CUPE Protests In Front Of MLA's Office In St. Stephen

Milltown Blvd. being bombarded with a protest in front of Conservative MLA Curtis Malloch's office today.

President of the NB Council of Nursing Home Unions Wayne Brown tells Tide News the province keeps saying there will be no lay-offs, but in reality, there's too much money they are looking to save. "We're here in front of the MLA's office, bringing our concerns to him and that we are not happy with the announcement of sixteen nursing homes losing their linen service, the bedding, the towels, etc that they are now contracting out to Saint John."

Brown says there has been talk about contracting out dietaries or housekeeping services in the homes, and they are worried what will be cut next.
Brown says he doesn't see how $3 million in savings can be reached without someone getting axed.

Curtis Malloch says he welcomed the protestors to his office and promises to bring the issue to the legislature tomorrow.

Prosecution Of Saint John Doctor Delayed

There has been a delay in setting a date for a preliminary hearing on 9 charges of sexual assault laid against a Saint John doctor.
 
More charges were not laid against Dr. Alan Cockeram although his lawyer Brian Munro says they're pending. Munro told the court he was having trouble getting disclosure from the prosecution with the explanation that the investigation is ongoing and he may have to go to the Court of Queen's Bench. 

The prosecution says more people have come forward.

Munro is suggesting some of the complaints may be frivolous. 

The case has been adjourned to July 18th to have a date set for a preliminary hearing.

Victims' Rep For Youth & Training Centre Case Named Child & Youth Advocate

The lawyer who represented sexual abuse victims of the Youth Training Centre in Kingsclear in the early nineties has been appointed the province's Child & Youth Advocate. 

Norman Bossé tells Tide  News we can't forget about the breakdown in the system that allowed abuse to continue when pedophile Karl Toft was at the centre, and we have to work to prevent it from happening again.

He says as members of society, if and when we recognize abuse of children, we have a responsibility to report it. He says we have to work together to protect the province's children and youth.

Bossé will be leaving his post at law firm McInnes Cooper at the end of July to step into his new role.

Hunters Can Now Apply For Deer Draw

If you're a hunter who's feeling lucky, you can now enter this year's antlerless deer draw.

There are 3,450 deer permits available for the random, computerized draw. The province's deer population has stayed relatively stable over the last year, so the number of permits are at the same level as they were a year ago. 

The results come in the week of August 19, and successful applications will get a validation sticker in the mail before October 1. Click here for more information, including how to apply.

Stolen Truck Found Disassembled

A truck stolen from a local business in Rothesay has been found in pieces.

Rothesay Regional Police finding the stolen 2011 Ford F250 pickup truck disassembled into parts.

Charges of Theft Over $5000 and Removal of a Vehicle Identification Number are pending against a 32 year-old Rothesay man and a 39 year-old Quispamsis man. They'll appear in Saint John Court on June 25th.

Trudeau To Compensate Grace Foundation

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau saying he'll make it right with charities that paid him a speaking fee to take part in fundraising events, including Saint John's Grace Foundation. 

Trudeau was paid $20,000 to speak at a fundraising event to raise money to buy furniture for local seniors. Only 120 tickets were sold, and the foundation was left with a $21,000 deficit. 

Trudeau tells CTV's Question Period he'll either give back the money to each organization, or find another way to make it up to them.

Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore has called on Trudeau to give the speaking fee back to the Grace Foundation, and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has said Trudeau should return the $20,000 he was paid for speaking at a literacy conference last year in Saskatoon.

Tennis Club Celebrating Improvements To Facility

Time to practice your serve. The Quispamsis Community Tennis Club is celebrating improvements made to the facility, including the installation of a fourth court, over the last year and half.

Additionally, the courts have been refurbished, the clubhouse has been completed, new lights are in, and the new washrooms are up and running.

President Dana Brown tells CHSJ News, tennis is supposedly is the fastest-growing of the traditional sports throughout Canada, and in Quispamsis they've seen it become popular among kids. But it wasn't always that way. He says it has gone through peaks and troughs alongside national trends in tennis, but in the last six years it's seen phenomenal growth.

Man Rescued At Log Falls Dam

Photo courtesy of Musquash Fire Dept.

A man who lost his footing while fishing with friends and fell into water behind a dam, has been rescued safely. 

When the Musquash Fire Department arrived at Log Falls Dam, they spotted the man standing, almost completely submerged in water. The currents were too strong for him to get himself out of the water. 

Firefighters threw him a rope to wrap around himself, then a firefighter went to the man and brought him to shore. Though he was conscious and alert, he was brought to hospital by paramedics to be checked out. Witnesses say he went under the water multiple times.

Start Your Engines: It's Redneck Raceway Season

A dirt track, souped up cars and hard racing, that's what you'll see at the Redneck Raceway in Norton.

That's according to owner Mark Muir. He tells CHSJ News drivers put a lot of hard work into modifying their cars and that they're passionate about racing. He says that's all they live for; they work all week and race whenever they get a chance. 

When local race tracks started shutting down, Muir says they built a small track in the first season, but outgrew it that same year so they built a regulation-sized track to fit their needs. For more information, including when races are happening, visit their website: redneckraceway.ca.

Province Appoints Three New Legislative Officers

The premier has announced three new legislative officers: a new child and youth advocate, official languages commissioner and ombudsman.

Lawyer Norman Bosse has been named the child and youth advocate, the new ombudsman is Charles Murray, the executive director of the province's Electoral Boundaries and Representation Commission and filling the role of official languages commissioner is Katherine d'Entremont, who has worked in public service for over 30 years. 
 
The positions are seven year appointments.

Police Arrest Shale Gas Protestors

More arrests made by the RCMP at a shale gas protest. This one north of Moncton in the Harcourt area.

