[ErickMontreal]

Next thread.

[bluenoser]

Yowser, this is a fair amount of stuff.

Things are looking really good, particularly the waterfront stuff. I think the Emera pipeline is generating some controversy with NS, though. Oh well, it'll be of no architectual significance... yet much economic significance...

Hopefully there will be some more highrises being planned in the future.
Cool. We should start a Saint John construction thread, eh? Even if it's not sticky yet...
Nice! Thanks for all the information!

[ErickMontreal]

Yowser, this is a fair amount of stuff.

Things are looking really good, particularly the waterfront stuff. I think the Emera pipeline is generating some controversy with NS, though. Oh well, it'll be of no architectual significance... yet much economic significance...

Hopefully there will be some more highrises being planned in the future.

Nice! Thanks for all the information!

Thanx for the idea !:)

[MTL Lucas]

Having grown up in the suburbs of Saint John, I have to say that it was a pretty depressing place. That being said, all of these developments are really great news. The fact that all of this is even planned, let alone actually built, is unprecedented.

These projects manage to include many new sources of remunerative employment and also help add to the critical mass of economic activity in energy and industrial sectors already present in SJ. The jobs that will be created to service and supply the multiple companies in this sector will be significant as well.

Also, SJ is taking on an urbanity which would have been utterly unthinkable only a short time ago. With l´Opera on Prince William, the Alehouse in Market Square, the Saint John Theatre Company and Sebastians (the Martini bar uptown) you can actually see the emergence of a livelier and more (excuse the buzz word) cosmopolitan set of businesses to service an increasingly sophisticated population. Maybe this is weird to people not from or familiar with SJ, but a Martini bar uptown verges on the miraculous.

The Waterfront (Coastguard site) development is great for bringing a more middle class population back to the centre and will, hopefully, itself bring the services needed to sustain future gentrification and redevelopment (i.e., a grocery store uptown, more shops, and even - dare we dream - a proto-cafe culture)

All in all, very good news. HalifaxMtl666 thanks for all the information!

[Coyett]

( :: CRUISESHIP / WATER STREET DEVELOPMENT :: )

City : Saint John
Corporation : Saint John Port Authority
Status : Planning
Completion : 2008
Links:www.sjport.com/english/news_events/article.asp?PressID=125

Cruiseship terminal

Bay of Fundy Cruise Welcome Centre - Saint John Port
http://static.flickr.com/94/285389574_17f7dffe54_o.jpg


:(

What happened to the Bermello Ajamil & Partners proposal?

http://www.bamiami.com/maritime/projectDetail.aspx?pId=124&pgId=4

http://www.bamiami.com/projects/124/big4.jpg

[MTL Lucas]

We need to change the name of the thread -

St.Johns = Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador

Saint John = Largest city in New Brunswick

Saint John is never abbreviated to avoid confusion (always Saint John for NB and St.John´s for NL).

From the St.John´s., NL Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s%2C_Newfoundland) -

"Not to be confused with Saint John, New Brunswick."

[ErickMontreal]

We need to change the name of the thread -

St.Johns = Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador

Saint John = Largest city in New Brunswick

Saint John is never abbreviated to avoid confusion (always Saint John for NB and St.John´s for NL).

From the St.John´s., NL Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s%2C_Newfoundland) -

"Not to be confused with Saint John, New Brunswick."

Well, I know, I`ll ask for the change soon

Thanks for your comments. I`m agree with you Saint John seem to be very depressing mainly in foggy day. I hope Saint John will attract more retails, because Moncton beats Saint John for the Hub of shopping in New-Brunswick. On the other hand Uptown Saint John is really more urban than Moncton Downtown. I like both of them... :)

[ErickMontreal]

:(

What happened to the Bermello Ajamil & Partners proposal?

http://www.bamiami.com/maritime/projectDetail.aspx?pId=124&pgId=4

http://www.bamiami.com/projects/124/big4.jpg


I don`t know but the Bermello Ajamil & Partners rendering is mush better for sure. I hope they will choose and built this one.

thank you

[Stanzmastertron3000]

I noticed yesterday it said Saint John, and it looks as if a mod came and edited it to St John's.

Assuming that was a Canadian moderator, they should be stripped of said status!

[Coyett]

Diamond + Schmitt to rebuild New Brunswick Museum
Archiseek / Canada /

Architecture News / 2006 / September 30
The New Brunswick Museum has announced that the Toronto-based Diamond + Schmitt Architects have been chosen to redesign the institution and give it more space and improved facilities. Established in 1842, it is Canada's oldest continually operating museum, but at its current location in Market Square, Saint John, it can only display 5 per cent of its collection. This includes a Hall of Great Whales, a strong decorative-arts collection from the 18th and 18th century, when New Brunswick was an international shipbuilding centre, and the Maritimes' largest research collection of bird specimens -- about 10,000 skins, skeletons, eggs and nests.

The museum chose Diamond +Schmitt, which has won more than 100 national and international awards for planning and design, from among 12 competitors. Jack Diamond, who led the team for Toronto's new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, will serve as the principal in charge, with Michael Leckman as project architect. Leckman was design director for the University of Toronto's Bahen Centre and the Medicine Hat Arts and Heritage Centre. "We were really impressed by the firm's ability to present international architecture in an environment that speaks to New Brunswick," says Jane Fullerton, the museum's director. "The waterfront will be a key part of that."

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Saint John = Largest city in New Brunswick

Just an FYI, Moncton is now the largest City and Metro in New Brunswick.

[ErickMontreal]

Just an FYI, Moncton is now the largest City and Metro in New Brunswick.


Probably but Saint John has more project`s and skylines than Moncton, this is the reason why I made a thread about Saint John.

No offence for Moncton.

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Probably but Saint John has more project`s and skylines than Moncton, this is the reason why I made a thread about Saint John.

No offence for Moncton.

I realize that, and I only corrected 'MTL Lucas' I tried to back it up with a link, but other than Wikipedia, I can't find any info from the 2006 census.

[ErickMontreal]

I realize that, and I only corrected 'MTL Lucas' I tried to back it up with a link, but other than Wikipedia, I can't find any info from the 2006 census.



Population (2005):
126,600 Saint John Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)
Regional catchment and commuter population of 175,000

I found that about Saint John, nothing about moncton

[ErickMontreal]

Diamond + Schmitt to rebuild New Brunswick Museum
Archiseek / Canada /

Architecture News / 2006 / September 30
The New Brunswick Museum has announced that the Toronto-based Diamond + Schmitt Architects have been chosen to redesign the institution and give it more space and improved facilities. Established in 1842, it is Canada's oldest continually operating museum, but at its current location in Market Square, Saint John, it can only display 5 per cent of its collection. This includes a Hall of Great Whales, a strong decorative-arts collection from the 18th and 18th century, when New Brunswick was an international shipbuilding centre, and the Maritimes' largest research collection of bird specimens -- about 10,000 skins, skeletons, eggs and nests.

The museum chose Diamond +Schmitt, which has won more than 100 national and international awards for planning and design, from among 12 competitors. Jack Diamond, who led the team for Toronto's new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, will serve as the principal in charge, with Michael Leckman as project architect. Leckman was design director for the University of Toronto's Bahen Centre and the Medicine Hat Arts and Heritage Centre. "We were really impressed by the firm's ability to present international architecture in an environment that speaks to New Brunswick," says Jane Fullerton, the museum's director. "The waterfront will be a key part of that."


Another great news, thanx you!

[MTL Lucas]

I realize that, and I only corrected 'MTL Lucas' I tried to back it up with a link, but other than Wikipedia, I can't find any info from the 2006 census.

Sorry, I should have qualified. I was going on the general rule that SJ is larger as per the last 2001 Census data from -

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CMA-P.cfm?PR=13

The population info for the 2006 census is only released March 13, 2007.

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/RelDates_e.cfm

Assuming the same rates of growth seen in between the 96 and 01 censuses, the populations of the two cities should now look something like this -

122 082 - Moncton CA (3.7% growth from 2001 for the CA)
119 732 - Saint CMA (2.4% decline from from 2001 for the CMA)

That, however, wouldn't be accurate as Saint John has done better from 2001 to 2006 than it did from 1996 to 2001 (I am sure much, or a considerable portion, of population loss in that census was due to the end of Shipbuilding and the subsequent departure of several hundred families).

I checked out Enterprise Saint John (http://www.enterprisesj.com/en/index.php?id=14 - this is where the Wikipedia info is from) and they show what HalifaxMTL666 said -

126,600 Saint John Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)
Regional catchment and commuter population of 175,000

Those are 2005 numbers and they also make sense - Saint John has a more extensive and farflung network of suburbs and de facto bedroom communities so actual changes in population are not accurately reflected by simply examining the CMA.

The Moncton CA is increasingly similar in size and growing faster than the SJ CMA but I don't believe that it has attracted the 9,000 people it would have needed to outrank the SJ CMA since the last census. Even if this were to occur, SJ would still have a considerably larger commuter basin.

Additionally, The Saint John CMA would probably post the strongest growth in the province if the second refinery goes ahead and the LNG plant is a success.

[MTL Lucas]

I just read this at -

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.cbc.ca/04102006/3/finance-business-irving-oil-plans-second-refinery-saint-john.html

".... the company has plans to build a new refinery that would eventually have the capacity to process 300,000 barrels of oil a day and employ about 1,000 people full-time. The target market for the product would be the United States.

To accompany the expansion, Irving Oil would also build a new corporate office tower, most likely in uptown Saint John."

1,000 well paying jobs is enough to get excited about, but a new office tower Uptown is further good news. I wonder where you could build a new office tower Uptown..? Maybe this could be an anchor tenant in the Coast Guard site or Lantic Sugar?

[Coyett]

I wonder where you could build a new office tower Uptown..? Maybe this could be an anchor tenant in the Coast Guard site or Lantic Sugar?

Nah, the Irvings don't usually cooperate with other developers. Plus, if they were interested in either of the sites you mentioned they'd already own them. ;)

[patboy]

Moncton have a big project for the revitalisation of the downtown.

http://www.moncton.org/search/english/highlights/DowntownVisionFinal.pdf

[ErickMontreal]

I just read this at -

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.cbc.ca/04102006/3/finance-business-irving-oil-plans-second-refinery-saint-john.html

".... the company has plans to build a new refinery that would eventually have the capacity to process 300,000 barrels of oil a day and employ about 1,000 people full-time. The target market for the product would be the United States.

To accompany the expansion, Irving Oil would also build a new corporate office tower, most likely in uptown Saint John."

1,000 well paying jobs is enough to get excited about, but a new office tower Uptown is further good news. I wonder where you could build a new office tower Uptown..? Maybe this could be an anchor tenant in the Coast Guard site or Lantic Sugar?




I hope the new HQ will be modern, hight and in uptown ! :)

[ErickMontreal]

Sorry, I should have qualified. I was going on the general rule that SJ is larger as per the last 2001 Census data from -

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CMA-P.cfm?PR=13

The population info for the 2006 census is only released March 13, 2007.

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/RelDates_e.cfm

Assuming the same rates of growth seen in between the 96 and 01 censuses, the populations of the two cities should now look something like this -

122 082 - Moncton CA (3.7% growth from 2001 for the CA)
119 732 - Saint CMA (2.4% decline from from 2001 for the CMA)

That, however, wouldn't be accurate as Saint John has done better from 2001 to 2006 than it did from 1996 to 2001 (I am sure much, or a considerable portion, of population loss in that census was due to the end of Shipbuilding and the subsequent departure of several hundred families).

I checked out Enterprise Saint John (http://www.enterprisesj.com/en/index.php?id=14 - this is where the Wikipedia info is from) and they show what HalifaxMTL666 said -

126,600 Saint John Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)
Regional catchment and commuter population of 175,000

Those are 2005 numbers and they also make sense - Saint John has a more extensive and farflung network of suburbs and de facto bedroom communities so actual changes in population are not accurately reflected by simply examining the CMA.

The Moncton CA is increasingly similar in size and growing faster than the SJ CMA but I don't believe that it has attracted the 9,000 people it would have needed to outrank the SJ CMA since the last census. Even if this were to occur, SJ would still have a considerably larger commuter basin.

Additionally, The Saint John CMA would probably post the strongest growth in the province if the second refinery goes ahead and the LNG plant is a success.


It is important to clarify that Dieppe is mainly the reason why Moncton grow quickly ! Dieppe has increase her population by 7000 since 1996-census. It is clear Moncton is more friendly for French that come from north. Moncton has a better retail sector and seem to be more clean. Saint John needs to be more attractive but it is clear now, there is a wind of change in this city.

