Local Food Bank Issues Hunger Challenge

If you've never been hungry -- how do you truly know what hunger feels like?

Next week is National Hunger Awareness Week -- and the St. George and Area Food Bank is issuing the Hunger Challenge.

St. George and Area Food Bank Co-ordinator Sarah Norman tells Tide News she will be handing out a single person's food bank share to four people and ask them to live off of that share for a full 5 days.

Those individuals -- including both of our local MLA's for Charlotte County, a local Vice Principal, and a Town Councillor.

On Saturday, May 10th, you can join the participants at a community breakfest being held at the St. George Legion, beginning at 8am, and hear more about their struggles during the week. 

New Mammography Machine For CCH

Local women can breathe a little easier knowing a new mammography machine is coming to the Charlotte County Hospital.

MLA for Charlotte-Campobello tells Tide News this is one of many things that are helping the lives of people in Charlotte County. He points to the new dialysis hours at the hospital, two new doctors coming in next month, and now the mammography machine.

Malloch says breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women in New Brunswick -- and this new machine will be an important piece of women's health.

He says the machine has already been ordered and will be here soon, and fundraising efforts are already underway. He says the machine, however,  will be in place before the fundraising is complete.

Gallant Says His Position On Shale Gas Has Been Vindicated

Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant tells Tide News he was on the right track all along by calling for a moratorium on shale gas development in light of a report compiled by 14 scientists for Environment Canada.  The Alward Government has denounced that as dithering and pandering for votes.

The report concludes we need more research into the long term effects of shale gas exploration and fracking socially, economically and environmentally.

Gallant says you can't regulate the risks if you don't know enough about what they are and it could be decades before you do but the gas isn't going anywhere.

More Money Earmarked To Boost Tourism

The governments of New Brunswick and Maine are formalising their relationship to boost tourism by jointly investing $1 million over four years in the Two Nation Vacation marketing partnership.
 
Provincial Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells Tide News the money will be used to develop an integrated marketing and sales campaign designed to create awareness and interest in vacationing in both countries.
 
In the past, each government invested $50,000 a year in promoting the Two Nation Vacation. That's going up to $125,000 a year each for the next four years.

The announcement was made today in St. Stephen at the Chocolate Museum. 

Grand Manan Adventure Back In Service

Now that it's turbo charger has been replaced, the Grand Manan Adventure is back in service.

Once the parts arrived from the US the work was completed quickly and Coastal Transport GM Gregg Ryder says the repair is considered a permanent fix.

The backup ferry Grand Manan V was used while the Grand Manan Adventure was out of service. 

Help For Sussex Area Flood Victims

Public Safety Minister and Sussex MLA Bruce Northrup feeling very emotional speaking about the damage flooding caused to his community last month.

The province announcing Disaster Financial Assistance Program for the 540 homes and businesses suffering damage since April 15th

The maximum assistance amount for structural repairs for homes has been expanded from a cap of $80,000 to $120,000.

Once homeowners register their flood damage at 1-888-298-8555 and are approved for assistance, the province can issue advance payments of up to $4000.

Provincial offices will be established in Sussex and in St. Leonard to assist residents.
The one in Dairytown will be open on Monday morning in the court building.

Staff at these offices will be able to help residents with the paperwork.

A Lot More Has To Be Learned About Fracking

It will be years before there's shale gas exploration in the province.......That, according to report prepared for Environment Canada by a panel of 14 scientists, half of whom are with the New Brunswick Energy Institute. 

In the meantime, the panel has determined a lot more research is needed into the environmental, economic and social implications. 

It has also determined assurances from industry that fracking can be done safely are unsubstantiated.