Gas Prices To Rise: The Reason Might Surprise You

The price of gas is going to be increasing but we don't know yet by how much or when. 

In an unusual move, Irving Oil has filed an application with the Energy and Utilities Board to increase prices in light of rising expenses to transport E-10 or mixed gasoline. 

Public Intervenor Renee Basque represents consumers. He tells CHSJ News since Irving has successfully demonstrated its costs have gone up since 2006, there will be some sort of increase.

More details will be released Monday on the change. Meantime, the price of self serve regular and diesel both dropping after the weekly setting by under a cent a litre each.

Watch Out For "NB Power" Telephone Scams

If you've gotten a call from "Hydro Power" or NB power looking for billing information or selling a way to save on bills, it might be a scam.

NB Power is warning customers of several telephone scams being reported recently that are trying to sell you a device to save money on electricity bills.

The company says it's not selling or approving the sale of any type of device and warn customers should be cautious when receiving phone calls requesting billing information.

If you're in doubt you can contact NB Power by calling 1-800-663-6272 or e-mail customerservices@nbpower.com.

Lock Your Cars Or Risk Theft, Warns RCMP

If you get a leaflet on your car windshield this month, you're lucky it wasn't a theft.

Hampton RCMP will be placing leaflets under car windshield wipers if your car looks like an easy target for thieves. This would be if you have valuables in plain sight or if your car is unlocked.

The RCMP say 125 car owners this year either had items stolen from their car or had their car stolen and only 2 of those cars were locked. They also say 23 of the vehicles that were stolen already had keys left in the car.

Inspector John Warr says it shows that many thefts not only happen in the city but in rural areas as well. He says people can avoid being a victim by simply locking their cars and keeping valuables out of sight.
 
They say it takes less than minute for thieves to remove items from an unlocked car and items are rarely recovered.

Interchange Project Set For Completion Next Fall

No doubt you have noticed the progress on your commute in and out of the City. Working is moving along on the One Mile House Interchange project on Highway 1.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams tells CHSJ News a provincial contractor is working with the Ontario contractor Horseshoe Hill.

He says right now with the schedule and the work that is taking place, he is being told it will be finished in the fall of 2013. He also is claiming it's on budget.

When it's finished, the One Mile House Interchange will improve the flow of traffic for  in East Saint John moving some heavy truck traffic off the highway and into the industrial park.

Pay It Forward, Saint John!

There's no doubt random acts of kindness can make a person's day.

A new group called Pay It Forward SJ is encouraging Saint Johnners to take simple steps like donating items to people in need or simply buying the next person in line a coffee. Teacher Michael Whelton tells CHSJ New they're spreading the message on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, that no kind deed should go unnoticed or unreturned.

Pay It Forward is a national movement. For more information on what they're doing locally and how you can get involved, click here

CAA Shocked Over Proposed Changes To Licenses

The Canadian Automobile Association in the Atlantic region is flabbergasted why the provincial government would consider making changes to the graduating drivers' license program. 

The suggested change would mean graduated license level 2 drivers, who are newly licensed, could be allowed to drive between midnight and 5 am which is currently restricted.

Steve McCall, president of CAA Atlantic, tells CHSJ news this would make our driving rules the weakest in North America. He says all scientific evidence is against this suggestion, saying fatalities are reduced by 12% with restrictions. 

McCall says there's already automatic exemptions for people who have to drive to and from work or school between 12-5 am so the ruling would only be for social driving.

The provincial government proposed lifting the ban in its recent throne speech.

Appears Saturday Morning Fire Was Deliberately Set

We have an update on the Saturday early morning fire that damaged a vacant building at 16 St Andrews street.

Divisional Fire Chief Mark Wilson tells CHSJ news it appears a couch outside the building was deliberately set on fire, which caused the blaze to engulf part of the building.

Wilson says the 2 story, 4 unit building was under renovations and has been vacant for 5 years. The matter is now in the hands of City Police.

Street Closure In Uptown

Germain Street from King Street to just south of the City Market will be closed to traffic from 6:30 until around 9 this morning so supplies can be off loaded at a nearby construction site.

