Paddlefest 2014 Success In The Rain

It was a bit cold and rainy on the water this weekend -- but that didn't stop very many from getting in a kayak.

Paddlefest 2014 Kayaking and Activities Co-ordinator Alex Reid tells Tide News the Town of St. Andrews was still a busy spot. He says they had a big turn-out and everyone seemed to be enjoying their time in St. Andrews.

The kayaks weren't the only thing to bring people to the seaside town. Reid says, "The music. Luke MacDonald has put together a fantastic line up and there are people coming from all ends of eastern Canada to see his production."

Reid says his favorite part of the festival is the people. "Everybody is here with a big, happy smile on their face and ready for summer to start, so that's always good to see."







One sea kayak tour was cancelled due to high wind conditions on Saturday -- but they were still able to have multiple tours during the festival.

School Partnership Enticing Our Kids To Read

Extra reading for your child could win them a brand new bike.

The Books & Bikes Contest is in partnership with Mason's in St. George.

Anglophone South Superintendent Zoe Watson tells Tide News it's happening in 5 local elementary schools between St. Stephen and St. George.
She tells us for every book a child reads, they get a ballot. Those ballots go into a draw for 6 new bicycles and helmets per school.

A total of 30 bikes and helmets will be given away before the school year is up.

Local Police Very Busy Over Long Weekend

While many enjoyed the river this weekend -- the police were straight out busy.

57 calls were made to District 1 RCMP throughout Charlotte County from Saturday to Monday.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News the had 9 checkstops and issued 20 tickets for a variety of offences -- but there were no fatal collisions, and none that caused injury.

MacKnight does say they have seen, however, an increase in property related offences like break and enter, theft, and mischief, with 3 such calls coming in this morning alone.

If you have any information on these crimes, you are asked to call local police in St. Stephen @ 466-7030 or in St. George @ 755-1130.

Saskatchewan Man Charged In Child Exploitation Case Involving NB Girl

A 53-year-old man being arrested after a joint investigation by Child Exploitation Units in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.

The man from Carlyle, Saskatchewan is facing multiple charges including possession of child pornography and sending sexual material to a person under the age of 18 to facilitate the commission of an offense.

RCMP say the alleged victim is a girl from this province and the man's name isn't being released right now to protect the child's identity. He will be making a court appearance in a few weeks time.

Marijuana Plants, Firearms & ATV Seized At Lakeville Home

Police seizing more than 350 marijuana plants, a stolen ATV and unsecured firearms after searching a home in Lakeville.

A 48-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy being arrested, questioned and then released with a promise that they will appear in court in late August.

If you have information on people who are growing pot, the Mounties urging you to report it by calling them at 506-387-2222 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Premier Says Province Has No Choice But To Help Seniors Stay In Their Homes Longer

The Home First policy came about because of a study that was done four years ago predicted unless there was a change, within a decade every acute care hospital bed in the province would be occupied by a senior waiting for transfer to long term care. 

Premier David Alward tells Tide News keeping seniors in their own homes longer depends on having the proper support in place and he acknowledges home care workers aren't earning enough. 

Over 7 million dollars will be spent in the first year on Home First care. 

Its estimated by 2030, the demographics show workers in the province will be outnumbered by people who aren't working.

Provincial NDP Leader Will Monitor Ukraine Election

40 thousand Russian soldiers are moving back to their home bases from the border regions with the Ukraine. This is being perceived as Russian President Vladimir Putin trying to ease tensions with the West over Ukraine. 

Meantime, Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy has been selected to be one of the many monitors for the upcoming election in the Ukraine to determine it's conducted fairly or not. 

Cardy has had experience as an election observer in Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladash and Cambodia.

Research To Be Done By Saint John Doctors On Coping With Pain

With the first graduating class of Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick from the medical school on the campus of U-N-B Saint John being honoured over the weekend, it's hoped some of them, if not most, will set up shop in the province. 

There are hundreds of research projects underway at Horizon Health. Saint John Doctor Neil Manson of the Orthopedics Department at the Regional Hospital will be studying the effect of coping with pain that is part and parcel of spinal surgeries.
 
Dr. Manson tells Tide News the people who can best handle pain will have better outcomes and it depends not only on how fit you are but also on mental and social fitness. 

Dr. Manson and Dr. Edward Abraham are receiving grant money from the Chesley Research Fund for their study on the psychological risk factors that lead to poor outcomes after spinal surgeries.

Premier Tries To Allay Fears Over Forestry Plan

Some have called it a contradiction to promote our beautiful forests to tourists, then introduce a forestry plan that drastically increases clear cutting.

Yet Premier David Alward tells Tide News those things aren't mutually exclusive.

The Premier tells Tide News our forests are going to continue to be New Brunswick's greatest asset under the new forestry plan. He says he need to be able to assure people that the plan is responsible--and that it really will attract hundreds of millions of dollars in private sector investment, as has been advertised.

The new forestry plan reduces the amount of protected old growth forest and deer habitat from 30% to 23%, and allows for 20% more softwood to be cut annually on Crown land.

Conservatives Brand Liberals As Reckless Spenders

A theme is emerging as the Conservatives campaign for the September 22nd provincial election as they accuse the Liberals of having no plan for economic development. 

They denounce their call for a moratorium on shale gas development as a moratorium on jobs and Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming says they have a record of being reckless spenders, judging by the previous government.
 
That's being echoed by fellow cabinet member Trevor Holder of Saint John Portland who says the Liberals spent money like drunken sailors when they last were in office.
 
