Common Council Gets Assurances About City Water

Saint John's drinking water is safe to drink........That message delivered to Common Council with the warning chlorine treatment doesn't protect the water year round. 

Council will have to decide whether all of us who live in the city will be using water meters with the aim being to reduce consumption. 

The Acting Commissioner of Water Bill Edwards tells CHSJ News meters will let you know how much water you're consuming and the more you use, the more you pay and that, according to Edwards, will save the city alot of money.

Edwards also says the estimated cost of providing safe drinking water with advanced treatment may not be as high as 280 million dollars.

Once the water is properly treated, Councillor Donna Reardon says the city could generate additional revenue by selling some of it.

City Looking At Losing A Big Percentage Of Its Workforce

The city wants to become the employer of choice as it faces the loss of almost one-quarter of its workers over the next five years through retirement. Common Council has been told 151 city workers could be retiring over the next five years. 

There has been talk some of those nearing retirement could be leaving early because they're uncertain over what's going to happen to the city's pension plan. Human Resources doesn't know how many of them will actually retire because many times they give very short notice. 

The city is making do with 70 fewer workers than it had a decade ago and there is one major job vacancy at City Hall these days.......Commissioner of Water as a decision will have to be made on universal metering and efforts continuing at reaching a funding ageeement with the federal and provincial governments on advanced treatment of drinking water.

'Superhero Shindig' Fundraiser At Rockwood Park

Spiderman working the BBQ while Bowser raises money....Those are just some of the characters you can expect in Rockwood Park tomorrow. Harbour Con-Fusion will be hosting a 'Superhero Shindig'...a fundraiser full of food, face painting and other goodies to raise money for the Animal Rescue League. Chaz Gougen from Harbour Con-Fusion tells CHSJ news everyone is welcome to dress up and bring picnic food to donate.
"We're recommending that if people want to come dressed in costume, feel free to do that! We're not limited to super heroes, whatever costume you have, if you want to wear one, feel free to bring that. But costumes aren't required to attend, if you want to show up as yourself you're welcome to."
Harbour Con-Fusion is a local non-profit organization planning a family friendly "comicon" convention for July. The event takes place from 11 until 2.

For more information on Harbour Con-Fusion, click here.

Quispamsis Says No To Fracking

The town of Quispamsis doesn't have a problem with seismic testing for shale gas and that's not why it wants a ban, according to Mayor Murray Driscoll.


"It's when they come to fracturing to find shale gas. That's the difficulty and of in our town, we have 6,000 wells with 3 major ones to look after our water supply for the entire community."

Driscoll says the town opposes anything that would jeopardise the integrity of those wells.


Driscoll  tells CHSJ News when they come up with a method for extracting the natural gas which doesn't pose a risk to drinking water from wells, the town will have another look.

Arrests Made At Westfield Establishment

Several arrests made at a venue on Westfield road last night after multiple complaints by neighbours. Saint John City Police tell CHSJ news there were several violations under the liquor control act. One man is criminally charged with criminal disturbance by swearing. Another man facing charges for drinking and driving and failing a breathalyzer. The venue itself allegedly broke a noise by-law and liquor control act. Police could not confirm how many arrests were made. The incident is under investigation.

The Princess Of Acadia Ferry Will Be Off Its Run

After picking up some fishing gear in their propulsion system, the Princess of Acadia will be off its run from tomorrow afternoon until next Thursday.

Bay Ferries spokesperson Don Cormier tells CHSJ News says the decision was made to do the work now to avoid further damage.

Tomorrow's crossing from Saint John to Digby will go ahead as normal but the vessel will not make the crossing from Digby at 4pm but head for drydock in Halifax for the repair work.

Cormier is asking travellers to keep a close eye on their website for news on when the service will resume.   To find the link, click here

Local Companies Among Best Employers

A trio of Saint John based companies are being recognized as among the top places to work in Atlantic Canada according to a survey by Progress Magazine.
The Halifax based publication says Bayview Credit Union's employee recognition program along with in-house social events are some of the things making the financial institution attractive as a place to work.
Directors Choice supplies answering services to funeral homes and makes the list by having staff members spend time with funeral directors to better understand their business and in-house fund raising activities for the Terry Fox Foundation.
CAA Atlantic also makes the list with its employee health benefits and recognition programs being cited as reasons why it's among one of the top companies in the region.

Adventure Race Kicks Off Tomorrow

Racers will be tying up their sneakers for the second Marsh Creek Eco-Challenge tomorrow. The adventure race will see forty-five 4 person teams hike, run, bike and paddle a 26 kilometre route at the creek. Tim Vickers of Atlantic Coastal Action Program Saint John tells CHSJ news proceeds of the event go towards the restoration of the Marsh Creek water shed.

"Most people know Marsh Creek for all the wrong reasons - and that being the sewage mainly - but with harbour clean up being completed this year, it's a chance for us to start to put people in the water shed so they can see the potential it has to be a real asset to the people of Saint John."

The race kicks off at 8am. More information can be found at Atlantic Coastal Action Program, Saint John.

Saint John "A Gateway" For Drug Traffickers

Saint John Deputy Chief Bruce Connell says City Police don't have their heads buried in the sand........They know drugs make it through the port destined for elsewhere in the country but still seizing 350 pounds of cocaine is a good result and it wouldn't have happened without various law enforcement agencies working together.

Connell says sometimes the drugs pass through Saint John on the way to Quebec and then wind up back in the city being sold on the street.

He wouldn't be surprised if that were the case with Operation "Crackdown" which resulted in 40 people being nabbed together with more than 230 thousand dollars worth of drugs being seized in an undercover sting.

