ivan Court says he is feeling no pressure when it comes to finalizing the budget. The question was asked because with the exception of Grand Bay Westfield, all of the outlying municialities have cut their tax rates but Court tells CHSJ News, Saint John provides most of the infrastructure for those people living in those communities to come to work so he can't see how the city budget can be cut by the five cents recommended by the Province.


Court says the budget for Saint John will be handed down the first or second week of January.

Cable Breaks on Westfield Ferry

   (WestField Ferry in Action)
            (File Photo)


An update on the ferry from the Westfield landing which broke loose earlier today. Department of Transportation spokes-person Andrew Holland tells CHSJ News, the ferry has been towed back to shore and everyone on board, including a school bus and it's driver are fine.


Holland says it will take some time for inspectors to figure out what made the cable snap but it could be something as simple as wear and tear.

Ambulance New Brunswick Grabs Saftey Award

Ambulance New Brunswick is being awarded the first ever EMS Safety Foundation Award. It's to recognize the companies dedication to world-leading ambulance safety policies and practices. Matt Crossman is vehicle safety manager and will take possession of the hardware early in the new year.


Ambulance New Brunswick has more than 900 paramedics stationed across the province.

Province on Board With Saint John 225

(Tourism and Parks Minister Stu Jamieson at City Hall)
                 (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Just days after announcing the line-up for the Saint John 225 celebration, the Province has come on board with some funding. $225,000 dollars was presented to chair Peter Buckland at City Hall earlier today. Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson says this is a winning formula the Province is happy to be part of.

Ottawa is on board with $750,000 dollars in funding for the event and the City has matched the Province with $225,000 dollars.

Canada Games Stadium Upgrade

    (Canada Games Stadium in Millidgeville)
                    (File Photo)

Premier Graham remains committed to kicking in some provincial money to help with the six million dollar make over of the Canada Games Stadium and track. Graham tells CHSJ News the province is working with Ottawa to get some federal cash to help with the expansion of internet broadband in the province -- cash which could be directed to projects like the Stadium upgrade.

The federal government has already committed 1.4-million dollars to the project while U-N-B -- the city -- and -- the private sector have also committed funds.

Saint John Store Broken Into For a Third Time

The Long and McQuade Music Shop on Rothesay Avenue at McAllister Drive was broken into for the third time. A window was smashed and city police have one person in jail with charges pending including probation violation.

Price of Natural Gas Could Go Up

The price of natural gas in the province could rise January 1st if Enbridge Gas gets approval from the Energy and Utilities Board for an interim increase on its delivery rate. A hearing is being held in Saint John today.
If approved, delivery rates for residential customers will rise by about 10 per cent until the company gets a formal ruling on its request to make the increase permanent.
But some large corporate clients would see their delivery rates double if the interim increase is approved. The town of St. Stephen is opposed and will talk about the impact a 114 per cent increase on delivery rates would have on the community's two major employers, Flakeboard and Ganong Brothers.