Higgs Calls Budget Most Difficult To Date

They're cleaning up the mess that the last government made. Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs saying that's what the province is doing with the highly-criticized budget in a post-budget speech he made in St. Stephen.
The St. Stephen and Area Chamber Of Commerce hosting "An Evening With Blaine Higgs" at the Trinity Hall last night (April 8th).

Higgs tells Tide News that the income-tax rollback of 2008 was supposed to be offset by a bump in HST, but that didn't happen.

He says this has been the most difficult budget to date, and he tells us he acknowledges this tax increase hits every pocketbook, but that we need to get out of the hole that's been dug. The income-tax increase is a measure that's expected to generate $136 million in revenue for 2013-14.

(In Picture, left to right, St. Stephen Chamber of Commerce President Dale Weeks, St. Stephen Mayor John Quartermain, Charlotte-Campobello MLA Curtis Malloch, and Finance Minister Blaine Higgs.)

Lung Association Believes Most New Brunswickers Support Higher Tobacco Taxes

The New Brunswick Lung Association releasing the results of a survey which indicates 69 per cent of people in the province support spending more money to get people to quit smoking and 59 per cent support increasing tobacco taxes to come up with the funding needed. 

Lung Association President and CEO Barb MacKinnon tells Tide News even though tobacco taxes bring in 157 million dollars a year, illnesses caused by smoking take quite a chunk out of the healthcare budget to the tune of 111 million dollars a year in direct costs and 429 million dollars in social costs which include lost workdays. 

She also points to research that shows for every dollar spent on smoking cessation, three dollars are save in healthcare costs.
 
The smoking rate in the province at 18.8 per cent is over 2 per cent higher than the national average.
 
According to the Lung Association, it usually takes from 5 to 7 attempts before someone can give up smoking.

Pipeline Could Give Spinoff Projects For Irving

If TransCanada's proposed pipeline project is given the green light, there could be spinoff projects for Irving Oil in the future. 

Jeff Matthews, the company's business development manager tells Tide News that before that happens there is a long road ahead, but says it'll pay off if we can get there. He tells us their main focus right now is getting the pipeline to Saint John, and says that will open up opportunities for the company, the city, the province, and other third party companies.

The company has said the 14,000 kilometer pipeline would not only give them a wider base supply of crudes than they have right now, but it would also open up a new region of crude supply to Atlantic Canada.

Finance Minister Coming To St. Stephen Tonight

Do you have questions about the new provincial budget? You can talk to the guy who wrote it tonight in person.

The St. Stephen Chamber of Commerce hosting an Evening with Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs tonight, April 8th, at the Trinity Hall, located at 30 Prince William Street.

Introductions will start at 6:30pm with Chamber President Dale Weeks and local MLA Curtis Malloch.

Higgs will begin a presentation at 7o'clock, followed by a question period.
The event is open to the general public.

A Third Suspicious Fire In St. Stephen Area In Less Than Three Weeks

In less than three weeks, a third house fire in the St. Stephen area is being called suspicious.

Around 2 am, Saturday morning, April 6th,  District 1 RCMP responding to a blaze on the Loop Road in Upper Mills.

Calais and St. Stephen Fire Departments were on the scene. They say no one was at home at the time.

Police tell us there was significant damage to the home and the cause is suspicious.

A home at the corner of Oak Hill and the Moores Mills Crossroad, as well as another home in Milltown on Queensway were both destroyed by fire on March 18th. Police say the causes of those fires are suspicious.

If you have any information, please contact local police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

April Is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Many victims of sexual assault live with what happened to them in silence and shame. 

The executive director of the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre Lorraine Whalley tells CHSJ News that less than 10% of sexual assaults are reported to police.

This April is the third annual sexual assault awareness month in the province. The theme of this year's campaign is engaging youth in conversations of sexual violence. Whalley tells us they chose to zero-in on young people to try and clear up any misconceptions about what consent is amongst youth. She says the approach they're taking is that yes means yes, as opposed to no means no.

New Brunswick Has Lowest Levels of Adult Literacy in Canada

With our province's staggering rates of functional illiteracy, you'd think more people would be jumping on the free programs available to help people upgrade their reading skills, but Deanna Allen of Laubach Literacy tells CHSJ News their literacy programs are only reaching a handful of the people that need them.

