Power On East Side To Be Restored Soon

A power outage on the east side which began around 6:45pm affects about 4 thousand homes and businesses in the area of Rothesay Avenue, Westmorland Road , McAllister Drive and parts of Loch Lomand Road.

Saint John Energy is on the case and estimates the power will be fully restored by 8:30.

Organizations Prepare To Fill Gap Left By Closure

Local organizations are trying to figure out how the needs of people who are homeless in the city will continue to be met now that the Salvation Army Center of Hope has announced its closure in April.

Jenny O'Connell of the Human Development Council tells CHSJ News the goal of the various organizations is to make sure all the people currently using the shelter will have access to housing--but a lot still needs to be decided.

O'Connell described the tone of the meeting earlier this week as hopeful despite the lingering uncertainties.

Damaged Car And Assault Charges At Garden St Gas Station

A disturbance at the Garden Street Irving has resulted in charges for a 33 year old man.

Sergeant Jay Henderson explains the call came in to the gas station shortly before 9am. The 33 year old was booked for mischief, assault with a weapon, and uttering threats.
The situation started as a domestic dispute.

Province Announces Delay In Perry Inquest

A coroner's inquest set to begin March 17th into the death of Serena Perry is being postponed.

Chief Coroner Greg Forestell says due to a court challenge relating to the procedures followed at an inquest it will be impossible to start the inquest as scheduled.

Forestell apologizes to the Perry family for the impact this will have on them.

In a hearing last week, the judge ruled that lawyers from Horizon Health can seek standing at the inquest and that hearing is set to resume on Monday.

Perry died at the Regional hospital while a patient in 2012.

RCMP Reveal More Rexton Charges

A 20 year old Nova Scotia man is facing four charges after molotov cocktails were thrown at police in Rexton last October.

Earlier this week,   Aaron Francis of Eskasoni was charged in Moncton court with intent to do bodily harm by causing an explosive device to explode and another charge of placing or throwing at a person and some other charges.

The RCMP point out that a molotov cocktail is a homemade incendiary weapon and the Criminal Code of Canada states that anyone found guilty of an offence involving explosives can face a sentence of up to life in prison.

Francis was held in custody since the riots last fall when he was arrested for careless use of a firearm.

He is due back in court on the 17th.

An Increase In Saint John Unemployment Rate

The jobless rate across the nation is unchanged from January to February at 7.0 per cent according to the StatsCan Labour Force Survey.


Saint John recorded a rise from 6.4 to 6.6 per cent last month.

Provincially, the unemployment rate dipped slightly from 9.9 per cent in January to 9.8 per cent last month.

The economy shed 7,000 jobs when experts were hoping it would add 15,000 jobs.

Explaining A Policy Change Impacting Visually Impaired Riders

It's not a financial decision.    That from Frank McCarey of Saint John Transit on the commission's move to stop allowing the visually impaired to ride on the bus for free.

He says it's happened with other transit services where providing the free service for the visually impaired was considered discriminatory to other groups.

CHSJ News asked McCarey if potential legal action on the part of these other groups was a factor, he says in other centres with a similar policy it was threatened.

International Women's Day Celebrations A Smash Hit

International Women's Day is a great chance for women of all walks of life to relax, network, and learn from one another.

An event at the Delta today is celebrating all things woman-related. Pamela Wheaton is the owner of Germain Street clothing store Heartbreak Boutique, and she tells CHSJ News the event was a reminder that we should slow down in our daily lives and take time for the things we really want to do.

The event is hosted in part by The Community Loan Fund and runs until 4pm today. International Women's day is tomorrow.

Shale Gas Opponents Not Looking For Permanent Ban

The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance, comprised of 30 odd groups, is calling a 10 year moratorium on shale gas development which it claims should be enough time to better determine what impact the industry has on the environment.
 
Until that determination is made, they want all existing licenses cancelled.
 
Opponents of shale gas exploration are concerned about the impact on the environment, particularly on water supplies.

Provincial Green Party leader David Coon wants an absolute ban on shale gas extraction.

People Forced From Their Apartments By Fire

One firefighter slightly injured, we are told, after a blaze at 65 Elliot Row. The fire was contained to the outside of the building. 

Six people who live there will have to find alternate accomodation for a while because of smoke and water damage to the inside of the building. 

Photo courtesy of Doug Epton.

Provincial Conservatives Gain In Latest Polling

Corporate Research Associates has released its latest polling done last month on the provincial parties. 

It shows the Liberals down a bit from last November with 43 per cent support. 

The Conservatives under Premier David Alward have risen 6 percentage points since November to stand at 31 percent and the NDP is at 21 per cent, down 3 per cent from November. 

The percentage of undecided is virtually the same at 31 per cent.

Trial Hears How Charge Was Laid Against Deputy Premier's Brother

The high profile trial of a senior official in the provincial Aquaculture and Fisheries Department heard more testimony from former Fisheries Officer Gaetan Germain. 

Paul Andrews is charged with obstruction of justice.

Germain told the court a senior prosecutor in Bathurst reviewed the file and told him to go ahead and lay the charge under the Aquaculture Act against the brother of Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud. This followed an email Germain got from his supervisor instructing him not to go ahead with the charge after a meeting between the Deputy Premier and Fisheries Minister Micheal Olscamp.