ECMA Award Winner To Give 1st Screening Of New Music Video In St. Stephen

Country Singer Mike Biggar giving a big announcement for his upcoming concert tonight.

He gave the news via Facebook yesterday morning, stating those who come to the show at St.Stephen High School will be the first ever to see the debut of his brand new video for "Feels Like Now".

The song is the title track on his new album, of the same name.

Biggar says before it goes on YouTube or anywhere else online, friends and fans at the show tonight will get a premiere screening.
Biggar won the Music NB Award for Spiritual Recording of the Year in 2011 and an ECMA Awards for Gospel Recording of the Year in 2012.

Tickets are $10 at the door and kids under 12 get in to the concert free of charge with a parent or guardian.
The concert starts at 7:30pm with doors open at 7pm.

UNB Professor Recognized For Sex Research

A professor at UNB getting recognition for her work in sex research.
Dr. Sandra Byers, professor of psychology, is internationally recognized as the most important sex scientist of the last 100 years.  Byers tells Tide News, more communication is needed when it comes to sexuality.


"It became clear to me that there are big gaps in our knowledge of sexuality, that people had sexual issues, sexual problems, sexual concerns that weren't being well addressed. It's really the gaps that drove me into this field," she says.

Byers is recognized for contributing some of the most important information to the understanding of women's and men's social interactions. She's being awarded the 2013 Alfred C. Kinsey Award by the Society of Scientific Research for Sexuality.

Executive Of Alberta Energy Company Talks To UNB About Oil & Gas

A senior executive from an Alberta oil and gas company, giving a lecture at UNB about the evolution of oil and gas.

 Keith Steeves CFO of NAL Resources, tells Tide News, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers are expecting the gas industry will create over 300,000 jobs across Canada. He says this is expected over the next 25 years.

"There's tremendous amount of spinoff  from energy type drilling services," he says. Adding that about 400 people are involved with the drilling of a well.

Steeves  points out that he's not speaking from a political stance, but he expects shale gas development would create many jobs in New Brunswick.

Another Ederly Man Dies Burning Yard Debris

In the second incident of its kind in New Brunswick this year,an elderly man has died while burning debris in his yard.

RCMP in Perth Andover are reporting an 81 year old man was found deceased with some burns to his body after doing some yard work. This happened before back in May in Hampton when another elderly man passed away under similar circumstances.

Foul play isn't suspected in either case. The man's name is not being released.

Local Student To Open For Country Singer Tomorrow Night

One local young lady is ready for a bigger stage to perform her music.

15-year-old Jenna Carson is one of the opening acts for Country Singer Mike Biggar tomorrow night at the St. Stephen High School.

Jenna's Mom, Stacey Carson tells Tide News she's been playing guitar since she was 7, and resembles another big-time songstress -- Taylor Swift. Carson says her daughter is "kinda country, kinda alternative" and sounds like Swift.

Carson also says her daughter has performed at the Ganong Nature Park Fall Fair and at Chocolate-Fest in St. Stephen.

Jenna will be performing one of her own original songs, titled "Butterflies"  at the concert, and country duo "Dashboard" will also be opening.
Tickets are $10, and are still available at Stuart's Gifts in St. Stephen. Kids 12 and under get in free of charge. The concert will begin at 7:30pm.

Boudreau: Pensioners Being "Forced" To Accept Shared Risk

A heated exchange in Question Period today between Shediac—Cap-Pelé MLA Victor Boudreau and Finance Minister Blaine Higgs over whether the Shared Risk model is the only option for the public service pension plan.

Higgs responded that there have been actuarial reports done from the get-go and they've done their due diligence--but Boudreau argues there's been a lack of transparency and the model has been "forced" on the retirees and current pensioners.

Boudreau says if there is an actuarial plan on the Shared Risk model, the finance minister should table it in the legislature.

Party Leaders Butt Heads Over Shale Gas

Premier David Alward and Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant clashing over shale gas.

 Gallant says the Conservatives are jumping ahead too fast without giving enoough consideration to the effect on human health and the environment. 

He points to a document from the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. which talks about the potential hazards to human health of fracking. He charges the Alward Government decided to press ahead without giving due consideration to human health, the environment and royalties.

The Premier dismisses the Liberals as "the moratorium party", accusing them of having no plan for growing the provincial economy.

