Jobs and the energy future of New Brunswick were big topics of conversation between Premier David Alward and Bruce Heyman.
The
US ambassador to Canada. Both Alward and Heyman were speakers at the
Canadian Building Trades Conference in Gatineau, Quebec. Alward tells Tide News they had a good working relationship with the last ambassador,
and they hope to continue that with Heyman, who was just appointed by
Barrack Obama.
Alward said he also emphasized the importance of
open borders between the US and Canada, since 86% of what is
manufactured in this province is exported to the US.
Provincial
Health Minister Ted Flemming has announced the province's new medicare
deal with the New Brunswick Medical Society has been given the thumbs up
by doctors.
He says the agreement with the province focuses on
improving the healthcare system and increasing its sustainability--and
further, the NB Medical Society voted overwhelmingly in favour of the
agreement.
There will be an increase in the medicare budget--but
Liberal MLA Donald Arsenault says it wasn't so long ago that Flemming
was fighting tooth and nail with the doctors. He says Flemming is only
increasing the Medicare budget because there's an election coming up.
Arsenault predicts despite the increase, voters will be showing the Conservatives the door in September.
Big industry and quality of life aren't mutually exclusive.
That's
according to Mayor Mel Norton after Tide News asked his thoughts on the
new scientific report on shale gas development suggesting more research
is needed into the long-term effects.
He tell
us they know the environment is important and can't be compromised,
pointing to Canaport LNG and Mispec Beach as an example of industry
co-existing with the environment.
Norton
says economic development is not political, and they have an obligation
as representatives of the city to do everything they can to drive
economic development. He suggests the big question is, are we ready to
embrace economic prosperity?
City Council endorsing shale gas development late last year.
Debate over the safety of shale gas continuing in the Legislature fuelled by last week's report by a panel of 14 scientists.
Provincial
Liberal leader Brian Gallant says the drilling will be taking place
closer to where people live in New Brunswick as opposed to what's
happening out west and that makes it riskier.
Provincial
Energy Minister Craig Leonard is rejecting Gallant's call for a
moratorium, saying the government is doing what the scientists are
recommending and that's a slow and safe approach to shale gas,
Leonard
says the government has been told by geologists that because of the rock
formation in the province, the risk to groundwater is non-existent.
Free
well water testing in the aftermath of the recent flooding will be
conducted for private well owners who have been affected at no charge.
Residents
will need to supply a property identification number which is found on
your property tax bill and should have their damages already registered
with Service New Brunswick.
You're reminded you must wait 10 days after the water has receded before beginning chlorination and sampling.
The
remains discovered in a remote area of Odell Park on April 28th have
been identified as 31-year old Joshua David Jewett of Fredericton.
Jewett had been reported missing by his family in early February.
Fredericton Police say there was no foul play involved.
There's
a difference of opinion in the Kennebecasis Valley when it comes to
shale gas. Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop is in favour while Quispamsis
Mayor Murray Driscoll is opposed to shale gas exploration happening
within his town but not elsewhere.
Jim
Emberger of the Anti-Shale Gas Alliance tells Tide News just because
drilling for shale gas may not be taking place in your backyard, doesn't
mean you won't be affected because a growing problem is air pollution
as well as the threat, as he sees it, to groundwater.
Emberger
warns any bylaw passed by a town or city to prevent drilling from
taking place within their jurisdictions can be overruled by the province
because this has happened elsewhere. He has also seen drilling wells
within city limits in both Texas and Alberta.
Imagine starting a job you love in your 20's and working for 50 years?
That is possible under changes to the Teacher's pension plan that could see them teaching to age 71.
Retired
teacher Ivan Court tells Tide News its becoming a national issue
because the Harper government is looking at shared risk and using our
province as an example.
He says Saint John had a pension problem
and then the province and now the Feds are supporting the shared risk
model and considering it for the country.
Court is not happy
about it saying shared risk takes the risk away from the province who
sign contracts with unions and then don't want to honour them.
Starting Thursday, you'll be able to see exactly where crime has been reported in our provincial capital.
The
Fredericton Police Force will be launching a website to map robbery,
arson, break & enter, property damage, car thefts, theft from cars,
and general theft.
Saint John already has a Crime Mapping service, available to view here
The first week of May is Mental Health Week across Canada.
This
year, the association is focusing on women's mental health and mental
illness. Over the last three years, the government has invested $4.8
million to improve mental-health services, reduce the stigma of mental
illness and improve the well-being of New Brunswickers.
The province encourages all New Brunswickers to make their mental well-being a priority this week and throughout the year.
Saint
John Airport had a 9 per cent increase in passenger traffic last year
with more than 235 thousand, the highest number since 2008.
