Power Outage In Rothesay And Other Areas

There are reports of a power outage in the Rothesay area.  According to the NB Power website, about 2500 customers are in the dark in Rothesay.  

A caller to our 648 3000 news line also telling us that power is also out in Baxter's Corner, Barnesville, and the Garnett Settlement.  No other details have been released.

Parking Rates Going Up

As of August 1st, it will cost you more to park uptown. 

On-street parking meters and the pay and display rates are going up to $1.75 an hour.  This includes two metered lots on Union Street and St. Patrick Street.

However, other off-street lots will stay at $1.50 an hour.

For those seeking for a cheaper option for getting around the uptown, the parking commission wants to remind you there is a free uptown shuttle available from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday.

Board Of Trade Pleased With Delay in Minimum Wage Increase

Saint John Board of Trade President Imelda Gilman says the delay in the bump of the minimum wage is a sigh of relief for small business owners. 

She tells CHSJ News the increase would have compounded the issues they are already facing, like bumps in fuel and energy costs, because a business can't charge more for their products in order to make up the difference.
 
She's says a global recession combined with a 19 percent increase to the minimum wage over the past 2 years was making it very difficult for small businesses to keep their head above water.

Living Wage Needed In Province

If you work fulltime in the province, then you shouldn't be earning so little that you're struggling to make do below the poverty line. 

That's the position being staked out by the Saint John Human Development Council as it does some number crunching on what constitutes a living wage. 

Randy Hatfield is the Human Developent Council's Executive-Director and he says while he understands that it may be difficult to meet some payrolls, we need to take a hard look what kind of income do people need in order to sustain themselves.

Word on milk going up in price by 4 cents a litre came shortly after it was announced the next rise in the provincial minimum wage will be delayed by six months to next April.

Saint John Human Development Council Says Living Wage Should Be Norm

Just one week after it's announced there will be a six month delay in raising the minimum wage in the province, there's word milk is going up in price by four cents a litre.

 Randy Hatfield of the Saint John Human Development Council is concerned about the rapid rise in food prices, which along with gas, are fuelling inflation and how the working poor will be able to keep up.

Hatfield tells CHSJ News they're number crunching on something he refers to as a living wage saying if you work fulltime then you shouldn't find yourself below the poverty line.

Hatfield finds it quite a coincidence the price of milk rises so soon after the minimum wage announcement.

St. Stephen Family Homeless After Blaze

A house fire on Queen Street in St. Stephen forcing a mother and her two young children, including a 10-month old, from their home late yesterday afternoon.

The Canadian Red Cross was called to provide assistance to the family who is staying with relatives.

A Red Cross volunteer arranged for the family to receive clothing and food.

Rothesay High Vandalised

Extensive damage caused the other night to the field and irrigation houses at Rothesay High.

Rothesay Regional Police estimate damage from the vandalism at around 2 thousand dollars.

 Police suspect it occurred sometime after 11:00 on Wednesday night and they're asking anyone who might have seen something or has information about what happened to give them a call at 847-6300.

Cargo Of Lobster Rolls Over On Highway

Traffic delays on Highway 1 at Lorneville are expected. A tractor trailer filled with thousands of lobsters rolled over early this morning around 2:30 winding up in the median.

The transport was heading into the city when the mishap occurred by Spruce Lake.

Two people were sent to hospital but their injuries are not believed to be serious.

The cargo will be transferred to another truck.