Saint John M-P Promises More Federal Money Coming For Saint John

(Saint John M-P Rodney Weston)
               (File Photo)

Now that the smoke has cleared from the Federal Conservative infighting and accusations of holding back spending, the M-P for Saint John is confident money will continue to flow into Greater Saint John. Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News it's important to point out that The Minister in charge of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Keith Ashfield and Premier Shawn Graham shared the stage twice on Friday to make funding annoucements and Weston, himself, has a few announcements scheduled for the coming week.
As for the Harbour Bridge, Weston tells us Ottawa and Fredericton are still ironing out the details of what is the best option for everyone. Part of Weston's campaign pledge during the last Federal vote was to eliminate the tolls from the Harbour Bridge.

NB Power Set To Be Grilled On Raising Rates

As the Energy and Utilities Board gets set to begin a hearing for the proposed 3% increase by NB Power, a big number is being thrown around by the Conservatives. Leader David Alward tells CHSJ News, the public utility is showing a hefty profit for the past year of close to 70 million dollars.
A hearing isn't required for a three per cent increase or lower but Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir has asked the E-U-B to review the rate hike. Saint John Energy announced it's rate is up by three per cent as of the first of the month. The hearing gets started tomorrow morning at the Delta.

P-E-I And New Brunswick Talking About Joint Lawsuit Over Point Lepreau

(Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir)
                 (File Photo)

A lawsuit is not on the table yet. That from Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir after word Prince Edward Island is joining this Province in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Atomic Energy of Canada for cost overruns and delays in the refuurbishment of the nuclear reactor at Point Lepreau. Keir tells CHSJ News, he has been in touch with P-E-I and legal action remains an option but they're not at that popint yet.
Keir says his preference is to sit down with Conservative MP Keith Ashfield and member of the federal cabinet and see if something can't get ironed out. The delays have forced the Island's utility to buy power costing two million dollars a month.

New Regulations Could Boost Property Taxes

(Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop)
            (File Photo)

Municipalities might be paying a lot of money to upgrade their wastewater systems. Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop says the federal government is putting forward some expensive new regulations. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities warns the regulations could cause a 1,000 dollar increase in property taxes a year.
Bishop says Rothesay Town Council is one of many municipalities writing a letter to the federal government asking for it to slow down a bit and set up some cost sharing programs.

Traffic Delays Expected In Rothesay

If you travel on the Rothesay Road, something to keep in mind. There will be traffic delays for the next few months as town staff get started on water main extension work and sewer improvements. When the project is finished in March, water lines will extend from Dunedin and Rothesay Road and connect to Kennebecasis Park. This project has been in the works for over two years.

Two Community Police Officers To Be Promoted

Three members of the Saint John Police Force will be promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant this afternoon. Sergeants Tanya Leblanc, James Fleming, both of whom have served as community police officers, and Michael King will all receive their new stripes at a ceremony this afternoon at one o'clock in the council chamber. These three Staff Sergeants will assume the role of Watch Commander of a Platoon shift.

Windmills To Leave Port Of Saint John With Police Escorts

Here's something to keep in mind to go along with all of the construction in Greater Saint John. New sections of windmills, which arrived in Port last week, are on their way to the Kent Hills Wind Farm. Every morning at six, five loads will travel along Lower Cove Loop to the intersection of Crown and Union, then on to Rothesay Avenue and out to the highway. Some of the sections of windmill are 200 feet long so as you can imagine, they will take up a lot of roadway.
City Police will escort the equipment and it's expected the daily deliveries will continue until August 20th.

Graduation Ceremony This Week At Community College

(New Brunswick Community College On Grandview Avenue)
                             (File Photo)

Between five and six hundred students will graduate from the Community College campus this week ready for the work-world. Interim President and C-E-O Bill Best tells CHSJ News, the graduates are entering the work-force with the best skills available.
Best is referring to a donation made last week by General Motors to the automotive service technician program. Elan Cole is this year's valedictorian, graduating from the power engineering technology course. The ceremony will be held at Harbour Station on Friday starting at two o'clock.

Long Wharf Lobster Sale

KidsnKarts

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day has arrived and many in Greater Saint John are celebrating.

CHSJ News took to the streets to ask what some people will be doing to honor the man in their lives.

Some people will be having dinner or a barbeque, while others say they will get their Dad something he enjoys and spend some time with him to thank him for everything.

Reversing Falls Geopark

Saint John may soon have another first.

A tour of the area is expected to take place soon to see if the city can be designated a Geopark.

Mayor Ivan Court tells CHSJ News, the area will stretch between the Fundy Shore to Fundy National Park.

If the designation is approved, Saint John will become the first UNESCO Geopark in North America.

The Province has already put up $35,000 dollars toward the proposal.

King Street Closed In Afternoon

Don't forget if your coming into the uptown today, King Street is closed between 12:30 and 4:30pm this afternoon.

The street will be shut down for the KidsnKarts event and also affects the streets that link onto King Street such as Germain.

Any City Transit buses that use King Street will also use an alternate route.

NBCC Construction Update

(NBCC Construction)

(Photo by Jim Hennessy)

An update today on construction going on at the community college campus on GrandView Avenue.

Last summer, the Province announced $21 million dollars to go toward a center of excellence for energy.

Interim President and CEO Bill Best tells CHSJ News, the steel structure is in place as well as some roofing.

Best adds the new building will provide 600 new seats but no word yet on a ribbon cutting.

Trees For Sussex

Part of the Kennebecasis River near Sussex is getting a facelift in the form of 1500 trees.

Sussex was one of 25 places chosen for a planting project by Trees by the Shore.

President of Tree Canada, Mike Rosen, says there are many lessons to be learned from planting trees.

Rosen says Sussex was chosen because the area needed trees and a community group was willing to participate.

Around 50 volunteers showed up Saturday for the planting.

Bike Lanes for Rothesay

(Mayor Bill Bishop)
(File Photo)

Rothesay is looking at the possibility of getting bike lanes.

Mayor Bill Bishop says he knows there's a need for bicycle lanes, but council doesn't know if the roads are wide enough.

Bishops says the plan is to tentatively mark some roads with bike lanes to see if people driving will pay attention to cyclists.

Jets Over Bay of Fundy

Don't be alarmed if you see fighter jets flying over the Bay of Funday today.

A NATO led training exercise called Halcyon R-V is taking place from today until Tuesday.

Jets from the United Kingdom, the United States and Denmark will be flying from the Bay of Fundy to CFB Gagetown to conduct live fire exercises.

People should expect a bit of noise when planes are flying overhead.