All news update are in Saint john news section.

[MTL Lucas]

Nah, the Irvings don't usually cooperate with other developers. Plus, if they were interested in either of the sites you mentioned they'd already own them. ;)

I´ve been away too long - I forgot the Irvings don´t descend from Olympus to mingle with the locals.

Given that you have a point, I can´t think of anywhere else with free space Uptown (i.e., somewhere they could tear down buildings without being accused of destroying heritage - no matter how poorly maintained). I suppose they could rip down some 1950´s monstrosity outside of the preservation area (anything along Union Street for example).

[Keith P.]

All in all, very good news.

Well, despite it all, it's still Saint John. :yuck:

[MTL Lucas]

Well, despite it all, it's still Saint John. :yuck:

That is something they have to deal with.

[ErickMontreal]

Well, despite it all, it's still Saint John. :yuck:

Well, Its this kind of reaction Saint John need to change...but

I saw at CBC News in french(SRC)a little documentary about Saint John pipeline. I like Saint John but i am against that pipeline pass through the city by Rockwood park. Many citizens are scared about pipeline into the city. Emera can get this pipeline under fundy bay, they just don`t want to pay the extra cost. The most important thing is that many of them are scared about reprisal by Irving oil. In that case, Saint John still seem to be a little "Banana republic". Deal or no deal... no other position.. It is a shame for the democracy

[Coyett]

I can´t think of anywhere else with free space Uptown (i.e., somewhere they could tear down buildings without being accused of destroying heritage - no matter how poorly maintained). I suppose they could rip down some 1950´s monstrosity outside of the preservation area (anything along Union Street for example).

The company has a sizable real estate portfolio in the center of the city.
Take King Square for example; they own the parking lots next to and behind the Imperial Theatre as well as the building on the site of the former supermarket.

King Square North (former Dominion store):
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/Architecture/irving.htm

King Square South (Imperial Theatre District):
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/Architecture/images/beattyold.jpg

[ErickMontreal]

The company has a sizable real estate portfolio in the center of the city.
Take King Square for example; they own the parking lots next to and behind the Imperial Theatre as well as the building on the site of the former supermarket.

King Square North (former Dominion store):
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/Architecture/irving.htm

King Square South (Imperial Theatre District):
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/Architecture/images/beattyold.jpg


Do you think Irving can use one of this vacant lots or buildings to get built his new HQ?

Commercial properties, a Irving divison has many vacant lots and buildings all around the town, they can use one of it too

[someone123]

That old picture of the Dominion store is interesting. I remember other photos such as the one of the hospital on the hill before it was demolished that really made Saint John look like a larger, busier city than it is today.

[Coyett]

While we're on the topic of Saint John, a lighting design for the harbor bridge would also go a long way toward rehabilitating the city's image.

http://www.mts.net/~william5/bwa/102.jpg

http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/1533/sjhb1.jpg

[ErickMontreal]

While we're on the topic of Saint John, a lighting design for the harbor bridge would also go a long way toward rehabilitating the city's image.

http://www.mts.net/~william5/bwa/102.jpg

http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/1533/sjhb1.jpg

Wow the light under the bridge is effective now?

[MTL Lucas]

The company has a sizable real estate portfolio in the center of the city.
Take King Square for example; they own the parking lots next to and behind the Imperial Theatre as well as the building on the site of the former supermarket.

King Square North (former Dominion store):
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/Architecture/irving.htm

King Square South (Imperial Theatre District):
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/Architecture/images/beattyold.jpg

The parking lots around the Imperial are hideous - I would be so happy to see something, especially something like this, done with them. Maybe they would extend the indoor connection to the Imperial and this new office complex if it is built here. One can only hope I suppose.

[MTL Lucas]

That old picture of the Dominion store is interesting. I remember other photos such as the one of the hospital on the hill before it was demolished that really made Saint John look like a larger, busier city than it is today.

The old General Hospital was beautiful - I think if it were still standing today (given the city´s change in spirit) it would be refurbished for future use.

The white box that was built in its stead is perhaps the worst misuse of space in the city.

[MTL Lucas]

While we're on the topic of Saint John, a lighting design for the harbor bridge would also go a long way toward rehabilitating the city's image.

http://www.mts.net/~william5/bwa/102.jpg

http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/1533/sjhb1.jpg

This would be amazing - also a different shade of paint so the bridge looked better during the day, maybe Red, would be a big help.

Where do you get all these cool pictures and information on SJ?

[ErickMontreal]

The old General Hospital was beautiful - I think if it were still standing today (given the city´s change in spirit) it would be refurbished for future use.

The white box that was built in its stead is perhaps the worst misuse of space in the city.

Lol it`sugly

and I think the Saint John Indoor pedway system is the more important in Atlantic

[Coyett]

Wow the light under the bridge is effective now?

No, just something I always thought would enhance the bridge's appearance. To my knowledge, the bridge authority has never seriously considered introducing a lighting scheme.

[ErickMontreal]

No, just something I always thought would enhance the bridge's appearance. To my knowledge, the bridge authority has never seriously considered introducing a lighting scheme.

ok... its could be nice to see something like that get done

Do you live in Sj area?

[someone123]

Here is the image I was talking about:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/iwmac/Main_Street_with_Hospital.jpg

[MTL Lucas]

I found information about a new plan for public transportation at -

http://www.saintjohntransit.com/index.php?id=4

Saint John Transit, in partnership with the Saint John Parking Commission, is working towards a Commuter Express System which would include Rothesay, Quispamsis, Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton and St. Martins. While the initial elements are in place for launch in the summer of 2007, the plans for ComX are not yet finalized. A formal proposal request for funding under Bill C-66 has been made and currently awaits approval of government.

I certainly hope that they get the needed funding. The rush hour in Saint John (especially on the Mackay Highway to/from Rothesay, Quispamsis and Hampton) is quite heavy for a city of its size and needs to address. Additionally, such a plan would help make the city more accessible from its suburbs for people without cars.

[Coyett]

Alright, time for a few more of my proposals!

Market Square & Coast Guard Site

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/chung68/cymcolormixingsystem.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/119/285325532_26394bd8ed.jpg


Imperial Theatre & Courthouse (motion image projector)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/chung68/promotionimageprojector.jpg

http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/Architecture/images/29.jpg

http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/Architecture/images/courthouse2.jpg

[ErickMontreal]

Alright, time for a few more of my proposals!

Market Square & Coast Guard Site

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/chung68/cymcolormixingsystem.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/119/285325532_26394bd8ed.jpg


Imperial Theatre & Courthouse (motion image projector)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/chung68/promotionimageprojector.jpg

http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/Architecture/images/29.jpg

http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/Architecture/images/courthouse2.jpg



Coast Gurad is already in project in section project but the rest is awesome

[ErickMontreal]

News Update

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=2464632#post2464632

[ErickMontreal]

Here is the image I was talking about:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/iwmac/Main_Street_with_Hospital.jpg


Thanx you ! this is really huge

[ErickMontreal]

I saw at CBC News in french(SRC)a little documentary about Saint John pipeline. I like Saint John but i am against that pipeline pass through the city by Rockwood park. Many citizens are scared about pipeline into the city. Emera can get this pipeline under fundy bay, they just don`t want to pay the extra cost. There are a risk for the population in that case. The most important thing is that many of them are scared about reprisal by Irving oil. Saint John still seem to be a little "Banana republic". Deal or no deal... no other position.. It is a shame for the democracy

I would want your comments on that

[Haliguy]

I saw at CBC News in french(SRC)a little documentary about Saint John pipeline. I like Saint John but i am against that pipeline pass through the city by Rockwood park. Many citizens are scared about pipeline into the city. Emera can get this pipeline under fundy bay, they just don`t want to pay the extra cost. There are a risk for the population in that case. The most important thing is that many of them are scared about reprisal by Irving oil. Saint John still seem to be a little "Banana republic". Deal or no deal... no other position.. It is a shame for the democracy

I would want your comments on that

I am quite amazed how Saint John bows down to Irving the way they do. For one thing building an LNG facilty that close to a city is just crazy and then to get hardly anything on taxes for having it there is just insane....then to top it all off they want to build a high pressured pipe line right through the city is just crazy. Is Saint John that desperate for business I mean really. At least in NS the two planned LNG's are in less popultated areas with fair taxes to the communities.

[ErickMontreal]

I am quite amazed how Saint John bows down to Irving the way they do. For one thing building an LNG facilty that close to a city is just crazy and then to get hardly anything on taxes for having it there is just insane....then to top it all off they want to build a high pressured pipe line right through the city is just crazy. Is Saint John that desperate for business I mean really. At least in NS the two planned LNG's are in less popultated areas with fair taxes to the communities.

I am agree with you. Moreover, Irving has 54 properties along the proposed pipeline, this is one of the reasons why Irving wants that Emera gets pipeline built through the city. Anyway, Saint John citizens are not informed about the risks because all english newspapers in the province are owned by Irving and obviously in favour of this pipeline

[skyscraper_1]

Irving owns New Brunswick both figuritivly and literally.

btw Saint John has a lot going for it! Keep up the good work!

[MTL Lucas]

I am quite amazed how Saint John bows down to Irving the way they do. For one thing building an LNG facilty that close to a city is just crazy and then to get hardly anything on taxes for having it there is just insane....then to top it all off they want to build a high pressured pipe line right through the city is just crazy. Is Saint John that desperate for business I mean really. At least in NS the two planned LNG's are in less popultated areas with fair taxes to the communities.

Saint John has essentially been stagnating or declining for 100 years. The population is aging rapidly, the best and brightest don't stay and the city is literally facing demographic collapse.

They are incredibly desperate for business - the pipeline, along with all of this development, is something unprecedented in SJ. The city government faces criticism for cowing to the Irvings but would face much worse if it was reported that they let several hundred jobs get away.

[ErickMontreal]

Pipeline foes accuse council of selling out

John Mazerolle
Telegraph-Journal
As published on page C2 on November 28, 2006

SAINT JOHN - It was in with a whisper and out with a bang at a town hall meeting Monday night involving members of common council and concerned citizens.

The first two hours at the Boys and Girls Club saw a quiet discussion that was like a mix between a council session and a meeting of the Village Neighbourhood Association, an advocacy group for the city centre.

Prostitution, truck traffic, and recycling bins were among the items discussed in a conversation that was occasionally inaudible because of a malfunctioning microphone.

Then came a brief bit of fireworks as members of the anti-pipeline group the Friends of Rockwood Park confronted council, particularly an angry Leland Thomas, who demanded in a loud, quavering voice why council decided to "sell out" by endorsing the land-based route for the proposed natural-gas transmission line, which will take the pipe through Rockwood Park.

The councillors and Mayor Norm McFarlane left after a few brief exchanges.

The meeting itself was very subdued, with about 50 citizens listening to city staff members and the occasional councillor respond to questions from a few members of the crowd.

Only five citizens spoke during the entire meeting, with at least three of them belonging to the Village Neighbourhood Association.

Debbie Cooper, a member of the association and the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, had concerns about how prostitution has crept in the direction of the club. She said she has been forced to clean up syringes that have been found less than 100 metres up the road.

"I didn't want to wait, because kids are inquisitive," she said.

Const. Jim Fleming, the community police officer in that area, said police are aware of the problem and are working on a solution, although he didn't get into specifics.

The amount of truck traffic in the uptown was also discussed, with Coun. Ivan Court mentioning that the $15 fine for heavy trucks that drive through the city illegally needs to be raised.

"If we give those truck drivers a $200 fine that's coming out of their pay cheque and that will stop them from breaking the law," he said.

Dan Robichaud, an uptown business owner and another member of the association, spoke on almost every topic during the evening, including the lack of recycling bins in the city centre.

Coun.Glen Tait, who is on the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission, said the commission is "only too happy to accommodate areas that want more recycling," though citizens and city staff alike said it is difficult to find places where the people or businesses living nearby will allow them.

After the meeting was over, the pipeline protesters approached some of the councillors who had remained behind.

Thomas approached Tait, but Tait told him he would not talk with him while he was angry because the conversation would not be "intelligent."

Tait said he would be glad to sit and talk with him later.

_____________________________________________________________

Energy boom holds key to expanded air service

Sandra Davis
Telegraph-Journal


SAINT JOHN - By the end of the year, Saint John should know whether it will have a flight to Boston, New York - or both.

