Day #2 Of Spring Is A Scorcher

The second day of Spring certainly rocks in Greater Saint John.

The mercury rising to 26 degrees in Grand Bay-Westfied and Hampton and it feels like 28 on the Kingston Peninsula.


It's feels like 27 degrees in the humidex in Saint John while in St. Stephen it feels like 28 degrees.

Ferguson Gets Support From His St Stephen Employer

As the John Ferguson defamation trial nears the end of its fifth week - Ferguson is getting a show of support from his current employer - the town of St Stephen.
Council has approved a paid six week leave of absence for Ferguson who is the town's chief administrative officer.
The decision angered at least one woman attending the meeting - she wants to know why Ferguson is being while in court.
Councillor Robert Tinker says council knew the court date was looming when Ferguson was hired - he says it's a matter of principle - had this come up after the hiring - the outcome would have been different.
Meantime - Mayor Jed Purcell is unsure if the paid leave will be extended beyond the six weeks.

Some March Uptown To Eliminate Racism

People of all cultures and faiths gathering in King Square today to mark the International Day to Eliminate Racism.


Crowds gathered holding bunches of balloons and wearing T-shirts promoting racial diversity.

The march making its way from the park to Market Square where students read from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was read in different languages.

Organizer Sheri MacAuley tells CHSJ News it's about sending a positive message to the community.  She says it's a great celebration of diversity in our city and it also sends a message that we are breaking barriers.

The lunch hour for some uptown high schools was re-arranged so that students could attend.

Candidate For Common Council To Hold Town Hall Meetings

One of the candidates for Common Council in Ward 1 on the west side plans to hold 8 town hall meetings during the course of the campaign.

Blake Armstrong tells CHSJ News he wants to let the voters know what he's all about as well as finding out their wants and needs. 

Armstrong says the big complaint he hears from people on the west side about the city thus far is how dysfunctional it appears to be.
 

His first town hall meeting will be held tomorrow night, 7:00 at the Denis Morris community centre.

Aids Saint John Has More Money To Work With

Aids Saint John getting a financial boost to the tune of more than 220 thousand dollars from the federal government. 

Dr. Leslie Jeffrey chairs the board at Aids Saint John and says while there has been progress on the medical front, the same can't be said socially with sufferers facing discrimination and stigmatisation.
 

Dr. Jeffrey says they do alot of one on one work to get people reconnected with the social supports they need because of being ostracised and that's what alot of this new money will be used for.

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston says there are 65 thousand people across the country suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Police Commission Mum On Wheter It Will Support Police Union On Legal Action

The Saint John Police Commission being tight lipped as to whether it will support the police union in a possible lawsuit against Common Council.

The union was looking for support from the commission as it believes the city is violating the Police Act by making a one million dollar budget cut.

Commission Chair Chirs Waldschutz says a letter was sent to the union a few days ago but he has yet to hear a response.

He says he will not comment on the issue until the union acknowledges that it has received the letter.

A message was left for the police union to see if they got the letter but so far no response.

Want to Be on Common Council?

Are you thinking of running for Common Council? There's an open house tonight in the City Hall that could give you the information you need as we approach the May 14 municipal election.

It starts at 6:30 and will include presentations by Elections New Brunswick, the province, and city staff. It will be followed by an open house which will run until 8:30.

Man Trapped In Crane Rescued

The Harvey Volunteer Fire Department using the jaws of life to extricate a Nackawic area man who became trapped beneath a piece of train rail.

He was using a crane to load the rails from a tractor trailer to a boxcar when an apparent mechanical failure occurred.

The operator, who was working alone, was pinned to the controls of the crane by a piece of rail.

He suffered serious injuries and is now in hospital.

Constable Belyea Testifies at Ferguson Trial

“I could give my six year old son some crayons and he would come up with better numbers than John Ferguson” --that from Constable Andrew Belyea, testifying at the former city councillor's defamation trial. Belyea said that as a police officer, he's got a pretty thick skin—but he was offended by Ferguson's accusations of secrets, innuendo and mismanagement on the board.

He said he's an honest man and he didn't appreciate Ferguson painting a picture of him and his fellow trustees as criminals.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Rod Gillis said Belyea should've been worrying about the pension deficit rather than getting offended over emails. He also cross-examined pension administrator Andrea Cain,  raising his eyebrows at the fact McInnis Cooper listed hundreds of recommendations to the board in a report that cost $50,000, but Ferguson never saw it.

