Uptown Saint John Reacts To Paramount Demolition

"Disappointing"......That's the reaction of the President of Uptown Saint John to the start of demolition at the old Paramount Theatre in King Square. 

Matt Alexander, though, is far from downcast about what the future holds.

Uptown Saint John made a concerted effort to get enough public and financial support to see the theatre transformed to another use but failed.

Alexander is hopeful the development of the Coast Guard site by Market Square will act as a catalyst to spur further development in the uptown. He says there's a lot of energy in that part of the city these days.

Thousands Of Dead Birds At Canaport LNG

Workers at Canaport LNG were met with a grim scene over the weekend as 7,500 birds--some of them possibly listed as endangered--were found dead near the gas plant.

 Research head of zoology at the New Brunswick Museum Donald McAlpine tells Tide News the birds were attracted to the large flame at the plant in the foggy weather, very much like moths are attracted to flames.

Canaport has been working to reduce flaring, and McAlpine called the event extremely unusual. He did say, however, that could have been predicted with the large amounts of birds migrating at this time of year and also the low cloud ceiling. 

The flares are a way to burn off excess gas.

Pension Coalition Making Stop In St. Stephen

Retirees came out in droves yesterday to hear about the shared risk pension plan the Alward government is proposing to replace a defined benefits model. Hundreds showing up to the New Brunswick Pension Coalition's information meeting at the qplex in Quispamsis.

Spokesperson Clifford Kennedy says the polls filled out at the meeting will be used to help the coalition figure out what they should do next--whether they go legal, or attempt to get into a discussion process with government.

Liberal Leader Brian Gallant addressed the crowd, showing his support for the Pension Coalition. Gallant suggesting a judicial review to find out if switching to that model from a defined benefits model is legal.

Quispamsis was the first stop on a tour of the region. St. Stephen being the second. Kennedy says the polls filled out at the meeting will be used to help the coalition figure out what they should do next.

Former Saint John mayor and teacher Ivan Court getting up and telling the room it's time to get rid of this government.

Around 100 pensioners came to the meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion in St. Stephen.