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  #41  
Old Posted Dec 2, 2008, 2:14 PM
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Miramichi to get 165 aerospace jobs
Published Tuesday December 2nd, 2008
Business N.B. funding helps create position at DEW Engineering and Development Ltd.
A1
BY KRIS MCDAVID
Times & Transcript Staff

MIRAMICHI - Business New Brunswick officials are set to announce the creation of 165 new jobs this morning through an investment into a Miramichi aerospace and defence engineering firm.

The funding will allow for an expansion of DEW Engineering and Development Ltd's vehicle-integration and armour-manufacturing facility in Miramichi, as well as the purchasing of new equipment to help the plant keep pace with its expanding portfolio, which includes supply contracts with the United States' Department of Defence.

The exact amount of the investment will be revealed at today's announcement.

BNB spokesman Ryan Donaghy said the funding reflects the government's commitment to helping the Miramichi region diversify its economy.

In April, 2006 the province invested almost $175,000 into DEW Engineering under the Miramichi Regional Economic Development Fund, which created 140 jobs.

"This opportunity is going to provide good jobs to the people of that region, and it's proof that companies can be more successful in New Brunswick," said Donaghy. "This is just the latest example of this government's commitment to the Miramichi."

Donaghy points to prior funding for local companies FatKat Animation Studios, Sunny Corner Enterprises, IT firm Hostopia.com, as well as manufacturer ATCON Fabrication.

DEW Engineering's Miramichi operation specializes in the refurbishment and modification of military vehicles, as well the development of bomb-resistant armour.

The engineering firm is headquartered in Ottawa and has operations in Ogdensburg, N.Y., as well as its Miramichi plant.

Last summer the company was acquired by Colorado-based ceramics manufacturer CoorsTek.

Business minister Greg Byrne, as well as Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Bill Fraser and DEW Engineering president Tim Dear are all expected to attend today's announcement.
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  #42  
Old Posted Dec 5, 2008, 10:20 PM
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Halifax company strikes oil near Sussex
Published Friday December 5th, 2008

Company CEO says it could be flowing by next fall
By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

A Halifax company has struck oil near Sussex.

"It's good news for the company," says Norman Miller, president and CEO of Corridor Resources Inc.

Corridor, an oil and gas exploration and production company, discovered natural gas in the McCully Field, near Sussex in 2000 and began pumping in 2003. The company has a gas plant in the area, supplies natural gas to the nearby potash mine and is connected to the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline. Miller says they have 22 natural gas wells operating and will add six more in the next few weeks.

The search for natural gas sites continues and a couple of months ago they found oil about three kilometres southeast of the McCully Field. While they were looking for natural gas, Miller says they recognized there was a possibility they could find oil.

He says the oil well they found is shallow, which will make it cheaper to extract, but at this point it's far too early to know how much oil is there and what it's worth. The next step is to study a three-dimensional seismic map to see what's in the ground.

"That will give us some idea of what we've got to do and what kind of accumulation we've got," he says.

"We were pleased with the find. It's nice light oil, a premium product, so we're quite pleased to get on with the next steps."

In a news release posted Wednesday, the company refers to it as a "potentially significant oil discovery."

Miller says they could pump oil from the ground as early as next fall, but first they will have to go through the province's application and approval process.

Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Chrystiane Mallaley says her department has heard of the oil find, but at this early stage doesn't have any more information beyond what's in the news release. She says the company has preliminary work to do before the province gets involved in approving the project.

Mallaley says the only other oil-producing field in the province is at Stoney Creek, near Hillsborough, which is operated by Contact Exploration Inc.

Personal note: the oil and gas field at Hillsborough is quite old; dating at least as far back as the beginning of the last century. The original street lights in Moncton were gas lights supplied from the natural gas deposits in Hillsborough

Last edited by MonctonRad; Dec 5, 2008 at 11:43 PM.
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  #43  
Old Posted Dec 8, 2008, 5:25 PM
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101 Twinning Complete

Some excellent news today. The article sums it up nicely but one thing they didn't mention is this new section of highway included removing the Ben Jackson Rd Intersection, which was one of, if not, the deadliest sections of the 101, which in itself is Nova Scotia's deadliest highway. I've personally lost people I knew on this highway so seeing this upgraded is a dream come true.

Newly twinned section of 101 opens today

By Our Staff
Mon. Dec 8 - 5:33 AM
Annapolis Valley commuters will have an easier trip this morning as a twinned section of Highway 101 opens from Falmouth to Avonport.

The province also said Sunday that the highway, which runs through the Valley connecting Halifax to Yarmouth, will now be called the Harvest Highway, as a tribute to the province’s farmers.

Richard Melvin, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and an area farmer, welcomed the name change and hopes new signage will remind travellers to "think local first," a government news release said.

