People's Alliance Holding Public Meeting Tonight On Bilingualism Discrimination

The People's Alliance Party of New Brunswick is partnering with a St. Stephen woman in sounding the alarm on the Official Languages Act.

Joyce Wright says she is concerned how the Act is affecting Charlotte County in striving to provide a 50% bilingual workforce in every provincial place of employment.

Wright says this doesn't make sense for Charlotte County where almost 92% of the population is English only.
Wright says everyone deserves the right to be served in the language of their choice -- but there are other ways of accomplishing it -- like using technology, instead of denying jobs to English-only people.

The People's Alliance Party will be hosting a public meeting tonight at Wright's home in Heathland.
The address is 14 Family Lane in Heathland, just past the Hall Road and the Ambulance NB Bay.

The meeting gets underway at 7pm.

Local Mother Responds To Ontario Autism Letter

International media attention for an Ontario mom who recieved an anonymous letter from a neighbour, telling her it would be better to euthanize her child with autism because he bothers others in the neighborhood. 

Amanda Hensey has four kids ages one to 10. Her 10 year old and her 3 year old have autism. 

She tells Tide News judgment from strangers pours salt in the wound. Hensey urges people to try and give parents the benefit of the doubt when their kids are having a meltdown, or even help by holding a door or offering to help bring grocery bags out to the car. 

She says in a way she's glad the letter has gotten so much attention because it draws attention to prejudices that still exist against families of kids with autism and other disorders.

Ask Pipeline Questions Today At NBCC In Saint John

Trans Canada is hosting a public information session on the Energy East pipeline today at the NBCC campus on Grandview Avenue in Saint John.

The kiosk-style event will give citizens a chance to ask questions and voice their concerns about the pipeline from 4-8pm in the gym.

The next meetings are September 10 at the St. Alphonsus Parish Hall in Hampton then the next day at the Legion in Chipman.

Newcomer Kissel Is Also A Vet

He got a Canadian Country Music Association nomination when he was just 13 years old and now he's back with a grown up album.
Brett Kissel is a singer songwriter from Flat Lake, Alberta who was nominated for a Rising star award back when the awards were held in Saint John in 2006.

Kissel tells Tide News he loves working in country music because you can write an upbeat party song or something stripped down that's about love or loss.

You can hear Kissel's debut single "Started With A Song" on 98.1 The Tide.
His debut album comes out after the CCMA's in September. 

It's The First Day Of A New Summer City Festival

It's the first day of Saint John's newest summer theater festival.

The Fundy Fringe Festival features 125 shows over five days by 25 acts including dance, music, improv, performance art and stand-up comedy. It kicks off officially at 11:30 this morning at the Sanctuary Theater, and live shows will be held at various uptown venues until the 10:15 tonight.

Most acts cost $10 or less and last less than an hour. For a full description of all the acts, click here and a schedule click here.

New Mill Rat Hopes To Crack An NBA Roster

An Ontario basketball player will be bringing his talents to the Mill Rats this fall.
 
Mike Luby was drafted by the Mill Rats in the National Basketball league of Canada Draft.

Luby says it's been a long road to get this far adding between injuries and other disappointments he thought his career was over but he stuck with it and feels like he can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The 6'11'' Luby says the NBL will give him a good chance to crack an NBA roster.

Local Tim Hortons Installing Second Speaker For Quicker Service

You've always got time for Tim Hortons -- now you'll have more time!

St. Stephen Owner Carl Dow tells Tide News construction at the King Street location is to install a second speaker in the drive-thru.

He says the new speaker will stand where the dumpsters used to be, and a second lane will be created that will merge with the original lane ahead of the take-out window.
He says some people take a long time to order, so this way, others will be able to go ahead of them, and essentially, you will get faster service.

Dow adds the two speakers will be a learning curve for the store, and asks for patience from customers until workers can master the new system.

Dow says construction should be completed before this weekend.

Canada Bread Issues Bread Recall

Before you make that sandwich for work, check the brand of bread you are using.

Canada Bread issuing a voluntary recall for some bread sold in the Maritimes.

It impacts Ben’s Xtra Soft enriched white and whole wheat bread and Super Club white and whole wheat bread with a best before date of August 29th.

It was produced at the Canada Bread facility in Moncton.

There is a possibility the bread may contain fragments of glass from a light bulb that shattered during production.

You can return the bread to the store where it was purchased to receive a full refund.

HotSpot Parking Coming To Saint John

As of late September, you will be able to feed the meter from your cell phone on a trial basis.

