Weapon Pulled On Cab Driver

A heated argument in Saint John ending with a weapon being pulled on a cab driver.  

City police tell us it happened late yesterday afternoon on Peters Street, just off of Waterloo Street. A 20 year old man got out of the car, kicked the door, took out the weapon before being arrested. The driver wasn't hurt in the incident and no cash was stolen.

Police say they also nabbed two car prowlers in the area of Carlisle Crescent on the east side.

MLA Hosting Meeting Tonight On Flooding In St. George

Wild weather is here to stay it would seem.

One Liberal MLA wants to make sure homes and businesses in his riding are prepared and protected as much as they can be.

Flash flooding in Charlotte County last month was a scary reminder of the devastation water brought to the area in 2010.

Residents of St. George, Lake Utopia, Boney River, and everyone in between are welcome to attend a meeting on the topic tonight.

Charlotte the Isles MLA Rick Doucet is hosting the meeting tonight at 7pm at Magaguadavic Place.

Logan Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

A guilty plea from a Saint John man charged in connection with a brutal beating at an uptown rooming house that led to a 66 year-old's death.

35 year-old Nicholas Logan pleading guilty to manslaughter after Duncan MacDonald died in hospital on April 10 from injuries he sustained from the March 16 incident on the corner of Duke and Prince William.

MacDonald had a broken neck, punctured lung and a severe brain injury. The official cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. 

After the incident, Logan told police he had felt "a strong desire to wipe out everyone in the building." Logan has been undergoing mental health assessments at a hospital in Restigouche, where he's been remanded until his next court appearance on August 30: a disposition hearing before sentencing. 

Judge Henrik Tonning calling cases like this one "very complicated."

Malloch Looking For Awnswers To Flooding Issues

With the clean up pretty much completed in the wake of another flash flood in the St Stephen area - attention is turning to what steps are needed to better deal with changing weather patterns.
Charlotte - Campobello M-L-A Curtis Malloch tells Tide News it's time for serious soul searching by trying to determine what to look at - where to look at it - what can we do different as we move ahead with infrastructure.
Malloch says he will continue to push the issue with his government colleagues in Fredericton - he says he also wants to make sure the best support is available to emergency responders and volunteers when dealing with natural disasters.

East Side Apartment Complex Evacuated

Light smoke and a strange smell filling an apartment complex causing an afternoon evacuation. 

Platoon Chief Eric Garland says they evacuated everyone in the 48-unit apartment building at 10 Woodhollow Park while crews looked for the source—which they found to be a malfunctioning ventilation system that's now in need of servicing. 

Fire crews were on the scene for about an hour, and everybody was allowed to return home. One older woman was brought to hospital, but Garland says it's nothing serious.

Target Hosting Job Fair Throughout Week

As the Port City holds onto the title of highest unemployment of all cities in a Stats Canada survey, this announcement could bring some hope to Saint Johners looking for work — a major retail chain is doing some hiring.

Target is hosting a job fair throughout the week at Loch Lomond Place. It runs from 8:30am to 5:30 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 11:00am to 8pm on Wednesday.

The store itself will will open sometime before Christmas.

Jewish Historical Museum Gets $25,000 Donation

The Saint John Jewish Historical Museum fund has just received a big donation from a man who passed away last week.

Author, lawyer, educator and human rights advocate Lorne Rozovsky has given the group $25,000. In a letter, he wrote that he wanted to make a lasting contribution to the preservation of the history of the city's Jewish community.

Rozovsky died last Monday at the age of 70 after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Cheap, Unique Entertainment For The Entire Family

Acrobatics, costumes, bagpipes and standup comedy: just a few of the wild and wacky performance styles you can expect at the Port City's most unique theater festival....which you may not have heard of yet.

Fundy Fringe Fest is a brand-new theater festival coming to the Port City. The  titles range from "Morlock the Warlock" to "That Boob Show" and "I Get Naked," and the performers are from all over Canada.

Sandra Bell of the Fundy Fringe Fest tells CHSJ News it's not your usual highbrow theater experience, and there's something at Fringe everyone can appreciate.