Right now, Mayor Norm McFarlane and the Board of Trade are surveying commercial clients to figure out how best frequent business flyers would be served.

"I hope by the end of the year we'll have a plan together," the mayor said Tuesday from Florida, where he is attending pension board trustee training.

Once the need has been determined, further meetings will be held with two interested U.S. carriers, who McFarlane declines to name. Negotiations have been going on for about six months between the Saint John Airport Authority, the city and the carriers.

Getting the proposed natural gas pipeline and establishing Saint John as the region's energy hub is key to beefing up the city's air service, the mayor said.

"We need more flights within Canada and certainly to the U.S. Once you've got the energy hub, other companies are going to want to locate here," he said.

When the mayor was in Boston last month, firms were talking about Saint John and expressed an interest in exploring business opportunities with the city, the mayor said.

"They all knew what was going on in Saint John," he said, and are interested to hear more about the energy hub because of the opportunities they see n Saint John in everything from IT to construction, petrochemical, plastics and the service industry.

"There are all kinds of things that energy will attract."

Earlier this month, Air Canada announced it is adding 27 new flights each week in and out of New Brunswick, including up to three flights a week from Saint John to Montreal and, as of Nov. 1, Air Canada Jazz upgraded its evening flights between Saint John and Halifax to a bigger plane, almost doubling its capacity.

Earlier this fall, Toronto-based SunWing Airlines announced it will offer direct flights from Saint John to the Dominican Republic, Florida and Mexico between March and May.

This is the first time Saint John area residents have been offered non-stop charter flights to southern destinations.

Saint John Airport CEO John Buchanan has said the city's position as an energy hub will increase the demand for flights and attract airlines.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John has essentially been stagnating or declining for 100 years. The population is aging rapidly, the best and brightest don't stay and the city is literally facing demographic collapse.

They are incredibly desperate for business - the pipeline, along with all of this development, is something unprecedented in SJ. The city government faces criticism for cowing to the Irvings but would face much worse if it was reported that they let several hundred jobs get away.


Well, you knows best too. If city accept pipeline right thought the city they will put in danger many citizens along pipeline and if they don`t accept the deal, they let get away energie hub and jobs linked with

[MTL Lucas]

Energy boom holds key to expanded air service

Sandra Davis
Telegraph-Journal


SAINT JOHN - By the end of the year, Saint John should know whether it will have a flight to Boston, New York - or both.

Right now, Mayor Norm McFarlane and the Board of Trade are surveying commercial clients to figure out how best frequent business flyers would be served.

"I hope by the end of the year we'll have a plan together," the mayor said Tuesday from Florida, where he is attending pension board trustee training.

Once the need has been determined, further meetings will be held with two interested U.S. carriers, who McFarlane declines to name. Negotiations have been going on for about six months between the Saint John Airport Authority, the city and the carriers.

Getting the proposed natural gas pipeline and establishing Saint John as the region's energy hub is key to beefing up the city's air service, the mayor said.

"We need more flights within Canada and certainly to the U.S. Once you've got the energy hub, other companies are going to want to locate here," he said.

When the mayor was in Boston last month, firms were talking about Saint John and expressed an interest in exploring business opportunities with the city, the mayor said.

"They all knew what was going on in Saint John," he said, and are interested to hear more about the energy hub because of the opportunities they see n Saint John in everything from IT to construction, petrochemical, plastics and the service industry.

"There are all kinds of things that energy will attract."

Earlier this month, Air Canada announced it is adding 27 new flights each week in and out of New Brunswick, including up to three flights a week from Saint John to Montreal and, as of Nov. 1, Air Canada Jazz upgraded its evening flights between Saint John and Halifax to a bigger plane, almost doubling its capacity.

Earlier this fall, Toronto-based SunWing Airlines announced it will offer direct flights from Saint John to the Dominican Republic, Florida and Mexico between March and May.

This is the first time Saint John area residents have been offered non-stop charter flights to southern destinations.

Saint John Airport CEO John Buchanan has said the city's position as an energy hub will increase the demand for flights and attract airlines.

That is great to hear - flying to and from Saint John was prohibitively expensive and limited for a long time - things seem to be improving.

I don't know why they don't try to land a flight to London or Paris via Zoom - surely Southern NB could support a twice-a-week trans-Atlantic flight.

It would also be ideal if SJ could have a flight to a big American hub - like Atlanta or Chicago, because it would bring many destinations much closer and would (I'm fairly certain) be quite profitable for the airline offering it.

[ErickMontreal]

That is great to hear - flying to and from Saint John was prohibitively expensive and limited for a long time - things seem to be improving.

I don't know why they don't try to land a flight to London or Paris via Zoom - surely Southern NB could support a twice-a-week trans-Atlantic flight.

It would also be ideal if SJ could have a flight to a big American hub - like Atlanta or Chicago, because it would bring many destinations much closer and would (I'm fairly certain) be quite profitable for the airline offering it.

The major problem in that case is that Moncton has a International airport. It will be more complex for them to attract more international destinations. To set up more flights within Canada to Saint John, they can try to attract "West Jet" in town, they are both in Moncton and Halifax as well. As you said, that great to hear.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John Board of Trade : Priorities for 2007

http://www.sjboardoftrade.com/BOT_Priorities_2006.pdf
_____________________________________________________________

International power line under construction in New Brunswick

November 28, 2006 - 12:33 pm
By: Broadcast News


LEPREAU, N.B. - Construction has begun on a new power transmission line intended to boost New Brunswick's ability to export electricity to the United States.

Premier Shawn Graham and the presidents of NB Power and Bangor Hydro turned the sod on the project today near New Brunswick's Point Lepreau nuclear power station.

The new 345-megawatt line is in addition to an existing 700-megawatt line that's about 30 years old.

New Brunswick Energy Minister Jack Keir says the new line will be especially useful if a proposed feasibility study recommends the construction of a second reactor at Point Lepreau.

The New Brunswick portion of the line covers 95 kilometres and will cost about $60 million.

NB Power spokesperson Pam MacKay says the line should be in use
by Dec. 1, 2007.
_____________________________________________________________

Recent photos

::Uptown Saint John::
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::King Street::
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::City Market::
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::Uptown Saint john::July and November 2006
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http://static.flickr.com/115/300558272_3271904306_o.jpg
::Corner King Street and Prince William::
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::Mercantile Center::
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::Others::November 2006

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[ErickMontreal]

Waterfront racino proposal sinks

Development Local group says it will go to Moncton instead

John Mazerolle
Telegraph-Journal
As published on page C1 on November 29, 2006

SAINT JOHN - The $300-million proposal for a waterfront harness racing track and casino appears to be dead in the water.

Common council has decided it is not willing to hold the land for one year while a group of local entrepreneurs worked on strengthening their business plan and obtaining more land. Dave Ryan of Greenspace Development Holdings Ltd. said he learned this week from city manager Terry Totten that the city is not interested in giving them a one-year option.

"If they're not willing to work with private developers on public land, there will be no true growth," said Ryan, using one of the city's development catchphrases.

The proposal included a harness racing track and a 126-room hotel in the shape of a ship. It also included a marine park, a marina, mixed housing units, a sea spa, and a multi-purpose ball field. If the entire project had been completed as envisioned, it would have encompassed the old Lantic Sugar site, a large part of Lower Cove wharf, the Barrack Green Armoury and several privately held lands where businesses operate in the South End.

Ryan's group wanted the opportunity to approach the Port of Saint John, the Department of National Defence, and private landowners about buying their properties or, in the case of the port, making a land swap.

The group would have then rewritten its proposal based on the answers ot received. Ryan says the $300-million cost was never an issue.

But council instructed Totten in a recent closed-door meeting to tell the entrepreneurs that the city is not willing to hold the land for a year.

In an interview, Totten said council still encourages the group to work on the project. If the group makes progress, council would then consider selling the land at fair market value, he said.

Mayor Norm McFarlane could not be reached for comment.

Ryan said the group will look at investing in other areas instead, including Moncton.

"Moncton seems to be a little more prepared to move forward" with this kind of development, he said.

Ryan said his group looked closely at the city's True Growth Strategy and the Waterfront Development Corporation's Opportunity for Developments as it drew up plans. But the development guidelines in those documents are incorrect if the city won't accept private money, he said.

In response, Totten said council has a record of welcoming private investment, such as the construction of the East Point shopping complex on Westmorland Road.

________________________________________________________________

Developers scrap $300M track, casino in Saint John

Developers won't build a $300-million racino — a facility that hosts both a harness racing track and VLT terminals — and hotel on the Saint John waterfront, a spokesman says.

Greenspace Development Holding had asked the city for a one-year option on land the city owns. The group wanted time to solidify its business plan and buy other pieces of land around the city-owned Lantic Sugar site.

However, city council decided that it wasn't willing to hold the land for one year while Greenspace explored the possibility of acquiring the other pieces of land.

Dave Ryan, a spokesman for Greenspace, said Tuesday that the company would look into whether another city was interested in the development.

"If our investors are willing to go forward with the project, then we have to look elsewhere," he said.

To go ahead with the project, the company would have also had to acquire land currently owned by the Saint John Port Authority and the federal Defence Department.

To hold up a prime piece of land for a year without knowing whether the others are going to be there is not really fair to other developers that might want that piece of land," said Mayor Norm McFarlane.

A racino was to be the centrepiece of the project. It would also have included housing, a hotel, a spa and a baseball field.

[MTL Lucas]

I really didn´t like this project (The Racino) from the start and I think the city can do better. Let Moncton have it.

HalifaxMtl666 - nice pictures!

I also wanted to mention that Saint John is opening the first Anglophone Medical School in the province in 2008 at UNBSJ and the Regional Hospital.

Here is the link from the SJ Board of Trade -

http://www.sjboardoftrade.com/BOT_Priorities_2006.pdf

That is great news! A medical school is a serious addition to the campus and city.

[ErickMontreal]

I really didn´t like this project (The Racino) from the start and I think the city can do better. Let Moncton have it.

HalifaxMtl666 - nice pictures!

I also wanted to mention that Saint John is opening the first Anglophone Medical School in the province in 2008 at UNBSJ and the Regional Hospital.

Here is the link from the SJ Board of Trade -

http://www.sjboardoftrade.com/BOT_Priorities_2006.pdf

That is great news! A medical school is a serious addition to the campus and city.


I hope Saint john will be able to find another projects for Lantic Land. Anyway Coast guard get on underground soon!

I really agree with you for medical shcool!!!

[Varlik]

I'm betting that this project would never have happened anyway. An idea without the money to make it happen is just an idea and there's no shortage of those. I'm happy that the city didn't grant exclusive rights to the land without any guarantees that the project would move forward, we've seen that happen before and it ends in disaster.

I also bet that there will be an announcement before long of a project that actually WILL go ahead on the Lantic Sugar site, one that has funding and will be a more suitable use of prime downtown realestate than a race track.

[Coyett]

The major problem in that case is that Moncton has a International airport. It will be more complex for them to attract more international destinations. To set up more flights within Canada to Saint John, they can try to attract "West Jet" in town, they are both in Moncton and Halifax as well. As you said, that great to hear.

A boost in tourism would also help to attract more airlines.

Fundy Trail Parkway a priority (06/10/19)
NB 1287

FREDERICTON (CNB) - Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson met with A.D. Fiander Associates Ltd. President Allan Fiander to review plans for Phase II of the Fundy Trail Parkway. Fiander has been contracted by the Fundy Trail Development Authority, Inc. as the project manager, and is responsible for the engineering design work and execution of the project.


Phase I of the Parkway has welcomed over 400,000 visitors since it originally opened in 1998. It is a seasonal coastal access network which showcases the natural uniqueness of the Fundy escarpment. It includes: 11 km of low speed auto parkway with scenic outlooks, 16 km multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists, footpaths to beaches and estuaries, and a 270 sq. m (3,000 sq. ft) Interpretation Centre.

Plans for Phase II of the project include a 125 m. steel bridge across Big Salmon River, 17 km of parkway and 41 km of public road upgrades.

"Completion of the Fundy Trail Parkway project provides major positive economic impacts for New Brunswick," Jamieson said. "It offers a retention-oriented cluster of eco-tourism experiences that today's and tomorrow's visitors and tourists are searching for - a natural, pristine, coastal destination with appropriate areas, attractions and activities for a wide range of visitor profiles."

Phase II of the project will link the Fundy Trail with Fundy National Park and create a world class coastal tourism route connecting the Reversing Falls, the caves of St. Martins, the Fundy Trail, Fundy National Park and the Hopewell Rocks.

