Early Childhood Education To Be Expanded In Saint John Region

A big push is being made to enhance early childhood education in the region from Sussex to St. Stephen. 

The Education Department has taken over early childhood services from Social Development with the commitment to offer more support for families and expanded early intervention. 

The Director of Early Childhood Services in the Anglophone South School District Gary Hall tells CHSJ News the goal is to put children first with more support for families, easier access to services and expanded early intervention.
 
Hall says they want to have early childhood education available to all pre-schoolers in the region because of how crucial that is to their intellectual development.

 Meantime, the literacy assessments of Grade 7 students in the school district are in. 77 per cent of students in Anglophone South were successful in reading and 63.9 per cent in writing, both of which were slightly higher than the provincial averages.             

Medical Society And Alward Government In War Of Words

To say the relationship between the New Brunswick Medical Society and the provincial government at the moment is bad might be an understatement. 

The two sides are locked in a dispute over a budget measure to cap medicare fees. 

Medical Society President Dr. Robert Desjardins tells CHSJ News the patients are the ones who drive the cost of medicare depending on how sick they are and he warns their care will suffer with a cap on billing by doctors.

Dr. Desjardins says the cap announced in the budget came as a shock because doctors are in the middle of an agreement with the government which has a two year freeze on increases in medicare payments and that deal has been unilaterally broken.

Dr Parrott Not Impressed With Budget

An erstwhile heart surgeon turned politician is slating the cap on billable hours for doctors built into the Alward Tory budget.

Dr. Jim Parrott tells CHSJ News we're only just recovering from the difficulty we had with recruiting physicians because of the Medicare caps brought in under Frank McKenna.

Parrott says it was one of the Alward government's promises that everyone would have a family doctor and with this kind of legislation that's not looking realistic anymore.

Creation of Youth Shelter In Motion

Out of 341 people that used a shelter in the city last year, more than 62 of them were between 16 to 24 years old, according to the annual homelessness report card by the Human Development Council. 

Colin McDonald of Safe Harbour Transitional Youth Services tells CHSJ news that the creation of a youth shelter is in motion. He says that we need a shelter specifically for young homeless people to address their unique needs. Any mental health or addiction issues are likely just starting, says McDonald, the youth shelter could head things off at the pass.

McDonald says that young homeless people are the least likely demographic to use shelters, so the numbers don't paint a full picture of youth homelessness in Saint John.

New YMCA Gets Big Donation From Generous Family

The new YMCA that is set to be built in the North End is getting a major boost from a generous local family.

The MacMurray Foundation has announced the donation of $200,000 over the coming years toward a new community room which will bear their name. Anne MacMurray-Cox tells CHSJ News her late father, James MacMurray, would have approved and was involved with the YMCA throughout his life.

The fundraising campaign is still in the silent phase, so there's no telling how much they've actually raised yet; however, YMCA President and CEO Shiloh Boucher says it's going extremely well.

Gallant Says Corporations Will Pay Less Taxes

Corporations will fare better than people when it comes to provincial tax hikes.

That's according to Liberal leader Brian Gallant, who tells CHSJ news that out of the $373 million expected in two years, coorporations will only pay $39 million. Gallant calls that number alarming, since they received $34-47 million dollar property tax cut a few months ago. He tells us now, corporations are now in a position where they'll be paying less taxes.

Gallant says he was very disappointed with the provincial budget presentation and that the Tories broke their two election promises: that they had a plan to balance the budget and that they wouldn't raise taxes.

Coalition Urges Retirees To Voice Their Opposition

Hundred of retired provincial workers gathering in Quispamsis to voice their opposition about the government's plan to switch from defined benefits to a shared risk model.

The Provincial Pension Coalition began a month ago and is growing in numbers with 300 people coming out to an information session.
 
The Coalition's Clifford Kennedy tells CHSJ News it all started at a meeting in a Fredericton.  Kennedy says the coalition went from nothing to a great turnout in Fredericton and they want to keep going and hit locations all over the province.

