Only Minor Injury After Big Rig Goes In Ditch On Highway 1

Only a minor injury to the driver of a big rig going off the road this morning on Highway 1.

RCMP tell Tide News just before 6am, the driver heading westbound near the Frye Road, initially got distracted and travelled left making contact with the guardrail -- before swerving right, and into the ditch.

Police say the truck/tractor unit was damaged extensively, but the trailer portion remained upright with only minor damage.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement on the scene for investigation.

Liberals Want Daycare Inspection Results Made Public

The Opposition Liberals are calling on the Alward government to make the inspection records of public daycares public. Liberal Leader Brian Gallant says this government is perceived to be one of the least transparent in recent history, and often when information is requested it either isn't provided or heavily redacted.

Gallant stated in the provincial legislature, we have a process in place to publicize restaurant inspections, so we should have the same for facilities that care for kids. Early Childhood Development Minister Marie-Claude Blaise responded by saying the information is already available on a need-to-know basis and the government is working on it with stakeholders.

Gallant says he doesn't see why any sensitive or confidential information could be blacked out, and the reports posted online.

Alward Says Gallant Is Not Being Honest

He's not honest with the people of New Brunswick.

Premier David Alward is responding to word that Liberal leader Brian Gallant is saying his message in Saint John on shale gas was misrepresented in the media.

Alward says Gallant is playing politics adding it does a huge disservice to the province and the people of New Brunswick deserve more from the leader of the opposition.

Alward describes shale gas as a huge opportunity with the potential for a $20 billion dollar investment in the province.

Gallant said the Liberal party advocates pressing pause on the industry right now until we know about its impact on water and the environment.

Bell Aliant To Build $25M Data Centre

The Premier calls it a good news announcement.

Bell Aliant announcing a 25 million dollar data centre will be built in Millidgeville creating 50 jobs between construction and operation.

Bell Aliant CEO Karen Sheriff says businesses needs reliable and secure data services and the company is making the infrastructure changes to meet that need.

She explains the concept of big data saying most companies have large data sets with increasing numbers of customers and internal data.

When asked when the facility will be built, Sheriff said soon.
The new data centre will go up on land the company already owns.

The province is contributing $5 million dollars to the project.

Who Would Clean Up After Shale Gas Blowout, And Other Questions

Opponents of fracking have an outdated idea of what it actually means: that, from Stantec VP John Adams at Saint John common council, hoping to dispel what he calls common myths about the process of fracking and shale gas in general.

Adams says shale gas could represent a huge economic boost for this region: for one, companies need 420 people working in 150 different jobs to complete and produce gas at each well. If you have 200 wells per year, Adams stated, that could represent as many 2,600 direct jobs per year.

Nonetheless, Adams admitted he's been in the oil and gas industry for decades and he's seen some large companies do horrific things. He cited the example of Nigeria, in which pools of oil were simple left standing on the ground, as one region in which the actions of certain corporations were "horrific". That being said, Adams claimed companies are currently "a thousand times better than they were 30 years ago" and are now getting their act together.

Further, Adams says it's important to get the major oil and gas players on board because if there is a blow-out and something goes wrong, you want to have someone with deep pockets to clean it up and not the taxpayers.

Cabinet Minister Says Province Is Doing Teachers A Favor

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs wants legislation passed during this session of the Legislature to change teacher pensions to the shared risk model.
 
Higgs maintains the government can’t continue to make special payments that have averaged $83 million annually over the last 10 years. 

Provincial Attorney General Ted Flemming tells Tide News there's been a lot of fear mongering on the part of those who want to keep the status quo.
 
Flemming says the change means teachers will have to contribute more to their pension plan, if they decide to retire in their mid fifties then they'll get less than if they worked longer and cost of living increases will depend on how well the fund performs.

He also argues the government is actually doing the teachers a favor if you look at what is happening elsewhere. Flemming points out even a city such as San Jose, California in Silicon Valley, no less, is on the verge of bankruptcy because of unfunded pension liabilities.

Counsellor Delivering Workshop On Sexual Ethics

Most of us get our sexual health education in high school, but New Brunswick Community College counselor suggests we may not be learning enough. 

Kris Trotter is giving a Valentine's Day presentation in Saint John on sexual ethics, something she says isn't really covered in our educational system. Trotter tells Tide News teachers and parents tell her that young people are learning about the hardware, they know about biology and sexual acts, but there hasn't been enough in terms of managing what she calls the software.

Trotter says it's largely about being able to accurately read someone's body language and checking in if you're unsure. The workshop is being held on Friday, February 14 at 7pm at Saint John High School and is being offered through UNB Saint John Leisure Learning Courses. For more information contact pce-saintjohn@unb.ca or call 648-5962.

War Amps Of Canada Mailing Out Key Tags

War Amps Canada beginning this year's Key Tag campaign, mailing out 250,000 tags to New Brunswickers. 

The tag has a confidentially coded number on it linked to your name and address so if you ever lose your keys, the person who finds them can drop them in a mailbox or call the number on the back of the tag and a courier will drop them off on your doorstep.

The service is free, but any donations the group gets from the key tag campaign goes to fund artificial limbs and programs for adult and child amputees across the province.

Over 300 New Brunswickers getting their lost keys back last year thanks to the tags. Click here for more information on the service.

Woman Who Had Autoimmune Disorder Encourages Blood Donation

A woman who had a rare autoimmune disorder requiring 32 units of blood after having a liver transplant where her spleen was also removed.