The nearly 12-kilometre section of highway from Falmouth to Avonport, which cost about $47 million, has taken four years to complete, another government news release said.

"Modernizing our roads is a priority for government and we are pleased to open this new four-lane section of Highway 101," Natural Resources Minister David Morse said on behalf of Murray Scott, the minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal.

"This is just the latest twinning project and we will continue to improve our roads, making them more efficient and safe for the travelling public."

John Baird, the federal minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, said Ottawa is committed to assisting the province with infrastructure projects. And federal Defence Minister Peter MacKay, the MP for Central Nova, said the twinning is evidence that Ottawa is creating jobs, which will improve the economy.

Some minor work, including painting the centre line, will continue on the new section of road over the next few weeks.

In 2004, a twinned portion of the highway from Mount Uniacke to Ellershouse was opened. A twinning project is also underway from St. Croix to Three Mile Plains. It is scheduled to be finished in 2010.
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  #44  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 3:03 PM
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The Terrace - Amherst, Nova Scotia

The Terrace -155 East Victoria Street

Website - The Terrace

Recent Articles are on the site and the Amherst Daily News. 38% of the available suites reservered, 75% until construction. Contruction Expected to start Sping 2009. In my opinion, this will help Amherst with more intrest in developing in our town.

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  #45  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 8:23 PM
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^Nice to see Amherst growing. And something of that size would be quite significant in that town.
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  #46  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 9:11 PM
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They just want to kill all building lovers in my town (at least it seems like it). I practicly wet myself when I seen the first picture leak of the Terrace, why not do additionals to old buildings like they do in Halifax, like glass and stone?
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  #47  
Old Posted Jan 1, 2009, 4:16 PM
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Three things;

1) The Colchester Hospital near Truro is coming along nicely they have a crane up and the frame is started,

2) The new P-12 school in Oxford (NS) also has a crane up and the frame is also coming along nicely. I think they were on the third floor this week. Its expected to open in September 2010,

3) In Sackville (NB) there was a mobile crane up for a new three (or four) story building at the main intersection downtown near the theatre and Bridge Street Cafe.
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  #48  
Old Posted Jan 4, 2009, 6:27 PM
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Edmundston amorce sa revitalisation du centre-ville

À l'approche du temps des Fêtes, la ville d'Edmundston a annoncé son intention de revitaliser le centre-ville en présentant la première phase d'une stratégie globale de développement. Le mardi 2 décembre a donc été une journée mouvementée autant dans les rues de la ville que lors de la dernière réunion ordinaire du conseil municipal.

La semaine dernière, les élus ont accepté que la municipalité procède à l'acquisition d'une propriété située au 99, rue de l'Église. C'est à cet endroit qu'avaient jadis pignon sur rue un restaurant Tim Horton et un édifice à logements. Un incendie en 2004 avait cependant rasé les propriétés sur ce terrain appartenant à Napoléon et Patricia Pelletier. En janvier 2007, le couple avait accepté de céder une option d'achat de deux ans à la ville d'Edmundston au coût de 50 000 dollars. Maintenant que cette option d'achat est arrivée à terme, la municipalité a accepté de payer 325 000 dollars pour ce terrain comprenant aussi d'autres locaux vides. Ce montant sera payé en deux versements en 2009 et 2010.

La semaine dernière, les élus ont accepté que la municipalité procède à l'acquisition d'une propriété située au 99, rue de l'Église. C'est à cet endroit qu'avaient jadis pignon sur rue un restaurant Tim Horton et un édifice à logements. Un incendie en 2004 avait cependant rasé les propriétés sur ce terrain appartenant à Napoléon et Patricia Pelletier. En janvier 2007, le couple avait accepté de céder une option d'achat de deux ans à la ville d'Edmundston au coût de 50 000 dollars. Maintenant que cette option d'achat est arrivée à terme, la municipalité a accepté de payer 325 000 dollars pour ce terrain comprenant aussi d'autres locaux vides. Ce montant sera payé en deux versements en 2009 et 2010.

Maire d'Edmundston, Jacques P. Martin espère qu'un promoteur s'intéressera à construire un ou plusieurs nouveaux bâtiments sur ce terrain au coin de la rue de l'Église et du chemin Canada. Sachant que la situation économique actuelle est difficile, M. Martin croit que des investissements comme celui-ci aideront à créer une stabilité à ce niveau. "Lorsqu'un projet sérieux nous sera présenté, nous pourrons revendre ses propriétés au développeur, en plus de recevoir des impôts fonciers en retour. Nous prenons des actions concrètes pour stimuler le développement et pour faire travailler nos gens de la construction."