He says under this proposed model a retiree that makes $21,000 a year would lose more than $40,000 over a 25 year period.

The group is encouraging all retirees to write their MLA's to express their opposition and to register on the website.

To find the website, click here

NDP Leader Worries About Flight Of Doctors From Province

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is criticising the provincial budget for cutting 20 million dollars from the billable hours agreement with the province's doctors, which he says means essentially a couple of months worth of billable hours are disappearing off the table.

He worries we're likely to see them head elsewhere where they won't see their pay cut.

 

Cardy is glad to see the Alward Government dealing with what he describes as the terrible mistake the Shawn Graham Liberals made with the tax cuts in 2006.

Union Expects Job Losses In Healthcare With Freeze

The contents of the provincial budget is making many of the people who work in the healthcare system nervous about their futures.

Gordon Black is Regional Director of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and he tells CHSJ News several hundred people could be getting their layoff notices because something has to give when healthcare costs are rising at 6 per cent a year but spending is frozen.

Black believes any cutbacks in health will take place at the smaller hospitals around the province. He claims rural New Brunswick is under attack.

Black is not surprised at being one of the few voices in favour of the tax cuts of 2008 being rolled back to the 2006 levels.

Tax Increases Will Put A Damper On Economic Growth

The increase in personal and corporate income taxes come July is going to hurt the provincial economy. So claims Richard Dunn, a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in New Brunswick.

He tells CHSJ News it's galling to discover provincial government spending is still rising.

Dunn does say there is one silver lining and that is if you take out the one time pension payment, the increase in spending is below the rate of inflation.

But he argues his comparison of New Brunswick's financial situation to that of Detroit, where a financial state of emergency was declared, remains valid.

Hours At Liquor Stores To Change For Easter Weekend

NB Liquor telling us liquor stores will be closed both Good Friday and Easter Sunday and will be open Easter Monday from 10 to 6 with regular hours on Saturday.

Budget Doesn't Look Good For Business In Saint John

Things just got even tougher for Saint John businesses with the unveiling of the provincial budget.

That's the sentiment being expressed by Saint John Board of Trade Chair Larry Hachey. He tells CHSJ News the budget does too little for the sectors we need most desperately to grow.

He points out there have been no structural changes or rationalization of services in the healthcare sector, and it's hard to get and keep a physician. In terms of education, higher learning facilities are the hotbeds of 90% of our research and development yet they're not receiving any additional funding.

Hachey says it's obvious that we have an expense problem, and simply increasing revenue isn't going to cut it unless we address the root issue as well.

Sussex RCMP Still Looking For White

The Dairytown Mounties are still looking for a man after a stabbing late last month where a woman was hurt.

It happened near Sussex on February 27th and a charge of attempted murder was laid against 49-year-old Robin White and a warrant was issued for his arrest on March 4th.  

Despite many efforts, White has still not been located.

Robin White is described as white about 5 foot 11 brown hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing glasses, a black coat, jeans and black boots. 

He may be driving a 2009 grey Honda Ridgeline truck with the provincial license plate CPM 926.

If you know anything about the location of Robin White or the vehicle he was seen driving,  contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately but do not approach him. 

To reach Crime Stoppers, click here

Lacey Calls Budget A Slap In The Face To Middle Class Families

A slap to the face of average working families... that's what Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling tax increases presented at the provincial budget. He tells CHSJ news it's an attack on the struggling middle class.

He says families will have to shell out up to $1000 in more tax in some cases. The $8.5-billion budget presented today will see personal income taxes hiked to 2006 levels, and that's expected to yield $136 million for 2013-14. 

He tells us the only positive thing he's seen so far is getting rid of the government airplane, which he calls the gravy plane.

Leslie Will Run For The Ward 3 Seat

5 candidates so far are running in the Ward 3 byelection this spring and a few more are thinking about it.
 
Allen Leslie moved to Saint John 15 years ago and tells us drinking water, transit and jobs are big issues.
 
He tells CHSJ News we are losing our affordable housing adding the City has apartments renting around $600 and you would walk in and walk right back out.

