Premier Graham on Piont Lepreau Refurbishment

(Premier Shawn Graham)
        (File Photo)

Atomic Energy of Canada and the refit delay at Point Lepreau will be the main focus of a meeting in Ottawa soon.

Premier Graham and several of his cabinet ministers are close to locking up a date to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss problems at the site and how the project has fallen 16 months behind schedule.

Graham tells CHSJ News, Saint John MP Rodney Weston has a responsibility with this file.
Graham says Atomic Energy of Canada has told them the reason for the delay is this is the first refurbishment of a Candu Six reactor and there is a learning curve.

Changes Proposed for Peel Plaza

(Artist's Rendition of What Peel Plaza Might Look Like)
                       (File Photo)

Several changes are being made to the Peel Plaza development to make it cheaper for Saint John taxpayers.

City Manager Pat Woods concedes the new parking garage will not be as large as first proposed.
Woods maintains those changes will not negatively impact how the police station operates.

He also claims the parking garage will be financially self sustaining.

There will also be more green space around the arts centre with fewer bells and whistles.

Quality of Life Still Concerned

Concerned about drilling activity by Corridor Resources in the Kings County area and beyond, the Quality of Life Initiative continues it's fight.

They are hosting an information session Thursday night with a member of the environmental law society to speak on a variety of issues.

Spokes-person Otty Forgrave tells CHSJ News, wells and life-style are the main concerns of home-owners.


Forgave adds there is currently no work going on by Corridor Resources but the group is staying pro-active.
 
The meeting Thursday gets started at 7:30pm at the Upham Rec Center.

New Faces on NB Power Board

Some new faces have been appointed to NB Power's Board of Directors.

Ed Barrett's term has been extended for an additional four years and has been named chair of the board, effective immediately.

This after serving as vice-chair for the past three years.

Robert Youden, Lise Ouellette and Louis LaPierre have also been named as new board members for three-year terms.

John Mallory has also been reappointed to the board for three years.

Deadly Collision Outside St. Andrews

The RCMP along with Ambulance and Fire Crews from St. Andrews and St. Stephen responded to a deadly collision yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Highways 170 & 127 outside St. Andrews.
A woman from Nova Scotia was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not been released yet.
The driver of the vehicle, the woman's husband, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. The RCMP tell us the car failed to stop at the intersection when it collided with a tractor trailer whose driver was not injured.

Final Decision On Peel Plaza Development Not Made

(Common Council - file photo)         

Still no final decision on whether the Peel Plaza development will go ahead even after a special meeting of Common Council. 42 million dollars is the estimated price tag for a revised and somewhat downsized development north of Union Street. Council rejected the idea of a public-private partnership as too expensive and instead wants bids submitted for each individual project starting with the new police headquarters. Councillor Donnie Snook is hoping the final price tag will be lower than the estimate.
Councillor Peter McGuire leaves little doubt where he stands believing the project will lead to private investment which the city desperately needs. He claims the economy of Saint John is at a crossroads.
A final decision is now expected in four to six weeks time when the tenders come back and the city has a better take on the final cost. Mayor Ivan Court, who again locked horns with Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase accusing him of not understanding the situation, is promising all the numbers will be revealed at that time.

Former Deputy Mayor Critical Of Peel Plaza Discussion

Former Deputy Mayor Michelle Hooten turned out to hear the discussion on Peel Plaza but concedes she was disappointed at the lack of information and tone which she describes as hostile to Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase who was asking questions about what the impact would be on the tax rate and spending on other city services.
Hooten makes clear she supports the building of a new police station but adds the costs of the project have never been justified even when she was a member of Council.

Employee at Worksafe NB Is Injured On The Job

As investigators try to piece together what happened, a 21-year old man remains in stable condition after he was injured last week on the job.
Andy Nyenhuis received an electrical shock while working at Worksafe NB's Portland Street office. Nyenhuis is a data cable technician with 3D communications.

Quispamsis Nursing Home is Open for Business

(Shannex President Joseph Shannon)
      (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

After a year and a half of construction, the nursing home at the Shannex Complex in Quispamsis is open for business.
Several dignitaries including Premier Graham and Health Minister Schryer were on hand to cut the ribbon.


President of Shannex is Joseph Shannon and says 60 hospital beds will be freed up when the 72 bed facility opens Wednesday.
Total cost of the nursing home is eleven million dollars with close to 100 staff.


The other two components, an assisted living set-up and retirement complex are still under construction.

Minister Schryer on Freeing Up Hospital Beds

(Health Minister and Quispamsis MLA Mary Schryer)
                        (File Photo)

With 60 new hospital beds set to be freed up with the opening of the new nursing home, Health Minister Mary Schryer says it won't take long to put them to good use.


Schryer points out since the Liberal mandate began in 2006, there are now 147 new nursing home beds in Quispamsis between the Shannex set-up and the Kingsway Care Center on the Gondola Point Arterial.

No Sour Grapes in Rothesay

(Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop)
         (File Photo)

You might remember the Shannex facility was first proposed to be built on the upper end of Millenium Drive in Rothesay before it was relocated to the end of Millenium in Quispamsis.


Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News, there are no sour grapes, admitting it would have been nice to have it but you live with what your faced with.


Bishop adds there are no solid proposals on the table for Rothesay's end of Millenium Drive but is hopeful when it is, the residents are happy with the mix of residential, commercial and plenty of green space.

Cold Wet Weekend for Two Fisherman

It was a cold and wet weekend for two men after a trip down the Kennebecasis River went wrong.


Hampton RCMP received a call from a woman who told them her boyfriend and another man left to go fishing earlier in the day and hadn't come home.


Officers were told the trip started in Norton but still no sign of the two.


After a search the two men were found in a field in Bloomfield around 1:30 in the morning, tired but no worse for wear.

Park and Ride Looking for New Passengers

(Forty Foot LImo On King Street)
          (File Photo)

A new system called Parcobus has been unveiled by the Saint John Transit and Parking Commissions.


It encourages people to park and take the bus or car-pool and includes four parking lots.
They are at Golden Grove Road on Hillcrest Road, the Latimore Lake Community Center, the Lorneville Parking lot on Stinson Drive and the Loch Lomond Parking lot near St. Joseph's Church.


It's hoped the Parcobus system will help reduce CO2 emissions by 167 tonnes every year.


Funding for the project comes from the Province and totals $287,000.

New Project for Disability

You will now have improved access to library services if you or someone you know suffers from a print disability.
The province is spending $187,000 dollars on the new set-up where over the next six months, it hopes to remove barriers between library resources and people who are unable to read standard print due.


The goal is to expand the service model to all 63 public libraries in the province following a successful pilot project.


Both the Saint John and Kennebecasis Libraries are taking part in the program.

Alward to reveal Conservative Energy vision

          (Conservative Leader David Alward)
                    (File Photo)

The Province's Opposition Leader is ready to unveil his long-awaited energy strategy.

David Alward will announce his plan to take an inclusive approach to the challenge of ensuring that people, small businesses and industries can benefit from afforable, smart and secure energy.


Alward will also reveal how New Brunswickers can fully participate in the development of a long-term energy plan that includes helping the economy and our environment.

He will be joined by Energy critic Paul Robichaud and Finance critic Bruce Fitch for the announcement in Fredericton tomorrow morning.

Premier Vows To Stand Firm On Blood Services

                  



(Premier Shawn Graham -file photo)

The task force on blood services is advising the province about the necessity of maintaining blood Services in this province and even building upon it. The next move is up to Premier Shawn Graham who tells CHSJ News, the report clearly indicates the importance of having blood services remain in the province and warns if Canadian Blood Services do not realize it then other avenues will have to be taken which include going it alone or partnering with Quebec.
Graham says the infrastructure is already in place with the current facility on University Avenue and continuing to use it would be the preferred route.

Its Now Crunch Time For The Peel Plaza Development

(Common Council - file photo)           

The fate of the Peel Plaza development will be decided tonight at a special meeting of Common Council. Members of Common Council will first meet behind closed doors in Committee of the Whole for two hours.
Nearing the end of last month, Mayor Ivan Court told our newsroom to expect an announcement concerning the new police headquarters and also said the project would be finished.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase has blamed the costly project for the city not putting enough money into much needed roadwork and he has withdrawn his support. The majority of councillors appear to be in favour but there is sure to be intense debate at tonights public meeting, getting underway at 7 o'clock in the Council Chambers.

Three Teens Rescued Near Partridge Island

The Coast Guard, city fire crews and emergency medical services responding last night to what might be called a misadventure by three teens who were trying to make their way from City Line to Partridge Island. They were on the other side of the breakwater when District Fire Chief William Johnstone says one of the girls slipped and broke her leg.
Johnstone says she was stabalised and then the Coast Guard brought the trio back to the Brunswicker.

Kennebecasis Valley High Wins Reach For The Top In Toronto

Chalk up another Reach for the Top win for Kennebecasis Valley High after capturing its third consecutive University of Toronto Schools Invitational over the weekend. K-V-H-S was represented by team captain Micheal Forestell, Josh Konconvy, Alexander Maxan, Josh Outerbridge and Jordan Woods. They rolled through the round robin but had a tougher time in the semi final against Martingrove Collegiate from Etobicoke, Ontario where the lead went back and forth. In the final, K-V-H-S defeated the 2006 Canadian champions from Woburn Collegiate in Scarborough, Ontario. Both Martingrove and Woburn have programmes for gifted students but K-V-H-S has not lost in 40 straight matches.

Province Launches New Construction Website

The provincial government is trying to prevent delays for travellers during this construction season.

The province is launching a new website that will inform drivers of where road work is being done throughout New Brunswick.
Transportation Minister Denis Landry says this toll will help aid commuters, tourists, and businesspeople plan trips and summer activities across the province.
The site will feature project maps, with icons providing information on several 2010 construction projects; as well as proposed projects, and recently completed jobs.
Follow this link to find the website.