The
Premier and the Chief of the Elsipogtog First Nation may have agreed to a
cooling off period, but things appear to still be heated at the scene
of the shale gas protest near Rexton where journalists have reportedly
had their vehicles and equipment seized.
The
provincial Assembly of First Nations' Chiefs issuing a statement
condemning these acts of intimidation against the media. They endorse
Arren Sock's call for peace, and agree that a cooling off period is
needed.They say this means an end to violent protests, an end to the blockades, and an end to
violence by all parties in all its forms.
The
RCMP are advising drivers that traffic is slow on Highway 134 near the
demonstrations and encourage you to find a different route.
Partners
from the tourism industry will be taking in the sights around here and
across the border in an effort to better promote the so-called Two
Nation Vacation.
Provincial
Tourism Minister Trevor Holder says marketing New Brunswick and Maine
together is something they have been doing for about a decade, but have
been ramping it up in recent years.
Holder
says the centerpiece of the marketing strategy is the fact that
four-term US President Franklin Roosevelt vacationed with his family for
several generations on Campobello Island.
They
leave the Fundy Trail Parkway Interpretive Centre in St. Martins
tomorrow at 6:30 in the evening. For more information about the Two
Nation Vacation, click here.
A new women's boutique rolling into Saint John.
In
Pursuit is a mobile clothing store that's run out of a hot pink truck
owned by Dominique Leger, who says she fell in love with the concept
when she saw one in Boston two years ago and started researching how to
start up a fashion truck of her very own.
Leger
tells Tide News she has a permit allowing her to park at any metered
parking spot in the city, and once the time on the meter runs out, she
just moves to another location.
The
boutique is having a soft launch today at the Harvesting the Arts
festival in King Square. For more information about In Pursuit, visit
the boutique's Facebook page.
This
upcoming week is dedicated to recognizing the more than 500 families in
the province who have brought foster children into their homes.
National
Foster Family Week starts tomorrow and runs until October 26. Right now
there are over 900 children being fostered in New Brunswick.
The
provincial Foster Families Association president, Brian Williams, says
the week is also a time to encourage those thinking about becoming
foster parents to start the process. For more information about foster
families or becoming a foster parent,
call 1-800-990-0119 or visit the Department of Social Development's website.
A three
hour meeting between Premier David Alward and the Chief of the
Elisipogtog First Nation Arren Sock taking place last night in the
aftermath of a violent clash between shale gas protestors and police.
Both
agreeing on a cooling off period with more meetings next week. There was
no agreement on whether there should be a moratorium on shale gas
exploration on First Nation land.
Sock was
among the 40 people arrested along Route 134 in Rexton on Thursday.
RCMP say six police vehicles were destroyed by fire, several explosives
were were discovered and defused, Molotov cocktails were thrown at
police and at least one shot was fired by someone other than police.
As the RCMP enforced a court injunction obtained by SWN Resources,
snipers could be seen lying in the grass off the side of the road as
police, some in riot gear, came face to face with the protestors.
