City celebrating 225th birthday today

SAINT JOHN - Say happy 225th birthday to Canada's original city.

Saint John became an incorporated city on this day, 225 years ago, when the settlements of Carleton and Parrtown united and a royal charter was signed. Lisa Hrabluk, executive director of Saint John 225, says Saint Johners are in for the busiest Tuesday in the city's history.

"I think it's a great day to take pride in Saint John and in the story of the people of Saint John. It is Canada's original city and what I think is so neat about Saint John is it has such an interesting story and such a diverse story," Hrabluk said, outlining the various stages of the city's early history, from Mi'kmaq civilizations to Acadian and Loyalist settlements.

Every stage of Saint John's history will be on display today in a non-stop showcase of politics, artifacts, cultures, art and people.

The celebrations begin at 9 a.m. when the New Brunswick Museum opens its doors for an admission-free day of story telling, music and pieces of history. Acadian fiddle music will cause toes to tap throughout Market Square in the afternoon and the Chinese Cultural Association will be holding an Asian heritage exhibition.
Rose Poirier, program manager at the museum, called the teamwork between Saint John 225 and the museum a "beautiful partnership."

"(Visitors) will soon understand how being the provincial holder of the early stories of this region, that people can gain history-come-to-life insight by looking at the object that we're actually held and used by the early peoples in the region, from First Nations through the French arrival, through to the Loyalist arrival," Poirier said, adding that there will be a temporary exhibition celebrating the life of Saint John's first mayor, Gabriel George Ludlow.

The Saint John Free Public Library will also have the original royal charter on display for public viewing throughout the day.

At the intersection of Prince William and King streets, a new city landmark, an old-fashioned street clock, will be unveiled at 10 a.m., followed by a Loyalist ceremony across the street at City Hall at 10:30 a.m.

Saint John's 225th birthday will culminate in a gigantic celebration with a cast of 400 people at Harbour Station at 7 p.m. The show, entitled Making History: An Original City Production, will feature dancing, singing and acting from some of the city's rising stars. Directed by Kate Elman Wilcott and choreographed by Marcia Cysart, the show will also feature a parade of Saint John's many cultural groups and an original song composed and performed by local artist Clinton Charlton and his band, the Formers.

"It really is about celebrating the many stories in Saint John,' Hrabluk said. "My hope is whatever perspective you bring to Saint John, you will see yourself reflected somewhere in (today's) celebrations."

The Saint John 225 executive director said she believes that today is the day for city residents to play hooky and enjoy the celebrations.

"I think kicking off the anniversary celebrations is a great way to start the summer because it's the day to wear your pride on your sleeve and come out and celebrate your city. ...What better way to spend a beautiful, sunny spring day than going to a big party?"

Admission to all events is free. For more information, visit www.saintjohn225.com.

Bay of Fundy in contention for world wonders honour

HOPEWELL ROCKS, N.B. --- Bay of Fundy tourism would get a huge boost if Canadians sufficiently back the bay as one of the world's top seven natural wonders, according to a director of a Swiss-based foundation that is selecting the sites.

Jean-Paul de la Fuente, of the non-profit New7Wonders organization, took a stroll on the ocean floor at New Brunswick's Hopewell Rocks on Wednesday.

It marked the first time a representative of the foundation has been to Canada since the Bay of Fundy was named Canada's sole finalist in the global competition.

"It's truly an extraordinary place," de la Fuente said. "The challenge now is for the world to learn about this place and to find out why the Bay of Fundy is so spectacular."

De la Fuente said the first Internet-based natural wonders campaign conducted by the foundation generated more than $5 billion USin additional tourism revenue for the participants chosen.

"That's what is at stake here," he said. "That's the opportunity."

The Bay of Fundy - home to the world's highest tides and most complete fossil record of the Coal Age, which ended more than 300 million years ago - has already had competition success.

The bay was included last July on a shortlist of 28 international sites in the contest, which began with 441 entries.

The Bay of Fundy currently sits 19th in an online vote tally.

The current leader is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Others sites include the Mud Volcanoes of Azerbaijan, the Great Barrier Reef, the Dead Sea and the Grand Canyon.

During his three-day visit to New Brunswick, de la Fuente was to meet with regional and national tourism representatives to discuss strategies for Canada in the wonders campaign.