The Fundy Fringe Festival festival runs from August 21 to the 25 and a $50 festival pass gets you into 8 different shows of your choice. For more information, click here.

Firefighters Find Cause Of Gas Smell On West Side

Fire crews getting to the bottom of a strong smell on the West side of Saint John.

The calls started coming in just after 10pm, with numerous West side residents reporting a strange smell in the air—many saying it smelled like natural gas.

Firefighters tracked down the source of the odour—a Maritimes and Northeast substation on the West side that had released a small amount of gas. Wilson says the low atmosphere and the fog at the time made the smell seem much worse than it actually was.

He says there was no danger.

Harper: Feds Will Review Exotic Pet Store Rules

The federal government will review whether or not it needs to play a role in how exotic pet stores are regulated says Prime Minister Stephen Harper. 

Early on Monday, two young brothers in Campbellton were killed by an African rock python that escaped its enclosure in an apartment located above exotic pet store, Reptile Ocean. 

As Harper made the vow yesterday, zoo staff seized 23 reptiles—among them, snakes, lizards and a Cuban crocodile—and euthanized four American alligators belonging to the store. Officials say they had to put the animals down because no zoo would take them.

The species of python is banned in the province unless you have a special permit. Environment Canada spokesman Mark Johnson says the department was enlisted to help transport the python to Reptile Ocean 11 years ago after it was abandoned at the SPCA in Moncton.

Funeral Today For Brothers Killed By Python

A funeral service is being held today for the two boys killed by a python in Campbellton. 

Four year-old Noah Barthe and his six year-old brother Connor were found dead on Monday morning after a 45-kilogram African rock python escaped its enclosure in the apartment, which is above an exotic pet store.

Preliminary autopsy results show the boys died of asphyxiation.

Campbellton's deputy mayor, Ian Comeau, says the brothers will be buried together in one casket and that the service will celebrate their short lives. The funeral will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church.
  
Both the apartment and store are owned by Jean-Claude Savoie, a family friend, who took the boys shopping and to a farm before hosting a sleepover on Sunday with his son.

Two Hospitalized After East Side Crash

A two-car crack up on the East side of Saint John.

Division Chief Mark Wilson of the Saint John Fire Department says two people were brought to hospital after the crash, which happened just after nine o'clock in the evening on the corner of Westmorland Road and Retail Drive. 

Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Milltown Blaze Leaves Man Temporarily Homeless

A Bordertown blaze gutting a mobile home in the Milltown area, leaving a man temporarily homeless. 

Crews from St. Stephen and Calais, Maine, responded to the fire which was reported at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. No word yet on a cause. 

The Canadian Red Cross is providing emergency lodging for the man, who they say is focusing on his daughter's wedding today.

Fire In Milltown Trailer Park

Fire crews from Calais and St. Stephen responding to a fire today at the Milltown trailer park.

No word yet on the extent of damage or any injuries.

New TV Ad By Premier Drawing Some Fire

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says it should be the provincial Conservative party paying for the new TV ad featuring Premier David Alward. 

He's talking about turning around the economic fortunes of the province and bringing New Brunswick workers back home from out west but the Federation's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey tells CHSJ News he doubts taxpayers in the province want to foot the bill.

The ad cost 15 thousand dollars to make and another 75 thousand dollars to air. 

A spokesperson for the Premier says they're just trying to be transparent but Lacey views it as the first ad of next year's provincial election campaign.

Report Complete On Chemo Underdosing At Regional Hospital

Health Canada should regulate the mixing of drugs outside a licensed pharmacy. 

That conclusion emerges from a report on why more than 12 hundred cancer patients at the Regional Hospital and in Ontario were receiving lower dosages for their chemotherapy than they should have, some for as long as a year.

Saint John To Be Visited By Prime Minister

Prime Minister Harper will be making a brief stop in Saint John at noonhour. 

He's here for what is described as a photo op with Premier David Alward and Arthur Irving at the Irving Oil refinery. 

This comes just a few days after the announcement that Trans Canada is moving ahead with the West to East pipeline which has the support of the federal government as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, get more money for Alberta oil and spur some economic activity.

