Taxi Drivers Concerned About By-Law Changes

Attention Saint John taxi drivers--recommended changes to the city's Taxi By-Law could have a big effect on how you do business. Taxi industry employees will get a chance to weigh in at a meeting to be held Sunday afternoon.

The By-Law review committee has recommended several changes to the by-law, including meters, training, insurance, and a 7-year age limit for taxis.

Christine Saumure is the chair of the Saint John Taxi Advisory Committee. She says it's that last point that is worrying a lot of drivers, who have expressed their concerns.

The information session happens today, January 15th, from 4pm-6pm at the Somerset Community Centre in the North End Police Station. Anyone who wants to air questions and concerns is invited to attend.

Attempted Robbery on Saint James Street

No one was injured in an attempted robbery on Saint James Street yesterday evening.

A man walked into the south end Fish & Chip take-out and brandished a weapon at an employee of the store.

When another customer entered the store, he got scared and took off on foot.

Police say they're still looking for the man.

Mayor Presses On With Blood Services Symposium

A symposium about enhancing blood services in the city will press on despite the province closing the door on starting its own blood service.

Mayor Ivan Court chairs the committee that is running the event.  He tells CHSJ News despite reassurances from Canadian Blood Services he says safety is still an issue for him, as well as the economic impact the lost jobs will have on the city and the future of healthcare in the province.

He says services need to be enhanced and not stripped down, which he believes will still happen when the production lab moves to Dartmouth in 2013.

He says Canadian Blood Services will be attending the event and he hopes the premier or other provincial politicians show up as well.

The symposium takes place at the Trade and Convention Centre on January 24th.