He said the need for federal government funding, the addition of famous Canadian celebrities to the campaign and the inclusion of the private sector will be discussed.

"We have a full-fledged online campaign, which includes a website, Facebook page and updated YouTube videos," said Terri McCulloch, executive director of the Bay of Fundy Tourism Association at Hopewell Rocks. "And the campaign will continue to expand as the competition continues."

The winners will be announced on Nov. 11, 2011. People can vote online by going to www.votemyfundy.com.

De la Fuente has already visited the highest waterfall in the world in Venezuela, traversed the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and ventured along the Underground River in the Philippines.

He will visit each of the 28 sites that remain in the contest and return to each for a larger celebration.

"This is a low-key visit," he said. "The next one, most likely in fall, will be an extraordinary public celebration."

Saint John Telegraph-Journal

The Boys in Saint John

Changes for Young Drivers

I thought this would be interesting to place on the Blog, it touches a topic that has been on my heart for many years. Drinking and Driving and the lives of young people, and of the culture of driving as well.

FREDERICTON - No more alcohol for the province's Class 2 drivers - at least until they're 21.

That's one of a few changes to the province's driving regulations set to take effect June 1, changes that many young drivers still don't know are coming.

"If they are going to make this rule, I think they should make it more well-known, because I don't think anyone I know of so far even knows about this," said Madie Hughes, student council co-president at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton.

The changes, which will affect any new driver regardless of their age, are to Class 1 or and Class 2 licences.

Right now, a level 1 driver can take a road test after four months if they take a driver's education course, or 12 months if they don't. The province is changing the waiting time to eight months for Class 1 drivers. As well, they're restricted from driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and must have Class 5 licence holder in the front seat with them.

Class 2 drivers are also prohibited from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless it's for school or work, and can't have more than three passengers in the vehicle with them.

Both levels of licence holders will now have to keep a 0 per cent blood alcohol level until they reach 21.

"It's ridiculous to have to wait eight months," said Deidre Astle, student union co-president with Hughes. "Your last years of high school are probably your busiest years and your parents don't want to have to drive you around the whole time - I know from personal experience."

Hughes looks at it from a different perspective.

"I like to save gas, so if I can either catch a ride with one of my friends, or they could catch a ride with me, just that little bit of gas from my house to the mall and back saves a lot," she said. "If there's four extra seats or five extra seats in a car, I know some people are going to want to have friends, if they're going to a movie or something. It's easier to carpool and it saves them gas."

Similar legislation proposed in Ontario was met with strong protest and the government there eventually backed away from the changes. A Facebook group formed to protest Ontario's changes has almost 150,000 members.

But Karen Dunham, past national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, thinks New Brunswick's changes are a positive step.

"It makes sense for new drivers to have limitations, to earn it," she said. "Driving is a privilege, not a right, and that's key. By having these restrictions in place, it helps them to understand that."

Laura Sears, a supervisor with DriveWise, a driver's education company, agrees with Dunham.

"It is a little bit of an inconvenience for some people who do have to wait longer," she said. "But, if it does increase the level of experience and the students get more time behind the wheel before being allowed to drive independently, that should affect the crash rates, improve the quality of the new driver, and reduce the number of (insurance) claims that are being made as well."

Sears said new drivers statistically have a higher crash rate, especially within their first six months of driving. Having passengers in the vehicle, she said, also increases the risk.

"That's probably the number one risk factor for the new driver is the passengers. Passengers actually triple the risk."

According to statistics from MADD Canada, road crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers, and more 19-year-olds die or are seriously injured than any other age group. As well, 45 per cent of teenage drivers who are killed in road crashes have been drinking.

Still, Astle thinks the new regulations are discriminatory toward young drivers.

"Coming from today's society, I find that kids are a lot more mature than they were in the '80s, just because we have a lot more to handle," she said.

Good News for the Port City

SAINT JOHN - The port of Saint John will soon be getting a $42-million facelift that will help it better manage the rapid growth of its cruise ship industry.

The Telegraph-Journal has learned the federal and provincial governments have both committed to joining the Saint John Port Authority in funding a major expansion of the port's facilities that will allow it to accommodate more visits and bigger ships. Each of the three parties will be responsible for a one-third share of the funding.