Former Provincial Cabinet Minister Looks To Human Rights Commission For Redress

A former M-L-A and provincial cabinet minister is appealing to the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission over a cut to his pension.
    
Jeannot Volpe is complaining his pension was cut by one third when the Alward Government, under pressure from the public, reversed a 2008 decision that increased pensions for members of the legislature. 

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimated Volpe was receiving over 63 thousand dollars a year when he began receiving his pension in 2010.   
   
Volpe argues the changes don't affect civil servants and the politicians shouldn't be treated any differently.

Walmart Sentenced In Worker's Death

A 120 thousand dollar fine imposed on Walmart after the retail giant pleaded guilty to three workplace safety charges in the death of a teenage worker in the northern part of the province early last year.
    
Walmart was charged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a 17-year-old employee at a store in Grand Falls, Patrick Desjardins was electrocuted early in January of 2011. 

He was using a floor buffer on a wet floor in a garage at the time.

WorkSafe NB concluded Desjardins was using an inappropriate floor polisher which had a faulty extension cord when he was electrocuted.
 

Court Comfortable With Saint John's Liveability

From 78 to 59th on the top 190 best cities to live in Canada is an improvement for Saint John according to the Mayor.
Ivan Court says it looks like we are a city on the move.

He tells CHSJ News he noticed Moncton dropped from 11 to 18th and he congratulates Fredericton for making the top 10 at #7.

Court says Saint John scored quite well on affordable housing and active transportation and the City also increased its population.

To learn more about the study, click here

Network Helps People Break Cycle of Homelessness

A new network of community partners is giving support to the city's homelessness. Called the STAR Network, it's based on a program already running out of Fredericton. Organizer Josh Smith says the Star Network brings together a number of resources that already exist in the community.



According to research, people transitioning from being homeless into having their own homes tend to fail within 18 months. Only with mentorship and a support network can people leave the cycle of poverty behind.

The network help participants with housing, furniture, meal preparation, and financial literary. It has already secured employment for one young woman who will soon be ready to move into her own apartment.

Quispamsis School Gets Visit From Rick Mercer

Lakefield Elementary School getting major kudos and a visit from national funnyman Rick Mercer.

The school will be featured in a segment on the Rick Mercer Report for winning the the elementary school category for the Spread The Net Student Challenge.

The school raised 16-thousand dollars for malaria nets in Africa.

Mercer tells CHSJ News being from the Maritimes, it's great to see a school from Atlantic Canada get national recognition 

He says for a school of 500 students to get the win, it says a lot about the spirit of the community.

The segment which will air on the Rick Mercer Report on April 3rd.

Actuary Explains What Happened to the Pension Surplus

The city's pension plan was the unlucky casualty of market downturns--that testimony from Fred Lewis at the John Ferguson defamation trial. Lewis was an actuary with Morneau Sobeco, one of the top consulting firms in the country, and worked with the city of Saint John's pension board in 1993 to 2009.



Lewis testified in the three year period between 2000 and 2003, the pension plan had a 24 million dollar surplus that would have become 38 million dollars if things had gone according to plan--but instead turned into in a 45.2 million dollar unfunded liability.


He attributed the downturn to salary decreases, retirements earlier than assumed, and higher than expected losses from disability pensions.


Lewis said many pension plans weathered big economic downturns in the late 1980's, but managed to come back.

Work On Harbour Bridge Will Continue Despite Company Woes

The company doing the refurbishment work on the Harbour Bridge has gone into receivership but the Department of Transportation says work on the bridge will not be impacted.

It says the province has a performance bond with Concreate USL and the terms of the contract will be honoured by them.

The company is also working on the One Mile Interchange and the DOT says a bond is in place for that project as well.

Work on the Harbour Bridge is scheduled to be completed in the fall.

Changes To Mail Delivery Kick In This Week

How letters arrive in your mailbox is a little bit different this week.
The charges are part of restructuring at Canada Post with changes that are mostly internal with some external changes.

Denise Cora of Canada Post tells CHSJ News you may see a change in the time that your mail arrives.

She says they may see a new letter carrier delivering on their route and some new modern vehicles in the Saint John fleet.

For more info on the changes, click here

Mixed Housing Project Officially Opens

The 14 million dollar Abbey St. Andrew mixed housing project has officially opened.

Half of the 96 unit building is affordable housing and Abbey spokesperson Adam Dickinson tells CHSJ News it's important to not only offer mixed income housing but a mixed community.

