Firefighters Battle Golden Grove Road Blaze

Fire crews responding to a fire in a basement on the East side of Saint John.

Smoke could be seen coming out of the building at 2623 Golden Grove Road. Crews knocking down the fire shortly after it broke out.

It appears everyone made it out safely.

Hanwell Fire Destroys Auto Repair Shop, Vehicles

An auto repair shop on the Hanwell Road just outside of Fredericton being completely gutted by fire. 

Fredericton Fire Department Platoon Captain Mike Mizner tells us about seven vehicles around the building were also destroyed. There were several explosions as firefighters were battling the blaze, which sent fireballs 30 to 40 feet in the air. 

The New Maryland, Oromocto and Upper Kingsclear Fire Departments were called in to assist, and crews were on the scene for about eight hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BREAKING: Major Structure Fire In Hanwell

Fire crews in the Fredericton area asking drivers to steer clear of the scene of a large structure fire in Hanwell. 

Flames and thick, black smoke can be seen coming from a building on the Hanwell Road and there are reports of multiple, small explosions. 

You can see pictures of the blaze on the Fredericton Fire Department's Twitter account.

Warning About Olympic Scams

Buyers, beware: the Maritime Better Business Bureau is sending out a warning to shoppers who want to show their support for the Sochi Olympics. Counterfeit goods and scams are all over the place.

A recent eBay search turning up a fake Olympic Torch for Sochi 2014 at a cost of $7,000.

And if you or someone you know plan on heading to Sochi...the Olympic Committee is sending a similar message about tickets saying if you plan on buying them on a website other than tickets.sochi2014.com, they strongly reccommend you make sure they're authorized to sell them---otherwise, you could end up buying fakes then then getting turned away at the door.

Saint John Chef Cast On Reality Cooking Show

A Saint John chef will soon be cooking up a storm on your television screen. 

Jesse Vergen of the Saint John Alehouse and the Smoking Pig Real BBQ will be appearing on Top Chef Canada. Vergen tells us for his audition he cooked wild black duck with periwinkles, foraged sea greens from the Bay of Fundy with cattail salad.

It seems he's not too concerned about the speed factor, telling us he's been trained to work fast and tells us anyone who works in the restaurant or hospitality industry knows you don't just walk to a table, you walk briskly.

The show premiers on March 10 on the Food Network. You can check out Vergen's audition tape by going to their website.

Health Canada Updates Safety Info For Bipolar Drug

If you or someone you know is taking lithium, Health Canada wants you to be aware of new safety information and treatment recommendations for the drug.

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder, however, taking it can cause high levels of calcium in the bloodstream which may or may not be accompanied by an increased level of parathormone, also known as hyperparathyroidism.

Health Canada is now working with companies to update the product labels for the drugs. If you're on lithium, the federal department says do not stop treatment unless you've talked over the benefits and the risks of your treatment with your doctor.

Seven medications containing lithium are available in Canada.

UNB Students Officially Lose March Reading Week

The University of New Brunswick Academic Senates giving the official green-light to the cancellation of the March Reading Week as a way to make up for time lost due to a more than two week long faculty strike last month, according to reports.

No exams or tests will be held during that time, and a reading day for students has been added the day before the start of exams. Thee deadline for payment of fees for this semester's term courses being extended to this upcoming Friday.

You can find a link to the revised Academic Dates Calender for undergraduate students by clicking here. According to UNB, additional details including academic dates for graduate students will be circulated by email as soon as they are finalized. Follow more updates as they become available by clicking here

Survey Aims To Improve Cancer Care For Kids

The parents of kids who had cancer in their teens or childhood being asked to take part in a survey.

The Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigator Program is conducting a confidential, online survey with the aim to improve children’s cancer care services across the province.

They would like parents or guardians of children or teens that had cancer under the age of 17 between 2005 and 2013 to provide feedback about the service they received during their time of treatment.

To take part in the survey click, here

Conservatives And Liberals Spar Over TV Ads

Premier David Alward's TV ads coming up in the Legislature with Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant saying the Olympic coverage should not be polluted by his message of despair. The Premier responded by saying the only pollution is being spewed by the Liberals.

Alward has taken to calling the Liberals, the party of press pause and moratoriums with no new ideas on offer to grow the provincial economy.

University Students Getting Some Money Back

The U-N-B Board of Governors will be giving the money the university saved during the recent strike by faculty back to the students because of the hardship and inconvenience they suffered. 