Phillip Curley, 21, is an engineer and the developer behind the Hot Spot parking app that's coming out next month. He tells Tide News it's a simple process that allows you to dodge tickets with a touch of your Smartphone: you just text in the number on the meter to subtract from an online balance you pay with your credit card.

The app is already getting rave reviews in Fredericton with over 400 people signing up in just 6 days. Curley says there's another perk: local businesses will also have the option to pay for customer parking at their discretion.

Snook Appears In Newfoundland Court

Former Saint John Common Councillor Donnie Snook appeared in court in Newfoundland this morning on 4 charges related to abusing a boy under the age of 14. 

The charges date back to December of 1995, around the time Snook spent a year as the senior pastor of the former Salvation Army Citadel in Mount Moriah when he was in his early twenties.

A source at the provincial court in Cornerbrook tells Tide News the case has been set over to October 29, when Snook is expected to enter a plea.

He has already pleaded guilty to 46 charges in New Brunswick, and is scheduled to appear in court on August 29th for what defense lawyer Dennis Boyle has predicted will be a lengthy sentencing hearing.

Local Gay Leader Weighs In On Sochi Olympic Boycott

With Russian laws threatening to prosecute anyone spreading gay "propaganda" to minors, many athletes and would-be spectators are fearing they could be prosecuted for simply posting about their relationships on Facebook or wearing a rainbow flag. 

Tide News recently attended Pride Week in Saint John and asked gay rights leader Brian Boyd his opinion, to which Boyd stated it's up to individuals to decide what their stance will be, but personally he will not be supporting any part of of the Winter Olympics.

The Winter Olympics are set to take place from February 7-23 in Sochi, Russia. Athletes attending the games would be prohibited by the Olympic Committee from protesting the anti-gay laws.

Pipeline Info Sessions Begin In Edmundston

We may get a little more information on plans for the Energy East Pipeline as information sessions begin in the province tonight.

Trans Canada is hosting 7 public meeting beginning tonight in Edmundston continuing until next month when they end in Stanley.

Saint John's turn in Thursday between 4 and 8pm at the New Brunswick Community college on Grandview Avenue.

Phillip Canon of Trans Canada tells Tide News the info sessions are a kiosk format where people can come and go as they please.

He says if people have questions on land, safety or the environment they can go to that specific Trans Canada specialist and ask their questions.

Hampton gets a session of its own on September 10th at the St. Alphonsus parish hall.

Deer Draw Results Out Today

You can find out the results of the antlerless deer draw today.

3,450 hunters had their names selected in the random draw for antlerless deer validation stickers. If your name was drawn, you can find out either on the department website or by mail and your sticker will arrive by September.

Hunters with a sticker can harvest either bucks or does in the zone designated on their tag,  or an antlered deer in any area of the province open for hunting. Each hunter can only bag one deer.

For a link to more information, click here

Chris Brown Bows Out Of Canadian Gigs

Drop Entertainment Group announcing all of Chris Brown's Canadian concert dates are cancelled including one in Saint John set for next month.

In a release, the company's owner Stephen Tobin says in light of Brown's recent personal and health-related issues all four shows have been cancelled.

Refunds will be available at the venue where tickets were purchased started Thursday.

Another Ex-Bacchus Member Granted Bail

Another of the six arrested after police carried out simultaneous raids last week has been granted bail. 

Former Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle club member, 39 year-old Ryan Wallace, is facing drug charges including possession and trafficking along with having two unlicensed rifles. 

The other four people arrested include the local president of the biker club, 44 year-old Brian Schofield of Public Landing, who plead guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking. He was released on house arrest and will is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on September 5 and to plead on other charges.

Former Bacchus Member Released On Bail

A local man who used to be a striker for the Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club has been released on bail. 

39 year-old Blaine Beddow of Saint John is facing several drug charges, among them, production and trafficking.

Beddow was one of six people arrested last week as police carried out simulteanous raids in Kingston, Public Landing and Saint John, seizing drugs, weapons and ammunition. The raid followed a six-month long investigation involving four local police agencies called Operation J Turmoil. 

Bail conditions for Beddow include having to stay in the province, having to give over his passport and not having any contact with certain people, including the members of the biker club. Beddow makes his next court appearance on September 5.

Plane Crash In South-Central N.S. Kills Pilot

The pilot of an ultralight plane has been killed in a fiery crash in south-central Nova Scotia. 