Toujours le mardi 2 décembre, le conseil municipal a confirmé la signature d'une entente entre la ville d'Edmundston et un consortium d'entrepreneurs désirant acheter l'Église St-Paul, établissement sur le chemin Canada voisin du Palais des congrès. Ce regroupement de gens d'affaires et d'artistes régionaux voudrait transformer cet établissement en un centre de diffusion des arts et de la scène. On y retrouverait notamment une salle de spectacles pouvant accueillir 150 personnes, une galerie d'exposition de 1 200 pieds carrés, une salle de répétition, une boutique et une billetterie centrale. Une centaine de personnes était d'ailleurs venue démontrer l'importance de ce projet pour la revitalisation du centre-ville d'Edmundston lors de la réunion ordinaire publique du mardi 18 novembre.

Deux semaines plus tard, le conseil municipal a accepté qu'une option d'achat de deux ans soit entérinée, entente qui permettrait à la ville d'Edmundston d'acquérir le bâtiment durant cette période. Selon Jacques P. Martin, cela donnerait le temps au consortium d'organiser son projet. "L'option d'achat de cette ancienne église anglicane est de 60 000 dollars. Nous les aiderons à trouver des possibilités de financement via les deux paliers de gouvernement. Si le projet ne se développe pas, la municipalité prendra possession de l'église. Leur initiative semble cependant sur la bonne voie."

À noter que la ville d'Edmundston a également procédé à la démolition de deux bâtiments sur la rue Saint-François en date du mardi 2 décembre. Ceux-ci étaient situés juste en face de la rue Laporte. L'un d'eux appartenait à une caisse populaire, alors que l'autre était possédé par un particulier. Dans le second cas, le propriétaire a simplement donné le terrain à la municipalité. Le lendemain, des ouvriers s'affairaient encore à amasser les débris et à rediriger la circulation sur une seule voie

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  #49  
Old Posted Jan 4, 2009, 6:30 PM
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New restaurants, expansions show faith in local economy: Bathurst Mayor Brunet

Bathurst Mayor Stephen Brunet is optimistic about the city's economic future, due to various construction projects.

"As you drive up and down the streets, you see all kinds of construction," he noted in a year-end interview.

He said along St. Peter Avenue, work includes new restaurants from KFC and Pizza Delight, plus a Suzuki vehicle dealership. In the downtown, work continues on the waterfront village project and on a condominium project on Douglas Avenue. And, this past fall, a new seniors complex opened on Union Street.

Mayor Brunet also pointed out the opening of a Quizno's sandwich shop beside Shoppers Drug Mart and The Brick furniture/electronics store opening a store in

the former Shopper's Drug Mart location.

Mr. Brunet said the Bathurst Industrial Park was also a hot spot with expansion to businesses such as the Bathurst Machine Shop and Future Alternative Wood Products. He added that two new files being worked on for 2009.

"I can't say what they are but there's other people looking at the Industrial Park," he said. "We are applying for monies to improve our industrial Park now. We're hoping to fix up some of the road work in there and the street lighting and lighting to make it more attractive for people to build."

Donald Hammond, executive director of Enterprise Chaleur, also praised the developments at the Industrial Park.

Mr. Hammond also pointed to the continuing success of the Port of Belledune and a wind farm project in the Caribou Mountain area.

"When you look at what's going on at the Port of Belledune, there's a lot of activities and they plan expansion...Also, there is SUEZ Energy has started to build its wind energy park and that's going to continue next year."

Not that 2008 didn't bring its share of bad news on the economic front. Caribou Mines near Bathurst suffered from low metal prices and the operation was unexpectedly closed down indefinitely earlier this month. Also, people continue to brace for the loss of hundreds of jobs in early 2011 when Xstrata Zinc Brunswick Mine closes.

"We have to work in partnerships for the next while with Brunswick Mines coming near (the end of) its life cycle," said Mayor Brunet. "Caribou was a great start this year...but sadly within the same year we had the announcement of the closure. But in that time, it did put $120 million into that piece of land and we're still hopefully the economy will turn around and they'll need the ore that's up there."

Mr. Hammond said the focus must now be how to keep these mine workers in the Chaleur region.

"Many people came to the region because of Caribou Mine. Some were not from here and some of them want to stay in the region. So the next step is now we're working with the employees and supporting them in the adjustment process."

For 2009, Mr. Brunet said the region will continue to diversify its mining sector and look towards other business projects such as the Kent property concept, which calls for a major retail/office/housing development on the Main Street site.

Mr. Hammond concluded that Enterprise Chaleur predicts that the next few years will be busy.

"There's still a lot of projects in the next few years that we'll be working on. Some might be pushed a few months later but most will happen so the outlook is very positive," he concluded.

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Old Posted Jan 4, 2009, 6:31 PM
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BATHURST;Plans for Kent property to ramp up after holidays

A plan to develop the vacant Kent property in Bathurst will ramp up in January

Last October, the consulting company Terrain Group Inc. released a $28 million development plan for the property featuring retail, commercial, and office space along with residential units. The Downtown Bathurst Revitalization Corporation, which commissioned the Terrain Group Inc. to do the study, is now working on possible developers and tenants.

