Cardy Says Tories Are "Tone Deaf" On Womens' Issues

Women looking for alternatives to a traditional hospital birth are out of luck in New Brunswick---at least for now. 

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy tells Tide News cutting funding to the Midwifery Association of New Brunswick is a backward move which fundamentally infringes on a woman's right to give birth where she chooses. 

According to Cardy, the $10,000 the association needs to function is about equal to the cost of a single ministerial car--and the potential savings associated with midwifery are significant in light of the province's struggling healthcare system.

Using a midwife is $800 cheaper per hospital birth and $1800 cheaper per home birth according to the Ontario Department of Health. Cardy says with doctors in the province already overtaxed it makes no sense to cut a program we already promised to implement back in 2010.

Derailed Train In Quebec Carrying Oil Destined For Saint John Refinery

The train that derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, killing at least five people, was hauling cars filled with crude oil destined for the oil refinery in Saint John. 

Irving Oil issuing a statement confirming that Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway was transporting the product to the Port City and offering emergency response assistance to authorities. 

About 40 people are missing and 30 buildings have been demolished after the tanker cars, covered in oil, caught fire.

It's not yet completely clear how the train, which was parked for a crew change, somehow slipped its brakes, rolled downhill and left the tracks. Transportation Safety Board investigators are waiting to investigate the train wreckage.

Province Cuts Funding To Midwives

The President of the Midwives Association of New Brunswick calls a funding cut by the provincial government a shameful loss.

Citing financial constraints, the government is suspending the work of the council in implementing policies and standards necessary for the implemention of midwifery services.
 
Association President Nathalie Pambrun tells Tide News cutting funding is short-sighted and makes no sense at this time.

She says they have some good momentum with the work the council has already done and she finds it very unfortunate that it should close for such a small amount of money.

Pambrun says they are disappointed by the government's decision adding people have been waiting for access to these services since the government announced the implementation of the Midwifery Act in 2010.

Parking Lot Being Expanded At SJ Airport

An increase in business is prompting an upgrade of the long term parking area at the airport.
 
Work is underway until July 19th on expanding and reconfiguring the parking lot with the addition of 90 spaces. 

Airport President and C-E-O David Allen says the current lot is at capacity thanks to unprecedented growth in the winter seasonal flights by Sunwing and growing numbers for Air Canada. 

If you have to use the long term lot, access to it may be relocated temporarily but Allen says when it's all done, moving about will be a lot easier.

St. Stephen Man Wins 2013 Harley Draw

The Rally In The St. Croix Valley has come to a close after a very hot weekend in Charlotte County made for a successful fundraiser.

The International Motorcycle Festival hosted many events such as the Hub City Stunt Riders Show from Moncton and the Annual Harley Draw.

Johnny Connick of St. Stephen was this year's winner of the 2013 Harley Davidson Street Glide.

Troy and Zoe Weeks won $1,000 for second place.  Ron O'Brien of Calais won the leather Harley jacket in third place. Profits from the Harley Draw and the Best In Show Competition will go to the Ridgewood Veteran's Wing.

Canadian Chair of the Rally,  Bob Hamel tells Tide News they are still counting the total amount of money  raised from the even and will deliver a cheque to Ridgewood by the end of next week.

Clean-Up Organized For Local Nature Preserve

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is partnering with the Fundy Baykeepers to clean up one of our local islands.

Volunteer Coordinator Brittany Clifford tells Tide News about Simpsons Island. "It's a 60 acre island  in the Passamaquoddy Bay that the Nature Conservancy owns and protects, and has for a number of years. It's an island that we would like to keep in pristine condition and that's why we are organizing the clean-up."

Clifford says Simpsons Island is a typical marine-coastal habitat with coastal forests, rocky shores and sandy beaches. "It hosts a large variety of birds including common eiders and bald eagles."

The volunteers are meeting at the Stuart Town Wharf on Deer Island this Saturday.

If you would like to volunteer, go to www.conservationvolunteers.ca or call 1-877-231-4400.

Did You Get Your Moose License?

You can find out today the results of the provincial moose draw.

