Lung Cancer in Saint John

The amount of carcinogens released into the atmosphere in Saint John is ten thousand times higher than releases in Fredericton and Moncton. So claims Inka Milewski, the science advisor and Director of Health Watch for the Conservation Council in a report on lung cancer. She tells CHSJ News more men in Saint John are susceptible by virtue of their jobs and the amount of carcinogens released into the air have risen since 1995.
Milewski says the greater Saint John Community Foundation's Vital Signs report did not contain this information from her second report.

Premier Threatens Legal Action Over Lepreau

Premier Shawn Graham is threatening to take the federal government to court over the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant. The Premier says his government will sue Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, unless Ottawa picks up the tab for the cost overruns of the 1.4-(b)-billion-dollar overhaul.
The refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant was supposed to be finished last September. The project is now 18 months behind schedule.

Councillor Thinks Enterprise Saint John Should Get Less Money

Councillor Bruce Court says a way to free up some money in the citys budget would be to decrease the amount of money allotted to Enterprise Saint John.

Court says when Chair Bob Manning criticized the District 8 school system in the media last month, he's bringing negative attention to the city.
Court says when the organization that is supposed to attract people to Saint John is publicly criticizing the education system, they should receive less money from the city.

Canadian Automobile Association Comments on New Phone Regulations

As Provincial officials continue to hash out whether or not there is a need for a law concerning using your cell-phone while behind the wheel, the Canadian Automobile Association is giving them some extra food for thought. Vice President Gary Howard tells CHSJ News, he agrees the hand held devices are a distraction but so are the hands free:

Howard adds CAA isn't advocating for everyone to get rid of their cellphones or Blackberrys but if it does ring when your driving, pull over, hit the four way flashers and then answer.

Health Minister Re-offering in September

[Mary Schryer---File Photo]
Expect to see Mary Schryer's name on the ballot in the fall Provincial Election. The Health Minister and MLA for Quispamsis tells CHSJ News, she is ready to re-offer and stands behind the record of her government since 2006:

As for concern about any backlash from the NB Power-Hydro Quebec proposal, Schryer adds it is a work in progress and the Graham Government continues to listen to feedback.

Busy Day for Saint John Fire Crews

A busy day for the Saint John Fire Crews yesterday.

Just before 10 yesterday morning crews responded to a riot at the Regional Correctional Facility on the Old Black River Road. Crews remained on site for a part of the day.
Sixteen prisoners barricaded themselves into a unit of the jail, then went on a rampage that caused extensive damage.


A spokeswoman for the province's Department of Public Safety says no one was hurt in the incident.
Then just after 11 o'clock last night fire crews responded to a structure fire at 83 Sussex Drive.
When crews arrived at the 24 unit apartment building people were evacuating, and smoke was visible.
After a quick investigation it was determined the smoke was caused by a cooking fire. There were no injuries.

Garden Street Fire

Five people are homeless after a fire ripped through their uptown home early this morning.

The fire began around 3 am on Garden Street, and is resulting in one woman being sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
The Canadian Red Cross is providing emergency hotel accommodations for three people, while an elderly couple living in one unit will be staying with relatives.
No word on what sparked the blaze, but the fire is under investigation.

One Councillor Doesn't Expect Tolls to Be Lifted Off Harbour Bridge

[Councillor Chris Titus----File Photo]

One city councillor doesn't expect the tolls on the Harbour Bridge to be dissappearing anytime soon.

Chris Titus says whoever is suggesting removing the tolls should be ready to take responsiblity for maintaining the bridge.
In the last federal election, Saint John M-P Rodney Weston used removing the tolls at the Harbour Bridge as a campaign platform.

14 New Auxiliary Police Constables

The City Police Force is getting some help. 14 new auxiliary police constables will be sworn in at a ceremony today at the Trade and Convention Center. The training consisted of eight weeks going over the criminal code, use of force, weapons training, cpr and community policing.

Judge William McCarroll will swear in the new officers. Police Chief Bill Reid and Mayor Ivan Court will be on hand for the ceremony as well. Things get started at 9:15 in the Loyalist Room.

Snow Removal Efforts Continue

Municipal Operations in Saint John are putting in some over-time this weekend. Crews will be out tomorrow trying to get rid of the excess snow from last weekend's storm. They will be on both sides of Rothesay Avenue from Russell Street to the Highway 1 interchange. Also Main Street West, Church Avenue and Manawagonish Road.

One lane of Rothesay Avenue will be closed during the work so expect delays.

