Two Parades Today

It's double parade day in the city and out in the valley -- the Lancaster Santa Claus Parade kicks off at 1pm on Main Street West and will make it's way towards Catherwood Street and Fairville Boulevard.

Parade Chair Blaine Harris tells CHSJ News 65 floats are taking part this year.

For those in the valley, the 13th Annual Santa Claus parade kicks off tonight at KVHS at 6 o'clock.  The parade will go along the Hampton Road.

You're being asked to bring food donations to both events.

Report Says CBS Move Will Have Huge Economic Impact

Enterprise Saint John commissioning a report on the economic impact of Canadian Blood Services moving to Dartmouth on the city and province.


Jupia Consultants of Moncton finds the business case for moving does not seem strong and questions why New Brunswick taxpayers should foot a large portion of the cost when it's the Nova Scotia facility that needed to be replaced.

The report also says decisions like this should include an assessment of the local economic impacts.


In terms of numbers, Jupia Consultants claims the move will result in 1 million dollars in direct employment income lost and 31 jobs.


It says the lost GDP impact will be over 1.2 million dollars and lost taxation to government exceeds $400,000.

Drug Bust In Rothesay

This had to turn a few heads...RCMP and the Rothesay Regional Police arresting three people in a mall parking lot on Lacey Drive about 7 last night.
It's the result of a joint investigation into the trafficking of prescription drugs.

A 28-year-old woman and man along with a 34-year-old man taken into custody without incident and police seizing a quantity of prescription drugs and cash.

The two 28-year-olds are due in court in March while the other man remains in custody for a parole violation.

Port Makes $4000 Food Donation

The food banks in every corner of Saint John will have full cupboards for a while thanks to a donation from the Saint John Port Authority.
Esther Shanks of the Community Food Basket on Charlotte Street tells CHSJ News it began as a temporary measure in 1984.

She calls that an absolute disgrace but, she's not blaming the city adding she's never been in a city more generous than Saint John.  Saint John Port Authority CEO Jim Quinn says part of the reason they can provide this help to the food banks is because of the support already given to the Joshua Group.

Quinn says they raised $36,000 for the Joshua Group ahead of schedule and we able to divert fundraising efforts to other local groups.

The Port Authority giving a donation of food and other goods totalling $4000 to the North, West, East and Uptown food banks.

Tree Lighting Ceremony Tonight

The city will be getting into the Christmas spirit tonight with its 27th annual tree lighting ceremony.

There will be carollers, treats, and a visit from Santa.

Everyone is invited and it gets underway at 6 o'clock at the Loyalist Plaza next to Market Square.

Housing Alternatives Celebrates 30 Years

Housing Alternatives getting honoured with a community breakfast today as it celebrates 30 years of helping to develop affordable housing in Saint John.

Brenda Murphy is the Coordinator for the Urban Core Support Network and she tells CHSJ News while great strides have been made, more affordable housing is needed in the city as there are hundreds still on waiting lists.

She says the group is the unsung hero on this issue.

Housing Alternatives manages 550 units in the city.

President Of One Change Honoured By The "Y"

The YM-YWCA is honouring the President of One Change, Scott Crawford with its 2011 Peace Medal.

Crawford says residents of the old north end are not just sitting back and waiting for others to make their neighbourhood better.

The projects on the go include setting up a computer training centre and, with the help of doctors, a new model health centre to better deliver primary healthcare in the priority neighbourhoods.
 
One Change also has made a proposal to the city to take over the day to day running of the North End Community Centre.

Seinfeld To Visit Saint John

Now here's a stocking stuffer to get excited about: Tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld when he visits Harbour Station next year.

The actor most famous for his show about nothing is returning to his first love--stand-up comedy.

The tour will visit Saint John on February 3 and tickets go on sale next Saturday at 10am.

Ticket prices ranges from $55 to $105 dollars.

For ticket info, click here

Bus Strike Averted For Time Being

It was feared bus service between cities in this province and Prince Edward Island might be disrupted by strike action within 72 hours but that's not going to happen.    

The union representing Acadian Lines employees gave the company strike notice  yesterday but has now withdrawn it.

A new offer will be presented to the union on the issues still in dispute and a vote on that proposal by bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance workers will be held Sunday and Monday.

If the offer is rejected, December 2nd is being talked about as the new date for strike action if it comes to pass.

    

Prostitution Arrests Made By City Police

City Police making another sweep through the Village area around Waterloo and Cobourg Streets where the sex trade seems to flourish. 

Two women in their thirties will be charged in early January with communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Province Releases Totals For Unconditional Grants

Municipalities, rural communities and local service districts will receive $69,012,690 in unconditional grants in 2012.

Saint John will be receiving about 19 million dollars while Quispamsis is getting over 800-thousand and Rothesay a little over 400-thousand.

Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News with these figures coming in along with provincial assessments, the town budget for next year will be finalized soon.

He believes the town will be able to hold the tax rate.