Over 66,000 people applied to get just over 4,600 licenses in the province. That's a thousand more than were available 3 years ago. The increase is meant to control the moose population where the animals have become a problem.

Moose season starts in September, and if you got a license you should receive a letter. Hunters who entered the draw may find out if they were successful either by calling 1-800-459-3729 on a touchtone telephone or by checking online at the Department of Natural Resources website.

You'll need your Medicare number to confirm your identity. To buy the actual license, bring your card to a Service New Brunswick centre on or after August 19.

The 2013 moose hunting season runs from September 26 to the 28th.

Higher Temperatures Mean Higher Risk of Heat-Related Illness

Scorching summer weather can be downright dangerous. With the humidex reaching the high thirties across the province over the last couple of days, people are at a high risk of getting sick from the heat. 

Chief Medical Officer Eilish Cleary says muscle cramps, fatigue, headache, or nausea are symptoms of heat-related illness. If you experience these, go to a cool place, drink a cold, non-alcoholic drink and rest. Cleary says this could save your life.

Click here for a list of ways to prevent heat-related illness.

Fire, Alarms & Medical Calls Keep Firefighters Busy

A busy Saturday shift for firefighters included a slew of fire alarms going off, one of which was at an industrial site.

Saint John Fire Department's Acting Platoon Chief Brian Wilson says a small fire in a belt at 30 Jervis Lane was extinguished by employees, while firefighters made sure the blaze was out and cut off power to the equipment.

They were also called to the South end to respond to a house fire. When they showed up at 132 Broad Street, they discovered the cause of the blaze was a pot on a stove. They aired out the building and cleared the smoke. 

They also responded to half a dozen or more medical calls across the city.

Challenge Family Picks St. Andrews As Host For 2014

St. Andrews has been chosen as the latest venue for the Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons.

This makes the TRI-St. Andrews event this weekend look like a practice run.

Challenge Race Manager Scott Bevington says with 21 races around the world, the racers competing will be the top pro-athletes in the world.

The event will feature a 1.9 km swim, a 90 kms bike, and a 21km run over a course that takes in many historic highlights in our area.

Challenge St. Andrews will take place July 6th, 2014.

Two Injured After Boat Collision In St. George

A boating accident in St. George sending one person to the Saint John Regional.

RCMP say around 9:30 last night on the Canal Waterway, a boat collided with old cement railway foundation near the Route 770 Bridge and Old St. Andrews Junction.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News one person had a lacerated forehead, while the other passenger in the boat suffered serious head trauma and was transported to hospital.

MacKnight says there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol.

Warning About Buying Flood-Damaged Vehicles From Alberta

A warning from the Insurance Bureau of Canada for those people in the province in the market for a new or used vehicle...

Be wary of buying any vehicle that's been damaged by recent flooding in southern Alberta because insurance companies may consider them to be non-repairable. 

Consumers are being advised to buy only from a licensed automotive business, look for any discolored upholstery or carpet that fits poorly or does not match exactly.

Have a certified automotive service technician inspect for signs of water or silt in the vehicle's fuse box and electrical junction boxes.

Get information about the history of vehicle from a registry agent and an inspection before you buy.

Check underneath the hood and look for a water line that was marked by mud or silt or for evidence of a recent engine shampoo.

Check the heater and air conditioner several times and look in the vents for signs of water or mud.

Rally Sending Profits To Ridgewood Veterans Wing

While local bikers will be enjoying the international festival this weekend -- some of our country's finest will be getting a helping hand.

Canadian Chair of the Rally in the St. Croix Valley, Bob Hamel tells Tide News the Ridgewood Veteran's Wing in Saint John is where profits will end up.

Hamel says Ridgewood takes care of our veterans, whether they be male or female, 20-years-old or in their 90's, or from current wars all the way back to Vietnam and WW2.

Hamel says profits from two main events, the Harley Draw and the Best In Show Competition will go to Ridgewood, as well as a few other 50/50 draws and smaller contests.

The Rally in the St. Croix Valley begins tomorrow.