He says the landlord realized he wasn't going to rent them that way so he renovated but Leslie tells us he went too far making the units unaffordable with rents exceeding $1200 or higher.

Leslie thinks the City should fix our drinking water but only through a method that is affordable.

Burton Man Dies In Geary Crash

The Mounties releasing the name of the man killed in a crash on Highway 7 yesterday near Geary. 

44-year-old Michael James Boucher of Burton died at the scene of a collision early Monday morning between his truck and a transport.

Boucher was the only driver in a pickup truck heading northbound on Highway 7 that crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a transport truck.

The transport truck driver was not hurt.

Nature Conservancy of Canada Gets $20 Million

This year's federal budget pledging a significant sum of cash to the conservation of undeveloped landscapes. 

$20 million going to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the NCC's Andrew Holland tells CHSJ news that on a local level, they'll build on the work they've done on the Musquash Estuary.

The money will support their Natural Areas Conservation program through 2013-2014. Holland says the non-profit is going to start work on matching the federal contribution.

The Provincial Budget Contains Pain For Smokers

The Province delivering a budget that hikes tobacco taxes and eliminates previous income tax cuts as it tries to wrestle with a deficit projected to grow to $479 million.

    The $8.5-billion budget presented today will see personal income taxes rise to 2006 levels which is a measure expected to generate $136 million in revenue for 2013-14.

    The corporate income tax rate will be increased to 12 per cent from 10 per cent on July 1, resulting in an estimated boost of $17 million in additional annual revenue.
 
    Smokers will also pay higher taxes on tobacco as of midnight tonight---up two cents per cigarette.
 
    Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says the government will continue efforts to reduce the size of the public service through attrition and attempt to cut their use of sick leave by 20 per cent.
 
    Higgs says the government can return to balanced budgets by 2015-16 if there is improved economic growth and revenues.

For more info, click here





 

Ice Jams Could Lead To Flooding

For the next 2 days people who live and work along the province's rivers might want to look our for ice-jam flooding.

Above-freezing temps and sporadic flurries and rain showers forecasted for tonight and tomorrow could lead to the break-up and movement of ice.

An ice jam along the Nashwaak River at Stanley Bridge has stabilized but officials continue to monitor another ice jam downriver at MacLaggan Bridge. Don't use your recreational vehicles on the ice.

A Lot Of Saint Johnners Without A Place To Call Their Own

The annual report card on homelessness in the city will be released tomorrow but we do know the emergency shelters in the city were busy last year.
 
An accurate count of how many people are homeless in the city is tough to come by but it's known 341 stayed at emergency shelters during 2012. The Salvation Army in the south end had the highest occupancy rate of any of the 8 emergency shelters in the province. The length of stay at 31 days was also the highest. 

91 women stayed at Coverdale Centre and 42 men used the Out of the Cold shelter at Grace Presbyterian Church from December to March. 

Shelter space is also available to pregnant and teenaged moms at First Steps Housing who have no where else to go and abused women in Hestia House.

The Way Of The Future For Saint John's Water

Barring a huge jump in the expected costs--or the rejection of our application--a public private partnership will represent the way of the future for the City of Saint John's water utility. 

Common council voted 7-1 in favour of applying for the funding from P3 Canada which, according to a report by city staff, could open up as much as $100 million in funding. 

A number of activist groups including Common Causes and the Council of Canadians have been vocal in their opposition to the funding model. CHSJ News asked Mayor Mel Norton whether the rates will increase for industrial water users as council has heard they will for residential users. The Mayor responded that while raising industrial rates is not currently part of the conversation, we can certainly expect industrial users to pony up for the cost of delivering their water. The Mayor also says a new metering system will be part of the future for big companies; however, that will be an ancillary project not funded by P3. Further, we'll be seeing two completely separate systems for industrial and residential users, since the former have no need for chlorination in their water.

Common Councillor Bill Farren was the only councilor to vote against making the application to P3. He tells CHSJ News he simple lacks full confidence that the public private partnership will be cheapest for Saint John over the coming decades.