RCMP Corporal Chantal Farrah says 12 protesters were disrupting work and traffic on Highway 126. The seven men and five women are facing mischief charges.
    
This is the latest of several protests over shale gas over the last couple of weeks. Six other people have been arrested for mischief. 

Buy Local Van Touring Province This Summer

A home-grown initiative is going on the road. 

The provincial government rolling out a traveling buy local initiative, taking a specially-decorated van on a summer tour of the province. 

Agriculture & Fisheries Minister Michael Olscamp tells CHSJ News this province is brimming with healthy food produced by local farmers and fishermen, and the tour will highlight that.

They're teaming up with agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries organizations and associations to take part in the tour. They'll be making stops at fairs, festivals and markets. 

The first stop of the tour is today at the W.W. Boyce Farmer's Market in downtown Fredericton. Tim Livingstone of Strawberry Hill Farm will be there, explaining their fresh produce box program. On Sunday, June 23, there will be a "Meet Your Fisherman" day in Alma.

Trudeau Being Called On To Return His Speaking Fee

Give back your speaking fee to a Saint John charity.

That's what Fundy Royal M-P Rob Moore is calling on Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau to do. 

This stems from a fundraiser that was held in June of 2012 at the Imperial Theatre. 

Trudeau came to the city to raise money for the Grace Foundation to buy furniture for local seniors. He charged $20,000 for his speaking fee but only 120 tickets were sold and as a result, the Grace Foundation wound up with a deficit of $21,000. 

Enbridge Gas Applies For Rate Increase

If Enbridge Gas has its way, large industrial and commercial users of natural gas will be paying 20 per cent more as of July 1st. The Energy and Utilities Board would have to approve the rate increase application. 

Large users like Ganongs and J-D Irving received a 32 per cent reduction in distribution costs last fall after complaining to the provincial government about how much they were paying as opposed to their competitors in other jurisdictions. 

Enbridge maintains they will still be getting an average savings of 20 per cent over their previous rates even with the propose

J-D Irving Random Alcohol Testing Makes It To The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision overturned mandatory, random alcohol testing of workers even if their workplace is considered to be dangerous. 

Back in 2006, Irving Pulp and Paper unilaterally imposed such a policy and local 30 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union filed a grievance. 

The worker who was tested had a blood alcohol level of zero and called the experience unfair and humiliating.

The company says it will review the court's decision. 

The court left open the door for such a policy to be implemented if it's part of a collective agreement.

Benefit Organized For Daughter Of Murdered Woman

A benefit will be held at the Q-Plex in Rothesay on June 23rd for the 6 year old daughter of 33 year old Tanya Shand who was murdered by her common law partner, May 23rd in her Dolan Road apartment. 

The little girl was in the apartment and saw what was happening. She's now living with her grandparents. 

It's hoped a scholarship fund will be set up for her. A Facebook page has been set up and is attracting large numbers and Rothesay Town Council is throwing its support behind the effort.

Higgs Cuts Some Tax Red Tape

Some provincial tax regulations are going to be a little easier to deal with thanks to changes announced in the Legislature by Finance Minister Blaine Higgs.

One of those changes will impact the amount of sales tax you pay on a used vehicle if it's not listed in the valuation books used by Service New Brunswick - the government agency will provide what Higgs calls "a common sense estimate."

But the Minister says you will still have the option of obtaining an independent appraisal of the vehicle for tax purposes - meantime Higgs is also reducing the amount of paperwork required by companies and independent businesses to claim tax free amounts of fuel - and - reporting will now be based on the company's fiscal year rather than the provincial government's fiscal year.

Woman Dies After Being Struck By Car At Marden's

A 49-year-old woman is dead after being struck by a car over the border.
Police say the incident happened around 1:20 yesterday afternoon in the Marden's parking lot.
Calais Police Sgt. Chris Donahue tells Tide News 74-year-old Kenneth Martin of Eastport, Maine was pulling his car into a parking spot near the entrance of the store and struck the woman.
Donahue says Zina Eller of East Machias died at the scene.
He says an investigation is underway and no further details are available.

Most Of Us Think Parliamentarians Fudge Their Expenses

86 per cent of us, according to a new poll, believe Senators and M-P's, are cheating on their expense claims. The overwhelming percent of people surveyed also want to see parliamentarians make public all their expenses online. 

The Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Kevin Lacey tells Tide News they're just hoping the scandal over improper expense claims will just fade away which reflects how tone deaf they actually are.
 
Lacey says the one thing the Senators and M-P's agree on, no matter what party they belong to, is defending their entitlements. 

The Taxpayers Federation wants people to keep putting pressure on their M-P to bring about change and Lacey says if you look at how the M-L-A's pension plan was reformed after public outrage, it can be accomplished.

St. Andrews Native Wins Canadian National Sculpture Competition

Let the ARTrageous-ness begin!

The kick off the St. Andrews festival this afternoon, Kingsbrae Garden hosting the Canadian National Sculpture Competition Awards Ceremony.

Out of 15 finalists, St. Andrews native Alanna Baird winning the grand prize of $10,000.

Baird's sculpture titled "Salmon Vortex" features three wild salmon made from recycled copper roofing. The sculpture now sits in the centre of a pond at Kingsbrae Garden. Baird tells Tide News, "It's exciting for me as a sculptor to get my work out of my studio, out of the tools, out of a chaos, and get them into this kind of setting."

Tide News asked how long it took to make the piece. Her response? "Well, that's something everyone always asks me. I tell them it took me 21 years to figure out how to do it, and then 2 months to build it."

The ARTrageous Festival continues tonight at Kingsbrae with an evening of Jazz, and Saturday is all-day Free admission.

For details on events and tickets, go to their website www.artrageousnb.com .