The project was the No. 1 item on the port's wish list and the decision to fund the improvements follows on the heels of Ottawa's $24-million commitment for Quebec cruise ship infrastructure in its most recent budget.

"We have not had official confirmation of that," port authority chairman Stephen Campbell said Wednesday. "But we are hearing some of the same things and, if it's true, we are ecstatic."

The cruise ship industry represents approximately 20 per cent of the port's annual revenue, second only to potash, which accounts for slightly more than 40 per cent. Both of those revenue streams will benefit from the improved infrastructure.

The port's proposal calls for the extension of the Pugsley C berth near the site of the former Lantic Sugar refinery, adjacent to the new, as-yet-unnamed cruise ship terminal. A new wharf would be constructed and more than 400 metres would be added to the existing 235-metre berth, allowing the port greater flexibility to host multiple ships on the same day.

PotashCorp, which has shipping and storage facilities on the opposite side of the Lantic Sugar site, is also likely to expand its operations at the Saint John port after it opens a new $1.7-billion mine near Sussex in 2012.

Saint John is the fourth-busiest port in Canada for cruise ship passengers, behind only Vancouver, Victoria and Halifax. In 2008, the Port City welcomed a record 183,462 passengers - a jump of more than 49,000 over the previous year. Port officials are confident that traffic will reach 200,000 passengers in 2010 and surge past the 300,000 mark by 2015.

Campbell noted at the port's annual meeting on Monday that cruise lines are building bigger ships with greater capacity. Industry figures show that more than a dozen ships currently being built will be greater than 300 metres in length, including Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, a 360-metre vessel that has a capacity of 5,400 passengers. It is expected to come into service this year.

This year, for example, the port won't be able to accommodate the Queen Mary 2 - the world's largest ocean liner - because it doesn't have enough capacity on the day the ship had been scheduled to come to the city.

Campbell also told the meeting the port has invested $20 million of its own money in infrastructure improvements in recent years, including about half that amount on the new cruise ship terminal. The port will also benefit from the construction of Irving Oil's proposed new headquarters at the Long Wharf site.

The $30-million facility will include a secondary cruise ship passenger terminal.

Campbell said Monday that he was optimistic the federal government would look favourably on the port's funding request, especially since Ottawa and the Quebec provincial government had spent more than $150 million on cruise ship infrastructure in the St. Lawrence Seaway region, which handles about half as many passengers as Saint John.

"We're not critical of that," he said. "We just would like to put our hand up as well and ask that other levels of government notice the success that Saint John has grown on its own."

The cruise ship industry generates spinoff benefits throughout the region as tourists take day trips to places such as the Hopewell Rocks, St. Martins, St. Andrews and St. Stephen.

"All communities surrounding Saint John will benefit from this," said St. Martins Mayor Jim Huttges. "A big percentage of cruise ship passengers visit our area and that's great news for us and for all the communities in our region."

Hockey stick may be national treasure

MONCTON - Scientists in a New Brunswick laboratory are trying to determine whether an old hockey stick is a national treasure and an historic sports icon, or just an old hockey stick.

Experts at Mount Allison University have started analyzing what some historians believe is the world's oldest hockey stick, dating back at least 180 years.

The hand-carved stick is thought to be from a Cape Breton sugar maple which grew on a slope, giving it a perfect, natural curve. It is believed to date from the 1830s or even earlier.

Tree-age specialists at Mount Allison, working in Atlantic Canada's only dendrochronology lab, are now studying the wood to fix its true age.

The findings could prove that the piece of lumber is a coveted, historic relic of this country's favourite game.

"We could have an answer in as early as a month or we could have the answer in a year," said Colin Laroque, head of the university's dendrochronology lab, which studies tree-ring growth patterns.

"But we're going to be doubling our checks on this one. We know the significance of this."

Scientists spent the day with the stick on Sunday, logging photos and scans of the potential treasure.

They will next travel to Pottle's Lake, near Cape Breton, to find specific tree ring patterns in the area where the maple stick was believed to originate.

Preliminary tests have revealed the stick may have enough pattern rings to be identified accurately to within five years.

Laroque and Amanda Young, a Mount Allison lab researcher, along with the help of other scientists and experts, will then attempt to match the patterns to determine the stick's age.

Laroque said the Mount Allison lab will be meticulous in studying the stick which makes a timeline difficult to predict.

