Glenn Savoie, the M-L-A for Saint John Fundy will be the Conservative candidate in the reconfigured riding of Saint John East when the provincial election is held in September.
Savoie, who was acclaimed without opposition, tells CHSJ News he knocked on every single door in the riding of Saint John Fundy and says most people realise tough decisions have to be made to turn around the provincial economy. He calls it short term pain for long term gain.
Savoie admits New Brunswick is in a precarious financial position but argues the Alward Government has controlled spending. Health Minister Ted Flemming is hoping to have saved 300 million dollars in healthcare spending by the time of next fall's election.
Savoie, a member of the Southern Regional Caucus, says they set three priorities.....A new "Y" in Crescent Valley, safe drinking water for the city along with more money for the Fundy Trail and all three were achieved.
Premier David Alward says there will be announcements made soon to boost forestry in the province and that will benefit the port of Saint John.
The Premier is dismissing the latest polling which shows his government trailing the Opposition Liberals in popular support by 12 per cent. Alward spoke at his party's Saint John East nomination meeting at Champlain Heights School and tells CHSJ News he knows the upcoming provincial election will be tough but the polls have been unreliable of late if you look at what happened in B-C and Alberta.
Alward maintains the decisions his government are making now, however controversial, will make the province stronger down the road.
Alward, also taking a shot at Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant, saying he's all about moratoriums whether it's shale gas or pension reform and the province can't afford a step back.
There were demonstrators outside the Conservative party's Saint John East nomination meeting at Champlain Heights School and they got a chance to talk to Premier David Alward about their stalled contract negotiations.
Local 1251 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents jail guards. Union President Everett Godfrey tells CHSJ News after 33 months, they haven't even talked about a wage increase and there aren't many options to get things moving because most of the union members would be deemed essential and be on the job anyway.
The union would like to go to binding arbitration but there has been no response from the province. Alward told Godfrey he would see what he could do, as Premier, to get some movement.