Within 10 years of completion of Phase II, the total direct and indirect job creation is expected to reach 750 sustainable jobs per year in the tourism sector. Total annual visitation is forecasted to grow from about 55,000 in 2005 to about 235,000 by 2014. Demand for overnight accommodations is expected to increase dramatically, with 30,000 additional visitor parties of overnight accommodations in the first full year of operation. Ten years after completion, about 115,000 additional visitor parties per year are expected.

"A completed Fundy Trail Parkway will create a critical mass of significant tourism attractions on a coastal access route through the Fundy Escarpment that will attract visitors to NB as well as entice those travelling through NB to lengthen their stay," Jamieson said. "It will be an important catalyst for significant new business growth and expansion in the small rural communities on the route between Saint John and Moncton."

06/10/19

[ErickMontreal]

Unemployment rate rose to 6.3% in November, from 6.2% in October

OTTAWA (CP) - More people went looking for work in November and that helped push the unemployment rate up 0.1 of a percentage point to 6.3 per cent, despite the creation of 22,000 new part-time jobs.

Statistics Canada said Friday the economy has created 89,000 jobs since August. Alberta continued its boom last month, adding 10,000 new jobs. However, the provincial unemployment rate rose 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.1 per cent as more people entered the market.

So far this year, Alberta has created 112,000 new jobs. That's a 6.2 per cent increase, three times the national growth level.

The statistics agency said Alberta accounted for 40 per cent of the national job growth this year.

In Nova Scotia, unemployment fell almost a full point to 7.4 per cent, a 30-year low.

In Central Canada, Ontario produced 19,000 new jobs last month, but unemployment was unchanged at 6.4 per cent. Quebec lost jobs and saw unemployment inch up to eight per cent from 7.7 per cent.

Both provinces have been hit by job losses in manufacturing. Ontario alone has lost 63,000 factory jobs so far this year.

The natural resources sector has helped drive job growth this year with 36,000 new positions, mostly in Alberta and British Columbia.

OTTAWA (CP) - The national unemployment rate was 6.3 per cent in November. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities but cautions the figures may fluctuate widely because they are based on small statistical samples. (Previous month in brackets.)

-St. John's, N.L. 7.7 (8.0)
-Halifax 4.9 (5.2)
-Saint John, N.B. 5.9 (6.1)
-Saguenay, Que. 8.6 (8.8)
-Quebec 6.1 (5.7)
-Trois-Rivieres, Que. 7.2 (8.0)
-Sherbrooke, Que. 7.9 (8.1)
-Montreal 7.9 (8.0)
-Gatineau, Que. 5.6 (4.9)
-Ottawa 5.6 (5.2)
-Kingston, Ont. 5.1 (5.7)
-Toronto 6.9 (6.7)
-Hamilton 6.4 (6.5)
-Kitchener, Ont. 5.3 (5.3)
-London, Ont. 6.3 (6.7)
-Oshawa, Ont. 6.9 (6.8)
-St. Catharines-Niagara, Ont. 6.7 (6.6)
-Sudbury, Ont. 6.7 (7.7)
-Thunder Bay, Ont. 7.2 (7.8)
-Windsor, Ont. 8.7 (8.8)
-Winnipeg 4.5 (4.3)
-Regina 4.7 (4.8)
-Saskatoon 3.1 (3.7)
-Calgary 2.8 (3.2)
-Edmonton 3.8 (4.1)
-Abbotsford, B.C. 4.0 (4.2)
-Vancouver 4.3 (4.1)
-Victoria 3.8 (4.0)

[ErickMontreal]

I'm betting that this project would never have happened anyway. An idea without the money to make it happen is just an idea and there's no shortage of those. I'm happy that the city didn't grant exclusive rights to the land without any guarantees that the project would move forward, we've seen that happen before and it ends in disaster.

I also bet that there will be an announcement before long of a project that actually WILL go ahead on the Lantic Sugar site, one that has funding and will be a more suitable use of prime downtown realestate than a race track.

I wish they announce something soon and something like coast guard, a mix use (Retail/school/Condo/Office).

[ErickMontreal]

I found information about a new plan for public transportation at -

http://www.saintjohntransit.com/index.php?id=4

Saint John Transit, in partnership with the Saint John Parking Commission, is working towards a Commuter Express System which would include Rothesay, Quispamsis, Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton and St. Martins. While the initial elements are in place for launch in the summer of 2007, the plans for ComX are not yet finalized. A formal proposal request for funding under Bill C-66 has been made and currently awaits approval of government.

I certainly hope that they get the needed funding. The rush hour in Saint John (especially on the Mackay Highway to/from Rothesay, Quispamsis and Hampton) is quite heavy for a city of its size and needs to address. Additionally, such a plan would help make the city more accessible from its suburbs for people without cars.

New Brunswick gets onboard with federal bus grants

New Brunswickers who ride city buses will soon have swank new rides, thanks to a $9.4 million federal grant to improve public transit in the province's three largest cities.

Fredericton will get $1.9 million, which Coun. Marilyn Kerton says will buy 15 new buses for the city fleet.

"We're really pleased and really, really excited and the timing's just perfect for us," she said.

Kerton says the city will replace older buses, some of which go back more than two decades.

"It also means for the disabled population in the city that we're going to get one more disabled bus, which is going to improve service for the disabled population," she said.

Kerton says some of the funding will also pay for an expansion of the maintenance building where the buses are stored.

New Brunswick Transportation Minister Denis Landry says the federal investment will also buy new buses in Moncton and Saint John, and help the environment because the new rides will be more fuel efficient and produce less emissions than older vehicles.

"It fits right under our greenhouse gas policy," Landry said, adding that funding announcements for transit in Saint John and Moncton will be made soon.

[ErickMontreal]

I would like to know the status of these projects by now :

http://www.irvinggreenindustrialpark.com/default.aspx?id=13

http://www.westsidebypassroad.com/

[someone123]

Employment rates really aren't great indicators of the health of an economy. Declining unemployment could mean that people are getting jobs, or it could mean that they're leaving or are simply giving up.

[ErickMontreal]

West development sure thing: totten

Retail City manager says construction should take place in 2008

John Mazerolle
Telegraph-Journal
As published on page C1 on December 7, 2006

SAINT JOHN - City manager Terry Totten says the big retail expansion on the West Side is a sure thing, though it likely won't take place until 2008.

"I'm absolutely convinced that the West Side development will occur," Totten said in an interview Wednesday. "That area is ripe. The community expects it, and the retailers want it."

A Wal-Mart, a new Canadian Tire and a Sobeys have all been rumoured for the Fairville Boulevard area, as have a new Superstore, a Shoppers Drug Mart and an Empire Theatres complex.

The city and Plaza BNG Inc., the Montreal-based group behind the project, entered into a draft sales agreement about four months ago, Totten said. Since then the two sides have been "negotiating legal process," but Totten insists that the issues are normal for this kind of development and the project will move forward soon.

"We have been advised by Plaza that they have finalized their locations with the big-box retailers that are going onto that site," he said, though he would not divulge the businesses that would be part of the development.

One sticking point has been a new location for Saint John Transit's bus terminal, which would be torn down as part of the project. Totten said the city is looking at four locations for a new terminal, and will base its decision on price, quality of the land, and handiness to bus routes.

Totten says that "in a perfect world" the deal with Plaza will be finalized sometime next month. The city's western municipal works depot, which is adjacent to the transit terminal, would be vacated in the summertime. Then the transit facility would be vacated, no later than spring 2008.

"At this point, things are going well," he said.

Frank McCarey, general manager of Saint John Transit, has said that a new facility would require storage and maintenance garages and an administrative building on about five acres of land.

Totten did not name the specific sites for the new depot. Most bus terminals in Canada are at industrial parks because the land is cheaper and the proper zoning is already in place.

In late November, common council gave Plaza access to the land on the Golden Mile so it could carry out surveys and testing - essentially allowing the developer to kick the tires of the land it is buying. Totten said that was done to show that the project was still moving along.

Fairville Boulevard is not the only development Totten has his eye on. The huge East Point shopping complex on Westmorland Road is moving ahead, and Totten said Horizon Management's construction of Retail Drive has gone better than he would have imagined.

Retail Drive will connect with the existing Marlborough Avenue, which Horizon is developing into a four-lane street. The final product will be one long street - all called Retail Drive - from Westmorland Road to Rothesay Avenue.

The street is nearing completion, and Totten said it should go a long way to alleviating traffic congestion in the area.

Officials haven't disclosed the names of the stores and hotel that will find a home at East Point, though the access road to one section of the shopping complex hints at clothing: The road's name will be Fashion Drive.

Totten said he's asked repeatedly if Costco or Chapters are coming to town, but he said he doesn't know.

"They (Horizon) are in a competitive market and they don't disclose who their clients are," Totten said, though he did note that Mayor Norm McFarlane has approached both Costco and Chapters about coming to the city generally.

Totten contends that if a high enough concentration of businesses takes root on the East and West Sides, the uptown will also benefit. The centre of the city will see a sort of reverse urban sprawl, he believes, as businesses set up shop in the core.

"It's a pendulum," he said. "It'll move back and forth

[ErickMontreal]

As published on page C1 on December 9, 2006


Ottawa needs to lower price on its coast guard site

John Mazerolle
Telegraph-Journal


SAINT JOHN - The highly anticipated development of the Coast Guard site is a "long ways away" because the federal government's asking price for the site is too high, the city manager says.

Terry Totten says the city's project with the Hardman Group, a private firm, has not moved ahead because Ottawa appraised the location without taking into account how much it would cost to make the area ready for development.

"It's a wharf, so the thought that you can just go in and build there is just not going to happen," he said. He did not divulge the amount of the appraisal.

Earlier reported estimates suggested that the property - owned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - would sell for $3 million to $4 million, a cost that could be borne by the city and then recouped through a lease to the Hardman Group.

The scope of the $75-million project would be the largest for the uptown since the development of Market Square more than two decades ago. If the project moves ahead, the site will be redeveloped to include a hotel, condominiums, residential units, commercial and retail space, parking and an educational technology complex, all connected to Harbour Passage and the inside pedway.

When the project's details were first announced in December 2005, some officials optimistically suggested that the development could start in the summer of 2006. But the project hasn't gone very far.

"Whether it's the Coast Guard side or (the city-owned and adjacent) Peter's Wharf, any cost of the construction because of the nature of the land is going to be high," Totten said. "It's going to be difficult to make anything cost-effective down there."

The potentially high cost of construction on the site has already had ill effects. NB Liquor recently backed out of negotiations with the Hardman Group to set up a high-end store on the property because construction costs made the rental price too high.

"It would have been a good location, but it was out of our range," said Mike O'Brien, vice president of facilities for the government corporation.

One glimmer of hope for Totten is that, according to Treasury Board of Canada rules, the site must be appraised every two years. He is expecting the results of another appraisal before Christmas.

"I believe that the appraised value of that site should reflect that it would be tens of millions of dollars to get that site ready," he said.

The appropriate officials at federal Public Works, the department responsible for appraising the land, could not be reached for comment.

William Hardman, the president of the Hardman Group, was confident the project would go ahead. But he said that the federal government needs to take into account three things - the lack of any true foundation at the site, the expense of building by the water, and the poor condition of the concrete seawall that protects the property from tides and erosion.

City engineers expect the seawall to collapse within the next 20 years, he said, adding that fixing it will cost several million dollars.

He said any construction will have a built-in "substantial cost" because concrete or steel piles are required to connect the building to the bedrock.

He compared it to the steel pegs that hold up a backyard playground.

"Without the pegs, the swing set falls down," he said.

Hardman said he doesn't consider the deal stalled. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes, he said. There is an unnamed hotel company committed to the project, and Hardman's company is ready to pre-market its residential units, he said.

He said that once the land is sold people will see work done within six months.

"We've made good progress," he said.

__________________________________________________________________


As published on page B3 on December 11, 2006


High-tech changing Saint John

David Shipley
Tech beat
Telegraph-Journal


Though the pace is quiet and slow, there is a high-tech tide of change happening in Saint John.

The industrial city, known throughout the country as a blue-collar town, is embracing information and communications technology at a faster pace than other municipalities in the province.

Over the last few weeks there have been several positive portents for the Port City's ICT sector.

Consider first the recent report by the non-profit ICT industry group, propelSJ. The group's findings showed Saint John is poised to add as many as 1,300 high-paying jobs in the ICT sector.

More than 600 of those jobs will be created over the next two years, representing a 132 per cent increase in employment in the sector.