The Mounties say the lightweight aircraft burst into flame after it hit the ground near Old Barss Corner Road by New Germany around 10 o'clock this morning. The 65 year-old man from Barss Corner was flying alone when the plane went down.

RCMP, firefighters and emergency health crews are on the scene. Police say the Transportation Safety Board has been advised but they won't be sending anyone to the crash site.

Crews Respond To East Side Blaze

Fire crews going a mile into the forest to fight a pick-up truck blaze. 

They got a call around 10:30 this morning from a resident saying something shook their house. Because the fire was so far in the woods at the end of Baxter road, they weren't able to get the fire engine in—so they brought in ATVs with a portable pump to put out the fire. 

Division Chief Eric Garland says the explosion heard could have possibly been from the vehicle's gas tank. There was nobody with the truck when firefighters arrived, and they haven't yet determined if the blaze is suspicious.

Break And Enter In The North End Of Saint John

A home in the North End being broken into while the owner was away. 

It happened in the Fort Howe area and some items from the residence were stolen. City Police believe it was a random act, and they're still looking for whoever is responsible. 

Sergeant Caswell reminding people to make sure their home is secure—and if you see anything strange going on near your neighbour's house, don't hesitate to report it.

KV Police Bring Back Bike Helmet Ticket Program

Not wearing a bike helmet in the valley can get you a fine, but police are letting first-time offenders pay it off with their time instead of their money.

Rothesay Regional Police have brought back their Bike Helmet Ticket Program—if you've been ticketed, you have the option of taking a one-hour information class on the safety and benefits of wearing a helmet instead of paying the $54.50 fine. The fee is waived once you finish the session. 

Cyclists who don't wear a helmet will be fined, as well as parents who let their child bike without wearing one. The program ends on October 19 and the class is the following week at Rothesay High School.

Port City Pride Parade Marching Today

Saint John is starting to get the message that Pride Week is not just for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, it's for the entire community.

That's according to Pride Week Vice-President Amanda Hensey who tells CHSJ News in the last year alone they've noticed a positive shift in the city's attitude towards the celebration. Their theme this year is Pride In Community, and Hensey says the community is now giving back to them, and they love it.

The 11th annual Pride Parade is happening today with walkers meeting at 1 in the afternoon, and the parade itself is happening at 2 at the top of King Street. You don't have to be a member of the LGBT community to march in the parade, everyone is encouraged to take part. 

Right after the parade is the Pride Community Festival in Queen Square, featuring barbeque, games, music and more. Click here for more information and for a list of events.

Car Fire Prompts Building Evacuation

A car on fire was a little too close for comfort to a building, prompting an early morning evacuation. 

Arriving fire crews saw a Ford Escape fully engulfed in flames, so they and City Police got everyone living at 39 Coronation Court to get out of the building as a precautionary measure. After the car was towed away, the residents were allowed back in the building.

The fire department got the call just before 1:30 in the morning. Crews were on the scene for about 40 minutes.

Early Morning Blaze On Milford Road

The Saint John Fire Department putting out a fire at 268 Milford Road. 

They got the call just after 1:00 in the morning, and arriving crews saw heavy smoke pouring out of the top of the building. They were on the scene for about two hours. 

The top of the building has major fire damage while the bottom has some water damage. Nobody was hurt.

North End Fire Leaves Nine Homeless

Three adults and six children are homeless after a fire in an apartment building in Saint John's North end. 

The blaze at 37 MacLaren Boulevard was reported shortly before 6:00pm. Platoon Chief Barry Oickle of the city fire department says fire crews could see very heavy thick black smoke and fire coming out of the windows of the first floor apartment. The blaze was quickly knocked down.

The first-floor apartment was heavily damaged by smoke and fire while the apartment above it sustained minor smoke and fire damage—because of the damage, several other tenants are temporarily displaced while their apartments are cleaned and ventilated. No humans were hurt, however, four pets died in the fire.

The Canadian Red Cross is helping the victims, giving them a place to stay, food and clothing. A housing coordinator will be working with the nine people who are permanently homeless to find them alternative housing.

Free Well Testing For Flood Damaged Homes In Charlotte County

How did your well hold out during the latest flood?

The Department of Environment and Local Government offering free bacterial testing of private wells in Charlotte County that were affected by the most recent storm.

Municipal homeowners are also eligible if their plumbing was compromised and had their water shut off.

On Friday, July 26th,  St. Stephen recieved 165 mms of rain, causing flash floods.

Residents can now pick up sampling kits at the Service New Brunswick location in St. Stephen.
The province will test for free at the labratory in Fredericton.