There was a slight reduction in funding overall and local service districts will see a slight increase in taxes to reflect administration costs in LSD's.

2012 Municipal Tax Base Released

The province releasing the 2012 municipal tax base and Saint John and the surrounding areas are all in the black ink.

Figures show the tax base in Saint John has gone up by about 319 million dollars while assessments in Quispamsis sand Rothesay have also gone up -- 85 million and 45 million respectively.

According to Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch, the tax bases for municipalities and rural communities have increased by $1.95 billion.

That means $29.5 million in new tax revenue.

Students Ready For Tin Can Challenge

Get ready to see some crazy shapes like boats and dragons made from canned goods -- the 4th Annual Tin Can Challenge takes place tonight which has students compete in a giant sculpture-building contest in order to raise awareness about homelessness and the needy.

Project Coordinator Colin McDonald tells CHSJ News we have a homelessness problem here in the city but it tends to be hidden as we don't have clusters of people on the streets.

He says homeless youth tend to couch surf until they overstay their welcome.

He adds we need to have an emergency shelter for youth that will get them off the street as quickly as possible.

The 4th Annual Tin Can Challenge gets underway at 7 o'clock at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal.

Flag Flies For AIDS Awareness Week

There's a new flag on the flying on the pole outside of city hall.

The Mayor raising a flag for AIDS Awareness Week.

Executive Director of AIDS Saint John Julie Dingwell tells CHSJ News there are still a lot of misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, such as some people believing there is currently a cure for the disease.

She says stigma and discrimination is still present for people with HIV and they're afraid if people found out they are infected, it would cost them their job or home.

According to the Canadian AIDS Society, the cost of HIV is $1.3 Million per person infected.

Municipal Operations Defends Street Plowing In the Storm

The City's Municipal Operations department defending it's work clearing streets and sidewalks in yesterday's storm.
Kevin Rice tells CHSJ News says the City's equipment and personnel were as prepared as they possibly could be.

He says the motorists on the road did not have winter tires and did not drive appropriate to the conditions.  Rice tells us he takes issue with comments being made that they were not prepared and the roads were in bad shape.

Rice says he'd invite people to look at all other municipalities in the Maritimes along with bigger cities including Montreal and Ottawa who experienced the very same conditions yesterday.

Plowing By Province During Storm Criticised

It likely won't help as you are shovelling out but yesterday's snowfall was record-breaking.

With 20 centimetres by last night, we shattered a 55-year-old record set back in 1956 when when got 17.5 centimetres.

(Photo Courtesy of Joe Comeau)

Not everyone is happy with the plowing that was done. Carter Lang, who works at Point Lepreau and lives along Route 845 on the Kingston Peninsula, tells CHSJ News he barely made it home last night and the plowing that was done is in stark contrast to the standards in past years.

Lang fears what will happen in the rural areas this winter if more snowplows are taken out of service because of the sky high deficit.

Saint John Cleans Up After Getting Hammered

The cleanup continues this morning in the aftermath of the first snowstorm of the season which hit Saint John hard. 

City Police say there were more than 50 crashes by late afternoon but curiously just a few in the Valley. The most serious collision involved three vehicles on Loch Lomand Road by the Villa that sent one man to hospital. 

20 centimeters of snow had fallen by 9 last night. By contrast Yarmouth got only 4 centimeters and just a dusting in Fredericton but Halifax received 31 centimeters.

The Department of Transportation says it will be in charge of the winter maintenance along the Harbour Bridge at a cost of 275 thousand dollars.

The long range weather forecast is calling for milder temperatures beginning tomorrow lasting right through next Thursday and we are expecting rain on Sunday night.

Gas Prices Drop

You'll be paying less for gas after the weekly setting.

Self serve regular has dropped again by over 2 cents a litre while diesel has also gone down by almost 3 and a half cents. 

Heating Oil is also lower at $1.19.7 a litre. That's a decline of almost 3 cents while propane did go up by almost a cent to $1.16.3.

CEO Of Canadian Blood Services Says Safety Concerns Are Unwarranted

The CEO of Canadian Blood Services writing an open letter to all New Brunswick to clarify what he calls misconceptions about the consequences of moving its production lab from Saint John to Darthmouth.

Dr. Graham Sher (Sheer) tells CHSJ News one of the biggest falsehoods is the idea that there will be a shortage of blood in the city.

He says two-thirds of all blood in Canada is already stored at hospitals and CBS will also keep an inventory of blood products in the city.

He adds there will be no preferential treatment to hospitals in Halifax simply because the production site is closer.

Child Poverty Rate Down, Youth Unemployment Up

14,000 children in this province lives in poverty. That alarming statistic based on 2009 is actually a bit lower than the previous year.
Human Development Council Executive Director Randy Hatfield tells CHSJ News the 2009 information may not reflect what is happening now.

He says looking at more current data this province has some serious issues with both social assistance caseloads and food back usage up.

He says they were struck by the level of youth unemployment with 18.34 per cent of 15 to 24 year olds unemployed.  That stat does not include students.