One Man Dead And Three Injured - Including Baby - After Calais Shooting

It's a grim Independence Day in Calais after a shooting leaves one man dead, and 3 injured, including a 6-week-old baby.

Police say 21-year-old Megan Sherrard of Calais is in critical condition at the Eastern Maine Medical Centre in Bangor after being shot twice in the chest.

Her son, Luca, is expected to recover after being grazed by a bullet.

Around 6pm last night, Calais Police Department recieved a call of shots fired at a home at 417 Main Street.

Police say shortly after arriving on scene, police shot and killed 26-year-old Daniel Pinney, who is the baby's father, and who is believed to have shot the baby and Sherrard.

Police say Calais PD veteran officer John Preston was also grazed by a bullet during the incident and is expected to recover.

The Maine Attorney General's Office is investigating whether "deadly force" used by police was justified.

An employee from Bells IGA tells Tide News Sherrard was a cashier at the store in Calais  and Pinney was a bagboy.

Biker Injured In Crash On Route 3

A man has been taken to hospital after his motorcycle collided with a car just outside of town.

Local firefighters say they received a call to Route 3, in Old Ridge, between the Hall Road and Old Ridge Antiques, around 9 this morning.

First responders tell Tide News a woman was pulling out of her driveway, when her car collided with the motorcycle.

Firefighters say the man is expected to make a full recovery, and the woman was shaken up, but ok.

Witnesses say they were very impressed with how quickly first responders arrived at the scene.

Saia Twins Found Guilty In Deadly Saint John Home Invasion

22 year old twin brothers, Brandon and Bradley Saia have been found guilty on charges stemming from a deadly home invasion in Saint John back in early November which include robbery. 

The jury of 7 women and 5 men deliberated for nearly 8 hours before reaching the guilty verdicts. 

18 year old A-J Dennison died from a stab wound he suffered during the home invasion on Prince Street West. 22 year old Christopher Reid, who lived in the home, suffered a serious wound to his back from a machete. 

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 7th.

Province Calls For Inquest Into Serena Perry's Death

Chief Coroner Greg Forestell calling an inquest into the death of Serena Perry at the Regional hospital last year.

The 22 year old died at the hospital while she was a patient.

The coroner and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Perry’s death and the jury will have an opportunity to make recommendations to prevent deaths under similar circumstances.

This inquest will be held in Saint John but the date has yet to be announced.

Acadia Broadcasting Applies To Purchase Moncton Station

In business news - Acadia Broadcasting is moving to add another radio station to its stable - the parent company of 98.1 The Tide, Country 94 and 97.3 the Wave has filed an application with the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission to purchase CKNI-FM - News91.9 in Moncton from Rogers Broadcasting.

    The station would be the first for the company in the Hub City and would join Acadia's stations here - Saint John - Bridgewater - and - five stations and two repeaters in Ontario.
    Acadia Vice President Jim MacMullin says he looks forward to bringing our brand of community focused - quality local radio to Moncton.
 
In a related note, NewCap Radio intends to purchase Saint John's News 88.9.
    The C-R-T-C is expected to rule on both applications later this year.

Provincial Pension Plan To Undergo Independent Review

An actuary with more than 30 years experience has been chosen to take an independent look at the provincial pension plan. 

The provincial finance department is picking up the tab. The decision to do this coming about during discussions between the Alward Government and the Pension Coalition.

Clifford Kennedy of the Pension Coalition tells Tide News the retirees want to know if their plan is in such bad shape as the province claims.
 
The retirees have been skeptical about those claims and the need for the plan to be converted to a shared risk model although they don;t object to it happening on a go forward basis with current retirees exempt.

The review will take a few months to complete.

Target Job Fair Underway In Saint John

The underemployed have some hope this week in the form of a job fair for the new Target store.

A job fair is underway in Saint John at the Loch Lomond Mall until 5:30pm tonight again tomorrow through to Saturday.

It runs tomorrow from 11:30am to 8:30pm and on Friday and Saturday from 830am to 5:30pm.

Job fairs are also happening in Fredericton and Moncton this week.