Man Escapes From Bear Attack

A forester who was scouting areas for tree cutting in the Brockway area this week, about 80 kilometers south of Fredericton, says he was attacked by a black bear and barely escaped by the skin of his teeth. 

Natural Resources is now looking for the bear.
    
Pierre Mezzetta tried to run away when confronted by the bear which he estimates weighed over 300 pounds and was chased up a tree.
    
The bear still managed to sink its teeth into his boot and leg before finally leaving.
    
Such attacks by black bears are considered rare.

Pedway To Get Fixed Up This Fall

The Chipman Hill portion of the Pedway will be getting some major repairs in the near future in Saint John.

You might remember the late January wind storm that loosened the glass wall in the middle of the daily lunch rush. After that episode, the section of the indoor connection had to undergo some temporary repairs.

Now, the City has issued a call for tenders until September 4 for the replacement of the curtain wall. They stipulate it would ideally be finished by the end of October.

The pedway was originally built in the early 1980s and is Atlantic Canada's longest indoor, climate-controlled pedway system.

Government Touts Jobs For Recent Grads

500 new jobs have been created for recent university graduates according to the Alward government.

The One Job Pledge gives eligible businesses a wage incentive when they hire people who have graduated from a post-secondary school within the past 4 years.

145 of the 524 jobs created are in the Fredericton area and pay at least $14 an hour, and the premier says the overall number is double what they had initially predicted.

Doucet On Flooding: "We Need To Look At The Bigger Picture"

A local MLA is calling on the Alward government to do more in preparation for flooding.

Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet says after hosting a meeting in St. George, he saw a lot of frustration and anger from residents who feel they are left vulnerable to the next storm.

Doucet tells Tide News we need to look at the bigger picture. "These rain events are going to happen more and more often, so it really brings that bigger question of how do we better prepare for it? Let's not think of this happening every ten years or every twenty years or every hundred years. These are going to happen more and more often and as communities, we just need to be ready for it."

Doucet is proposing the legislature appoint a select committee on flood damage control with a mandate to visit flood-prone areas, gather ideas from residents and dam operators, and then make recommendations on further action.

The MLA goes on to say he has a clear mandate from the people in Charlotte County to re-introduce the amendment to the Emergency Measures Act. He says the community is going to rally with him, be better organized, and get in contact with government members who voted against it last December. "As a matter of fact, all the government members did a standing vote and voted against it. So they're going to start the lobby process prior to the fall session, but I think they are going to make a stronger presence with a stronger voice to the government members to see that this goes through and not be defeated."

Former Sea Dogs In Court

A couple of former Sea Dogs appearing in court in London, Ontario on assault charges. 

Montreal Canadiens defense prospect Nathan Beaulieu and his father, former Sarnia Sting coach Jacques Beaulieu pleaded guilty and were given conditional discharges. This means they will not have criminal records which allows them to continue their hockey careers. 

The two were charged back in April after some sort of altercation at a house party during which two people suffered minor injuries. 

Jacques Beaulieu was fired as general manager and coach of the OHL's Sting in late May because of the incident.

Protests Over Proposed West To East Pipeline

Despite the enthusiasm for the proposed West to East pipeline in Saint John, it's getting a rough ride in Ontario where there have been protests. 

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is promising to address environmental concerns which she says have to be at the center of any talk about the movement of fuel through the province. 

Eighteen people were arrested at one blockade. They oppose Enbridge's plan to reverse the flow of oil in a stretch of pipeline northwest of Hamilton to Montreal, saying the move could lead to a possible breach.

Bust Nabs SJ Prez Of Bacchus Motorcycle Club

6 people including the President of the local chapter of the Bacchus Motorcycle club are in custody following a 6 month investigation involving 4 local police agencies.

Simultaneous raids at Nature's Way in Saint John, Shamper's Bluff Road in Kingston and Route 102 Public Landing where meth, pot, prescription pills, guns, bullets, brass knuckles and 4 grand in cash were seized.

44 year old Brian Schofield of Public Landing , also President of the Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club,  pleading guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking.  He was released on house arrest and will reappear in court for sentencing on September 5th and to plead on other charges.

39 year old Ryan Wallace of Kingston, a former member of the motorcycle club,  faces drugs including possession and trafficking and for having two unlicensed rifles.  He remains in custody and is due in court on Monday for a bail hearing.

