CCHP Says Payments Were Made -- The Rest To Come Shortly

The Charlotte County Hospitality Partnership -- who is responsible for the management of the renos at the iconic Algonquin Resort -- issuing a statement on the big bill that several companies reportedly say is owed to them.

The CCHP says they have been working with sub-contractors over the past 6 weeks to reconcile work with each contract, significant payments were made in December and January, and they expect the accounting to be completed in early February.

Here is the full statement issued:

“In a statement issued in December 2013, we noted that Charlotte County Hospitality Partners has assumed responsibility for the management of the renovation of the Algonquin Hotel.

Over the past six weeks we have been working with the sub contractors to reconcile work performed against each contract and significant payments were made in December and January. With the cooperation of all the sub-contractors we have been able to

continue working towards full project completion for May and a possible partial opening in February or March. As the account reconciliation continues, some sub-contractors have exercised their lien rights. We understand that this is a legal precaution to protect their interests and we appreciate the continued support we are getting from the subcontractors.

We expect to have the accounting work completed in early February and for additional payments to be made shortly.

When we set out to revitalize the Algonquin, we knew there would be challenges.  We’re certain, however, that when the final results are unveiled it very quickly will become the hospitality landmark of Atlantic Canada and make all New Brunswick very proud.  Our booking pace is extremely positive and we anticipate an exceptional spring and summer.”

Charlotte County Hospitality Partnership.

Sub-Contractors Say Algonquin Owes Them $

Our iconic hotel may be in some hot water.

Reports say several companies have filed liens against Southwest Properties and Newcastle Developments, the owners of the Algonquin Hotel and Resort in St. Andrews, for money they say are owed to them for the renovation.

Reports say four of the liens also name Avant-Garde Construction, the general contractor for the reno.

The claims apparently add up to $881,000.

Kent Building Supplies is claiming the largest amount owing at $481 thousand.

Southwest President Gordon Laing giving a statement saying payments were made to sub-contractors in December and January, with another due in February.

Funeral Arrangements Announced For Former St. Stephen Mayor

St. Stephen saying goodbye to one of its former Mayors.

Jed Purcell -- who served as mayor from 2008-2012 -- passed away last Saturday, January 18th, 2014, while in Florida.

Visitation with family will be held at Mehan's Funeral Home on Main Street in St. Stephen, on Sunday, January 26th from 2-4 and from 7-9.

Mehan's announcing Jed's funeral will be held on Monday, January 27th at St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, 407 Milltown Blvd at 11am.

For a link to Jed's obituary, click HERE

No Tax Increases In Upcoming Provincial Budget But There Are Job Cuts In Health

One thing is for sure, you won't have to worry about taxes going up in the near future. Finance Minister Blaine Higgs saying taxes aren't going up in the next budget, scheduled to come out next month. 

Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation saying while this is good news for the province,we still need to pay attention to government spending.

"There are positive signs for the future that things are going to get better, so we want to see the Finance Minister address the government's spending problem, and not just hope that a lot of the longer-term projects are going to come on and save the day for the province," he says.  

 At the same time, he says the Minister's decision is really the only option right now, and 
new projects such as the pipeline, can help drive up provincial revenue.

 He tells Tide News, "when you consider that someone earning sixty-thousand dollars in Saint John would pay about seventeen-hundred dollars more in taxes than someone earning the same income in Edmonton, New Brunswickers can not take anymore tax increases."

Still with the province's bottom line......Horizon Health estimates it will save half a million dollars with 8 job cuts and not filling 4 vacant positions in radiology and nuclear medicine in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton.

Latest Layoffs At Horizon Health Criticised

Liberal Healthcare critic Donald Arsenault believes the Alward Government is shooting itself in the foot with the most recent layoffs at Horizon Health.

There are 8 layoffs in radiology and nuclear technology while four jobs will stay vacant in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton.

Arsenault doesn't buy the claim by Horizon Health that the quality of patient care will not be compromised, telling Tide News these are skilled positions and he fears the province will get a reputation that will make it harder to recruit front line medical professionals down the road.

He also says people are going to work in healthcare unsure about whether they'll have a job the following week and this is damaging morale.

Cellphone Saves Pilot's Life After Crash

The 22 year old trainee pilot whose small plane crashed between Fredericton and Minto is expected to make a full recovery.

 He managed to crawl from the wreckage and used his cellphone to get help. It still took rescuers a couple of hours to find him in dense brush with bitterly cold temperatures but Fredericton's Assistant Deputy Fire Chief David McKinley says using the cellphone to provide GPS co-ordinates saved his life. 

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating to try to determine what sort of problem occurred to force the pilot to make an emergency landing.