Work on Prince William Might Slow You Down

Things may be a bit slow on Prince William street this morning.

Traffic is reduced to one lane while a crew moves material to the roof of Saint John Postal Station A. Be careful when in this area during the work. It's expected to last until noon.

If you have any questions about the work, you can contact Kone Inc at 1-902-402-0657.

Still A Few More Days To Get Your Taxes Done

Tax time isn't everyone's favourite time of year....but it's simply a fact of life.

The Canada Revenue Agency reminding taxpayers you have until midnight on Monday to file, 5 days later than the original deadline. If you or your spouse is self-employed, it's June 16. Any balance that you owe needs to be paid by May 5.

If you owe money and don't file on time, you'll get charged  5% of the 2013 balance owing....that can grow if you have multiple years outstanding.

Even if you can't pay all your balance owing right away, you should still file your return on time.

Police Arrest Teen With A BB Gun and More Copper Thefts

Tense moments near Metcalf and Durham with reports of a teen with a handgun.

Sgt. Jay Henderson says two men were detained and a 19 year old was found to have a BB-pellet gun in his pant leg.

He is facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon and violating court-ordered conditions.


Henderson also tells us City police are looking into yet another break and enter involving copper piping and wire...this time on St. John street on the West side.

He says the building was under renovation and the thieves damaged 4 different units.
Police believe the break and enter happened sometime between Tuesday and Thursday at 1pm.

If you know anything about these crimes or any other, call City police at 506-648-3333, email police@saintjohn.ca or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Scope of Flooding Surprised The Town

Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne says the scope of this flooding took everyone by surprise.

He says he was in some homes destroyed from the top floor down and he would estimate that damage around the 
$100, 000 mark.

When you add the damage to roads, bridges and other public infrastructure to the cost of flooding damage to houses and businesses..the total cost of flood damage is estimated at 12 million dollars.

Gallant Says His Position On Shale Gas Has Been Vindicated

Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant tells CHSJ News he was on the right track all along by calling for a moratorium on shale gas development in light of a report compiled by 14 scientists for Environment Canada.  The Alward Government has denounced that as dithering and pandering for votes.

The report concludes we need more research into the long term effects of shale gas exploration and fracking socially, economically and environmentally.

Gallant says you can't regulate the risks if you don't know enough about what they are and it could be decades before you do but the gas isn't going anywhere.

More Money Earmarked To Boost Tourism

The governments of New Brunswick and Maine are formalising their relationship to boost tourism by jointly investing $1 million over four years in the Two Nation Vacation marketing partnership.
 
Provincial Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells CHSJ News the money will be used to develop an integrated marketing and sales campaign designed to create awareness and interest in vacationing in both countries.
 
In the past, each government invested $50,000 a year in promoting the Two Nation Vacation. That's going up to $125,000 a year each for the next four years.

Grand Manan Adventure Back In Service

Now that it's turbo charger has been replaced, the Grand Manan Adventure is back in service.

Once the parts arrived from the US the work was completed quickly and Coastal Transport GM Gregg Ryder says the repair is considered a permanent fix.

The backup ferry Grand Manan V was used while the Grand Manan Adventure was out of service. 

Help For Sussex Area Flood Victims

Public Safety Minister and Sussex MLA Bruce Northrup feeling very emotional speaking about the damage flooding caused to his community last month.

The province announcing Disaster Financial Assistance Program for the 540 homes and businesses suffering damage since April 15th

The maximum assistance amount for structural repairs for homes has been expanded from a cap of $80,000 to $120,000.

Once homeowners register their flood damage at 1-888-298-8555 and are approved for assistance, the province can issue advance payments of up to $4000.

Provincial offices will be established in Sussex and in St. Leonard to assist residents.
The one in Dairytown will be open on Monday morning in the court building.

Staff at these offices will be able to help residents with the paperwork.

A Lot More Has To Be Learned About Fracking

It will be years before there's shale gas exploration in the province.......That, according to report prepared for Environment Canada by a panel of 14 scientists, half of whom are with the New Brunswick Energy Institute. 

In the meantime, the panel has determined a lot more research is needed into the environmental, economic and social implications. 

It has also determined assurances from industry that fracking can be done safely are unsubstantiated.

Serious Crash In K-V

A two car collision in the K-V sending five people to hospital. 

The crash happened off the highway at Palmer Brook Road and Elliot Road. Police telling us the driver in one car fell asleep and crossed the centre line, sideswiping a car coming in the opposite direction with two women and two small children aged 1 and 2 inside. 

Both cars are writeoffs.