Allen says adults who can't read well often avoid situations where they'll need to read, and often develop some creative strategies to cope with their sub-par literacy skills. But she says they'd like to see the number of people enrolled in their programs double or triple. She tells CHSJ News 60% of adults in New Brunswick are functionally illiterate, compared to 40% for Canada as a whole.

Fundy Region Will Try To Break Guinness World Record

Thousands of kids will be digging in dirt one day this summer, but they won't be playing. They'll be working to beat a world record.
 
Marigold Project founder Barry Ogden tells us that the Fundy region has applied to the Guinness Book of World Records to try and beat the record for number of children planting flowers at the same time. 

They'll try and beat the record, which is currently held in China, on June 6th at 9:30 in the morning. Ogden tells us that approximately 40 schools will be taking part.

Advance Polls Open For Kent By-Election

Election day is on April 15th, but you can cast your vote in the Kent by-election early. The seat was vacated by former Premier Shawn Graham, who resigned after a conflict of interest scandal.

Advance polls are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and on Monday, April 8th. Anyone who is eligible to vote can do so in the advance polls. Voters should have received a Voter Information Card in the mail, if you didn't, check your poll location on the Elections NB website or ring the returning office at (506) 955-6022 or (888) 326-9523.

Lawyer Will Be Sentenced In June

Suspended Saint John lawyer Rod Gillis will be sentenced June 20th in Bathurst for attempting to obstruct justice. 

A sentencing hearing was held in Moncton where the legal arguments were made before Judge Irwin Lampert who found the 66 year old Gillis guilty back in January. 

Prosecutor Peter Craig is recommending a prison term from 30 to 36 months for what he calls breach of trust by a member of the bar and officer of the court. 

The defense is asking for a conditional sentence that would be served in the community. 

Gillis was charged in connection with how he represented former Liberal M-L-A and House Speaker Frank Branch in his legal battle with the North Shore Forest Products Marketing Board which included both a criminal prosecution and civil lawsuit. Branch was charged with fraud and extortion. He eventually pleaded guilty to fraud over 5 thousand dollars and was sentenced to house arrest as well as ordered to pay restitution.

Gillis has represented St. Stephen's Chief Administrative Officer John Ferguson during his long battle with the Saint john Pension Board.

Weston Responds To Parole Controversy

Since parole is a federal responsibility, it's no wonder Saint John M-P Rodney Weston is hearing a lot of concern about the release of John O'Brien, the so-called motorcycle rapist to a halfway house in the city.

Weston says the concerns expressed to him about John O'Brien are mainly about the nature of his crimes and his risk of re-offending which is described by Police Chief Bill Reid as moderate. He concedes it doesn't make him feel good as an M-P to hear the concerns and worry from his constituents.

The concerns voiced to Weston are being passed along to the federal minister of Public Safety. 

Weston tells Tide News he even considered introducing a private member's bill to deal with the issue but points out statutory release is a fact of the Canadian judicial system unless you're deemed a dangerous offender.

Victims Of Crimes Need To Be Heard

If you've ever been the victim of a crime, you know how traumatic the experience can be.

It's the job of Victim Services to ensure people feel heard throughout the judicial process. Martin Ellen Martin of Victim Services tells Tide News they rely on highly trained volunteers to deal with the fallout from a wide range of crimes from assaults to murders, sudden deaths, and thefts.

Martin says the most common call they get is when someone has unexpectedly died, and they have to counsel family members and others. 

For more information on Victim Services including how you can volunteer, click here

Saint John Lawyer Faces Possible Prison Time

A well known Saint John lawyer Rod Gillis -- who represented St. Stephen Chief Administrative Officer John Ferguson in his battle with the Saint John Pension Board -- is scheduled to be in court today in Moncton at a sentencing hearing for attempting to obstruct justice. 

The actual sentence itself won't be delivered by Judge Irwin Lampert until a later date because of all the documentation that has to be gone through.

The charge was laid in connection with Gillis's legal representation of former Liberal M-L-A Frank Branch. 

