Promised Tax Break Helping Fuel Optimism

There's a lot of uncertainty about what the future economic prospects will be especially if the new provincial government decides to raise some taxes to try to whittle down the deficit which exceeds 800 million dollars.
Despite that, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is reporting small businesspeople in the province remain generally optimistic.
The C-F-I-B's Andrea Bourgeois says the government's promise to reduce the small business tax rate from five percent to 2.5-percent over the next couple of years is probably helping to drive the optimism.
Sixty-four per cent of the small business owners in the province complain tax and the cost of regulations are causing them grief.

Surprise Plea In Saint John Murder Trial

A surprise guilty plea from a 30 year old man accused of brutally killing his estranged wife last May.
Jason Getson of Martha Avenue pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the stabbing death of 28 year old Melanie Getson who was living on Douglas Avenue at the time.
The two were travelling in the same car May 10th which pulled into a parking lot along Rothesay Avenue and that's where she was attacked.
Getson will be back in court January 4th to be sentenced.

Allies Come Together For Ceremony To Honour Veterans

Wreaths Across America will honour the service and sacrifice of military veterans from the United States and Canada this Saturday with a wreath exchange on The Ferry Point Bridge.

Executive Director for Wreaths Of America Karen Worcester tells us the mission is to remember the fallen and honour those who serve. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 12:45 Atlantic time.  Following the parade, Cadets will escort the Gold Star Mothers, the Canadian mother of the Silver Cross Families to the center of the bridge for an exchange of wreaths to be placed at the cenotaph Memorial Monument in St. Stephen.

This bridge event will kick off a week full of activities for Wreaths Of America.

Tax Talk Raises Concerns

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is concerned about what it's hearing at the economic summit in Moncton on the future of the province. The federation's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey tells CHSJ News speaker after speaker is talking about the need to raise taxes.
He says New Brunswick doesn't have a taxation problem - it has a spending problem and the Alward government should be looking at ways to reduce spending before thinking about tax hikes.
Lacey maintains families in the province can't afford higher taxes because average weekly earnings fell this year by .2 per cent while inflation rose by 1.8 per cent so they're falling behind even without taxes going up.

Environmental Group Says Scrap Lepreau

With the costs and delay of the Point Lepreau refurbishment, one group thinks it should become a decommissioning project.
David Coon of the Conservation Council says it would employ people and could take place while the reactor is apart.
He says NB Power has no guarantees from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited this work will extend the life of the reactor for 25 to 30 years as promised.
Coon says these problem are exactly what the previous Lord government was warned about not pursuing this project.

Re-opening Of Bridge Lane Delayed - Again

Commuters expecting the Harbour Bridge drive in Saint John to be normal again need to wait a little longer.
The second westbound lane was supposed to re-open today but General Manager Ken Anthony says they will re-open the lane gradually over the course of a few weeks.
Anthony says the wet weather and snow has slowed progress on the final stages of work - but - the plan is to begin partial openings of the lane tomorrow.
The work should be completed and the lane fully open by within 9-days - the original schedule called for the construction to be completed by the end of October.

Canaport LNG Awards Medical School Scholarship

A 38 year old father of two from Harvey Station has been chosen for a scholarship to attend the Saint John medical school.
Sheldon Wood has a Bachelor of Computer Science Degree from U-N-B and worked as an I-T consultant for 15 years.
Canaport L-N-G is creating the 4 year scholarship that will provide Wood with 35 thousand dollars a year for full tuition, books, equipment and living expenses.
Wood tells says he wants to remain in the province after graduation and is looking at becoming a family doctor.

Federal Cash For Atlantic Canadian Ferry Services

Ferry services in the region being tossed a lifeline.
The services, which includes The Princess of Acadia and its Saint John to Digby run, receiving $51 million dollars from the Federal Government which will keep them afloat until March 31st of 2014.
Saint John MP Rodney Weston says the investment is a no-brainer because it's a key part of the transportation network in Atlantic Canada.
As to whether additional or regular investments would be made after 2014, Weston could not confirm it.