A request from the Salvation Army for more funding to go towards the Centre of Hope getting shot down by the Department of Social Development.
Minister Madeline Dube tells CHSJ News they have been reviewing the request for the past few weeks and says based on the business plan and financial information given to them by the Salvation Army, they've decided they're not able give them more than the $1.1-million already being given.
The department says they could find efficiencies and that they will work with the non-profit to identify those so that it can be more financially sustainable. She tells us in terms of changes, a combination of things would need to happen including reducing services and staffing.
The centre's future is currently uncertain, and it could be closing by the end of February.
The Saint John Harbour M-L-A says the possible closure of the Salvation Army Centre of Hope in the South end seems to have come out of left field.
Carl Killen calls the situation totally unexpected and tells CHSJ News he toured the facility a short while ago and things appeared to be going well, and now he's hearing they're in trouble.
Killen says no matter what happens, he's confident the government will continue to make sure that people who are now using the facility on St. James Street continue receiving the services they require.
A Moncton man being killed in a snowmobile crash in northern New Brunswick.
The 21-year-old died after being ejected from the snowmobile on a trail located about thirty kilometres south of Bathurst.
RCMP did not release the man's name.
A Millidgeville man fed up with the flooding situation at his apartment complex is looking for answers from the city.
Doug James of 10 Charlie Grace Terrace says his superintendent has been struggling to keep rain and melting snow from flooding the building, which is located just a few feet away from a sloping hill.
The tenant says a few weeks ago the superintendent had to dig a big trench to try and contain the water and describes the middle of the parking lot as looking more like a skating rink this winter.
In a letter directed to Mayor Mel Norton with Councillors Gerry Lowe and Donna Reardon copied, James says he wants to know why the building was built where it was without considering proper drainage and what MetCap is going to do to provide a long-term solution to the problem.
Crews battling a structure fire on the East side of the city.
Firefighters quickly knocking down the fire which broke out in an unattached shed on Knox Street.
It doesn't appear anyone was hurt as a result of the blaze.
 |
| Joshua Jewett |
Police are calling on the public for help finding two missing men from Fredericton.
31-year-old Joshua Jewett disappeared on February 10 while 40-year-old David Watt has been missing since on December 2. Both were last seen in the capital city. The two cases are not related.
Jewett is described as 5 foot 9 inches tall, thin build, approximately 160lbs, the last time he was seen he was clean cut and clean shaven but may also have some facial hair, has glasses but rarely wears them, brown shaggy hair that may be in a ponytail, and does not have any tattoos, scars or other distinct features. He normally wears a black ski jacket and blue jeans.
 |
| David Watt |
Watt is described as 5 foot 10 inches tall, 150lbs, with short brown hair, and brown eyes.
If you have any information about either of the missing men you're being asked to get in touch with the Fredericton Police Force by calling 460-2300 or Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy says people are still fearful of voting for the wrong party at election time because the M-L-A's have too much of a say in who the provincial government hires.
Cardy would like M-L-A's to have their influence limited to just the people who staff their offices.
Cardy created quite a stir recently when he equated the reluctance of the school system to fail students to the province's high rate of illiteracy but he tells CHSJ News we have a crisis on our hands with 56 per cent of people in New Brunswick considered functionally illiterate.
Cardy argues having a highly trained workforce is the best way to attract business investment to the province rather than handing out grants.
Big Data is fast becoming big business and T4G is holding a conference on Data Science at the Delta.
Paul Mansz of Ambir Technology estimates it could be worth in the tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars as companies struggle with sifting through all the data that's available these days before they can make a decision.
Saint John M-P Rodney Weston says a lot is happening under the radar in Saint John.
The conference will be examining how data science can help improve patient outcomes while, at the same time, be cost effective.
The C-E-O of NB Power Gaetan Thomas will be taking part in another session on energy and the smart grid entitled "What can be measure, can be managed".