Demolition Starting On Simm's Factory

The Simm's brush factory in announced back in the summer it would be closing down its Saint John operations and laying off 35 employees--and now JDI has confirmed the iconic glass building itself will be demolished in the new year. 

Mary Keith of JDI explains demolition has already begun on the wooden building that is behind the iconic glass-fronted factory on Simm's Corner--and by the new year, the factory itself will be levelled and the site used for heavy industrial purposes.

Keith says they're looking at all the options when it comes to traffic calming on Simm's Corner, but the solution won't necessarily involve a divestiture of any of that land.

Simms has been a family business since it was founded in 1866. 

The glass building was built in 1912.

Shared Risk Pension Model Called "Irresponsible"

" Policy development on the fly".........That's what provincial government retirees are calling the shared risk pension model and have their own expert criticising what's being proposed. 

The Pension Coalition calls Bernard Dussault one of the original architects who reformed the Canada Pension Plan as well as being actuary for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada. 

Dussault is denouncing the shared risk model as irresponsible because it lacks the standard actuarial projections on how much it will wind up costing along with what the short, medium and long term financial effects will be on the provincial pension plan itself.

Shared Risk Pension Model Getting The Thumbs Up

New Brunswick is ground zero in the pension crisis. So says Jim Leech, the C-E-O of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. 

He tells Tide News the shared risk model that was adopted by the city and is being embraced by the Alward Government is the right thing to do. He says it is the only solution to the demographic time bomb with public pension plans that have defined benefits.

Leech says to exclude retirees and put the entire risk on current provincial government employees is unfair. 

Leech has praise for Premier David Alward and those labour leaders in the province who realised the seriousness of the problem.

Mental Health First Aid Offered In Saint John

You can take advantage of another kind of first aid that's available in the port city. Mental Health First Aid courses are being offered in Saint John.
 
The courses are part of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The training offers techniques to help people dealing with mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, mood, psychotic, and substance-related disorders. There are also specific classes offered for adults who interact with youth.

A panic attack is an example of a mental health problem, emerging as a crisis. In that instance, crisis first aid skills are taught, to provide effective first aid to somebody having a panic attack.

Sjors Reijers is manager of national program promotions and business development at the Mental Health Commission of Canada. He tells Tide News, the courses are intended to start a conversation about mental health.


"The real challenge is being aware and tuned in to changes in behavior. It's not to assume that every change in behavior is because of an emerging mental health problem, but rather to be able to start a conversation about mental health."


To find out how to get involved with Mental Health First Aid courses check out the course listing at www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca

Liberals Call For Review After Grow-Op At Senior's Home

The Opposition Liberals calling on the Province to review special care homes following the discovery of a grow-op in Clark's Corner last week.
 
Victor Boudreau asking the Minister of Social Development Madeleine Dube when the home in question was last inspected.

Dube says the government does have a program of inspection in place across the province.

She says the province has about 400 care home in the province where they do annual inspections and spotchecks. 

 Dube adds Public Health and Public Safety are also involved with these homes as well.

After a fire in the Clark's Corner senior care home, a grow-op was discovered where police seized 550 pot plants.  

Boudreau says 6 seniors were displaced because of the fire and bust so he questions why Dube can't speak about this case since it's been widely reported in the media.

Gallant & Alward Tangle In The Leg

Some lively debates in the legislature on changes to employment insurance. 

Liberal Leader Brian Gallant asking the Premier again if the government to going to release a completed report from last June on EI changes.

Gallant says the report is on their own civil service speaking to what impact employment insurance changes might have.

Premier Alward rose to say he is confident the work will get done on the goverment side of the house.

He attacked Gallant and the oppostion calling them a moratorium party and a do-nothing party.

Police Release Names Of Those Wanted On Warrants

The Rothesay Regional Police looking for the public's help finding 9 men and 1 woman wanted on warrants for a variety of offenses from suspending driving to fraud, and break and enter.

The Kennebecasis Crime Stoppers have pre-approved rewards of $500 for any information that leads to the arrest of any of the wanted individuals.