What's even more interesting is the rest of the province is only expected to add another 400 jobs over the next few years, making Saint John the centre with the majority of the growth.

To put Saint John's growth in perspective, a second Irving Oil refinery in the city, if it's built, will add 1,000 full-time jobs.

The new Canaport liquefied natural gas terminal under construction in Mispec will add 40 full-time jobs.

If propelSJ's prediction plays out, the trends seem to show that the next generation of employees in Saint John will be more likely to wear business attire instead of coveralls and work boots.

While Saint John's energy hub concept has received a lot of attention - rightfully so given the billions of dollars in projects underway or proposed - perhaps it's time to start building a greater buzz about Saint John the IT hub.

In some ways that buzz is already starting to build.

As Saint John-based New Brunswick tech guru Gerry Pond points out, ICT firms dominated this year's Saint John Board of Trade's 22nd annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards last week.

ICT firm Centerbeam captured the gold award for business excellence, while Web 2.0-focused Evolving Solutions garnered the gold award for emerging enterprise.

Pond's own Mariner Partners also left with an accolade, getting the gold award for entrepreneurial achievement.

"To me that says something," said Pond this week. "You don't need a lot more proof that there are some things happening."

And there's going to be more ICT companies competing for the top business awards in Saint John.

Pond said while propelSJ's Launch 32 initiative, which aimed to see 32 new ICT companies start up in 32 months, hasn't launched as many companies as fast as he would have liked, more announcements about new start-ups are coming soon.

But while Saint John's tech star is on the rise, perennial rival Moncton is starting to get its geek game together.

The completion of its study on the ICT sector, which was done with the University of Austin's IC2 Institute, is a sign that Moncton is preparing to be a serious player.

Among the recommendations of the report is the creation of a business incubator in a physical building.

While propelSJ has its Catalict business incubator program in Saint John, the program doesn't provide actual office space for new start ups.

If Saint John's city council was smart, it would consider copying this recommendation by working with propelSJ and other private sector groups to open a physical building for new ICT companies.

The city could help by donating the value of the property taxes for a number of years. After all the city has cut property tax deals in the past for the energy sector and a deal on property tax for a small office building wouldn't cost nearly as much as previous deals.

Perhaps a company with some spare office space could donate the space for several years, as was done in Austin, Texas for their business incubator.

An investment by the city in creating a physical office space for new ICT startups, combined perhaps with a partnership with UNB Saint John and the private sector, could speed up the number of new ICT companies starting up in the Port City and help Saint John stay ahead of Moncton.

Saint John will likely always have gritty visual reminders of its industrial past, but smart investments and a bit of energy by the private sector and government could help it embrace its bright technological future.

David Shipley is a Moncton-based reporter for the Telegraph-Journal.

_______________________________________________________________


As published on page B1 on December 8, 2006


Saint John's hot housing market tops in region

Michelle Porter
Telegraph-Journal


SAINT JOHN - Nowhere in Atlantic Canada is the housing market hotter than in Saint John, according to the latest statistics.

And the reason, analysts say, lies in the current and expected boom in the energy sector.

"New Brunswick is the strongest of all the Atlantic provinces," Alex MacDonald, regional economist with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said Thursday. "That's a reflection of continuing strong growth in housing and in the oil and gas industry. There are a number of large projects which are helping to push non-residential [construction] numbers and we expect that to continue into next year."

MacDonald was responding to an unexpected surge in the construction sector, as numbers from a Statistics Canada report for the first 10 months of 2006 show the value of building permits pushing past the $6-billion mark across the country. That's the second-highest total in history.

Overall, the value of building permits in the province rose by 7.7 per cent in the year to October, with rises in commercial permits and housing permits that were almost equal. That's just 0.3 per cent below the growth seen in Halifax. Across Canada, the value of building permits rose 10.3 per cent. Both Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island saw declines in overall values.

But what is going on in Saint John is a different story.

"The numbers in Saint John inflate the numbers overall for New Brunswick," said Étienne Saint-Pierre, an analyst with Statistics Canada.

The value of Saint John's building permits surged by 21.4 per cent compared to the same period last year.

What does this mean?

"This mainly a reflection of the increase in demand in housing because the difference in the number of houses and the value is not very big," explained Saint-Pierre.

Bill Edwards with Building and Inspections at the City of Saint John predicted that Saint John would not see a slowdown in building activity anytime soon.

"I think what's happening in Saint John will be sustainable for a long time," he said.

The value of residential and commercial building permits issued in Saint John to the end of November is well over $101 million dollars. Last year's value peaked at $77 million dollars. The city has issued 1,142 permits, 182 of which were for multiple and single-family housing, representing 313 dwelling units. Last year, 166 housing permits were issued, representing 215 units.

The strength of the housing market is also reflected in housing starts, said CMHC's MacDonald.

"New Brunswick is showing the strongest level of growth. Single starts are declining the least amount in New Brunswick," he said.

Single starts are flat at best in most major cities across Canada because of the high cost of housing compared to income. First time-buyers tend to look at other kinds of housing, MacDonald said, such as semi-detached and condominiums.

"It's not surprising that New Brunswick is holding up well. The reason is that the economy is doing well. There is a resurgence in energy projects. There's a perception of optimism. I've seen what optimism does to an economy," he said.

"The challenges going forward will be price. That's why multiple units are already rising in New Brusnwick and Saint John. First-time home buyers are looking at semi-detached units because they still want to live in a house, but don't want the cost. That trend should continue next year, with starts focusing on higher-density units priced for the market.

NBers have the highest level of house ownerhship in Canada and New Brunswick is the strongest area of growth in term of rental construction.

[Smevo]

Here is the image I was talking about:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/iwmac/Main_Street_with_Hospital.jpg

Where do you find these images? :tup: You're always good for turning up historical photos, do you use a specific website/database or just "google" the cities?

It's good to see Saint John getting so many projects. It seems there's an upswing lately in the Maritimes as a whole, but most noticeable in places with bad reputations that were declining up until recently (eg- Saint John, Sydney, I'm sure there are others).

[MTL Lucas]

Hello,

The ICT Incubator sounds like a great idea, I am sure that a partnership with UNSBJ and private industry uptown could prove quite productive.

As for the Coast Guard site I am sad to hear that NB Liquor backed out - upscale developments like that are just what uptown needs to spur gentrification and further such development. I'm sure they will open somewhere else uptown, and I at least take comfort knowing that the Hardman group is looking at the tone and level of development.

It is also good to hear SJ's housing market is doing so well - I would like to see it in a metropolitan breakdown (to see if Grand Bay-Westfield/Rothesay/Quispamsis still represent the majority of growth).

I am especially happy to know that the federal transit funding for the Com-X program will be forthcoming. That will really change the urban dynamics of Saint John drastically.

http://www.saintjohntransit.com/img/comx_logo.jpg

At any rate, all very good news.

[MTL Lucas]

REVERSING FORTUNES

Hope returns to Saint John after years of economic stagnation and an exodus to Alberta, SHAWNA RICHER reports. A $7-billion proposal would position the city as an energy hub and help regenerate a lost population

SHAWNA RICHER -
Wednesday, November 1, 2006


SAINT JOHN -- This historic, industrial city on the picturesque Bay of Fundy is the archetypal land of Maritimes hope and dreams.

A thriving shipbuilding hub through the nineties, Saint John, like so many Atlantic Canadian towns and cities, has seen its economy stagnate and its population flee, mostly to booming Alberta. These days, however, the city's biggest employers are travelling west to stage job fairs, and business leaders are waging a public-relations war to try to lure back workers who left home.

A city of 69,961 built by private industry, largely the powerful Irving family whose name is on everything from the country's largest oil refinery and pulp mills to gas stations and building-supply stores, plucky Saint John has never given up the dream of returning to its glory days. Those good times may be around the corner, thanks to a new Irving megaproject and an energetic will to battle Alberta's population poaching.

"It's absolutely a crisis," said Bob Manning, a financial adviser and chair of the Saint John Board of Trade. He is also a former resident of Alberta who now makes the port city home.

"Our employees are being poached and companies are feeling it. It's going to hamper their growth if we don't deal with it today. But the good news is we have both the private and public sector willing to address it."

Irving Oil Ltd.'s proposed $7-billion state-of-the-art refinery would produce more than 300,000 barrels a day and employ 5,000 during construction and more than 1,000 long term. Operation is expected to start some time in 2012. The refinery, along with a forthcoming liquefied natural-gas terminal and Emera pipeline, will position Saint John as an energy hub for the northeastern seaboard.

Irving made the announcement last month, coinciding with a vigorous campaign by the business networking group Enterprise Saint John to get New Brunswickers to move back east.

"It's really a recognition of declining population, aging population, people seeing their kids move away and the movement towards the West," said Kevin Scott, Irving Oil's director of refining growth. "People are saying, 'What's this going to look like in 20 years if we don't do something?' Are all of our families going to be living out there? Are we creating a missing generation?"

New Brunswick took personally a recent insert published in Maritimes newspapers that urged job seekers to move to Alberta.

"This community got quite incensed," said Enterprise Saint John CEO Steve Carson. "We've spent a lot of time and energy over the last few years looking at work force issues in Atlantic Canada and looking at immigration and repatriation strategies for the coming years. We're bombarded every day with talk of our people going to Alberta. This is an urgent problem."

As part of its "Move East" agenda, Enterprise Saint John printed a cheeky response to the publication inviting those in Alberta to come to New Brunswick, poking fun at the West's staggering cost of living.

Mr. Manning grew up north of Calgary in the farming community of Delburne, attended St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and married a woman from Saint John. He lived in Somerset County, N.J., until shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, when he and Kelly decided to return to the Maritimes.

"Our choice was either Western Canada or Saint John, and we chose Saint John," he said. "Three of our children were born here. As a business community it had been very good to me. We made a quality-of-life decision. We like the Maritimes, being close to the water and the idea of a smaller community."

According to Statistics Canada, New Brunswick saw a net loss of 2,047 people during the first six months of this year. The preferred destination? Alberta. New Liberal Premier Shawn Graham made out-migration a major issue in his campaign, promising to bring New Brunswickers home "by the plane load."

Irving's pulp-and-paper division, JD Irving Ltd., and Moosehead Breweries are two employers that have started recruiting out west, selling the Maritimes quality of life and a chance to come home. They have little choice.

"There are holes in our organization because of retirement and growth and we're doing our best to cast the net," said Moosehead spokesman Joel Levesque, whose own 26-year-old son is working at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. On a recent visit to Calgary to see his son, they happened into a diner for breakfast and found "a huge table of Saint Johners. That's the story of out west."

Goin' Down the Road, the 1970 Canadian film about two Nova Scotians who seek a better life in Toronto, has long been the story of the Maritimes but has rarely been more of a going concern. To wit, earlier this week, more than 5,000 workers lined up for hours outside a hotel in St. John's, Nfld., for an Alberta job fair.

Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne said Alberta's aggressive recruiting of Maritimers has left the province no choice but to fight back to get them home and keep them from leaving in the first place.

"It's going to take a comprehensive strategy, but there are many things we can do. The most important thing is making sure the jobs are here for people to return to. We have to pay competitive wages, but in cases where we don't, we have to sell our strengths, our quality of life," he said.

Jeff and Kim MacDonald both grew up in New Brunswick and moved to Fort McMurray, Alta., after university in the late nineties because they couldn't find jobs at home. When Ms. MacDonald received an offer from oil-sands company Suncor, Mr. MacDonald followed and easily found a job.

"Within a week I threw out three résumés and had two offers," he said. "In New Brunswick, I'd send out 300 résumés and get one interview."

They wanted to return home in 10 years, but Irving Oil headhunted them and they came back in 2002. With a baby on the way, they couldn't be happier.

"We didn't regret the decision to go but we're happy to be home," Mr. MacDonald, an environmental specialist, said. "For us, it's about being close to family. The salaries are comparable and I'd rather work for a New Brunswick-based company. My parents are close. We missed out on a lot of birthdays and things we should have been home for when we were in Alberta. We want to raise Maritimers. The lifestyle is calmer. And we've got a much bigger lawn and I can see the deer on it in the mornings."

The uber-heated economy in Alberta has taxed the province's infrastructure. Housing prices are astronomical; some new arrivals are forced to live in campgrounds. Conversely, New Brunswick is the only province where housing prices have fallen, but business leaders have recognized the city has catching up to do so far as cultural amenities to make it a more desirable place to live. Enterprise Saint John's True Growth plan aims to change the city's "brand," as Mr. Carson calls it; in other words, more art galleries, better restaurants.

