Who's Getting The Money From 911 Charges?

The Alward government is coming under fire for taking money out of 911 services to pay for the Emergency Measures Organization. Liberal MLA Rick Doucet tells Tide News the 911 charges on everyone's phone bill has been paying the salaries of EMO workers.

Doucet claims the government has misled the people by changing the definition of the telephone service to include co-ordinating emergencies -- in turn -- paying EMO workers while volunteers like the Fire Departments are still giving their time.

On the other side of things, Conservative MLA Curtis Malloch tells Tide News the government has to find places to find money to deal with emergencies.

Malloch says he doesn't understand why Doucet is acting like this is a surprise because the Minister stood in the house and clearly said the amendment was taking place. He accuses Doucet of politically grand-standing during an election year.

Cardy Speaks To BOT on Education, Energy and Jobs

For the first time in many years, the Saint John Board of Trade inviting the Provincial NDP leader to come and speak to its members.Dominic Cardy hit many topics including education, small business and the energy sector.

Cardy tells Tide News the security is built in with the Energy East pipeline but the prospect of controlling a shale gas industry is another matter.

He says with shale gas you have hundreds if not thousands of wells scattered all through the backwood of the province in many cases and we don't have the inspection regimes so he can't see where we can safely regulate this industry.

Irving Oil was on hand at the Delta luncheon today along with Port Saint John and Mayor Mel Norton.

Flemming Says Healthcare Costs Have Been Reined In

Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming has unveiled details of the 2.6 billion dollar healthcare budget for 2014-2015.

He says health care expenditures are expected to be under budget for the second year in a row because the province can't afford to do otherwise.

Flemming maintains the cost of healthcare was rising at such a yearly rate, it was becoming financially unsustainable.

As for the Liberals' plan for healthcare, Flemming charges they don't have one.

The budget includes 27 million dollars for the drug plan, more than 367 thousand dollars to improve the health of expectant moms and newborns and 2.2 million for mental health initiatives.

Flemming also announcing no one will have to pay for the cost of an ambulance as of April 1st. 70 per cent of New Brunswickers are covered by their own private plans if they have to use an ambulance.

Ice Storm Cost NB Power Big Bucks

NB Power has reduced its net debt by $55 million and expects a fourth consecutive year of earnings in 2013-14 despite incurring millions of dollars in storm expenses during the last quarter and some of the most volatile natural gas market prices in years.

Restoring power to more than 88,000 customers following a series of destructive winter storms cost NB Power about $12 million. The 12 million was made up of nearly $9 million for contracted crews from within and outside New Brunswick as well as $3 million in extra costs for utility crews and materials plus meals, travel, vehicles, and lodging.

NB Power says it's preparing for an expanded tree trimming program which is expected to get underway in April and May. 

Police And Fire Investigate Suspicious Envelopes Containing White Powder

The Saint John fire department's Haz Mat Unit called to St. Joseph's Hospital late this morning after a suspicious envelope arrived at one of the offices containing a white powder which resembled pancake mix.

4 people were in the office where the envelope was discovered but none of the powder escaped from the envelope and no one was exposed. They will still be decontaminated along with the office area.

At about the same time, another envelope with something suspicious inside was found at Fundy Funeral Home on Westmorland Road. That was taken away for analysis and again, no one was exposed.

Police and the fire department appear to have a good idea of the source.

Final Home Game For The Spartans Tonight!

Tonight will be your last chance to cheer on the Spartans on Home turf.

The final league home game of the season for the High School Men's hockey team will be held at the Border Arena against the rival Fundy Mariners.
Tonight is Senior's Night so graduates on the hockey team will be honored.

And you're also being asked to bring food donations for the Volunteer Centre of Charlotte County, our local food bank.

Warm-up starts at 7pm.

Warrant Issued For Teen After Drugs And Gun Seized In Pennfield

The West District RCMP are looking for help finding an 18-year-old Fredericton man in connection with an incident that occurred in December of last year.

18-year-old Nicholas Daniel Bain is wanted in connection with a Boxing Day incident in Pennfield.

RCMP seized a significant quantity of drugs, a loaded handgun and body armor during a traffic stop.  He's facing several charges related to alleged drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Nicholas Bain is asked to contact West District RCMP at 506-755-1130, their local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Liberals Accuse Alward Government Of Not Having A Plan On Education

The opposition Liberals are accusing the Alward Government of having no plan for education. Moncton East M-L-A Chris Collins wants to know how the province is going to produce better educated students.

Education Minister Marie Claude-Blais disputes that contention and calls it insulting to suggest those people who work in education are flying by the seat of their pants ever since the Alward Government abandoned the 21st century learning agenda. Collins is pressing Blais to be specific about what has taken its place.

Blais maintains incredible work is being done just on inclusion alone.

Missing Saint John Woman Last Seen On King Street

The Major Crime Unit of the SJPD is looking for your help finding Karen Lynn Ogden.....the 35 year old was reported missing on Sunday. She was last seen on the 19th at an uptown bank on King Street.

She is described as being 5'7"- 5'8", about 170lbs, wearing black ¾ length jacket, dark pants, shoulder length brown hair with blond highlights, brown eyes, facial piercings including- an eyebrow ring, nose ring, a loop earring in her lip, a tribal style tattoo on her lower back with "Jamie" written in it.

The Saint John Police Force is continuing the search and is asking anyone who has any information in relation to this missing person to contact the Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Local Men Charged With Motel Arson Elect To Be Tried By Judge And Jury

Two men charged with arson on the Blue Moon Motel elcting to be tried by judge and jury.

The owner of the motel, Gordon Lankisch of St. Andrews is charged with arson and conspiracy.

Robert Levesque of Saint John is also charged with arson.

Judge David C. Walker set May 22nd for a preliminary inquiry.