Paul Thomas Romanoff, age 50       (Pre-Approved Reward $500)
Warrant of arrest for fraud and failure to appear


Phillip Anthony CURTIS, age 39       (Pre-Approved Reward $500)
 Warrant of arrest for breaking & entering


Jordan Stephen Paul ROWE, age 20
    Warrant of arrest for breaking & entering  (Pre-Approved Reward $500)
 Warrant of committal for suspended driving, $960 or 23 days
Warrant of committal for suspended driving, $600 or 15 days


William Henry MARTIN, age 42
 Warrant of committal for driving while suspended, $1200 or 27 days
 Warrant of committal for driving while suspended, $500 or 13 days


Ernest William ANDREWS, age 39
Warrant of arrest for Impaired Driving


Kevin Stanley SAUNDERS, age 33
Warrant of committal for driving while suspended, $1200 or 27 days


Kyle Anthony SMITH, age 21
  Warrant of committal for driving while suspended, $510 or 27 days 


Stephen Joseph MATTSON, age 32
 Warrant of committal for driving while suspended, $1001 or 24 days


Tara Alexandra HICKS, age 24
Warrant of committal for driving while suspended, $560 or 15 days


Shawn Adam DAY, age 36
Warrant of committal for driving while prohibited, $500 or 6 days
Warrant of committal for theft under $5000, $250 or 3 days

Snook Is Considering An Appeal

Former Saint John Common Councillor Donnie Snook reportedly has filed a notice of appeal, saying the 18 year sentence he received for more than 40 charges of child abuse and exploitation is unreasonable. 

At the time, his lawyer Dennis Boyle called the sentence approriate. Prosecutor Karen Lee Lamrock told the court if you were looking at sentencing on each individual charge, you would be talking about 75 years in prison. 

Snook is expected to plead guilty to four more sex charges on November 28th from his time in Newfoundland before coming to Saint John.

Students From New Brunswick Bringing Concerns To Parliament Hill

This group could have some tough questions for Senators and MP's in Ottawa.

Over 60 New Brunswick students are in the nation's capital this week for the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations conference.

Some U-N-B Saint John students are in the group and will be on hand for Ottawa Hill day where they can meet with Ministers, MP's and Senators.

They are also there with a mission. The students want lobby the government to remove earnings penalties for students and increase the proportion of up front needs based financial assistance.

They also plan to speak with government members about reforming study permit policies to make Canada an international education destination.

Companies Recognised For Innovation

A high-energy crowd in Saint John celebrating innovation in the province with an awards ceremony. 

Eight New Brunswick companies getting awards for their work in one of the province's six strategic sectors at the Innov8 Awards. 

Economic Development Minister Bruce Fitch presenting the winning companies with their hardware. He tells CHSJ News innovation is one of the areas that's very important to the province with the government has committed 80-million-dollars over the next five years towards innovation as part of a bigger plan to grow the province's economy.
 
Mycodev Group winning the most Innovative Start-Up of 2013, while Propel ICT took home the award for Excellence in Fostering Innovation.

Man Seriously Injured After Fall

A dramatic rescue taking place last night at Black River Wharf off Garnett Settlement Road on the outskirts of east Saint John. 

Platoon Chief Peter Saab says a man was climbing down a ladder when he slipped and fell thirty feet to the deck of a boat below. 

The fire department's high angled rescue team was then called into service. A patient lift system had to be constructed by using ropes, pulleys and an aerial ladder in order to lift the man from the deck from where he was taken to the Regional Hospital with what are described as substantial injuries.

Province Announces Union Support For Pension Changes

Most of the unions that represent the civil service are now on board with proposed changes to the public pension plan, according to a release by the provincial government.

Those changes include the controversial move to the shared risk model, which it is hoped will redress the $1 billion deficit for the public service plan. 

The government claims the the pension legislation will make sure retirees will never see their pensions reduced from their current level and will continue to get cost of living increases; however, the Pension Coalition of New Brunswick has protested the changes all along as unjust and potentially actionable. 


Provincial Liberals say they will vote against the legislation introduced by the Alward Government.

Marilyn Quinn of the New Brunswick Nurses Union has said they're confident it's the best solution to provide pension security.

Dennis Oland In Court Again

If anyone was expecting a speedy resolution to the Richard Oland murder investigation now that charges have been laid against his son Dennis, they might be sorely disappointed.  

Dennis Oland made a brief court appearance this  morning in connection with his second degree murder charge in his father's death over two years ago.

On January 21st, a date will set for a preliminary hearing that will determine if there's enough evidence to go to trial. The adjournment was requested due to the amount of documentation according to Oland's lawyer--and the trial might not happen until late 2014.

Richard Oland was found dead in his Canterbury Street office in July, 2011.