Police, an ambulance and the Department of Social Development were called to the Park Place apartments on Hickey Road around 1:30 this afternoon after two young children under the age of 5 were found left alone in what could be described as unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
A neighbor called police after hearing the children screaming in the apartment. They were found without proper clothing--one with a dirty diaper--and were taken to hospital to be examined.
The Family Protection Unit is on the scene and investigating.
There's a fine balance you have to strike when setting minimum wage...too little and employees can't afford to live, too much and businesses shut down.
Richard Dunn of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses says even a 10-percent hike would result in a loss of a thousand jobs across the province. That word in reaction to the suggestion made by the Randy Hatfield, the Executive Director of the Human Development Council, who says 15 to 17 dollars an hour is a reasonable living wage.
Dunn says only increasing the base line will cause more people to pool at the bottom of the wage scale...instead of creating jobs and growing the economy so it can eventually pay everyone more money. The current rate for minimum wage in the province is 10 dollars per hour.
The RCMP is looking for help finding a 31-year-old man from Lepreau, N.B.
Todd Bent was last seen on Sunday at about 2:00 p.m. when he went for a ride on his yellow 2005 Honda ATV. Bent told his family he would be back shortly, but didn't come back.
Despite searching the ATV trails in the area, police have not been able to locate Bent. They've concluded there is a possibility he may be in the Saint John area. Todd Bent is described as being Caucasian, measuring about 5’ 8" (173 cms)
tall, and weighing approximately 180 lbs. He is of medium build, with blond hair
and hazel eyes.
Anyone with information about Todd Bent is asked to contact RCMP at
506-755-1130, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS
(8477).
Although the business community seems to be largely behind the idea of extended Sunday Shopping hours, a local retail worker and concerned community member tells CHSJ News the change isn't guaranteed to offer any benefit to the economy.
Joshua Thomson tells us he gathered a petition with almost 200 signatures from people who think Sundays should still be a day of rest.
Thomson says the countries in the world that are consistently rated happiest have restrictions on Sunday Shopping---and a day of rest and relaxation where shopping isn't an option is beneficial to everyone.
It's that time of year again--folks who are elderly, have young kids or are susceptible to illness will want to go to their local pharmacy and get a flu shot.
Paul Blanchard of the provincial pharmacist's association tells CHSJ News there are some people who should definitely get the shot, which is covered if you suffer from a number of conditions including COPD, immune deficiencies, and diabetes.
Blanchard says now is the best time to get the shot--which protects against the most common strains of the flue virus. Call ahead to your local pharmacy to see if you can schedule a vaccine with your pharmacist.
A good turnout at the Carleton Community Centre to come up with ideas on how to reduce poverty over the next five years.
The Human Development Council and Vibrant Communities are trying to formulate what a living wage should be. The Executive-Director of the Human Development Council Randy Hatfield tells CHSJ News from 15 to 17 dollars an hour is not unreasonable in this day and age.The minimum wage right now in the province is 10 dollars an hour.
Barry Galloway of Vibrant Communities says we're in a crisis now with the state of the economy being what it is but it's at times like when the best ideas come to the surface. The poverty rate a few years ago was 20 per cent but that was before the big financial meltdown of 2008.
Hatfield says besides higher wages on the low end, there should be working income tax credits and subsidies for childcare. Both Hatfield and Galloway agree a growing problem in Saint John is finding safe, affordable housing.
The planting of all those marigolds last June is receiving worldwide recognition with a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
More than 56 hundred young people planted marigolds at more than 50 locations from Sussex to St. Stephen in June. That far surpassed the previous record which had been set in China by 12 hundred people.
Water on many people's minds at the second of three brainstorming sessions on how to redesign the boardwalk.
Landscape Designer Jennifer Allan facilitating one of the groups in the Market Square atrium and tells CHSJ News there was lots of talk about ways to incorporate the harbour into the design—including a floating aquarium you can rent out for events. Another nautical-themed idea she heard at the workshop is taking the buoys at the old Coast Guard site and using them as canvases for artwork.