The Board of Governors deciding the university should not financially benefit because of the strike.
 
The exact figures and details are still not known but it's thought full-time students will receive a lump sum credit on their account of over $200 with part time students getting a lesser amount.

UNB Teachers Vote To Accept New Deal

UNB teachers across the province voting to accept the tentative collective agreement signed with administration on January 30th.

90% of those who cast a ballot voted for acceptance.  The next step in the process is ratification by the Board of Governors.

Union president Miriam Jones says they owe a huge debt of gratitude to their bargaining team adding they did difficult work for more than a year.

Jones says the strike was difficult for everyone but she says their members have come out of it reinvigorated and ready to work to reclaim their university.

Cardy Lays Out Plan To Save Province Money

The NDP leader for New Brunswick suggesting trimming the fat in the government's senior management sector as one of many ways the province can save money. 

Dominic Cardy laying out a plan to save more than $213-million as a way to help balance the budget. Cardy says he would cut the size of the cabinet down to 10 from 17, the number of deputy ministers to 14 from 27 and the number of senior managers to 50 from over 100.

He also estimates taxpayers would save around $2-million if MLAs used spare offices in government buildings instead of paying rent for office space. Another more than $74-million could be saved by delivering on the promise of the last Liberal government to centralize common government services, according to Cardy.

Cardy coming out with the plan just after the release of the Alward Government's budget.

Irving Oil Unveils New Fire Truck And Training Partnership

A brand new ladder truck being unveiled at the Irving Oil Emergency Services building on Grandview Avenue in Saint John.

In addition, the City and Irving Oil announcing a partnership on creating a training facility for firefighters that both companies can use and third parties.
 
Fire Chief Kevin Clifford says he's been concerned about their firefighters not having a place to train and soon they will.

He says they are not at elevated positions every day so having a training facility is incredibly important for a community like this and the response profile they have.

The training facility for the Saint John Fire Department will open in May.

Mental Health Fundraiser Coming Up This Weekend

Sharpen those ice skates because this year's Investors Group Skate to Care event is coming up this weekend in Saint John. 

Director of Development with the Regional Hospital Foundation & Mindcare Victoria Clarke says this year they're focusing on mental health first aid. She describes it as the mental health equivalent of being a first responder, training people to recognize signs of stress, anxiety and depression in children. 

Clarke says we still have a ways to go when it comes to increasing awareness of mental illness and erasing the stigma, but seeing the community rallying around an event like this tells her the groundswell is coming.

The event is happening at Harbour Station on Saturday from 10am-2pm. Click here for more information on the event, including how to join or support a team.

College Students Feel Let Down

University students are disappointed the provincial budget did not contain measures to ease their financial burden.
 
Pat Joyce of the New Brunswick Student Alliance tells Tide News the province had saved money with a lower interest rate on what it had borrowed to provide financial aid to students. They were hoping that money would be used to help them out but such was not the case. 

Joyce points the cost of higher education is getting more onerous with the rising costs of tuition, textbooks and housing. He worries post secondary education is becoming less accessible for many young people and argues helping students out financially is really investing in the provincial economy as more and more jobs require higher skills.

Energy East Pipeline Would Add Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new environmental report is claiming the Energy East pipeline that would bring oilsands bitumen to the Irving Oil refinery will increase greenhouse gas emissions enough to wipe out all the gains caused by the elimination of coal-fired power plants in Ontario and be the equivalent of adding 7 million new cars on the roads.
 
Clare Demerse of the Pembina Institute, who wrote the report, says regulators should consider the proposed pipeline’s effect on climate change when hearings are held on the project.
 
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the National Energy Board have said the expected tripling of output from the oilsands over the next 16 years depends heavily on new pipelines being built.

Natural Gas Prices High & Will Stay High

Natural gas customers will continue to feel the sting of high prices well into this month, and possibly March.

The high prices are being caused by demand in New England where pipeline capacity is limiting the supply. The shortage is limiting the gas in Boston and driving up prices through the region.

There are plans to expand pipeline capacity to New England which would limit this kind of price hike--but that won't be finished until next winter.

In a statement, the Energy and Utilities Board stated the price for natural gas is set by the regional market, and not the Board.

Two Hurt In Highway 1 Tractor Trailer Blaze

The driver of a tractor trailer that caught on fire and the man who stopped to help both hurt in the highway incident. 

