Increase In Tuition Is Hurting Students and Workforce

Liberal MLA Chris Collins says the province is failing students with the removal of the tuition freeze.

Statistics Canada is reporting New Brunswick has the second highest tuition in the country after a 3.6 percent increase.

Collins is the Opposition Critic for Post-Secondary Affairs and he tells CHSJ News we need to slow down the rate hikes so education becomes more accessible and a skilled workforce is formed.

He says the province has also failed to protect students from increases to ancillary fees and student loans are now harder to access.

The provincial Liberals are also attacking the Alward government on the business front -- in the wake of the official launch of Invest NB, they want Alward to identify specific sectors of economic growth for the province.

Bullying Hotline Is Busy With School Now Underway

Rob Frenette with BullyingCanada says with the school year in full swing for the past few weeks, calls to his organization's help line has shot up dramtatically.

He tells CHSJ News while he normally gets about 500 calls a month -- so far he has received about 2000 calls.

He says he has already dealt directly with a few cases of bullying in Saint John schools.

He believes the increase in the call volume is because BullyingCanada has been doing aggressive marketing across the province.

He says the number of calls should go down as September, March Break, and the summer are typcially the peak times for bullying issues.

For more information about BullyingCanada, click here.

Atlantic Region Businesses Told To Expand Their Reach

Excluding the Irvings and McCains, businesspeople in the Atlantic Region have been criticised for not doing enough to make inroads in the emerging markets.

The General Manager of Enterprise Saint John Steve Carson tells CHSJ News it's not a matter of cost but it can be a challenge to break down barriers and open lines of communication. Carson does say because of the internet, we truly do operate in a global economy.

The sluggish U.S economy prompted Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to advise businesses in the region to look further afield to emerging markets like China when he spoke in Saint John.

Garnett Settlement Fire

Crews are at the scene of a fire on the Garnett Settlement Road.

Simonds Fire Department responding to the call and is receiving some help from the KV Fire department.

Bayview Elementary Unveils New Library

Bayview Elementary unveils a new library after a renovation courtesy of Irving Oil.

The project was announced back in March.

Student Injured At Aquatic Centre Passes Away

The 17 year old student from China, who nearly drowned last Sunday at the Aquatic Centre, has died. 

He had just started in Grade 11 at Simonds. The teen had been on a ventilator at the Regional Hospital since being pulled from the swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre and given C-P-R after it appeared he had stopped breathing. 

The circumstances of exactly what happened have not been released yet.

His mother and father are expected to be arriving in the city tomorrow from China.

Meantime, City Police are investigating after a 54 year old man was struck by a car yesterday afternoon around 3 at the intersection of Visart Street and Churchill Boulevard in the north end just across from Lansdowne Plaza.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Skateboard Park In Quispamsis Gets Go Ahead

Quispamsis Town Councillors are unanimous in their support for phase one of a skateboard and bike park to be located adjacent to the town hall. The price tag for phase one is 150 thousand dollars.

Jim Scott of Collabplan tells CHSJ News the location is unique because it will be built into the side of a hill unlike other skateboard parks in the region. 

There will various ramps included as well as pump rollers, a fun box along with other elements suggested by the young skateboarders.

Scott describes their contributions as invaluable to the project.

Finance Minister Sees Parallels Between Province And European Financial Woes

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says there are definite parallels with the province's debt problems and Europe's financial mess.

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney says Europe could solve their money problems if they exerted enough political will and Higgs says the same could be said of the province.

He says everyone needs to work together to balance the books.

He adds after a year as Finance Minister, he believes it's very possible to make it happen.

District 8 Saves Carpentry Program For This Year

District 8 doing what they can to help improve the skilled trades numbers in the Province.
With looming budget cuts, there are fears the popular carpenter training program may face the axe.
Rob Fowler says it gives high school kids a chance to get some training.

He says it's 6 weeks in the classroom and a co-op where the student in actually on a construction site getting hands on experience.

Fowler gives credit to Director of Finance Chris Toole and Acting Superintendent Robert Johnson
for finding the funding to keep the program around for this school year.

Financial Woes Of Europe and U.S.A. Should Not Worry Canadians

The Governor of the Bank of Canada is telling Canadians that the financial problems currently facing Europe and the U.S. have little bearing our country's bottom line.

Speaking at a business luncheon today in the city, Mark Carney says one shouldn't be paralyzed by the fiscal woes going on in Europe and the U.S.

He says the Bank of Canada is there to protect and boost and economy, such as keeping prices stable.
 