He says having seniors, single people, families, and those with disabilities all under one roof gives the community an accurate portrait of the uptown.

He says 80 percent of the units are taken.

Single Protester Outside Hospital

A solitary man with a sandwich board sign is protesting the Alward government's decision to not buy a 3T MRI with money from the Regional Hospital Foundation.

George Kane has been at the University Avenue entrance to the hospital since 9:30 this morning and he tells CHSJ News the government is wrong not to accept a 1-million dollar gift intended to help the people of the province.

He says his protest is not a one-day event and plans to be back at for least for a few more days.

Former Mayor Says City Won't Go Bankrupt

Former Mayor Norm McFarlane has begun his cross examination at the defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson.

McFarlane, who chaired the Pension Board, says he could never see the city going bankrupt because of the pension plan's rising deficit.

He also denies the suggestion that the number of disability pensions approved by the pension board are especially high. McFarlane also told the jury it was not up to the pension board to make recommendations to change the city's pension plan. That would have been up to City Manager Terry Totten, at the time, who was also a pension board member.

McFarlane was asked about a motion by Common Council asking the Pension Board for alternatives to tackle the unfunded liability but he couldn't say if the pension board ever gave a response. He concedes no trustee wanted to reduce benefits.

McFarlane admits he knew the lawsuit would generate publicity and it could be bad but his character was at stake. He told the jury he had done nothing wrong but his credibility was being questioned and he was not going to allow someone to defame him.

Poll Says Saint John Lags Far Behind Other NB Cities

Saint John lagging behind the other tri-cities in a recent poll of the best places to live in Canada.

Fredericton made the top ten on the national list at number 7 out of 190. Moncton was number 18, which Saint John trailed behind at number 59.

The ranking by personal finance website Moneysense took into account factors likes unemployment rates, access to healthcare, climate, and population growth.

Saint John Youth House One Step Closer to Opening

The Saint John Youth House is one step closer to becoming a reality. The opening date of the shelter for homeless 16 to 24-year-olds will be announced later on this spring.

Project Coordinator Colin McDonald of the Saint John Youth House tells CHSJ News the city needs a dedicated space for young people, because the Salvation Army is no place for a sixteen year old to be hanging out. According to McDonald, young people tare easily influenced by much older people who have been on the streets for most of their lives, and have established cycles of poverty and addiction.

100 homeless and at-risk youth need transition housing in the Saint John area. The Youth House would offer stays of up to 90 days, with the possibility of another 90 days, while the youth integrate themselves into society.

Rush Hour Crash in Rothesay

A crash this morning on Campbell Dr West this morning resulted in one person being taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Rothesay Regional police responding to the crash between two cars during the morning rush hour around 9. One car was rear-ended and damaged to the extent it had to be towed. The driver that was taken to hospital was complaining of neck and back pain.

Traffic was disrupted for a short while off the Highway east of Fire Station #1.

Police Chief Says Union Has Been Informed Of Changes

While the police union accuses Police Chief Bill Reid of being silent on the effect the budget cut on its members, he says the union was notified via letter of some of the changes.

Reid says while community policing levels will remain the same, Reid says 3 traffic officers had to be moved to the patrol unit.

He adds if there are no major investigations this year, the department should be able to come in on budget.  However, he says  the current funding levels are unsustainable.

Gauthier Wins Three Awards Including Top Scorer

Danick Gauthier bringing home three award from the Sea Dogs Awards Banquet last night including Top Scorer and Most Improved Player.


Dogs President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News they have watched him blossom since he joined at a 17-year-old in the Dogs third year of operation.

Long says Gauthier has had a special season with a team record 47 goals.

#11 Jonathan Huberdeau won the Children's Wish Foundation Fan Choice Award.

Rookie of the Year went to Sebastian Auger and Oliver Cooper while Stephen MacAuley won the Team player award.

Mounties Bust Codys Grow Op

An indoor grow op near Sussex is no more.

A raid on Friday at a home in Codys leading to the seizure of about 220 marihuana plants that could produce up to 110,000 joints.

Police also seized contraband tobacco, marihuana growing equipment as well as loaded firearms.

No one was home during the raid so multiple charges of trafficking and possession are pending.

Small Fire On Douglas Avenue

A small fire on Douglas Avenue creating a traffic headache over the lunch hour.

Crews responding to a smoke coming from a 3-story apartment building around 1:30pm.