The stick was thrust into the national spotlight on Saturday, when Nova Scotian Mark Presley, the owner of the stick, appeared in Campbellton for Hockey Day in Canada.

Presley purchased the stick from a barbershop in North Sydney, N.S., last March when the business shut down. The stick had adorned the shop's wall for more than three decades, displayed without knowledge of its possible significance.

A collector of historic memorabilia, Presley had his eye on the stick. But he thought it dated from the late 1800s, at best.

Geneology told a different story when he purchased the stick and the shop owner gave its provenance.

The stick is said to originally belong to the Moffatt family. Hockey historians have tracked this family into the dim mist of the past and know they were shinny enthusiasts in Nova Scotia in the mid-1800s.

It also carries the initials "W.M," dug into the blade of the stick. Presley's research has found three Moffatts with the first initial "W" dating back to the 1780s.

The stick has been analyzed by a carpentry tool expert, who believes the stick was shaped in the 1800s.

Last fall, it was quietly brought to Kingston, Ont., to be analyzed by a team of experts from the Society for International Hockey Research.

"For me it's about bringing a level of respectability to this kind of research from the early parts of the game," Presley said of his hockey stick's history.

"If this is a game we hold so dear, it just makes so much sense that we learn everything we can about it. Maybe that will help us understand why we hold this game in such esteem."

Presley said he plans to write a book about the stick once its historical background is complete. He also said he hopes to use it as a tool to raise money for children to play the game of hockey.

He would eventually like to see it in a hall of fame.

The stick's future rests largely on its authentication.

"To us in the lab, it's just so important," Laroque said.

"I go home and tell my four-year-old son I looked at this really old hockey stick today, and then he goes to the garage and says 'look at mine dad.' Some day I will get to tell him, if it turns out to be the oldest stick, or even if not "¦ what it was like to be involved in something this easy to get excited about."

A FUSION of Young Ideas

I spotted this article from the Telegraph Journal Website, written by Claire Ryan

From city planners to politicians to big industry to local businesses - everyone wants to know how to engage young Saint John.

About five years ago four Saint Johners came up with an idea. What if a network of young people were to come together to share ideas and action plans for becoming more involved in shaping the future of their city? From this, FUSION Saint John was born. FUSION is a network for people with new ideas and a motivation to work with fellow community leaders and members to make Saint John great. What better way to attract and retain young people to our region than to include them in the very plans aimed to keep them here? Municipally, provincially, federally and from a business and community perspective, the leaders of tomorrow needed a voice. And they got it.

Stephanie Bell, Shane Goguen, Mara Mallory and Shannon Merrifield were the founders. They knew they had a good idea, but they also knew they needed to engage the right people to make the FUSION concept a success. First they approached the Saint John Board of Trade - Bob McVicar, Darryl Goyetche, Imelda Gilman and Tim Curry - who quickly signed on to mentor and help this group establish its vision. With the support of the business community, they hosted a launch event.

No one was expecting what happened next. Although they had a feeling they were onto something special, FUSION's founding members soon realized they had created a demand beyond their expectation. Suddenly they had a membership of 400, and many organizations were reaching out to engage the new group members on community boards, municipal committees, and speaking engagements. Media wanted these new leaders' opinion on just about everything, from the new cruise terminal to skateboard parks, and municipal politics - they wanted a young perspective.

The idea took root in Saint John, but grew beyond our provincial boundaries to include a FUSION Bangor, FUSION Detroit and FUSION Halifax.

The network continues to thrive and evolve in our region, and the membership continues to grow in both quantity and quality. Now not only does the media want to ask the younger demographics' opinion on the happenings in Saint John, they want us to write about it from our perspective.

On Friday at O'Leary's Pub, FUSION Saint John, in partnership with the Telegraph-Journal, will celebrate the official launch of this column. The purpose of this column is to highlight the people , events and organizations who have a hand in creating a new face of Saint John. What you can expect? Positive and fresh ideas that are transforming our city, our community and our province.

After all, it all starts with an idea...

Claire Ryan works with MT&L Public Relations Ltd. and is a member of the FUSION Saint John board. Her column appears on Tuesdays.

Proposed Long Wharf Development Site

I happened to stumble upon the Proposed Long Wharf Development Project Website yesterday, and thought it would be interesting to post. I am excited to follow the development of Saint John from afar. Being in Rome, has given me the chance to be more appreciative of what has been given to me over the years. The many wonderful experiences growing up in Saint John, and surrounding areas.

