February Fork Off Is Underway

February doesn't bring too many reasons to celebrate...shoveling isn't one but, eating great food could be.
Today marks the beginning of "February Fork Off" which is Uptown Saint John's Winter Restaurant Week.
Event Coordinator Tracy Hanson tells CHSJ News it's basically the February version of the Chop Chop Festival.

She says it's the first winter restaurant week and it's a chance to get a break from the winter chill and enjoy the many food choices uptown.

Some of the participating restaurants will be offering a three-course dinner for $30, a two-course lunch for $12 or a Fork plate for $10.

For more info on which restaurants are taking part, click here

New Understanding Needed In Province On Resource Development

The Atlantica Centre for Energy says governments, industry and the people who live in the province will have to reach a social contract to advance the economy.

Atlantica President John Herron maintains developing our natural resources is the answer to the province's economic problems but the controversy over shale gas development is not helping. That's why he argues rigorous regulations are required that are not onerous but ease public skepticism that the bottom line is the only thing that counts.

Herron says the three goals of this social contract would be economic progress, social development and ecological integrity.

Herron warns the provincial tax base can't support our basic health, education and social programmes without federal transfers so new sources of economic activity will have to be found and natural resoources are it.

Police Association Questions Whether Common Council Is Exceeding Its Authority

Whether anything will be accomplished at Common Council's special budget meeting this afternoon remains to be seen. Three versions of the budget are being considered.

The police department could see it's budget reduced by over 134 thousand dollars depending on which version of the budget is passed eventually. The President of the Police Union, Jamie Hachey is taking a wait and see approach although he says the goings on of late remind him more of kindergarten.

Hachey argues it should be up to the Police Commission to determine how much money is needed to provide adequate policing in the city, not Common Council.
 
He goes so far as to suggest Council might be violating provincial legislation by arbitrarily cutting the police budget regardless of what the Police Commission says.

Premier Unveils Senior Panel

The Premier announcing the establishment of a panel designed to help prepare for the challenges with our aging senior population.

David Alward says the panel's role is to guide government investments in community development and services that help seniors live active, healthy lives.

The five-member panel will be chaired by John McLaughlin of UNB.

He says an aging population offers benefits and opportunities adding the skills and knowledge of seniors can provide opportunities for young people to learn new ideas and preserving the lessons of the past.

Project support and administration will be provided by the Atlantic Institute on Aging. The panel's blueprint will be delivered to the premier by this summer.

For more info, click here

Winter Storm Cancels School

February is being ushered in with some snow coming our way. 

Gilles Duguay of Environment Canada tells CHSJ News it's because of a low pressure system that's tracking south of Nova Scotia. 

It's going to be a messy morning commute with most of the snow falling this morning into the early part of the afternoon when it goes above freezing and turns into rain. 10 to 15 centimeters of snow is in the forecast.

Duguay says there will be more snow if you're travelling east to Moncton where there's a snowfall warning in place and more rain than snow west of Saint John along the coast.

All schools are closed today in districts 6, 8, 10, 17 and Samuel de Champlain.

Call Center Industry Not Dying In The Province

The executive director of ContactNB, which represents call centre employees, says the closure of Atelka does not mean the industry is dying in the province.

Mike Bacon tells CHSJ News even though there have been recent closures or cuts at other centers in Saint John, job opportunities have been plentiful.

He says there are constantly 4 or 5 companies hiring in Southern New Brunswick and the industry has been growing for the past 3 to 4 years.
 
ContactNB will be working with the Atelka employees on finding new jobs.

Former City Councillor Says Procrastination Hurts Everyone

A former Common Councillor has a little advice for the current administration at City hall:  procrastination doesn't win you any favours.
 

Ken Gould remembers in the 80's when they ran late with the budget once but they found a way to get it done.
 
Gould tells CHSJ News he doesn't have an issue with closed session because it's the decisions that are important and not the chit chat. 
Gould says he thinks things were a little more stable in his day and this council needs to learn to compromise.

West Side Call Centre Closing Down

142 Saint Johners will be out of work on May 16th as the Atelka call centre on Manawagonish Road will be shutting down.

Spokesperson Karine Vachon tells CHSJ News notification was given to employees today.

Vachon says the closure is a way to improve the company's operational efficiency.

The contact centres in Fredericton and PEI will remain open.

NDP Leadership Candidate Thomas Mulcair Stumping In Saint John

Federal New Democratic Party leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair making a stop in the city today to drum up support for his bid to lead the N-D-P.

Mulcair tells CHSJ News the federal government needs to work more closely with municipalities as cities have major responsibilities, such as transit, affordable housing, and drinking water.

He says on a federal level, the NDP needs to hold onto its Quebec seats while growing in Atlantic Canada, which is beyond its traditional base.

Alward Government Criticised By Former Cabinet Minister Who's Also Conservative

A former Conservative provincial cabinet minister is speaking out against shale gas development and fracking.
 
Tony Huntjens likens Premier David Alward's stance on this issue to the attempted sale of NB Power by then Premier Shawn Graham which is considered a big reason why the Liberals were defeated in the last provincial election.
 
Huntjens tells CHSJ News the Alward Government isn't giving people a voice on this issue that will have long term ramifications and, in his view, will endanger groundwater because of all the chemicals that won't come back to the surface after fracturing.
 
He also says it's wrong to brand the opposition to shale gas development as extremists.

Huntjens also points out when the Premier was in opposition he said in the Legislature there were dangerous elements with fracking.

Last week, another former provincial conservative cabinet minister, Bud Bird was critical of the Alward Government for arbitrarily changing natural gas regulations that govern Enbridge Gas.

