New Brunswickers will see a bigger pay cheque after July first. That's when provincial residents will begin to benefit from The Plan for Lower Taxes, released as part of the 2009-10 budget. The plan includes more than 380 million dollars in annual tax savings by 2012-13. Personal income tax savings this year will be about 124 million dollars.
For example: A single individual making 25,000 dollars per year will save 202 dollars this year and 473 dollars annually by 2012. New Brunswickers can learn more about The Plan for Lower Taxes and calculate their own tax savings online.
http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/promos/budget2009/index-e.asp
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Monday, June 29, 2009
Good News for Charlotte County Civic Centre
A new engineering report will help move the Charlotte County Civic Centre on to the next phase. Chair of the Board of Directors for the Civic Centre project, Richard Fulton, says an independent assessment from engineering firm Jacques Whitford shows the preferred Budd Avenue site is suitable for construction.
The consultant's report concludes the Budd Avenue site has traces of environmental contamination but falls within the environmental guidelines for commercial construction. Fulton says once the town of St. Stephen has reviewed the report, a copy will be sent to the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board. Before fully accepting this site, the Town has committed to holding a public information session on July 9th at the St. Stephen Legion. The multi-million dollar project has received funding from all three levels of government.
The consultant's report concludes the Budd Avenue site has traces of environmental contamination but falls within the environmental guidelines for commercial construction. Fulton says once the town of St. Stephen has reviewed the report, a copy will be sent to the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board. Before fully accepting this site, the Town has committed to holding a public information session on July 9th at the St. Stephen Legion. The multi-million dollar project has received funding from all three levels of government.
Schryer Says Meetings Are Being Planned
Health Minister Mary Schryer says meetings with medical officials are being scheduled, but nothing is concrete yet.Schryer says shortly after finding out she was taking over the portfolio she contacted stakeholders to introduce herself.She says with conflicting schedules, it's been tough to set up a meeting.
Schryer says when she introduced herself as the new Health Minister to medical officials, they were quite surprised. She says she looks forward to trying to advance her new portfolio.
Schryer says when she introduced herself as the new Health Minister to medical officials, they were quite surprised. She says she looks forward to trying to advance her new portfolio.
Construction Begins at the Q-Plex
[Health Minister Mary Schryer, Mayor Murray Driscoll, and Fundy Royal M-P Rob Moore at the Q-Plex Site-----Photo By Dave Briggs]
The shovels are in the ground at the long awaited Q-Plex site.Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll says the doors should be open at the complex by the summer of 2010.Driscoll says now that construction has begun, the excitement continues to grow.
Driscoll says this will be a regional facility, that everyone can enjoy.Saint John Mayor Ivan Court says the Q-Plex will take some of the stress off of city rinks, which will keep them in better shape longer.
Driscoll says this will be a regional facility, that everyone can enjoy.Saint John Mayor Ivan Court says the Q-Plex will take some of the stress off of city rinks, which will keep them in better shape longer.
New Look for Rothesay Superstore
The Province's second express style liquor store is now open at the Super-store in Rothesay. With a selection of 12 brands of beer, 263 wines and 53 spirits.....spokes-person Nora Lacey tells CHSJ News, this set-up is meant for convenience.
Lacey adds it is a bit of a test as well and what the feed-back is from the community. This is the corporations 48th store in the Province.
Lacey adds it is a bit of a test as well and what the feed-back is from the community. This is the corporations 48th store in the Province.
No Records Set for Rainfall
Despite all of the rain this month, no records have been set. So far, June has produced 114 millimeters of water with the normal amount for the month coming at just over 100. Claude Cote with Environment Canada tells CHSJ News, so far, we have had nine days of rain this month and the normal is thirteen. Cote says it feels like more than that but alot of days with no sunshine can make it feel wetter than it really is.
The record for rainfall in the month of June was set back in 1985 with 269 millimeters.
The record for rainfall in the month of June was set back in 1985 with 269 millimeters.
Turbines are Staying Put
If you were hoping to get a look at one of the two huge turbines destined for Point Lepreau today, it's not going to happen. The original plan to load one of the refitted turbines onto a barge and then to Point Lepreau has been delayed due to the rain and wind. They arrived back from the UK two weeks ago after a refit when they were dropped into the Harbor last fall.