The project is expected to take 5 years under a P3. P3 Canada will take a maximum of 90 days to get back to council with an answer.

Warning About Having Sex With Strangers

People around the province who are having anonymous sex are being encouraged by the chief medical health officer to be tested for sexually transmitted disease.   
 
Dr. Eilish Cleary issuing the warning because of an increase in the numbers of people in the province having unprotected sex with strangers they meet on dating websites. 

Recently, a New Brunswicker, who was a frequent user of a website that facilitates anonymous sexual encounters and had about two dozen sexual partners living in the province, tested positive for HIV. Health officials are now trying to track down the people, mostly men, he had sex with. 

The sexual encounters took place in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.

Boats Broken Into

City Police arresting two men, aged 18 and 19, after numerous boats were broken into at the Saint John Powerboat Club in the north end.

Energy Use Drops 3% During Earth Hour

We flicked off our switches and unplugged our electronics for Earth Hour, and because of it, the city's energy use dropped by almost 3%. 

Ray Robinson, president and CEO of Saint John Energy says that by spending that 60 minutes in the dark, we start to think about electricity in a different light. He tells CHSJ news that we all take electricity for granted sometimes, but by going energy-free even for a short time, we start to realize the value of it.

He says overall they saw about a 3 megawatt reduction in the system on Saturday.

The Boil Water Order Is Lifted

You can drink from the tap again.
 
The boil water order in place since Friday for many Saint John residents has been lifted.
 
Tests have been reviewed by the Department of Health and the District Medical Officer of Health has rescinded the boil water order.

It was put in place by on Friday after an equipment malfunction in East Saint John and that problem has since been fixed.

If you have been away from home over the last few days, it's recommended that you take a few minutes to flush out the water in your plumbing.

All you need to do is turn on the taps in your house for a few minutes.

Keep Boiling That Water

Thousands of Saint Johners east of the Reversing Falls bridge remain under a boil water order.
 
Millidgeville is not included.

Sampling began over the weekend and the results have been sent to the Department of Health. 

They will make the decision whether to rescind the order or not.

An update is expected between 5 and 6 tonight.

 

You Can Still Nominate A Great Volunteer

You still have time to nominate any awesome volunteers you know in the City.  

 The deadline to nominate someone for the 3rd annual Volunteer Appreciation Awards next month has been extended until Thursday at 4pm.

Deputy Mayor Shelley Rhinehart tells CHSJ News its important because many organizations would not exist without volunteers.

She says if we don't recognize their efforts and encourage others to volunteer then some of our organizations will be in trouble.

29 nominations have been submitted so far and the winners will be announced April 24th at the Lily Lake Pavilion during Volunteer Appreciation Week. 

To nominate someone, click here

Business Owners Should Set Their Own Hours, Says Letter Written To Council

If you want to hit the shops on Sunday, you're out of luck until lunchtime. But Jim Cormier, the Retail Council of Canada's director for Atlantic Canada wrote a letter to common council asking them to let businesses choose when they open and close

Business owners in Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, and Grand Falls all set their own hours on Sunday, and Cormier tells CHSJ news that many establishments don't even make changes, it's just about having the option. He says it's the next logical step when it comes to Sunday shopping.

In his letter he told city council that if they're interested in hearing more, he'll swing by the common council meeting on April 8th.

Funeral Tomorrow For Longtime City Employee And Hockey Star

A funeral service will be held tomorrow at noonhour in Brenan's on Paradise Row for Nick Nicolle, who died over the weekend at the age of 88.

Nicolle worked for the city from 1957 to 1988 when he retired as Director of Parks and Recreation.

He was also known as a pretty good hockey player being inducted into both the Saint John and P-E-I Sports Halls of Fame. He was a member of the Saint John Beavers when they won the Maritime Senior Hockey title in 1953.

 Nicolle also was a member of the 1985 Canada Games Committee.

Volunteers Can Start Applying For World Women's Curling Event In City

If you want to be part of next year's Ford World Women's Curling Championship in the city, you can start applying now.