I am very grateful for my roots, and Saint John will forever be location dear to the heart.

JR

Below is some information regarding the proposed development.


The current Irving Oil proposal would see the Long Wharf development built in three potential phases. Development of the Long Wharf site requires federal government approval. If approvals were received, the initial construction phase (Phase One) could begin in 2009.

Phase One
Phase One would include the construction of a new Irving Oil building. The building would be approximately 185,000 square feet and would meet Irving Oil's current need for additional office space. Phase One would also include the development of a secondary cruise ship berth and infrastructure to support Saint John's cruise ship industry, such as a welcome area for passengers, bus parking and vendor space. Phase One would include new public spaces such as walkways, trails, green space and park bench areas that would allow the community to enjoy the area surrounding Long Wharf.

Phase Two
Phase Two would include the addition of a more formal entrance area onto the Long Wharf site. The entrance would allow easy access for pedestrians and movement of vehicles, including tour buses for cruise ship passengers.

Phase Three
Phase Three would include a possible phased addition to the Irving Oil building, depending on demand and market conditions. This phase would also include additional landscaping at Long Wharf slip and the potential for a naturalized edge on the west portion of the property.

More information available at the following site:
http://www.longwharf.ca/

SEA DOGS TRADE ALEX GRANT

Saint John Sea Dogs Head Coach/General Manager Jacques Beaulieu announced today that Team Captain Alex Grant has been traded to Shawinigan along with a fifth round entry draft pick in 2010 in exchange for 17-year old centre Danick Gauthier as well as the Cataractes’ second round pick in 2009 and a first round selection in 2010.

“It was a difficult decision to trade Alex,” said Beaulieu. “He has been a major part of the Sea Dogs for a long time and has done a lot for this franchise - both on and off the ice. We’re excited to be adding Danick Gauthier to our roster, and we wish Alex all the best in all of his future endeavours.”

Grant, 19, has played in 222 games for Saint John since being selected in the first round (first overall) of the 2005 QMJHL Entry Draft. The Antigonish, NS native was named the Sea Dogs’ 2007-08 Investor’s Group Top Defenseman and was also the recipient of the inaugural Children’s Wish Foundation Fan Choice Award last year. Grant leaves Saint John as the team’s all-time leader in scoring by a defenseman (40G-84A-124P). He signed an entry level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins this past October after being selected by the Eastern Conference team in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

“Alex has been the face of this franchise for four years and we wish him the best of luck in his final months at the major junior level and in his future career as a professional hockey player,” said Sea Dogs President Wayne Long. “He is a truly exceptional young man and we were proud to have him represent our organization throughout his tenure in Saint John.”

Gauthier, 17, was selected by Shawinigan in the second round (26th overall) of the 2008 QMJHL Entry Draft. The 6’0’, 176 lb. centre has recorded 10G-22A-32P in 21 games this season to lead his team, the Montreal AAA Canadiens (QCMAAA), in scoring.

Problems around Saint John, ...

Politics Amalgamation was a fine idea, until the suburbs realized City Hall was broken. Trouble is, 13 years later it still is

On Nov. 18, 1996, roughly 125 residents from what was then the village of East Riverside crowded into the main room at the Riverside Country Club to share their opinions about amalgamating with the city of Saint John.

At first, everyone was polite.

By the end of the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, insults and catcalls were being hurled at Skip Cormier, the man who had been commissioned by the province to study amalgamation of the eight local municipalities into one super city.

It was not, the former general manager of Moosehead Breweries discovered during that first of many stormy public hearings, a popular idea.

As the crowd grew hostile Cormier tried to remain diplomatic. They were incredulous he was following the province's orders to study only five possible scenarios. They wanted things to stay exactly as they were, but Cormier insisted that wasn't part of his mandate.

"I want to talk to the organ grinder, not the monkey!" village resident John Marr barked into the microphone.

Cormier, who was hobbling on crutches after breaking his leg days before, stayed cool. But on this night and in the hearings to follow, he ran into a powerful argument from suburban politicians, who stoked it for all it was worth: Why would any suburban taxpayer in their right mind want a wasteful and inefficient Saint John City Hall running their community?

