Insurance Claims Due To Severe Weather On The Rise

Water damage claims surpassing fire claims in home insurance payouts according to the President of the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Don Forgeron says that is why the insurance industry, along with all levels of government, need to improve water and sewerage infrastructure in order to minimize the effects of severe weather

He says the failure of infrastructure is usually to blame in damages.

According to a 2007 study by the Canadian Federation of Municipalities and McGill University, Canada has a water and sewage infrastructure deficit of 31 billion dollars.

He says the IBC has developed the MRAT - a municipal risk assessment tool which identifies vulnerabilities in aging infrastructure -- and he is hoping more provinces will make use of the service.

B.C. Police Lay Charges In Rothesay Woman's Death

Charges have been laid in the death of a Rothesay woman killed in Kelowna, B.C. last week.

A 43-year-old Australia man was apparently making a left hand turn at the intersection on Friday when he collided with a second vehicle.

That second vehicle spun into the pedestrian island striking 62-year-old Marilyn Donnelly who was waiting to cross the road.

She died from the injuries she sustained when the second vehicle hit her.

The driver, who has returned to Australia,  was ticketed for driving without due care and attention.

Bursaries Awarded to 16 Police Cadets

16 new police cadets will receive bursaries from the Provincial department of public safety.

The $3,000 bursary is awarded to each successful candidate to offset cadet training costs.

The recipients include Constable Nathan McIntyre of the Rothesay Regional Police Force and Constables Mark McKinnon, Tara Stewart,Tyler White, Connor Bodechon, Trinda Fanjoy, Shawn MacAulay, Jocelyn McIntyre, Peter Osborne and James Smith of the Saint John Police Force.

The bursaries will be awarded at the New Brunswick Chiefs of Police annual meeting in Fredericton.

 

NDP Leader Finds Minister Stultz's "Rats Not Cats" Policy Puzzling

The Province's NDP Leader is puzzled as to why the Social Development Minister is cracking down on cats and dogs in NB Housing properties when they seem to have bigger problems.


Dominic Cardy tells CHSJ news his Fredericton office has been flooded with calls on this topic over the last week.

He tells us people are talking about needles lying about in common areas, an infestation of rats and mold and yet these issues which have been reported are not getting much action from NB Housing.

Cardy tells us he doesn't understand why Minister Sue Stultz is using this strange 'rats not cats' policy.

Next Major Earthquake In Province Expected To Be Near Point Lepreau

The Conservation Council claims the next major earthquake will be in Passamaquoddy Bay and is raising doubts whether the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant would be able to be left standing in the aftermath.
 
Sharon Murphy of the Conservation Council argues Lepreau would not be able to withstand a quake closer than 25 kilometers with a magnitude of 6 and that's why seismic studies should be done before the plant comes back on line after being refurbished.   
 
NB Power has said seismic studies will be done but hasn't said when. It is a stipulation  of the nuclear power plant's license renewal by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

Prison Term For Underwear Thief

A former Grand Bay-Westfield man, 21 year old Corey Douglas Donald MacKenzie has been sentenced to three years in prison for breaking into homes in the Saint John area and stealing women's underwear.

The thefts began in 2010.

Local MP Says Suggestions Are Being Taken At Controversial Bill

Saint John MP Rodney Weston returning to the House of Commons next week and one of the big issues of late has been the controversial C-30 bill, also known as the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act.

It has come under public scrutiny as critics say the bill would force internet service providers to allow access to private data without a warrant.

Weston tells CHSJ News he understands how there can be some controversy as the topic is not only sensitive but relatively new.

He says Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is open to suggestions on changes to the bill but his number one priority is to protect children.