No one was home at the time and CHSJ news learning the building is undergoing renovation work.
Fire investigators are looking into the cause.

Peninsula Princess Back On April 1st

The Peninsula Princess ferry linking Saint John and the Kingston Peninsula is back from its seasonal hiatus.

The ferry will be back to service on April 1st.

The ferry travels on the Kennebecasis River between Sandy Point Road in Saint John and Summerville off Route 845 on the Kingston Peninsula.

People Want Stronger Shale Gas Regulations According To Liberal Poll

New Brunswickers are uneasy about shale gas development -- that from a poll commissioned by the provincial Liberal party.

400 people were polled and 79 percent agreed when asked if they still worry about the environmental impacts of hydrofracking, even with regulations.

Meanwhile, 82 percent want shale gas development delayed until there is sufficient regulations to protect the environment.

Liberal Leader Victor Boudreau tells CHSJ News the results validates what he thought the popular opinion has been on shale gas.

He says the results were the same across the regions, gender, age, and income levels.

The Liberals continue to call for a moratorium until stronger regulations are in place.

City's Homeless Getting Some Hope

The city's homeless are getting some hope thanks to a new study. Researchers, activists, and volunteers gathering today (Monday) at the Teen Resource Center to present the Human Development Council's latest report on homelessness.

Randy Hatfield, director of the HDC, tells CHSJ News homelessness doesn't necessarily mean sleeping on the streets. There's a large population of young people he describes as "one life event away from be homeless"--that is, who are couch-surfing or otherwise living in unreliable situations.

Some of the programs discussed include the Saint John Youth House, a 10-bed facility for homeless young people. Also is the launch phase is the STAR program, which helps people get out of shelters and unsafe housing.

Former Mayor Describes Allegations About Pension Board as "Damning"

Former Mayor Norm MacFarlane rejects all of the allegations made by Former Common Councillor John Ferguson about the pension plan and pension board.

MacFarlane claims those allegations had a damning effect on the pension board trustees.
 
He also told the jury the city hired an independent expert to answer questions about the pension plan which cost a minimum of 50 thousand dollars and Ferguson did not ask one question. But at the next meeting of Common Council, he complained the right questions weren't asked.
 
 Macfarlane estimates the allegations took up from 30 to 40 per cent of the time of senior city staff needlessly and haunted the work of Common Council at a time when it was trying to come up with a long term vision for the city.

Carma Can't Be The Fall Back For A Lack Of Animal Control

The local chapter of Cat Rescue Maritimes sounding the alarm about the lack of animal control services after the death of a cat last week.
Carma providing help to a man with a cat likely hit by a car bleeding on his porch all day before Pumpkin the cat was taken to a vet to be euthanized.

Stephanie Godin tells CHSJ News they can't be the fall back position for the city when they have no animal control plan.

She says this can't happen because they do not have the funding for it but, she doesn't want to see what happened to Pumpkin continue to take place.

Godin says she sent pictures of Pumpkin the Cat to all the common councillors and only one responded and Godin adds that person didn't offer anything helpful.


Animal control is currently being handled by the City's by-law enforcement office after their contract with SPCA Animal Rescue League ended March 1st.

Lack of Quiet Study Space an Issue at UNBSJ

About 40 UNB Saint John students, faculty, and staff attending a roundtable discussion about the current state and future of the school.

Dr Bob Whitney, a history professor, says it was a productive meeting. One of the main concerns for students appears to be lack of quiet study space on campus. The school has just built a new Commons, but while it's a great place to socialize, over 700 students signed a petition saying the space is simply too crowded and loud.

Other issues raised include cutbacks to professorial positions and unclear job descriptions on the administrative level. A similar meeting will be held at UNB Fredericton on April 14th.

Province Accused Of Being Fanatically Attached To Cuts

We'll be finding out March 27th how the Alward Government plans to tackle the deficit and rising provincial debt when the provincial budget is unveiled. 

The consensus appears to be it will be a tough one with alot of cuts. 

Jason Edwards of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives tells CHSJ News too much slicing and dicing could come back to bite the province.
 
Edwards goes so far as to say there appears to be an almost fanatic fervor that cuts are the only way to go while the amount of revenue government needs is ignored. 

He advocates the more affluent in the province pay more tax and the tax cuts initiated by the previous Liberal government be rolled back.

