Lacey Calls Budget A Slap In The Face To Middle Class Families

A slap to the face of average working families... that's what Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling tax increases presented at the provincial budget. He tells Tide News it's an attack on the struggling middle class.

He says families will have to shell out up to $1000 in more tax in some cases. The $8.5-billion budget presented today will see personal income taxes hiked to 2006 levels, and that's expected to yield $136 million for 2013-14. 

He tells us the only positive thing he's seen so far is getting rid of the government airplane, which he calls the gravy plane.

Smokers Feel Wallet Pain With New Budget

The Province delivering a budget that hikes tobacco taxes and eliminates previous income tax cuts as it tries to wrestle with a deficit projected to grow to $479 million.

    The $8.5-billion budget presented today seeing personal income taxes rise to 2006 levels which is a measure expected to generate $136 million in revenue for 2013-14.

    The corporate income tax rate will be increased to 12 per cent from 10 per cent on July 1, resulting in an estimated boost of $17 million in additional annual revenue.
 
    Smokers will also pay higher taxes on tobacco as of midnight tonight---up two cents per cigarette.
 
    Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says the government will continue efforts to reduce the size of the public service through attrition and attempt to cut their use of sick leave by 20 per cent.
 
    Higgs says the government can return to balanced budgets by 2015-16 if there is improved economic growth and revenues.

Warning On Sex With Strangers

People around the province who are having anonymous sex are being encouraged by the chief medical health officer to be tested for sexually transmitted disease.   
 
Dr. Eilish Cleary issuing the warning because of an increase in the numbers of people in the province having unprotected sex with strangers they meet on dating websites. 

Recently, a New Brunswicker, who was a frequent user of a website that facilitates anonymous sexual encounters and had about two dozen sexual partners living in the province, tested positive for HIV. Health officials are now trying to track down the people, mostly men, he had sex with. 

The sexual encounters took place in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.

NCC Gets $20 Million From Feds

This year's federal budget pledging a significant sum of cash to the conservation of undeveloped landscapes. 

$20 million going to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the NCC's Andrew Holland tells Tide News that on a local level, they'll build on the work they've done on the Musquash Estuary.

The money will support their Natural Areas Conservation program through 2013-2014. Holland says the non-profit is going to start work on matching the federal contribution.

Mounties Identify Man In Fatal Crash

The Mounties releasing the name of the man killed in a crash on Highway 7 yesterday near Geary. 

44-year-old Michael James Boucher of Burton died at the scene of a collision early Monday morning between his truck and a transport.

Boucher was the only driver in a pickup truck heading northbound on Highway 7 that crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a transport truck.

The transport truck driver was not hurt.

SOS: Please Help Us Save Our Library

The Save Oceans Science Committee presenting it's case to St. Stephen Town Council over the proposed closure of the St. Andrews Biological Station Library.

In March 2012, the federal government announced that due to budget constraints, cuts would be made to the Biological Station. The plan will see most of the holdings in St. Andrews transferred to Halifax, Nova Scotia in September.

Former St. Andrews Mayor Nancy Aiken tells Tide News it is a $4 million dollar library that just opened last year and it is a resource to roughly 20 organizations from the fishing industry, including universities like UNB and UNBSJ, as well as aquaculture and conservation groups and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre.

Aiken says they are taking a grassroots approach now within the communities, after not getting much of a response back from Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield, or MP for South-West New Brunswick John Williamson. She says they are bringing the issue to those most concerned in the community.

She says the closure will have a seriously negative impact on Charlotte County's already struggling economy.

Town Council Will Not Hire Someone To Hire Someone

It's a big job finding the right person for the big job.

That's the case with St. Stephen Town Council as they are now fully in charge of finding the new manager for the soon-to-be-completed Garcelon Civic Centre.

The biggest concern is finding a manager soon so they can oversee work being done while construction crews are still on the St. Stephen waterfront.

A proposal last night, (March 25th, 2013) would see the town hire an outside source to recruit for the position at a cost of $12,000, plus HST.




Councillor John Ames says, "We don't need someone to line them up in a row for us, this is a rediculous amount of money, and I think it's a waste of our taxpayers dollars."

Councillor Debbie MacDonald argued she didn't think the council has enough experience to hire for such an important position.
The proposal, however,  was shot down with a vote of 3-2, putting council members in charge of the whole process.



Mayor John Quartermain says they will offer the job locally, but ultimately, they will hire the person most qualified for the job.
The Garcelon Civic Centre is set to open this fall.

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.