Spokes-person Heather McLean tells CHSJ News, they hope to get the piece of machinery loaded onto the barge tomorrow and the second turbine before the week is over.
Spokes-person Heather McLean tells CHSJ News, they hope to get the piece of machinery loaded onto the barge tomorrow and the second turbine before the week is over.
Ground Breaking for Q-Plex Today
Quipamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll will lead the parade of politicians for a ground-breaking ceremony later this morning. The golden shovel will go in the ground to mark the start of the construction phase for the Q-Plex. Marco Maritimes Limited will carry out the work at a total cost of over $20 million dollars. That is $235,000 less than the original tender but still over budget by $2.2 million.
The facility will be located on over 80 acres of land with construction set to finish up by next summer. Today's ceremony gets started at ten o'clock.
The facility will be located on over 80 acres of land with construction set to finish up by next summer. Today's ceremony gets started at ten o'clock.
Court on Funding for Canada Games Stadium
The Acadian Games Flag is resting at City Hall as Saint John prepares to host the games next year. Mayor Court travelled to Petite Roche yesterday to take part in a ceremony to close this years festivities. One of the big questions still lingering over the city is will Ottawa and Fredericton come on board with funding for the refurbishment of the Canada Games Stadium. Court tells CHSJ News, he is confident both will be on board.
City Hall, UNB and the private sector has comitted funds to the work which is estimated to be in the range of six million dollars. Next year also marks Saint John's 225th birthday.
City Hall, UNB and the private sector has comitted funds to the work which is estimated to be in the range of six million dollars. Next year also marks Saint John's 225th birthday.
Saint John Transit Moving Into New Home
With only two days left to vacate their West-Side office, the move for Saint John Transit began over the weekend. Most of the forty foot limos' have found their new home in East Saint John with two weeks of work to left on most of the office space. General Manager Frank McCarey tells CHSJ News, he is very pleased with the new building.
McCarey says some of their office staff will set up shop at City Hall until the construction phase is finished. Total cost of the project is $23 and a half million but no word at this point if there were any cost over-runs.
McCarey says some of their office staff will set up shop at City Hall until the construction phase is finished. Total cost of the project is $23 and a half million but no word at this point if there were any cost over-runs.
Turbines on their Way to Point Lepreau
Eight months after they were dropped into the Harbor, a pair of turbines for the refit at Point Lepreau are expected to make their final journey this week. The first of the two will be loaded onto a barge today and sent up river while the second is expected to go tomorrow. NB Power spokes-person Heather McLean tells CHSJ News, the reason for the wait is not to interfere with the lobster fishing season.
McLean says the move for both turbines is weather dependant and if conditions are not ideal, the schedule will be changed.
McLean says the move for both turbines is weather dependant and if conditions are not ideal, the schedule will be changed.
Energy Minister Happy with Energy Hub Progress
The first piece of the energy hub puzzle arrived over the weekend with the first LNG Tanker and many are now asking........what is next? Energy Minister Jack Keir tells CHSJ News, word on a proposed second refinery would be a welcome treat.
Keir says he hasn't heard any time line on when an announcement might be made but they have told Irving Oil, the Province will do what it can to make sure the business case works.
Keir says he hasn't heard any time line on when an announcement might be made but they have told Irving Oil, the Province will do what it can to make sure the business case works.
Emergency Plan for LNG Terminal
Mayor Ivan Court is assuring Red Head residents emergency response and evacuation plans are in place in case of an incident at the new Canaport Liquefied Natural Gas terminal. The mayor gave the assurances in a letter hand delivered to the residents Friday prior to the arrival of the first tanker load of liquefied natural gas -- but -- resident Dave Morrell tells CHSJ News he doesn't remember any meetings where the plans were laid out for residents.
Another resident says she was also surprised by the references to the emergency plans which she doesn't recall hearing about either. Court's letter says the plans were approved by Fire Chief Rob Simonds and provincial emergency measure officials after a couple of revisions.