"There are people we're ready to meet with after Christmas," said Bob Anderson, DBRC general manager and a Bathurst city councillor.

He said development interest has come from out of town but he would not specify from what areas.

"I have to hold my cards pretty close to my vest," he said.

Mr. Anderson said the DBRC is also trying to put together a seek and find group for the purpose of attending the 2009 International Council of Shopping Centres conference in Toronto, where the group will promote the Bathurst project to developers from across Canada.

"The purpose of the conference is not only to see if we can get a developer, but the purpose of the conference is also to see if we can nail down some various business entities that may want to locate in this development," he said.

The Kent property is owned by W.J. Kent and Company and the city needs to buy the property to develop it. Mr. Anderson said purchasing the property will be put on the back burner until developers and tenants are lined up.

"We haven't gotten into negotiations on that," said Mr. Anderson. "We have a couple irons in the fire and it depends what interest is shown. We'll jump as quickly as we'll have to jump."

Mr. Anderson said once enough support via developers and tenants is shown, then the city will worry about coming up with money to buy the property.

"If we can secure tenants and we can secure a developer, purchasing the property is the least of our worries. If you go with a developer and a list of potential tenants that have expressed an interest, it's easy to get the funding to purchase a property," he said.

The Kent property used to be home to the W.J. Kent and Co. department store. It is now a parking lot and home to the City Farmers' Market.

The price is somewhere in the vicinity of half a million dollars but the money from the sale will go into the Kent scholarship fund for local students.

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  #51  
Old Posted Jan 4, 2009, 6:38 PM
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Edmundston: Ouverture d'un nouveau CCNB en 2012

Les dirigeants du Collège communautaire d'Edmundston (CCNB) et de l'Université de Moncton, campus d'Edmundston (UMCE), croyaient en la nécessité de créer un projet de cohabitation entre ces deux institutions d'enseignement. Ceux-ci ne s'attendaient pas toutefois à ce que le gouvernement provincial déclare ses couleurs aussi rapidement.

Le vendredi 5 décembre, le premier ministre Shawn Graham a annoncé à Fredericton un investissement de 35 millions de dollars pour la construction d'un nouveau collège communautaire dans la métropole madawaskayenne. La bonne nouvelle faisait partie du discours portant sur la fin du débat sur le discours du trône. La construction du bâtiment s'amorcera dès le printemps prochain pour accueillir les étudiants à la rentrée scolaire de septembre 2012. "Rien ne saurait être plus essentiel que l'amélioration de notre infrastructure des collèges communautaires et des universités de la province. Cet investissement de 35 millions de dollars répond aux recommandations de la communauté de voir une intégration des ressources d'éducation postsecondaire au Nord-Ouest", de dire Shawn Graham.

Ministre de l'Éducation postsecondaire, de la Formation et du Travail, Donald Arsenault estime que cette annonce cadre parfaitement avec la Mesure 22 du Plan d'action provincial en éducation postsecondaire présenté en juin dernier. Déplorant que les députés conservateurs du Nord-Ouest aient vertement critiqué les avenues empruntées par les libéraux dans ce dossier, M. Arsenault se réjouit que les parties impliquées et la population se soient jointes pour offrir une meilleure qualité de vie et un environnement de travail plus moderne aux étudiants du Nord-Ouest. "Lorsque tous les intervenants travaillent ensemble à un objectif commun, il y a de très belles choses qui peuvent arriver. Ce projet cadre parfaitement avec notre plan d'action", explique M. Arsenault.

Toute une surprise !

Directeur du CCNB d'Edmundston, Richard Doiron avoue que la nouvelle annoncée le 5 décembre l'a grandement surpris. En compagnie de Paul Albert, vice-recteur de L'UMCE, M. Doiron a présenté un bilan de tous les éléments entourant ce projet de cohabitation entre le CCNB et l'UMCE lors de l'assemblée annuelle de la Chambre de commerce de la région d'Edmundston du mercredi 26 novembre. Les deux hommes avaient stipulé qu'un document argumentatif sur l'importance de cette démarche devait être envoyé à Fredericton d'ici Noël. Cependant, Richard Doiron et Paul Albert ont dû annuler des rencontres à cet effet pour se rendre d'urgence dans la capitale provinciale. "Je me réjouis vraiment pour les étudiants qui pourront compter sur des infrastructures modernes. Ça aura un impact direct sur la qualité des programmes. On sera aussi en mesure d'offrir des services additionnels. Ce montant paiera entièrement la construction du nouveau collège", précise Richard Doiron.
Fondé en 1965, le CCNB d'Edmundston est présentement situé sur le chemin du Pouvoir et accueille chaque année plus de 400 étudiants à travers une vingtaine de programmes réguliers. Le nouveau collège sera construit derrière l'UMCE et tout près de la Cité des Jeunes A.-M.-Sormany. La capacité d'accueil sera augmentée à 500 sièges et comprendra de nouveaux laboratoires et ateliers. Afin d'économiser, des services seront offerts en commun avec l'UMCE, comme la cafétéria, les services de santé et la bibliothèque. Chacune des institutions conservera son propre caractère d'études postsecondaires. "Il s'agit d'une cohabitation et non pas d'une fusion, car les deux établissements ont des missions distinctes. L'argent économisé pourra être réinvesti directement dans les programmes et les cours", d'ajouter M. Doiron.