Qplex Will Host Remembrance Day Ceremonies

It's official! Remembrance Day ceremonies in the valley will now take place at the Qplex.

Quispamsis Council voted in favour to donate the venue for future veteran day ceremonies after members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #58 approached council last week.

Legion Branch #58 President Harold Defazio tells CHSJ news previous venues couldn't hold the growing number of people attending. He says he's so happy the decision was made, not for the legion but for the veterans who shouldn't be out in the cold. Defazio says they also plan on erecting a bigger and nicer cenotaph for next year. 

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll says the town is delighted to contribute the facility to vets and those who have fallen, whom he says deserve the utmost respect.

Mayor Asks Fullerton To Withdraw Sex Work Motion

Mayor Mel Norton has asked Councillor Susan Fullerton to withdraw a controversial motion to fine sex workers for jaywalking; however, Fullerton says she'll have to "think about it."

His request came at last night's meeting of the Police Commission, following presentations by both Fullerton and AIDS Saint John. Fullerton's opinion is that used needles and noise issues bother residents and drive down her property values; however, AIDS SJ says sex workers need help, not further penalties. 

Outreach worker Cathleen Belliveau tells CHSJ News Fullerton--who owns Chipman Hill Suites---is missing the point. The not-for-profit says overdoses, rapes and murders are far more serious that having to upgrade guests in a hotel room.

AIDS SJ Chair Leslie Jeffery responded to Fullerton's suggestion sex workers should be told to gather in Agar Place away from people's homes. She says driving them into the shadows puts them at a greater risk of being attacked and even killed.

ATV Drivers Will Need A Permit In 2013

New Brunswickers love their ATVS--and some changes are coming for riders in 2013.

The provincial government and the NB All-Terrain Vehicle Federation are introducing a mandatory permit program that goes into effect Jan. 1. If you're driving on managed trails you'll need to buy a permit or you could be fined $172. The idea is that the fees will help support trail development and maintenance.

You can get a three-season permit in 2013 for $25, and an annual permit for $75. The NB All-Terrain Vehicle Federation lists the managed trails on its website.

Romero House Food Drive Continues

The 6th annual Romero House Food Drive continues in the parking lot at Ritchie's on Rothesay Avenue. Food and cash donations are being accepted for the local soup kitchen that serves 400 meals a day.
Donations are being accepted tonight until
6pm and again tomorrow through Friday 6am to 8pm wrapping up on Saturday at noon.

Government Corruption Reported On Native Reserves

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation charges some leaders on aboriginal reserves are using intimidation tactics to keep people from questioning the use of public funds.

They say they've heard from many residents who have confirmed people are being shunned, receiving death threats, and even having their property damaged for asking questions about how much money the chiefs are council are making.

The Federation wants to see Bill C-27 passed, which would make all the financial information for the reserves available online for everyone to see.

Auditor General Concerned About Money Being Paid To Doctors

The province's auditor general is concerned about the amount of money being paid to doctors in New Brunswick.

Kim MacPherson says only 53% of medicare payments to doctors were audited, though medicare expenditures were more than 533 million dollars last year.

She says in some cases, doctors bill both medicare and Work Safe NB for the same service. She says there are no ramifications for overcharging medicare even though the Health Department has the power to revoke a doctor's billing privileges.

MacPherson says she has not determined if anyone has committed fraud and all doctor billing should be audited.

She says if all rules were followed the province could recoup more than 3 million dollars a year.

Prosser Guilty On Three Charges

Fred Prosser has been found guilty in the 2010 murder of 25-year-old Sabrina Patterson of Riverview.

Patterson, who is Prosser's ex-girlfriend,  was reported missing on October  29th 2010. Her body was found on November 6th in a wooded area near Shenstone.

Prosser was found guilty on three charges, first degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault.

He has been sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years, 7 years for sexual assault causing bodily harm and 5 years for sexual assault.

How Much Will It Cost To Have Lifeguards Through Labour Day?

Common Council wants to know how much extra it will cost to have lifeguards on duty at the beaches in the city through the Labour Day weekend and the city's Parks Manager Micheal Hugenholtz has the answer.......An additional 30 thousand dollars.
 
