UNB Saint John Gets Donation for Writing Centre

UNB Saint John is getting a new writing centre thanks to the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception. The Sisters donated $50,000 to the university for the project.
Sister Mary Beth McCurdy says the hope is that the centre will help students acquire writing skills that foster creativity and joy.
The Sisters of Charity been helping the Saint John community since a cholera outbreak in 1854.

Weston Responds To Moir's Criticism

The Conservative incumbant in Saint John is repeating that clean, safe drinking water for Saint John is his #1 priority.
Rodney Weston taking some heat from NDP candidate Rob Moir who says corporate tax cuts leave less money to ensure clean,safe,drinking water.

Weston tells CHSJ News in order to make this a reality everyone needs to work together. He adds all three levels of government are pledging to make sure this challenge is met.  Weston says it's very clear that we don't drive prosperity through taxation.

Police Release Photo of Robbery Suspect

City Police still looking for those responsible for a robbery at the Petro Can at Loch Lomand Road and McAllister Drive late Tuesday night.
No one was hurt but two people got away on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
If you know anything about this crime, please call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222- Tips or Saint John Police at 648-3211.

Ignatieff Will Discuss Lepreau Overruns If Elected

If elected, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says he will begin talking with province immediately about the possibility of paying for the cost overruns at Point Lepreau nuclear power plant.
The refurbishments are one billion dollars over budget and Ignatieff says he is aware of how the overruns could burden New Brunswick tax payers.
He says AECL is a crown corporation and so it is the federal government's responsibility.  Ignatieff says he won't be able to engage in detailed discussion on the issue until he sits down with the province and gets the facts.
Ignatieff says it's also important to expand renewable energy in the province and find a way to meet the power needs of the next generation.

NB Liquor Announcing Easter Weekend Hours

As you run around getting everything the Easter feast and the egg hunt, remember a lot of stores are closed on holiday weekends.

NB Liquor stores will be closed for Good Friday and open regular hours Saturday.
They are closed on Sunday and open from Noon to 5 on Monday.
The NB Liquor agency outlets are open, but hours can vary from location to location.

Premier's Energy Commission Accused Of Missing The Mark

The Alliance for Community Energy is critical of the Premier's Energy Commission for what it says is missing the mark when it comes to utilising renewable energy sources. Alliance Vice-President Greg Leblanc tells CHSJ News a huge opportunity is being lost.

Leblanc says most of the wood pellets from this province are being exported to Europe to be used to lower carbon emissions there and he questions why not here. Then there's waste wood from pulp mills that could be used to generate energy.  He also argues there's enough economically viable wind energy in the province to easily offset all the fossil fuel generation. Another Alliance idea is to retrofit homes with solar hot water units to offset 50 per cent of the hot water usage which would save people alot of money.

The Alliance points out of the 50 recommendations emerging from the Energy Commission, only five directly addressed opportunities in the area of renewable energy.

Another Rise In Price Of Self Serve

Another mixed bag with gas prices after the weekly setting........Self serve regular has risen by almost two cents a litre and is being sold around town for $1.30.8.


 Diesel is a bit less expensive by just under a cent at $1.32.4.


Heating oil is also slightly cheaper at $1.17.5 and propane is virtually unchanged being listed at $1.08.3.

Power Disruption Along Pedway

Part of the pedway will be dark this morning for four hours as part of construction work in the area.

The City of Saint John telling CHSJ News the planned power interruption impacts the stretch between Harbour Station and the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.

It gets underway at 9am this morning and will impact heat, lights and elevators.

Liberal Leader Makes Stop In Saint John

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff paying Saint John a visit on his campaign trail.

When asked about what he would do about the long surgical wait times and shortage of doctors in the province, he says he would meet with the Premiers of each province within sixty days of being elected in order to address those issues.


He says another target in his sights would be improving home-care service, noting that the Liberals are the only party to have a home-care plan in their platform.

Tillis And Morgan To Bring Combo Tour To Saint John

Two legendary country singers are bringing their two-woman show to Saint John in June.
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan are both daughters of country royalty but have successful careers on their own.
Tillis is the daughter of singer-songwriter Mel Tillis and Morgan is the daughter of George Morgan famous for his song "Candy Kisses".
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan bring "The Grits and Glamour Tour" to the Imperial Theatre on June 13th.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow. For the link and the number to get tickets click here

NDP Candidate Slams Conservatives Over Safe, Clean Drinking Water

The NDP candidate who's running in Saint John, Rob Moir says if the Conservatives didn't reduce the corporate tax rate, the money might have been there to help pay for safe, clean drinking water.

It's Common Council's number one priority but Moir tells CHSJ News the cupboard is bare at City Hall because there are other things that need fixing such as the roads

 Moir questions how much of a priority safe drinking water can be for incumbant Rodney Weston when he supports the lower corporate tax rate.

The city is looking for 57.4 million dollars in funding from the federal government.