Event Chair Jeff Lacey tells CHSJ News 400 volunteers will be needed in a variety of jobs from driving to bartending but, judging by the amount of interest shown since the announcement back in December that Saint John will host the event, he doesn't foresee any problem in having enough.

Lacey says it's been 15 years since a curling event of this magnitude has been held in the city and back then, the level of interest in being part of it was tremendous.
You can apply by going to www.curling.ca

Highway 7 Crash Claims One Man

RCMP telling CHSJ News about a deadly crash on Highway 7 about 730 this moring involving a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer near the Geary exit.

That crash is causing a major traffic snarl today on Highway 7.
 
Corporal Chantal Farrah tells CHSJ News a man driving a northbound pickup crossed the centre line colliding with a transport truck.

The driver of the pickup died at the scene but the transport driver was not hurt.

There is a roadblock set up on Highway 7 and all drivers are being rerouted via Highway 101 through Geary up to Welsford.

RCMP officers are posted at either end of Highway 101 directing traffic.

Motorists can expect delays for several hours.

MindCare Raising Money For Mental Health

MindCare's big fundraiser "Skate to Care" over the weekend at Harbour Station raised more than 132 thousand dollars.

Sheila Levesque was the top individual fundraiser while Investors was the the top fundraising team.

City Votes To Pursue Public Private Partnership For Water

Barring a huge jump in the expected costs--or the rejection of our application--a public private partnership will be the way of the future for the City of Saint John's water utility. 

 Common council voted 7-1 in favour of applying for the funding from P3 Canada: which, according to a report by city staff, could open up as much as $100 million dollars in funding, or 25% of the project. 

Activist groups including Common Causes and the Council of Canadians have been vocal in their disapproval of the model. We asked Mayor Mel Norton whether the rates will rise for industrial users as they will for residential customers. The Mayor responded that while such an increase is not currently part of the conversation, industrial users will certainly be expected to pony up for the cost of delivering their water. The Mayor also said we will be seeing two separate systems for potable water and water used only for industrial purposes, since the former needs to be chlorinated. A new metering system will also likely be part of the future for big companies; however, those would be an ancillary project not funded by P3. 

Common Councillor Bill Farren was the only one to vote against and he tells CHSJ News his rationale was simply that he does not believe the project will be cheapest under the model.

The project is expected to take 5 years under a P3. P3 Canada will take a maximum of 90 days to get back to council with an answer.

It's Bigger & Bigger For This Summer Market

It's growing like a weed and in this case...that's a good thing.

On June 2nd, the Queen Square Farmer's Market will begin its 3rd season running every two weeks until October.

Jody Kliffer tells CHSJ News the City will put the $5000 they got from winning an energy award towards installing electricity in the park.

He says having an electric outlet on site means they can add breakfast vendors, cheesemakers and local organic meat.

Kliffer says having a power source will also allow them to add more live music to the event.

The Queen Square Farmer's Market began as a one-off event in September of 2011.

Council Feeling Rising Pressure to Fix the City's Water System

Straight from the tap isn't an option --- your two choices are boiled or bottled. 

With the city issuing its second boil water order in two months, council is feeling the rising pressure from Saint Johners to fix our water system. They're going to say yes or no to a public-private-partnership at tonight's meeting, and councillor Bill Farren tells CHSJ News that P3 is such a heated issue simply because we can't survive without water.

Farren is undecided on the issue, and says he doesn't want council to make the decision in a hurry, without weighing the pros and cons.

Provincial Budget Unveiled Tomorrow

All eyes in the province tomorrow will be on what Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs comes up with in his latest budget. 

The provincial government's deficit has risen to above 400 million dollars and the debt is in the neighbourhood of 11 billion together with a sluggish economy and, because of that, shrinking population. 

Kevin Lacey, the Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, tells CHSJ News now is the time for something bold to get back on track and that means doing something significant to cut spending.

