Costco Will Affect The Bottom Line Of Gas Stations

Local gas stations in Fredericton will be feeling the crunch thanks to the new Costco gas bar.

The station is currently selling regular self service seven cents cheaper at $1.17 a litre.

Kevin McCann is the wholesale manager for Wilson Fuels and he tells CHSJ News even after their grand opening deals are over, you can expect them to continue selling fuel 3 to 5 cents cheaper due to their size and business philosophy.
 
He estimates that Costco will capture about 6 percent of the gas market in the Capitol City.

Premier Under Fire For Rejecting Referendum

He's not the same David Alward today as he was a year ago........That charge being made by the opposition Liberals after the Premier rejects holding a referendum on shale gas development in the province. 

Bay du Vin M-L-A Bill Fraser tells CHSJ News Alward has done a complete about face. 

The Premier maintains the biggest referendum was the provincial election vote last September. Fraser says that's ironic because Alward, during the provincial election campaign, promised to bring in legislation so that referendums could be held.

Healthcare Workers Have A Sit Down With Health Minister

A Legislative Committee coming to town to hear about electing members to serve on the Regional Health Authority but Health Minister Madelaine Dube wound up having an informal discussion over cuts with health care workers.

Norma Robinson, President of the New Brunswick Council of Hospital Unions told the committee there should only be one health authority for both french and english because that would mean less duplication.
 

Dube tells CHSJ News they had a good chin wag but she also took the opportunity to say the current way of running healthcare is unsustainable and efficiencies will have to be made.
 

Robinson told her if you keep chipping away at the bottom, the whole edifice will eventually collapse so any cuts should be made at the top.

Province Hands Out Scholarships For College-Bound Students

The province handing out scholarships to the tune of 31-thousand dollars for 12 local students.

They've been awarded Wage Gap Action plan scholarships of up to 26-hundred dollars.

The money will go towards their first-year tuition.

The program is designed to increase the number of studentss in trades or courses where participation by men or women has been limited.

Construction Officially Begins On Fundy Civic Centre

Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr is all smiles as he put a shovel into the ground to mark the construction of the new Fundy Civic Centre.

The facility will boast a competition sized swimming pool, fitness centre, and a walking track.

Carr tells CHSJ News it's the missing piece of the puzzle for the community as people were leaving the Dairy Town in order to enjoy a swim or take lessons.

The civic centre is expected to be completed by July of next year.

Canadian Blood Services To Hold Special Donation Clinics

Lower-then-expected bookings for the rest of the summer has Canadian Blood Services asking everyone to roll up their sleeves.

They're holding two special donation clinics featuring giveaways and special guests.

Spokesperson Paul Doucet tells CHSJ News the summer is always a tough time as road accidents occur more frequently and the demand for blood products goes up.

The first clinic will be held this Saturday at 9am to 1pm at the blood services building on University Avenue.

Provincial Liberals Call For Federal Help In Henk Tepper Case

The provincial Liberals want the Federal government to help Drummond area farmer Henk Tepper get home.

Tepper has been detained in Lebanon for nearly five months after being accused of selling bad potatoes.

Agriculture Critic Hedard Albert says the government needs to do what it can to bring home one of our own.

He says the province is refusing to take action, claiming that the matter is for the Feds and their hands are tied.

Local Man Wants To Be P-C Party President

A long time local Conservative backroom player wants to be president of the provincial party.


Jason Stephen tells CHSJ News he wants to reach out to younger people and new comers to our province - and - make them feel welcomed in the party.

Party members will vote for a new president during the annual meeting in Fredericton at the end of September.

Prison Escapee Recaptured Outside City

29 year old Micheal Garnett, who escaped from the Westmorland Institution at Dorchester earlier this week, is back behind bars.

He was captured last night around 8:30 behind the airport on Clover Valley Road. 

Garnett was seen walking down the road. A call was placed to the RCMP who came down from Salt Springs. CHSJ News has been told the homeowners along the road were keeping an eye on his whereabouts in the meantime.

Garnett walked down a dead end and shortly after he came back up to the road, the Mounties were there to take him down without any trouble.

He was serving a 2 and a half year sentence for various charges, including assault, theft, trespassing, and break and enter.

Home On Westfield Road Saved

Damage was kept to a minimum after an electrical fire broke out yesterday afternoon in the basement of a home at 2574 Westfield Road.

District Chief Joe Armstrong says the fire had spread from the basement to the upstairs.
 

The basement of the home sustained some damage but fire crews managed to put out the flames that were discovered between a wooden beam in the basement and the upstairs floor after the beam was taken down. 

A man and woman were in the home when the fire started and called 911 before making it out safely.

No Referendum On Shale Gas

Premier David Alward says a referendum on shale gas exploration in the province will not be held. 

Another protest was held yesterday north of Fredericton and now the RCMP are trying to determine if there is any connection between the protestors and the vandalising of seismic testing equipment in that same area. 

Provincial Environment Minister Margaret Ann Blaney tells CHSJ News nothing is etched in stone and if New Brunswickers ultimately say no, so be it but the government has a responsibility to explore what shale gas development is all about from every angle.
 

Blaney adds the protection of well water is a priority for the government. The protestors are worried about their drinking water will be contaminated by methane because of hydraulic fracturing which releases the natural gas.

Appeal Made To Blood Donors To Roll Up Their Sleeves

Lower than expected bookings for the rest of the summer has Canadian Blood Services asking everyone to roll up their sleeves.
 

They're holding two special donation clinics this weekend featuring giveaways and special guests.
 

Spokesperson Paul Doucet tells CHSJ News the summer is always tough time while demand goes up because to an increase in collisions along roads and highways.
 

The first clinic will be held this Saturday at 9am to 1pm at the blood services building on University Avenue.