(Chair of the SJ Board of Trade Cathy Craig)
(Photo by Jim Hennessy)
The Saint John Board of Trade has identified six areas in the proposed deal to sell NB Power's major assets to Hydro Quebec that have to be improved. Chair Cathy Craig tells CHSJ News, they would like both parties to address these areas before the deal is done.
The areas for improvement according to the Board of Trade include current service levels being maintained or increased and they want to ensure Saint John Energy will not be negatively affected.
Provincial New Democratic party leader Roger Dugay isn't saying sorry after turning a news conference by opponents to the sale of N-B Power into a shambles.
Dugay launched into a verbal attack on Conservative leader David Alward and his party for its handling of N-B Power while in government -- and -- he tells CHSJ News he's unrepentant.
Dugay is promising to tear up the sale agreement if his party forms the government after this fall's vote and vows to work with any party willing to take that action if his party holds the balance of power after the election.
Premier Graham says the controversial of N-B Power to Hydro Quebec will be approved by the Legislature before a March 31st deadline.
The trial of a 15-year-old Hampton girl charged with first degree murder in the death of an elderly man is scheduled to start today.
She had previously elected trial by judge alone, but will be facing the jury as well.
78-year-old Frank Tonge of Damascus died in his home from a single stab wound to his upper body.
Nine days have been set aside for the trial in Saint John.
(Over Two Hundred Rally in Front of the Legislature)
(Photo by Jim Hennessy)
Over 200 people braved the cold in front of the Legislature to voice their displeasure with the propoed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec. The faces were different but the cry was the same....Premier Graham has got to go. Former Energy Minister Jeannot Volpe was one of several speakers who encouraged them to continue their fight.
Volpe adds there is a bill in place right now that states the public utility cannot be sold so if the proposal is to go through, Premier Graham will have to change the act. The next rally is planned on Jan.28th when Premier Graam delivers is state of the Province adress.
(From the Left is Green Leader Jack McDougall, center is
Conservative Leader David Alward and NDP Boss Roger
Dugay)
(Photo by Jim Hennessy)
The leader of the Provincial NDP Party certainly knows how to crash a party. Roger Dugay took part in a news conference with Conservative Leader David Alward and Green Party boss Jack McDougall to voice their opposistion to the proposed sale of NB Power but didn't stick to the script. Dugay says the Liberals and Conservatives can't be trusted and rallied for voters to stand behind his party this fall.
Dugay added the Conservatives began this process to sell NB POwer and after it broke, the LIberals are now trying to sell the broken pieces. All three leaders ay they will have a document outlining their parties alternatives to the proposed sale.
MLA's returning to the Legislature today can expect a big crowd in front of the building. A second rally to protest the proposed sale of NB Power's major assets to Hydro-Quebec is scheduled for noon. Greg Cook is the spokes-person for the Coalition of New Brunswickers opposed to the sale and tells CHSJ News, his group has 28,000 members and continues to grow. Cook is convinced with the resignation of Mike Murphy last week, there is a fracture in the ranks. The first rally held back in the fall had 1500 people show up. Today's gets started at Noon.
Trying to eliminate 100 thousand dollars from the Kennebacasis Fire Department's budget is still the topic of debate in the valley. Quispamsis is trying to convince Rothesay to allow the hiring of an additional fire fighter.
Mayor Bill Bishop says Quispamsis has agreed to hold off on hiring someone until the fourth quarter of the year. The fire board is suggesting a meeting between the two municipalities, and members of the fire department. Deputy Mayor Blair MacDonald wants to wait for a new fire chief, and deputy chief to get a fresh perspective on the issue. K-V Fire Chief Larry Grier is expected to officially retire at the end of February.
Damage from Saturday's riot at the Regional Correctional facility was extensive but limited to one living area which contains 24 cells. Furniture, plumbing fixtures and electrical wiring were damaged.
A small fire was set in the area which was immediately exstinguished and as a result the area sustained water damage. The disturbance involved 16 prisoners at the facility on the Old Black River Road.