Saint John Police say they are both suffering from minor injuries. The fire breaking out during rush hour on Highway 1 near Foster Thurston Drive on Wednesday and traffic was impacted for a while as crews cleared away the scene. 

A caller to our 466-2222 News Tips Line telling us it looked like the back wheels were melted to the ground.

Gallant Slams Government For Not Balancing the Books

The Provincial Liberal leader says the Government is cheering and applauding while they break their biggest election promise to balance the books during their mandate.
 
Brian Gallant tells Tide News instead they have added another 2 billion dollars to our debt.

He says they overestimate how the economy will perform and they have done it for three budgets and even though there is a drop on the deficit we still expect it to be higher.

Gallant says only one mention of Saint John in the provincial budget show the government has no plan.

CTF Calls It A "Status Quo Budget"

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is happy there are no tax increases in the provincial budget.
 
Tide News asked Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey if its looks like an election year budget.

He says normally in an election year there is huge growth in spending but he thinks the government was concerned with how that would look so the spending increases are modest.

Lacey says even with a decline the deficit is still a concern adding it's still huge and a burden that taxpayers will have to bear well into the future.

Provincial Budget Shows A Drop In The Deficit

As the provincial government tables its new budget, the Minister of Finance says the economy is showing signs of recovery.

A deficit of 391-million dollars is being projected, down from 564 million-dollars and spending is predicted to grow less than two percent. 

Blaine Higgs says the Energy East pipeline and the development of the natural gas industry will increase investment and more.

Higgs says they have the potential to significantly boost investment, job creation and government revenue for years to come.

He says given these projects and planned investments in the forestry sector, the department of finance is forecasting growth of 2.1 per cent in 2015.

The capital budget which totals 555-million dollars includes 213-million to maintain and improve health care infrastructure and 99-million for school infrastracture.

Man Arrested For Stealing NB Power Truck In K-V

A man being charged in the theft of a power utility vehicle from the parking lot of the Amsterdam Inn on Millennium Drive in the Kennebecasis Valley.

The NB Power truck was stolen just before 11am on Monday, but it didn't take police long to track it down. The Rothesay Regional Police finding the truck a few minutes later and tried to stop it. The 23-year-old then ran into the woods and was arrested after a short foot chase.

He's going to be appearing in court on Thursday for a bail hearing.

Cause Determined For Crash Of Small Plane Near Fredericton

The Transportation Safety Board has finished its investigation into the crash of a small plane January 21st between Fredericton and Minto and determined it went down after running out of fuel. There was no mechanical problem with the plane itself.
 
The pilot, a 22 year old student from the Fredericton campus of the Moncton Flight College used his cellphone to direct rescuers to where he was in the woods before he was airlifted to hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Low-Income Homeowners Could Qualify For Renovations

Shocked by your heating bill this winter? If you're barely able to cover it, you could qualify for some help from Efficiency NB in the coming months.

A new program subsidizes home renovations to bring down monthly heating costs--which could save as much as $1,200 annually. About 100 homes in need of major upgrades will be finished this fiscal year and another 300 homes next year.

If you're interested in the program, call Efficiency NB at 1-866-643-8833.

Stop The New Brunswick Debt Clock Released

Just prior to the unveiling today of the provincial budget by Finance Minister Blaine Higgs, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has released its Stop the New Brunswick Debt Clock. 

The Federation's Atlantic Director is Kevin Lacey who tells Tide News the provincial government can't afford any big pre-election spending spree. He says the provincial debt is rising by 600 million dollars a year which comes to 1.6 million dollars a day or nearly 11 hundred dollars an hour.

Lacey says the province is broke and he would like to see the Alward Government's plan to get a balanced budget, if there is one.


DEBT CLOCK: click here

Eating Disorder Awareness Week Begins Today

While many people with anorexia or bulimia suffer in silence, this week is dedicated to speaking up about the issue of eating disorders. 

Today marks the beginning of national Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Dr. Mimi Israël of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute tells us some of the warning signs that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder include not wanting to go out for food anymore, refusing to eat in front of others and withdrawing socially.

Israël says the earlier you treat an eating disorder, the better the chances of recovery. But stresses if someone you know has an eating disorder, it's important not to force them to get help, but to lead them to the conclusion that they may need help themselves.

Second Turbine On Its Way To Point Lepreau

The second turbine rotor is en route from West Saint John to the Point Lepreau generating station. 

The journey was originally planned for last Sunday but was delayed because of the weather. 