She says the sentiment she's been hearing is that there are not enough connections to the water here in the Port City.
A newly released survey says the low rates of adult literacy in the province have not moved since 2003, despite the many programs in place bent on bringing it up.
That's according to results from a new international survey of adult skills conducted in 33 countries. Natasha Bozek of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick tells CHSJ News there are many reasons it is stagnating, including poverty, high unemployment rates and parents and adults who are not engaged in learning or don't think it's important. Bozek says the results revealed there's a wide education and skills gap between people in the province. While literacy rates haven't budged here in the province, the rates in Canada as a whole dropping over the last decade.
Legal action being filed against a local property management company, a building owner, and a tenant.....Carol Connell alleging in recently-filed documents it was their negligence that killed her 19 year old daughter Sarah Connell.
Connell died in a house fire on First Street In May 2011....the documents say the home had poor ventilation, no smoke alarm and the exits were not clearly marked.
In their statements of defence both Peace of Mind Management and owners Randall and Rebecca Brook say it was the tenant, Jonita Holmes, who failed to act reasonably to protect the girl. Holmes has not filed a statement of defence and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
Wagging tails and barking at the ideas of new people who might pet them...but little do the dogs know that visit means money to improve their lives while they live at the shelter. Saint John MP Rodney Weston announcing $45,000 to help the Saint John SPCA Animal Rescue for improvements to the shelter.
Rescue League Vice-President Todd Crawford says they will also receive funding from Fido and some other local businesses.
Crawford tells us we view their commitment to the community very seriously and some of the programs we would like to provide involve enhanced adoption services and expanded foster programs.
The funding announced today includes plumbing and the installation of fixed equipment in the cat isolation and equipment rooms.
The shelter also receiving funding from FidoCares and a number of private companies including Maritime Fence and Homestar Inc.
The lights are coming back on in the Hampton and Sussex areas after a big power outage this morning impacting more than 900 people.
It's down to less than 40 in Hampton, Norton and Damascus and 4 outages in the Sussex wereimpacting more than 300 mainly in the Peticodiac area. It's down to 8 customers now.
NB Power estimates that the different communities will start seeing the lights coming back on between now and 330 this afternoon.
NB Power reports 7 such outages in Hampton, Damascus, Lower Norton, Upham and Titusville affecting more than 400 customers and 6 in Sussex which have left more than 600 customers in the dark.
NB Power is saying the power should be back anytime from 8:30 to 12:30.
Too many young people with mental health problems have been falling through the cracks and not getting the help they need. That message was delivered to MindCare New Brunswick by parents who have had first hand experience trying to get their children help.
The Executive Director of Dots NB (named after a report by Bernard Richard, “Connecting the Dots: A report on the condition of youth-at-risk and
youth with very complex needs in New Brunswick”) Maureen Bilerman is one such parent. She tells CHSJ News early intervention is essential adding one in five students in any classroom needs such help and only 20 percent are getting treated which can lead to disastrous consequences down the road as happened with Ashley Smith of Moncton who choked herself to death while jailed in Kitchener, Ontario.
Another parent, Stephanie Chaisson found many of the people she dealt with in the healthcare system seemed to be at a loss on how to deal with teenage psych patients.
he also told the conference there are two psychologists at the Mercantile Centre who deal with young people. When she sought help for her daughter, one was on maternity leave and the other had a waiting list of 8 months.
The effect of increasing the minor injury cap from 25 hundred to 75 hundred dollars in the province is now before the New Brunswick Insurance Board which is holding hearings.
The province maintains your premiums shouldn't have to rise because there's a built in cushion to absorb the higher costs.
The insurance industry is looking at a 20 to 25 per cent increase in the cost of claims with the increased cap.