The former Speaker of the Provincial Legislature was charged with fraud and extortion. He was also also legally involved in a civil suit against the North Shore Forest Products Marketing Board.  Branch pleaded guilty to fraud over 5 thousand dollars, ordered to pay restitution and was sentenced to house arrest and probation. 

Meanwhile, according to the Law Society of New Brunswick website, Gillis has been suspended from practicing law but there's no explanation why.

Ontario Will Investigate Watered-Down Chemo Meds

An investigation will be carried out in Ontario by an independent third party into how watered down chemotherapy drugs were given to more than 1,100 patients, including 186 at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

The issue of whether privatization of the preparation of the chemo drugs might have been a factor has been raised by Ontario's Health Minister after a pharmacy technician noticed a discrepancy in the amount of fluid in some of the bags.

Chief of Staff Dr. John Dornan is promising the Regional Hospital is going to be a lot more careful in the future. He's vowing there will be more specificity with suppliers. 

Most hospitals mix the medications themselves and, even though the Regional has a new supplier, Dr. Dornan says it's a possible option.

Cameras In Uptown SJ Could Be A Reality

With repeated arson attempts, vandalism, and other issues at buildings throughout Saint John, city police are looking for better ways to remedy the ongoing issues.

Police Chief Bill Reid tells Tide News some areas including King Square could soon be outfitted with closed-circuit cameras to catch the culprits in the act.

Reid says it's not totally new -- the police force has already installed cameras where there's an ongoing crime problem with the permission of the property owners.

Britt's Fast Feet

14 minutes, 3 seconds and 48 milliseconds. That's Barry Britt's time at his 5000 metre heat, and his own personal best.

Hailing from Hampton and competing for Idaho University, the 23-year-old's time is the third fastest ever by a New Brunswick runner on the track, and also ranks the Saint John Club member 3rd in all of Canada.

Gabriel LeBlanc, the Technical Director of Athletics New Brunswick says he has no doubt that Britt will challenge the provincial record in the 5000 metre this year, and be a contender for a spot on the provincial team heading to the Jeux De La Francophonie in Nice, France. He adds that he thinks Britt will be among the elite of Canadian distance running in the upcoming years.

Green Party Will Sit Out Kent By-Election

The Green Party will not run a candidate in the riding of Kent for the April 15th by-election.

A news release says party leader David Coon visited the eastern riding earlier in the week, and he says what he heard when he was there was that people aren't happy with parties "parachuting" candidates into their communities, so the Greens have decided they won't run someone from outside.

He says the party's potential local candidates weren't able to run on such short notice, and because the general election is just 18 months away, they've decided to "wait this one out."

The seat was vacated by former premier Shawn Graham earlier this month, who left politics after he was found to be in a conflict of interest over a $50-million loan guarantee his government gave to Acton, a construction firm with ties to his father.

Celebration of the Scottish

A day of celebration is coming up for those of you with Scottish in your blood. 

Tartan Day celebrates the heritage of the Scots and the contributions that they've made in the province. Laurie Hossack, the president of the Saint Andrew's Society's tells CHSJ news that the Scots played a major role in the shipbuilding industry and commerce in Saint John.

It dates back to about 1993, when MLA Georgie Day presented a resolution to the New Brunswick Legislature to declare April 6th Tartan Day. It passed unanimously. 

On this year's Tartan Day, they'll raise Scotland's flag in front of city hall in the morning and host a Ceilidh in the evening, complete with piping, drumming, highland dancing and of course, haggis. Tickets are $10 in advance by calling (506) 696-4253 or $15 at the door at the Simonds Lions Auditorium at Loch Lomond Villa, on 185 Loch Lomond Road. 

Cardy Says Prescription Drug Programme Could be Launched Next Year

There's still no word from the Alward Government about funding for a comprehsive prescription drug programme even though it was a promise made during the last provincial election campaign.

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is trying to get either the Conservatives or Liberals to introduce an amendment to the Budget Motion which would transfer over 17 and a half million dollars from the Economic Development Department, what Cardy refers to as Corporate Welfare, to the Health Department. 

He believes a prescription drug programme could be launched by the end of next October.

New Date For Inquest Into Death Of Chinese Student

An inquest into the death of a 17 year old  Chinese student while swimming at the Aquatic Centre in Saint John in September of 2011 has been changed. 