Comme trois établissements scolaires seront situés dans un même rayon de territoire, Richard Doiron croit que plusieurs jeunes pourraient développer un intérêt à exercer un métier au Nord-Ouest après l'obtention d'un diplôme. Des reconnaissances d'acquis entre des cours secondaires, collégiaux et universitaires ne sont d'ailleurs pas exclues à court terme.

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  #52  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2009, 1:03 PM
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Solar panel company to buy Miramichi mill
Published Thursday January 8th, 2009


Norwegian firm expected to be announced as buyer of UPM-Kymmene in the coming weeks
A1
BY KRIS MCDAVID
Times & Transcript Staff

ENLARGE PHOTO


McDavid, Kristofer/TIMES & TRANS
A recent view of the former UPM-Kymmene paper mill in Newcastle, as well as a look at its former groundwood pulp mill across the river in Nelson. All UPM signage was removed from the properties this week.
UPM-Kymmene announced yesterday that it has a "definitive" agreement in place for the sale of all of its assets in New Brunswick.

The Times & Transcript has learned that the interested party could be Umoe Solar -- a Norwegian-based solar energy firm that toured the Miramichi facilities last year.

UPM spokeswoman Sharon Pond said she wouldn't be able to confirm the buyer or what will be included in the deal until it's finalized sometime later this month.

"I look forward to the day that I can actually say something, but this certainly indicates something to be happy about," she said.

She said the agreement was signed on Tuesday.

UPM-Kymmene, headquartered in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, purchased the bankrupt Repap pulp, paper, and lumber operation in 2000, followed by the Smurfit Stone Container sawmill in Bathurst for almost $1 billion.

The company shuttered and tore down its Miramichi kraft mill in 2004, leaving 400 people out of work.

UPM -- once the largest single employer in the Miramichi region -- effectively ended its relationship with the city in 2007 when it shut down its groundwood pulp mill and paper mill, as well as a sawmill in Blackville, cutting an extra 650 jobs.

It has continued to operate the Bathurst sawmill, although company executives have been saying since last summer that they wanted out of New Brunswick entirely.

It seems the Finnish forestry giant has finally gotten its wish, and Public Safety Minister and Miramichi Centre MLA John Foran said the deal could help lift the entire region out of a dark time that saw countless local workers leave for greener pastures in the western provinces.

"I'm quite happy that this is finally coming together, and this should spur further economic opportunities in the Miramichi area," said Foran.

"Hopefully we're going to be looking at some jobs in the immediate future, and increase that in the near future. I think the Miramichi is going to be a good place to be in the next few years and I think we'll be bringing our people back from out west."

"I think 2009 will be the start of the upturn here, and certainly better than 2007 and 2008."

Business Minister Greg Byrne said the diversification of Miramichi's resource-based economy and getting people back to work at the UPM site has been a priority for the government for some time.

Byrne was tight-lipped about revealing any further details about the purchase, saying he'd rather not wade into those discussions until everything is official.

"It's very positive news, and a great first step that the assets of UPM have been sold to a third party," he said.

"I think that gives rise to some optimism and excitement on the Miramichi, but at this point we're really not in a position to throw any more light on this."

Miramichi mayor Gerry Cormier said he hadn't yet been contacted by anybody to confirm the sale.

Foran added that he's confident there will be even more good news for Miramichi this year.

Talks of a potential sale for the former Weyerhaeuser oriented stand board mill have been ongoing for months, with Quebec forestry company Arbec repeatedly expressing their interest in the property.

Also, the Northumberland County Woodlot Owners' Association is looking to begin construction on a wood pellet mill in Miramichi sometime this year, through collaboration with European sustainable energy company BioResource.

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As a frequent visitor to the 'chi, I'm really glad to see some economic development happening there. Because of it's reliance on a single industry, teh entire region has been battered because of the downturn in the pulp and paper industry in the past ten years. While not replacing all the lost jobs, hopefully projects like this will spur further growth and create spinoff and support jobs.