Alward Government It Is Doing Something To Combat Food Insecurity

The Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities isn't taking issue with the estimate of 24 per cent of children in the province growing up in homes where getting enough food is a problem. 

Dorothy Shephard, who's also the M-L-A for Saint John Lancaster, tells CHSJ News the Alward Government is not sitting back, waiting for the provincial economy to get better. 

She says the government spends about 1 and a half million dollars a year on 29 different programmes which include community gardens, one of which just opened on land leased to the Carleton Community Centre by the Port Authority.
 
Shephard also says food mentors go into communities to teach people how they can shop well by buying nutritious foods that are cheaper than processed food. She points out the community gardens are full of people.  

Patient Registry Matches 800 NBers With Family Doctors

A provincially-run registry that matches doctor-less patients with family doctors is showing results.

800 New Brunswickers have been matched with a family doctor or nurse through Patient Connect NB, and another 300 are being matched right now. 2000 people have signed up for the service in total.

Patient Connect NB was established at the end of May. To register for the service, click here.

Councillor Confident Simms CEO Will Help Unemployed Workers

With the announcement the West side icon will be shutting its doors, the CEO of Simms has said he'll help out of work employees find new jobs — and Ward One Councillor, Bill Farren, believes he'll be true to his word.

Farren tells CHSJ News he knows Tom Simms will do his best to take care of those who find themselves unemployed when the Simms Corner factory shuts its doors this fall.

Farren says that's just in Simms' make-up, calling him a man of the people and a good, true businessman.

In a release Simms said it was a tough choice to let go of a team of employees they've worked with for decades. No word on how many people will be out of a job.

Iconic Saint John Company Was Founded By Civil War Vet From Maine

The Simms Company, which will no longer be making its brushes in Saint John, had its beginnings in 1866. That's when Thomas Stockwell Simms, an American civil war veteran, invested his soldier's back pay and bonus in a small brush and broom operation in Portland, Maine. This fledgling enterprise moved  in 1872 to Saint John. 

David Goss knows more about Saint John history than just about anyone else and tells CHSJ News Simms played a huge role in the lives of many people on the west side. He says you will hardly meet anyone over 60 in that part of the city who hasn't had some connection with the company over the years.


Simms Corner used to be known as Avery's Corner and the company, which employed up to 500 workers at one time, had a building across the road on the former Centracare property which was used to house 60 factory girls if they had nowhere else to live.
 
Simms travelled all the way to the far east back in the early 1900's to get the best bristles and established a Baptist church in India which is still standing today.

Public Support For Big Industrial Projects Harder To Come By

The rules of the game have changed when it comes to winning public support for big industrial projects. 

John Herron of the Atlantica Centre for Energy says the old argument of compromising the environment for the sake of jobs and economic growth isn't being accepted as readily anymore. 

Shale gas development has run into strident opposition but Herron tells the Tide other jurisdictions have managed to get their publics on board with energy development.

Herron says protests occur when people feel they're not being listened to and there have been intensified protests in Kent County with arrests being made.

Proposed Pipeline Could Get Rough Ride In Quebec

Provincial Green Party leader David Coon says there might be overwhelming support for the West to East pipeline in Saint John but such is not the case in Quebec. 

He claims there's alot of concern and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois has been hedging on where she stands so as not to alienate her populist base. Coon points out environmental concerns in Quebec have been heightened because of the train disaster with tankers of oil exploding at Lac Magentic last month.

He tells the Tide the pipeline project will increase carbon pollution and that will have unforseen consequences, pointing out not many people around here are aware the Bay of Fundy is becoming more acidified because of climate change and increased carbon pollution. He warns that acidification could damage the fishery over the long term.

Two Young Boys Strangled By Snake As They Slept

Campbellton is in a state of shock........The RCMP say two young boys, aged 5 and 7, are dead after they were strangled by a python that escaped its enclosure at an exotic pet store.   

The RCMP say the boys were sleeping in an apartment above Reptile Ocean and it's believed the snake made its way into the apartment through the ventilation system sometime through the overnight hours.
    