The Blue Moon Motel was detroyed by fire in June of 2010.

Nominate A Worthy Volunteer For NB Human Rights Award

The NB Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations for the 27th annual New Brunswick Human Rights Award.

The awards recognize outstanding volunteer achievements and leadership----either by individuals or organizations-- in promoting equality and human rights in the province.

The deadline is April 1. The award was founded in 1988, and last year, the recipient was John Wood of Oromocto.

For the nomination form, click here

NB Power Now Testing Smart Grid Technology

Data Science will allow NB Power to be more efficient and could even reduce your electricity bill if it costs the utility less to operate.

Brad Wasson who's in charge of rolling out the smart grid tells Tide News someday NB Power might even be able to predict when an outage might happen with the use of sensors.

Wasson says if there is an outage, Big Data would allow NB Power to respond faster instead of waiting until someone gives them a call.

He estimates the smart grid technology will be implemented in stages over the next five to ten years.

What Does Big Data Have To Do With Healing Rates For Chronic Wounds?

"Big data" isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about treating diabetic ulcers and chronic wounds--but actually, the vast information doctors collect on patients could be used more efficiently, speeding healing by as much as a year.

Health Outcomes Worldwide CEO Corinne McIsaac presented this morning at the T4G Big Data Congress. She tells Tide News users of their database have the tools to heal patients faster. On a yearly basis, $3.9 billion is spent on would care in Canada.

Doctors, RNs, and other healthcare professionals can access the database from their phone or computer and see a graph of all the information about a particular patient.

Even though McIsaac says they've demonstrated the dramatic benefits of the service, McIsaac says they're having a hard time getting New Brunswick to sign on--despite having clients across Canada and overseas. McIsaac says they've met with Health Minister Ted Flemming, but haven't received any word about using the system here in New Brunswick.

Fatal Snowmobile Crash Near Bathurst

A Moncton man being killed in a snowmobile crash in northern New Brunswick.

The 21-year-old died after being ejected from the snowmobile on a trail located about thirty kilometres south of Bathurst.

RCMP did not release the man's name.

Fredericton Police Want Help Finding Missing Men

Joshua Jewett

Police are calling on the public for help finding two missing men from Fredericton.

31-year-old Joshua Jewett disappeared on February 10 while 40-year-old David Watt has been missing since on December 2. Both were last seen in the capital city. The two cases are not related.

Jewett is described as 5 foot 9 inches tall, thin build, approximately 130lbs, mostly likely has a beard or facial hair, has glasses but rarely wears them, brown shaggy hair that may be in a ponytail, and does not have any tattoos, scars or other distinct features.

David Watt

Watt is described as 5 foot 10 inches tall, 150lbs, with short brown hair, and brown eyes.

If you have any information about either of the missing men you're being asked to get in touch with the Fredericton Police Force by calling 460-2300 or Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

NDP Leader Wants To End M-L-A's Influence Over Hiring

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy says people are still fearful of voting for the wrong party at election time because the M-L-A's have too much of a say in who the provincial government hires.

Cardy would like M-L-A's to have their influence limited to just the people who staff their offices.

Cardy created quite a stir recently when he equated the reluctance of the school system to fail students to the province's high rate of illiteracy but he tells Tide News we have a crisis on our hands with 56 per cent of people in New Brunswick considered functionally illiterate.

Cardy argues having a highly trained workforce is the best way to attract business investment to the province rather than handing out grants.

Saint John Hosting Conference On Big Data

 

Big Data is fast becoming big business and T4G is holding a conference on Data Science at the Trade and Convention Centre through tomorrow.

Paul Mansz of Ambir Technology estimates it could be worth in the tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars as companies struggle with sifting through all the data that's available these days before they can make a decision.

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston says a lot is happening under the radar in Saint John.

The conference will be examining how data science can help improve patient outcomes while, at the same time, be cost effective.

The C-E-O of NB Power Gaetan Thomas will be taking part in another session on energy and the smart grid entitled "What can be measure, can be managed".

Cost Cutting In Healthcare Will Continue

The C-E-O at Horizon Health John McGarry has been given the mandate to reduce the cost of healthcare which was increasing year by year above the rate of inflation and swallowing up a greater percentage of the provincial budget.

McGarry tells Tide News the revamping of healthcare will be the norm from now on because the provincial government wants it to run more like a business and, as such, there will be destabilisation among the workers in healthcare.

McGarry says the technology is there to allow lots of things to occur at a distance which will restrain costs. He estimates if 2 per cent in cost efficiencies can be found in the system each year and growth can be limited to 4 per cent, the system should be sustainable with an annual increase in funding of 2 per cent.

One of the messages to be delivered to the Big Data conference getting underway today at the Trade and Convention Centre is that improved patient outcomes and increased cost effectiveness is within our reach with the intelligent application of data science to healthcare.

Startup Weekend Coming To Saint John

It's a global movement uniting developers, tech gurus, and business people. 

Startup Weekends brings experts together for 54 hours of workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies. Mark Breen is an Economic Development Officer with Enterprise Saint John and he tells us it's a fast-paced and productive time. 

Startup Weekend has hosted over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world and one is happening in Saint John April 25 to 27. As well, T4G is hosting its Big Data Conference, which is a conference for emerging data science innovators, next week.

Seniors Encouraged To Assess Their Driving Skills

The Canadian Automobile Association believes seniors need to do some self-policing when it comes to their driving skills. 

Gary Howard of the C-A-A says if you notice your reaction time is slowing or you're finding it difficult to drive at night, then you may need to make some changes. Howard tells Tide News it's not necessarily about stopping, it's about making the driving experience safer for everyone.

You can assess your driving skills by going to the C-A-A's new web tool for seniors, which can be found by going to seniorsdriving.caa.ca.