Saint John Is One Of The World's Top 7 Tech Hotspots

Saint John is one of the world’s Top 7 high tech spots by the Intelligence Community Forum an international-based think-tank dedicated to economic and social development in the broadband economy.

The designation recognizes Saint John’s culture of innovation, particularly in the growth of ICT start-ups, the development of public services and the connections between the city’s schools,  specifically UNB Saint John  and the wider community.

The forum noted Saint John accomplishments such as Dalhousie Medicine NB with the most advanced distance medical education system in Canada and School District 8 for a few programs including the Teen Apprenticeship Program at Simonds High.

Saint John shares the title with Austin, Texas, Oulu, Finland and Quebec City to name a few.
Over 50 commuiity groups including schools, government and business assisted in putting the application together.

Theo Fleury Wows Saint Johnners At Gala

One of the NHL's most notorious tough guys gave a packed Saint John crowd a night to remember with his harrowing tale of survival.   

Theo Fleury was the guest speaker at the Muriel McQueen Foundation Dinner gala,  the first man invited to speak in its 26 year history.   Fleury calls that move forward-thinking. 

The former Calgary Flame and Olympic gold medallist tells of making it through years of sexual abuse at the hands of his coach and years of suppressing the shame, anger and pain with many addictions including alcohol and drugs.

Fleury has been sober since 2005 and is helping other people get their lives back. Fleury told the crowd he has the best life in the world now and challenged the crowd to give back and be of service everyday.

Proceeds from the event will support programs aimed at ending family violence.

Long-Standing Pension Lawsuit Goes To Trial Next Month

A lawsuit that has been dragging on for years will come to a head next month.

The city's pension board is suing former city councillor John Ferguson for accusing the board trustees of acting illegally and not for asking questions about the city's financially beleaguered pension plan.

The case will go to trial on February 13th.

Ferguson currently serves as the Town Administrator for St. Stephen.

Gaps Need To Filled So The Disabled Will Want To Enter Workforce

The province is welcoming comments and suggestions on how to help disabled New Brunswickers enter or stay in the workforce.

David Leadlay is with the Learning Disability Association of Saint John.

He tells CHSJ News there is a gap in service for the disabled as the education system only deals with them so far and then they're left on their own

He says there needs to be more services to catch them at those transition points so that they will not become discouraged at finding work.

Smith Steps Down

A familiar face at the Imperial Theatre is leaving his post.

Peter D. Smith has been the theatre's general manager since 1998 but, told the theatre's board of directors of his intention to leave last month.

The Imperial Theatre board has established a search committee and hopes to begin interviews in March.

Smith will stay on until his successor is found.

Pharmacists Respond To Criticism Over Methadone

 The Provincial Pharmacists Association agrees with Finance Minister Blaine Higgs' comments that the methadone program is growing with no end in sight.
Executive Director Paul Blanchard says there is no program in place right aimed at preventing the spread of addiction.

Blanchard tells CHSJ News a prescription monitoring program in needed.

He says as we speak a physician is writing a prescription for oxycontin and a pharmacist is filling it in the absence of information adding they need a prescription monitoring program in order to allow pharmacists to do their jobs effectively.

Blanchard says in April of last year dispensing fees for methadone patients were reduced by 50 per cent.

School District 6 Aims To Combat Bullying

School District 6 is combating bullying by changing school culture and student attitudes.

Learning Specialist Pam Miller tells CHSJ News by ingraining anti-bullying lessons into everyday school-life, it makes students more comfortable to report about bullying and something will be done.

She say teachers and staff members know how to respond to that reporting so it's streamlined and they know exactly what to do.

She says recent studies shows that incidents of bullying have gone down in District 6 over the past few years.

Bullying has been brought back to the forefront recently after a student at Hampton Middle School was held down and had her hair cut.

Saint Johnners To Hear Theo Fleury's Comeback From The Abyss

Theo Fleury is in Saint John to talk about his valiant struggle to wholeness after being sexually abused by his coach in junior hockey followed by alcoholism, drug abuse and promiscuity. 

The retired NHL'er is the guest speaker tonight at the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation dinner in the Trade and Convention Centre and his message will be no matter how far down the ladder you fall, you can always make it back up. 

Fleury says the best part is to see people who are beaten and broken repair their lives.

He doesn't give his junior coach Graham James, who's facing criminal charges, any thought and admits not having a whole lot of faith in the Canadian justice system.

Warning From Finance Minister About NB Power

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is sending a strong message to M-L-A's about how NB Power should be run..........Quit messing about with it.
 
Higgs says he and other M-L-A's have all be approached about getting people jobs at NB Power which is why it has run into financial problems but now the utility has a 10 year business plan in place to reduce its footprint and debt ratio.