The snake was captured and is in the possession of police.  The boys were visiting the apartment of the pet store's owner at the time.

Autopsies will be performed on the two victims today in Saint John.
  

Order Of New Brunswick Recipients Named

Premier David Alward announcing ten people in the province being recognised with the Order of New Brunswick. 

They are Joanna Bernard, of Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, for her tireless efforts to ensure the well being and economic prosperity of her community as well as of all First Nations communities in the province.

Édith Butler, from Paquetville, for her remarkable contributions to the advancement of Acadian culture and heritage.

Alida Clément, from Dieppe, for her dedication and volunteer efforts to ensure the well being and quality of life of disabled persons, seniors, and her community at large.

Eugène Durette, from Edmundston, for the impact he has had in advancing business in Edmundston and throughout the province, as well as the many ways in which he has given back to his community.
 
Dr. Dana Hanson, from Fredericton, for his outstanding leadership in the medical profession in New Brunswick and around the world. Dr. Hanson is a former President of the Canadian Medical Association.

Jean Irving, from Rothesay, for her passion and commitment to bettering the quality of life of communities throughout the province.

Freeman Patterson, from Shampers Bluff, for his exceptional talents as a photographer and his passion for sharing his skills and knowledge the world over.
  
Gerry Pond, one time head of NB Tel, for his innovative spirit and for being the driving force behind so many of New Brunswick's information technology and telecommunications success stories.

Gordon Porter, from Woodstock, for his efforts in advancing inclusive education and the rights of persons with disabilities in New Brunswick and throughout the world.

Lionel Poitras, from Saint-André, for his contributions to ensuring the sustainability of the potato farming industry in the province.

Mill Rats Get Fifth Pick In 2013 NBL Canada Draft

To play on the Saint John Mill Rats, you can’t just play a good game, you’ve got to have a good personality. 

That’s according to the President and General Manager of the team, Ian McCarthy, and the philosophy he’ll be bringing to the National Basketball League of Canada’s draft later this month as they add a few new faces to the team.

McCarthy tells CHSJ News the players have to be willing to be involved in the community, they have to be amiable and willing to sign autographs for the kids. In terms of on-the-court play, he says the top two things they're looking for is athleticism and talent.

The Mill Rats have fifth pick in the 2013 National Basketball League of Canada draft on Monday, August 19 in Markham, Ontario.

Cherry Brook Zoo Seeks Closure After Tiger's Death

As the Cherry Brook Zoo comes to grips with the sudden loss of its young Siberian tiger, their Director of Zoo Development says they’re focusing on the present before they start to think about the future. 

Linda Collrin tells CHSJ News another tiger will be brought into the zoo eventually—she says it would be a dishonour to six year-old Nyla if they didn't—but first, they want to find out exactly what happened to her through a necropsy.

The tiger became sick on July 18, going blind, having seizures and losing weight and the zoo was forced to euthanize her on Wednesday. While results have shown she had an pneumonia, Collrin says she caught it as a result of being in such a weak state. That doesn't tell them why she became sick in the first place. 

Collrin says they'll be working with the SSP Program or International Species Survival Program again when bringing in a new tiger.

Swimmers Brave Northumberland Strait For Charity

A group of swimmers are back on dry land after diving into the frigid waters of the Northumberland Strait. 

The 34 participants in the Big Swim fundraiser swam a 15-kilometre stretch from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island to raise money for people living with chronic illness and disease.

They brought in more than $130,000 dollars during this year's swim, most of which will be split between Cystic Fibrosis Canada and Brigadoon Village. Since it started three years ago, The Big Swim has raised more than $230,000 dollars for charity.

Todd McDonald is the co-founder of the event, and he says they set two records this year: the largest group to swim the Strait at once and the youngest female swimmer to make the crossing—15 year-old Jessica Plummer from Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia finished her swim in four and half hours.

Smoke From Kitchen Fire Wakes Homeowner

A man and woman evacuating their smoke-filled home as a fire burned in the kitchen.