It will be held from May 21st through the 24th at the Sydney Street Courthouse in Saint John instead of early next month. 

The circumstances surrounding the death of Yi Fan Wang remain murky. He was swimming in the pool with some friends when something happened to him. He was unconscious when taken out of the swimming pool and died two days later at the Regional Hospital's intensive care unit. 

The inquest was called to hear from witnesses about the circumstances and come up with recommendations.

Warning About Funding For Universities And Student Flight

The Alward Government is being accused of starving universities in the province. That charge made by Miriam Jones of U-N-B Saint John who's President of the New Brunswick Association of University Teachers. 

Jones says universities provide hope to young people that they can have a better future. Without that hope, Jones argues young people will move to a place where there are better prospects which is what's happening these days.

She adds the squeeze on university funding is tighter than ever.

School Buildings Will Be Looked At For Their Sustainability

Each of the 75 buildings in the Anglophone South School District from Sussex to St. Stephen will be gone over to see in how good a shape they're in and what sort of repairs are needed. 

Enrollments are generally going down in most places and many of the school buildings in Saint John, for instance, are getting long in the tooth dating back to 1924. 

School District Chair Rob Fowler says despite that, school closures are not a given. He explains that a school will only be closed if the enrollment is way down and the repairs to bring the building up to par are sky high.
 
The province wants the school districts to come up with a five year infrastructure plan by the end of June.

Medical Society Disputing Claim By Health Minister

The Alward Government and the New Brunswick Medical Society are sniping at eachother over the cap on medicare fees. 

Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming accuses the Medical Society of not co-operating to lower the cost of healthcare. 

Medical Society President Dr. Robert Desjardins tells the Tide an extensive report complete with suggestions on how to make the healthcare system more efficient was handed over to the government last August but there was no followup.
 
Dr. Desjardins speculates the Medical Society's recommendations are gathering dust somewhere.

M-P For Charlotte County Speaks Out About Speaking Out

The unrest within the Conservative caucus over stiff party control is showing no signs of calming down. 

Three more M-Ps stood in the House of Commons to assert their freedom to say what they want in Parliament, without first being vetted by the party leadership.  

Charlotte County M-P John Williamson was among those defending the right to speak in the House about anything they wish. Ironically, Williams, who once headed the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, also served as Prime Minister Harper's Communications Director at one time. 

The backbenchers have been denounced by other Conservative M-P's as going rogue but they say this is actually a matter about the right of an M-P to represent his or her constituents.

S-U-V Flips Over After Leaving Highway

An S-U-V leaving the highway and rolling over near the Ducks Unlimited Marsh in Musquash. This happened around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. 

The Musquash Fire Department found the S-U-V on its roof. A mother and her child outside the vehicle. They sustained what appeared to be minor injuries but were sent to hospital as a precaution to be looked over. 

The S-U-V had been going westbound along Highway 1.

(Photo Courtesy Of Andrew Sanojca)

NB Liquor Changing Hours For Easter Weekend

Some new hours of operation coming with the Easter long weekend for beer, wine and spirits.

NB Liquor telling us liquor stores across the province will be closed both Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

They will be open Easter Monday from 10 to 6 with regular hours on Saturday.

CUPE Expects Job Losses With Healthcare Freeze

The contents of the provincial budget is making many of the people who work in the healthcare system nervous about their futures.

Gordon Black is Regional Director of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and he tells Tide News several hundred people could be getting their layoff notices because something has to give when healthcare costs are rising at 6 per cent a year but spending is frozen.

Black believes any cutbacks in health will take place at the smaller hospitals around the province. He claims rural New Brunswick is under attack.

Black is not surprised at being one of the few voices in favour of the tax cuts of 2008 being rolled back to the 2006 levels.

NDP Thinks Docs Will Leave NB Because Of Budget

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is criticizing the provincial budget for cutting 20 million dollars from the billable hours agreement with the province's doctors, which he says means essentially a couple of months worth of billable hours are disappearing off the table.

He worries we're likely to see them head elsewhere where they won't see their pay cut.

 

Cardy is glad to see the Alward Government dealing with what he describes as the terrible mistake the Shawn Graham Liberals made with the tax cuts in 2006.