Port Authority At Odds With Commercial Fishermen

Controversy has arisen over the Saint John Port Authority's new land use plan. There's no mention in that plan about there being a place at the port for commercial fishermen.

 Nicholas Paul, the policy analyst with the Maliseet Nation Conservation Council, tells CHSJ News they got a letter last month telling them to vacate the port by the end of June. The Commercial Fisheries Manager with the St. Mary's First Nation, Jeremy Paul maintains that won't happen because the order violates their treaty rights.

The President and C-E-O for the Port Authority Jim Quinn says he wants to find both a short term solution and long term one.
 
Stephen Campbell, who chairs the Board of Directors at the Port Authority, argues the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will have to step up to the plate if there is to be a long term solution found.

Emergency Calls For The Ken Valley Now Handled By The City

The way emergency calls are being handled for the Ken Valley are undergoing a change. 

This means any 911 calls answered by the Saint John communications centre will be dispatched directly to Rothesay Police or the KV Fire Department, bypassing the Rothesay Regional Police comm centre.

Saint John Police Chief Bill Reid says this will cut down on response times compared to the old system and the process will be seamless for residents.

Rothesay is paying the Saint John Police Force about 270-thousand dollars annually for the service.

Another Robbery In City

City Police looking for two people after a holdup at the Petro Can at Loch Lomand Road and McAllister Drive.

The pair ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police tell CHSJ News no one was injured.

Protest Outside Cathedral For Women's Equality

A number of demonstrators with placards calling for the ordination of women as priests showing up last night outside the cathedral on Waterloo Street.

Cathy Holtman of the Catholic Network for Women's Equality concedes the Vatican is excommunicating those women who have been ordained along with the clerics who support them.

 She believes the Church heirarchy's heavy handedness shows how worried the Vatican is about this issue and support ordination of woman has among the parishioners.

Holtman also finds it odd the bishops who covered up the fact priests were sexually abusing young people in their dioceses have not been excommunicated.

Saint John Gets First Visit From Federal Party Leader

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff visits the Port City today to glad hand with local party faithful.

Ignatieff will attend a Liberal party meet and greet at the Saint John Ale House at 12:15 and will speak to the media following that event. He heads to Nova Scotia from Saint John for another campaign event.

NDP Leader Jack Layton is expected in the city on Monday. The details of his visit have not been released.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper is making a quick trip to the province today as well but his itinerary doesn't include Saint John. Harper will make a quick stop in Edmundston this afternoon then it's on to Fredericton for a rally this evening.

Premier's Energy Commission Wants Baseboard Heaters Banned

Electricity consumers may soon be paying far more if they are energy hogs -- the provincial energy commission is making the recommendation based on feedback during public consultations since last fall.

Co-chair Bill Thompson says it would involve a second more expensive rate tier for electricity rates. He has heard from alot of people they find it odd the more power that was consumed resulted in a reduced rate even though it's costing more to produce that electricity.

Thompson says the commission is also recommending the government pass legislation banning electric baseboard heaters. He says we should be moving to natural gas as a transition fuel to more renewable energy sources.

The commission will send its proposed ten year energy plan to government next month.

Local Federal Candidates Discuss Poverty In Saint John

All 5 Saint John candidates in the federal election taking part in a poverty and social policy discussion earlier today.

About 75 people coming out to the event which was sponsored by the Human Development Council.

Conservative Candidate Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News while their are many angles to tackling poverty in the city, one of the key methods is collaboration with frontline groups.

NDP candidate Rob Moir says he has a two-prong approach on how to reduce poverty: a functioning education and skilled job creation.
 
Meanwhile, Liberal Candidate Stephen Chase tells CHSJ News creating a climate where the economy can thrive is one way to begin addressing poverty in Saint John.





Green Party Candidate Sharon Murphy-Flatt says a guaranteed livable wage is needed to lift people out of the poverty cycle.


And independent candidate Arthur Watson Jr. says he would support any legislation that would reduce poverty in the city.


Organizer of the event Randy Hatfield says as the income divide becomes greater between the rich and the poor, poverty and social policy will become more of a key issue in federal politics.

Brief Power Outage On The West Side

A short power interuption on the West side today.
Nearly 1000 Saint John Energy customers in the dark for 27 minutes because of a failed lightning arrrestor on King Street west.
A spokesperson tells CHSJ News the lightning arrestor will be fixed at a later date.

CCNB Split On Energy Commission Recommendations

The Provincial Conservation Council likes some of the Energy Commission's recommendations and dislikes others.

Climate and Energy Coordinator Raphael Shay tells CHSJ News they find a wide range of points to improve efficiency programs and recognition that public transporation needs greater attention encouraging.

Shay notes the recommendations gut the province's renewable energy and climate change targets adding the commissioners are betting big on natural gas without recognizing the carbon footprint that comes unconventional sources like shale gas.