Airport
President and C-E-O David Allen tells Tide News the decision by Air
Canada to harmonise pricing has levelled the playing field between the
airports in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton.
Sunwing added a third destination and its passenger numbers increased by 59 per cent.
The airport also reports a 5 per cent increase in revenue and a surplus for 2013 of just more than 387 thousand dollars.
Passenger traffic for the the first quarter of this year, despite the bad weather we had, was up by five per cent.
Allen adds the airport is looking at staging an air show in 2015 or 2016. He says it takes a year of planning to bring it about.
The
airport also estimates it will cost 50 million dollars over the next
twenty years to maintain its aging infrastructure and do upgrades.
The
Kennebecasis Regional Police are looking for some people wanted on
warrants....and they want your help. They're offering rewards of $500
for any information that leads to the arrest of individuals wanted on
Criminal Warrants of Arrest.
The ages of the 9 wanted parties
range from 20 to 49, and while some are traffic offences, they also
include thefts, break and enters, and probation violations. For a full
list of name and offenses click here
If anyone has any information they are asked to contact the KRPF at 847-6300 or NB Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
A
28-year-old fisherman from the Burnt Church First Nation is facing
charges in connection with an Employment Insurance fraud scheme, which
resulted in almost $400-thousand in losses to the federal government in
E-I benefits payments.
Ryan Michael Wade Bear is charged with
fraud, making fake Records of Employment and selling and/or transferring
Records of Employment.
The RCMP
were tipped off last June that people were involved in a possible
scheme and they started investigating.............they say Bear sold or
transferred 33 Records of Employment between April of 2012 and January
of last year.
Police say most of the claimants paid Bear for the service.
The
crown and prosecution have recommended a six-week adjournment in the
case of Joseph Irving, who is charged with second degree murder in the
death of his wife Cynthia.
During that time, forensic reports
will be gathered and the evidence seized at the scene will reviewed.
Irving, who made his appearance by video, will be back in court June 16.
A legal challenge against the Shared Risk model will be filed by the Pension Coalition in June.
On it's third provincial tour, the group informing retirees of the plan at a meeting at the qplex.
Bonny Hoyt-Hallet tells Tide News they never said there didn't need to be some pension changes.
She
says parts of this model might be good for some but with the Shared
Risk model and the memorandum of understanding the way it is now, they
need to start back at square one.
The coalition is planning on getting a map of all the new ridings and contacting all candidates for the provincial election.
Attendees were also asked by the coalition to contribute what they can to the group's operating and legal fund.
They expect the legal challenge will cost $200,000.
The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance claims no jurisdiction has regulations that can make shale gas exploration safe.
Former
Provincial Environment Minister Trevor Holder maintains New Brunswick's
regulations are among the toughest in North America. Jim Emberger of the
Anti-Shale Gas Alliance tells Tide News they still fall short when it
comes to how close you can drill to homes and schools without risking
health.
The
Anti-Shale Gas Alliance will be giving a presentation tomorrow night at
the K-V Library in Quispamsis that's scheduled to get underway at 6:30.
What to do about shale gas development is bound to be an election issue in the province.
Provincial
Liberal leader Brian Gallant tells Tide News the Alward Government is
not going to backtrack on its support for shale gas exploration because
to do so would be an admission it was on the wrong track and the
governing Conservatives see it as their saviour in turning around the
provincial economy.
New Brunswick has been at the bottom among provinces in economic growth over the past four years.
Provincial
Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is arguing shale gas development along
with the Energy East pipeline are ways to bring young New Brunswickers,
who have gone out west to work in the oil and gas industry, back home
again.
City police had issues with a number of drunk drivers over the weekend.
Sergeant
Jay Henderson explains one 35 year old man crashed his car and kept
right on driving on the rim of his front tire, with sparks shooting out
of it. He was arrested a short time later near Reversing Falls after a
concerned driver called police.
Three other men--all in their twenties--were also charged with drunk driving over the weekend in separate incidents.
Clean
hands save lives--and the Saint John Regional Hospital is reminding the
public of that by marking National Hand Hygiene Day today.
Volunteers will be at the entrance of the hospital directing visitors to alcohol-based hand rinse dispensers.
Proper
hand hygiene is the easiest way of preventing infections in hospitals,
nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities--and you should be doing
it not just today, but every time you visit.
Provincial
Government retirees will be meeting this morning at the Q-Plex on the
first stop of the provincial tour after the decision was made to take
the province to court over changing to the shared risk pension plan.
Clifford
Kennedy of the Pension Coalition tells Tide News the retirees will hear
from their lawyer in a video message and find out what their political
strategy will be.
Kennedy
goes on to say the province has refused to give them information they
requested which makes them suspicious about whether the government's
claims are true about the long term financial impact and they're
confident of winning the court action because their vested rights are
being violated.