Gallant Says Corporations Will Fare Better Than Individuals

Corporations will fare better than people when it comes to provincial tax hikes.

That's according to Liberal leader Brian Gallant, who tells Tide News that out of the $373 million expected in two years, corporations will only pay $39 million. Gallant calls that number alarming, since they received $34-47 million dollar property tax cut a few months ago. He tells us now, corporations are now in a position where they'll be paying less taxes.

Gallant says he was very disappointed with the provincial budget presentation and that the Tories broke their two election promises: that they had a plan to balance the budget and that they wouldn't raise taxes.

RCMP Still Looking For Wanted Man

The Dairytown Mounties are still looking for a man after a stabbing late last month where a woman was hurt.

It happened near Sussex on February 27th and a charge of attempted murder was laid against 49-year-old Robin White and a warrant was issued for his arrest on March 4th.  

Despite many efforts, White has still not been located.

Robin White is described as white about 5 foot 11 brown hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing glasses, a black coat, jeans and black boots. 

He may be driving a 2009 grey Honda Ridgeline truck with the provincial license plate CPM 926.

If you know anything about the location of Robin White or the vehicle he was seen driving,  contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately but do not approach him.

First Meeting Tonight For Chocolate Fest 2013

It's that time of the year again!

Preparations for Chocolate Fest 2013 are underway.

The first public meeting will be held tonight in St. Stephen for anyone with questions on how to get involved in the upcoming festival this summer.

The meeting is scheduled 6:30pm at the Chocolate Museum on Milltown Blvd.

You can learn how to volunteer, host your own event, or become a sponsor.  

Lacey Calls Budget A Slap In The Face To Middle Class Families

A slap to the face of average working families... that's what Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling tax increases presented at the provincial budget. He tells Tide News it's an attack on the struggling middle class.

He says families will have to shell out up to $1000 in more tax in some cases. The $8.5-billion budget presented today will see personal income taxes hiked to 2006 levels, and that's expected to yield $136 million for 2013-14. 

He tells us the only positive thing he's seen so far is getting rid of the government airplane, which he calls the gravy plane.

Smokers Feel Wallet Pain With New Budget

The Province delivering a budget that hikes tobacco taxes and eliminates previous income tax cuts as it tries to wrestle with a deficit projected to grow to $479 million.

    The $8.5-billion budget presented today seeing personal income taxes rise to 2006 levels which is a measure expected to generate $136 million in revenue for 2013-14.

    The corporate income tax rate will be increased to 12 per cent from 10 per cent on July 1, resulting in an estimated boost of $17 million in additional annual revenue.
 
    Smokers will also pay higher taxes on tobacco as of midnight tonight---up two cents per cigarette.
 
    Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says the government will continue efforts to reduce the size of the public service through attrition and attempt to cut their use of sick leave by 20 per cent.
 
    Higgs says the government can return to balanced budgets by 2015-16 if there is improved economic growth and revenues.

Warning On Sex With Strangers

People around the province who are having anonymous sex are being encouraged by the chief medical health officer to be tested for sexually transmitted disease.   
 
Dr. Eilish Cleary issuing the warning because of an increase in the numbers of people in the province having unprotected sex with strangers they meet on dating websites. 

Recently, a New Brunswicker, who was a frequent user of a website that facilitates anonymous sexual encounters and had about two dozen sexual partners living in the province, tested positive for HIV. Health officials are now trying to track down the people, mostly men, he had sex with. 

The sexual encounters took place in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.

NCC Gets $20 Million From Feds

This year's federal budget pledging a significant sum of cash to the conservation of undeveloped landscapes. 

$20 million going to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the NCC's Andrew Holland tells Tide News that on a local level, they'll build on the work they've done on the Musquash Estuary.

The money will support their Natural Areas Conservation program through 2013-2014. Holland says the non-profit is going to start work on matching the federal contribution.

Mounties Identify Man In Fatal Crash

The Mounties releasing the name of the man killed in a crash on Highway 7 yesterday near Geary. 

44-year-old Michael James Boucher of Burton died at the scene of a collision early Monday morning between his truck and a transport.

