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.

Organized Labour Says No Need To Change EI

The Employment Insurance program is seen by the federal government, regardless of which party is in power, as being its cash cow to be used when needed to reduce the deficit even though it doesn't contribute a nickel to the fund. 

That charge being leveled by Serge Landry of the Canadian Labour Congress who was in Saint John speaking at a town hall meeting and warning workers the appeal process is being made harder.
 
Landry tells Tide News the E-I program doesn't have a funding problem at all. In fact, the C-L-C has suggested there's a surplus and benefits could be increased.

Landry says last year in New Brunswick, there were 35 thousand unemployed workers with only 38 hundred available jobs.

Propane Truck On Highway 1 Flipping On Side Today

A propane truck tipping over this morning is tying up a lot of emergency personnel resources today.

In the latest update, Highway 1 just west of Spruce Lake is open to traffic one lane in each direction.

A technical issue has prevented the removal of the propane at this time.
It was decided it would best to wait until after rush hour to close the roadway.

The roadway will now be shut down after 6pm to remove propane from the truck and remove the truck itself.

Cause Under Investigation After Fire On Queensway

A house fire in Milltown over the weekend is under investigation.

Local police say the home on Queensway is a total loss with significant damage after it caught fire Sunday night (March 17th, 2013).

RCMP say noone was hurt.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News the cause of the fire is under investigation with assistance from the local Fire Marshall.

Nurse Championing Green Porch Light Community Challenge

When you choose to donate your organs and tissue after death, you're giving somebody a chance at life. 

Registered nurse Betty-Anne Waugh says that signing your medicare care and talking to your family about your plans to be a donor, could make all the difference for a patient waiting for a life-saving donation in the future. 

Waugh says studies have shown that 75% percent of people who have said no to organ and tissue donation said if they had been better informed they would have said yes, and that they regret it down the road.

Waugh is currently championing the Green Porch Light Community challenge, which coincides with national organ and tissue donor awareness week from April 21-28. She's asking people to change one regular light bulb in their home to a green light bulb during that time frame, to bring attention to the cause.

Stanley Local Calls Flooding Worst in 40 Years

A huge ice jam on the Nashwaak river has created what one local has described as the worst flooding Stanley has seen in 40 years. Bethany Ryan, a store clerk, says that around 35 homes were evacuated on Thursday as the water spilled onto the banks. Ryan says the main road the village center were covered in about a half metre of water in a mere 15 minutes.

The water has since receded from the village, located north of Fredericton. A spokeswoman for River Watch says water levels should continue to go down over the next couple of days, but says that residents should stay alert.

White-Tailed Deer Farming Allowed In NB

The Alward government had talked about banning deer farming after a man in northern New Brunswick was killed sometime ago by one of his own deer, but the province will allow the farming of white-tailed deer. 

A review was done after the government got some pushback on a ban.
 
The provincial government will not allow pen hunting and farmers will not be permitted to sell white-tailed deer meat and other white-tailed products within New Brunswick.
 
Deer farmers will have to comply with provincial rules on fencing standards and identification of farmed deer in order to obtain a permit to keep white-tailed deer. 

They will also be required to comply with any federal requirements in order to lessen the risk to wild populations of white-tailed deer.

Atlantic National Home Show This Weekend In Saint John

Another sign that spring is just around the corner is when Harbour Station hosts the annual home show. That's happening this weekend with more than 130 exhibitors and it usually draws a big turnout from the region.

Denise Miller of Master Promotions tells Tide News a growing number of people come armed with definite ideas they may have gotten on the internet on what they want done to their homes.

The Saint John Animal Rescue League will also be at the Station if you want to adopt a shelter pet.

Locals Give Opinion On New Mandatory Course On Rinkside Behaviour For Parents

The parents of the youngest hockey players in the province will be required to take a course on rinkside behaviour beginning in the fall. 

Brian Whitehead of Hockey New Brunswick says the organization is planning to introduce the online course in September.

Whitehead says the course will be mandatory for any parent registering children aged four to eight years old. The course will also be free of charge to parents, unlike a similar course offered in Nova Scotia which charges parents a $12 fee.

In the meantime, The Tide's Facebook page is getting a lot of action on the issue.

Stephanie says, "I get so embarrassed when parents behave badly at games. Hopefully this will help to stop the cycle!"

Brenda says she doesn't think the course will change anything.

Jason says, "I don't believe there are any reasons not to have parents know the rules and conduct of the game."

One comment told of a situation on the weekend in Fredericton where a parent allegedly went into the opposing team's locker room to have words with the coach.

Shannon says, "As a hockey parent myself, I think it should be mandatory for all of us, on an annual basis!"






Most of the comments were positive towards the new course, however, a high percentage thought it was sad that children's hockey has come to this.