More than 281-thousand dollars has been raised in New Brunswick by the Movember event in support of prostate health and awareness. Members of the New Brunswick legislature posed for a picture today with many sporting moustaches of their own.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Legislature Supports Movember
More than 281-thousand dollars has been raised in New Brunswick by the Movember event in support of prostate health and awareness. Members of the New Brunswick legislature posed for a picture today with many sporting moustaches of their own.
Tax Assessment Dollars From The Province Should Go To Saving Transit Service
Ten employees will be laid off, five workers will see their hours reduced, and 20-thousand hours of service will be cut on Boxing Day due to tightening budgets.
Tom McGraw tells CHSJ News the union is trying to get the message out to Common Council and transit needs only 900-thousand dollars to maintain the current level of service.
He says 21 million dollars in gas tax funding could also be used to boost transit but it been earmarked for water projects.
The Commute Will Be Easier Tonight
The trek across the Harbour Bridge will be even easier this afternoon.
The eastbound Chesley Drive on-ramp is open to traffic once again.
Work continues on the area of the former toll plaza and is scheduled to be completed in the next few weeks.
Earlier this month, the west bound lanes of the Harbour Bridge re-opened after being closed since the spring for a major overhaul.
At the time, Transportation Minister Claude Williams told CHSJ News the bridge project is on budget and he remains confident the east bound lanes will be completed during the construction season next year.
Overnight Parking Restrictions Begin Tomorrow
For most of the City, there is absolutely no on-street parking between midnight and 7 a.m.
City spokesperson Leah Fitzgerald tells CHSJ News there are exceptions, like in the lower west side, north end, and the Mount Pleasent area.
The South Central Peninsula works on a year-round alternate side parking arrangement outside of a snow ban.
The Saint John Parking Commission is also offering a new online parking space matching service.
The site will match residents with property owners with available off-street parking spots. It will launch in the coming days.
For more information on parking restrictions, click here.
For information on the matching service, click here.
Anti-Nuclear Groups Gear Up For Lepreau Hearing
Larry Lack of the Lepreau Decommissioning Coalition says the relationship between the regulator and the nuclear industry is too cosy and they're turning a blind eye to any concerns.
The Conservation Council is also warning the next significant earthquake in the province is expected to be in the area of Passamaquoddy Bay. The anti-nuclear groups are calling for a rigorous environmental assessment along with a Royal Commission into the future of the nuclear industry.
Michel Duguay has a Ph.D in nuclear physics and used to be an advocate of nuclear power but now says a much better bet would be to invest taxpayer dollars in wind energy because that's where alot of private investment is headed.
He maintains wind power from the Gulf of St. Lawrence has the same potential to generate as much energy as Saudi Arabia does with oil.
Dr. Gordon Edwards is President of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and warns an industrial accident at Lepreau would devastate the provincial economy. He also brands the refurbishment of Point Lepreau with the delays and cost overruns "incompetent.
A public forum on nuclear power is being held tonight at the Fort Howe Hotel starting at 7:30.
More Layoffs In City
The Saint John economy will be taking another hit over the next several months with 78 layoffs at Irving Oil.
The company says the workers are losing their jobs because the finance and I-T departments are being consolidated into one division.
Irving Oil President Mike Ashar recently told CHSJ News the refining business was going through a down cycle.
These job losses follow the recent announcement at Moosehead about 27 administrative jobs being eliminated.
West Side Fire May Have Been Deliberately Set
Fire Crews were called to 182 Rodney Street West shortly after 7 last night.
District Chief Peter Saab says there was heavy fire coming from the rear of the building which then spread to the roof.
Firefighters spent three hours at the scene to make sure all the hot spots on the roof were extinguished.
10 people have been forced out of their apartments because of the damage.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sea Dogs Take Part In Raise The Roof
80 per cent of the of the proceeds will go to Saint John Youth House, a planned housing facility for homeless and at-risk youth and the rest will help support initiatives across the country.
Colin McDonald, Project Coordinator for Saint John Youth House says the campaign brings added financial resources to address an important issue in this community and raises awareness about youth homelessness in Saint John.
Members of the Sea Dogs will be presented with the toques at Harbour Station tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.
Students Protest Lack of Quiet Study Spaces at UNB Saint John
UNB Saint John students are making some noise about too much noise
3rd year student Samantha Tinker is petitioning the university to decrease the amount of noise at the new commons building or to provide more quiet study spaces.
Tinker tells CHSJ News finding a place to study shouldn't be a hassle as she is paying thousands of dollars to get a quality education.
Grad student Jonathan Simmons signed the petition because the new commons building has become too much of a social hub and a lack of quiet spaces can really hurt grades.
3rd year student Samantha Tinker is petitioning the university to decrease the amount of noise at the new commons building or to provide more quiet study spaces.