Lacey argues provincial government spending has gone up 1.7 billion dollars in the last five years but there's little to show for it. It's estimated each man, woman and child in the province owes more than 30 thousand dollars in provincial and federal debt.

Boil Water Order To Remain In Effect Through The Day

Don't look for the latest boil water order to be lifted until this evening, according to latest word from the city as it awaits results of a second round of testing. 

The boil order has been in effect since Friday afternoon after a chlorination failure at the Latimer Lake Water treatment plant because of low water pressure and a leak. This mean't the water could not be disinfected. 

Common Council is being told the Regional Medical Health Officer, as far back as 2003, was expressing concern over pathogens being in the water that even chlorination couldn't get rid off. 

Council also being told it will be 2018 before the city has clean drinking water, complete with construction of a water treatment plant on the east side. The estimated cost is 260 million dollars.

Apartment Fire at Michael Crescent

A three story apartment building on the east side catching on fire over the weekend. 

Fire Department Platoon Chief Peter Saab says that when firefighters got to the scene, the building at 507 Michael Crescent was full of smoke and they found that the fire had started in the ceiling area of a bathroom in a second-floor apartment.

Crews extinguished the blaze after confining it to the bathroom, which was smoke, water and fire damaged. The building itself received some smoke damage as well. 

After the smoke was cleared, the tenants were allowed to go back to their apartments. There were no injuries and the fire department is looking into what caused the blaze.

World Tuberculosis Day at the Museum

They're not pretty pictures, but neither is the city's history of tuberculosis. 

Miller Brittain's chaulk murals that were supposed to go into the Saint John Tuberculosis Hospital can be seen at the museum as part of World Tuberculosis Day. Museum conservator Claire Titus tells CHSJ news that the exact reason the commissioned 9x9 foot drawings showing the suffering and treatment of people with the disease weren't constructed isn't known, whether it was money, politics, or simply that they found a cure.

The museum is commemorating the day from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m., you can meet the museum staff who are conserving the drawings, watch a presentation on the murals, and learn about the past and present of tuberculosis. You can also participate in the creation of a mural documenting the day.

Blaze on Jordan Avenue in Moncton

A blaze engulfing and extensively damaging a bungalow on 22 Jordan Avenue in Moncton. The homeowner was outside walking her dog when the building caught fire, so she wasn't hurt.

No word from Moncton Fire Department officials on the actual cause of the fire, which is under investigation, but it looks like the flames started in the basement, gutted part of the main level and then spread into to the attic.

Decision on P3 Funding Model Nearing

Common Council making a decision on  Monday night on whether to go ahead with the first steps toward adopting a public private partnership for revamping the city's water utility.

Common Councillor Ray Strowbridge tells CHSJ News he has yet to hear from someone protesting a P3 who fully understands what it is — and no matter what funding model the city chooses it's still going to be the private sector that does the work.

At the end of the day, the city only makes the application — it's up to P3 Canada to accept or reject it.

Postponed Mental Health Fundraiser Gets a New Date

Because of a snowy rampage by mother nature, the original date for the Investor's Group Skate to Care fundraiser had to be postponed. The rescheduled fundraiser is kicking off tomorrow morning at Harbour Station. 

Donna Gates of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation tells CHSJ news that she doesn't think the rescheduling will deter skaters.

The Mind Care event raises money for multiple mental health projects in the community, including the YMCA's Rainbows program, which helps kids deal with death and divorce. This year's theme is mental health superheroes. It starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

Homelessness Reduction Strategy Could Play a Part in Reducing Vacancy Rates

With a ton of "for rent" signs in windows and hammered into front lawns, it's clear that the supply of apartments doesn't match the demand. 

Randy Hatfield, the executive director of the Human Development Council tells CHSJ news that the Harper government's renewed strategy to reduce homelessness could play a part in filling up those vacant units.

Hatfield tells us the Human Development Council will be releasing their annual homelessness report card on Wednesday. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is reporting that the city has a vacancy rate of 9.7% for apartments, and it's forecasted to go up to 10% in the next two years.