US Ambassador Suggests New Border Be Used As Model

[New Border Crossing in St.Stephen/Calais---Photo by Lisa Gullison]

The United States Ambassador to Canada says all border crossings should follow the St. Stephen/Calais example.
David Jacobson says the new state of the art building should be looked at as a model for other crossings.
He says other borders should look at the environmental standards used as well.
The crossing was building of natural wood products, and recycled materials, and produdes zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Jim Irving Takes Part in Delta Roundtable

(Prime Minister Harper Speaking at Last Night's Round Table at the Delta Brunswick Hotel)

Plenty of topics were up for discussion at a roundtable meeting with Prime Minister Harper at the Delta last night. Several business people were on hand to take part including David Ganong, Andrew Oland and Jim Irving. Irving tells CHSJ News, the economy was a big focus of the chat but found time to talk about a few personal matters like a request to build some more ships at the Halifax shipyard and help for the forest industry especially in the Northern half of the Province.


Irving adds the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec never came up.

Weston at the Delta For Chat with PM

(MP Weston to the left, Prime Minister Harper
Center and Southwest MP Greg Thompson Right)

Saying it had a Provincial flavour to it, Saint John MP Rodney Weston is coming away from last night's meeting with the Prime Minister pleased. Weston tells CHSJ News, he frustration with the Province concerning the Harbour Bridge is their reluctance to accept any responsibility when it comes to the bridge.

Weston adds Prime Minister Harper is aware of the situation but gave no commitments for help at this time but says it will stay on the radar.

Arrests after thefts and damage in East and West Saint John

Six people are facing charges after a City Police investigation into a series of break and enters, car thefts and damage at businesses in East and West Saint John.

Four men and one woman in their 20's along with a younger man have been arrested and will be in court at a later date.

The damage occurred at businesses on Rothesay Avenue and Fairville Boulevard.

Premier Responds To Talk Of Funding Harbour Bridge Repairs

(file photo)

The province is continuing discussions over taking responsibility of the Harbour Bridge from the federal government.
Premier Shawn Graham says an offer is on the table.

Graham says his government has put an initial offer on the table and has not heard back.
Graham says the discussion about who is responsible for the bridge began when Saint John M-P Rodney Weston made a campaign promise to take the tolls off.
He says the province is willing to work with the feds.

Harper Visits the Border Town

(Premier Graham, US Ambassodor to Canada David Jacobsen and Prime Minister Harper)

(photo by Lisa Gullison)

The Prime Minister is in chocolate town to inaugurate the new border crossing.
The new St. Stephen Port of Entry is located on the new international bridge connecting to Calais.
Stephen Harper says this helps to ease traffic between the border towns.
Harper says Canada and the US are the best of friends saying no two nations on earth care less about the line that divides them and more about buidling goodwill across it.
Harper says since the crossing opened in November residential traffic has eased, and commerical traffic has increased by 20%.

New Deal for Saint John Emergency Rooms

(Health Minister Mary Schryer Signing Document)
              (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

With the stroke of a pen, Health Minister Mary Schryer has signed a deal to support the recruitement and retention of emergency department doctors for the Regional and St. Josephs Hospitals. Also involved in the deal are the Horizon Health Network and Dalhousie University. Health Minister Schryer says this deal guarantees coverage in both emergency departments 24/7.


The deal worth $7.9 million dollars, includes the $190 dollar per hour rate for emergency room doctor coverage. It also provides funding for clinical care, medical education and administrative tasks being carried out by emergency room doctors.

Regional's Chief of Staff Loves New Plan

The Chief of Staff at the Regional Hospital thinks this new fund is fabulous. Dr. Brian Wheelock says it is already paying dividends. Dr. Wheelock adds they are already reducing the dependency they have had on local physicians to cover shifts in the Emergency Department.

Currently, the Regional Emergency Room has 17 doctors but in a perfect world would like to have 22 or 23.

Water Rate in City Increases

The water rate in the city is increasing by 4.1 per cent. Brent McGovern with Saint John Water says the flat rate is going from $830 dollars to $864 dollars which would come out to an additional $2.80 a month.
McGovern says no matter which way the utility looked at the numbers, the operating cost increased. He goes on to say if the utility were to try to hold the rate, service would be negatively affected.
The total operating budget for Saint John Water is $33.7 million dollars.

City Budget

The city's tax rate is looking like it's going to remain stable in the 2010 operating budget. There is no increase, or decrease in the preliminary draft of the budget with the rate staying at  almost $1.79.
Acting City Manager Pat Woods says keeping the rate stable was the number one priority when drafting the budget. $756 thousand dollars is being pegged for the Municipal Plan and there is $580 thousand set aside for road maintenance. Woods says when putting together the proposed budget, city staff used Common Council's priority list as a guide.
The Mayor and Councillors will review the proposed budget over the weekend and another meeting is scheduled for Monday at 5:30 for further discussions.