28 year old Lia Olde Damink of Kingston faces several charges including possession of percocet for the purpose of trafficking, possession of two unlicensed rifles and with stealing a drug from the Regional Hospital. She has a court date next month.

39 year old Blaine Beddow of Saint John, a former striker of the Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club,  faces multiple drugs charges for production, trafficking and more. He's being held in custody until a bail hearing on Monday.

A 32 Saint John woman and a 42 year old Public Landing woman will be in court later to face drug charges.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For St. Stephen

Keep your eyes to the skies.
Environment Canada issuing a severe thunderstorm watch for St. Stephen and northern Charlotte County this afternoon.

The national forecaster says there is the potential for severe thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds, and heavy downpours.

It says thundershowers could bring up to 20 mms of rain.
Other areas under the thunderstorm watch are Fredericton, Oromocto, and the Woodstock area.

Weapon Pulled On Cab Driver

A heated argument in Saint John ending with a weapon being pulled on a cab driver.  

City police tell us it happened late yesterday afternoon on Peters Street, just off of Waterloo Street. A 20 year old man got out of the car, kicked the door, took out the weapon before being arrested. The driver wasn't hurt in the incident and no cash was stolen.

Police say they also nabbed two car prowlers in the area of Carlisle Crescent on the east side.

MLA Hosting Meeting Tonight On Flooding In St. George

Wild weather is here to stay it would seem.

One Liberal MLA wants to make sure homes and businesses in his riding are prepared and protected as much as they can be.

Flash flooding in Charlotte County last month was a scary reminder of the devastation water brought to the area in 2010.

Residents of St. George, Lake Utopia, Boney River, and everyone in between are welcome to attend a meeting on the topic tonight.

Charlotte the Isles MLA Rick Doucet is hosting the meeting tonight at 7pm at Magaguadavic Place.

Logan Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

A guilty plea from a Saint John man charged in connection with a brutal beating at an uptown rooming house that led to a 66 year-old's death.

35 year-old Nicholas Logan pleading guilty to manslaughter after Duncan MacDonald died in hospital on April 10 from injuries he sustained from the March 16 incident on the corner of Duke and Prince William.

MacDonald had a broken neck, punctured lung and a severe brain injury. The official cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. 

After the incident, Logan told police he had felt "a strong desire to wipe out everyone in the building." Logan has been undergoing mental health assessments at a hospital in Restigouche, where he's been remanded until his next court appearance on August 30: a disposition hearing before sentencing. 

Judge Henrik Tonning calling cases like this one "very complicated."

Malloch Looking For Awnswers To Flooding Issues

With the clean up pretty much completed in the wake of another flash flood in the St Stephen area - attention is turning to what steps are needed to better deal with changing weather patterns.
Charlotte - Campobello M-L-A Curtis Malloch tells Tide News it's time for serious soul searching by trying to determine what to look at - where to look at it - what can we do different as we move ahead with infrastructure.
Malloch says he will continue to push the issue with his government colleagues in Fredericton - he says he also wants to make sure the best support is available to emergency responders and volunteers when dealing with natural disasters.

East Side Apartment Complex Evacuated

Light smoke and a strange smell filling an apartment complex causing an afternoon evacuation. 

Platoon Chief Eric Garland says they evacuated everyone in the 48-unit apartment building at 10 Woodhollow Park while crews looked for the source—which they found to be a malfunctioning ventilation system that's now in need of servicing. 

Fire crews were on the scene for about an hour, and everybody was allowed to return home. One older woman was brought to hospital, but Garland says it's nothing serious.

Target Hosting Job Fair Throughout Week

As the Port City holds onto the title of highest unemployment of all cities in a Stats Canada survey, this announcement could bring some hope to Saint Johners looking for work — a major retail chain is doing some hiring.

Target is hosting a job fair throughout the week at Loch Lomond Place. It runs from 8:30am to 5:30 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 11:00am to 8pm on Wednesday.

The store itself will will open sometime before Christmas.

Jewish Historical Museum Gets $25,000 Donation

The Saint John Jewish Historical Museum fund has just received a big donation from a man who passed away last week.

Author, lawyer, educator and human rights advocate Lorne Rozovsky has given the group $25,000. In a letter, he wrote that he wanted to make a lasting contribution to the preservation of the history of the city's Jewish community.

Rozovsky died last Monday at the age of 70 after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Cheap, Unique Entertainment For The Entire Family

Acrobatics, costumes, bagpipes and standup comedy: just a few of the wild and wacky performance styles you can expect at the Port City's most unique theater festival....which you may not have heard of yet.