It hasn't been easy. With its reputation as a smokestack town, Saint John has often had trouble getting out of its own way when it comes to its image.

"Compared to where we were 10 years ago we've come a long way already," Mr. Carson said. "Saint John is known as a community that doesn't always have its act together and doesn't know what it wants. But it's a city built on the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, an old city with a sense of self. There have been times lately when things haven't looked so good, but I believe it is Saint John's time again. It's up to us to make it real."

At $6.70, New Brunswick has the lowest minimum wage in Canada; at the high end, Nunavut pays $8.50, while British Columbia pays $8. The MacDonalds acknowledged they "did very well" financially in Alberta, but say they are also doing "just fine" in New Brunswick now. Wages are typically lower in the Maritimes, but the companies trying to lure workers home are selling something else entirely.

"Dollar for dollar, we're not always going to compete, but on quality of life, I think we compete very well," Mr. Scott said.

So far it seems to be working. Moosehead Breweries, which can't fill the dozen or so midlevel management jobs it currently has open, received 150 résumés in the week after a recruitment drive just in the Maritimes. Moosehead will head out west soon.

Mr. Manning predicted that in 10 years, Saint John could rival Halifax as a culturally and economically vibrant city.

"We haven't seen anything like this in Saint John since the frigate program," he said. "Saint John is in for even a greater economic ride than the heydays of ship building."

***

COST OF LIVING INDICATORS

Calgary Edmonton Saint John Fredericton
HOUSING Average price (Sept. 2006) $369,928 $278,732 $128,451 $128,451
GASOLINE Avg. price/litre (Oct. 31, 2006) 80.8 cents 77 cents 87.9 cents 88.3 cents
COFFEE Large cup, Tim Hortons (pretax) $1.51 $1.51 $1.29 $1.29

_________________________________________________________________

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham has committed $26.6 million toward cleaning up the polluted Saint John harbour, leaving the federal government as the only partner in the project not contributing its share of the total cost.

Graham and his 18-member cabinet were sworn in on Tuesday and had five promises to keep in their first 24 hours in office, including a pledge to make a binding agreement with Saint John on harbour cleanup. The money will be parcelled out during the next seven years.

Harbour cleanup advocate Tim Vickers chats with Premier Shawn Graham in Saint John on Wednesday.

The new premier presented Saint John Mayor Norm MacFarlane with a memorandum of understanding committing the province's share of funding to clean up the harbour at a sold-out breakfast meeting at the city's trade and convention centre.

Graham's announcement won a standing ovation from the crowd of business and civic leaders and environmentalists, who have argued for years for provincial funding to clean up the raw sewage in the harbour.

"An accelerated time frame demonstrates our desire to move this project forward immediately," Graham said.

The city pumps millions of litres of raw sewage into the harbour every day. The price tag for cleanup is approximately $80 million, and the city has already promised to pay one-third of the cost. The federal government has agreed to commit just $3 million to the project.

Tim Vickers of the Atlantic Coastal Action program said this commitment from the province puts the pressure on the federal government to come up with the rest of the money.

"Clearly we have the province coming forward and saying, 'Look, we're stepping up to the plate, we're making the first move,' and that opens the door for the federal government to come forward and know that the province is serious about this."

MacFarlane said the city can't proceed on the project until Ottawa signs on for the rest of the money.

The new premier appointed five cabinet ministers from the Saint John region, including Supply and Services Minister Roly MacIntyre, who said he will lobby the federal government to contribute its share of the funding.

"I will work to promote this project with my federal counterparts at every opportunity," he said.

The Liberals also made good on their other four "Day 1" promises.

A pledge to reduce the provincial gas tax happened overnight Tuesday. At midnight, the New Brunswick Public Utilities Board set the new price of regular self-serve gasoline at 86.07 cents a litre, down from the previous price of 90.4 cents a litre. Certain approved retailers can add as much as three cents a litre to cover the cost of distribution.

"This reduction makes New Brunswick's provincial [gas] tax the lowest east of Alberta, a distinction I am committed to maintaining over the course of our mandate," Graham said.

Graham kept his promise to split agriculture and fisheries into two departments.

Graham also said the decision's been made on delivering $2,000 grants for first-year university students, but the details still have to be worked out on how the money will be distributed.

Cabinet also approved a change in the way seniors have to pay for nursing home care, though Graham said it may take a few days for the change to take effect.

[ErickMontreal]

Thanx you Lucas for the news. However I`m upset about Hardman project in Waterfront, I hope the developers will be able to get built his projects with a fair price from Coast Guard.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John: building momentum

Mayor Norman McFarlane
Commentary


CINDY WILSON/TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

Saint John's industrial and commercial skyline is growing.

If I had to sum up what's happening in the City of Saint John in a word, I would say "momentum."

Saint John is moving forward, achieving better things for the people who call it home and for all of New Brunswick. Saint John has momentum. And this momentum hasn't come from out of the blue. It's because we have a vision and a plan for our city. We are making things happen, and building our own momentum.

Consider this recent Globe and Mail headline: "New energy hub of North America: Saint John?" The newspaper raised the somewhat rhetorical question after the Irving family's recent announcement that its oil arm is considering building a second major refinery in the city - the first major refinery to be built in North America in nearly a quarter of a century. The new facility would have a capacity of 300,000 barrels a day and provide about 1,000 full-time jobs. It would cost $5 billion to $7 billion to build and employ 5,000 people during the construction phase.

This follows $1 billion the Irvings have already invested to upgrade its existing oil refinery (already the largest in Canada), not to mention the company's commitment to the $750 million Canaport LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal and regasification facility. Irving Oil Limited is partnering with Repsol YPF SA, the Spanish energy giant, on this project.

These initiatives are on top of the $1.4-billion refurbishment of the Point Lepreau generating station, which will extend the life of the nuclear power plant by 25 years, and Emera's investment of $350 million into the New Brunswick Pipeline project, just to name two.

Combine all of this with Premier Shawn Graham's plan to move the Department of Energy to Saint John, bringing an estimated $1 million in salaries with it, and we have all of the ingredients for an energy hub.

But much more is generating momentum for our city. In the past few weeks alone we have seen developments that are turning our city's aspirations into reality.

Start with one of Saint John's biggest natural assets, its waterfront. We are moving into the next phase of development, which will see further improvements on Water Street, including new park spaces and a new cruise ship terminal. The five regional mayors back this ambitious project, which has come this far, in large part, because of city council's initial decision to invest in Water Street and the hard work of the Saint John Development Corporation and Saint John Port Authority, which are working to secure funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

There's been progress too with the long-overdue cleanup of the harbour. Premier Graham has already fulfilled an election pledge by committing the province's share of $26.6 million toward the cleanup. That's a third of the entire cost. The city is committed to meeting another third of the cost, and we are optimistic that the federal government will commit to funding the remaining third soon.

Private-sector companies are also recognizing and contributing to the momentum building in our city.

Sunwing Airlines' decision to offer non-stop charter flights down south for the first time from Saint John Airport is one exciting example. It's great news for sun-seekers, and another boost to Saint John's economy.

The city was also proud to play a key part, along with Enbridge Gas New Brunswick and Fundy Linen, to bring natural gas to the Spruce Lake Industrial Park. This major infrastructure project gives Spruce Lake the same advantages enjoyed by many industrial parks across Canada. And I am confident this will spur further investment in our park.

Our momentum is not restricted to corporate successes. Country music artists raved about Saint John, which was absolutely hopping in September when the Canadian Country Music Awards were held here. It set the stage for future major entertainment events to be held in the city. Many of us felt great pride in playing a role in the event's success.

All of these developments are feeding the sense of optimism in our community. And this positive momentum brings with it many other benefits. During the past two years, we have seen increasing growth in our retail sector, the development of existing properties in our uptown area and increased residential development throughout the region.

Common Council and I are well aware that there are concerns with some of the projects planned for our community. And we are committed to sustainable growth for our region. This means making sure that the concerns over environmental and social impacts are properly addressed through the development phase.

And this is why we have developed Vision 2015 - to make Saint John the community of choice in Atlantic Canada.

Vision 2015 is our blueprint for the future. It will change the culture of City Hall, making it even more accountable and better at communicating. The ultimate aim is to deliver services more effectively and provide the infrastructure our city needs for the future.

Vision 2015 will help us to build on our successes and to achieve all of the ambitions of our True Growth strategy. True Growth is about creating communities that will attract and retain the best people, the best ideas, and the best investment. And we need more people. A byproduct of the economic momentum we are seeing is a shortage of workers. In many ways, it's an enviable position, but it means we must ensure the policies we develop will mean our youngest and brightest citizens want to stay, live and work in Saint John.

To meet this challenge we must also look outward and welcome skilled workers - students, entrepreneurs and immigrants - from Europe, India, China, Korea, Iran and other countries around the world. We must attract people who will make our community more culturally diverse and help us work towards a more prosperous future.

It's not by chance that Canadian Business Magazine ranked Saint John sixth as the Best City for Business in its highly regarded annual survey. It's the second year in a row that Saint John has made it to the top 10 across the country - and as the best city to do business in New Brunswick.

Saint Johners should be proud of our achievements and of the momentum we have created for our city. We will continue to seek out and create opportunities that will capitalize on this momentum and help us reach our ultimate goal of making Saint John the best community in Atlantic Canada to live, work and do business.

Norman McFarlane is mayor of Saint John.

[ErickMontreal]

Projects news update and brand new projects that added in projects section on page number 1

[MTL Lucas]

Projects news update and brand new projects that added in projects section on page number 1

For the BNG Plaza there is confirmation of Costco? (Where do you get all this good information? I feel internet challenged)

That would be great - the West Side is an ideal location to get one to serve SJ and Fredericton.

[ErickMontreal]

For the BNG Plaza there is confirmation of Costco? (Where do you get all this good information? I feel internet challenged)

That would be great - the West Side is an ideal location to get one to serve SJ and Fredericton.

Hi Lucas

I got this in internet, "Horizon" and "BNG" speak with Costco and Chapters. Both want Costco and Chapters in their own prime retail space.

[ErickMontreal]

SAINT JOHN, NB - With the new year quickly closing in, so does a deadline for the YM-YWCA to find a new home.


The province has purchased the Y's current location with the intent to demolish the current building and erect a new justice complex.

Originally the "Y" was going to merge with the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.

In the end however, the "Y" decided to pull out of that deal.

C-E-O Pat Davis tells News 88-9 it was a very hard decision to make.

"It took a lot of long hard work and diligence on behalf of all of our volunteers and our legal and financial advisors to make sure we were making the right decision. It was a very tough one. In retrospect I would say it was the right decision on behalf of the "Y" not to move forward with that." Davis said.

Davis says it is still up in the air as to where the "Y" will set up shop but she reassures us there will be a temporary place for members to go as the board continues to look for a permanent uptown location.

[Ottawa]

Thanx you Lucas for the news. However I`m upset about Hardman project in Waterfront, I hope the developers will be able to get built his projects with a fair price from Coast Guard.

Here's a link to an update on the Hardman project
http://cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/media/20070102CGSITE2.ram

[ErickMontreal]

Here's a link to an update on the Hardman project
http://cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/media/20070102CGSITE2.ram

Thank you!

[MTL Lucas]

Here's a link to an update on the Hardman project
http://cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/media/20070102CGSITE2.ram

My computer won't let me open the link. Could someone tell me what it says or what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks!

At any rate, I'm glad this project is still getting buzz.

[ErickMontreal]

Economic engine is beginning to rev: MP


Published 2007-01-02
Paul Zed likes to use the analogy of a car to describe the turnaround in Saint John's economic engine.

Five years ago, the Liberal MP says, it was running pretty well in reverse.

But thanks to a non-partisan team approach to the city's problems, the Liberal MP says that car is now out of the garage and well on the road to success on many fronts that he - and other community leaders - see only gaining momentum over the next 12 months.

"My prediction for the year ahead is slow and steady wins the race," Zed says. "The car is now running at 30 miles per hour. We're not rocketing ahead, we're not moving dramatically, but I think people now see us as a community in a positive way. "

He says it's the job of government to make sure any economic and environmental development proceeds in an appropriate way by creating the right conditions for investment.

"I believe, we as politicians we have done that by addressing very, very significant issues like medical education training, cleaning up the harbour, and closing the poverty gap with new non-profit housing," Zed says.