You're advised to avoid Route 1 between 7am and 10:30am this morning. You can expect major delays in the eastbound and westbound lanes of Route 1 from Ludlow Street to Route 790 at Lepreau as the turbine makes the trek to the generating station.

The convoy will be moving very slowly at between 15-20 kilometers per hour for most of the 50-kilometre journey with a police escort. It should take about six hours to complete the transport. The turbines weigh approximately 130-tonnes each.

BBB Has Tips On Hiring A Reliable Snow Contractor

Hiring someone to shovel your driveway without first doing your research can end up with you getting left out in the cold. 

That warning coming from Jill Atkinson of the Maritime Better Business Bureau who says they've heard numerous reports over the years of people taking money up front for snow removal then disappearing. 

She tells us it's important to get the deal in writing, make sure the person is insured and bonded in case your property gets damaged and take the time to ask for references and be sure to check those references.

You can also check with the BBB for a business review on the contractor by calling 1-877-663-2363 or by visiting their website.

Health Canada Studying Effectiveness Of Morning-After Pill

Does how much you weigh impact how well the morning after pill works for you? That's a question Health Canada is now working to answer.

They're studying new data suggesting a higher body weight could reduce the effectiveness of emergency contraceptives. They're also looking at whether labeling changes will be needed for the pills.

The product labeling for the drug Norlevo was recently revised in Europe to say in trials, the emergency contraceptives were not effective in women who weighed more than 176 pounds.

There are four emergency contraceptive pills available without a prescription in Canada, they are Next Choice, Norlevo, Option Two and Plan B.

Break & Enter On Saint John's Lower West Side

A woman being assaulted with a weapon during a break and enter at her home on the lower West side of Saint John.

The Saint John Police Department telling us it happened on Rodney Street just after 1:30 this morning. While police can't say what type of weapon was used in the incident, they do say it was not a gun or knife. The woman did not sustain any major injuries.

Two women have been arrested. It's believed the three of them do know each other.

UNB Cancelling March Reading Week

After a strike that spanned more than two weeks, the University of New Brunswick is cancelling the March Reading Week pending approval by the Academic Senates so students can make up for lost time.

Classes will also be extended until April 17, so that students can finish the Winter term and have the opportunity to graduate on time. The exam period will now be April 22-30, including exams on April 27. The university says this arrangement will mean only four teaching days are lost and the summer term can start as scheduled. 

All tuition and fees are now due by 4:30pm this upcoming Friday for both undergraduate and graduate students. Classes start back up on Monday after a tentative deal with the union representing faculty. The university is posting updates here.

Vehicle Goes Off The Road, Catches Fire On Highway 1

A man being taken to hospital with serious injuries after his vehicle went into a ditch on Highway 1 past the Crowne Street exit.

Platoon Chief Barry Oickle of the Saint John Fire Department says when crews got to the scene around 6am this morning, the vehicle was flipped onto its side and was fully engulfed in flames. The driver got himself out of the vehicle and was brought to safety by two people who had stopped to help.

Oickle says fire crews and police then worked together to get the scene under control, with firefighters extinguishing the vehicle blaze and officers directing traffic.

Covered Bridge Re-Opens

The people of Charlotte County are no doubt happy about this.

The Maxwell Crossing Covered Bridge reopened today.

You may remember it suffered a lot of damage early last year when it was hit by a car.

The historic structure is now fixed up and you will find it on the Maxwell Crossing Road between Route 750 and Route 3.

UNB Prez Happily Announces Deal To End To Strike

Students and teachers at UNB will be spending the weekend getting back into school mode.




Faculty on strike since January 13th have reached a tentative deal with the administration to end the strike.

UNB President Eddy Campbell announcing all classes will resume on Monday and they are looking forward to campus life returning to normal.

The school's website can answer questions the student's may have click here

Sting Operation Leads To Arrests, Recovery Of Stolen Jewelry

Two jewelry thieves finding themselves under arrest after trying to sell the stolen goods on the internet. 

Sergeant Jay Henderson of Saint John Police says the jewelry was taken during a break, enter and theft last summer on the West side. When an online classified ad featuring the jewelry popped up, undercover officers got in touch and met up with the ad-posters at an uptown coffee shop.

The 20-year-old man and woman were arrested and are being charged with possession of stolen property. Both will be making court appearances.