Cormier continues to believe that full amalgamation would be a good thing for the region, bringing the professional and business elite back to the city. He also knows it's unlikely to happen for the very reason raised more than a dozen years ago.

"The only way you could ever make a case for putting them together again is to clean up City Hall and have a good track record for five to 10 years, and go back and say, OK, let's look at this again.

"But until people believe Saint John City Hall is operating fully effectively, fully efficiently and all those things, you're just pushing water uphill."

**********

Many blame a complacent, comfortable culture at City Hall. Cormier, a consultant and the former head of the Saint John Board of Trade, has felt for years that common council and city management could do a better job.

During the amalgamation assignment that began in 1996, Cormier pushed hard for Grand Bay and the towns of the Kennebecasis Valley to merge with the city. He thought taxes could be lower for everyone if services were shared. The province was also willing to give millions more back in the form of grants.

The deal breaker was suburban revolt. The politicians railed against amalgamation at those public meetings and fiercely lobbied government MLAs. There were many reasons why people were opposed, but the coup de grace was the overwhelming feeling that the city was mismanaged and couldn't be trusted with their tax dollars.

Cormier, a city resident, understood the sentiment and included in his final report that full amalgamation should go ahead only if there was a performance review for city management and the city manager was hired on a five-year contract. The province ultimately watered down the plan, and Saint John remained on its own.

It was, Cormier believes, a big mistake. He thinks suburbanites should help pay for more of the infrastructure that Saint John provides as the region's economic engine.

Today, what remains missing from Saint John is program review and benchmarking against best practices elsewhere.

For years, the board of trade pushed for a full-scale operational review of city services. This practice has been used by successful provincial governments stretching back to the McKenna years, and the federal government of Jean Chrétien, to slay their monster annual deficits. Program review often results in job losses, hiring and pay freezes.

Pressure has been put on Saint John to do the same, but the city has always resisted. The closest it came was in 2005, when council hired the Toronto consulting firm Chartwell to do a review. However, the terms of reference, drawn up by council, transformed the enterprise into a review of the city's governance structure. The lead consultant, Alan Mitchell, recommended that the city move toward a committee system of government, similar to Fredericton's. Three years later, the project has stalled. The new council is having second thoughts about the whole thing.

City manager Terry Totten says he would welcome a full program review.

"Until very recently, councils in Saint John have been somewhat reluctant to hire outside consultants," Totten said. "Lately, we've swung the other way pretty quickly. But from a city manager's perspective, what would I have to lose? I have everything to gain."

Totten says staff will recommend a value-for-money audit to council later this year. It's based on a motion spearheaded by new councillor Carl Killen. Totten says he likes the idea of someone giving independent advice.

"I'll use this example. I have tremendous respect for the management of our fire service. Quality professionals. They inform me, they show me, they demonstrate to me (what they need), but it's still expensive. Why would I not just love to have someone - not an accountant, but operations people - to come in for $50,000 so I could say, 'I want you to review what I'm being told about the fire service and give myself and common council recommendations'. The next year, let's do our street services. I would absolutely love that."

Many say the audit is long overdue. Saint Johners who are fed up with the way their city is run have voted with their feet. The city's population has steadily dropped to 68,043 in the latest count two years ago from 89,039 in the 1971 census. That's a loss of nearly 21,000 people over 35 years.

The reasons for the exodus, of course, are many, but it's not hard to figure out where many of these people went. The suburbs, run by different councils and administrations, have ballooned as Saint John has deflated.

It can't all be blamed on foggier summers in the city, either.

Over the past 25 years, Saint John has had the highest property tax rate in New Brunswick, with the exception of one year, 1998, when its rate was a fraction of a penny lower than Moncton's.

The household water and sewerage bill, at $696 a year, is fourth-highest in the province, and the most costly of the three largest cities.

A city survey in 1999 showed that almost half the roads were in poor or very poor condition and had to be completely rebuilt. The jarring situation has not improved since. Drinking water does not go through a modern treatment system. People have to put up with an average of 80 watermain breaks a year, occasional periods of brown or murky water and, every so often, a boil order to protect them from illness. The fix is years away and the repair bill that will be passed along to ratepayers will be staggering.

