City Crews Prepping For Messy Weekend Weather

The City's snow removal crews will be out in force this weekend to keep the streets safe during the forecasted storm. Folks are reminded to take advantage of off-street parking whenever possible.

Crews are preparing for both rainfall and snowmelt. They'll be inspecting catch basins in known trouble spots to make sure they'll be open and ready to handle all the run off.

If you have any concerns about snow removal, you're encourage to report them by calling 658-4455. To learn more about how the city handles winter storms, visit saintjohn.ca/winter.

Stephen Says Robocall Scandal Did Not Impact Weston's Campaign

Saint John MP Rodney Weston's campaign manager is not aware any robocall or automated calls during the campaign last year.

Jason Stephen tells CHSJ News it's suspicious that someone is claiming Elections Canada had called them adding there has never been a situation in the past where they actually call people.

He says there is no reason for Elections Canada to call a voter adding they wouldn't have anybody's phone number.

When asked if he thought the robocall scandal has undermined the legitimacy of hte Harper government's majority, he tells CHSJ News we all have a fundamental belief in the democratic process.

Pension Board Trustee Says Even Friends Do Not Believe Him

Pension board trustee Fred Slipp detailing the fallout he has been dealing with thanks to the accusations and innuendo levelled against the pension board by former city councillor John Ferguson.

The board is suing Ferguson for defamation.

Slipp says he would hear snide remarks when speaking to his co-workers.  One time he was buying gas at Canadian Tire and a co-worker remarked that he had a really nice car.

He testified that even a close friend has told him they believe John Ferguson and something is amiss with the pension board.

Slipp says he doesn't know how to fight the allegations but if the board wins the lawsuit, at least the board will be vindicated in the public record.

Slipp will be cross-examined on Monday.

City Police Looking For Missing Girl

The City police's Major Crime Unit looking for the public's help in finding a missing 20 year old girl.

Cassie Lloyd was was last seen about 11am on Monday February 20 at her home in the city's south end.

She's described as being 5'0" tall, weighing about 100 lbs with a slim build, hazel eyes and shoulder length blonde hair.
When last seen, she was wearing a 3/4 length red jacket, blue jeans and knee high black boots.

If you have seen her call police at 648-3333 or 648-3211.

Cardy Is Not Impressed With The Alward Shuffle

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy isn't impressed with Premier David Alward's mini cabinet shuffle.

He tells CHSJ News he doesn't think we can expect much more from Rothesay MLA Margaret Ann Blaney as Energy Minister adding she completely mishandled the wetlands file while in Environment.

He says putting Margaret Ann Blaney in as Energy Minister gives a complete green light to fracking.

Cardy dismissively says Craig Leonard has been demoted from Energy Minister to the Minister in charge of stationary.

Totten Says Common Council Would Not Okay Radical Change To Pension Plan

Former City Manager Terry Totten finishing up his cross examination at the defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson.

Totten concedes questions posed by Ferguson in 2005 about the city's pension plan were appropriate but isn't sure when they were responded to.

Totten testified he's not an expert on pensions which prompted Ferguson's lawye Rod Gillisr to question whether it would not have been better to hire a pension expert rather than spend money sending pension board trustees to Vegas, California, Hawaii and Florida. 

Totten told the jury by 2007, he didn't know what to do about the rising pension plan deficit.  

Gillis tried to pin Totten down on if he ever specifically recommended the city move from defined benefits to defined contributions. Totten maintains he recommended Common Council investigate that but couldn't get approval to which Gillis replied so it's Council's fault.

Merrithew To Run In Ward 4

A Saint John investment advisor is looking to represent East Saint John at Common Council.
David Merrithew is running in Ward 4.

He tells CHSJ News despite his famous uncle, Gerry, he has never pursued public office before now.

He says he likes to get involved in his own city adding he's a passionate volunteer and this just seemed natural.

Merrithew says everyone is concerned about the pension fund deficit adding it's almost one-fifth of a billion dollars.

Council Candidate Speaks Out On SPCA Issues

A fallout between the SPCA Rescue League and the city has Ward 4 candidate Ray Strowbridge taking notice.

The SPCA will no longer be handling animal control in the city after a budget dispute.

Strowbridge tells CHSJ News it's an important issue that needs to be sorted out as animal control cannot be taken for granted.

He says controlling stray animals prevents possible injuries to people but furry citizens need protection as well.

He says the city also turned down reasonable requests from the SPCA, such as receiving snow plow service instead of money, and use of a city vehicle.
 
The city's bylaw enforcement office is currently handling animal control.

City School Mourns Former Student

Staff and students at Simonds High are in shock to hear of the passing of former student Mathieu Leclair.

He was attending Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario and he is identified as the cadet pulled from Lake Ontario this week.
 
Principal Gary Keating tells CHSJ News that Mathieu was highly respected and loved by the teachers and students at Simonds.

He says Mathieu had great leadership qualities who thoroughly enjoyed Simonds high and was the 2009 grad class president.

Keating says Leclair was also an athlete playing basketball and he won a huge scholarship to attend Royal Military College.

Former City Manager Fails To Name Defamatory Statements

Totten getting cross examined by defence lawyer Rod Gillis in the defamation lawsuit against Ferguson.