Also, sure as hell beats another Wal*Mart
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  #53  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2009, 3:09 PM
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It's nice to see some news like that in northern NB, hope this will trigger some other projects in the Miramichi!
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Old Posted Jan 8, 2009, 3:11 PM
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Un cadeau de 3,6 millions $ au CCNB de Bathurst

Donald Arseneau, ministre de l'Éducation postsecondaire, de la Formation et du Travail s'est présenté au Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, le mercredi 7 janvier dernier, afin de confirmer un investissement de 3,6 millions $ dans les infrastructures de l'institution.

Nous voulons avoir la population la mieux éduquée au pays, a-t-il fait savoir. En investissant dans nos infrastructures, non seulement nous veillons aux intérêts des étudiants en garantissant qu'ils bénéficient du meilleur environnement d'apprentissage possible, mais nous allons aussi de l'avant avec le plan d'action sur l'éducation postsecondaire et nous aidons la province à devenir autosuffisante d'ici 2026.»

Du côté du directeur général du CCNB. M. Jean Allain, cette somme d'argent devenait presque nécessaire vu la popularité grandissante de l'institution. «L'achalandage augmentait, mais l'espace quant à lui ne s'agrandissait pas. Si nous voulons continuer à offrir nos services comme nous savons le faire, nous nous devons de garder des infrastructures modernes qui font le plaisir des étudiants et du personnel employé», a-t-il déclaré.

De façon un peu plus détaillée, les améliorations prévues au bâtiment comprennent notamment la construction d'un nouvel atelier polyvalent de 1 170 mètres carrés qui vient s'ajouter aux locaux actuels des métiers. Des cours axés sur la plomberie, la tuyauterie et autres métiers qui entrent dans le domaine de la construction y seront présentés. L'espace supplémentaire permettra d'accueillir 100 élèves de plus sur le Campus de Bathurst, lui conférant ainsi une capacité totale de 1 000 places.

À d'autres égards, M. Allain a mentionné que la construction des nouveaux éléments se fera dans un respect singulier pour l'environnement. «Nous voulons introduire des éléments d'une construction respectueuse pour l'environnement permettant ainsi d'utiliser l'édifice comme laboratoire pour de l'enseignement en environnement et en énergie renouvelable. On prévoit en faire davantage dans les années à venir pour protéger l'environnement et économiser de l'énergie.»

Cette annonce du ministre Arseneault entre dans un budget provincial de 1,2 milliard échelonné sur deux ans qui visent à construire et rénover différentes infrastructures. Dans ce montant, 105 millions $ seront investis pour les différents collèges communautaires répartis comme suit : 3,6 millions $ à Bathurst, 35 millions $ à Edmundston, 20 millions $ à Moncton et 45 millions $ à St-Jean.

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Old Posted Jan 8, 2009, 3:13 PM
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Centre d'appels francophone à Edmundston?

L'implantation d'un nouveau centre d'appels à Edmundston risque de se concrétiser très bientôt selon Entreprise Madawaska. La définition du type de l'employé recherché a toutefois créé une certaine confusion chez quelques citoyens du Nord-Ouest.

Le mois dernier, des publicités expliquant la possible venue d'une compagnie internationale dans le domaine des centres d'appels à Edmundston avaient été imprimées ou annoncées dans les médias régionaux. Il était alors précisé que cette entreprise recherchait des employés unilingues francophones afin d'occuper des postes d'agents au service à la clientèle et d'agents au soutien technique, de même que différents postes de direction. Or, cette dernière définition a été incomprise par des personnes se demandant si elles pourraient occuper un de ces emplois alors qu'elles sont en mesure de parler deux ou plusieurs langues.

Agente de développement économique pour Entreprise Madawaska, Isabelle Laplante précise que cette expression signifiait que les postulants ne sont pas obligés de parler couramment l'anglais, étant donné que les services offerts par l'entreprise seront en français. Aucune candidature ne sera rejetée si quelqu'un peut parler plusieurs langues. "On cherche des employés qui parlent couramment le français, mais les gens bilingues sont aussi les bienvenues. C'est une porte ouverte pour des gens supplémentaires, car on n'est pas nécessairement un mauvais candidat si on ne maîtrise pas parfaitement la langue anglaise. D'autres compétences peuvent aussi être utiles", de dire Mme Laplante.

Agissant comme intermédiaire dans ce dossier, Entreprise Madawaska a fourni l'ensemble des données nécessaires pour permettre à la compagnie de mieux connaître la région. Les dirigeants de cette entreprise sont aussi venus visiter des locaux susceptibles d'accueillir plusieurs centaines d'employés. Toutefois, d'autres villes ont aussi démontré un intérêt à accueillir ce centre d'appels francophone dont l'ouverture est prévue au printemps 2009. Selon Isabelle Laplante, la ville d'Edmundston posséderait une longueur d'avance, car la compagnie planifie de faire une foire de l'emploi ce mois-ci, démarche qui permettra aux citoyens de rencontrer les dirigeants de ce futur centre d'appels.

