Doherty Wins SJ-Harbour Liberal Nomination

Dr. Ed Doherty will represent Saint John Harbour this fall for the Liberal party.      He easily won the nomination defeating Pat McCaffrey.

Doherty tells CHSJ News the riding has many challenges including high unemployment.

He says he has a passion for those who can't speak for themselves and he wants to continue to be an advocate.

Doherty lost by 7 votes in the 2010 election to current Saint John Harbour MLA Carl Killen.   

Doherty says the Tories have not been very effective in this riding failing to bring up important issues in the house.

Full House For SJ Harbour Liberal Nomination

A large turnout at the Sanctuary Theatre for the Saint John Harbour Liberal nomination meeting. 

NBers Can Get Coverage Today Under Drug Plan

The New Brunswick Drug Plan will begin providing coverage to plan members today.

Any uninsured New Brunswicker with a valid Medicare card is eligible to enrol in the plan. You can also join the plan if you're insured, but need a  drug not covered under your existing plan, or if you've maxed out your current plan.

The plan was announced in 2013 to help residents avoid catastrophic drug costs.

More information about the drug plan is available online.

Y Gets Another Funding Boost

The new Y on Churchill Boulevard is really starting to take shape with another $5),000 donation from TD.

There are still a few million more dollars that need to be raised before the huge recreational  facility can come to fruition. Capital Campaign manager Dale Knox tells CHSJ News the campaign has been wildly successful so far, and they're keeping up that upward trajectory.

Knox says the location of the Y is great because it's right between two priority neighbourhoods so people can walk there, but it's also right on a transit route, and will have sufficient parking for those from farther afield.

A Spike In Copper Thefts In City

Another large theft of copper being reported in the city. As we hear from Police Sergeant Jay Henderson, this one happened to a construction company off the Westfield Road where 4 thousand dollars worth of damage was caused.
 
Police are vowing to intensify their efforts at nabbing those responsible and warn if you buy copper that has been stolen, you can also be facing charges.     If you have information about this crime, call City police at 648-3333 or contact at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

City Police are also investigating the theft of two kayaks from the back of a home on Tudor Lane in Millidgeville and here's another reason why you shouldn't leave anything of value in plain view in your vehicle.

A laptop was stolen after the back window was smashed out.

Liberal Leader Elaborates On Abortion

Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant says New Brunswick's position on abortion has to change because the Supreme Court ruling is being violated.
 
On requiring two doctors to approve before the government will cover the cost of an abortion, Gallant says that has to change. He also is suggesting geographical disaparities may be another barrier.

The Liberals at their policy convention last weekend called for improving access to abortion.

Things Are Looking Tough For Workers On This May Day

It's getting harder and harder for people just to get by these days........That's one of the messages on May Day, which is International Workers Day, from Patrick Colford, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. 

Colford points to a single mom he was talking to a couple of weeks ago who works for two multinational companies a total of 60 hours a week and still has to go to the food bank to feed her kids.
 
Colford tells CHSJ News workplace health and safety provisions in the province have to be made better. He says there are also the issues of workers compensation and pay equity legislation.

Colford is urging workers to vote in their own best economic interests in September's provincial election.

Stolen School Bus Found Crashed

An abandoned school bus that was reported stolen from the Lorneville area has been found in the ditch on Highway 745 near St. Stephen.

The bus is thought to have been stolen sometime after 6:00 p.m. last night.

If you have any information on the stolen school bus, contact St. Stephen RCMP at 506-466-7030 or give your informaton  anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

East Side Fire

A fire last night on the east side at 2 Sandpiper Court in the Moreland Trailer Park. 

Divisional Chief Mark Wilson says there was heavy smoke emanating from underneath the trailer and the skirting had to be removed. There was heavy damage caused but the fire was put out quickly, preventing it from spreading into the living space itself. 

The cause is under investigation.

Road Reopened After Flooding

The Darlings Island road has been reopened after the potholes were filled but for how long remains to be seen with the rain on the way. 

Up to 20 millimeters expected through tonight.

There had been a shuttle boat service in place since Monday afternoon but by yesterday the water had receded from the road.

This is the third time there has been flooding at Darlings Island in the last decade.

New Brunswick Rink Wins World Title In Curling

New Brunswick can boast of a having a world champion. 

Wayne Tallon of the Capital Winter Club in Fredericton with Wade Blanchard of Saint John, Mike Flannery of Fredericton and Mike Kennedy of Edmunston, defeated Sweden 7-2 in the final to win gold at the World Senior Men's Curling Championship in Scotland. Tallon is expected to return home early tomorrow morning. 

Meantime, Nova Scotia's Colleen Pinkney of Truro won silver in the women's final after losing to Scotland 6-5.

Liberals Select Their Candidate To Run In Saint John Portland

The Liberals have chosen an educator to run in Saint John Portland and challenge longtime incumbant M-L-A and provincial cabinet minister Trevor Holder. 

Micheal Butler has worked as a teacher, principal and is the former Superintendent of the District 8 schoolboard. 

He tells CHSJ News too many students are graduating from high school without the skills they need to succeed.
 
Butler says all employers want from young people leaving school are is basic literacy skills which give them the ability to learn along with the desire to be lifelong learners. 

He also points out the riding hasn't really benefited from Holder's representation when you consider there's one neighbourhood in the riding that has a child poverty rate of 77 per cent.