The province wants your two cents on what blood option the provinces should go with. A KPMG report prepared for the government analyzed three options looking at feasibility, accessibility and safety.
Those options are remain in partnership with Canadian Blood Services, form a New Brunswick blood agency or partner with another established blood agency. You are encouraged to read the report on the Department of Health's website and submit your opinion. To see the report, click here
RCMP keeping busy over the long weekend with a slew of impaired drivers.
Police reporting a total of 22 people who were caught behind the wheel while intoxicated, and issued seven one-week suspensions to drivers with a blood alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.08.
In comparison, RCMP charged 20 people with drunk driving during the same weekend last year.
The city will have to shell out 9 million dollars in payments towards the 2010 pension plan, whether the province makes pension reforms in the fall or not.
That from Finance Commissioner Greg Yeomans, who says changes to the plan would not relieve the city of their 2010 payments.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase says he doesn't want to move forward until the province's assessment of the city's pension plan is made public.
Councillor Chris Titus says he doesn't want to make the payment either, but it's required, and if the city doesn't pay it the province could take other action.
The provincial economy remains flat and that's reflected in the latest survey from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business on how confident small business people in New Brunswick are these days.
Small business confidence remains below the national average and the C-F-I-B's Acting Director of Provincial Affairs Erin McGrath-Gaudet tells CHSJ News don't hold your breath waiting for an upswing anytime soon.
37 per cent of small businesses in the survey characterise the state of business as being good........50 per cent call it satisfactory and 13 per cent say it's bad.
It looks like employment plans for the next few months will be soft as well with 10 per cent planning to hire more people but 15 per cent say they will be downsizing.
Not everyone is in favour of Frenchy's relocating at 303 Westmorland Road from its current location off Rothesay Road.
Common Councillor Peter McGuire won't be voting in favour when it comes up for a final vote. He says a line has to be drawn in the sand because Westmorland Road has been saturated.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase, who grew up in that part of the city, says the area is used to having large numbers of people and that's why he's in favour.
Councillor Joe Mott lives on the east side and is worried increased traffic will result in more accidents happening.
The opposition Liberals are accusing the provincial government of being hypocritical in how its handling the controversy over shale gas development after not one Conservative M-L-A showed up at the protest Monday which included a march to the legislature by those opposed.
Natural Resources critic Denis Landry tells CHSJ News those people who are worried about the possible contamination of their drinking water have a legitimate point of view.
Landry argues not enough is known to says for certain that drinking water will remain safe.
Another Liberal M-L-A Bill Fraser of Bay du Vin says the opponents of shale gas exploration have enough merit in their arguments to warrant a moratorium.
After listening to more than three hours of opposition, Common Council is rejecting a mobile home park at 50 Heather Way on the east side.
Residents raising concerns over lack of space, snow removal and decreased property values. Margaret Dubee spoke on behalf of the neighbourhood and says heading into the meeting, she wasn't sure Council would take their side.
The developer, Bob Darling, arguing the project was an efficient use of land that provided an affordable housing option for people living in Saint John, but Council voted down the mobile home park by a slim margin of 5-4.
Councillors did give preliminary approval to Frenchy's setting up shop at 303 Westmorland Road. The store is currently operating off Rothesay Road but wants a more visible location. Chief City Planner Ken Forrest says the municipal plan discourages business development on Westmorland because it is a residential neighbourhood.
Common Council still isn't ready to give details on how the city plans to power a metal shredder expansion on the city’s lower west side at the port.
Information was expected to be released this week concerning a new option after nearby residents objected to the use of above ground power lines.
Mayor Ivan Court says Council is still in negotiations with the province and NB Power.
After a closed-door emergency meeting last week Court saying he couldn't comment on whether the option involved an alternate route or underground transmission lines until the costs were worked out.
Our stormy summer continues with more rain, thunder and lightning in Greater Saint John yesterday morning and afternoon.
Meterologist Linda Libby tells CHSJ News it's a little unusual to see storms beginning on the coast.
Libby adds it's a bit unusual to see storms on the coast pushing northward even though a warm stretch in the summer tends to lead to more thunderstorms with the right mixture of humidity and temperature.