Years of cuts to recreation programs mean sports fields, parks, community centres, arenas and the Canada Games Aquatic Centre have slowly decayed. Even tree planting was axed. The Simonds Centennial Arena was demolished nine years ago and nothing has replaced it. The annual recreation and culture budget is about half of the $14.7 million Moncton spends to attract young people and families.

An estimated 120 boarded-up buildings blemish the city, but the Building and Inspection Services department calls it an aesthetic problem and insists little can be done.

One in five Saint Johners is poor, yet they're subsidizing top-drawer salaries and benefits of civic employees, whose contracts consistently outstrip inflation.

The pension plan for city employees has been in the hole for seven years, despite local taxpayers bailing it out by more than $19 million. The 'going concern' deficit - the estimated shortfall to fully fund the pensions of future retirees - is said to be hovering somewhere near $70 million.

The city's annual operating budget is the largest among the province's municipalities, yet many people who attend ward meetings say service is the pits. Year after year, the city budget is late and the process provides for little feedback from the public on how its money is spent.

If nothing changes, and Saint John's economic surge peters out in a few years, it's not hard to believe the city's depopulation will continue. Given the long-term trend, Saint John could be out of people and out of business in a few generations.

**********

People who understand budgets and think about these problems say there's much more room for improvement at City Hall. To waste extra money that comes in thanks to the energy boom and soaring housing values would not fix the long-term problems that bedevil Saint John.

Cormier says if it wasn't for a healthier-than-usual real estate market in Saint John, the city would be in deep financial trouble. He's not impressed with the performance of common council or staff over the years.

"If there were a magical world where you could wave a wand, without restrictions from the Municipalities Act, I would put in a board of directors and a CEO, and performance targets ever year that are directed toward long-term outcomes."

In practical terms, many objectives could be accomplished, Cormier says. Take the tax rate, which for homeowners is $1.79 for every $100 of assessed property. Council could say to the city manager it wants the rate reduced by 10 cents over a decade. Each year, it would monitor progress in achieving that goal.

This could be one of five or six long-term goals that would be tracked each year. After each budget the politicians could ask whether the target was attained and if it was done effectively.

"At the end of the year, if the two sentences don't bond, guess what? The city manager hasn't done his job. And he's gone. That's the way it is supposed to work in a very simplistic terms. But it doesn't work that way."

A former high-ranking provincial official who would not consent to be identified, says Saint John City Hall lacks accountability.

"When I talk to people, they're never sure they're being told the true story. They can't trust city management."

Because of that lack of accountability, people get frustrated when issues don't get resolved. The ward meetings are a classic example. People show up who have beefs in their neighbourhoods, and the flash point is City Hall, which they believe ignores their concerns.

"You start to wonder whether they're going to get anything right."

Unlike the city, the province has detailed policy books setting out what management can and cannot do. In terms of accountability, a senior civil servant must answer to the minister, cabinet and central agencies. The checks and balances include the department in question, the minister and the auditor general. There's also the opposition debating in question period. In Saint John, almost everything goes through the city manager. This, the former provincial official believes, is one of the biggest problems.

"They all could be good, but they're caught in a culture. They're all very competent, but only in a certain way of doing business. They're not good at finding a more affordable approach. They're working on the basis that no one gets too pissed off at City Hall, rather than how can I get this done the most effectively at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers?"

In any government, he says, five to 10 per cent of the annual budget is flexible. The other 90 to 95 per cent is predetermined by existing agreements, not the least of which are labour contracts. So the question for council becomes, instead of fighting over the five to 10 per cent they quibble over each year, how do we wrest back control of the remaining 90 per cent? The provincial government, he points out, is currently under program review to find savings to avoid a huge deficit. Why isn't the city doing the same thing to find savings and stretch tax dollars?

To restore confidence, you need third-party validation.

"Bring in someone to assess or give a critical analysis of the existing management. The easiest way is benchmarking. How is the city performing against other cities?"

Water Plant is No. 1 Priority

SAINT JOHN - The construction of a single water treatment plant by 2012 is common council's top priority - but not all city politicians are satisfied with the remaining goals.

A new water treatment plant heads the list of 10 priorities council members endorsed Monday night as the main goals they will seek to achieve over the next four years.

They also include conducting a value-for-money audit of city services, boosting investment in recreational facilities and assuming responsibility for revitalizing the city's five priority neighbourhoods.

