PlanSJ Open House December 8th

A New Direction: Saint John's Choice for Growth and Change

The City of Saint John is moving into the next Phase of PlanSJ and is looking for feedback on the draft choice for Growth and Change.

Wednesday, December 8th

5:00pm-9:00pm

UNB Grand Hall at 40 Charlotte Street

Click here to view the invitation.

Finance minister invites public input on budget process

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs launched the provincial government’s pre-budget consultation process at a luncheon speech hosted by the Saint John Board of Trade today.

Higgs said the revised deficit, reflecting information available to the end of September, will be more than $800 million for 2010-11, compared to the deficit of $749 million projected in the budget, due to higher-than-projected spending.

Higgs will release an economic and fiscal update in the coming days. He said the large deficit will require that the provincial government, in partnership with people from across the province, find new and innovative ways to deliver services more efficiently.

“Our fiscal circumstances are unprecedented and simply unsustainable,” Higgs said. “We have to ask ourselves some tough questions. Our main goal is to get our fiscal house in order and return to balanced budgets over four years.”

Higgs noted that the provincial debt will grow to more than $9 billion at the end of the current fiscal year from $6.6 billion in 2006-07.

Tackling the fiscal challenge has already started, and doing so will be especially important in the government’s budget for 2011-12, he said.

Higgs announced a number of steps that will be taken to get as much public input as possible about the budget. Starting today, New Brunswickers can write or e-mail the Department of Finance with their budget suggestions.

In December, an online pre-budget questionnaire will be posted on the Department of Finance website. The questionnaire will ask what New Brunswickers view as priorities and how the provincial government can address the financial challenge.

Early in the new year, the minister will attend public meetings throughout the province to discuss budget priorities.

Pre-budget discussions will focus on three topics:
● what should be the provincial government's priorities for the 2011-12 budget?
● should the provincial government raise additional revenues to address its fiscal challenge? If so, what measures should be undertaken?
● should the provincial government reduce its spending in certain areas to address its fiscal challenge? If so, what measures should be undertaken?

“We need your help to make these choices,” said Higgs. “We need you to tell us how we can save money and where we have to spend. Together, we will act decisively to avoid passing this debt burden onto our children and grandchildren. I look forward to engaging in this discussion with New Brunswickers – a discussion that will help set the path for our future.”

To view the original news release click here.

NBCC AGM Invitation

Annual General Meeting
Assemblée Générale Annuelle

You are cordially invited to attend the New Brunswick Chamber of
Commerce Annual General Meeting.

Vous êtes cordialement invité à l’assemblée générale annuelle de la Chambre
de Commerce du Nouveau-Brunswick.

December 7th, 10:00 / le 7 décembre, 10h00
Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce conference room
Salle de conférence de la Chambre de commerce du grand Moncton

Please confirm your attendance by December 2nd, 2010
S.V.P. veuillez confirmer votre présence avant le 2 décembre, 2010
Tel/Tél: (506) 737-1868
Fax/Télécopieur: (506) 737-1862
Email/Courriel : n.pelletier@nb.aibn.com

APCC views hydroelectric deal as endorsement of regional economic cooperation

The announcement by Emera Inc. of the $6.2-billion deal reached to develop power from the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in Labrador and eventually build transmission links through to Nova Scotia is welcome news to the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC), which has been promoting regional economic cooperation for nearly two decades.

“At APCC, we have been promoting the need for regional strategies for years. This deal is an endorsement of what we have been advocating for since 1991,” says Bill Denyar, APCC president and CEO.

APCC is wrapping up the current phase of the Atlantica Project, a multi-year project entirely focused on regional economic cooperation, with a series of discussions with business and community leaders throughout the region.

“Atlantica is about working together as a region to maximize our opportunities to create growth and prosperity for future generations in Atlantic Canada, and this agreement definitely supports our belief that together we can build a stronger regional economy,” he says. “It is a true representation of what can be accomplished through regional cooperation.”

Representing over 16,000 businesses, the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce is an alliance of more than 100 local chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Atlantic Canada.

APCC calls on Atlantic premiers to step up efforts on regional economic cooperation

The Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC) has been advocating for economic cooperation amongst the four Atlantic Provinces for decades and today calls on the four Atlantic premiers to join forces now and step up efforts to force real progress to secure a bright future for all Atlantic Canadians.

Speaking at the Saint John Board of Trade, APCC’s president and CEO Bill Denyar presented Rebranding Atlantica – One region, One strong voice. In his presentation, he discussed the history of both APCC and its Atlantica initiative.