NDP Leader Has Different Take Than Premier On State Of The Province

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy sees Premier David Alward's State of the Province speech as a sign of desperation with so much being pinned on the future of shale gas. 
 
Cardy tells CHSJ News you just have to check on what's happened since the Premier's first State of the Province address back in 2011 with unemployment levels up and would be a lot higher without all the migration out west, the provincial debt has risen and the government has not been able to get a handle on the deficit.
 
As for the revitalisation of forestry, Cardy points out the province is still losing tens of millions of dollars on its crown lands which is a sign of incompetence so there's still a long way to go before that's turned around.

Premier's State Of The Province Address Is Upbeat

Even though the New Brunswick economy is still struggling, Premier David Alward delivered a State of the Province address that's optimistic about the future. 

He claims the government is revitalising forestry in the province with commitments to invest half a billion dollars in the upgrading of mills that will generate hundreds of new jobs. 

The Premier also speaking strongly in favour for continued development of shale gas, claiming the oil and gas industry in the province could amount to more than 20 billion dollars and Corridor Resources is looking to drill new wells in the Sussex area. According to Alward, New Brunswick is viewed as a critical player in the global energy market. 

He describes the shale gas protestors as a minority who will not derail the future development of the province.

Alward Government Under The Gun Over Daycares

The Alward Government is being accused of excessive secrecy by not releasing information from daycare inspections that have taken place around the province.
 
Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant says for him, it's a no brainer.......It's all about the safety of children and ensuring quality standards are maintained. 

He argues if daycares get public funding then parents are entitled to know how they're doing. 

Gallant points to a study done in 2012 which found, among all the provinces, New Brunswick and Quebec were the least likely to release information.

Police Association Not Surprised At Recommendation On RCMP

The President of the New Brunswick Police Association is hoping any talk of switching Saint John over to the RCMP will end once and for all. This follows the recommendation by City Manager Pat Woods against the switch, warning of dire financial implications. 

Dean Secord tells the Tide Mayor Mel Norton should have listened to the new chair of the Police Commission, Jonathon Franklin who's well aware of Moncton's experience with the RCMP. Franklin has been vocal in his support of retaining City Police. There has also been criticism of Common Council for bypassing the Police Commission. 

City Manager Pat Woods is recommending against any switch as he warns it could sink the shared risk pension plan and result in the tax rate rising by 28 to 35 cents.

The suggestion has been made that all the talk about the RCMP was mean;t to influence contract negotiations between the city and the Saint John Police Association.

Abandoned SJ Kittens Are Doing Well

It's good news for the 7 kittens found in a laundy basket in Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John on Monday afternoon.

3 have been adopted and 4 are being fostered by Saint John SPCA Animal Rescue League president Melody McElman.

McElman tells CHSJ News says the kittens are quite young.
She tells us their teeth have just broken through so she had to bottle feed them and the next day put some older cats in the same rooom who showed the babies how to use the litterbox and eat soft food.

McElman tells us that Dr. Catherine Adams of the Fairvale Animal Hospital in 
Rothesay have offered free vet checks and the first two shots for the four kittens she is fostering.

McElman says this situation shows the serious problem of cat overpopulation and how badly a low cost spay and neuter voucher program is needed in Saint John.

All 7 kittens are spoken for.

Covered Bridge Re-opens Friday

The Maxwell Crossing Covered Bridge in Charlotte County will re-open to traffic tomorrow.

The historic structure underwent extensive repairs after sustaining significant damage when it was struck by a car crossing the bridge early last year. 

The covered bridge is located on the Maxwell Crossing Road between Route 750 and Route 3. 

There will be a ribbon cutting around 2:00 pm on Friday at the bridge to celebrate the occasion.

100 Women St. Stephen Donate $8700

The inaugural meeting of 100 women St Stephen took place last night. 

Their 87 members voted on donating their collective funds $8700 to the Volunteer Centre of Charlotte County- the local food bank. 

With this money and other capital the volunteer center will install a basement door. This door will allow easier access to their lower level where they will soon be installing a walk-in refrigerator. 

Easy access to a cool space results in fresh, healthy food in the bellies of food bank clients. 

The next meeting for 100 Women is in May. 

Any interested women can join by signing up here

Should You Be Able To Will Your Property To Whomever You Choose?

An estimated quarter of a million dollars in ancient artifacts, coins and documents that once belonged to Saint Johner Robert McCorkill is in legal limbo, because McCorkill bequeathed them to the American antisemitic and white nationalist organization, the National Alliance.