The city might lose the Salvation Army Centre of Hope on St. James Street as early as the end of this month, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
The Union representing the workers at the Salvation Army, CUPE local 4780, says it told last week four days of negotiation were being postponed until further notice. Marcos Salib of Local 4780 is warning the closure would result in 35 employees losing their jobs and 34 residents without a roof over their heads.
Salib goes on to say the employees have been told the building, itself, is in need of repairs.
The C-E-O at Horizon Health John McGarry has been given the mandate to reduce the cost of healthcare which was increasing year by year above the rate of inflation and swallowing up a greater percentage of the provincial budget.
McGarry tells CHSJ News the revamping of healthcare will be the norm from now on because the provincial government wants it to run more like a business and, as such, there will be destabilisation among the workers in healthcare.
McGarry says the technology is there to allow lots of things to occur at a distance which will restrain costs. He estimates if 2 per cent in cost efficiencies can be found in the system each year and growth can be limited to 4 per cent, the system should be sustainable with an annual increase in funding of 2 per cent.
One of the messages to be delivered to the Big Data conference getting underway today at the Trade and Convention Centre is that improved patient outcomes and increased cost effectiveness is within our reach with the intelligent application of data science to healthcare.
Common Council holding a special meeting tonight to go over Zone SJ which is the road map to guide future development in the city over the next generation.
Jacqueline Hamilton is the Commissioner of Growth and Future Development and says under the plan, rural development would still take place but it would be clustered in places like Lorneville and Ketepec. There would be be restrictions on building sub divisions in the more remote rural parts of the city.
Industrial development would be allowed in the industrial parks and industrial zones to avoid conflict in residential neighbourhoods.
Fed up with buildings being torn down to make way for new parking lots?
The new draft zoning bylaw, ZoneSJ, will purportedly crack down on landowners who allow properties to crumble, only to replace them with gravel lots.
Common Councillor David Merrithew says he just hopes it's enforceable--a sentiment echoed by Councillor John Mackenzie and others.
Planner Stacey Forfar explained another element of ZoneSj is addressing the problem of heavy industry situated right beside residential areas. While we might have accepted such development in the past, Forfar explained, we need to safeguard against it going forward to ensure resident's quality of life is maintained.
ZoneSJ also relaxes the rules about adding granny suites to homes, and will make sure developers follow minimum landscaping standards; although, some rural residents have criticized what they see as a singular focus on urban development at the expense of their interests.
Council voted to take steps to adopt ZoneSJ by this summer with only common councillor Susan Fullerton voting against.
It seems many of us have come to expect the unexpected when it comes to investing in these market conditions.
According to a new report by BMO Global Asset Management, 77 percent of investors feel market volatility is the "new normal" and will stay that way for the foreseeable future. When asked to point out their top priorities when deciding how to invest their cash in today's market, 96 percent said balancing risk in their investments is critical.
80 percent of respondents said they could use a helping hand finding their ideal investment level while 85 percent reported needed assistance finding investments suited for their risk level.
It's a global movement uniting developers, tech gurus, and business people.
Startup Weekends brings experts together for 54 hours of workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies. Mark Breen is an Economic Development Officer with Enterprise Saint John and he tells us it's a fast-paced and productive time.
Startup Weekend has hosted over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world and one is happening in Saint John April 25 to 27. As well, T4G is hosting its Big Data Conference for emerging data science innovators today and tomorrow at the Trade and Convention Centre.
The Canadian Automobile Association believes seniors need to do some self-policing when it comes to their driving skills.
Gary Howard of the C-A-A says if you notice your reaction time is slowing or you're finding it difficult to drive at night, then you may need to make some changes. Howard tells CHSJ News it's not necessarily about stopping, it's about making the driving experience safer for everyone.
You can assess your driving skills by going to the C-A-A's new web tool for seniors, which can be found by going to seniorsdriving.caa.ca.
Rock climbers, rapellers and other outdoor adventurers might want to check their gear.
The Sterling Rope Company recalling three models of their sewn cords because they break at a lower than published weight, meaning you could fall.