Union President Frustrated With Premier

The head of the union at Acadian Coach Lines, Glen Carr is calling out the Premier for not intervening to end the lockout which has shut down intercity bus travel in the province since early December.

Carr makes clear he doesn't want the provincial government to legislate the bus drivers, mechanics and customer service reps back to work. 

He would like to see a government official sit as a third party to get things moving quicker.

Negotiations will resume at the end of April. A CHSJ News poll found 93 per cent of the respondents believe the lockout has been allowed to drag on too long.



  

NBers Urged to Get Talking About the News

Halifax MP Meagan Leslie is urging Maritimers to start making a stir about local politics. The NDP environment critic paid a recent visit to an environmental economics class at UNB Saint John.

Leslie tells CHSJ News it's important for communities to consider the forces that influence their elected officials.

She says it makes a difference whether politicians are banked by banks, big oil--or by ordinary people. She says there needs to be a critical mass of discussion in the community if constituents expect to see their interests represented by government.

Some ways Leslie encourages people to get involved in local politics included writing letters to the editor, holding brown-bag lunch seminars, attending community events, and simply chatting at the water cooler about the news. It's only by getting the community talking, says Leslie, that positive change can be effected on the level of government.

90lbs of Weed Hidden in Secret Compartment

A man from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia man has been arrested after his pick-up truck was pulled over near Edmundston. Inside a secret compartment in the truck, police discovered more than 40 kilograms, or 90 pounds, of marijuana.

The discovery was made on Highway 2, where the vehicle was seized and 28-year-old Micheal McNaughton was arrested.

McNaughton was charged at the Grand Falls provincial Court and then released on bail and numerous conditions. 

Photo: RCMP

Cops Shocked at Good Behavior on St Patty's

With the green beer flowing throughout the city yesterday, you might think city police had their work cut out for them last night. But according to Sergeant Callan of the Saint John Police force, people were surprisingly well behaved this year.

Callan tells CHSJ news that although there were drunks everywhere, there weren't any incidents apart from a few fights and one impaired driver pulled over on Garden Street. He says that's basically a regular Saturday night. Other Canadian cities weren't so lucky, with reports of fires and rioting in London, Ontario.

Callan also said that people should always be aware that drunk driving is a dangerous crime whether it's a holiday or not.

Police Association President Blasts Police Chief For Silence

The president of the Saint John Police Association taking Police Chief Bill Reid to task -- Jamie Hachey says the silence from the chief regarding the effects of a one million dollar funding shortfall is unacceptable.

Hachey tells CHSJ News they have never had police chief who engaged in this much radio silence and it is unprecedented.
 

He says the rank and file deserve to know what effects the new budget will have on officers and the community.

He adds police management has not consulted community groups about the possible effects of the funding shortfall and the association will take it upon themselves to do so.

Cardy Warns Tories Could Cut Corners on Seniors

As the Conservative government rolls out its five-year, long-term care plan for seniors, some are questioning exactly how it's going to save the province money. The Tories say their plan will create354 extra nursing home beds in the province --that's almost 60 more beds than the Liberals freed up in 2009 plan by the previous Liberal government. The conservatives say their plan will also cost 110-million dollars less

NDP Leader Dominic Cardy tells CHSJ news he doesn't know how all that could be possible, and wonders where the money is coming from.

He says the Alward government claims to be making thee savings in mechanical, electrical, and construction areas--and that worries him. Cardy says those aren't areas in which you should be cutting corners.

AAA Hockey Tournament at the Q-Plex

Lots of triple A hockey action happening at the Q-Plex today.  The KVHS crusaders are hosting the provincial boy's tournament, with the semi-finals happening today at 4 and 7 o'clock.

 Crusaders Head Coach Bruce Smith tells CHSJ News that every contest in the tournament has been an excviting one.

Smith says his team has played well all the way through, managing to defeat Leo Hayes in overtime.  The Crusaders will take on the Louis-J-Robichaud Patriotes of Shediac in the semi-final today. Single-day passes to tomorrow's 2pm final contest are $8.

City Kitties in Trouble

Now that the city's contract with the SPCA has ended, some aren't sure how to deal with injured and abandoned animals in the city. We reported last week on a cat named Emery, who was abandoned in the South End with a broken leg. She got treatment after a not-for-profit called Carma stepped in to help.

But Carma says they're ill-equipped to rescue all the city's injured cats. They recently got a call about a cat that had likely been hit by a car and sustained a broken jaw and other serious wounds. The animal was euthanized, and spokesperson Stephanie Godin says the person that called in told them they had first tried the ARL, SPCA, and the city and been turned away.