Platoon Chief Eric Garland says crews were called around 5:30am to 401 Churchland Road in Saint John and knocked down the blaze. 

Garland says the woman was woken up by the smoke, and she woke up her husband—the smoke detector didn't go off.

The house has some smoke damage and there is fire damage in the kitchen, but nobody was hurt and the fire is not considered suspicious.

Development Of Former Coast Guard Site in Saint John "Signifcant"

Development of the former Coast Guard site down by Market Square will take 7 years to complete over 4 phases. 

The General Manager of Saint John Waterfront Development Kent MacIntyre predicts this will have a significant impact for the good on the uptown and tells the Tide whenever you have a developer from outside showing confidence in the city, it can build momentum because local businesspeople take note of that.

MacIntyre points out there will be a strong residential component to the development and with more people in a neighbourhood, you tend to get new businesses springing up.

Stock Car Driver Dies During P.E.I. Speedway Race

Tragedy on the race track—a 30 year-old stock car racer from Riverview died after his vehicle flipped onto its roof during the 98th lap of a 100-lap competition. 

He started to take off his own safety equipment while suspended upside down, but the effort somehow strangled him, leading to his death.

The race was hosted Saturday at the Oyster Bed Speedway race track, about 15 kilometres north of Charlottetown.

RCMP say reasonable safety protocols were followed during the race.

New Nature Preserve On Saint John's West Side

A large parcel of land on the West side of Saint John is now under protection. 

Jane Barry of the Nature Trust of New Brunswick says 122 acres of marshland, shoreline and forests in Saints Rest have been donated to the group for preservation. 

Barry tells CHSJ News the land has a rich history—about 300 years ago it was diked by Acadian settlers, and the settlers used the dried-up area for harvesting hay. In the 1940s, the the dikes were washed away and the land became reclaimed by the Bay of Fundy. Now, it's one of the largest salt water marshes in the area.

The area is home to the American black duck and the Savannah Sparrow, along with a number of rare plant species.

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is hosting a reception and tour of the new nature preserve, called Saints Rest Marsh-F. Gordon Carvell, on Tuesday from 1-2pm, starting at the Tourism Information Centre.

South End Residents Disgusted By Crude Oil Smell

The stench of crude oil being unloaded near the Courtney Bay train tracks drawing concern and disgust from some residents.

South Ender Julie Dingwell tells CHSJ News the overpowering smell woke up her entire family in the middle of the night last week, and they called the fire department thinking there was a gas leak.

Dingwell says if it's that bad where she lives she can't imagine what it would be like on Bayside Drive.

Irving tells CHSJ News they are investigating but believe it was the result of the type and amount of crude being unloaded at the time, and it won't happen again.

Police Investigating ATV Theft

Police are investigating the theft of an ATV—and they're looking for your help.

The robbery happened overnight on Thursday.

The ATV is a yellow Can Am Renegade with two decals, one the gas tank that reads "Hot Balls" and the other on the front fender that reads "Metal Mulisha". 

If you have any information, you're being asked to contact the Rothesay Regional Police Department by calling 847-6300 or Crimestoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477.

Siberian Tiger Dies At Cherry Brook Zoo

The staff at the Cherry Brook Zoo are mourning the loss of one of their animals—a Siberian tiger named Nyla.

The zoo saying in a release they were forced to euthanize the six year-old animal on Wednesday. 

After becoming suddenly ill on July 18, Nyla went blind, started having seizures and began losing weight—they consulted with other zoos and veterinarians from across Canada and the U.S., but she didn't respond to any treatments. The cause of death has been labelled a pneumonia.

As to whether or not they'll bring another tiger into the zoo, they say they're waiting on necropsy results first. They say they need to know what happened to Nyla before moving on.

The zoo says tigers can live into their twenties.

Brewery Projects How Much Beer NBers Will Buy This Weekend

It's no surprise New Brunswickers love their suds, but what might surprise you is the number of brews we're projected to buy over this long weekend.

Moosehead Breweries says it's expected that 130 to 140 thousand 12-packs of beer will be purchased during the New Brunswick Day weekend.

