Local News

Greater Bathurst Chamber Of Commerce Gathers For AGM

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:38:00 GMT

Tracy Eddy and Danielle Gaudet Of The Greater Bathurst Chamber Of Commerce

The Greater Bathurst Chamber of Commerce held its Annual General Meeting last night.

Over 60 members were in attendance.

General Manager Danielle Gaudet says they are celebrating the past banner year with a solid vision for the future.

Enterprise Chaleur took the opportunity to talk about the mining industry-- they've named 17 members to the Chaleur Community Economic Leadership Group.

The group is composed of prominent business leaders who are committed to minimizing the impact of the pending closure of Brunswick Mine.

Executive Director Donald Hammond says negotiations for a Bathurst- Wabush, Newfoundland air link are also in the works.

He says they are taking a realistic approach because there will be a lot of people out of work when the mine shuts down-- and not everybody will be able to find work here.

The new 2012-2013 GBCC Board of Directors:

Tracy Eddy, Belledune Port Authority (president)
Yvon Arseneau, Lounsbury Automotive (past-president)
Gilles Cormier, Acadie Nouvelle (1st vice-president)
Danis Desrosiers, RBC (2nd vice-president)
Gilles Deveaux, EPR (treasurer)
Carmel Hickey, Lakeview Inn & Suites (director)
Marc Richard, Hatheway Ltd. (director)
Vilma Glidden, retired (director)
André Cyr, Allen, Paquet & Arseneau LLP (director)
Clarence Brideau, PrO Medic (director)
Geneviève Carrier-Beaulieu, The Cooperators* Newly elected board-member
Vilma Glidden was honoured with the prestigious Volunteer of the Year award.

Chaleur Community Economic Leadership Group

Todd Morrison
Rejean Boudreau
Rene Blanchard
Gregg Ashe
Carole Caron
Gerry Legere
Dr. Keith Chamberlain
Keith Degrace
Jenna MacDonald
Barry Kyle
Danny Valley
Rayburn Doucet
Robert Degrace
Ian Hathaway
Daryll Stothart
Kevin Comeau
Denis Desrosier
Hermel Vienneau
Brian Fitzpatrick

Arrest Warrant Issued For Moncton Man

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:52:00 GMT

The RCMP has issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of a 25-year-old New Brunswick man wanted in connection with
a stabbing in Moncton.
Police say Christopher William James Fergusson is wanted on charges of break and enter, intent to commit aggravated assault and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
Investigators say a 33-year-old man suffered serious injuries after he was stabbed Friday evening on Highfield Street.
One man has already been arrested in the stabbing.
The Mounties are asking anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
They say information leading to Fergusson's arrest could result in a cash reward of up to $2,000.

NB Plans to Add Teeth to Fracking Rules

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:36:00 GMT

New Brunswick is proposing a number of extra costs for the energy sector including stiffer fines and a greater share of the industry's profits as the cash-strapped province seeks to develop its oil and natural gas resources.
The province released a discussion paper yesterday containing 116 recommendations.
For companies that violate resource development rules, the paper recommends fines as high as one million dollars _ a steep hike from the range of fines that exist now.
Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup says the proposed changes would give his department the ability to act right away on
any violations.
The public will have 60 days to offer input before the government comes back to the legislature this fall with its formal response.
Liberal natural resources critic Denis Landry says the public should have more time to offer feedback given the government took
two years to release a report.
The Liberals continue to call for a moratorium on shale gas development and want a special legislature committee established to
study the industry.

23 Year Old Sentenced For Scalding 2 Year Old

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:24:00 GMT

A 23-year-old "man" has been sentenced to four years in prison after a two-year-old girl was burned with hot water.
James Parker-Thorne pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing bodily harm after the girl was burned in a home in Lakeville, N.B., in 2009.
Moncton provincial court Judge Anne Dugas Horsman said she was emotionally disturbed by the case and found it difficult to look at pictures of the girl's burns.
Court heard the girl suffered severe burns to one-third of her body and her mobility has been affected by her injuries.
She spent nine weeks in hospital after she was burned and is scheduled to undergo more surgery.
Parker-Thorne was arrested in March in Ontario.

