Higgs Thinks Hwy 1 Work Will Improve The Commute

Despite changes to the plans for improving Highway 1 in the much travelled stretch between Saint John and Quispam..the finance minister thinks the work that is being down now will help commuters.
 
Blaine Higgs says the project is going well with work on three lanes across the bridge at the Dolan Road exit.

He says it will be a major improvement to get highway traffic off the ramp when commuters are heading back to the valley at night adding 85 per cent of that traffic swings in Quispamsis.

Higgs adds lengthening the entry ramp at Fox Farm Road will also help with traffic flow.

Advance Polls Open In Rothesay

The advance polls are officially open--- and votes are coming in for the town of Rothesay's new leader.

Paul Harpelle of Elections Canada tells CHSJ News over 400 votes have already been cast since the advance polls opened Saturday. Advance polling continues on Monday at the Our Lady of Perpetual Hope polling station. 

There are five candidates: Progressive Conservative Ted Flemming, Liberal John Wilcox, and NDP Leader Dominic Cardy are joined on the ballot by Sharon Murphy of the Green Party and independent Marjorie MacMurray.


The official election day is June 25th.

Teens Caught Doing Drugs By Q-Plex

Some young men getting arrested over the weekend for using drugs in the area of the Q-Plex.

Police getting the call around 11pm that there were 3 young people hanging around using drugs.

No word yet on what that drugs were or what, if any charges will be laid--although two 18 year olds and a youth were busted.

Queen Square Market Kicks Off

Fresh, local, and sustainable--that's the idea behind the annual Queen Square Farmer's Market, which is celebrating its second year on June 17th. It's a popular event with 60 vendors already signed, up, and fun activities from hula hooping to yoga and live entertainment. Jody Kliffer is organizing the market with his friend Brian Irving. He tells CHSJ News he's pleased with the variety of vendors this year as well as the level of interest the community has shown.

"It's going to be a good range, we're going to have more produce vendors than we had last year. We're going to have a lot of interesting ethnic foods, hot foods, baked foods."

Kliffer says it's important to get people thinking about buying local, as well as enjoying a little-used green space in the South End. 

Fire In The South End

Five apartment dwellers are back in their building after a fire  last night.

Saint John City Police tells CHSJ news they received the call to 228 Britain Street.

Police are unsure what caused the blaze. There were no injuries.

The blaze is under investigation.

One Person Dies In St. Andrews

One person is dead in St. Andrews after an incident involving a toxic substance.

The Saint John Fire Department's Haz Mat unit was requested to provide assistance at the scene by the St. Andrew's Fire Department.

No word yet on the victim's identity or what the toxic substance may be.

Crews from the City's fire department have returned to Saint John and the investigation is being handled by St. Stephen RCMP.

Mayor Has Police And Firefighters Union On Board

The city is moving ahead with the strong possibility of adopting the same made in Europe reforms to its pension plan as the provincial government. 

Premier David Alward stopping off at City Hall to present Mayor Mel Norton with the official repeal of the City of Saint John Pension Act. 

The Premier is talking as if there is a new and better working relationship with the city since the municipal election saying there is no level of government that can do it alone without collaboration.
 
The Presidents of the local Firefighters Union and with alot of work still to be done.

Mike Kelly Is The Dogs New Coach

It's official...Gerard Gallant is leaving the Saint John Sea Dogs to become an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadians.
Gallant's departure leaving a vacancy that will be filled by Mike Kelly as the new Head Coach and GM for the Sea Dogs.
Kelly tells CHSJ News it's an exciting challenge at a different time for the team.

He says as the older players graduate they are losing a lot of skill but they are excited about the young players coming in and some of the players drafted last year that didn't play on a regular basis.

Kelly says Gerard Gallant has earned his opportunity with the Habs adding he became a close friend over 3 years and he couldn't be happier for him.

City Police Investigate Birdland Armed Robbery

Police are looking for two men after another armed robbery in Birdland.

Two men forced their way into a Wren street home about 11:30 last night where a 66 year old homeowner was not hurt but they did get away with some cash and the man's car.

The men are described as about 5 foot 8 weighing about 160 pounds.

They left in the victim's grey 2011 Chevrolet Impala with a provincial plate of # JCI-640. 

If you can help identify the men call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or Major Crime at 648-3333.

Volunteers To Pull Weeds On The Peninsula

If you have a few free hours tomorrow, the Nature Conservancy of Canada would love you to help them to pull weeds.

Volunteers will be gathering in the Shamper's Bluff area of the Kingston Peninsula.

Shauna Wallace tells CHSJ News they will be removing Woodland Angelica which is an invasive species.

She says it's a plant that normally wouldn't be growing there and was introduced as a garden plant that takes over.
She adds they want to remove it so the native plants can establish.

The volunteers will be meeting on the Shamper's Bluff road at 9 tomorrow to pull weeds in the morning then break for lunch and go for a hike in the afternoon.

If you would like to sign up call 1-877-231-4400 by 5pm today or just show up tomorrow morning on the Shamper's Bluff road at 9am.

Doucet Denouces Closure Of Marine Traffic Centre

How will the loss of Fundy Traffic in Saint John affect Charlotte County fisherman?
 