He says given the downturn in exports to the U.S., Canada needs to begin making headway into emerging markets like China.

The Give Gets Closer To Goal

The Region is stepping up for The Give 2011 as they get closer to their goal of $680,000 for a new stem cell therapy in Saint John.

St. Stephen Town Council donating $5,000 last night, the Sussex Health Centre Auxiliary giving $10,000 yesterday and last month PotashCorp gave $50,000 to the campaign.   The fundraiser also bring in $1500 dollars back in July at the Salty Jam Music Festival.

Dr. Terrence Comeau says doing stem cell treatment in Saint John will lead to natural spin-offs like gene therapy.

For more info, click here

Bank Governor Predicts Growth Will Resume

The Bank of Canada Governor says he expects economic growth will resume in the second half of this year.
And Mark Carney is telling a business luncheon here in the city he doesn't expect the U-S to slip back into recession although he admits the risk is now much higher.

Saint Johner Gets Post On Invest NB Board

 Saint John, the first stop today for the Premier as he launches Invest NB with a goal to attract foreign investment to the Province and improve our gross domestic product.
Premier David Alward unveiling Invest NB's new board of directors today and announcing the business plan framework.
Board Member Helena Cain of Bell Aliant in Saint John says Invest NB will bring focus.

She says having a private sector board that understands how to work in this province sends a strong message.

Premier Alward says in terms of foreign markets because of our location we will always look to the U.S. but also the Asian and South American markets.

Longshoremen In City Set Up Strike Headquarters

There's no indication a walkout will be happening anytime soon but, nevertheless, strike headquarters has been set up by longshoremen in the city not far from the port on the West Side.

Local 273 of the International Longshoremen's Association is negotiating with Logistec Stevedoring which has just signed a new long term deal to operate out of the port.

The two sides are in conciliation right now and no deadline has been announced for actual strike action.

CHSJ News has been told the strike headquarters was set up just in case a new agreement isn't worked out.

Premier Unveils Details About Invest N-B

Premier Alward, Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud and Invest NB's Robert MacLeod are launching the business plan framework and announcing members of the board of directors at news conference underway at the Delta.

The new crown corporation aims to increase the provincial gross domestic product by $293 million over the next three years.

The board members include Denis Losier of Assumption Life, Helena Cain of Bell Aliant and Eddy Campell of UNB.

Some People In Red Head Advised To Boil Their Water

There's a precautionary boil water advisory in effect for those people who live in the Harbourview Subdivision.

This comes about because Saint John Water is introducing chlorinated water from the Ocean Drive well into the system. The chlorinated water will be phased in over a period of several days.

The boil water advisory is to ensure the water you drink meets Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. We're told you will be notified door to door when the boil water advisory is lifted.

Teenager Remains In Critical Condition After Near-Drowning

A 17 year old international student from China remains in critical condition at the Regional Hospital after a near drowning Sunday afternoon at the Aquatic Centre.

He had just registered to attend Simonds High and his mom and dad are expected in the city later this week from China to be with him.

Sgt. Glen Hayward with the Saint John Police Force says foul play is not suspected and police are still looking into what caused the incident.

He says the lifeguards acted accordingly but he would not confirm whether a health issue caused the near-drowning.

Premier Visits The Port City Tomorrow

Premier David Alward will be in the City tomorrow morning for a economic development announcement.   The same announcement is also happening in Moncton and Campbellton later in the day.

The Premier will be joined by Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud and Robert MacLeod CEO of the Invest NB.

The announcement gets underway here in Saint John at 9 tomorrow morning at the Delta.

Rothesay Woman Receives Honour In Ottawa Tonight

A Rothesay woman receiving national recognition from Canadian Blood Services tonight for her many donations over the years.

Judy Morgan tells CHSJ News she first learned of blood donation as a little girl when her dad with rare blood was called to donate in emergency situations.

She says it was really in her to give and she also became a medical lab technologist so the importance of giving blood began to hit home.

Morgan will be recognized this evening in the national Canadian Blood Services "Honouring Our Lifeblood" ceremony in Ottawa tonight.

Together with her husband, Martin, the Morgans have donated blood and plasma 500 times.

Housing Starts Will Continue To Slump For The Next Few Years

Housing starts in Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton are down about 28 percent this year and Claude Gautreau with the Canada Mortage and Housing Corporation says that slump won't be changing soon.

Gautreau tells CHSJ News housing starts are cyclical and because the province peaked around 2008, the numbers will continue to dip into the foreseeable future.

He says the market should pick back up in about 2 to 3 years.