NB Man Charged In Employment Insurance Fraud Scheme

A 28-year-old fisherman from the Burnt Church First Nation is facing charges in connection with an Employment Insurance fraud scheme, which resulted in almost $400-thousand in losses to the federal government in E-I benefits payments.

Ryan Michael Wade Bear is charged with fraud, making fake Records of Employment and selling and/or transferring Records of Employment. 

The RCMP were tipped off last June that people were involved in a possible scheme and they started investigating.............they say Bear sold or transferred 33 Records of Employment between April of 2012 and January of last year.

Police say most of the claimants paid Bear for the service.

Six-Week Adjournment In Second Degree Murder Case

The crown and prosecution have recommended a six-week adjournment in the case of Joseph Irving, who is charged with second degree murder in the death of his wife Cynthia.

During that time, forensic reports will be gathered and the evidence seized at the scene will reviewed. Irving, who made his appearance by video, will be back in court June 16.

Pension Coalition To Proceed With Legal Challenge In June

A legal challenge against the Shared Risk model will be filed by the Pension Coalition in June.
 
On it's third provincial tour, the group informing retirees of the plan at a meeting at the qplex.

Bonny Hoyt-Hallet tells Tide News they never said there didn't need to be some pension changes.

She says parts of this model might be good for some but with the Shared Risk model and the memorandum of understanding the way it is now, they need to start back at square one.

The coalition is planning on getting a map of all the new ridings and contacting all candidates for the provincial election.
 
Attendees were also asked by the coalition to contribute what they can to the group's operating and legal fund.    

They expect the legal challenge will cost $200,000.

Anti-Shale Gas Alliance Coming To The City

The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance claims no jurisdiction has regulations that can make shale gas exploration safe. 

Former Provincial Environment Minister Trevor Holder maintains New Brunswick's regulations are among the toughest in North America. Jim Emberger of the Anti-Shale Gas Alliance tells Tide News they still fall short when it comes to how close you can drill to homes and schools without risking health.
 
The Anti-Shale Gas Alliance will be giving a presentation tomorrow night at the K-V Library in Quispamsis that's scheduled to get underway at 6:30.

Liberal Leader Predicts Alward Government Will Not Backtrack On Shale Gas

What to do about shale gas development is bound to be an election issue in the province. 

Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant tells Tide News the Alward Government is not going to backtrack on its support for shale gas exploration because to do so would be an admission it was on the wrong track and the governing Conservatives see it as their saviour in turning around the provincial economy.
 
New Brunswick has been at the bottom among provinces in economic growth over the past four years. 

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is arguing shale gas development along with the Energy East pipeline are ways to bring young New Brunswickers, who have gone out west to work in the oil and gas industry, back home again.

Drunk Drivers An Issue Over The Weekend

City police had issues with a number of drunk drivers over the weekend.

Sergeant Jay Henderson explains one 35 year old man crashed his car and kept right on driving on the rim of his front tire, with sparks shooting out of it. He was arrested a short time later near Reversing Falls after a concerned driver called police.
 
Three other men--all in their twenties--were also charged with drunk driving over the weekend in separate incidents.

Visiting The Hospital? Wash Your Hands

Clean hands save lives--and the Saint John Regional Hospital is reminding the public of that by marking National Hand Hygiene Day today.

Volunteers will be at the entrance of the hospital directing visitors to alcohol-based hand rinse dispensers.

Proper hand hygiene is the easiest way of preventing infections in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities--and you should be doing it not just today, but every time you visit.

Retirees Meet In Quispamsis

Provincial Government retirees will be meeting this morning at the Q-Plex on the first stop of the provincial tour after the decision was made to take the province to court over changing to the shared risk pension plan. 

Clifford Kennedy of the Pension Coalition tells Tide News the retirees will hear from their lawyer in a video message and find out what their political strategy will be.
 
Kennedy goes on to say the province has refused to give them information they requested which makes them suspicious about whether the government's claims are true about the long term financial impact and they're confident of winning the court action because their vested rights are being violated.

Saint John Will Benefit From Additional Bucks For Two Nation Vacation Promotion

Discussions begin today on how Saint John tourism promotion will participate in a beefed up Two Nation vacation program.
The province and Maine are jointly investing one million dollars over four years to promote this region - something Discover Saint John's Ross Jefferson welcomes with open arms.
He says a large portion of tourists coming to our area are from the U-S so the additional funding will help promote even more growth locally.
Jefferson says partnerships like the Two Nation vacation program are the way of the future to promote our region.

Holder Remains Confident In Shale Gas Development

(Tourism Minister Trevor Holder)

A member of the Alward cabinet is standing firm in his support of potential shale gas development.
A recent report by a group of scientists is urging all levels of government to refrain from quick approval of shale gas development proposals - the scientists say there isn't enough information about the impact on health and the environment.
Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells Tide News as a former Environment Minister he is confident we have some of the toughest environmental regulations in North America.

Holder does admit he hasn't had an opportunity to read the report.