MLA for Charlotte-The Isles Rick Doucet says the safety of the Bay of Fundy will be at risk if Nova Scotia is in control.
 
He says it will have an impact on the local fisherman because instead of making their marine calls to Fundy Traffic, they will make their calls to Nova Scotia to someone who may not know exactly where they are in the Bay.

Interim Ruling Made On Search Warrants In Oland Murder Investigation

Businessman Richard Oland was murdered almost a year ago and the arguments are continuing on whether the information from search warrants in the investigation should be made public. 

An interim order has been made by Provincial Court Judge Leslie Jackson to keep those search warrants sealed until a full hearing is held June 27th. 

There will be police testimony at that hearing about why the search warrants should remain from public view but media lawyer David Coles says that likely will be delivered without anyone else in the courtroom but the judge. He warns too much secrecy undermines faith in the adminstration of justice.
 
Prosecutor John Heneffer told the court releasing information from the search warrants would compromise an active investigation and he adds police have not been sitting on their hands. 

Judge Jackson issued the original order back in December to keep the search warrants sealed for six months.

NBSC Warns Seniors Of Investor Fraud

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the New Brunswick Securities Commission is drawing attention to how that abuse can relate to the finances of seniors.
 
Executive Director Rick Hancox tells CHSJ News it happens all the time with 44 per cent of fraud investment victims being over the age of 55.

He says folks need to be aware that investment fraud happens and they need to protest themselves.
 
Hancox says seniors, caregivers and others can learn more about the signs that some is being targeted for fraud on their website.

To find the link, click here

The Premier Will Be At City Hall Today

The Premier will be in the City today to take part in an event to mark the signing of an act to repeal the City's pension act.   It's happening at city hall at 3pm.

The move that was recently approved by the Legislature is believed to give to City more control over its decision regarding the pension plan and how it might solve the nearly 200 million dollar deficit.
 

Cleaves Win Gold

A celebration for a St. Stephen Gold Medalist.
 
18-year-old Allyssa Cleaves winning the gold at the Junior Pan-Am Wrestling Championship in Guatemala.

She tells CHSJ News how it felt to bring the medal back to her hometown.

She says she was really proud to represent Canada for the first time.

Cleaves says she felt intimidated at first, because this was her first international competition, and she was the youngest girl competing.

Driscoll Says City Money Means They Stay Open

Anne Driscoll of the Crescent Valley Resource Centre tells CHSJ News this $22,000 will be used to hire a full-time executive director.

She says they are a small non-profit serving 300 famillies and the money will allow them to stay open 5 days a week.

The other recipients are Quality Learning New Brunswick, ONE Change Inc, the Teen Resource Centre for Youth and the Village Association/East Side Motivaters.

Also receiving funding today are Westside PACT, P.U.L.S.E. and the Anglin Drive Tenants Association for their story tent.

A Warning About Safety In Bay Of Fundy

Safety of marine traffic in the Bay of Fundy is being jeopardised by the Harper Government's decision to close the Saint John marine communications and traffic services centre. So says Rick Doucette, the Liberal M-L-A for Charlotte-The Isles. 

Doucette charges Premier David Alward is refusing to stand up and fight for people in the province which happened earlier with the proposed changes to Employment Insurance. 

Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair is accusing the Prime Minister of treating Maritimers with disdain and warns a low key approach when dealing with the Harper Government doesn't work.
 
Doucette calls the Bay of Fundy the most treacherous body of water on the eastern seaboard because of the high tides and rocky geography and fishermen need help navigating.

City Hands Out $150K In Grants

The City of Saint John distributing $150, 000 dollars through neighbourhood stimulation grants.
 
Councillors Donnie Snook and Susan Fullerton happily handing out the cheques at City Hall to 9 different local groups.
 
Snook tells CHSJ News its great to be able to support community initiatives around the City.

He says the groups receiving the money are the frontline organizations in the City making a real difference.

Councillor Susan Fullerton was thrilled to hand out the money saying its the most fun she has had in the three weeks since she was elected.

Vacancy Rate Rises In Saint John

The vacancy rate for renters in Saint John is going up, in large part, because the population isn't increasing. The vacancy rate in Saint John is at 8.4 per cent. 

Claude Gautreau of Canada Mortgage and Housing calls that a bit high with the ideal being between 4 and 5 per cent, although renters may disagree because a higher vacancy rate is better for consumers.

The average rent for a two bedroom apartment in Saint John is 696 dollars which is below the provincial average. Fredericton has the lowest vacancy rate in the province at 3.8 percent with Moncton at 5 percent. 

The average rent for a two bedroom apartment in Fredericton is $755. In Moncton, it's $721.

Moncton is the fastest growing city in the province.

Gas Prices Continuing To Go Down

With the world price of oil dropping, the price of gas in our area is also becoming less expensive after the weekly setting. 

Self serve regular in the city is now down to $1.22.8 a litre. That's a reduction of under half a cent. 

Diesel dropping by the same amount to $1.23.8 a litre. 

Propane is also down a bit with the listed price of 92.3 cents a litre and heating oil is at $1.07.6, which is a decline of half a cent.