Taxi Drivers Concerned About By-Law Changes

Attention Saint John taxi drivers--recommended changes to the city's Taxi By-Law could have a big effect on how you do business. Taxi industry employees will get a chance to weigh in at a meeting to be held Sunday afternoon.

The By-Law review committee has recommended several changes to the by-law, including meters, training, insurance, and a 7-year age limit for taxis.

Christine Saumure is the chair of the Saint John Taxi Advisory Committee. She says it's that last point that is worrying a lot of drivers, who have expressed their concerns.

The information session happens today, January 15th, from 4pm-6pm at the Somerset Community Centre in the North End Police Station. Anyone who wants to air questions and concerns is invited to attend.

Attempted Robbery on Saint James Street

No one was injured in an attempted robbery on Saint James Street yesterday evening.

A man walked into the south end Fish & Chip take-out and brandished a weapon at an employee of the store.

When another customer entered the store, he got scared and took off on foot.

Police say they're still looking for the man.

Mayor Presses On With Blood Services Symposium

A symposium about enhancing blood services in the city will press on despite the province closing the door on starting its own blood service.

Mayor Ivan Court chairs the committee that is running the event.  He tells CHSJ News despite reassurances from Canadian Blood Services he says safety is still an issue for him, as well as the economic impact the lost jobs will have on the city and the future of healthcare in the province.

He says services need to be enhanced and not stripped down, which he believes will still happen when the production lab moves to Dartmouth in 2013.

He says Canadian Blood Services will be attending the event and he hopes the premier or other provincial politicians show up as well.

The symposium takes place at the Trade and Convention Centre on January 24th.

Name of Car Crash Victim Released

RCMP have released the name of the driver who died following a crash along Ketchum Road on the peninsula yesterday.

57-year old Gail Coggan of Kingston was killed when her car went out of control on her way home during yesterday's storm, slid off the road and rolled down an embankment. Road conditions were slippery at the time of the crash. She died at the scene.

Hair-Cutting Incident at Hampton Middle School

Superintendent of School District 6 Gary Hall says the school is working with RCMP over an incident at Hampton Middle school.

He tells CHSJ News a student was held down yesterday and a piece of her hair was cut off.

He says two students were involved.

According to the RCMP, a complaint was filed today by the girl's mother.

Police Make Drug Bust In North End

Police seizing 35-thousand dollars worth of prescription pills, cocaine, and crack in a raid of a North End home yesterday morning.

RCMP and Saint John Police also found a loaded handgun.

44 year old Troy Anthony Beveridge of Saint John appeared in Provincial Court this morning. He was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and also for possession of a loaded firearm.  Beveridge was remanded to the Saint John Regional Correctional Center until Monday, when he will return to Provincial Court for a bail hearing.

Police Looking For Info On 2 Unsolved Cases

City Police are looking for new information related to two unsolved fatal hit and run cases.

In September of 2002, Roger Cameron was struck at around 3 in the morning while heading home on Rothesay Avenue.  He was hit from behind by what was described as a light blue Lumina van.

70-year-old Gilbert Savoie was killed in 20006 while he was crossing Loch Lomond Road. He was struck by a which was believed to be a beige 1992 or 1995 Mazda.

If you have any information, contact the police force or Crimestoppers.

CEO of Canadian Blood Services Says Province Made The Right Move

The CEO of Canadian Blood Services Dr. Graham Sher says remaining with CBS is the best option for the province.

He says by staying with a national system, patients and the medical community in the province can be assured of a safe and secure blood supply.

The province has announced it will be forming a watchdog group with various medical and advisory groups to ensure that safety will not be compromised.

Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On Blood Decision

One of the critics of transferring the blood production lab from Millidgeville to Dartmouth was Dr. Jim Parrot, a renowned heart surgeon who's now the M-L-A for Fundy-River Valley. 

Dr. Parrot tells CHSJ News he would have preferred the transfer not take place but, at least, the Alward Government avoided total closure. 

Dr. Parrot tells CHSJ News the province went to war with Canadian Blood Services and he believes what was negotiated is significant. 

The New Brunswick Medical Society will be keeping a close eye on the quality of the blood supply and Dr. Parrot maintains what was negotiated is far better than the original plan which would have seen the building shuttered and even blood collection moved to Moncton which isn't going to happen.

Saint John Being Considered For Canadian Blood Services Contact Centre

A Canadian Blood Services contact centre could be coming to the city in the wake of the loss of the blood production lab to Dartmouth.

CBS says it may open a centre that would handle appointments, follow-ups, and support national CBS programs.

A decsion has not been finalized and no word yet on how many jobs would be created.  Winnipeg, Kingston, Moncton, and Halifax are also being considered as locations for the contact centre.