The cords include the 8mm Aztek Sewn Bound Loop Prusik, the 8mm Aztek Elite Edge Restraint and the 8mm Accessory Cord Sewn Eye. About 480 of these were sold in Canada from January 2013 through January 2014.
For more information about the recall, click here.
If you take the antiviral drug Telzir to treat H-I-V, you may notice the product label looks a little different. Health Canada says the drug label has been updated to include new safety information.
According to the federal department, Telzir shouldn't be used in combination with the antiarrythmic drugs amiodarone, lidocaine or quinidine because it could cause serious and/or life-threatening reactions such as abnormal heart rhythm.
Telzir should also not be used with delavirdine, which is another antiviral drug used to treat H-I-V, because it could reduce delavirdine's effectiveness.
Health Canada says do not stop treatment without consulting with your doctor or healthcare professional.
Reversing the trend of aging farmers starts by teaching students how to grow their own food.
That, according to 25-year-old Dave Wolpin who runs a farm in Bloomfield, which is located just outside of Hampton. Wolpin tells CHSJ News he believes it all comes down to education, saying the first subject of the day should agriculture and nutrition.
Stats Canada reporting the structure of agriculture has changed significantly over the last twenty years with fewer but larger farms and the average age of farm operators increasing from 47 and a half years old to 54 years old.
The spruce budworm is only one and a half centimetres long, but if measures aren't taken this tiny caterpillar could spell big trouble for our forests.
Population outbreaks of the bug happen about every thirty years and one is thought to be coming.
UNB Professor in the faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management David MacLean tells CHSJ News the insects, which feast on spruce and balsam fir trees, are devastating in big numbers. He says during an outbreak of spruce budworm, you go from barely being able to find the insect to seeing hundreds on a single branch.
MacLean says their numbers have been growing in Quebec and they're expected to move east. The last big outbreak in New Brunswick hit between the late '70s and early '90s and half of the province's forests were defoliated.
He says an intervention strategy would involve intensive monitoring and early detection. $18-million being allocated by the federal government for an intervention programme.
A heads up to those of you who plan on traveling on the Route 7 highway today.
RCMP telling CHSJ News the highway is very slippery. They say there's black ice on the road from Saint John to Fredericton so you should be extremely careful when driving.
City Police investigating an assault on the West side.
They tell CHSJ News a woman was screaming in an apartment in the Duke Street area around midnight and had to be taken to hospital, while another person was taken into custody and will be appearing before a judge.
Police say the woman's injuries are not considered serious.
Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming is scratching his head wondering why the Liberals are after him about not including test strips for diabetes in the new provincial prescription drug plan.
He says it baffles him as to why anyone would think a medical supply that is not a drug would be included in a drug plan.
Flemming maintains the test strips are not considered a drug but the government is working with people with diabetes and making progress.
Draft regulations for the New Brunswick Drug Plan are now online for public review and comment
The regulations will establish premiums and co-payments, outline the rules for enrolment and also the requirements for insurers and pharmacies.
Health Minister Hugh Flemming claims the plan will help New Brunswickers avoid catastrophic drug costs and ensure that prescription drug insurance is available to every New Brunswicker.
To look at the draft regulations click here
Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is pledging to fix the problems plaguing provincial government pensions despite the flak he's getting over the changeover to the shared risk model.
He says when you talk to some of the unions who say it won't work for them now, it's interested that the Shared Risk Model seemed to work for them when their pensions were about to collapse.
Higgs says he finds that ironic.
Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media are a great means of connecting with the community and getting your personal message out to the world--and Saint Johners are becoming increasingly connected online.
That probably explains the popularity of The Saltys. The annual social media awards honour the local people that make our online lives a little more interesting.
Craig Allen of Uptown Saint John tells CHSJ News the finalists tend to exemplify a positive attitude toward Saint John and offer something unique in their social media presence. CHSJ News Reporter Julia Wright is nominated in the Twitter Person of the Year Category.
There will be a party at the Alehouse next Thursday where the winners will be announced. To cast your vote and for more information, click here
It's been an intense series of snowstorms this week...and with the banks still towering over many densely-populated streets, city crews are working to ensure the roadways stay clear.
