Will St. Stephen Be The Horseshoe Host?

We could find out by tomorrow if St. Stephen will host the 2015 Canadian Horseshoe Pitching Championships.

St. Stephen Pitcher's Club President Jason Rideout tells Tide News Horseshoe Canada's Annual General Meeting is tonight and our town's bid to host will be discussed.

St. Stephen Town Council has already offered to cover costs for rental space in the new Garcelon Civic Centre, should the club be successful in their bid.

The championships would last between 4 and 5 days and bring up to 200 people to Charlotte County.

Our local club is the largest east of Montreal, with more Provincial and Maritime titles than any other maritime horseshoe club since it began in 2006.

NB Premier Sends Condolences To Victims Of Train Derailment

Premier David Alward expressing his condolences to the people of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and says the province stands ready to offer any material support that may be helpful.

The small town east of Montreal devastated after a train derailment over the weekend. When the train went off the tracks on Saturday, it caused explosions, destroying buildings and killing at least 13 people.

To read Alward's message in its entirety, click here.

Cardy Says Tories Are "Tone Deaf" On Womens' Issues

Women looking for alternatives to a traditional hospital birth are out of luck in New Brunswick---at least for now. 

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy tells Tide News cutting funding to the Midwifery Association of New Brunswick is a backward move which fundamentally infringes on a woman's right to give birth where she chooses. 

According to Cardy, the $10,000 the association needs to function is about equal to the cost of a single ministerial car--and the potential savings associated with midwifery are significant in light of the province's struggling healthcare system.

Using a midwife is $800 cheaper per hospital birth and $1800 cheaper per home birth according to the Ontario Department of Health. Cardy says with doctors in the province already overtaxed it makes no sense to cut a program we already promised to implement back in 2010.

Derailed Train In Quebec Carrying Oil Destined For Saint John Refinery

The train that derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, killing at least five people, was hauling cars filled with crude oil destined for the oil refinery in Saint John. 

Irving Oil issuing a statement confirming that Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway was transporting the product to the Port City and offering emergency response assistance to authorities. 

About 40 people are missing and 30 buildings have been demolished after the tanker cars, covered in oil, caught fire.

It's not yet completely clear how the train, which was parked for a crew change, somehow slipped its brakes, rolled downhill and left the tracks. Transportation Safety Board investigators are waiting to investigate the train wreckage.

Province Cuts Funding To Midwives

The President of the Midwives Association of New Brunswick calls a funding cut by the provincial government a shameful loss.

Citing financial constraints, the government is suspending the work of the council in implementing policies and standards necessary for the implemention of midwifery services.
 
Association President Nathalie Pambrun tells Tide News cutting funding is short-sighted and makes no sense at this time.

She says they have some good momentum with the work the council has already done and she finds it very unfortunate that it should close for such a small amount of money.

Pambrun says they are disappointed by the government's decision adding people have been waiting for access to these services since the government announced the implementation of the Midwifery Act in 2010.

Parking Lot Being Expanded At SJ Airport

An increase in business is prompting an upgrade of the long term parking area at the airport.
 
Work is underway until July 19th on expanding and reconfiguring the parking lot with the addition of 90 spaces. 

Airport President and C-E-O David Allen says the current lot is at capacity thanks to unprecedented growth in the winter seasonal flights by Sunwing and growing numbers for Air Canada. 

If you have to use the long term lot, access to it may be relocated temporarily but Allen says when it's all done, moving about will be a lot easier.