The number of claims being made has been dropping in the province over the last ten years.
If your busy work or home life makes it hard for you to shop during the week, you're in luck.
Common council has passed a change to the by-law which will let businesses decide what hours they want to open on Sundays. That means you could see some retailers opening at 9am instead of 12---although some businesses may choose to keep things the way they are.
Malls will have to make that decision as well. All the retailers will have to abide by the same rules.
The Day of Rest Act was first passed back in 1985. While some object to the idea of more Sunday shopping hours as unnecessary, the Board of Trade has said it could help our flagging local economy, and besides businesses should be able to make that call for themselves.
If you tune in to Channel 10 for common council every week you might soon be disappointed.
Council has voted to switch to biweekly meetings since--- they say--they've gotten rather speedy at dealing with the city's business. Yet the change sparked a fairlycontentious debate, with common councillor Greg Norton saying the change sends the wrong message to taxpayers. Common Councillor Susan Fullerton pointed out fewer meetings will actually save the taxpayers money.
Common Councillor Donna Reardon says if the new schedule doesn't work, they'll return to weekly meetings. Mayor Mel Norton--who doesn't get a vote except in case of a tie--says he thinks it's the wrong decision especially around budget time.
As the mercury drops people are spending more time indoors and in the kitchen--and that means an increase in house fires.
Divisional Fire Chief Mark Wilson tells CHSJ News you should be careful this Thanksgiving by ensuring you don't leave the house while you having things baking or simmering. He says he's even seen fires start when people get distracted talking to guests and forget about what's going on in the kitchen. Wilson says a lot of fires also start when people come home late at night, put food in the oven then fall asleep--so you may want to choose a midnight snack that doesn't involve the oven, or simply order some takeout.
A project promoting cross-border love between moose attracting some attention from a US conservation group.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada getting a donation from the Open Space Institute in upstate New York for their Moose Sex Project, which aims to get our moose to mate with moose in Nova Scotia, where they are endangered.
Andrew Holland of the NCC tells CHSJ News the contribution speaks to the importance of the work they're doing. In June, the project received almost 800 acres from former diplomat Derek Burney and Joan Burney.
They have secured 1900 acres of land in a wilderness corridor to date, and Holland says they're in talks with private land owners and could be getting more.
To learn more about the Moose Sex Project, click here.
The atrium in Market Square will be a busy spot for the second of three public consultations on how to modernize and improve the Boardwalk area. Kent MacIntyre of Saint John Waterfront Development tells CHSJ News he likes getting the kids opinions on the space like they did in the first consultation.
He says having the kids input makes you realize that we have to make it a family oriented space.
MacIntyre tells us the concrete ideas the steering committee decides for revitalizing the Boardwalk area will likely go before Common Council by February or March of next year.
The first workshop tomorrow runs 1-4pm while the second workshop runs 5-8pm.
You are invited to attend one or both sessions in Market Square. For more info, click here
Port Saint John and E.A. Farren Limited hosting the Indian High Commissioner on a tour of Saint John.
The event focusing on the potential for trade between the two countries.
Admiral Nirmal Verma tells CHSJ News he views Saint John as an energy hub.
Verma is a former naval officer and he can't imagine such depths available as our harbour has for ships to come in alongside or offshore.
He says if there is available crude oil it should be possible to ship it from Canada back to the west coast of India where most of the country's refineries are. Verma tells us he spoke to Mayor Mel Norton about the potential for Saint John as a backdrop for a Bollywood film as the industry is looking for new locations.
The Health Minister in town to visit a patient who is part of a program he calls one of the great health care success stories in the province's history.
The province's Extra-Mural Program allows people to get health care treatment in their own homes, including chronic, acute and long term care along with oxygen and rehabilitation services.
Ted Flemming tells CHSJ News these people tend to be happier and recover more rapidly than if they were to stay in a hospital.He calls the program more "economic" than building a brand-new facility. Unfortunately, the patient Flemming was scheduled to see in the Kennebecasis Valley having to be brought to hospital.
