PaddleFest Taking Over St. Andrews

The May long weekend means lots of people on the water -- and the warmer weather will be welcome. 

Paddlefest 2014 --  the annual Music and Outdoor Recreational Festival kicking off in St. Andrews today.

You can take part in special events such as kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, or the beach-clean up -- and dozens of bands playing live music will be featured.



There will also be a fundraiser Sunday night for the Dragonfly Centre for Autism.

Environment Canada calling for sunshine Friday and Saturday, and rain on Sunday, but temperatures will be in the 20's throughout. 

For a full list of PaddleFest events, CLICK HERE

Police Seeking Saint John Man

RCMP seeking your help fniding 27-year-old Corey Hoss Melvin of Saint John. He's charged with fraud, obstruction, drug possession, theft and more.

Police believe Melvin may be in either the Saint John area or Halifax. He is described as white, 5'10 , 220lbs with brown hair and eyes.

The RCMP is asking anyone with any information to contact the Riverview RCMP Detachment at 506-387-2222 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

You're Paying A Lot More Tax To Fill Up

Federal and provincial taxes on gas in the last five years are costing drivers in the province 25 per cent more to fill up. 

That calculation coming from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation whose Atlantic Director, Kevin Lacey estimates is around 7.8 cents a litre.
 
Lacey tells Tide News just five years ago, the price of gas in Saint John was under a dollar a litre. 

Since the Harper Government is crowing about a federal budget surplus next year, Lacey says its time to get rid of the 1.5 cent a litre deficit elimination tax which was brough in back in 1995.

Retired General Says Situation In Ukraine Is Scary

25 European Union ambassadors were asking Premier David Alward about the opportunity of getting energy exported from Saint John. 

The Premier says it's because of the unrest happening in the Ukraine and the aggressive posture adopted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Retired General Rick Hillier, who made an appearance at the Boys and Girls Club, says they should be worried as he calls the situation in the Ukraine "frightening" because when people start getting killed then the genie is out of the bottle and  no one knows where this is going.

New Anti-Poverty Initiatives To Be Announced

Stay tuned........Premier David Alward says he'll be announcing in a matter of days phase two of the strategy to combat poverty after consultations that have taken place over the past year. 

Phase One happened under the previous Liberal government after a wide ranging roundtable discussion a few years ago in Market Square when Shawn Graham was Premier and Alward was Opposition Leader. 

Saint John Portland M-L-A Trevor Holder tells Tide News he's proud of what he has done in public office to tackle poverty and that's why he fought so hard to get the new "Y" built in Crescent Valley which the Premier predicts will change that part of the city for a lifetime.

Thibodeau & Hooper Facing Drugs & Weapons Charges

Two East Side men in their twenties are facing a rather lengthy list of drugs and weapons charges.

24 year old Justin James Thibodeau and 23 year old David Gordon Hooper of Courtenay Avenue are charged with possession of 600 grams of marijuana, hash, and Percocet for the purpose of trafficking. The drugs are valued at over $10,000.

They're accused as well of having cash obtained by crime, and having a loaded sawed off 12-gauge shotgun.

Hooper pleaded not guilty to all the charges and will appear in court on July 2 to set a trial date. Thibodeau's bail hearing is set for tomorrow morning at 9:30. 

An 18 year old woman will also be appearing in court on drug and weapons charges.

Premier Defends Financial Incentives As A Smart Investment

NDP Leader Dominic Cardy does not like the Alward's government repeated use of payroll rebates and forgivable loans to boost job creation.

Premier David Alward tells Tide News he can have his own opinion.

Alward question what Cardy will do adding these are smart investments in the neighbourhood of $600,000 by the time it's all finished.

Alward says this announcement means more people will have good jobs allowing them to stay here.    He considers it high value and low risk.

Charges Laid In West Side Violence

Two men appearing in provincial court to be charged after an altercation that turned deadly on the West Side Tuesday night.
 
Anthony Beckingham of Sea Street is charged with assault with a weapon after a 61 year old man was run over at Lancaster and Tower Streets. His case has been adjourned without plea until June 23rd.
 
Fred Cormier Junior also appearing in court to be charged with second degree murder in the death of 23 year old Spencer Eldridge. His case was also set over without plea until June 2nd. In the meantime, he will remain locked up. 

Dealermine To Add 135 Jobs in Saint John

The workforce at Dealermine in Saint John will be increasing.

At the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal, 

Premier David Alward announcing Dealermine will add 135 jobs to it's Port City operation.

Dealermine gets a payroll rebate from the province of up to $290,000 and a forgivable loan of $150,000 if they create and maintain 135 full time jobs by March 2017.

Dealermine provides customer relations solutions to auto dealerships in North America.

Premier Says Europe Is Interested In Energy From Saint John

Provincial Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Trevor Holder winning the Conservative party nomination in Saint John Portland unopposed. 

Holder tells Tide News voters will have a simple choice to make on September 22nd between the guys who spent money like a drunken sailor, tried to put the locks on U-N-B Saint John and attempted to sell NB Power or the Conservatives who have reduced the provincial debt and have a plan to revitalise the economy.
 
Premier David Alward says he met recently with 25 ambassadors from the European Union and energy exports from Saint John were foremost in their thoughts because of what's happening in the Ukraine and Russia. He adds India wants to quintuple the imports of natural gas over the next six years.
 
Meantime, Bill Oliver of Kiersteadville will run for the Conservatives in Kings Centre. He most recently worked as Executive Assistant to Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs.

New Program Aims To Keep Seniors Home Longer

No one wants to see mom or dad go into a nursing home or hospital and a new program called Home First is designed to keep seniors at home longer.

The idea behind the program is to make hospital admissions, lengthy stays and transfers from hospitals to residential facilities more last resorts rather than common practice as they are now.

The plan is based on feedback from seniors and health care professionals.

The province is investing 7.2 million in the first year of the program.

To learn more about the program, click here