Province Staying With Canadian Blood Services

The provincial government says it will stick with Canadian Blood Services as it's blood provider, despite it moving its blood production lab from Saint John to Dartmouth in 2013.

Health Minister Madeline Dubé says the province cannot afford to start it's own blood system as well as assume the risk and liability that comes with it.

She says staying with a national program has numerous benefits, such as being part of the national organ donation program.

She adds during the dicussions, the province managed to convince CBS to keep other blood products in Saint John.

Woman Killed On Kingston Peninsula

A 57-year-old Kingston woman is dead following a crash along the Ketchum Road on the peninsula.
 
The collision occurred when her car went out of control on her way home during yesterday's storm, slid off the road and rolled down an embankment. 

Road conditions were slippery at the time of the crash. The woman died at the scene as a result of her injuries.

Her name is not being released until her family has been properly notified.

BREAKING NEWS - Alward Government Stays With Canadian Blood Services

The Alward government says it will continue its relationship with Canadian Blood Services - that rules out setting up a provincial blood agency to handle blood production.
C-B-S is consolidating its blood production services at a new facility in Halifax closing out its Millidgeville production facility.
More details shortly.

BREAKING NEWS - Alward Government Blood Decision Coming

The Alward government will announce its decision on whether it will proceed with a provincial blood services agency within the hour.
A news conference is being at the Centennial Building in Fredericton at ten this morning - speculation is mounting the governing Conservatives will back away from going it along because of the costs involved.
The Canadian Blood Services is consolidating its operations at a new facility in Halifax -- the University Avenue Blood Services location will become a donation centre only.

First Snowstorm Of Year Hits City

Saint John getting its first big snowstorm of the year. 17 centimeters of snow fell at Saint John Airport according to Environment Canada. Gagetown got 13 and Moncton 19 centimeters. 

All schools are open in the Saint John area but the schoolbuses in districts 6, 8 and 10 along with Samuel de Champlain will all be running one hour late this morning. 

Schools in District 17 are closed for the day.

(Photo courtesy of Joe Comeau)

Layoffs Not Expected At Canaport LNG Despite Sluggish Natural Gas Industry

The amount of liquefied natural gas going through the Canaport LNG terminal this year will match or be slightly below 2011 levels.

General Manager of Canaport LNG Adolfo Azcárraga says the terminal will operate at about 40 percent capacity but employment levels will not be affected.  He says most receiving terminals operate at about 60 percent capacity.

Meanwhile, the Director of LNG North America for Repsol Phillip Ribbeck says demand for natural gas has been low recently due to the warm weather and high supplies.

He says his company is focused on making money over time and in any scenario.

About 100 people work at Canaport LNG.

We May Get 15 Centimetres Of Snow

The first significant snowfall of the new year may bring 15 centimetres.
Environment Canada Meterologist Linda Libby tells CHSJ News in the changeover from snow to rain after midnight we may see ice pellets or freezing rain.

Libby says we're looking at up to 15 centimetres by midnight with blowing snow.

Some flights are cancelled in and out of the Saint John airport, so before you make the trek out you should call ahead and check on your flight.

To see our list of cancellations, click here

Ambassador Of Qatar Visits New Brunswick

The Ambassador of Qatar for Canada paying his first visit to New Brunswick today.

Salem Murbarak Al-Shafi visiting the Canaport LNG terminal -- the State of Qatar signed a multi-year agreement to supply liquefied natural gas to Repsol Energy Canada back in 2010.

Al-Shafi says it was great to be at the terminal during the arrival of a vessel from Qatar.

He adds he is impressed with the facility's focus on the environment and involvement in the community.

Student Numbers In City Will Drop For Years Ahead

Future enrollment numbers in School District 8 don't look good. According to provincial estimates, the student numbers at high schools in the city will continue declining over the next 12 years.
 
Bob McDevitt of the District 8 Education Council has been doing some number crunching and even though the school district would like to maintain 4 viable high schools in the city, he concedes that may not be possible over the long term but the big question would be which of the high schools would close.
 
The school district meantime is forecasting a deficit of almost 466 thousand dollars with principals told to be careful with their spending. Minor repairs are being deferred and professional development cut back.

Public Consultation On School Closures Was Not Just Lip Service

The recommendation from the District 8 Education Council to keep Morna Heights school from closing shows public consultation is not a waste of time. So says Rob Fowler who chairs the District Education Council. 

He tells CHSJ News they listened to what the parents had to say and they made a strong case to keep their local school open. 

The recommendation, which also includes building a new school in Grand Bay-Westfield, goes to Provincial Education Jody Carr. Fowler says nothing is going to happen for a few years yet so he doesn't expect a decision anytime soon.