Common Council Looking At Making More Cuts

Since there has been such a turnover at Common Council which is made up of mostly new members, Ward One Councillor Bill Farren wants a pension teach-in to bring everyone up to speed. 

More than a few of the new Council members were angry at being called upon to approve changes to the city's pension plan that had been worked on for months by the previous Council just two days after being sworn in. 

Farren is worried about a warning from City Manager Pat Woods about the possibility of 4 million dollars more in cuts having to be made unless the pension changes that have been approved at the city level are implemented.

CHSJ News has been told those proposed reforms will not be dealt with during the current session of the Provincial Legislature.
 

Ward 3 Councillor Donnie Snook doesn't want to see another 500 thousand dollars in cuts to City Transit.

Motorcycle Crash Injures Two

Another crash in a weekend full of highway scrape-ups...a motorcycle crash on Highway 1 sending two people to hospital.

According to Constable Julie Rogers Marsh a man and woman were heading into Saint John on the westbound lane of the highway when they lost control of the bike. Both were transported to hospital by ambulance, but their injuries are not reported to be life-threatening.

No word on the cause of the crash. The highway was closed for 30 minutes as a result.

Woman Trapped In Rollover Dies

According to the RCMP, a woman trapped in a rollover accident on Highway 820 has died in hospital as a result of her injuries.

She was 72 years old. Her name has not yet been released,

Woman Hit By Car on Loch Lomond Road

Look both ways before crossing the street--that lesson for pedestrians with a local woman getting hit by a car on the East Side.

Police responding to the call shortly after 11pm Saturday evening that a woman had been hit on Loch Lomond Road at the intersection of Malette Road. District Chief Joe Armstrong says her injuries weren't serious. although she was transported to hospital.

Police remained on the scene for nearly an hour.

Locals Protest Harper

Canada doesn't belong to Stephen Harper--that message from protestors gathering in King Square to demonstrate against what they call the Harper government's disregard for the will of the people.

Former NDP candidate and Council of Canadians member Andrew Graham was in attendance. He tells CHSJ News the Harper government has a long track record of scandals and failures and it can't be tolerated.

The protest also focused on bill C-38, the omnibus bill, which amalgamates 70 different bills into one. According to Graham, that bill prevents the issues from getting properly debated in parliament.

Go Green To Win Prizes

Tune up your bike and get out your walking shoes--a fun competition called the Commuter Challenge is turning your daily trek to work into an Eco-friendly competition. People can sign up and record the days they choose not to use the car to get around--and the total is entered onto a website where Saint John companies compete against other cities.

Jody Kliffer of the city's planning commission explains you can get involved on as small or large a scale as you want--you can participate as an individual, or with your whole office.

Saint John has a record to defend, having blown away the rest of New Brunswick to win last year's cup.For more information, including a list of great prizes from local businesses, click here

MacKinnon Knows City & University Are Good Partners

The Tucker park campus of UNB in Saint John expects to continue its great working relationship with the City of Saint John now that a new mayor and council are at the helm.
 
UNB Saint John Vice-President Robert MacKinnon tells CHSJ News he hears Mayor Mel Norton wants to work together to achieve common goals and he thinks that is what is happening.

He says he knows they will be consulting the university and keeping them informed and UNB Saint John wants to continue being a good partner with the City.

MacKinnon says Dr. Shelley Rinehart, a longtime employee of the university, offers a direct link to City Hall and he expects a great working relationship with her and the other members of common council.

Premier Will Urge Voters In Rothesay To Stay The Course

Premier David Alward is laying out what the Conservatives' campaign strategy will be to win the byelection in Rothesay. 

Alward says there will be no campaign promises made but he's denouncing the Liberals as a bunch of reckless tax and spenders who brought the province to the brink of bankruptcy while increasing the provincial debt by 50 per cent in four years.

Alward also accuses the Liberals of flip flopping on the issue of shale gas development pointing out it was the previous Graham Government that invited the industry in to the province.

Blaney did not attend the nomination meeting and when the Premier thanked her for her service, not everyone in the audience was clapping.

Conservatives Select Candidate For Rothesay Byelection

Almost 400 Conservatives jamming the Bill McGuire Centre in Renforth to choose Ted Flemming as their candidate for the June 25th provincial byelection in Rothesay.

Flemming, who's 57, is the grandson of former Premier Hugh John Flemming but tells CHSJ News this step wasn't inevitable, even considering his political lineage.
 
Flemming says he will run on the need for sound fiscal management warning we're headed for an abyss if something isn't done. He charges the Liberals are tax and spenders who created the fiscal mess. 

As for any voter backlash on the charge that former M-L-A Margaret Ann Blaney's appointment as C-E-O of Efficiency NB is nothing more than political patronage, Flemming concedes it will be an issue.

Woman Trapped In Highway Rollover

Two car crashes happening Friday evening and early this morning.

According to Public Safety Information Officer Joel Johnson, Simonds Fire Department responded to the first call around 6pm. On the scene they found a vehicle had rolled over on Route 820 and a woman was trapped. She was later transported to hospital with undetermined injuries.