It's been quite a battle according to Transportation Commissioner Kevin Rice. He tells CHSJ News they've reached a bit of an impasse when it comes to the Southern Peninsula, Old North End, and lower West Side because there's no more room to push the snow back to. There have also been problems with keeping some of the snow plowing equipment on the roads.
During the day and night crews will be working to remove snow and haul it to their snow dump by truck or also do what's referred to as free blowing of snow onto lawns.
Rice says rain in the forecast tonight could also complicate matters with localized flooding.
Meantime, a snowplow operator making his rounds came across a little girl dressed in a snow suit shortly after 4:30 this morning. Police were called to make sure she wouldn't be harmed.
No word on a cause as the fire department investigates what started a fire early Thursday morning on the west side along Field Road off the Acamac Backland Road.
It was contained to the basement with one person suffered smoke inhalation.
A local company that helps people with disabilities find employment is getting a major boost from the government.
Key Industries on Charlotte Street is getting more than $68,000 dollars from the Opportunities Fund.
It's predicted the project will help 13 Saint Johners find jobs. It'll be used to host of workshops for people with disabilities to develop life and employment skills, and also find work placements in the retail, maintenance, and hospitality sectors.
Since 2006, the Opportunities Fund has helped over 34,000 people with disabilities across Canada.
New Brunswickers are being warned to watch out for a new kind of investment in the binary options market.
Binary options are similar to bets on whether an asset will increase or decrease in value in a fixed, and often very short, period.
They're sometimes referred to as "all or nothing" options." People who buy these options--which are often hawked through ads, email, social media or over the phone--are not protected by New Brunswick securities laws. Buying them may put any money invested at significant risk.
If you've been approached by a company offering these types of investments, you're encouraged to contact the commission immediately. For more details, click here
Enough complaining about monster drifts and uncleared streets--what's the positive side of all this snow?
Kate Trecartin tells CHSJ News she parked overnight on Peters Street, then returned to find her car completely encased from bumper to bumper--with three feet of the white stuff separating her from her car door.
Fortunately, some good Samaritans came to the rescue. Two men in a truck worked for 40 minutes to do what Trecartin estimated would have been a three-hour job on her own. She says it was an excellent reminder of the community spirit many people have here in Saint John.
Many others have reported similar Random Acts of Shovelling--so if you've got a snowblower, take a hint and don't just plow on by your neighbours struggling to clear a path.
There might be 6-foot snowbanks barricading the streets and more ice pellets and rain on the way--but that won't deter 80 local runners from competing in the so-called Hypothermic Half Marathon this Sunday.
The snow-or-shine winter road race has been happening in Saint John for the past decade. According to Running Room Atlantic events coordinator John Acheson, the 21-kilometer route from Cape Spencer to Lily Lake is going to be well-salted and safety will be a top priority.
Acheson notes that the course is fairly hilly, but levels out about halfway through. Fortunately for the intrepid athletes, the forecast for Sunday doesn't include any precipitation and is fairly mild.
The runners get shuttled out to Cape Spencer then run back to Lily Lake. The Hypothermic Half Marathon begins at 8:30 on Sunday morning and there are still spots for runners to sign up--if they dare.
For more information click here
The 2014 Give to raise 900 thousand dollars for lab equipment that will be used to make cancer treatment better at the Regional Hospital is off to a good start with 250 thousand dollars pledged by Bruce Dowd and his family which has been matched by the John T. McMillan Junior Foundation.
Jeff MacDonald, a member of the Foundation's Board, says John McMillan Junior died from an aggressive form of leukemia in 2005 at the age of 34.
The head of Stem Cell Therapy at the Regional Hospital, Dr. Terrence Comeau tells CHSJ News cancer treatment is changing for the better and the new lab equipment will analyse the patient's D-N-A, which is unique, with the treatment individualised specifically for that person. Both diagnosis and treatment will be quicker.
