CNIB Calls Glaucoma a "Silent Thief"

The silent thief--that's the name some give to glaucoma. The degenerative eye disease effects some 66-hundred New Brunswickers--but the scary thing is, over half of them don't know it yet.

Theresa Lyon, a low vision specialist with the CNIB encourages people to get their eyes tested. She tells CHSJ news it's vital to do so regularly, because early detection is your best hope for treatment--and glaucoma doesn't have obvious symptoms at first. If it's caught early optometrists can generally prescribe eye drops and regular check-ups to keep the progression of the disease at bay.

Glaucoma is the second-most-common cause of blindness and partial sight in Canadians over 65, after age-related macular degeneration.

Photos of Fraud Suspects Released

The RCMP have nabbed one of the alleged fraudsters stealing people's banking information at debit terminals in Moncton. We told you last week that the RCMP was looking for three individuals in connection with the case--about which police have received over 30 complaints.

Three men entered a convenience store on Champlain Street in Dieppe, and replaced the point-of-sale terminal from the counter with a device that recorded  banking information from cards swiped on it. The compromised terminal was removed by the service provider on March 5, 2012.

They may have also tampered with the terminal at a restaurant on Mountain Road. The information was then used to fraudulently get funds in a foreign country.

If your recognize either of the suspects, you're being asked to contact Codiac Regional RCMP at 857-2400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. (8477).

Moms Protest Against "Death Traps on Wheels"

Daylight Savings Time Has Its Perks

We're one step closer to long summer evenings with the time change this morning. All Canadian provinces except Saskatchewan put their clocks ahead by an hour as we switch back to Daylight Savings Time.

As well as the extra daylight, the time change has other perks: according to one American study, violent crimes go down 10% to 13% in daylight savings time--probably because such crimes often happen at night .Studies have found that the Daylight Saving Time reduces net traffic accidents and fatalities by close to one percent--probably due to greater visibility.

As well, the Saint John Fire Department reminds you that the time change is also a great time to check your smoke alarm and batteries.

Fish Farmers Association Fishing For Big Business

The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association will be attending the Boston Seafood Show in an effort to reel in more business for Atlantic salmon farms.

The Boston Seafood show the largest seafood exhibition in North America.

Executive Director Pamela Parker tells CHSJ News our product is highly regarded because of our ideal farming conditions, like pristine waters and locally-owned farms.

She says there will be 900 exhibitors and will access to up to 18-thousand potential buyers.

The Association will be distributing a new video about salmon farming that shows how the fish are grown and how they get from egg to plate.

To see the video, click here.

It's Time To Spring Forward

It's time to Spring forward as we switch back to Daylight Savings Time.

Before bed tonight,  the clocks go ahead by an hour.

The Saint John Fire Department wants you to check your smoke alarm and batteries when you change your clocks.

City Manager Testifies That Pension Board Members Were Cast In A Negative Light

City Manager and pension board trustee Pat Woods continuing his testimony in the John Ferguson defamation trial.

Woods says the language used by Ferguson during comments and presentations about alleged problems with the pension plan cast the board members in a negative light.

He says phrases like "sweeping things under the rug" and "acting like desperate gamblers" would make any reasonable person believe that the pension board was up to illegal activities.

He says that was not the case and refutes defense lawyer Rod Gillis' term of "The Gang of Four" when referring to city staff on the pension board.

Woods says he has never belonged to a gang and is not a thug. 

He adds because Ferguson never publicly revealed his source on the board who allegedly told him of the wrongdoings , it made every board member a suspect in illegal activity.

Girl Facing Arson Charges After Historic Church Burns

An 18-year-old girl will appear in youth court in Fredericton in relation to the December 2011 fire that destroyed the historic St. Ann’s Parish Catholic Church in Kingsclear First Nation.

Charges may also be laid against another a 17 year old as the crown prosecutor’s office is reviewing the file.

The 18 year old girl is appearing in youth court to enter pleas on charges of arson and breach of probation next month because she was 17 at the time of the fire.

Hiring In Province Expected To Remain Flat

With unemployment on the rise in the province, a policy anaylyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Richard Dunn tells CHSJ News don't expect any sort of turnaround for sometime yet. 

He points out that why the C-F-I-B warned against raising the minimum wage too fast and another concern is the rising cost of gas which had been at a three and a half year high. 

In its survey, the C-F-I-B reports 13 per cent of small businesses plan to increase full time employment while 15 per cent say they plan cutbacks.

Unemployment last month in Saint John rose from 7.6 to 7.8 per cent. For New Brunswick, as a whole, it increased from 9.5 to 10.1 per cent.

City Manager Talks About Why Defamation Lawsuit Was Launched

City Manager Pat Woods, who's also a member of the Pension Board, testifying at the defamation trial of the effect allegations made about the Pension Board by former Common Councillor John Ferguson were having.

Woods says the references Ferguson made to Martha Stewart's legal difficulties raised the spectre of wrongdoing with the city's pension plan and rising deficit. 

Woods telling the jury Ferguson offered up no proof of gross negligence. Woods went on to say the Pension Board was under attack and couldn't just sit back.....Some action had to be taken in the face of the allegations because images and reputations were being damaged.

Woods also testified if Ferguson was told by former Pension Board trustee David Gould of wrongdoing, he had an obligation to pass that information along to other members of Common Council or city police but he didn't.

Liberals Calling For Pay Equity

The provincial Liberals wants the province to enact pay equity legislation.