The court heard that it's not the job of lawyers to decide whether a beneficiary of a will is morally worthy of receiving it. That, argued lawyer Andy Lodge for the Canadian Association for Free Expression, would create  a slippery slope wherein none could then argue that a drug dealer or a rapist shouldn't be able to inherit property.


McCorkill's will itself is legal and does not specifically say the funds should be used to promote hate--just that they be given to the National Alliance. The National Alliance also  paid for McCorkills final expenses.

Little information had been revealed about McCorkill other than that he was a friend of one-time teacher and noted Holocaust denier Malcolm Ross who was present in the courtroom.
Conversely, lawyers representing McCorkill's sister who is challenging the will argued that leaving the estate to the National Alliance would be contrary to public policy in Canada.

Saint John M-P Finds Criticism Of Harper Government Over The Senate "Ironic"

The federal budget will be unveiled on February 11th. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is promising to present a balanced budget in 2015 without raising taxes or cutting transfer payments to the provinces.

While the Harper Government wants to steer clear of the Senate expense scandal and concentrate on the economy, the opposition has other ideas.

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston tells Tide News he finds what has transpired very odd because it's the Harper Government that wants to reform the Senate, yet it's getting all the criticism.

Weston accuses the Liberals of not having anything to say about reforming the Senate and the NDP just wants to abolish it which may be popular these days but could very well be unconstitutional unless all the provinces agree.

Weston applauds the Alward Government for coming out in favour of an elected Senate.

Police Search for Thieves From Power Station

Police asking the public for help in a  break & enter and theft that took their power this past weekend.

On Saturday, January 25th, 2014, between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m.,the fenced-in NB Power substation in Harvey was broken into along Route 3, and copper wiring was stolen.

The theft caused an explosion that caused a number of homes in the area to lose power.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News it can not be over-emphasized how dangerous this illegal activity is -- that in the past --  has resulted in death.

If you have any information on the theft, please call local RCMP or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers will pay up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest.

Rally Gets Two Prize Bikes For Harley Draw

This year's Harley Draw will be double the excitement.

The Rally In The St. Croix Valley announcing they will have two 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycles for 1st and 2nd prize at the annual Harley Draw. 1st prize will be a 2014 HD Street Bob. 2nd prize will be a 2014 HD Sportster low. 3rd prize will be a HD leather jacket.

Spokesperson Bob Hamel tells Tide News having two bikes as prizes instead of one will not effect the draw itself. He says it will still be 1 draw, with 800 tickets available, at $50 a piece.

Hamel says the winners will also have a chance to upgrade, using their prize bike as a down-payment towards the bike of their choice at the dealershipin Saint John.

The Rally will take place July 4th-6th at the St. Stephen Legion.

Province Appoints Outside Mediator In Faculty Strike

Postsecondary, training and labour Minister Jody Carr announcing the appointment of a special outside mediator while directing both sides in the UNB faculty dispute back to the bargaining table.
 
Carr says Brian Keller will meet with both sides on Wednesday and Thursday.

Carr adds he has the endorsement of both sides and this move adds a new level of urgency to the process.

Carr says Keller is an expert in labour law practicing in the field since 1972 and has served as vice chair of the Canadian Labour Relations Board.

New Reading Program Launched By Sea Dogs

The aim is to get young children who are in kindergarten to grade 3 at St. John the Baptist-King Edward School reading books. 

The Sea Dogs, Canaport LNG and the Anglophone School District  have launched the program that will see those students who read three books be eligible for Sea Dog tickets. 

Sea Dogs President Wayne Long tells Tide News they want to make reading fun for the kids and he's hoping the program will be expanded to other schools from St Stephen to Sussex next year.
 
School District Superintendent Zoe Watson says it's essential children know how to read by grade 3, otherwise it becomes more of a challenge later on and can result in behaviour problems. 

It's estimated 60 per cent of people in the province 16 years of age and older have problems with literacy.

Liberals Calling For Health Plan

People in the province need to know what the future of healthcare is going to be. 

That, from Liberal healthcare critic Donald Arsenault who's calling on Health Minister Ted Flemming to come up with a health care plan in light of the latest layoffs in radiation and nuclear medicine at Horizon Health.
 
Arsenault claims the people who work in healthcare are uncertain about what the future holds and for the first time ever, no nurse practitioners have been hired and other provinces are coming in to approach these graduates.