Dr. Terrence Comeau says analysing D-N-A is how you hit cancer where it hurts and no two cancers are created equal.
The Regional Hospital Foundation also announcing the 2013 Give reached its goal of raising 850 thousand dollars to buy equipment that will be used during neurosurgeries.
An overnight snow parking ban has been declared for the South/Central Peninsula effective 11pm this evening through to 7am tomorrow morning.
For tonight’s ban only, free parking will be available in the Peel Plaza Parking Garage. Offer valid between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Photo credit: Sean O’Shaughnessy.
If you use Rothesay Avenue and Bayside Drive regularly, you could be breaking the law without even knowing it.
The city is reminding drivers that access to that area has changed with no vehicle access to Bayside Drive from Russell Street.
Trying to cross the multiple lanes of traffic at the intersection is considered a hazardous operation of a vehicle and could result in fines for anyone caught doing it.
You can expect more signage to go up in the near future: right now the road markings don't match up with what the sign says, and they're looking to fix that as well.
Check out a map of the correct route to use here
Due to a large amount of snow on the roof of the Aquatic Centre, and the risk it presents pedestrians, the sidewalk along the east side of St. Patrick Street, from King Street to Union Street, has been temporarily closed.
The sidewalk will remain closed until further notice. Pedestrians are asked to observe the closure and be vigilant of other areas that may be experiencing falling snow.
Saint John Energy is dealing with what's described as a major power outage in the city. It occurred around 4:30 and it believed to have something to do with a transformer and will likely be later this morning before the power is back on for those affected.
Alarms were activated in the north end on Main Street North and in the uptown on Union Street and Charlotte Street. CHSJ News has also been told by a caller to our 648-3000 newsline, people along Golden Grove Road on the east side are affected as well.
The latest fall of snow in the Saint John area dumping 13 centimeters of snow at the airport. It had stopped by around 3 this morning but Steve Fougere of Environment Canada tells CHSJ News another disturbance is moving in tomorrow.
Fougere says there will be increasing cloudiness tomorrow morning then just a couple of centimeters of snow, ice pellets and then rain.
It's thought the Saint John area might be receiving anywhere from 20 to 30 millimeters of rain.
We also have a report of a power outage in the city which happened around 4:30. There's no word yet from Saint John Energy on what might have caused it but alarms were activated in the north end and uptown.
If you have to fill up today, you'll have to pay more for self serve regular after the weekly setting. The maximum price for self serve regular has gone up by almost 2 and a half cents a litre.
Diesel is a bit cheaper, going down by just under half a cent a litre.
Heating oil is up by almost a cent with the maximum price at $1.34.3 a litre.
The maximum price for propane has decreased by 1.3 cents to $1.51.5 a litre.
One local MLA is very pleased the government decided to go forward with its original promise.
It's been announced that the 18 car John E. Rigby ferry in Deer Island will be replaced with a 24 car ferry. Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet tells us this is really good for the islanders. He says people in the area came together and came up with some very compelling reasons as to why they needed this, and in this case the government listened very clearly.
The government previously said due to cutbacks and trying to save money, the Rigby would be replaced with another 18 car ferry. Doucet says a public meeting was held on the island with many residents bringing forth very good reasons as to why a 24 car was needed.
A new program by the provincial government is looking into the care new moms and their babies are getting in the province--and how we can do better.
The New Brunswick Perinatal Health Program will gather information on births and use it to develop better healthcare policies.
They're particularly interested in neonatal admissions, and why moms in New Brunswick have been getting more C-sections than is recommended by the World Health Organization. While WHO suggest that caesarian sections should be used in no more than five to 15 per cent of all births, in NB, they're now at 28 per cent.
The information-gathering will start this spring.
Want to buy local, but aren't sure whether a shop carries what you need? There's an app for that.
The Saint John Board of Trade has announced the MyChamber app can help you find local businesses, discounts, and deals nearby.
Jeff Roach of Sociallogical tells CHSJ News the app could help propel business in Saint John forward in today's marketplace.