Doherty Wins SJ-Harbour Liberal Nomination

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

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

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

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

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

Full House For SJ Harbour Liberal Nomination

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

NBers Can Get Coverage Today Under Drug Plan

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

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

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

More information about the drug plan is available online.

Y Gets Another Funding Boost

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

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

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

A Spike In Copper Thefts In City

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

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

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

Liberal Leader Elaborates On Abortion

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

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

Things Are Looking Tough For Workers On This May Day

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

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

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

Stolen School Bus Found Crashed

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

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

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

East Side Fire

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

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

The cause is under investigation.

Road Reopened After Flooding

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

Up to 20 millimeters expected through tonight.

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

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

New Brunswick Rink Wins World Title In Curling

New Brunswick can boast of a having a world champion. 

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

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

Liberals Select Their Candidate To Run In Saint John Portland

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

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

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

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

Doucet Surprised To Hear Parrott Is Back In Caucus

While Liberal MLA Rick Doucet is surprised to hear Dr. Jim Parrott is back in the Conservative caucus, it won't change his game plan for re-election one little bit.

He says like anyone you will be stepping into the ring with, he'll be running under the Alward government's Conservative banner and this government has given the people of his constituency a rough ride over the last 4 years.

Doucet currently representing the riding of Charlotte the Isles where Dr. Parrott will be seeking the Tory nomination after sitting as in independent and a Tory in the riding of Fundy-River Valley in the last four years.

An Outstanding Warrant And A Stolen Safe

According to Sergeant Jay Henderson of city police, a man was pulled over around 4pm yesterday on Manawoganish Road near Barnhill School. Police found him to have an outstanding warrant as well as a large amount of marijuana in the vehicle.

He was hit with additional charges of trafficking on top of the outstanding warrant and will make a court appearance in the near future.

As well, at 4:30am a business off Wilson Street West was broken into an a small safe was stolen. The canine unit was brought out to conduct a search but no arrests have been made yet.

Acute Care Patients Can Fill Out A Survey

Do you have a hospital stay planned next month?

During the month of May, all medical, surgical and obstetrics inpatients discharged from Horizon Health acute-care hospital facilities will be provided a survey before they leave the hospital.

The survey is confidential and the information collected will help Horizon Health evaluate the performances of hospitals and learn how to better serve and understand the needs of patients and their families.

The survey results will be posted on Horizon's website. 

 

Both Lanes at King Square North Back Open To Traffic

 
 
Both lanes are back open to traffic from Sydney to Charlotte after some pothole filling this morning.

Parrott To Rejoin Tory Caucus

Doctor Jim Parrott will be rejoining the Tory caucus effective immediately.

According to the Premier, Parrott apologized for his previous statements that were critical of the government's stance on healthcare and asked to rejoin caucus.

Parrott was elected to represent Fundy-River Valley in the 2010 general election, then ouste fo his controversial comments in 2012.

He'll be seeking the nomination for Charlotte-The-Isles for the Conservatives in the next provincial election.

You Now Have Until Monday To File Your Taxes

You still have some time to squeak in under the deadline and appease the tax man.

The CRA announcing that you have until midnight on or before May 5, 2014, to file your 2013 income tax and benefit return and pay any balance owing.

The deadline was formerly today, but there was five-day service interruption due to the Heartbleed Bug.

As a result, interest and penalties will not be applied to individual taxpayers filing their 2013 tax returns by midnight on or before May 5.

St Andrews Man Fined For Tax Evasion

You could say the tax man came knocking for a businessman in St. Andrews businessman.

Everett Kenneth Lord was fined $2,200 after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to file tax returns.

He failed to file both personal and corporate returns for 2011 and  was given until July 30, 2014 to pay up.

He was previously convicted on four charges for failure to file corporation income tax returns.

What's The Best Way To Mark Potholes?

Big potholes on the road are hard enough to avoid--and marking them with traffic cones doesn't seem to be helping the problem any, according to common councillor John Mackenzie.

He says often it appears the cones are removed or don't adequately show where the problem is.

Bill Edwards of Transportation Services says it's hard to prevent people from stealing the cones--although he has no idea what people do with them--but they're only supposed to be temporary markers, offering a warning just until crews get back to fix the pothole.

Mixed Reactions To The Darling's Island Road Closure

Early in the day the Darling's Island road is not covered by water so why the need to close road for all  residents. 

Some residents are wondering why when it's partially covered in the morning but covered later in the day when the tide is high.   The province cites concerns over structural integrity of the road itself.
 
CHSJ News asked Resident Angela Boudreau if she thinks DOT should have filled the potholes to avoid closing the road completely.