APCC is wrapping up the current phase of the Atlantica Project, a multi-year project focused on regional economic cooperation.

Most people in Atlantic Canada have at one time or another heard of or read about Atlantica. And today, Denyar updated Saint John and area business and community leaders on the Atlantica concept’s past, present, and future.

“We want people to know that, at APCC, Atlantica is all about working together as a region to maximize the opportunities we have to create growth and prosperity for future generations,” he says.

Behind the Atlantica brand, it has always been APCC’s intent to encourage businesses to partner across the region, across provincial and international borders, to compete together on the global stage and to excel.

Accomplishing regional economic cooperation means governments must reduce barriers to trade, invest in infrastructure, and make rules and regulations more consistent, effective, and business friendly, so commerce thrives and communities grow and prosper.

“Atlantica is about seizing opportunities for growth and prosperity for a promising future,” says Denyar. “Recently, news stories have highlighted calls for regional energy strategies. APCC has been promoting the need for regional strategies for years. That’s what Atlantica is about.”

With the current Atlantica project formally coming to an end, APCC’s president and CEO says moving forward the organization will focus on enhanced advocacy efforts to effectively promote Atlantic prosperity through regional cooperation.

Representing over 16,000 businesses, the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce is an alliance of more than 100 local chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Atlantic Canada.

Saint John Board of Trade announces recipient of 2010 “Chair’s Award”

Michael Murphy, Chairman of the Saint John Board of Trade is pleased to announce his choice for the 2010 “Chair’s Award” to be presented at the 26th annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards dinner on Wednesday, November 24th at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre.
The Chair’s Award was established in 1993 to recognize a company, or individual, who has demonstrated a particular excellence or achievement in a certain aspect of their business, having made either an immediate impact on or a substantial long-term contribution to the economic progress of our community.
“It is my pleasure to announce that the recipient of the 2010 Saint John Board of Trade Chair’s Award is Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick” said Mr. Murphy. “Having opened its door to the first class of students this past September, the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick is a significant step in not only addressing the doctor shortage in our Province, but also in growing a knowledge cluster at Tucker Park.”
“The synergies at Tucker Park are greater now with the opening of the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. Being located adjacent to the Regional Hospital, the tertiary care hospital for our Province, there are great opportunities for these young people to learn and for future growth and investment in the health sciences sector” Mr. Murphy continued. “The opportunities for research are very exciting.”
The program at UNB Saint John, the idea of which was originally conceived by Saint John residents back in the 1930s, saw its first 30 New Brunswick students enrolled this past September. This four year undergraduate program to train new doctors in New Brunswick complements the already existing medical education program at the Regional Hospital which trains clerks and residents from various schools including Dalhousie and Memorial University.
While the program is based at the Saint John campus, the program is provincial in scope and will utilize state-of-the-art video conferencing technology stretching to clinical sites in Moncton, Fredericton and Miramichi.
Mr. Murphy is looking forward to presenting the Chair’s Award to Dr. Michael Barry, Dr. Pat Darrah and Dr. John Steeves who will accept the Award on behalf of the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick.
The 26th annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards dinner, Saint John’s Premiere annual business event, will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 24th at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre. Tickets are available by contacting the Board of Trade office at 40 King Street, Saint John or by calling (506) 634-8111.
Past recipients of the Chair’s Award include: Mr. Philip Oland in 1993; Saint John Pro Sports Inc. in 1994; Mr. Malcolm Somerville in 1995; the Imperial Theatre Inc. in 1996; Mr. Patrick Darrah in 1997; Cruise Saint John’s “Meet & Greet” Committee and the Irving Companies in 1999; New Brunswick Community College-Saint John and the University of New Brunswick Saint John in 2000; Mr. Lino Celeste in 2001; The Greater Saint John Roundtable on Primary Healthcare in 2002; Mr. Stephen MacMackin in 2003; Dr. Mary Eileen Travis in 2004; The five regional mayors were honoured as group in 2005; The Atlantica Centre for Energy in 2006; the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI) in 2007; Bob Manning in 2008; and Gerry Pond in 2009.
The Saint John Board of Trade is a nationally accredited business organization dedicated to fostering an economic climate that enhances growth, prosperity, and an improved quality of life in the community. With more than 1,000 members, representing 600 small, medium, and large businesses and organizations and therefore, the interests of more than 30,000 citizens, the Board is a dynamic advocate and the principal voice for the business community of Greater Saint John. It offers a variety of programs, activities, services, and networking opportunities designed to enhance the business prospects of members and the overall business climate of the area.