If you would like to help out a family who has been left without anywhere to live this past weekend after a fire on Garden Street, Saint John High teacher Barry Ogden tells CHSJ News you can drop off any money you can spare to the school secretary at the Canterbury Street entrance. The School is not collecting clothing or furniture.
Ogden, who also chairs the city's Leisure Services Committee, says this latest fire points out the need for safe affordable housing in the city core.
The city wants to cap future budget increases for police, fire and transit services to one per cent in 2011 and 2012. That word from acting City manager Pat Woods who will be presenting a balanced budget for Common Council's approval next week. It's expected to contain a stable tax rate of $1.79 but Woods is warning Councillors they have to do something about the financially beleaguered city pension plan this year. Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase is concerned about rising water rates and wants to see major construction projects limited to water.
Charges are pending against a 45-year-old man responsible for killing ducks at Rockwood Park.
The man was driving around the duck pond this afternoon and hit some ducks with his vehicle and killed two of them.
City Police are working with the Department of Natural Resources on the matter.
The charges will be filed under the Wildlife Act.
A 23-month-old girl is in critical condition at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax after ingesting methadone. It was on Friday of last week when paramedics were called to a home in Havelock. At some point during the previous 24 hours, the baby girl had ingested methadone.
RCMP is investigating to figure out exactly what happened. Two people were arrested and later released and no charges have been laid.
(Conservative Leader David
Alward)
Conservative Leader David Alward says he isn't shocked that a report on the proposed sale of N-B Power to Hydro-Quebec isn't ready. An independent advisory panel tasked with providing advice says it needs more time to understand the complex deal. Alward says we have a committee that is very much sitting behind closed doors and isn't hearing from everyone in the Province which is nothing short of a disappointment.
Alward is calling for an all party committee of the Legislature that is hearing from all sides of the argument. Chairman David Ganong says it will likely be the end of the month before the panel releases its report.
(Premier Graham Speaking Recently in Saint John)
If provincial airports require the new security scanners, than the Premier is willing to fight for them. Shawn Graham says the importance of trade to the United States is important, and is willing to go to bat for airports if the scanners are needed to stay competitive.
President of the Saint John Airport Bernie LeBlanc says it's a necessary tool to provide safe flights, and since security at the airport is regulated by Ottawa it will mean they supply the staff to operate it. The only airport in the region expected to get a scanner is Moncton.
(Energy Minister Jack Keir)
The company building wind farms around the Province, TransAlta, has been awarded a 25-year power-purchase agreement to expand the Kent Hills site by 54 megawatts. Under the agreement, it will expand its existing 96 MW facility which began operation in December of 08. Today's announcement follows an NB Power request for proposals last June for the purchase of up to 100 MW of wind energy generation.
TransAlta expects construction to start early this year and for the facility to be in service by the end of the year. 18 turbines will provide up to 160,000 MW hours of electricity every year. That is enough power for about 9,000 homes.
If you have a child or children attending a school in District Eight you will be interested in this. The District Education Council has scheduled five Town Hall style meetings over the next three months to get your feedback on any and all topics. Rob Fowler is Chair and tells CHSJ News, they will take a few days to go over all the info collected after the final meeting on March.25th.
The first of the five meetings is scheduled to go on Thursday at River Valley Middle School starting at seven o'clock.
A coast to coast search by the Town of Quispamsis has found a new manager for it's Q-Plex. Brad Steel has been hired to manage the facility which is still under construction. Steel has an extensive background in the sports and recreation sector. He has managed a variety of mid to large scale sports and recreation centers in British Columbia and Ontario.
In his new role, Steel will be primarily responsible for overseeing the planning, operations and maintenance of the Q-Plex and Memorial Arena. The ribbon cutting for the Q-Plex is on target for late this summer.
Hampton RCMP are on the look-out for someone who did some damage on the Kingston Peninsula over the weekend. Officers were called to a community mailbox on Hill Road yesterday to find several of the doors had been damaged.
The good news is no mail was stolen.