Another resident says she was also surprised by the references to the emergency plans which she doesn't recall hearing about either. Court's letter says the plans were approved by Fire Chief Rob Simonds and provincial emergency measure officials after a couple of revisions.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Design Your Own Shopping Bag
Uptown Saint John is promoting both the arts and the environment with its latest initative --the Bring Your Own Bag Art Contest. Uptown Saint John's environment commitee is putting the call out to artists to design a canvas bag to be distributed to uptown shops. Chair Ann McShane tells CHSJ News, the winner will have their artwork printed on 1000 organic cotton shopping bags that will be distributed in the fall.
The winner will receive a $500 gift certificate from ESL Art Supplies. Submissions must be dropped of at the Uptown Saint John office by the end of next month.
The winner will receive a $500 gift certificate from ESL Art Supplies. Submissions must be dropped of at the Uptown Saint John office by the end of next month.
Quispamsis Teen Shoots for Top Prize
19-year-old Kelly Daly of Quispamsis has landed a spot among the five finalists competing to become the next summer host for Country Music Television. Daly will find out on Tuesday if she has won a national online contest for a two-month job interviewing country stars and attending summer music events.
Daly found out she made it into the finals on June 8 and was flown home from Toronto two days later to shoot a video of her hometown. Viewers from across the country will vote for their favourite "superfan" based on the final video entries. A finale show featuring all five finalists will air tomorrow.
Daly found out she made it into the finals on June 8 and was flown home from Toronto two days later to shoot a video of her hometown. Viewers from across the country will vote for their favourite "superfan" based on the final video entries. A finale show featuring all five finalists will air tomorrow.
KV Minor Hockey Not Happy
KV Minor Hockey is still scratching it's head after hearing the Master Recreation Report for Rothesay earlier this week. President Darren Zwicker tells CHSJ News, even with the Q-Plex going up, one sheet of ice is not going to fill the hole.
Zwicker says the stat that caught him off guard is the one ice surface for every 8000 people which he believes is a national figure and not reflective of the region.
Zwicker says the stat that caught him off guard is the one ice surface for every 8000 people which he believes is a national figure and not reflective of the region.
Comments Still Wanted
Comments can still be made to the town of Rothesay about their Master Recreation Plan. Comments are being taken until July.6th on the report released last week by ADI Architecture. They indicate the town's priority list should be a field house, improvement and the building of more walking trails and then an arena. Lydia Lewicki is the senior planner and tells CHSJ News, she wasn't suprised where an arena showed up on the priority pole.
Lewicki says the final report should be ready by the end of next month.
Lewicki says the final report should be ready by the end of next month.
Wild Ride Through the Falls
Two guys were shaken but not stirred after an un-scheduled ride through Reversing Falls yesterday afternoon. City Fire-fighters received a call that an inflatable boat was drifting through the raging rapids. That's when the the water rescue unit was sent in and towed the boat to shore.
The two men say their vessel lost power and the tide carried them down river.
The two men say their vessel lost power and the tide carried them down river.
L-N-G Tanker Finally Berths At Canaport
It finally arrived late yesterday afternoon -- the first tanker carrying liquefied natural gas for the new Canaport L-N-G terminal in Red Head berthed at the jetty yesterday -- not late Friday as we reported yesterday morning based on Port Authority vessel movement information and original information from the company.
Canaport L-N-G has been advising there may be some extensive flaring activity during the commissioning process for the first storage tank at the terminal.
The company says it will begin sending gas through the Emera Brunswick pipeline as soon as the the tank cools down.
Canaport L-N-G has been advising there may be some extensive flaring activity during the commissioning process for the first storage tank at the terminal.
The company says it will begin sending gas through the Emera Brunswick pipeline as soon as the the tank cools down.
Rate Hike Justified
The Energy and Utilities Board says N-B Power's three percent rate increase which took effect April 1st is justified.
But -- in a report to Energy Minister Jack Keir -- the Board is taking exception with some of the timing of some of the financial forecasts used for budget decisions related to the increase.
The utility is expected to lose 67-million dollars in the current fiscal year even with the three percent increase.
But -- in a report to Energy Minister Jack Keir -- the Board is taking exception with some of the timing of some of the financial forecasts used for budget decisions related to the increase.
The utility is expected to lose 67-million dollars in the current fiscal year even with the three percent increase.
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