She tells us she's not any kind of road repair expert but it seems to her that it would be hard to keep the water off the road long enough to keep those potholes filled for very long right now.
 
One residents suggesting if DOT filled the potholes with gravel temporarily it would be a much cheaper short term fix.

Eight Department of Natural Resources trucks can be scene on the island along with two boats that are transporting people across the water.   

Some residents are very appreciative of the DNR's help in assisting them leave the island for work or school and get home again.

Traffic Reduced on King Square North

Part of one lane is blocked for pothole filling on King Square North between Sydney and Charlotte.

Breakaway Blimp Found

The mystery of where the runaway blimp promoting Budweiser that broke free on the east side over the weekend because of gusty winds has been solved. 

According to Labatts, it was discovered in a remote wooded area. 
Transport Canada had issued a warning to pilots in the area.

Late Night Fire Call At Boys And Girls Club

Firefighters converging on the Boys and Girl Club last night shortly before 11. 

Divisional Chief Mark Wilson telling CHSJ news they were called because of smoke and odour in the main corridor.
 
Wilson says they found the motor inside a wall heater had overheated.

$80M Contract Awarded To Lorneville Mechanical

A Saint John-based company striking it big, with Irving Oil giving Lorneville Mechanical Contractors a five-year project work contract valued at 80-million-dollars.

The money will be going towards the maintenance of the refinery along with Canaport L-N-G. Up to 40 jobs will be created at the company for tradespeople including pipe-fitters, boilermakers, labourers and scaffolders.

Engineers and project managers will also be needed for the project.

Autopsy Being Conducted On Body Found In Odell Park

Fredericton police awaiting the results of an autopsy on human remains found in Odell Park to find out the cause of death.

Dental records are also being processed to confirm the person's identity.

The remains were found in a remote area of the park on the city's south side shortly after 9am Monday.

Your Natural Gas Bill Will Be Going Down

Big industrial users will be paying more for natural gas under new regulations--and after a decision delivered by the EUB, it looks like residential customers will be paying a lot less.

Enbridge General Manager Gilles Volpe explains rates will be going down by 14% compared to 2013 rates.

Industrial users will soon be paying rates more in step with their actual usage, rather than getting a break as they have in the past.

Volpe called the changes important to the long term future of the gas utility.

Supicious Fire At Used Car Dealership

A fire that broke out in a used car dealership near St. Stephen is considered suspicious. 

Investigators and the office of the Fire Marshal of the province are now looking into what caused the blaze at St. Croix Auto Limited, which left one employee with burns on the hands and suffering from smoke inhalation.

Group Trying To Reduce Child Victimization

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection aims to reduce child victimization through programs and services for parents and children's charities.

Noni Classen tells CHSJ News the healing process that communities like Saint John are experiencing is very important.

She says successful prosecutions send a message to kids that it wasn't their fault because often nothing comes out and people are not caught or charged.

Classen says the sexual abuse of children is the most under reported crime there is.  

For more information, click here

Two Break-Ins In The North End

City Police are reporting two break and enters in the city's North End.

The first one on Cranston Avenue happened between 8am and 2pm, and the he thief got through an unlocked sliding window and stole an X Box.

Later in the afternoon around 3pm police were called to Albert Street to a 3-unit building that had been empty for a few months. All of the apartments sustained major damage with the thieves cutting through the walls to get at a large amount of copper piping.

If you saw anything suspicious you're being asked to contact the Police or Crimestoppers.

Meeting On Adoption Records Postponed

A meeting on the proposal to unseal adoption record in the province scheduled for today in Saint John has been postponed.

It will now be on May 20 at the Holiday Express Inn from 7-8:30 p.m.

The meeting for Fredericton will be May 14 at the Fredericton Inn from 7-8:30 p.m

Labour Rally Outside Conservative Nomination Meeting

On the outskirts of a Conservative nomination meeting in the Kennebecasis Valley, a small group of CUPE members rallying on the state of labour in the province.

CUPE Regional Vice-President Stephen Drost tells CHSJ News they're unhappy with the way New Brunswick workers are being treated and say they plan on ramping up pressure on the province to treat them fairly.

Drost says from now until the election and even after that, the Alward government is going to be hearing from them. He says they're not happy with the direction the government is going and they plan on doing everything in their power to overthrow it.

He says CUPE Local 1251, which represents correctional officers, human service councilors and custodians, have been without a collective agreement for nearly three years. They were also protesting the very controversial issue of provincial pension reform, with Drost telling us they want to send a strong message to the government that they're not getting their pensions.