While Kristin Wheaten supported blood and organ donation before, she is a vocal supporter now.

She tells Tide News a third of the population is undecided when it comes to donating blood, so she encourages people to really think about it and if they do decide they want to give plasma, to let their families know about their decision.

Wheaton, who works at the Loch Lommond Villa foundation, tells us she chooses to believe that 32 different people took an hour of their day to donate and help save her life and she couldn't be more grateful. To book an appointment to give blood, call 1-888-2-Donate.

Firefighters Battle Golden Grove Road Blaze

Fire crews responding to a fire in a basement on the East side of Saint John.

Smoke could be seen coming out of the building at 2623 Golden Grove Road. Crews knocking down the fire shortly after it broke out.

It appears everyone made it out safely.

Hanwell Fire Destroys Auto Repair Shop, Vehicles

An auto repair shop on the Hanwell Road just outside of Fredericton being completely gutted by fire. 

Fredericton Fire Department Platoon Captain Mike Mizner tells us about seven vehicles around the building were also destroyed. There were several explosions as firefighters were battling the blaze, which sent fireballs 30 to 40 feet in the air. 

The New Maryland, Oromocto and Upper Kingsclear Fire Departments were called in to assist, and crews were on the scene for about eight hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BREAKING: Major Structure Fire In Hanwell

Fire crews in the Fredericton area asking drivers to steer clear of the scene of a large structure fire in Hanwell. 

Flames and thick, black smoke can be seen coming from a building on the Hanwell Road and there are reports of multiple, small explosions. 

You can see pictures of the blaze on the Fredericton Fire Department's Twitter account.

Warning About Olympic Scams

Buyers, beware: the Maritime Better Business Bureau is sending out a warning to shoppers who want to show their support for the Sochi Olympics. Counterfeit goods and scams are all over the place.

A recent eBay search turning up a fake Olympic Torch for Sochi 2014 at a cost of $7,000.

And if you or someone you know plan on heading to Sochi...the Olympic Committee is sending a similar message about tickets saying if you plan on buying them on a website other than tickets.sochi2014.com, they strongly reccommend you make sure they're authorized to sell them---otherwise, you could end up buying fakes then then getting turned away at the door.

Saint John Chef Cast On Reality Cooking Show

A Saint John chef will soon be cooking up a storm on your television screen. 

Jesse Vergen of the Saint John Alehouse and the Smoking Pig Real BBQ will be appearing on Top Chef Canada. Vergen tells us for his audition he cooked wild black duck with periwinkles, foraged sea greens from the Bay of Fundy with cattail salad.

It seems he's not too concerned about the speed factor, telling us he's been trained to work fast and tells us anyone who works in the restaurant or hospitality industry knows you don't just walk to a table, you walk briskly.

The show premiers on March 10 on the Food Network. You can check out Vergen's audition tape by going to their website.

Health Canada Updates Safety Info For Bipolar Drug

If you or someone you know is taking lithium, Health Canada wants you to be aware of new safety information and treatment recommendations for the drug.

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder, however, taking it can cause high levels of calcium in the bloodstream which may or may not be accompanied by an increased level of parathormone, also known as hyperparathyroidism.

Health Canada is now working with companies to update the product labels for the drugs. If you're on lithium, the federal department says do not stop treatment unless you've talked over the benefits and the risks of your treatment with your doctor.

Seven medications containing lithium are available in Canada.

UNB Students Officially Lose March Reading Week

The University of New Brunswick Academic Senates giving the official green-light to the cancellation of the March Reading Week as a way to make up for time lost due to a more than two week long faculty strike last month, according to reports.

No exams or tests will be held during that time, and a reading day for students has been added the day before the start of exams. Thee deadline for payment of fees for this semester's term courses being extended to this upcoming Friday.

You can find a link to the revised Academic Dates Calender for undergraduate students by clicking here. According to UNB, additional details including academic dates for graduate students will be circulated by email as soon as they are finalized. Follow more updates as they become available by clicking here

Survey Aims To Improve Cancer Care For Kids

The parents of kids who had cancer in their teens or childhood being asked to take part in a survey.

The Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigator Program is conducting a confidential, online survey with the aim to improve children’s cancer care services across the province.

They would like parents or guardians of children or teens that had cancer under the age of 17 between 2005 and 2013 to provide feedback about the service they received during their time of treatment.

To take part in the survey click, here

Conservatives And Liberals Spar Over TV Ads

Premier David Alward's TV ads coming up in the Legislature with Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant saying the Olympic coverage should not be polluted by his message of despair. The Premier responded by saying the only pollution is being spewed by the Liberals.

Alward has taken to calling the Liberals, the party of press pause and moratoriums with no new ideas on offer to grow the provincial economy.

University Students Getting Some Money Back

The U-N-B Board of Governors will be giving the money the university saved during the recent strike by faculty back to the students because of the hardship and inconvenience they suffered. 

The Board of Governors deciding the university should not financially benefit because of the strike.
 
The exact figures and details are still not known but it's thought full-time students will receive a lump sum credit on their account of over $200 with part time students getting a lesser amount.

UNB Teachers Vote To Accept New Deal

UNB teachers across the province voting to accept the tentative collective agreement signed with administration on January 30th.

90% of those who cast a ballot voted for acceptance.  The next step in the process is ratification by the Board of Governors.

Union president Miriam Jones says they owe a huge debt of gratitude to their bargaining team adding they did difficult work for more than a year.

Jones says the strike was difficult for everyone but she says their members have come out of it reinvigorated and ready to work to reclaim their university.