Reverand Lloyd Lake, who was always a regular at meetings of the Rotary Club, and many times delivered the prayer at the start of Common Council meetings died over the weekend at Bobby's Hospice.
Rev. Lake also found himself several years ago at the forefront at trying to save the trees along Manawagonish Road when the city wanted to cut some of them down.
The funeral details have not been announced yet by Brenans
Highway 1 westbound at Exit 133 just west of the Fox Farm Road is down to one lane for highway maintenance today and tomorrow. We're told there's a stop sign up for traffic coming off the Fox Farm Road onto the highway going westbound.
Maude Barlow says public private partnerships are a failure here and around the globe.
The activist with the the Council of Canadians tells CHSJ News 40 municipalities in France alone are backtracking from the private route.
She says they tried the private route and it was a terrible mistake and in Paris they have lowered the price of water because by funding it municipally they deliver it safely and without the profit motive they could give people their money back.
The city of Saint John currently has a P3 application in to pay for clean drinking water.
A new American Civil War drama that's getting a lot of buzz was shot in the province.
Filmed in Kings Landing Historical Settlement in Prince William and inspired by actual events, Copperhead tells the story of an anti-war dairy farmer named Abner Beech. The movie stars Peter Fonda, Billy Campbell and Angus MacFadyen. Most of the actors on the cast list are from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Director Ron Maxwell tells CHSJ News the name of the film comes from a term hurled against people who, like the main character, opposed the war being waged by President Abraham Lincoln. They were called Copperheads because a Copperhead is a Southern snake. Maxwell says it's not an exaggeration that this film was one of the most delightful shoots he's been involved with. For more information about the film, and to watch a trailer, visit www.copperheadthemovie.com
Seven times as many
jobs are created in clean energy for every million dollars of investment
as compared to the same level of investment in oil and gas.
We
get that word from Mark D'Arcy of the Council of Canadians in
Fredericton who points to a recent study that showed double the number
of jobs created with clean energy in Massachusetts as compared to shale
gas exploration in western Pennsylvania.
He
tells CHSJ news he has heard first hand at the market in Fredericton
from people where shale gas exploration is taking place in the U.S. and
they are saying do not go ahead with it.
D'Arcy
dismisses the argument as myth that the only way we can salvage the
provincial economy is by shale gas exploration and building an oil
pipeline.
David
Thompson of the Conservation Council maintains the big energy projects
of late in Saint John with the natural gas pipeline through the city and
L-N-G terminal have not brought prosperity.
City Fire Crews called out shortly after 4 this morning to find two vehicles ablaze on Golden Grove Road, including a trailer. The cause is thought to be suspicious.
A fire off of Route 111 destroying a garage and the car inside.
When firefighters from the Simonds and St. Martins Fire Department arrived at the scene of the fire on the Taylor Lake Road yesterday morning, the garage was fully engulfed in flames. Crews spent three hours on the scene.
A teenager being charged with second degree murder in the death of an elderly woman.
On Saturday morning, police were called to a home on Route 555 in Richmond Corner, near Woodstock, where they found the body of 82-year old Sarah Kennedy. Later in the day, a man was arrested and taken into custody.
19-year old Kyle Edmund Scott being remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Woodstock Provincial Court on Thursday morning to enter a plea.
RCMP say they expect an autopsy to be conducted tomorrow.
It was the previous Liberal government under then Premier Shawn Graham that first looked at shale gas development as a way to boost the provincial economy.
The Liberals appear not to be as enthused these days in light of the public opposition including a highway blockade. Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant says the concerns being expressed by those opposed are legitimate.
Gallant says he's all in favour of the Energy East pipeline and wants to see it happen but also wants to ensure the province gets the maximum benefit from that project.
There has been some question of whether there will be that many permanent jobs created after construction of the pipeline is completed and even Gallant admits that is a concern.