Council's top priority - a single, new water treatment plant - is a critical issue for many city residents, who faced three boil water orders within the first six months of this year.

The existing distribution facilities provide almost no protection against cryptosporidium, a bug that can cause serious waterborne epidemics. They offer only part-time protection against giardia, an intestinal parasite.

The water will not meet impending federal health guidelines and, over many decades, it may cause cancer. That's because the water system uses large volumes of chlorine and harmful byproducts of the chemical trihalomethanes could lead to cancer if ingested over a sustained period of time.

The priorities will be incorporated into ward meetings and council will meet with management and staff to discuss the goals and develop plans. Council also plans to meet with Enterprise Saint John regarding the priorities, and it will hold a follow-up meeting in January, 2009.

Council's priorities include:

* Water treatment plant built by 2012.

* Complete value-for-money audit and establish management benchmarks. Upon completion, staff will develop a plan that mandates a report on efficiency and effectiveness three times a year.

* A significant reinvestment in existing recreational facilities and programs with the goal of planning and constructing one new recreational facility based on the needs in the community.

* Create a greener community by championing strategies for reducing waste while encouraging the sustainable development and use of renewable energy.

* Build comprehensive funding for cultural infrastructure.

* Update the Municipal Plan in line with Council priorities.

* The City must take ownership in the revitalization of our five priority neighbourhoods through leadership embedded in City Hall.

* Establish a clear mandate for accessible workplace for the disabled.

* Expand the role of Saint John Non-Profit Housing to be responsible for housing in Saint John with appropriate level of resources.

* Establish an economic development function within the City's administration.

Canaport LNG terminal cretes buzz for Maritime Markets

An anticipated influx of liquefied natural gas into the Canaport LNG terminal carries untapped opportunity for the Maritime markets that could boost economic development, according to the Atlantica Centre for Energy.

The National Energy Board released its recommendations into a 25-year licence application for Repsol Energy Canada Ltd. to import liquefied natural gas and export regasified LNG into the U.S. northeast. The licence will become final following a consultation period.

Spanish-based Repsol is partnering with Irving Oil Ltd. to build the LNG terminal near Saint John.

Market studies undertaken by Repsol show that up to one quarter of the LNG it expects to bring to the new Saint John terminal could be sold into the Maritime market.

Tim Curry, president of the Atlantica Centre for Energy, said that availability of new quantities of natural gas will be a huge benefit to local economic development.

"A quarter of a billion cubic feet per day of discretionary capacity would be two to two and half times what the Maritimes is using now, it allows for a lot room for growth," Curry said.

Repsol Energy North America has a daily contract to sell one billion cubic feet a day, but only three-quarters of that is destined to pre-arranged buyers, leaving the rest to be put on the market.

"Given that not all of the applied-for export volume is contractually committed to the export market, Repsol reiterated its commitment to make gas available to Maritimes Canada on competitive terms and conditions," the documents said.

"We're pleased that the NEB concluded that this new source of natural gas supply will be a very beneficial resource for energy markets in Canada and the Northeast U.S.," said Phil Ribbeck, president of Repsol Energy Canada, Ltd. and Repsol Energy North America Corporation, in a release.

The report filed with the national regulator from Concentric Energy Advisors indicated that there is "significant long-term demand" for natural gas in the region and that growth will be fuelled by access to LNG and the reduction in domestic supply.

"The demand projections also indicated that the Atlantic Canadian market by itself is not sufficient to absorb the entire output from the Canaport LNG terminal. Repsol indicated in its application that the ability to export the natural gas to serve anchor markets in the U.S. northeast is therefore fundamental to the availability of incremental supplies to serve Canadian markets," the report said.

Repsol was given the licence on Thursday to import LNG to the Canaport terminal in Saint John and export shipments. The company had applied in January for a 25-year licence to supply 365 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas annually into the terminal and export up to one billion cubic feet a day of gas to customers in the United States.

The national regulator said in a release it had concluded that the operation would be a "useful addition to the supply of natural gas in North America."

Curry said the long-term licence, which had been opposed by some interveners earlier this year in favour of a 10-year deal, is a "major step forward" because it offers more stability.

"What this does is give business the confidence to invest in facilities and manufacturing processes that require natural gas," Curry said. "It also gives long-term choices to residential and commercial customers to make the commitment to invest in natural gas."