Un autre Teletech ?

Les résidants d'Edmundston ont encore en mémoire l'échec de Teletech. L'ouverture officielle de ce centre d'appels avait eu lieu le 10 janvier 2007 au Centre Madawaska. La compagnie nord-américaine prévoyait embaucher 302 employés en l'espace de deux ans. Cependant, le centre n'a employé qu'un maximum de 150 personnes lors de ses meilleures semaines d'activités. Le contrat de travail négocié avec un câblodistributeur américain était venu à échéance plus tôt en 2008. Prévue le 20 juillet, la fermeture des bureaux de Teletech à Edmundston avait finalement eu lieu le jeudi 2 octobre, soit après 20 mois d'opération.

Isabelle Laplante croit que cette triste situation ne se reproduira pas avec cette compagnie dont le nom n'a pas encore été dévoilé. Chez Teletech, tous les services devaient être livrés en anglais, ce qui n'est pas le cas avec ce nouveau projet. De plus, le centre d'appels possèdera des contrats avec plusieurs entreprises, situation qui créera une stabilité d'emplois en cas de retrait d'un des clients. "Les gens auront une formation sur place. Ce sera un centre avec appels entrants, c'est-à-dire ne recevant que des appels. Il s'agit d'un service à la clientèle pour répondre aux besoins et non pas pour achaler les gens chez eux !", ajoute Mme Laplante.

Les intéressés avaient jusqu'au lundi 5 janvier pour postuler par la poste ou via Internet. Si l'initiative se concrétise, ce sera la première fois que la région du Madawaska accueillera un centre d'appels offrant uniquement des services en français. "C'est important que la population réponde à l'appel. Il s'agit d'un bon mariage avec notre région, car ça se mélange bien avec la main d'œuvre de chez nous", conclut Isabelle Laplante.

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Old Posted Jan 8, 2009, 5:47 PM
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Chamber: Move on twinning
Province urged to improve Highway 101
By IAN FAIRCLOUGH Valley Bureau
Thu. Jan 8 - 5:20 AM
KENTVILLE — The Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce says the province has to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to twinning Highway 101.

Greg Young, the chamber’s president, said his business group has been told many times that the twinning of Highway 101 to Coldbrook is a priority for the province. But he said the government still hasn’t set a firm date for when the project will be completed.

Mr. Young said recent reports suggest the project won’t be finished until 2017. But he said he hasn’t received official confirmation of that, and indicated that the timeline is unacceptable in any case.

He said the highway needs to be twinned to address safety issues and congestion.

The only proposal now for relieving traffic congestion in New Minas is a new exit off Highway 101 at the east end of the village that leads to an existing road beside the County Fair Mall.

However, Mr. Young said the province has told the chamber that that work will only happen when the highway is twinned.

"That’s unacceptable," he said Tuesday, pointing out that the retail sector in New Minas continues to grow.

A new Home Depot has opened near the mall, a new drugstore is under construction and Mr. Young said at least three more large businesses are rumoured for that part of the community.

Traffic into New Minas is backed up beyond the Kentville town line on some days.

Mr. Young said while the chamber hasn’t heard any complaints from its members, it has heard shoppers are not happy with the time they have to spend in traffic to get to the shopping areas.

He said the chamber is working with local MLAs to get a meeting with Premier Rodney MacDonald to discuss the issue
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Old Posted Jan 12, 2009, 2:37 PM
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N.B. to be home to continent's largest cranberry field
Published Monday January 12th, 2009

Ocean Spray to develop 2,000-acre site in Rogersville Over next five years
A1
BY KRIS MCDAVID
Times & Transcript Staff

ROGERSVILLE - Even though all the juicy details won't be released until tomorrow, officials in the village of Rogersville are thrilled the area could soon become synonymous with hip waders, bogs, and Craisins.

That's because cranberry co-operative Ocean Spray is set to announce the formation of North America's largest cranberry field about 10 minutes outside the village of 1,100 residents, near Pleasant Ridge.

Ocean Spray -- the continent's largest producer of canned and bottled juices -- is hoping to begin its operation in April and will spend roughly $15 million on a 350-acre cranberry field, creating about 20 jobs, during the initial phase of its reported five-year plan.

The Massachusetts company plans to invest $100 million into a massive, 2,000-acre cranberry field that will employ about 100 people within the next five years.

Rogersville Mayor Bertrand LeBlanc said the news could be just what the village -- located about 90 kilometres north of Moncton along Route 126 -- needs to begin its recovery from a recent chapter characterized by job-losses and out-migration.