The second call came in around 2:00 a.m.   This was a single vehicle accident on Route 820 near Upham.  There were no injuries.

The highway was closed to traffic for a short time while vehicles were removed.

Farmer's Market In The South End

Fresh, local, and sustainable--that's the idea behind the annual Queen Square Farmer's Market, which is celebrating its second year on June 17th. It's a popular event with 60 vendors already signed, up, and fun activities from hula hooping to yoga and live entertainment.

Jody Kliffer is organizing the market with his friend Brian Irving. He tells CHSJ News he's pleased with the variety of vendors this year as well as the level of interest the community has shown.

Kliffer says it's important to get people thinking about buying local, as well as enjoying a little-used green space in the South End.

For more information, you can check out their Facebook page here

EI Changes Will Impact Seasonal Workers

Changes to EI for season workers have an impact on everyone in the tourism industry-that from Fundy Trail manager Brian Clark. He tells tells CHSJ News there has been a lot of misinformation out there and it's making some workers nervous enough to start seeking out other jobs.

Clark says the changes could lead people doing seasonal work in more rural areas to take jobs in the city instead--and he wonders how the government expects those workers to be replaced.

Volunteer Fire Fighters Needed

With fewer fire fighters in the community due to budget cuts, volunteer fire fighters are an asset. But with no pay and long hours, some volunteer fire departments are struggling to find people who are interested in helping out.

St Martins Fire Chief Brian McKiel tells CHSJ News it's hard to recruit young people for such a labor-intensive  position because the hours are long and there isn't much in the way of compensation. He says some people even lose money if they get injured, although there is compensation available for volunteers in cases like that.

McKiel says they have a few new recruits in their teens and 20s who are completing their training, but most volunteer fire fighters are between 30 and 50 years old.

Brunswick Pipeline Hosting Exercise Tomorrow

Don't be alarmed....it's only a test.    That's the message for Musquash residents as Brunswick Pipeline hosts an mock exercise tomorrow morning.
 

Community Relations Manager Dina Bartolacci-Seely tells CHSJ News there will be extra people and emergecy vehicles but,they need to know that nothing is wrong.

She says it's training and there is no need to panic or to impact anyone's routine and no gas is being released.

The exercise will be run in the West Branch Musquash Road area between 9 to 11am.

RRPD Bike Auction Goes Tomorrow

Bikes, phones and even a GPS...just some of the items you can bid on at the annual Rothesay Regional Police bike auction.
Sgt. Mike Dickson tells CHSJ News the bike are found around the community.

He says some people donate them and some around found in parking lots, some are stolen and then left on people's lawns.

38 bikes will be going on the auction block tomorrow at the RRPD station at 126 Millennium Drive.
Viewing begins at 10am with the auction at 11am.
To see a list of the auction items, click here

24th Cruise Ship Season Starts Tuesday

The 24th cruise ship season begins on Tuesday with the arrival of Carnival Glory and winds up on October 29 with Brilliance of the Seas.

A tradition will continue this year with the presentation of the Explorer Telescope to the Captain Salvatore Rassello, commemorating the first cruise visit of the season on Tuesday.

The season will include 73 ships, more than 187,000 passengers and 74,000 crew and inaugural calls from Disney Magic on June 13th and four other lines.

Finance Minister Defends Cuts To Federal Budget

Three quarters of people who responded to a CHSJ News Poll say the Harper Government is cutting the federal budget too much and too fast. 

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who paid a visit to St. Martins, is defending the reductions as modest and moderate.

Flaherty says there will be money available for such projects as the Fundy Trail.

He also pulls no punches by warning there just won't be enough workers available in the future, even with immigration, to allow for the economy to grow.

Oromocto Man Dies In Highway 7 Crash

A 44 year old Oromocto man is the victim ofr a fatal crash on Highway 7 near Petersville Hill.

The man died at the scene as a result of his injuries. 

The collision occurred when his vehicle heading northbound crossed the centre line and struck a three quarter ton truck heading southbound. 

The driver of the truck was slightly hurt.

The name of the man is not being released at the request of the family.

Bill To Repeal City Pension Plan Being Introduced

Word from the legislature this morning that a bill to repeal the Saint John Pension Act is being introduced.

The new mayor and council passed a motion in a special meeting on Wednesday night to have the act repealed.

Mayor Mel Norton said this move will allow council to have more control over the pension without needing approval of the Legislature.

Awards Handed Out For Excellence In The City's Arts Community

Saint John honouring the best in its arts community during a big gala at the Imperial Theatre. 

Singer, songwriter and musician Stephanie Mainville was honoured for popular music. She tells CHSJ News to make a go of it in Saint John is a test of determination, endurance and perserverance.
 
The Saint John Theatre Company, its director Stephen Tobias, the Saint John String Quartet, Andrea Scott of the Port City Dance Academy, Jesse Ash and Jared Peters were among the winners. 

Commercial Properties was recognised for its patronage and tribute was paid to the late Dr. Tom Condon who was deeply involved in restoring the Imperial Theatre back in 1982.