He warns running it like a business is the only way NB Power will survive.

  

No Injuries In Early Morning Crash

That 5-vehicle pile up on the MacKay this morning ended up looking worse than it actually was -- lots of damage but no injuries.
 The RCMP telling us there were actually two separate crashes - the first involving three vehicles - the second with two and they say the second crackup was a result of the first.
 No word on whether any charges will be laid in the aftermath.

Finance Minister Candid About Government Spending

In the effort to reduce the growing provincial deficit, Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says government programmes will have to be analysed to determine if they're effective.

Higgs makes mention of the methadone programme which he says has 14 hundred people getting treatment with no end in sight.
 
Higgs says healthcare needs a major overhaul after being been told more than once there's enough money for healthcare but it's being managed poorly.

He also maintains roads have been built which aren't really needed but they were seen as vote getters on election day.

Province Slightly Improving In Removing Red Tape

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business releasing it's annual Red Tape Report Card.

The province showing slight improvement from it's 2010 C- score by getting a C+ for 2011.

The report evaluates government's progress on regulatory reform.

The grade puts the province in the middle of the pack -- the CFIB says a government wide plan to reduce red tape is still lacking but steps have been taken over the last few years.

Premier Alward is also getting credit for setting a red tape reduction target of 20 percent, a promise he made when he was campaigning.

British Columbia got the highest grade while Northwest Territories was at the bottom.

Power Restored To West Side

Power is back for Westsiders who were in the dark this afternoon.

Darin Lamont of Saint John Energy tells CHSJ News the outage was due to a problem with a NB Power transmission line.

Power went out for about 2000 customers at around 1 this afternoon.

Areas affected included Manawagonish Road, Westgate Park and Lorneville.

Power To Be Back Within An Hour

Westsiders will have their power back in about an hour.

Darin Lamont of Saint John Energy tells CHSJ News about 500 people are still without power in the Westgate Park and Manawagonish Road area.

The problem has been traced to an issue with an NB Power transmission line.

Horizon Health Network Gets Federal Money To Combat Smoking

The Horizon Health Network receiving over 600-thousand dollars from Health Canada to help New Brunswickers stop smoking.

The money will be used to train over 500 health care professionals in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI and has the potential to reach 10-thousand speakers over the next three to five years.

In 2009, Horizon Health Network was designated one of three Centres of Excellence for Clinical Smoking Cessation in Canada.

Higgs Questions Methadone Program Management

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is wondering about the management of the methadone program with 1400 clients and a huge wait list.
Julie Dingwell is with Aids Saint John disagrees with him.

She says there would be an end to the wait list in sight but, more treatment spaces are needed for those who are waiting.    She adds opiate addiction doesn't go away without treatment.

Dingwell says we have to pay either way...so we can pay for healthcare or judicial costs or pay for methadone which is much cheaper.

Deputy Mayor Feels Pension Reforms May Not Be Approved

Mayor Ivan Court believes the city will get its pension reforms approved during the spring sitting of the legislature.

Court says in a recent letter from the Premier, the wording seemed to recommend the city should have its budget in order for the spring.

But Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase says while he does have some optimism, he is also a political realist.  He says there is opposition to the proposed pension from retirees and members of the police and fire department.

He's not as confident that the reforms will be passed.

If the reforms are not approved, the 2012 budget will be short 9 million dollars and 100 city jobs will be cut.

The Lights Are Out On The West Side

Saint John Energy is looking into why 2000 west siders are without power.   

Vice President of Engineering and Operations Darin Lamont tells CHSJ News Westgate Park, Fairville Boulevard and Lorneville are impacted.

He says crews are looking into the cause and no word yet on when power will be restored.

Cutbacks Being Felt Already At St. Joseph's Hospital

The President of local 1199 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees at St. Joseph's Hospital is speaking out about the cutbacks that have taken place thus far, never mind what might be coming down the road.

Lisa Allen says the cutbacks are being felt already because departing employees are not being replaced with jobs being cut through attrition. Allen argues that means heavier workloads for the remaining workers and some patients missing out on their baths.


As for the number of hospital beds in the province being above the national average, Allen wonders how many of them are being used by people who should be in nursing homes if the space were available.

Murder Suspect In Court

A two day preliminary hearing will be held in the spring to determine if 50 year old Stephen Wallace Martin should stand trial for the killing of a man in the north end before Christmas.

It gets underway on May 2nd with two days set aside for testimony. 

The body of 74 year old Robert Ryan was discovered by firefighters after they were called to 374 Mount Pleasant Avenue North. 

Police have not said how he died but determined it was a homicide.