Dire Warning About Future Of Provincial Economy

A new book entitled "Over the Cliff" warns New Brunswick is heading for financial ruin unless tough decisions are made, sooner rather than later.
 
That dire warning is right on, according to Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. The book was written by the director-general of the Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy and Public Administration. 

Lacey tells CHSJ News the longer it takes to balance the budget, the worse it will be for the province's bottom line and the less money there will be for things like health and education. He points out paying the interest on the provincial debt is the third or fourth biggest government expense.
 
The book cites a stagnant economy, bloated government bureaucracy and aging population as reasons for concern.

Lacey also agrees with Finance Minister Blaine Higgs that to even consider getting rid of the shared risk pension plan for provincial government retirees is financial lunacy and irresponsible. The Pension Coaltion has launched a lawsuit against the government in response.

Police Investigating Shooting Incident On The East Side

An incident in which an east side home off Courtenay Avenue had its window shot out in broad daylight yesterday is under investigation by Saint John Police.

Sergeant Jay Henderson explaining the homeowner called police around 3pm after hearing the shots and seeing the window had been shattered.

A car was seen speeding off after the shots were fired. No one was injured and the Major Crime Unit is trying to piece together what happened and why.

General Rick Hillier In Saint John Talking About Giving

A crowd gathering at the Boys and Girls club to hear Retired General Rick Hillier speak about giving back. It's all part of the Celebration of Giving event in Saint John.

Earlier this morning Telus announced a $500,000 donation to Atlantic Canadian charities that benefit young people. 

Also on hand this morning are Liberal Leader Brian Gallant, Councillor Shirley MacAlary and the Y's Shilo Boucher.

Since its inception in 2009 the TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board has contributed $2.1 million in support of more than 140 local charitable projects for organizations including First Steps, the Salvation Army, the Doaktown Library, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Atlantic Canada and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.
 
First Steps, a Saint John organization, received $20,000 from the TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board in 2013 to buy 13 new computers for the facility. The organization offers housing to pregnant women and mothers under 25 years old and their children who do not have a safe place to live. While some computers are used to run the program and track its success, the majority of them are being used by the mothers for homework, parenting and job research.

New Brunswick Family Defies The Odds In Lottery

What are the odds of this happening......A New Brunswick mother and son winning a million dollars each in the Lotto 6/49 draw twice in just five months. 

Roger Richard and Denise Richard of St. Phillippe won a million in the November 27th draw and now Roger's mom, Evangeline, who lives in Dieppe, also won a million dollars in the April 9th Lotto 649. 

The odds of winning just one draw are just one in over 5 million.

Shots Fired On East Side

City Police converging on a house along Courtenay Avenue on the east side yesterday afternoon after getting a report of shots being fired. No one was injured.

A window of the two storey building looked to be shot out with broken glass strewn about. Police were out and about asking neighbours if they saw anything. 

A daycare is located close by.

Flemming & Higgs Get Conservative Nods

Two familiar faces getting Conservative nods in the K-V for the upcoming provincial election. 

Health Minister Ted Flemming officially named the candidate for Rothesay at a nomination convention at Kennebecasis Valley High School while it was announced Finance Minister Blaine Higgs will run in Quispamsis. 

Flemming tells CHSJ News there's a lot they want to see through, likening it to a half-painted floor saying you don't stop there and the more progress you make the enthused you get. He says the Liberals, who just held a big policy convention in Fredericton, are all about pressing pause and that the party is going nowhere.

Higgs tells us it's not just smoke and mirrors...they know what needs to be done. He says the idea that you have to spend more money to deliver better services is absolutely wrong because that way of thinking is unsustainable. He expects the provincial budget will be balanced by 2018.

City Taking A Long Hard Look At Fleet Replacement

We're looking a major cost overruns for snow clearing this winter---and that means an extra-careful examination of city-owned vehicles that need to be replaced, with an eye to determining what's essential and what's not.

Councillor at Large Shirley McAlary says she thinks we dropped the ball a bit last year, since the fleet replacement policy appeared to get mixed up and things didn't end up getting ordered.

Councillor Bill Farren questioned whether we really need to replace so many half ton trucks this year, since they aren't the real workhorses in terms of plowing and other big jobs.

But Bill Edwards of Transportation Services begged to differ, saying the half tons lug around men and equipment all day and we even have to augment the current fleet with rentals on a regular basis because we don't have enough of them.

McAlary pointed out that putting off spending money on the fleet is a false economy--it'll just end up costing more the longer it is delayed. Council voted to order the vehicles slated for replacement, and look at a second list this summer.