"These are things that have a huge impact on the city and allow companies like the Irving Group to do what they do best, which is reinvest in Saint John," he adds. "We're looking to continue to build on these foundation blocks over the next 15 years into sustainability unto itself so, basically, we can maintain what we have amongst ourselves without any outside interference or help."

He's optimistic 2007 will be the year Team Saint John's lobbying efforts on behalf of harbour cleanup in Saint John will pay off.

"I think early in the fiscal new year - probably March or April - we are going to finally see the federal government join the province and the city in the important health and economic initiative that is harbour cleanup," Zed said. "So, the environmental sustainability for me is critical to Saint John's future development.

"You cannot have growth in Saint John unless the environment is respected."

After a banner year in 2006, with housing starts taking off, employment rates falling to historically low levels, and projects like CenterBeam in the uptown, Canaport LNG and Horizon Developments' box store and hotel development on Westmorland Road moving ahead, the city's development possibilities for 2007 go way beyond harbour cleanup.

They include the proposed second Irving Oil refinery for Red Head, expected to be announced early in the new year; the justice and police complex in the uptown area; more high-end housing in Millidgeville; a racino for Exhibition Park; and more development on the city's waterfront.

"Our focus right now is on the redevelopment of Water Street," says Ross Jefferson, general manager of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership. "We are expecting, in the spring, to be starting the construction of (an addition) to Harbour Passage there.

"We also have most of the work completed for phase two (of the Water Street redevelopment), in partnership with the Saint John Port Authority," he adds. "(It calls for) the development of their cruise terminal building, as well as some wonderful park space at Pugsley Park, the Three Sisters Park, and some great improvements at the foot of King Street. There's also some great architectural features at the bottom of Duke and Princess."

Jefferson said the partnership is also plans to finish a development plan for opening up Partridge Island and continue work on plans for extending Harbour Passage to Fallsview Park and the Reversing Falls.

"All of the partners in the group we speak to are very optimistic about 2007," he said. "I think (Saint John) has definitely turned the corner. What we want to do is continue this momentum and keep it rolling faster."

With so many major projects on the go, particularly in the energy sector, Jefferson said all the employment that will be created is definitely going to have a major impact on housing and an investment and a significant impact on commercial space, retail space and the overall economy.

For the same reason, he doesn't think the city's future hinges on any one project.

"No doubt, the (proposed second) oil refinery will be one of the major variables this year, but the city has a number of major strategies working together, waterfront being one of them," he says. "Our objective is to make the smartest, most effective decision that ultimately is there to stimulate growth, in particular growth in the tax rate."

Jefferson says studies the Waterfront Partnership has done of the city centre tax base show that after a decline of 24 per cent in the 1990s, it leveled off, and is now on the rebound.

Zed said the 2006 relocation of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s planning offices to Saint John from Mississauga, Ont., does more than just help lend credibility to the city's claims of being a regional energy hub.

"People need to appreciate the importance of that is that they're long-term, stable technical jobs in the nuclear industry that are leading Saint John into a new century as an energy producer and energy leader," he says. "They're in the planning stages of not just refurbishing Point Lepreau (set to begin April 2008), but also looking at other refurbishments in the AECL system that will need the design expertise generated in Saint John.

[ErickMontreal]

My computer won't let me open the link. Could someone tell me what it says or what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks!

At any rate, I'm glad this project is still getting buzz.

As you know, english is not my mother tongue. Summarily, Hardman Groups spokesman has primarily said that they found a Hotel chain for the site and they are ready to go with condo presale when the deal will be seal with the Federal as well. However, in the second part of the interview, the major issue was the price of the coast guard land owned by the Federal government as well as the share of cost for the coast guard seawall repair. Hardman also said that the construction price will be high because those new buildings will need more stabilization and they have already made studies about this issues. Actually, this is the reason why they try to get a fair deal for land so leveled off the lease price for the future tenants. Moreover, they hope to start construction by 2007, they will start by the restauration of federal building, the Hotel and Condos when Coast Guard land will be free as well as when the sale will be done. There will be an update by the end of January about the sale process.

[Ottawa]

The only thing I can think of is that you may not have real player loaded.
If so, you can download it at:
http://www.real--player.com/googus.htm

[ErickMontreal]

Metro Moncton now N.B.'s dominant city: study

BY ROD ALLEN
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Friday January 5th, 2007
Appeared on page a1

The results of Canada's 2006 census won't be released for another month but another prominent national data-gatherer has already anointed Metro Moncton as New Brunswick's new dominant city, today and into the next decade.

According to Canadian Demographics 2007 - the Financial Post's 80th annual demographics guide to almost all market areas in the country - the rise of Moncton is particularly striking when compared to Saint John.

Population estimates alone tell a compelling tale, starting with mid-2007 projections for the two cities - 130,226 in Metro Moncton compared to 126,216 in Saint John.

An ever-widening gulf will emerge between the two cities over the next five years in Moncton's favour, the study predicts.

Moncton's estimated growth rate (EGR) between the last census in 2001 and the end of 2007 outstrips the national average - 1.23 per cent compared to .97 per cent - and also dominates in Atlantic Canada, perhaps to the surprise of those who might have assumed the Halifax Regional Municipality is the fastest-growing community in the region.

Metro's EGR almost double's the Halifax rate of .76 per cent and is more than a hundred times Saint John's virtually flat .02 per cent EGR, predicted in the survey to fall below zero over the short term.

Metro's population is projected to be 133,060 by mid-2009 compared to 125,865 in Saint John, and 137,320 by 2012 compared to 125,330 in Saint John.

Thus, over the next five years Moncton will continue to grow rapidly in the Atlantic Canadian context, as Saint John slowly dwindles.

In terms of income estimates, the provincial capital is still 'Fat City' with a predicted average household income of $67,800 by mid-2007 compared to $62,800 in both Moncton and Saint John.

Overall, however, Moncton has the strongest overall economy of the trio in terms of diversity and growth.

The survey lists 11 major occupations for the local work force and Moncton does not finish third in any of them, in fact either easily outstripping or nearly matching the other two in all categories.

For example, where it might be assumed Fredericton would dominate under 'government services' (a category which also includes social science and religious services) the capital city actually employs 2,497 people compared to Moncton's 2,219 and Saint John's 1,846.

Where Saint John would be expected to dominate under 'trades, transportation and equipment operations,' with 10,912 employees, it barely surpasses Moncton's 9,701.

Fredericton isn't close under this category, at 6,067.

Meanwhile, under such service- heavy categories as 'business, finance and administration' Moncton employs 16,227 people compared to Saint John's 12,238 and Fredericton's 9,717.

Meanwhile, all those workers - and their employers - are spinning their incomes and profits back into Moncton faster than their counterparts.

In 2005, the last year available for this survey, Moncton more than doubled Saint John in housing starts - 1,191 to 501. Fredericton meanwhile is also growing; its mid-2007 EGR is predicted at .95 per cent and its housing starts in 2005 stood at 792.

In terms of the total value of building permits issued annually for all types of construction, Fredericton and Saint John continue to grow, but fitfully compared to Moncton.

Building permits in Moncton are valued from 2003 to 2005 at $200 million, $237 million and $252 million compared to $119 million, $118 million and $148 million in Saint John and $114 million, $128 million and $115 million in Fredericton.

According to John Thompson, a diversified economy is Metro's greatest strength, and it goes hand-in-hand with an increasingly diversified population.

"No sector accounts for more than eight per cent of our economy so we have an ability to attract a diverse group of people," says the CEO of Enterprise Greater Moncton.

"The tradespeople are coming for the construction boom in Dieppe and all the commercial starts in Riverview related to the new bridge and its connectors and our very specialized, very highly paid people are no longer coming just to institutions such as the two city hospitals.

"Shift Central does its business in Boston and New York, Whitehill Technologies and Spielo are international players in high-tech services and gaming and there are very specialized services from companies like Assomption Vie and Medavie Blue Cross," he says in citing just a few examples.

That's not just growth, stresses Thompson, it's diversified growth; a lot of different people.

If parts of the province are in a slump right now, a lot of their residents would rather start a new life closer to home rather than joining the headlong rush for Alberta so indeed Moncton is drawing great strength from the northern part of the province, but that is not the whole story.

"We have people arriving with companies who have moved here from central Canada and the other Atlantic provinces. We have people coming from China and Korea and through the provincial nominations program we are entertaining applications from a group in Iran.

"As these people begin to arrive in the Moncton area they bring a unique perspective to how we live and do business here," says Thompson.

"They are helping us to build a great mosaic for the Moncton area." Other findings in Canadian Demographics 2007 appear to back up Thompson's vision for the city.

For example under schooling, there are 15,029 holders of university degrees in Metro Moncton compared to 6,353 degree holders in Saint John.

In Moncton, 'home language' (a somewhat different category than 'mother tongue') is split by percentage of total population at 63.5/18.5 English/French, but more than 17.5 per cent are 'multiple response,' suggesting fluently bilingual speakers.

Those figures suggest more diversity than either Saint John (more than 94 per cent English) and Fredericton where 89 per cent registered English, 2.5 per cent French and 7.5 per cent multiple response.

The survey's findings are encouraging in that they bolster much of what we already know about ourselves, says Thompson, who nonetheless cautions that Metro ought not to "rest on its laurels.

"We need to keep working together as a tri-community to achieve our common goals," he says, we've got the business community and government behind us and we have to keep pushing." The Financial Post's annual survey draws source material from Statistics Canada, Mapinfo Canada, R.L. Polk Canada Inc., Strategic Projections Inc., it own CARD survey on newspaper and radio penetration and its Monday Report on Retailers, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM).

[Wishblade]

Yeesh, what ever happened to Saint John being back on the rise? I assumed from the comments posted on this thread that things were looking up for that city...

[ErickMontreal]

Yeesh, what ever happened to Saint John being back on the rise? I assumed from the comments posted on this thread that things were looking up for that city...

Maybe with the energy-projects and Uptown revitalization as well will help to slow down this projection, well, I hope

[Haliguy]

Maybe with the energy-projects and Uptown revitalization as well will help to slow down this projection, well, I hope

I still consider Saint John to be more of a city than Moncton.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

There is no reply that Moncton has been growing faster than Saint John - in fact, Saint John has had some major population set backs over the years - but new projects and a strong vision for the future are helping Saint John regain some momentum.

Metro Moncton is growing fast – thanks in a big part to Dieppe’s draw. If I were a Dieppe resident I would start questioning why they aren’t living in a place called Metro Dieppe.

Saint John is coming back, and growth will be happening in the core of the city – hopefully creating a more sustainable growth in population and true growth in community.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

I have used the FP Markets data several times and the data used are often shakey and inconsistent with StatCan and other official data.

The tool is good because it covers a lot of data annually, but should not be relied upon as an only source.

[Ottawa]

Saint John has certainly had more than it's fair share of economic hurdles in recent history but there are many great reasons to be optimistic about the short and long term future of the city from here forward.

There are so many major projects lined up for the city that rarely a week goes by without a major update. The effects of these projects can't be taken into account yet because the big ones haven't broken ground, but it would be a bit of folly to base numbers on the 1996 - 2001 period showing a continued decline in the population.

One of the reasons this site is getting multiple hits is because there is so much to be optimistic about. As every statement made lately indicates, the economic numbers are just starting to turn positive.

The numbers will continue to crank up faster as these numerous projects start to turn sod.

Here's a link to an update on the 2nd refinery project.

http://cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/media/20070105SCOTT05.ram

[ErickMontreal]

I still consider Saint John to be more of a city than Moncton.

The better example of this - Moncton has planned to built four-stories big box courthouse in Downtown core. In the same times SJ tries to get underground few skylines with linked pedway. However, when i look publicity penetration in both markets as well as retail developement, Moncton get win over SJ. Moncton becomes more and more sophisticated.

Hub city have to thank you to many Acadians that came in city

Without forgetting that Moncton had an advantage last 15 years with Lord and Mckenna government

[Haliguy]

The better example of this - Moncton has planned to built four-stories big box courthouse in Downtown core. In the same times SJ tries to get underground few skylines with linked pedway. However, when i look publicity penetration in both markets as well as retail developement, Moncton get win over SJ. Moncton becomes more and more sophisticated.

Hub city have to thank you to many Acadians that came in city

Without forgetting that Moncton had an advantage last 15 years with Lord and Mckenna government


Other than big box stores.. which are going up in every city I don't see a lot going on in Moncton really.

[Wishblade]

Other than big box stores.. which are going up in every city I don't see a lot going on in Moncton really.