First Nations Chief Aaron Sock, who has been at the forefront of the opposition to shale gas exploration, is meeting this afternoon with Premier David Alward in Moncton
The Premier believes shale gas is key to turning around the sluggish provincial economy and he doesn't appear ready to make a U-turn on that, saying his government is determined to responsibly develop the province's natural resources.
Shale gas protestors have blockaded Highway 134 near Rexton and demanded SWN Resources leave the province.
A judge granted a court injunction late last week ordering an end to the blockade.
51-year-old Roger Allen McLaughlin was last seen in the St. Stephen area last Monday. Family and friends have not been able to contact him since. He was reported missing on Friday.
Police say McLaughlin is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and a moustache. They don't believe he has a car.
Anyone with any information about where he could be is asked to contact the RCMP at (506) 466-7030 or 1-888-506-RCMP (7267).
An awards ceremony honouring the heroic acts of our firefighters at their inaugural gala.
District Chief Donald Walker was recognized with the Award of Distinction for rescuing a woman trapped behind a door during a fire at 45 St. Paul Street. Walker tells CHSJ News he simply went and did what he had to do.
Firefighters Peter Alexander and Doug Trentowsky and Lieutenants Peter Woodhouse and Mike Shelley getting the Award of Distinction for rescuing a woman whose car was in the water back in 1995. Shelley tells us he remembers the top of the vehicle was about a foot underwater—they were only able to see it because the lights were still on. City
Fire Chief Kevin Clifford says their actions serve as a
reminder of the dangerous situations firefighters put themselves in when
they go out on calls. The sold-out charity event marked 227 years of service for the Saint John Fire Department.
Certificates of Merit: Salvation Army Major Rowena Wiseman Salvation Army Member Dorothy 'Dot' Porter Former Police Officer George Stackhouse, now of the Salvage Corps Firefighter Corey Cassidy
Award of Distinction: Captain Kenneth 'Kenny' MacDonald District Chief Donald Walker Firefighters Peter Alexander and Doug Trentowsky and Lieutenants Peter Woodhouse and Mike Shelley
Medal of Valor: Lieutenant Conrad Northrup Firefighter Gary Breen
Two food items you can buy at major retailers being recalled.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warning the public not to eat Reser's Fine Foods brand cheesy macaroni salad because it could be contaminated with a bacteria that can cause listeriosis, leading to high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, and nausea. They are sold in Wal-Mart stores across the province and nationally at Loblaw banner stores.
They're also advising people with allergies not to eat Armella Duo brand Hazelnut Spread with Milk and Cocoa because it may contain almonds which is not written on the label. The product is sold at Dollarama stores across Canada.
Both companies voluntarily recalling the products. The CFIA has not received any reports of people getting sick from eating these products.
Their inaugural charity gala is this evening, where they will be celebrating 227 years of service and raising money for the Salvation Army's Community Outreach Program. Fire Chief Kevin Clifford tells CHSJ News he hopes this event is the first of many.
The formal event takes place from 6pm to midnight at
the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre. For more information about the gala, visit the official website by clicking here.
Search groups continue sweeping parts of the city as they look for clues in a teenager's disappearance.
Police have now confirmed the last time 19-year Gen Cormier was seen was on Sunday in the back parking lot of the Reversing Falls Restaurant.
Family friend Amanda Hensey tells CHSJ News that piece of information gives them hope and helps them pinpoint where she's been, saying, the more steps they can trace, the better their chances of finding her and bringing her home safely to her family. They are looking for more people to join the search for the missing teen. Hensey says they prefer adults because of the rough terrain and the sensitive nature of the search. There's a table in the area where Cormier was last seen where people can sign up.
If you have old appliances just sitting around gathering dust, here's your chance to get rid of them.