Tinker tells CHSJ News finding a place to study shouldn't be a hassle as she is paying thousands of dollars to get a quality education.
Grad student Jonathan Simmons signed the petition because the new commons building has become too much of a social hub and a lack of quiet spaces can really hurt grades.
Tinker says the school has increased the hours of the commons building to provide more study time but that is not what she is after.
She expects to have a few hundred signatures by the end of the day and suggests that the Ward Chipman Library be re-opened as a study area.
Watermain Break On City Road
City crews are working to fix a watermain break on City road near Stanley Street.
A crew was called in about 11:30 this morning to respond to the watermain break and the section of pipe has been isolated.
It should take most of the day to fix.
Saint John Water responds to approximately 70 breaks in the drinking water distribution system every winter.
Salvation Army Trumpeter On King Street
Walkers on King Street today treated to some Christmas classics while the Salvation Army fundraises for the annual red kettle campaign.
Pregnancy Committee Using Video & Social Media To Reach Teens
It features a Facebook page and locally produced videos featuring local teens.
Chair Penny Higdon tells CHSJ News Saint John has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the province and it's almost double the national rate.
She thinks involving teens in the process might be a better strategy than always having adults talk about it.
19-year-old Sarah Woodword is featured in one of the videos and become involved through the Teen Resource Centre.
She found it emotionally and physically difficult to be around crying babies adding something you can't soothe a baby even if it's your own.
Higdon says the Committee's vision is a future where pregnancies are planned and desired and happen at a time when it will not limit future opportunities.
To see the video, click here
New Plan On Recreation In The City For The Next Generation
Over 200 community and recreation groups have been invited to take part.
City planner Sara Herring tells CHSJ News the city has too many recreation facilities for the size of the population and with budget constraints, it's becoming harder to maintain all of them so there will have to be some streamlining.
She says recreation needs in the future will change as well because of an aging population.
There is an open house and workshop being held from 4:30 until 8:00 tomorrow.
Retirement Age Needs To Be Increased To Fight Pension Deficits
President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Catherine Swift says more steps need to be taken by our city and others who are struggling with huge pension deficits.
She tells CHSJ News retirement ages need to be increased in the public sector because people are living longer and pensions were not built to be paid out 30 years after retirement.
She says another big step is to move away from defined benefit plans and switch to combination plans that do not punish the retiree excessively.
She tells CHSJ News retirement ages need to be increased in the public sector because people are living longer and pensions were not built to be paid out 30 years after retirement.
Our Listeners Do Not Want More VLT's
Tarah says this is why Facebook needs a dislike button adding it's everyone's choice to gamble but, the need for one at every street corner is ridiculous.
Aimee says if taxes are constantly going up then why do we always seem to be getting less services for what we pay. She can't believe they would add more addicting machines just to line their own corporate pockets. She says this is what the Occupy movement is all about--corporate greed.
Francina says it's a terrible thing to feel that the Government is so attached to a five letter word called "greed".
Join the conversation on our Facebook page, click here
Bus Strike Looms Larger
Local 1229 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, representing bus drivers, mechanics and customer service reps, is reporting members have voted 88 per cent to reject the company's latest contract offer.
The union withdrew a strike notice last week so that Acadian Lines could present a new proposal but the president of local 1229 Glen Carr says it's obvious the company's latest offer was put together quickly.
More Video Lottery Terminals For Province
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation wants to install up to 75 more V-L-T's in the province.
Bids have been opened for the operation of three new gaming sites. Two of them in Saint John and the other one would be in Fredericton.
City Loses Garbage Truck In Blaze
There was heavy smoke emanating from the cab portion of the garbage truck when fire crews arrived.
The sprinkler system was activated and the building, itself, sustained what is termed signifcant smoke and water damage.
The garbage truck is a complete loss.
Snook Upset Over Lack Of Details On New Government System
Council is contemplating on making the switch, which would have various councillors sitting on 5 major committees that deal with major issues like transportation and city growth.
Councillor Donnie Snook was upset because he wanted more information before moving forward.
He say he wants to know how transparent and accessible the new form of government would be for citizens.
He adds it's ironic that the new system is being touted as more transparent for everyone yet he is lacking key details about the process.
Council voted in favour of asking representatives from the city of Fredericton to make a presentation to the city as it currently uses a standing committee system.
Councillor and Mayor Get Into Spat
Court took umbrage over Farren's comment that if the Mayor gets to appoint which councillor heads each of the standing committees, it would be "kingdom building."
Court told Farren that if he can't respect the chair of the meeting, then he could leave the chambers.
Farren countered that the Mayor should show respect as well and they can talk about that issue right now.
Court told Farren they should go outside but both ended up staying put.
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