Two Nation Vacation Funding Announcement Tomorrow

An announcement regarding the "two-nation vacation" will be made tomorrow.

Tourism, Heritage, and Culture Minister Trevor Holder will be present, as well as the State of Maine Commissioner of Economic and Community Development George Gervais.

The announcement is in relation to funding and will take place at 10am at the Chocolate Museum in St. Stephen.

Liberal Leader Elaborates On Abortion

Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant says New Brunswick's position on abortion has to change because the Supreme Court ruling is being violated.
 
On requiring two doctors to approve before the government will cover the cost of an abortion, Gallant says that has to change. He also is suggesting geographical disaparities may be another barrier.

The Liberals at their policy convention last weekend called for improving access to abortion.

Things Are Looking Tough For Workers On This May Day

It's getting harder and harder for people just to get by these days........That's one of the messages on May Day, which is International Workers Day, from Patrick Colford, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. 

Colford points to a single mom he was talking to a couple of weeks ago who works for two multinational companies a total of 60 hours a week and still has to go to the food bank to feed her kids.
 
Colford tells Tide News workplace health and safety provisions in the province have to be made better. He says there are also the issues of workers compensation and pay equity legislation.

Colford is urging workers to vote in their own best economic interests in September's provincial election.

Stolen School Bus Found Crashed

An abandoned school bus that was reported stolen from the Lorneville area has been found in the ditch on Highway 745 near St. Stephen.

The bus is thought to have been stolen sometime after 6:00 p.m.near Saint John.

Early this  morning, St. Stephen RCMP were also called to a break, enter and theft at a fast food joint on King Street in which some cash was taken.

If you have any information on the break-in or stolen school bus, you're being asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Town Hires Aquatic Supervisor for Civic Centre

The Garcelon's management team is getting bigger.

The Town of St. Stephen announcing the appointment of Sarah Hebb of Island View as the Civic Centre's new Aquatic Supervisor.

Hebb has extensive experience in the aquatic industry -- working for the YMCA in Fredericton, the University of Ottawa, she has lead competitive swim teams, and Hebb holds the required certifications to fulfill the position.

She also has ties to Charlotte County with family in St. Andrews.

The Aquatic and Fitness Center at the Garcelon will include a 26 meter leisure pool, a therapy pool with a slide, and two dry saunas.

Town Council approving a one year contract for Hebb which starts today.

For details on what the Garcelon's Aquatic Center will offer, you can contact the Aquatic Supervisor by calling 466-7700.

Doucet Surprised To Hear Parrott Is Back In Caucus

While Liberal MLA Rick Doucet is surprised to hear Dr. Jim Parrott is back in the Conservative caucus, it won't change his game plan for re-election one little bit.

He says like anyone you will be stepping into the ring with, he'll be running under the Alward government's Conservative banner and this government has given the people of his constituency a rough ride over the last 4 years.

Doucet currently representing the riding of Charlotte the Isles where Dr. Parrott will be seeking the Tory nomination after sitting as in independent and a Tory in the riding of Fundy-River Valley in the last four years.

Acute Care Patients Can Fill Out A Survey

Do you have a hospital stay planned next month?

During the month of May, all medical, surgical and obstetrics inpatients discharged from Horizon Health acute-care hospital facilities will be provided a survey before they leave the hospital.

The survey is confidential and the information collected will help Horizon Health evaluate the performances of hospitals and learn how to better serve and understand the needs of patients and their families.

The survey results will be posted on Horizon's website. 

Road Reopened After Flooding

The Darlings Island road has been reopened after the potholes were filled but for how long remains to be seen with the rain on the way. 

Up to 20 millimeters expected through tonight.

There had been a shuttle boat service in place since Monday afternoon but by yesterday the water had receded from the road.

This is the third time there has been flooding at Darlings Island in the last decade.

New Brunswick Rink Wins World Title In Curling

New Brunswick can boast of a having a world champion. 

Wayne Tallon of the Capital Winter Club in Fredericton with Wade Blanchard of Saint John, Mike Flannery of Fredericton and Mike Kennedy of Edmunston, defeated Sweden 7-2 in the final to win gold at the World Senior Men's Curling Championship in Scotland. Tallon is expected to return home early tomorrow morning. 

Meantime, Nova Scotia's Colleen Pinkney of Truro won silver in the women's final after losing to Scotland 6-5.

Liberals Select Their Candidate To Run In Saint John Portland

The Liberals have chosen an educator to run in Saint John Portland and challenge longtime incumbant M-L-A and provincial cabinet minister Trevor Holder. 

Micheal Butler has worked as a teacher, principal and is the former Superintendent of the District 8 schoolboard. 

He tells Tide News too many students are graduating from high school without the skills they need to succeed.
 
Butler says all employers want from young people leaving school are is basic literacy skills which give them the ability to learn along with the desire to be lifelong learners. 

He also points out the riding hasn't really benefited from Holder's representation when you consider there's one neighbourhood in the riding that has a child poverty rate of 77 per cent.