Former city manager Terry Totten failing to identify any defamatory statements made about the pension board by former city councillor John Ferguson during a presentation to council.

Gillis also asked Totten as to why he never brought up possible solutions to the city's pension problems during his time on the pension board or as city manger, such as removing indexing, putting caps back in, and going from a defined benefits plan to a defined contribution plan.

Totten says he never brought up those concerns, as either a pension trustee or city manager, because he believed council would never make such drastic changes and the pension plan needed to stay competitive.

Totten resumes his testimony tomorrow at 9 at the Court of Queen's Bench.

The Premier Shuffles Blaney To Energy

Margaret-Ann Blaney will leave her post as environment minister to become energy minister, taking over for Craig Leonard.    Leonard will lead the newly created Department of Government Services.

In January, the Opposition Liberals called for Leonard to be removed from energy after he said he would no longer comment on natural gas issues because it could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Leonard's sister recently became a lobbyist for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and before that she was a civil servant helping the province develop shale gas regulations.
 
At the time, the premier's office said Leonard was not in a conflict as energy minister.
  

Mel Norton Takes A Run At The Big Chair

It's offical...Saint John's newest councillor is going for the big chair and will run for mayor.

Mel Norton tells CHSJ News the biggest factor in making the decision was incredible support from the community from calls and emails to social media.

He says he also recognizes Saint John is at a tipping point having come through a number of rough events but with those challenges come opporotunities.

Norton adds he doesn't expect any tension on Monday night adding he has a lot of respect for Mayor Ivan Court who loves this community and works hard for it.

Accused Robber Back In Court

Another court appearance for a 25 year old man who's facing a charge of robbing the Park Plaza Motel on Rothesay Avenue last Monday night. 

Corey William David Landry of Ellerdale Street is also charged with possession of cocaine.

Landry will remain in jail until his next court appearance on March 29th.

Canport LNG Project To Provide 50 Jobs

Canaport LNG aims to become more efficient and reduce its environmental footprint by expanding it's boil off gas compression system.

The 43 million dollar project will reduce the amount of boil-off gas sent to flare, resulting in the reduction of the Terminal’s emissions.

Spokesperson Kate Shannon tells CHSJ News is expected to create approximately 50 jobs for local contractors.

She says some of the work will begin in April and run throughout the summer.

SNC-Lavalin is managing the project on behalf of Canaport LNG.

Stem Cell Transplant Lab Officially Opens

The 2011 Give Campaign comes full circle with the official opening of the Stem Cell Transplantation Laboratory.

700-thousand was raised to equip the lab, which is the only one in New Brunswick and will allow cancer patients to say in the province.

Transplantation Director Dr. Terrance Commeau says in the near future, the lab has the potential to treat other illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis
 
He says expanded treatment should occur in about 3 years.

Rinehart Mulls Over A Municipal Run

A Saint John business leader is considering running for councillor at large in the May 14th municipal vote.

Shelley Rinehart works at UNB Saint John and is a former Enterprise Saint John president.

She tells CHSJ News it's hard to comment on the current challenges facing common council from the outside.

She says Saint John is facing some challenges and it will take time and hard work to get back to being the vibrant city that it was.

Rinehart says she'll be making her mind up over the next two weeks.

Totten Describes Allegations About Pension Board As "Bull"

Former City Manager Terry Totten is calling allegations made by former Common Councillor John Ferguson as defamatory and much more.

Totten testified he thought Ferguson was making the allegations because he had aspirations for higher office but called his charges factually incorrect, over the top and "bull something".

Totten told the jury Ferguson's allegations were defamatory because they gave the impression the Pension Board was trying to deceive Common Council and the public
 
The former City Manager says he has no knowledge of anyone getting a disability pension because they didn't get along with their boss and there was no one on the Pension Board laughing at Common Council and the taxpayer.
 
Totten does concede there was a breakdown in communication between city staff and Council saying he found it disheartening to see trust undermined.

Harvey Highway Closed After Transport Spills Wood Chips

Traffic is being re-routed, after the trailer carrying wood chips, spilled it's contents onto a local barber shop and completely blocking traffic on Route 3.

NB Power says power was shut off in the Harvey and Lake George areas so broken poles can be replaced that were taken out by the big rig.

They expect power to be turned back on by 1 this afternoon.

ESJ Has Full Slate Of Projects For 2012

 Enterprise Saint John facing a full stack of projects this year.

In a presentation to Common Council, ESJ President Tony Gogan says one of its biggest projects is to help Saint John companies cash in on the Irving shipbuilding contract.

He tells CHSJ News they want to maximize the opporotunities for Saint John companies with respect to the 25 billion dollar shipbuilding contract.
He says Irving Shipbuilding and the Atlantic Canada Opporotunities Agency started information sessions last week on how to become supplies for that.

He says other major irons in the fire include finalizing plans for a downstream manufacturing opportunity with the Atlantic Potash Corp and to encourage development in the Tucker Park Knowledge Cluster.

Simonds High Grad Dies In Ontario

A young Saint Johnner who had been studying at the Royal Military College in Kingston with a desire to join the Air Force has been identified as the cadet whose body was recovered from Lake Ontario in Kingston.

Mathieu LeClair graduated from Simonds High in 2009. 

He was reported missing earlier this week foul play is not suspected, accordingf to the military.