Historic Donations In Millidgeville

Two longtime donors celebrating a huge accomplishment at Canadian Blood Services.

Don Shaw and Ken Gould are the first donors in the province to donate plasma 700 times. 
 
Shaw, who gave blood for the first time in 1965, tells CHSJ News he has a family connection to blood and plasma donation.

He tells us his daughter needed a complete blood transfusion when she was 2 years old as a RH negative child and he figures if someone could help his daughter 45 years ago then maybe his donations can save someone today.

Shaw says he never thought he'd make 700 donations because he never thought he'd make it to the age of 75.

Special Open Meeting Of Common Council Scheduled

A special meeting of Common Council will be held tomorrow afternoon to again talk about the city budget.

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase tells CHSJ News it's time to break the deadlock and he's optimistic consensus can be reached.

Chase says he and three other Council members took the rare step of petitioning the Common Clerk to schedule the public meeting.

He admits there is still division on Council between those who are confident the changes to the city's pension plan will be approved and those, like himself, who want to see this year's budget reflect 9 million dollars in savings that would have to be found if the province rejects the pension reforms.

Chase says it's imperative to get the budget done because the tax bills have to go out and the city can't operate if it has no money.

Connors Brothers Donate Island To Nature Trust

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick has a new island to protect in the Bay of Fundy.
Connors Brothers donated Southern Wolf Island which is located about an hour between Blacks Harbour and Grand Manan.

Renata Woodward tells CHSJ News the Nature Trust has been active in Charlotte Country through the Campaign for Coastal Lands.

She says Connors Brothers is doing reconstruction on their company and they wanted to make sure some of the lands they are divesting are protected.

Woodward says Southern Wolf Island has at-risk species and a high ecological value so, it will not be promoted for tourism but likely used for research.

Arrests Made As Drivers Try To Elude Police

A 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth appeared in Sussex Provincial Court to face charges of attempting to avoid police during traffic stops.

The RCMP stopped a vehicle on Church Street in Sussex. While the officer was attempting to arrest the driver, the vehicle sped away.

22-year-old Jeremy Harding of Apohaqui was later arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while being pursued by police, dangerous driving, resisting a police officer and public mischief.

A bit later also on Church Street, another driver refused to stop for police going through a parking lot before colliding with another police car.

A 17-year-old youth from Smith's Creek. was arrested and is charged with operating a motor vehicle while being pursued by police and dangerous driving.

Council Fails To Pass Budget And Tax Rate

The stalemate over the city budget continues -- Common Council ultimately voting down the discussion of various budget scenarios in open session.

But council also not approving the tax rate, which could cost the city 60 to 70 thousand dollars because the province would have to send separate property tax bills due to the delay.

Councillor Chris Titus says council should approve the tax rate ahead of the budget because the budget will be 144 million dollars no matter which version gets passed.

But Councillors Higgins, Snook, Farren, and Norton felt that approving a tax rate before finalizing the budget was not the proper way to do things.

New Municipal Plan Officially Adopted

At least one thing is certain after last night's chaotic council meeting -- Plan SJ has become a reality after two years.

Planning Commissioner Ken Forrest tells CHSJ News putting the new municipal plan into action will be an ongoing process, in which Saint Johners will play a big role.

He says it will be a living document and residents will expect the city to implement the plan and monitor it over time.

PlanSJ means major changes for land use, infrastructure, and smarter development in the city--and Forrest says that whatever budget is passed, it has to reflect those priorities.

Social Media Awards Looking For Nominations

The Oscars are not the only awards up for grabs in February -- nominations are now being accepted for the 2nd annual Salty Awards, which celebrates Saint John's social media community.

Categories include Twitter Person of the Year, Best Facebook Page, Coolest Blog, Hottest YouTube, and Best Use of Social Media in a Campaign.

Nominations close on February 6th with the awards being handed out on February 16th.

For more information, click here.

Freedom Tours Calms Fears About Mexican Travel

If you're scared to go to Mexico after hearing about the beating of a Canadian tourist in a resort there, perhaps you shouldn't be.

That according to Freedom Tours owner Ellen Tucker. She tells CHSJ news Mexico isn't as dangerous as you might think--and that as far as international ranking are concerned, it's actually pretty high on the list of safer places to to travel.

The 37 year old woman, Sheila Nabb, was vacationing at a 5-star hotel in Mazatlan. A 28-year-old named Jose Ramon Acosta Quintero has been charged with attempted murder in the case.

Profits Are Up But Booze Sales Still Slide In N.B.

NB Liquor's third quarter profits are up yet fewer people were buying booze over the holidays.

The crown corporation releasing figures show they made more than 44 million dollars from October 3rd to January 1st but sales from spirits, wine and beer are down.

NB Liquor President Daniel Allain says the holiday season traffic was lower than expected and picked up a week before Christmas.

He adds economic uncertainty continued to account for weak volumes in the quarter which were responsible for an overall decline in sales.

Sales for spirits were down 3.2 per cent and wine declined 1.8 per cent while beer sales were down 9.8 per cent.

For more info, click here

Local Campaign Almost Brings In Almost A Million Dollars

The total says it absolutely is possible.  

A "Heart of the Possible" capital campaign for the Boys and Girls Club bringing in 943 thousand dollars exceeding their goal.  
The campaign's goal was 750,000 dollars.

Last September,  The Premier came to town with a big cheque for $150, 000 to help the campaign reach it's goal.

The money is being used to to refurbish the gym, pave their driveway, create a mural on the building and update their learning room.  Additional funds will be used to build a new playground structure and for other projects.