Carma says they deal mainly with feral and abandoned animals, and the city needs to get a solution in place as soon as possible.

Woman Says Fundy Health Centre Saved Her Life

After a similar situation in McAdam, a woman from Blacks Harbour is telling her story.

Donna Moses says she had a brain aneurysm back in 1999, and she was taken to the Fundy Health Centre first to be stabilized, before heading to the Saint John Regional Hospital.
It is against Ambulance NB policy to take patients to a Health clinic without a 24 hour emergency room.
Moses says she is thankful to be taken to the health centre first.

She tells us she was 34 at the time and her doctor called her his miracle patient of 1999 adding she doesn't think that miracle would have happened if she didn't stop at the Fundy Health Centre.

Last month, four people hurt in a fire had to wait over an hour for ambulances so they could be taken to hospital despite being mere feet from the McAdam Health Centre.
A Department of Health spokesperson tells us Health Minister Madeline Dube is being notified of the situation.

Fire Quickly Knocked Down On Germain Street

Fire crews knocking down a small fire at a two-unit apartment building at 275 Germain Street.

The call came in around 2:40 this afternoon and Acting District Fire Chief Barry Oickle says a cause has not been determined yet.

He says when crews arrived they noticed smoke coming from a window.  The fire was quickly put out and contained to a single room.

He adds there is minimal structure damage and no one was hurt.

The building was evacuated and he expects at least the first floor residents will be able to return to the building.

Germain Street Fire Displaces Some

City fire crews and police responding to an apartment fire at 275 Germain Street.

A blaze in an apartment forcing the evacuation of the building leaving a few people including a baby displaced onto the street.

The fire was quickly knocked down and it appears no one was hurt.  Investigators have been called in to determine the cause.

Police Making Progress On West Side Bomb Threat

We're making progress -- that from Police Chief Bill Reid with regards to making an arrest in the West Side bomb threat.

Reid tells CHSJ News the investigative unit is following up on some leads and have gone through video recorded by businesses around the bank.

Main Street west was closed down for about 6 hours on February 24th after a suspicious package was left outside of the Scotia Bank.  The RCMP bomb squad had to be called in.

Upcoming Theatre Production Gets Big Provincial Bucks

The province giving the arts a financial shot in the arm -- the Department of Culture, Tourism and Healthy Living writing a cheque for 23-thousand dollars to the Saint John Theatre Company.

The money will used to provide high-level training and coaching for actors in its upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet.

Artistic Director Stephen Tobias tells CHSJ News bringing in experts will benefit not only the performers but the theatre company will get to learn best practices from its peers.

Some of the experts being brought in to enhance the production include Albert Schultz from the Soulpepper Theatre Company and fight choreographer Jean-Francois Gagnon.

Romeo and Juliet will run from May 17th to the 19th at the Imperial Theatre.

Cole Seeks Quispam Council Seat

A longtime resident of Quispamsis seeking a seat on the town's council.
Michael Cole is a former business owner and a founding president of the KV Chamber of Commerce.
Cole tells CHSJ News when he ran in last year's bye-election he heard a lot of the same things going door to door.

He says the recurring theme throughout the town was the desire for valley wide curbside recycling.

Cole also supports the idea of the province establishing a Municipal Auditor General which he believes would add transparency.

Is There A Hidden Agenda Behind Lingering Bus Lockout

What's the hidden agenda........That's the question being asked by Glenn Carr, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union, as the lockout drags on.

Carr doesn't understand the seeming lack of urgency to get the buses back on the road saying they missed the March break rush and will do so again at Easter with negotiations not restarting until the end of April.

He says just take a look at what people are saying in Facebook and the company's website and you'll find a lot of people are fit to be tied.

Carr also wants to make clear the bus drivers, mechanics and customer service reps are not on strike......They have been locked out by the company.

The Province Announces New Nursing Home Plan

The Province announcing a $329 million dollar plan to add 354 nursing home beds in the province. Social Development Minister Sue Stultz says the new plan saves 110 million dollars from the original plan announced by the previous Liberal government in 2009.


Interim Liberal Leader Victor Boudreau says the government is cutting the quality of nursing homes.
He says the government is trying to cut corners by building nursing homes cheaper all on the back of our seniors.

The government says 704 specialized care beds will be created by the private sector for the care of people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.