A former Deputy Mayor of Saint John has announced her intention to run for the empty seat in Ward 3.
Michelle Hooten tells CHSJ News she's well-prepared to tackle the complex issues that Ward 3 is facing, which range from the poor condition of the roads on the East Side to a lack of affordable housing over west.
The other candidates include Allen Leslie, Brian Boyd, Gerry Lowe, Graeme Stewart Robertson and Mark Leblanc. The by-election is being held in mid-May.
If you've ever been the victim of a crime, you know how traumatic the experience can be.
It's the job of Victim Services to ensure people feel heard throughout the judicial process. Martin Ellen Martin of Victim Services tells CHSJ News they rely on highly trained volunteers to deal with the fallout from a wide range of crimes from assaults to murders, sudden deaths, and thefts.
Martin says the most common call they get is when someone has unexpectedly died, and they have to counsel family members and others.
For more information on Victim Services including how you can volunteer, click here
Since parole is a federal responsibility, it's no wonder M-P Rodney Weston is hearing alot of concern about the release of John O'Brien, the so-called motorcycle rapist to a halfway house in the city.
Weston says the concerns expressed to him about John O'Brien are mainly about the nature of his crimes and his risk of reoffending which is described by Police Chief Bill Reid as moderate. He concedes it doesn't make him feel good as an M-P to hear the concerns and worry from his constituents.
The concerns voiced to Weston are being passed along to the federal minister of Public Safety.
Weston tells CHSJ News he even considered introducing a private member's bill to deal with the issue but points out statutory release is a fact of the Canadian judicial system unless you're deemed a dangerous offender.
The unemployment rate in Saint John actually went down last month from 9.6 to 9.1 per cent which is second highest behind London, Ontario of all the cities in the national survey.
The jobless rate in New Brunswick rose from 10.1 to 10.5 per cent.
Canada lost more than 54 thousand jobs last month which is the biggest decline in four years. The drop means Canada has about 26 thousand fewer jobs than at the beginning of the year.
A 39 year old man arrested in the city as part of a drug investigation by Rothesay Regional Police. They confiscated 47 hundred dollars in cash, 800 grams of marijuana and some hash oil. The man arrested is likely facing a charge of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
Rothesay Regional Police also reporting young people in a small silver car were driving around the Vincent Road and K-Park area throwing eggs at people and a 14 year old girl was struck by one of them which police are calling an assault.
Two men in their twenties will be facing charges after being nabbed for causing a fire along Harbour Passage.
City Police tell CHSJ News the fire was set to some vegetation but damage was minimal.
Suspended Saint John lawyer Rod Gillis will be sentenced June 20th in Bathurst for attempting to obstruct justice.
A sentencing hearing was held in Moncton where the legal arguments were made before Judge Irwin Lampert who found the 66 year old Gillis guilty back in January.
Prosecutor Peter Craig is recommending a prison term from 30 to 36 months for what he calls breach of trust by a member of the bar and officer of the court.
The defense is asking for a conditional sentence that would be served in the community.
Gillis was charged in connection with how he represented former Liberal M-L-A and House Speaker Frank Branch in his legal battle with the North Shore Forest Products Marketing Board which included both a criminal prosecution and civil lawsuit. Branch was charged with fraud and extortion. He eventually pleaded guilty to fraud over 5 thousand dollars and was sentenced to house arrest as well as ordered to pay restitution.