Other cities throughout Canada also use the app, so it's useful when you're traveling as well. MyChamber uses GPS to pinpoint your location and is free to download through the app store. Find out more here
With the snow a meter deep throughout the city, the thought of an indoor fieldhouse where kids could play sports year round sounds like a great idea to some people.
The idea of such a fieldhouse at Exhibition Park has been around for a while but now it's getting new traction, with Frank McCarey of the Exhibition Park Association telling common council the fieldhouse would be great for the local community and also to host regional and even national sports competitions.
Meanwhile, some councillors expressed concern that we already have too many recreational facilities that aren't being kept up as well as they could be.
Council will hear back from a committee on the idea this spring.
A fiery back and forth in the legislature over the credibility of the provincial Energy Institute.
Liberal Leader Brian Gallant says he questions the framework of the body, and believes it was created as a
scapegoat for the Alward government to get its narrative out and they
simply want the institute to say yes to shale gas development in New Brunswick.
Minister of Energy and Mines Craig Leonard firing back by saying it's ironic that while Gallant is questioning just how credible the institute is, he is waiting on a report they're creating for Environment Canada to make his decision on shale gas.
The conversation coming after Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eilish Cleary turned down an invitation to join the institute. Last fall, Louis LaPierre stepped down as the head of the Energy Institute after it was revealed he misrepresented his academic qualifications.
A big chunk of federal money of up to 483 thousand dollars going to Ambir Technology, a Saint John company on Canterbury Street that's been around for 10 years.
Chief Technology and Delivery Officer Paul Mansz says there's so much information these days, many companies find it difficult to sort through all the big data to find solutions to their problems. That's where Ambir comes into play to come up with computer designed solutions to virtually any problem.
Saint John M-P Rodney Weston says the money is coming from the Federal Industrial Research programme to transform innovative ideas into commercial ventures.
Weston describes Ambir as the type of company that will be critical to future economic prosperity.
People who depend on forestry for their livlihoods are worried another outbreak of the spruce budworm is imminent in New Brunswick.
When the last big population explosion of the spruce budworm occurred between 1977 and the early 90's, just over half of the total area of New Brunswick was defoliated at one point.
The Harper Government is spending 18 million dollars to come up with an early intervention strategy that will stop the budworm from spreading but not cause harm to the environment.
All schools in the Anglophone South School District from Sussex down to St. Stephen, including Saint John and the Valley are closed today as well as Francophone South schools in Saint John and Quispamsis.
All classes at the Atlantica Centre for the Arts have been cancelled for the day.
Ready Arc Training and testing Welding school closed today with student testing postponed.
Between hospital bills, hotel stays and gas, getting by can be tough for the parents of a sick child who needs to travel for treatment.
But a few families in the greater Saint John area could be getting a little help thanks to a donation of $13,200 from local chapter of the 100 Men Who Care to the Lion's Sick Children Fund.
Lynn Smith going up to accept the check and she tells CHSJ News the money means four or five families are going to immediately be able to be served. Smith believes their message struck a very personal chord with the men. Each man taking part in the event each donating $100.
The other two charities that made presentations to the group were Hestia House and the Lunch Connection.
Two arrests made on the west side in Fundy Heights after City Police saw footprints in the snow and decided to follow them.
They led to a driveway on Young Street where an 18 year old man and 17 year old youth were seen leaving. The two were stopped for trespassing and the story they gave didn't sound right.
Police then discovered the 17 year old had on him a substantial amount of marijuana and the 18 year old was carrying a concealed prohibited weapon.
The latest storm system will wind up dumping 10 centimeters of snow in the Saint John region before it ends just in time for your morning commute but more is on the way tonight.
Andy Firth of Environment Canada tells CHSJ News you can expect another 5 to 10 centimeters of snow tonight into tomorrow morning followed by another storm system on Friday. He says that one should be starting off with snow Friday afternoon quickly changing over to rain because of the warmer air and there will be a prolonged period of rain into Saturday.
Firth says the snowfall tonight will be virtually a carbon copy of what we saw last night through this morning.