Gas Goes Up, Diesel Drops

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:09:00 GMT

Following 5 weeks of price drops, there has been a jump at the pump this morning.
The maximum retail price for a litre of self serve regular Gasoline is up more than a penny to $1.30.9
The cost for a litre of Diesel, however, continues to fall - down to a maximum of $1.32.9 per self serve litre.
Heating oil is down to $1.13.8, while Propane is under a dollar at 99.8 cents

40+ Countires to Mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:07:00 GMT

Today is the 2012 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
The event has roots in Quebec, dating back to 2003, when orgainzers hosted the first National Day Against Homophobia.
May 17th was chosen as to commemorate the day the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.
The annual event has grown exponentially since then, and is now celebrated in more than 40 countries.
Randy Dickinson, chair of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, urges all New Brunswickers to "join the struggle to overcome homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism, and to work toward a New Brunswick where everyone, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, is able to achieve their full potential and participate fully in everything that our province has to offer.
Memebers of the Bathurst community will mark the occassion at the Fred Pitre Memorial Skatepark. Grind Out Homophobia starts at 6pm

Lamrock Drops Out of Liberal Leadership Race

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:05:00 GMT

Kelly Lamrock says he's not ready to become the next leader of the provincial Liberals.
The former Graham government cabinet minister has dropped out of the leadership race, saying he's not sure he could manage those duties while maintaining a law practice and raising a young family. Lamrock also says he entered the race because he felt some important issues were not being addressed, but says they now are by Mike Murphy, who's has his support in the race against former Belledune Mayor Nick Duivenvoorden, and Brian Gallant.
Lamrock says he may still seek the Grit nomination to win back the riding of Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak.

Some Bloggers Just Can't Stay Out of Trouble

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:04:00 GMT

A controversial Fredericton blogger is in trouble with the law -- again.
While city police will only say they arrested a 52 year old man outside the provincial legislature over the noon hour yesterday, witnesses say the man was Charles LeBlanc.
The incident was the result of an assault complaint, but it's unclear who was assaulted.
The man was released from custody around 4 o'clock.
LeBlanc claims he was in the area to get a picture of an M-L-A. He adds police seized his camera. LeBlanc has been under a no-trespass order at the legislature for several years.
Despite that order, officials have - for the most part - allowed him on the grounds to conduct interviews with politicians.

Lepreau Engineers Could Walk

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:03:00 GMT

A team of Point Lepreau's specialized nuclear engineers working at the Nuclear Generating Station say they are prepared to walk off the job.
The union representing the engineers says disagreements with SNC-Lavalin - the company that bought Atomic Energy of Canada last year- has put the workers in a strike position.
The company, now called Candu Energy, is the primary contractor for the often delayed and on-going refurbishment at Lepreau.
The president of the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates, Peter White, says the group is getting fed up with the way safety concerns have been handled and they could give 72 hours notice at any time.
New Brunswick's only nuclear reactor is finally nearing the end of a lengthy refurbishment and with a restart just months away, the strike would come at a "critical time in the power plant's re-commissioning."
The federal regulator says the power plant cannot be restarted if the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is not satisfied with the reports it receives from NB Power.
Officials say a strike or a lockout could cause even more delays in Lepreau's re-commissioning.

Downtown Development Plan Gaining Momentum: City Councillor

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:56:00 GMT

A Bathurst City Councillor says a five year plan approved by the previous council will likely take flight and gel with his new colleagues.

Danny Roy says the plan that includes complementing a planned hotel convention centre at the former Kent Property was given a stamp of approval before Monday's municipal election.

It includes a grocery store, liquor outlet and pharmacy.

He says word on the campaign trail was that the candidates are looking forward to turning the vision into a reality.

The new councillor are Susie Roy, Michelle Branch and Serge Legacy.

As the new municipal governments settle in-- some communities are at a standstill.

Recounts will take place in Bertrand, Cambridge Narrows and Saint-Louis-de-Kent.

There could be possible recounts in Belledune for councillor-at-large and Ward 2.