According to Flemming, the Alward Government, when it took office after the last provincial election, found itself saddled with a projected deficit of 968 million dollars.

How Often Do You Check Your Tire Pressure?

When it comes to knowledge about proper tire inflation, a new survey revealing some of our tanks are running pretty low. 

While 99-percent of us here in Atlantic Canada are aware of the importance of tire inflation, Carolyn Goard of the Rubber Association of Canada tells us 59-percent of drivers in the Maritimes do not measure their tire pressure monthly which is alarming because they like to encourage people to test their pressure biweekly at least.

The report also showing nearly a third of us incorrectly inflate our tires to the air pressure stamped on the side of the tire which actually indicates the maximum inflation pressure and that 69-percent don't know tire pressure should only be measured when the wheels are cold.

Organization Reminding Boaters To Stay Safe

After a winter for the record books, many boaters are anxious to get back on the water and one organization has some safety tips to make sure your long weekend of fun doesn't turn tragic. 

BoatSmart President Cameron Taylor says the importance of wearing a life-jacket can't be overemphasized saying more and more people seem to be sporting them. But unfortunately he says in about 79-percent of boating drownings the people who died were not wearing an approved PFD or life-jackets. 

And remember to stay sober when you're operating a boat as alcohol is a factor in about four out of 10 boating deaths.

You should also make sure you have your BoatSmart operator card, which Cameron says is required by law and if you don't have it you can face a minimum $250 fine. He says going through the process of getting your card will teach you what you need to know about boating safely. To get the card, click here.

Free Admission At The Museum Today

May 18th is International Museums Day--which means you and the kids get free admission to the New Brunswick Museum. 

Permanent exhibits at the NBM include the Bay of Fundy, ancient creatures and artwork from around the world.

Right now, there's a temporary exhibition called Small Town, Big Fashion: Fashion from Southeastern New Brunswick from 1860 – 1960, as well as quilts by John Corey.

For more information, call 643-2300 or click here.

Canadians Experiencing More Extreme Weather Events

As devastating wildfires rage in Southern California, Canadians might be feeling pretty lucky that we don't see those kind of natural disasters very often.

But the fact is that unusually severe weather events are a fact of life North of the border as well.

In 2013, major flooding, fires, and other natural disasters across Canada caused insurers to pay out a record 3.2 billion in claims,and 2014 could be another record-breaker. Canada gets about 5,000 earthquakes every year, and flooding has been a major issue throughout the Maritimes as well as the prairies.

While extreme weather obviously isn't in your control,you can make a plan  of what to do if you hear a storm is coming your way, because educating yourself is the best way to protect yourself and your family.

NB Woman Dead After Water Mishap In Marshville

A 66 year-old New Brunswick woman is dead after an incident on the water last night.

The woman was using an inflatable dingy in Marshville, Nova Scotia. Police say she got caught in the current and changing tides which began carrying her out into the Northumberland Strait.

Fire crews, paramedics and the Canadian Coast Guard were each called in to help but by the time they located the woman she was unconscious. The woman, believed to be from Moncton, was later pronounced dead at a hospital in New Glasgow.

Police are not releasing her name or any other details. They are trying to make sure the family has been notified.

Eliminating Hatred Against LGBTQ Community

May 17 is the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The observance celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It originated in Quebec in 2003 and is now marked in countries around the world.

Homosexuals are still treated as criminals in 77 countries, and being gay carries the death penalty in six countriesand in parts of Nigeria and Somalia. Brunei introduced death by stoning this year.

A recent poll showed 74% of Canadians know someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Local Police Want You To Be On The Look-Out For Drunks And Texters

If you think someone's texting, or drunk behind the wheel -- don't hesitate to call 911.

That word from Sgt. Bob MacKnight with District 1 RCMP in St. Stephen leading into the May long weekend.

He says RCMP will be out in full force -- on the highways and in town -- checking for impaired and distracted driving, excessive speeds, and seatbelts.

MacKnight says our kids are informed as St. Stephen High School hosted an emotional  presentation today from MADD Canada.

Saint John Medical School To Mark Milestone

A milestone being marked tomorrow when the Class of 2014 from the medical school at U-N-B Saint John celebrates the completion of four years of undergraduate studies at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal tomorrow. 

The Regional Director of Research for Horizon Health, Barry Strack tells Tide News Horizon Health and Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick have been working with eachother almost from day 1.


Horizon Health has over 600 active research studies with 200 of those sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry.
 
The Associate Dean of Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, Dr. John Steeves says it can now be said the medical education program in New Brunswick has been fully implemented.

Finance Minister Defends Pension Reform As Necessary

The Alward Government is pointing to pension reform and the shared risk model as one of its accomplishments. 

The Liberals are accusing the government of not doing enough consultation which is a charge being rejected by Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs.
 
Higgs is accusing the Liberals of trying to exploit this issue for votes with the provincial election in late September even though the cost would be borne by taxpayers.

Higgs argues something had to be done because pensions were in jeopardy and he accuses the Liberals of looking through the rear view mirror.

Another Big Theft Of Copper In City

If you're building anywhere in the city or own a home that's under construction, you might want to keep close tabs on it.

Another copper theft has been reported at two vacant homes in the city.

The call came in around noon to two homes on Saddlebrook Court. Police can't pinpoint when it happened other than that it was probably sometime in the last year.

The forensic unit came and processed the scenes where a large amount of copper electrical wire was stolen.