Ward 4 Councillor Ray Strowbridge wants to know how much it will cost the city to reopen Mispec Beach. 

Hugenholtz says that would be around 50 thousand dollars for day to day operations and maintaining the wooden stairs, bridges and lookouts.

Firefighters Reject Being Portrayed as Villains

Don't blame firefighters for the arbitration decision that gave them raises at a time when the city is up against it financially. 

The President of Local 771 of the Firefighters Association, Paul Stackhouse says his members are not the bad guys. He says if Saint Johnners have a problem with it, it was the city which opted for arbitration and it was the city which wanted a longer contract agreement. 

Stackhouse goes on to say, under the shared risk model, firefighters will have to contribute another 4% of their pay into the pension plan and work longer to the age of 60 before retiring.

He also claims staffing at the fire department is well below what's needed to handle the demand for fire service in the city. The number of firefighters has been reduced by more than 50 since 1999.

Primaris CEO Expects Target Opening To Bring Change

As you shop for Christmas you may not notice but, the biggest shopping centre in our backyard has new ownership.
 
A sale has been finalized to set McAllister Place to Primaris Retail from Cadillac Fairview.

CEO John Morrison tells CHSJ News the biggest change coming next year will be the opening of the Target store.

He says that store will be an expanded store and he expects Target will be a draw for any enclosed mall they operate in.
 
The sale also includes the Regent Mall in Fredericton.

Council Seeks Options To Keep Water Rates Low

Common Council looking at options to lessen the blow of an increase in water rates.

Improving city water is a hot topic because improvements could raise your water rates by 7.4% or about $72 a year.

Common Council has voted 9-1 to move forward with preliminary approval of the proposed water rates but only after the city manager looks at a few ways to save taxpayers some money. 

There are a couple of things that could lower rates. If the shared risk model for the pension plan is approved, some of the millions of dollars saved from the pension plan could be used to lower costs. The city manager will see if there's a potential to indirectly offset any increase in water rates and will be looking at a relief program for people those who can't afford an increase.

Councillors Donnie Snook voted against, saying he can't vote for it knowing many people can't afford any kind of increase.

Mayor Mel Norton says if a half cent or 1 cent decrease in the tax rate issustainable in the long term, we could see a reduction.

Pension Task Force's Advice Accepted

Common Council is moving forward with the shared risk model recommendation from the Pension Task Force to handle the city's pension plan.  The model, in broad terms, means city employees will pay more and the city less.

But with a vote of 6-2, it wasn't an easy decision. Deputy Mayor Shelley Rinehart and Ward 1 Councillor Bill Farren couldn't vote due to a conflict of interest and Ward 4 Councillor Ray Strowbridge was absent. 

Councillors Susan Fullerton and Donnie Snook were not in favour of the decision with Fullerton's motion to hire another independent party to review other possible options being defeated. Fullerton argues when you're buying a truck, you don't just go to one dealership. Snook says for such a big decision, a second opinion would show they've done their due diligence.

Ward 2 Councillor John MacKenzie doesn't mind a second opinion but after grappling with the pension for 8 years and not knowing who to use for a second opinion, he says it'd be a 10 million dollar mistake if the job isn't done by January. MacKenzie also saying although large companies can have two pension plans, there's provincial legislation in the province that prevents that option.

Ward 4 Councillor David Merrithew had people ask him why the city just doesn't go bankrupt but he argues that isn't an option if you have the ability to pay. He adds a defined contribution plan would also be 10 million dollars more expensive.
 
Mayor Mel Norton acknowledging it's a tough decision, saying in the end the shared risk model will take a 195.5 million dollar deficit down to 161.1 million. He wishes there was a cheaper option but he'd like to get the pension finished and move on to fixing other problems like roads and water. He feels this is the right option with minimal risk and huge rewards.

Now, Council will draft a memorandum of understanding. A law firm will be taking directions from Council and various bargaining units to reflect a joint understanding. There will now be a "meeting of the minds" between council and bargaining units to find a solution.