Boucher was the only driver in a pickup truck heading northbound on Highway 7 that crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a transport truck.

The transport truck driver was not hurt.

SOS: Please Help Us Save Our Library

The Save Oceans Science Committee presenting it's case to St. Stephen Town Council over the proposed closure of the St. Andrews Biological Station Library.

In March 2012, the federal government announced that due to budget constraints, cuts would be made to the Biological Station. The plan will see most of the holdings in St. Andrews transferred to Halifax, Nova Scotia in September.

Former St. Andrews Mayor Nancy Aiken tells Tide News it is a $4 million dollar library that just opened last year and it is a resource to roughly 20 organizations from the fishing industry, including universities like UNB and UNBSJ, as well as aquaculture and conservation groups and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre.

Aiken says they are taking a grassroots approach now within the communities, after not getting much of a response back from Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield, or MP for South-West New Brunswick John Williamson. She says they are bringing the issue to those most concerned in the community.

She says the closure will have a seriously negative impact on Charlotte County's already struggling economy.

Town Council Will Not Hire Someone To Hire Someone

It's a big job finding the right person for the big job.

That's the case with St. Stephen Town Council as they are now fully in charge of finding the new manager for the soon-to-be-completed Garcelon Civic Centre.

The biggest concern is finding a manager soon so they can oversee work being done while construction crews are still on the St. Stephen waterfront.

A proposal last night, (March 25th, 2013) would see the town hire an outside source to recruit for the position at a cost of $12,000, plus HST.




Councillor John Ames says, "We don't need someone to line them up in a row for us, this is a rediculous amount of money, and I think it's a waste of our taxpayers dollars."

Councillor Debbie MacDonald argued she didn't think the council has enough experience to hire for such an important position.
The proposal, however,  was shot down with a vote of 3-2, putting council members in charge of the whole process.



Mayor John Quartermain says they will offer the job locally, but ultimately, they will hire the person most qualified for the job.
The Garcelon Civic Centre is set to open this fall.

Provincial Budget Unveiled Tomorrow

All eyes in the province tomorrow will be on what Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs comes up with in his latest budget. 

The provincial government's deficit has risen to above 400 million dollars and the debt is in the neighbourhood of 11 billion together with a sluggish economy and, because of that, shrinking population. 

Kevin Lacey, the Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, tellsTide  News now is the time for something bold to get back on track and that means doing something significant to cut spending.

Lacey argues provincial government spending has gone up 1.7 billion dollars in the last five years but there's little to show for it. It's estimated each man, woman and child in the province owes more than 30 thousand dollars in provincial and federal debt.

Tractor Trailer Crash Claims Life

RCMP telling Tide News about a deadly crash on Highway 7 about 730 this morning involving a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer near the Geary exit.

That crash is causing a major traffic snarl today on Highway 7, between Saint John and Fredericton.
 
Corporal Chantal Farrah tells Tide News a man driving a northbound pickup crossed the centre line colliding with a transport truck.

The driver of the pickup died at the scene but the transport driver was not hurt.

A roadblock was set up on Highway 7, rerouting all drivers via Highway 101 through Geary up to Welsford.RCMP officers were posted at either end of Highway 101 directing traffic.

Apply Now To Volunteer For The World Women's Curling Event

If you want to be part of next year's Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Saint John, you can start applying now.

Event Chair Jeff Lacey tells Tide News 400 volunteers will be needed in a variety of jobs from driving to bartending but, judging by the amount of interest shown since the announcement back in December that Saint John will host the event, he doesn't foresee any problem in having enough.

Lacey says it's been 15 years since a curling event of this magnitude has been held in the city and back then, the level of interest in being part of it was tremendous.
You can apply by going to www.curling.ca

Jordan Avenue Blaze

A blaze engulfing and extensively damaging a bungalow on 22 Jordan Avenue in Moncton. The homeowner was outside walking her dog when the building caught fire, so she wasn't hurt.

No word from Moncton Fire Department officials on the actual cause of the fire, which is under investigation, but it looks like the flames started in the basement, gutted part of the main level and then spread into to the attic.

Westmorland Institution Inmate Dies

Corrections Canada is reporting an inmate from Westmorland Institution has died after being found unresponsive in his cell.