NB liquor will be open during regular hours tomorrow, but will be closed on Monday. You can visit their store locator site for the complete list of store locations and services available.

Police Increasing Presence On Roads During Long Weekend

Stay sober, buckle up and don't answer that call. Long weekends mean more traffic on the roadways, and police are heightening their presence to crack down on dangerous driving. 

Sergeant Claude Tremblay of RCMP's Traffic Services tells CHSJ News some people say they don't need to wear a seat belt because they're not driving very far, but Tremblay says statistics show that 80% of people drive within 25 to 30 kilometres of where they live, so that argument doesn't hold water. 

He says if you're not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you'll be knocked around or ejected from the car, and if you're ejected, 95% of the time you'll be seriously injured or killed.

The percentage of fatal crashes where the victims weren't wearing a seat belt has gone up, from 23 per cent last year to 40 per cent so far this year.

Charges Laid In Cochran's Country Market Robbery

All three involved in the armed robbery of a small grocery store in Rothesay have now been charged. 

On July 16, three people with weapons entered Cochran's Country Market on Hampton Road, bound two employees and made away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

27 year-old Blake Andrew Smith, 26 year-old Stephen Corey Richard and 47 year old Keith Oliver Dixon have all been charged with armed robbery, wearing a disguise, and unlawful confinement. 

Smith and Richard will be back in court on Tuesday, and Dixon will be in court again next Monday.

Fire Crews Battling Concession Stand Blaze

An old, vacant concession stand in Quispamsis going up in flames.

Rothesay Regional Police say the stand at the old drive-in near Carpenter's Pit off of Parkside Road was set on fire around 3am.

Fire crews from the KV Fire Department battling the fire were able to get it under control, and nobody was hurt.

Boardwalk Rescue In Saint John

An early morning rescue on the boardwalk.

City police say a woman was brought to the hospital with at least one broken leg after falling off of the boardwalk railing and onto the rocks below.

Crews spent nearly an hour and a half on the scene rescuing the woman.

MLA Praises Efforts Of Emergency Personnel

Charlotte-Campobello M-L-A Curtis Malloch is singing the praises of emergency personnel in the wake of last week's flash flood in the St Stephen area.
Record rainfall dumped on the area causing road washouts and flooded basements - and - Malloch can't say enough about the efforts of volunteers and first responders trying to help those affected by the rising water levels.
Malloch says he toured a number of businesses and homes in the area - the flooding wasn't near the disastrous levels experienced in the December 2010 flooding - but - he says it did cause damage and upset for a lot of people.

Liberal Leader Comes To See Flood Damage First Hand

"It really opens your eyes when you see someone's driveway ripped apart."

That word from Provincial Liberal Leader Brian Gallant after touring the devastation in St. Stephen caused by Friday's flood. On July 26th, 2013, St. Stephen was drenched under 165mm of rain.

Gallant meeting in Border-town with St. Stephen Mayor John Quartermain, Deputy Mayor John Ames, and MLA for Charlotte-The Isles Rick Doucet to tour the devastation in flood-prone areas.

Gallant tells Tide News it's imperative that we find out exactly why this happened. "You hear people talking all over the community and they keep saying, 'We thought last time was a once-in-a-hundred-year storm and we'd never get it again,' and obviously two and a half years later having something very similar happen raises concerns."

Gallant tells Tide News he supports local MLA Rick Doucet in his push for amending the Emergency Measures Act. "As Liberal leader, if there is ever anything we think we can push in the legislature, we'll be glad to do so. Rick Doucet, he is obviously very attuned to this, and he has proposed many legislations and many ideas as to how we can make sure that this doesn't happen again and doesn't affect communities in the future, so we will continue to do that as a Party."

Gallant says they are working with Doucet to organize public consultation so everyone can fully understand the impact of the situation from engineers and other officials.

A public meeting has been scheduled in St. George at the Magaguadavic Place on Tuesday, August 13th.

Poverty Seen As The Key Factor Affecting Your Health

A newly released report concludes how much you earn, what sort of housing you have, early childhood development and how well you eat are viewed as key factors that affect your health. 