The History of Holy Matrimony at the Museum

If you were a caught cheating on your wife or husband in the early 1900s, you could have been thrown into the slammer. That tidbit coming from the museum's new presentation, the Road to Wedded Bliss. 

Felicity Osepchook, head of the archives and research library tells CHSJ news that they'll be laying out all kinds of matrimonial material to the public, including snapshots, documents and video.

The full title of the presentation is called the Road to Wedded Bliss: Matrimonial Madness, Blushing Brides & Spousal Scandal, and runs until noon today.

Keep Boiling Your Water Until Monday At Least

The timing is incredible.   A failure in the chlorination system forcing thousands of Saint Johners to boil their water all weekend and the news came on World Water Day.

Nancy Moar from the City's Communications Department tells CHSJ News people in Millidgeville are being asked to conserve their water.

She says residents in Millidgeville will be accessing their water through a chlorinated storage tank but they are asking them to limit their usage over the weekend.

Two clear tests 24 hours apart are needed before a boil water order can be lifted.

Moar says it possible testing could begin Saturday night meaning the earliest it could be lifted is Monday. 
For more info on the boil water order, click here

Westmorland Inmate Dies

Corrections Canada is reporting an inmate from Westmorland Institution has died after being found unresponsive in his cell.

Mr. John Allain, 70, was serving a 5-year sentence for Indecent Assault on a woman, and Sexual Interference with a woman under the age of 14. His sentence had commenced on March 6, 2012.

As in all cases where an individual dies while in custody, the police and coroner have been notified and Correctional Service Canada will be looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

Protest Against P3 For World Water Day

Representatives from Common Causes, the Council of Canadians, and other activist groups gatheredin King square this afternoon to protest the possibility of a public private partnership for the city's water utility. 

Former Mayor Ivan Court was in attendance as the activists chanted and played drums. He tells CHSJ News P3 wasn't the only option when council examined the issue before and he doesn't understand why that has changed.

Court says the new federal budget indicates there is a billion dollars available in the Canada Fund to help finance the water project. It's widely predicted that Council will decide to go ahead with the application on Monday evening's meeting.

McAlary Would Like To See Lawuit Claims Investigated

People who criticized the previous common council's decision to build a multi-million dollar justice complex in the middle of a economic recession might have more fodder for their complaints now that the contractor who built Peel Plaza is filing a 7 million dollar lawsuit over claims of unpaid work.

Former mayor and current councillor Shirley McAlary tells CHSJ News some cost overruns are to be expected in any major project, particularly when changes were made to the original work order.

McAlary says the claims need to be better investigated because at this point it could be either the contractor's fault or the city's.

Sustainable SJ & The City Take Part In Earth Hour

It's that time of year again when you light candles or sit in the dark for an hour joining the global movement that is Earth Hour. 

It's aim is to draw attention to the large impact a small action can have if millions of people participate.

More than 680 employees of the City are being encouraged to take part between 830 and 930 tomorrow night.     Sustainable Saint John and its 35 member businesses are also taking part.

Earthhour.org says more than 70 per cent of the world's CO2 emissions is generated by cities.  

A "Lights Out" walk around Lily and Fisher Lakes in Rockwood Park is coming up tomorrow.
Participants are asked to meet at the Interpretation Centre at 815pm.

The first Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia back in 2007 involving 2.2 million and 2100 businesses.    It has grown to include 7000 cites and towns in a 152 countries across the globe switching off their lights for Earth Hour. 

Boil Water Order For Most Of The City

The city says it can't guarantee the safety of the drinking water after a failure in the chlorination system at Latimer Lake.

Without chlorine, the water isn't being disinfected so a boil water order has been issued for everyone east of Reversing Falls with the exception of part of Millidgeville.

Those water users in Millidgeville not affected live north of Spar Cove Road and Belleview Avenue, north of Millidge Avenue and Ropewalk Road as well as north of the Superstore on Somerset Street.

They're being asked to conserve their water and the city warns the boil water order might be expanded to include them as well.

For more info on the boil water order, click here