Thats exactly what I think. I mean I just never see anything going on in Moncton at all. And when your actually in the city, it doesnt even really feel very urban at all. just my opinion...

[ErickMontreal]

Thats exactly what I think. I mean I just never see anything going on in Moncton at all. And when your actually in the city, it doesnt even really feel very urban at all. just my opinion...

I am agree with you, in my mind SJ still remain the only urban area in NB.

[MTL Lucas]

I agree with the content of the exchange thus far - Saint John suffered huge setback in 96 to 01 period with the loss of thousands of people and families from the closure of Saint John Shipbuilding (I myself remember several people in my class leaving as their families left for Ontario and BC).

Moncton is growing and I am not surprised that its metro is larger - but we have to keep in mind that Moncton and Saint John are set up very differently. Moncton follows the metropolitan model with density at the core - Saint John is more of connurbation with a definite core but with more dispered population and separate nodes of density (Grand Bay - Westfield, Saint George, Quispamsis/Rothesay, Saint Martin's, Hampton, etc.,).

As we discussed on the first page of this thread, Enterpise Saint John measured Saint John's commuter basin as 175,000 people in 2005 which makes sense. Moncton has a bigger CMA but I am sure Saint John has a larger commuter basin and client population.

I think with all the announced projects Saint John's commuter basin will grow faster than any other in the province and that further efforts at densification and urban development in the core might allow Saint John's CMA to again surpass Moncton's. The next census will be more telling - Saint John is in an upswing and so is Moncton, so we will be able to compare what they both acheive with momentum.

[MTL Lucas]

I am agree with you, in my mind SJ still remain the only urban area in NB.

I agree completely.

[ErickMontreal]

Korean councillor hopes to woo immigrants to Saint John

Last Updated: Monday, January 8, 2007 | 10:21 AM AT
CBC News

A Saint John city councillor to be featured in a half-hour television documentary broadcast in South Korea is hoping the show will entice more Koreans to move to the city.

Coun. Jay-Young Chang, a Korean-Canadian, is the subject of a show for Korea's Global Television Station. The show is filming 10 episodes focused on young Korean politicians living around the world.

The film crew is spending three days with Chang. They rode all-terrain vehicles with him and will shoot his lunch date with Mayor Norm McFarlane on Monday afternoon.

Chang said he plans to show off city landmarks and introduce the crew to other Korean immigrants living in the city. He's hoping the show will encourage more Koreans to move to Saint John.

"This television show will play well in Korea and it will display Saint John as a great place to live and a great place to do business," he said.

During the last year, more than 200 Koreans have immigrated to the Saint John area. Chang said the documentary will encourage even more to consider making the city their new home.


http://cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/media/20070108KOREA08.ram
_______________________________________________________________________________________

There's Talk About NBCC Moving To Tucker Park

http://cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/media/20070108NBCC08.ram

[PersonPlaceorThing]

That is cool news about councilor Chang. I'm not sure what the data will say, but there has been a strong push to step up immigration over the last while. There are a number of new Canadians buying and improving investment properties in the uptown area.

[ErickMontreal]

That is cool news about councilor Chang. I'm not sure what the data will say, but there has been a strong push to step up immigration over the last while. There are a number of new Canadians buying and improving investment properties in the uptown area.

This is a great for Saint John because the city seem unpopular within New-Brunswick. Many rural citizens in majority choose Fredericton and Moncton when the time is come for them to leave their region. For the city size, I am always surprised when i walk through Saint John and i see a considerable amount of immigrants mainly in Uptown
_________________________________________________________________

Check it out new city homepage :

http://www.saintjohn.ca/

[Ottawa]

It's great to see the new retail activity on both sides of the city. The retailers are recognizing that Saint John is growing and they want to take part in that. As always, follow the money to find the action...

Copied from Enterprise SJ website Jan. 9, 2007:

The Golden Mile may soon get some of its glitter back with the news that Saint John Transit is close to securing a new home. Mayor Norm McFarlane expects it to be finalized in the next four to six weeks.

"We've got to get started because West Side development has to go," said McFarlane, who lives nearby. "It's got to be done.

"We've been too slow in making that decision."

The Fairville Boulevard transit headquarters is being eyed by a developer. The city and Montreal-based developer Plaza BG Inc. entered into a tentative sales agreement almost five months ago. The group is now doing soil testing in and around the site.

Both sides are being tight-lipped about the BG development, but it's no big secret that Wal-Mart wants to build in the area and the relocation of the transit station is holding up the development.

According to the mayor, there are two locations on the short list for the new transit headquarters. He wouldn't divulge the locations fearing it would affect negotiations.

"Once we put it out there, then prices go up."

Further fueling speculation is the recent sale of the Lancaster Mall to Counsel Corporation. Bruce Creber, vice-president of real estate operations, said West End residents want their own shopping destination and its more convenient for the thousands of potential shoppers from towns such as Grand Bay-Westfield. Not to mention that West Siders are fiercely proud of their end of town and want to shop on the West Side and not travel across the bridge to the East Side and its fields of box stores.

"Lancaster Mall has a long and bright future ahead of it," Creber said.

Rumours that Lancaster Mall would be turned inside out - industry insiders call it de-malling - like the Parkway Mall on the East Side aren't in the plans unless, said Creber, there's a demand from current or potential tenants. The idea of de-malling is to mimic the trend of box stores and move away from indoor malls and back to the strip malls of the 70s and 80s.

"Then you look across the street at McAllister Place and it is just a thriving and vibrant and crowded-to-the-hilt place."

McFarlane will travel to Toronto to meet with Creber next week to discuss the Golden Mile and its potential.

"It should be quite a bit more attractive to other retailers," Creber said.

"I think we'll be able to renovate the mall and lease-up the mall and create some more retail space on the site, in some form, that is going to rejuvenate the whole thing."

Creber expects the shine to be back on the Golden Mile in the next two years.

"What Irving is doing with the (proposed) refinery is fueling everyone's expectations about the retail dollars that are going to be available to be spent there," Creber said.

A number of other buildings on the Golden Mile have been bought by a Toronto investor, but the mayor wasn't about to let the cat out of the shopping bag.

"The West Side is ready to really move this year," said McFarlane.

[ErickMontreal]

Published Tuesday January 9th, 2007
Appeared on page C1


Saint John on WestJet radar

Jeff Ducharme
Telegraph-Journal


Travellers in Saint John have been hoping WestJet would touch down here, and now it looks like that may be one more step closer to reality.

Neither WestJet Airlines Ltd. nor the Saint John Airport Authority would confirm or deny reports that the low-fare carrier would be adding Saint John to its roster.

"We're not in position to make any comment at the moment," said John Buchanan, president and CEO of the Saint John Airport Authority.

Buchanan has long been trying to land WestJet in Saint John. The company's only New Brunswick connection is Moncton.

Gillian Bentley, a spokeswoman for WestJet, said the airline's summer schedule is weeks away from being released and wouldn't confirm or deny the report.

"There's a lot of different cities on our radar and Saint John is definitely one that we have looked at"...," Bentley said from Calgary.

The Saint John Airport has only one major domestic carrier, Air Canada. Earlier this year, SunWing announced that it will be making flights to such destinations as Florida and Mexico from Saint John beginning in March.

It's been a strong year for the airport with numbers increasing by nine per cent.

"We just approached 200,000 passengers, which is the first time in a number of years that we've done that," Buchanan said Monday.

The last time the airport reached that milestone was in the mid-1990s.

With the energy sector heating up, the liquefied natural gas facility nearing completion and talk of another oil refinery, negotiations to land an American carrier so that a direct route to Boston or New York can be put in place becomes even more critical, said Buchanan. But with most of the major carriers bankrupt or in bankruptcy protection, it's not an easy task, he said.

"Quite honestly it's tough for them to take on a new risk at the moment," Buchanan said. "We're confident it's going to happen. It's not a matter of if, it's just when."

The decision is totally carrier driven, said Buchanan.

"We have to make sure that there are the opportunities to not only get out of Saint John on business and leisure travel, but to bring people in."

News that the Greater Fredericton Airport will soon receive international designation from the federal minister of Transport won't have any negative impact on Saint John, said Buchanan.

"That's minimal to us because we already meet that criteria."

The application process to Ottawa costs money and Buchanan doesn't see any value in it. Saint John already meets such requirements as Canada Custom facilities being in place to handle international flights.

"It doesn't really mean anything to the airport's ability to operate or to market itself either domestically, trans-border or international," he said.

"All we would have to do is go through the application process, but certainly having Moncton and Fredericton now designated as international airports makes not a bit of difference to us."

[ErickMontreal]

It's great to see the new retail activity on both sides of the city. The retailers are recognizing that Saint John is growing and they want to take part in that. As always, follow the money to find the action...

Copied from Enterprise SJ website Jan. 9, 2007:

The Golden Mile may soon get some of its glitter back with the news that Saint John Transit is close to securing a new home. Mayor Norm McFarlane expects it to be finalized in the next four to six weeks.

"We've got to get started because West Side development has to go," said McFarlane, who lives nearby. "It's got to be done.

"We've been too slow in making that decision."

The Fairville Boulevard transit headquarters is being eyed by a developer. The city and Montreal-based developer Plaza BG Inc. entered into a tentative sales agreement almost five months ago. The group is now doing soil testing in and around the site.

Both sides are being tight-lipped about the BG development, but it's no big secret that Wal-Mart wants to build in the area and the relocation of the transit station is holding up the development.

According to the mayor, there are two locations on the short list for the new transit headquarters. He wouldn't divulge the locations fearing it would affect negotiations.

Good news!

[Ottawa]

Here's an update on one of the big one's...

Published 2007-01-03 | Page C1
Irving Oil will decide soon if second refinery is going ahead
Sandra Davis
Telegraph-Journal

There are still two major hurdles to be cleared, but 2007 could be the year planning starts in earnest to pave the way for a second oil refinery in Saint John.

The first step is for officials to decide, early this year, whether to go ahead and seek permits to build the facility near the Canaport liquefied natural gas terminal at Mispec Point.

A number of environmental, feasibility, socio-economic and market studies are underway, says refinery spokeswoman Jennifer Parker.

After that, a group of senior executives will recommend whether to pursue permitting applications with the provincial and federal governments.

"Making that decision is the next big milestone for us," said Parker.

The permitting process generally takes between 18 and 24 months, but depends totally on government time lines, she said.

Finding a partner is the other big hurdle the company must clear, and that's on top of ensuring the project is feasible and the right one for the market, said Parker.

Irving is in talks with several energy firms, but has declined to say which ones.

"One thing we are doing is meeting with people in business, in the community and in education and training sectors, even though these are very early days and no decisions are made yet," said Parker.

The purpose of the sessions, she said, is to talk about what can be done to make sure people are ready in terms of training and to ensure they understand the project, its benefits and how it could affect them.

Irving Oil announced in October that it was considering building a second refinery and has said the mega project would create 5,000 construction jobs during the building stages, 1,000 permanent full-time jobs at the refinery, and more jobs as the economy grows in the city. Tradespeople would have to be educated to fill the positions and the city would also have to be prepared to educate people for the spinoff jobs including lawyers, doctors and accountants.

The proposed 300,000-barrel-a-day refinery would cost between $5 billion and $7 billion. It would increase the barrels of oil processed a day in the Port City to 600,000 and would position Irving Oil among the most influential energy companies in North America.

While Irving Oil is cautious about whether the project will proceed, it has already purchased 3,000 acres in the Red Head area; a new refinery would require 400 to 500 acres.

The existing Saint John refinery is already the largest in Canada. As it stands, the region imports more than one million barrels of oil per day.

The addition of a second refinery is aimed at providing transportation fuels to the U.S. northeast market, a region that consumes 1.7 million barrels a day of various fuels.

The estimate for the multiplier effect of a second refinery on investment in energy projects has been said to be roughly $1.40 in spinoffs for every dollar in capital investment.

Building it would also have a significant impact on the province's exports, which stand at more than $10 billion, export experts have said. The project has the backing of both the provincial and federal governments.

The best-case scenario for Irving Oil would see construction start by 2009 and finish by 2012.

"It is early days but we are very excited about what the project could mean for Saint John," said Parker.

The project would be the first new major oil refinery built in North America in 25 years.

[ErickMontreal]

Here's an update on one of the big one's...

Published 2007-01-03 | Page C1
Irving Oil will decide soon if second refinery is going ahead
Sandra Davis
Telegraph-Journal


This is very huge, Saint John could change really quickly whether that project get approbation