Liberal Leader Victor Boudreau says Thousands of home-support and child care workers in the province are women and are paid a little more than minimum wage.  He says it's finally time to move pay equity forward, especially since reports have already been done on the issue.

He says the Alward government has let the issue fade away.

Boudreau adds the Premier made an election promise to give wage increases to home support workers each year for the next four years but the increase should not be less than what they would get under pay equity.

Minor Hockey Controversy

The mom of a young hockey player from Baxters Corner is worried about her son's safety at the rink. 

Tisha LeBreton says on March 3rd while playing in Hampton her son was both physically and verbally assaulted by a parent of a fellow hockey player who was helping out on the bench. 

She claims her son, Jeffrey had just got out of the penalty box, was going to the bench and was trying to shut the door when another parent grabbed Jeffrey by the shoulder, pushed him down on the bench and was yelling at him.

Jeffrey was kicked off the bench for swearing at a teammate and the referee.

LeBreton goes on to say when she contacted the RCMP, they suggested it was not in my best interest to go ahead with charges, as it would "ruin this other parent's life'. 

She vows none of her children will ever play in Saint John minor hockey again.

Fire At West Side Mill

City fire crews and workers at the Irving Pulp mill on the west side are working together to try to put out an early morning fire. 

It was reported around 2:00 in one of the big wood chip mounds at the mill. 

They were still on the scene several hours later.

Emergency crews were also called out shortly before 6:30 this morning to a serious 2 car collision at Somerset Street and Paradise Row.

Record Breaking Temps in Freddy Beach

If you didn't look at the calendar you would think it was Spring today with very mild temperatures.

In Fredericton, the mercury breaking a record from 1995 reaching 19 degrees downtown while at the Saint John Airport we reached 7.8 degrees.

Environment Canada's Tracey Talbot tells CHSJ News the warm air is being brought up from the southern states and while it will leave us tonight and the temperature will drop, on the weekend we should see warm temperatures.

Pension Board Trustee Says It Was Not His Job To Slash Benefits

Pension board trustee David Gould putting the onus on Common Council for any changes needed to be made to put relief on the city's battered pension plan.

He was being cross-examined by defense lawyer Rod Gillis in the John Ferguson defamation trial.

Gould testified that removing indexing or early retirement packages would need legislative changes and council should have pursued those.  He says it was not a pension trustees job to reduce the benefits of recipients or make changes to the act.

But Gillis countered whenever motions were made by Gould, it would be to increase benefits. 

He says Gould never made recommendations to council on ways to save the floundering pension, such as removing indexing or the rule of 85 as recommended in a financial report.

Gillis also asked Gould about a statement he made during a meeting, "If you can get a bigger bang for your buck when you're not working, then go for it.  It's human nature."

Gould says he meant the remark in the context of looking out for the best interest of an employee and their family.

He also denies being John Ferguson's source of alleged wrongdoing by the board.

City manager Pat Woods will be testifying Friday morning.

Last Potash Car Is Lifted Up

The last potash car tipped over in Tuesday's early morning derailment is back on the track.

Several cars loaded with potash heading from the terminal along the track behind the causeway derailed and some tipped over spilling about 50 tonnes on potash.

No one was hurt and there is no environmental damage.

Coupon Lady Hosts First Saint John Class Saturday

Moncton's Coupon Lady is offering her first class in how you can save 50 to 75 per cent off your weekly grocery bill.

She says it's easy with sales and coupons to buy items like shampoo and deodorant for under a dollar by shopping strategically.

Ruth Ann Swansburg tells CHSJ news it all started after she began sharing coupons on a Facebook page with her friends last August.

She says she invited 21 people to her page and its now grown to 8000.

The class is being held at Silver Falls United Church on Saturday from 1-4pm.

The cost is $10 per person.  

For more info, email mycouponclass@gmail.com

Income Tax Help Avaiable For Low Income Earners

Low-income earners with a straight-forward tax situation can get some free help from the Canada Revenue Agency.

The CRA is hosting free clinics in the port city to help you file your returns properly.

Spokesperson Nathalie Poirier tells CHSJ News not everybody can afford to have their taxes professionally done.  She says it's intended to level the playing field.

[CLIP]...to happen (12 secs)

She adds the service is a national program and 51-thousand returns were filled out last year in Atlantic Canada alone.

For clinic times, eligibility, and locations, click here.

Housing Starts Plummet Last Month

February is going down in the books as an extremely slow month for new home starts in the greater Saint John area.
Canada Mortgage and Housing reports only 4-new units were started in February -- down 77-percent from the same month a year ago.
However - when you add January's new starts - new home activity is just slightly ahead of the first two months of last year.
By comparison -- new home construction this year is also trailing last year's starts in Fredericton while Moncton's activity is running ahead of last year.

Lawyer Tells Judge City Officials Are Behind Defamation Lawsuit

The lawyer for former Councillor John Ferguson is suggesting city officials are behind the Pension Board's defamation lawsuit.

Rod Gillis is going over each of Ferguson's statements asking Pension Board trustee Fred Slipp which words were defamatory.

Slipp admitted Ferguson's criticism of the early retirement programme and the the workplace culture was not directed at the Pension Board.

Slipp also conceded it's permissible for members of Common Council to criticise city staff and agreed with Gillis there appeared to be a conflict between Ferguson and City Solicitor John Nugent, who's also a member of the pension board.

The defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson has been told if the city's pension plan were wrapped up, it would cost the city close to 400 million dollars.