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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

More Charges In NS Teen Confinement Case

Mounties have laid more charges against a 47 year-old man accused of sexually assaulting and confining a 16-year-old boy in Nova Scotia.

David James Leblanc appeared frail walking with a limp wearing bandages on his feet after suffering frostbite while on the run from police near Thunder Bay, Ontario.

He is facing 7 charges including administering a noxious substance and kidnapping.

He is due back in court next month.

One Person Shows Up For Meeting On Electoral Boundaries

The Electoral Boundaries Commission paying a lonely visit to St. Andrews this afternoon.

By the next provincial election, the number of ridings will be reduced from 55 to 49, and it's the Commission's job to figure out where to make those changes.

The team is touring the province to get the public's opinion on the issue, with only one resident showing before a recess was called.

Oak Bay resident Ed Young tells CHSJ News what he thinks doesn't matter because things are going to change.Grouping McAdam with Charlotte-Campobello was one option brought up by Young.

The Commission will be holding their next hearing tonight in Saint John at the Hampton Inn from 7 to 10.

MSC Increases Container Service This Month

The Mediterranean Shipping Company is increasing its container service to weekly this month after beginning operations in Saint John this spring.

Regional Sales Manager Sarah Norgaard tells CHSJ News that MSC had its eye on Saint John for some time.

She says they found the need for an international carrier was high and the business commuity was welcoming.

The MSC Shannon is on the west side of the port today.


Highway 1 Westbound Back Open To Traffic

City police have re-opened traffic on Highway 1 westbound at the Rothesay Avenue overpass.

A tractor-trailer lost its back wheels just before 11am this morning blocking the bridge entirely.

No one was hurt.

Car Flips Near Crown Street Exit



A car has flipped on Highway 1 Westbound near the Crown Street exit.

Emergency personnel are at the scene and police are providing traffic control.

Hwy Still Blocked Out East

It's a traffic mess in East Saint John as a tractor-trailer is blocking the lanes of Highway 1 Westbound on the Rothesay Avenue overpass.

Sgt. Peter Fres of the Saint John Police tells CHSJ News just before 11 this morning the back wheels on the transport came off causing it to flip over.

No one was hurt.       Traffic is being rerouted down the ramp to Rothesay Avenue and Rothesay Road.



The eastbound lanes of Highway 1 are wide open.



Stonehammer Geopark Gets More Than Half A Mill Funding

The Stonehammer Geopark which stretches all the from the Lepreau Falls to Norton and down to St. Martins is getting more than half a million dollars in funding from the provincial and federal governments. 

Much of the money will be used to let people know here and elsewhere what's on offer.

Stonehammer Chair Bill Merrifield says most people who live here have no idea of the significance of the history and heritage with rocks at the Reversing Falls that are a billion years old.

Merrifield says under the Reversing Falls Bridge, two continents slammed together with the part on the outer side towards the Harbour coming from Africa and colliding with a piece of South America.
 

Saint John will be hosting a UNESCO conference with delegates from around the world in 2014.

MacIntyre Says Parrott Should Mend Fences At Some Point

A retired Liberal MLA from Saint John thinks ousted Tory MLA Dr. Jim Parrott should try to mend fences and get back into the Tory caucus at some point.

Roly MacIntyre tells CHSJ News it takes two for this to happen adding there is an indication that maybe Dr. Parrott was not co-operating in caucus.

He says it's a tough day for the premier when he has to remove someone from caucus adding he'd never do it unless he absolutely had to.

MacIntyre says independent MLA's are quite restricted adding he'd be more productive as a government member.

Flemming & Shephard Take On New Posts Today


Today's is the day Ted Flemming officially becomes Health Minister and Dorothy Shephard takes on the new post of Healthy Living and Inclusive Communities.

Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells CHSJ News despite what the Liberals are saying there is no discontent in the Conservative caucus.

He says the Tory caucus has never been more united and the recent shuffle has given them some revitalization.

Former Health Minister Madelaine Dube takes over in Social Development today and Craig Leonard is back officially as the Energy minister.



You Can Have Your Say On Shape Of Provincial Ridings

By the time the next provincial election rolls around, the ridings in New Brunswick will not look the same as they do now. 

Their number is being reduced from 55 to 49 but how they will look remains to be seen. The Electoral Boundaries Commission is going around the province to hear what people would like to see. 

The Commission's Alan Maher tells CHSJ News not everyone is going to be happy with the final product but the status quo is not an option.


Maher, a former provincial finance minister under then Premier Frank McKenna, says ideally each riding would be comprised of 11,269 voters but he concedes that won;t be happening either.

The Commission will be holding a hearing in St. Andrews this afternoon at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre from 1 to 4 and then tonight at the Hampton Inn on the east side from 7 to 10.

Saint Johners Receive Diamond Jubilee Medal

A special commemorative medal being awarded to a handful of people in Greater Saint John.

The Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee medal has been given to 60,000 Canadians this year who've made big impacts to their region or the country.

From Quispamsis, councillor Emil Olsen and Mayor Murray Driscoll are recipients. Driscoll says he's very appreciative and humbled for the award, but wants to recognize his whole council works just as hard.

Other recipients are Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Loiser, Cultural Affairs Officer Bernard Cormier and Quispamsis councillor Emil Olsen.

Pension Plan Looms Large Over City's Budget Deliberations

As Common Council is about to start its budget deliberations, there's a big question mark over what effect the city's pension plan will have on the final product.
 

Common Council has agreed to not make any changes to the city's pension plan until the Task Force on the Shared Risk model reports. 

Ward 4 Common Councillor Susan Fullerton is worried there may not be enough time after hearing Council may not hear back from the task force until November.
 

Councillor Bill Farren warns the city is facing a 4 million dollar pension payment next year and that would have a major effect on the 2013 budget. 

Council would like that budget to be finalised before Christmas. 

City Police Investigating Robbery

An early morning robbery on the east side.

It took place around 3 at the Hybrid taxi office on Loch Lomand Road. 

City Police are looking for 3 men  who were wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered. 

No one was injured in the holdup.