West Side Public Meeting - AIM Proposed Metal Shredder - November 9, 2010

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION
Proposed Metal Shredder – Saint John, New Brunswick
American Iron & Metal LP proposes to undertake the installation of a metal shredder to supplement their current operations near Pier 10 at the Port of Saint John. The site encompasses an area of approximately 24 acres and is located on federal land leased from the Saint John Port Authority.
Environmental assessments pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation of the New Brunswick Clean Environment Act are being undertaken for the proposed project.
A public information session will be held on
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
to inform the public about the proposed undertaking.
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Carleton Community Centre 120 Market Place West Saint John
Information about this project is available at http://www.sjmetalrecycle.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SÉANCE D’INFORMATION PUBLIQUE
Déchiqueteur de métal proposé – Saint John,
Nouveau-Brunswick
L’American Iron & Metal LP propose d’entreprendre l’installation d’un déchiqueteur afin de compléter ses activités actuelles près de la Jetée 10 au Port de Saint John. L’emplacement, qui compte une superficie approximative de 24 acres, est situé sur un immeuble fédéral loué à l’Administration portuaire de Saint John.
Des évaluations environnementales du projet proposé sont entreprises en vertu de la Loi canadienne sur l’évaluation environnementale et du Règlement sur les études d’impact sur l’environnement de la Loi sur l’assainissement de l’environnement du Nouveau-Brunswick.
Une séance d’information publique aura lieu le
Mardi 9 novembre 2010
afin d’informer le public de l’entreprise proposée.
Heure : de 18 h à 19 h 30
Lieu : Centre communautaire Carleton 120 place Market Saint John, Nouveau Brunswick
Les informations sur ce projet sont disponibles ici http://www.sjmetalrecycle.com

The Saint John Board of Trade writes letter to PlanSJ Advisory Committee

To view letter click here

Saint John Board of Trade announces recipient of 2010 “Big Heart Award”

The Saint John Board of Trade is very pleased to announce the recipient for the Outstanding Business Achievement “Big Heart Award” category. The 26th annual awards dinner and presentations will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24th at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre.
The Big Heart Award, established in 2003, recognizes those who are working to make this community a better place to live through their support of charitable or other community causes. This award is open to non-profit or charitable organizations, or to companies for their support (through time and money) of those organizations.
The independent judging panel has selected Saint John Kiwanis Club as this year’s recipient of the Big Heart Award.
Originally chartered in 1926, the Saint John Kiwanis Club was the first Kiwanis club in New Brunswick and, over the years, has had an impact on the community far out of proportion to its small membership numbers.
The 30 current members of the Saint John Kiwanis Club raise the funds necessary to carry out the club’s many service projects through two major fundraising initiatives each year, the Kiwanis Cash Calendar and the Christmas Gift Wrap station at McAllister Place Mall. Proceeds of the calendar go directly to children in the community through such programs as the Saint John Kiwanis Orthodontic Program, Regional Hospital Pediatric Care Unit, Juvenile Diabetes, and Key Industries, a facility that provides supported services, community connections and meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities. Among many other local projects supported by the club are the Saint John Milk Fund, the Kiwanis Playground at Rockwood Park and the Kiwanis Youth Leadership Program.
The Kiwanis Club of Saint John contributes not only to youth programs in the local community but to many causes on the international level as well. The core of the Kiwanis mission is the belief that the most effective way to enhance a community is through its children; that when you give a child the opportunity to learn, experience, dream and succeed, great things can happen. Today the Saint John club is part of a global organization of over 600,000 volunteers in 15,000 clubs in more than 90 nations, all dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.
Previous recipients of the Big Heart Award were The Greater Saint John Community Foundation in 2003, the Irving companies in 2004, The United Way of Greater Saint John in 2005, the Saint John YM-YWCA in 2006, the Carpenters Training Centre in 2007, Canaport LNG in 2008, and Key Industries in 2009.
The Saint John Board of Trade is a nationally accredited business organization dedicated to fostering an economic climate that enhances growth, prosperity, and an improved quality of life in the community. With more than 1,000 members, representing 600 small, medium, and large businesses and organizations and therefore, the interests of more than 30,000 citizens, the Board is a dynamic advocate and the principal voice for the business community of Greater Saint John. It offers a variety of programs, activities, services, and networking opportunities designed to enhance the business prospects of members and the overall business climate of the area.