Tide Announcer Wins Volunteer Award

He mentors a grade 6 student during the week and volunteers as well...so that is why Mark Downey wins the Judge Tom Bell Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The award is named after Tom Bell who was a judge in the juvenile court system where he worked with many troubled youth and was instrumental in starting the Big Brother Big Sisters program.

Downey tells CHSJ News as a mentor he sees his pal at St. Stephen Middle School.

He says once a week they meet at the school and play sports so his mentee has a good male figure in his life because otherwise he wouldn't have that.

Saint John Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Laurie Collins says Downey's name came up in discussions with their staff in Saint John, St. George and St. Stephen.

Huge Cocaine Bust At The Port

A big drug seizure at the port...............More than $21 million dollars in cocaine confiscated. 

Don Collins of the Canada Border Services Agency says there were 170 kilograms or 350 pounds and it goes for 35 or 36 thousand dollars a pound on the street.

He says it arrived in the two separate shipments on May 29th and June 5th and in both cases the drugs were seized from marine containers from Guyana, South America.

Police call Saint John a gateway for the drugs that were destined for the Toronto area where 8 arrests were made.

 

NB Exhibit At Toronto Expo Is Seeing Traffic

No doubt the Maritimers aren't used to the melting temps in Ontario right now but our contingent at the Saltscapes Expo in Toronto is still doing its best to sell a visit to this province.

Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells CHSJ News people there understand how friendly New Brunswickers are and how we have wonderful hospitality.

He says he is more and more convinced in a crowd like this that New Brunswick has a world class product but it has to be marketed if people are going to find us.

The expo began today and finishes on Sunday and is expected to see up to 60,000 visitors per day.    Those visitors are learning about provincial attractions including our rivers, food and music.     To learn more, click here

Radio Employees to Strike Monday

Low wages, mandatory unpaid overtime, and arrogant management--those are the main reasons cited by Saint John unionists at Maritime Broadcasting, who will be on strike as of Monday if a collective agreement is not reached.

Strike negotiator Dan Oldfield says attempting to bargain with MBS has been a long and frustrating battle--and the employees are ready to take action. He says he's been negotiating for 30 years and the management at Maritime Broadcasting are the most arrogant and thoughtless he has ever encountered.

7 employees will be on strike. Oldfield says he wouldn't be surprised to see MBS employ strikebreakers.

More Singing At Market Square Tonight

It couldn't be a better night to hear country music at Market Square.

Aspiring Reba's and Kenny's get their shot as Alpine Country Star returns to the boardwalk.

Over 30 contestants will sing for the judges in their bid to walk away with the top prize of 5 thousand dollars.

Country 94's Marky B, Jim and Bobbi are your hosts when the event begins at 8 tonight on the Market Square boardwalk.

Saint John Might Break A Temperature Record Today

On the first full day of summer, we could be in for a scorcher.
 
Temperatures are set hit 27 degrees today even warmer in the humidex.
 
Environment Canada Meterologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ 
News we did not break any temperature records yesterday.

He says last night at the Saint John Airport they had a temperature of 25.5 degrees shy of the record of the record of 30 degrees set in 1953.

The hot spot in the province yesterday was St. Stephen at 32.7 degrees.

Another NDP Heavyweight Comes To Rothesay

The byelection in Rothesay is generating alot of chatter and speculation about whether the riding is up for grabs. 

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is getting alot of support from the federal party. The M-P from Burnaby-Westminster Peter Julian, who also serves as the NDP's critic for energy and natural resources is in the riding canvassing with Cardy. 

The Liberal candidate John Wilcox tells CHSJ News there are other issues he's hearing about besides patronage. These include healthcare, concerns over the high numbers of young people leaving the province for better opportunities elsewhere, tuition fees, flooding in Oakville Acres and the displacement of people on Scott Avenue to make way for a fieldhouse. 

The former M-L-A in Rothesay Margaret Ann Blaney was critical of those people being displaced for the fieldhouse as was Conservative Senator John Wallace.

Aboriginal Celebrations Today

The sound of drumming and scent of sweetgrass in the air with Aboriginal Day kicking off in front of City Hall. Local politicians, native leaders, and community members gathering together with the message that we are all one tribe.

Lieutenant Governor Graydon Nicholas tells CHSJ News the challenges faced by the aboriginal community in the province can be overcome by sharing our history and stories. He says the biggest challenge to aboriginal communities throughout Canada is that people outside their communities aren't aware of the challenges they face.

Aboriginal artist Carlos Gomes lead the ceremony, which called on the traditions of a number of different tribes.

North End Fire Quelled

City fire crews called out to the north end to a three storey apartment building at 55 Metcalf Street.

Acting Platoon Chief Mark Carey says there was a mattress and clothing on fire in a bedroom on the top floor of the building. 

There was heavy smoke but fire crews managed to keep the blaze from spreading.

The cause is now under investigation.

Gas Prices Down Again

If you have to fill up today, you won't have to pay as much as you would have just last night. 

Gas prices in the city are continuing to drop, slowly but steadily. Self serve regular falling by 2 cents a litre to $1.20.8. 

Diesel is down by under half a cent at $123.5 a litre. 

Propane is also less expensive with a listed price of 91.7 cents a litre and heating oil is at $1.06.5, a decrease of just over a cent.

Student Names New Gangway

Adon Irvine’s Grade 2  class from St. John the Baptist-King Edward School class during their tour of Carnival Glory today.

Adon won a contest to name the new gangway at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal.

He called it Loyalist Landing.