70 year old John Allain was serving a five year sentence for Indecent Assault on a woman and Sexual Interference with a woman under the age of 14.

Corrections Canada is looking into how he died.

Illegal Items Seized Outside Of Prison

More information has been released about the seizure of a package containing unauthorized items on the perimeter of the minimum security Westmorland Institution at Dorchester. 

The prison service estimates the contents of the package have an institutional value of more than 30 thousand dollars.
 
Police have been called in and the Correctional Service is also investigating.
 
The Correctional Service says the methods it utilizes to control the flow of drugs into prisons include ion scanners and drug dogs to search buildings, prisoners and visitors.

Upcoming Provincial Budget Worries CTF

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a bit uneasy about the next provincial budget that will be unveiled on Tuesday.
 
It's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey fears an increase in taxes and license fees. He tells Tide News to look what's happening with the property assessments which are tax increases by another name.

Some homeowners are outraged by the increase they're being hit with.

Lacey says it would be a mistake to roll back the 2008 tax reductions that were implemented by the previous Liberal government under then Premier Shawn Graham.

Those tax cuts are seen by some, including Rod Hill of U-N-B Saint John who ran for the NDP, as making the provincial deficit worse and not achieving the economic growth that was hoped for.

CUPE Wants Solution To Overcrowding In Jails

Following a Saint John man's extended jail sentence for a prison beat-down, the union representing prison workers is raising the red flag about overcrowding. 

Thomas Jack was attacked by his cellmate Jeremy David in November 2011 and will never work and drive again due to the impact of his injuries.

Mike Davidson of CUPE tells Tide News they have concerns about the current management at the provincial jail on the Old Black River road.

He says under the current management they have had a riot, an assault on an inmate and the early release of an inmate involved in a homicide.

Davidson calls overcrowding a serious issue and they haven't been too successful with the province on resolving it.

Our newsroom has an interview request into Public Safety Minister Robert Trevors for his take on things.

Three Teens Face Charges After Local Police Seize Loaded Guns

Three teenagers from St. Stephen are facing charges after a search from local police turned up with loaded guns.

Police tell Tide News yesterday morning, (March 20th, 2013) District 1 RCMP executed a search warrant at an apartment on Ross Avenue in Milltown.

Police say they seized firearms, several of which were loaded, cash, and other items thought to be related to criminal activity.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight says, "The unlawful possession of firearms, particularly firearms which are not properly stored and loaded, pose a threat to public and police safety."

Two young men, ages 17 and 18, and an 18-year-old girl were arrested and released on conditions to appear in court at a later date.

Winter Storm For Last Day Of Winter

As usual, Mother Nature likes to be ironic.

Today is the last official day of winter, with a winter storm touching down on our area tonight.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for St. Stephen and northern Charlotte County, Grand Manan, and coastal Charlotte County.

The Network is calling for up to 20 cms of snow by tomorrow afternoon, with strong winds, and the temperature will stay below freezing.

Blaze Considered Suspicious In Milltown

Police say a house fire on Queensway in Milltown/St. Stephen is being called suspicious.

Firefighters from St. Stephen and Calais responding shortly after midnight yesterday morning (March 18th, 20130) to a two-storey home.

Police say the only resident at the home discovered the fire at the back porch area and was unable to put it out, so they ran to the neighbours to call 911.
Police say noone was hurt in the fire.

Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity is being asked to contact local police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Local Firefighters Battle Two Blazes In One Day

Local firefighters being put to the test with two house fires in one day.

Yesterday around 4pm, fire departments from Moores Mills, St. Stephen, and Western Charlotte responding to a blaze on Route 745, on the corner of the Oak Hill Road and the Moores Mills Crossroad.

Moores Mills Fire Chief Steve Smith tells Tide News a passer-by called 911. He says it was difficult getting past the metal roof to put the fire out. Smith says by time the first firefighters arrived, the floors of the home were already burned out.

He says there was noone at home, no pets were inside the home at the time of the fire and the cause is being investigated by the Fire Marshal.

Fire Departments from St. Stephen and Calais responded only a few hours before to a house fire in Milltown on Queensway Way, shortly after midnight. Police say both homes have significant damage.