Fundy Fringe Fest is a brand-new theater festival coming to the Port City. The  titles range from "Morlock the Warlock" to "That Boob Show" and "I Get Naked," and the performers are from all over Canada.

Sandra Bell of the Fundy Fringe Fest tells CHSJ News it's not your usual highbrow theater experience, and there's something at Fringe everyone can appreciate.

The Fundy Fringe Festival festival runs from August 21 to the 25 and a $50 festival pass gets you into 8 different shows of your choice. For more information, click here.

Firefighters Find Cause Of Gas Smell On West Side

Fire crews getting to the bottom of a strong smell on the West side of Saint John.

The calls started coming in just after 10pm, with numerous West side residents reporting a strange smell in the air—many saying it smelled like natural gas.

Firefighters tracked down the source of the odour—a Maritimes and Northeast substation on the West side that had released a small amount of gas. Wilson says the low atmosphere and the fog at the time made the smell seem much worse than it actually was.

He says there was no danger.

Harper: Feds Will Review Exotic Pet Store Rules

The federal government will review whether or not it needs to play a role in how exotic pet stores are regulated says Prime Minister Stephen Harper. 

Early on Monday, two young brothers in Campbellton were killed by an African rock python that escaped its enclosure in an apartment located above exotic pet store, Reptile Ocean. 

As Harper made the vow yesterday, zoo staff seized 23 reptiles—among them, snakes, lizards and a Cuban crocodile—and euthanized four American alligators belonging to the store. Officials say they had to put the animals down because no zoo would take them.

The species of python is banned in the province unless you have a special permit. Environment Canada spokesman Mark Johnson says the department was enlisted to help transport the python to Reptile Ocean 11 years ago after it was abandoned at the SPCA in Moncton.

Funeral Today For Brothers Killed By Python

A funeral service is being held today for the two boys killed by a python in Campbellton. 

Four year-old Noah Barthe and his six year-old brother Connor were found dead on Monday morning after a 45-kilogram African rock python escaped its enclosure in the apartment, which is above an exotic pet store.

Preliminary autopsy results show the boys died of asphyxiation.

Campbellton's deputy mayor, Ian Comeau, says the brothers will be buried together in one casket and that the service will celebrate their short lives. The funeral will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church.
  
Both the apartment and store are owned by Jean-Claude Savoie, a family friend, who took the boys shopping and to a farm before hosting a sleepover on Sunday with his son.

Two Hospitalized After East Side Crash

A two-car crack up on the East side of Saint John.

Division Chief Mark Wilson of the Saint John Fire Department says two people were brought to hospital after the crash, which happened just after nine o'clock in the evening on the corner of Westmorland Road and Retail Drive. 

Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Milltown Blaze Leaves Man Temporarily Homeless

A Bordertown blaze gutting a mobile home in the Milltown area, leaving a man temporarily homeless. 

Crews from St. Stephen and Calais, Maine, responded to the fire which was reported at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. No word yet on a cause. 

The Canadian Red Cross is providing emergency lodging for the man, who they say is focusing on his daughter's wedding today.

Fire In Milltown Trailer Park

Fire crews from Calais and St. Stephen responding to a fire today at the Milltown trailer park.

No word yet on the extent of damage or any injuries.

New TV Ad By Premier Drawing Some Fire

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says it should be the provincial Conservative party paying for the new TV ad featuring Premier David Alward. 

He's talking about turning around the economic fortunes of the province and bringing New Brunswick workers back home from out west but the Federation's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey tells CHSJ News he doubts taxpayers in the province want to foot the bill.

The ad cost 15 thousand dollars to make and another 75 thousand dollars to air. 

A spokesperson for the Premier says they're just trying to be transparent but Lacey views it as the first ad of next year's provincial election campaign.

Report Complete On Chemo Underdosing At Regional Hospital

Health Canada should regulate the mixing of drugs outside a licensed pharmacy. 

That conclusion emerges from a report on why more than 12 hundred cancer patients at the Regional Hospital and in Ontario were receiving lower dosages for their chemotherapy than they should have, some for as long as a year.

Saint John To Be Visited By Prime Minister

Prime Minister Harper will be making a brief stop in Saint John at noonhour. 

He's here for what is described as a photo op with Premier David Alward and Arthur Irving at the Irving Oil refinery. 

This comes just a few days after the announcement that Trans Canada is moving ahead with the West to East pipeline which has the support of the federal government as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, get more money for Alberta oil and spur some economic activity.