The City is offering a program called the White Goods Drop Off where you can bring your stoves, fridges, dishwashers, washer & dryers and more to be recycled. The City's Urban Services Manager Kevin Carson tells CHSJ News they've expanded the program over the last few years to include household metal. If you receive residential garbage collection from the city, you are eligible to take part in the program and can register by calling 658-4455. It's happening today until 3pm and again next Saturday and you can drop off your appliances at 525 McAllister Drive, 100 Boars Head Road and 1260 Fairville Boulevard.
In Sussex, there is a scrap metal drive fundraiser happening in the Sussex Christian School parking lot on 45 Chapman Drive until 4pm.
A heads up for drivers. The eastbound off-ramp on Highway 1 at the exit to Ashburn Lake Road is closed until 7pm so the City can fix a water pipe. Drivers are being diverted to the Exit 129 until it re-opens.
City police letting us know they have a confirmed sighting of Gen Cormier on Sunday.
An email says she was seen walking in the back parking lot of the Reversing Falls/Boaz restaurant.
A family friend telling CHSJ News that the 19 year old often walked that route to her home on the lower West side.
She was reported missing by family on Monday.
Police want to hear from anyone who was in or near the parking lot of the Reversing Falls restaurant or in the park above that may have seen her.
The Major Crime Unit is looking into the matter and following up on any leads and tips that come forward. If you have any information, call 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
City police looking into a possible robbery involving a weapon at an apartment building in the South end. It happened about 430 yesterday (Friday) afternoon in a brown building next to 126 Broad Street.
Sgt. Rick Caswell tells CHSJ News they got a report about a man with a weapon.
He says as a result they responded with several officers gathering as much information as possible and cleared the building for safety reasons.
Caswell says they did not find a weapon in the building and now they are taking witness statements to see what happened.
No one was hurt and there are no suspects or charges so far.
Traffic was blocked on Broad Street between Carmarthen and Wentworth for about two hours.
New Brunswick has a choice between extreme energy and renewable clean energy. That, from Mark D'Arcy as the "Energy for Everyone" conference ended with the warning that two-thirds of fossil fuels must stay in the ground or we face catastrophic climate change.
D'Arcy tells CHSJ News the Premier is doing away with environmental protection to press forward with shale gas development. D'Arcy says that warning about keeping the bulk of fossil fuels in the ground comes from such reputable organisations as the World Bank, the International Energy Agency along with Price, Waterhouse, Coopers.
D'Arcy of the Council of Canadians who predicts there will be growing opposition to shale gas exploration and he doesn't think New Brunswickers will allow it to happen.
He adds extreme energy extraction only benefits a few big corporations but not the populace as a whole.
Energy and Mines Minister Craig Leonard says the Energy East pipeline will strengthen both the provincial and federal economy by opening new global markets for Canadian crude.
He says they know that the project will be strictly regulated for the safety of everyone in this province and every jurisdiction that it impacts.
Leonard telling Summit delegates that we all know fossil fuels will be part of our economy for the foreseeable future adding we'd like to have a renewable energy sector to turn to but we just don't have the technology on a commercial level to do that.
5 people seriously injured, two critically, following an early morning rollover on Highway 1 on Thursday. RCMP tell us the driver lost control of the car near the Pocologan/Pennfield Exit, rolling the car several times before it came to a stop on its roof in the ditch.
All 5 remain at the Regional Hospital.
An RCMP Collision Analyst was called to the scene and found at least one person had been ejected from the car.
Police say there is no evidence that alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash.
Giant Tiger, which has proven to be exceptionally popular in Saint John at Prince Edward Square, is looking at a sale with a value $800-million being talked about.
The chain has more than 200 stores throughout the country and employs more than 7,000 people. It has hired Goldman Sachs to give advice on a potential sale.
The company has around $80-million (U.S.) in earnings. It's believed a valuation could be around 10 times that amount.
Giant Tiger was founded in 1961. It's privately owned and operates with nearly all of its stores franchised.