West side residents are being asked to use less water after a fire in Musquash on Monday. Equipment that pumps water from the Musquash watershed to the Spruce Lake watershed was damaged and is not working.
While the damage is being checked out, residents are asked to conserve water. The City offers tips on how to save water including only running full loads of laundry and dishes, not watering lawns and and gardens and not washing cars and driveways. An update will be released tomorrow afternoon and the City points out the water is safe to drink. For more info, click here
We may see a wild thunderstorm this afternoon complete with hail and strong winds.
Environment Canada issueing a severe thunderstorm watch for Saint John, Sussex, the KV, St. Stephen, Grand Manan, Fredericton, Moncton and more. The warning says severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and bring with them the potential for large hail and damaging winds.
The city wants to make sure everybody visiting knows Saint John's team is number one.
Mayor Ivan Court tells CHSJ News the city is having signs made to go up on the highway with a special message "Welcome to Saint John, Home of the Saint John Seadogs, Memorial Cup champions".
The Mayor says the signs have been in the works ever since the Sea Dogs brought home the Memorial Cup, and he hopes they'll be up in September for when the new season starts.
Despite a protest on New Brunswick Day at the Legislature against shale gas development that attracted as many as 15 hundred marchers, Premier David Alward is sticking by his guns.
The Premier is still voicing his support for shale gas exploration while maintaining property owners will not see their well water contaminated because the regulations will be stringent enough.
The protesters were calling for a ban on fracking which pumps water and chemicals into the ground in order to get the natural gas.
Alward says he recently saw a shale gas development in the area of Fort Nelson, B-C and it's going well with a small footprint.
Keeping the Canadian Blood Services processing lab in the city is a priority for the provincial government. So says Premier David Alward, who celebrated New Brunswick Day, in Quispamsis.
Alward tells CHSJ News he has spoken to Prime Minister Harper three times about this this issue and he wants to know if the federal government has to sign off on decisions made by Canadian Blood Services.
The Premier will not say if going it alone or partnering with Quebec is now off the table considering the estimated cost in the tens of millions of dollars.
Amanda Cullen of Canadian Blood Services earlier told us that because of the Krever Inquiry, they are immune from what she calls any political interference. To see a video of New Brunswick Day at the Q-plex and the K-V players performing, go to country 94.ca, click news and then video.
In the wake the KPMG report that showed it would cost millions for the province to develop it's own blood service, the New Brunswick Medical Society says other issues still need to be addressed.
Spokesperson Dr. Allison Kennedy tells CHSJ News whatever option the province ultimately decides to go with, a blood monitoring system in co-operation with the medical community needs to be implemented.
He says times are changing as the province is developing new trauma and cardiac programs so new demands will be placed on the blood supply.
Now that Common Council has said 'no' to trimming the number of seats around the horse-shoe from 10 to 6, Councillor Chris Titus coming up with a new proposal to save money.
Titus suggests reducing Councillors' salaries by 40 per cent beginning in 2012.
He says it would achieve the same level of savings without hurting representation. Titus' original proposal to cut four council seats would have saved the city an estimated 500 thousand dollars over 4 years.
We should get some more information tonight detailing how council plans to power a metal shredder proposed for the west side.
The American Iron and Metal project found itself on shaky ground after citizens objected to power lines going up along the Fundy Coast Line.
Council, the port and NB Power announcing last Monday, after a closed door meeting, they had an option to please everyone involved but were waiting to release the details until after the costs of the plan were worked out.
A Saint John man monitoring noise levels around King Square says he's finding ambient noise that is too loud, too often.
Sam Blue with Noise Free Saint John tells CHSJ News he recently recorded twenty vehicles emitting sounds higher than 80 decibels in a two hour period and if you were at a worksite, that kind of sound level would require ear protection.
He says noise levels around King Square do tend to vary depending on the weather. There's more noise on sunny days because people are out joyriding and it's better driving for motorcycles.
Blue says when you hear loud motorcycles or cars, it's likely coming from an illegal exhaust. He says you should try and get a licence plate number and contact the police, because the law needs to be enforced.