Those conclusions were reached after the Canadian Medical Association held a series of town hall meetings and heard from something like a thousand people.

The provincial co-ordinator of the Common Front for Social Justice Jean-Claude Basque isn't surprised at the extent of food insecurity in New Brunswick. He says the main problem is that people in the province on the lower end of the income ladder just don't make enough money.
 
He claims if you're working, you should not be in a position where it's tough to eat well because you're not making enough money.

Basque tells Tide News if you have to rely on food banks, as more and more people in the province are doing, you likely won't have access to fruits and vegetables.

Pension Coalition Hires Lawyer

The New Brunswick Pension Coalition is pulling out the legal big guns in their fight to get the provincial government to adopt the Shared Risk Model for its pension plan on a go-forward basis only. 

Coalition spokesperson Clifford Kennedy tells Tide News their goals haven't changed since they've hired Toronto lawyer Ari N. Kaplan, who has a track record of successfully counseling public sector pensioners. He says they simply want the existing agreement to be respected.
 
Kennedy says they decided to hire a lawyer now because the government has been clear that they want to go ahead with the Shared Risk Model---and the Coalition wants to make sure the plan members are protected.

Pair Arrested In Norton Home Invasion

The RCMP have arrested a man and woman who allegedly forced their way into a home in Norton and threatened the owner.

The 25 year old homeowner fired a shot into the floor of the house, after which the pair took off in a car. He was arrested but later released.

Police say this was an isolated incident. The homeowner and one of the suspects knew each other.

Another Attempt Finding Common Ground On Shale Gas

The Atlantica Centre for Energy taking another step toward trying to find common ground on the energy future of the province with the release of another video. 

Opinion is divided right down the middle on shale gas and it doesn't appear as if minds can be changed. Atlantica's John Herron tells Tide News the videos will be offering up different perspectives on how the province should proceed.

He says neither industry nor the government should lead the discussion and believes it could be the Energy Institute through Louis LaPierre with a citizens roundtable.

Herron warns protests happen when people don't think they're being listened to.

Green Party Leader Unimpressed With Plans To Protect More Wilderness

The Alward Government plans to double the percentage of protected wilderness in the province. 

That might sound like a good thing to most people but not to the leader of the Provincial Green Party David Coon who tells Tide News there's less to this than meets the eye.

Coon argues the areas that will be protected are those where companies have been restricted to select cutting which is more expensive than clear cutting which he claims is continuing on an unimaginable scale.

He claims New Brunswick is facing a crisis when it comes to protecting habitat and the province is caving in to pressure from the forestry industry.

Parking Meter App Gaining Ground In The Province

After getting the green light from Fredericton for a pilot project, the founder of a parking app has set his sights on Saint John. 

Phillip Curley is a student at UNB and the CEO of Hot Spot Parking, a program that lets you pay for on-street parking through your smartphone.

It works like this: when you sign up for the app online, you register your phone number, and when that number phones the Hot Spot Parking system, it will deduct money from your existing balance.

Curley tells Tide News he's been in talks with Uptown Saint John to set up meetings with retailers to get them on board. Through the app, retailers can choose to pay for their customers' parking.

The pilot project in Fredericton starts on Thursday, and Curley says he wants roll out the app in Saint John by September. He says installing the app in the city may come with an integration fee.

Secret Shopper Scam Targeting New Brunswickers

If you get a suspicious cheque in the mail, beware. A secret shopper scam is targeting New Brunswickers.

The Financial and Consumer Services Commission says a 13 year-old Minto girl received a cheque in the mail for $3,900 saying she qualified as a secret shopper. Her parents intervened by calling police, sharing their story on social media and reporting it to the commission. 

The commission says scams like this one have been making the rounds across the country. At least three other people have been approached.

The scheme starts when you get a cheque and letter from a company asking you to spend the money at a certain store, then asks for a certified cheque or a money transfer in return telling you that you can keep the rest of the money as compensation.

If you've been the target of a scam, get in touch with the Financial and Consumer Services Commission by calling (866) 933-2222.