"It's all good," said LeBlanc. "With all the bad news we've been getting, it's about time that we get some good news around here. I can't think of one single downfall with this at all."

The mayor said the expected job creation should lure back some workers from the western provinces, as well as residents who have to commute long distances to jobs outside village limits.

He said an environmental impact assessment still needs to be executed, but doubts there will be any hiccups along the way.

LeBlanc said Ocean Spray settled on the site because of its flat topography, and abundance of high-quality sand and water.

Meantime, the president of the New Brunswick Cranberry Growers Association said having the world's biggest cranberry player in the province will do wonders for raising the credibility of the industry, and could potentially help out the province's 22 growers.

"There are really only a few major cranberry buyers and Ocean Spray is one of them," said Gerald Richard.

"I won't know the details until Tuesday, but if they're looking at establishing cranberry acreage I would think they'll be looking to purchase berries as well."

"So if they become aggressive in purchasing berries, maybe they'll up the price for us and make it a better marketplace," said Richard.

Richard said New Brunswick's cranberry industry has grown by leaps and bounds since some tough times in the 1980s and '90s.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture, in 2000, 917,000 pounds of cranberries were harvested in the province -- a stark contrast to the seven million pounds harvests in 2007.

Ocean Spray is owned by a co-operative of about 600 cranberry growers, along with about 50 Florida grapefruit growers and employs close to 2,000 people worldwide.

Its website says the company posted over $1.7 billion in sales in 2007.

Representatives from the country said they wouldn't comment on the deal until the official announcement in Rogersville at 7 p.m. tomorrow night.

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Old Posted Jan 14, 2009, 5:56 PM
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Ocean Spray details $90M cranberry operation for Rogersville, N.B.
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 | 1:21 PM AT Comments13Recommend27
CBC News
N.B. Premier Shawn Graham, right, speaks with Ocean Spray officials prior to the company discussing its plan for the cranberry industry in Rogersville. (CBC)
Ocean Spray outlined its plans to invest $90 million in Rogersville, N.B., on Tuesday night in a highly anticipated meeting in the village north of Moncton.

People in the community of 1,100 people began lining up an hour before the world's largest cranberry co-operative started detailing plans for a massive investment in the area.

'We desperately need more fruit.'
— Paul Stajduhar, Ocean Spray representative


Paul Stajduhar, the Massachusetts-based company's vice-president of strategic and business development, told the packed legion hall that Ocean Spray plans to eventually develop more than 3,200 hectares of farmland as part of a $90-million investment that will create 100 jobs.

He said the demand for cranberries is outpacing Ocean Spray's ability to turn out the fruit from bogs already in production. The company will be leasing the necessary land from the provincial government for the new operation.

"The entire industry is 850 million pounds. In this decade alone, Ocean Spray has generated new demand for 150 million cranberries," Stajduhar said. "Hopefully that gives you an idea of why we need more fruit. We desperately need more fruit."

The company produces two-thirds of the world's supply of cranberries. But Stajduhar told the crowd that the company's cranberry growers realized that they could not meet the global thirst for the berry.

"They made the decision that as individuals they could not expand cranberry production to the extent that the Ocean Spray needed. So they made the choice to act collectively, for the first time in our history, to invest in cranberry bogs," he said.

"Traditionally, they owned their bogs individually and as a collective owned the factories and the brand. So they made the choice to collectively own cranberry bogs."

That prompted a worldwide search for the best spot to invest in new cranberry bogs and Stajduhar said that search led the company to Rogersville.

The company is looking at a business plan that will see the production come in over several phases.

Smaller plot

Ocean Spray submitted an environmental impact assessment registration for the project on Dec. 18 with the Department of Environment.

If the company receives environmental approval in March, it will seek to get 141 hectares growing first. Stajduhar said Ocean Spray wants to work out any initial problems on the smaller plot of land.

"We will face those issues as well. The measure of our success is going to be how quickly whatever problems may emerge and get 350 very productive acres in the ground and then move on from there," he said.

Once the first 141 hectares are in the ground, the company will look to expand to just less than 770 hectares of cranberry bogs on the 3,200 hectares that are leased from the province.

Ocean Spray is welcoming local producers into the co-operative as well. If the project goes forward, it will be at least three years before the first cranberries are harvested from the bogs around Rogersville. Once in production, the bogs will be able to produce berries for 100 years.

Most people like Eloi Maillet came out to the public meeting to hear about the jobs. He pressed Stajduhar on whether the jobs would be full time or simply more seasonal employment. The company official told Maillet that many of the jobs will be full time.

Premier to set up skills registry in area

Premier Shawn Graham made a surprise appearance at the Rogersville event. With so much of the discussion revolving around jobs, Graham told the crowd that the province will set up a registry of people's skills in the area to make it easier for the company to find workers.

All this demand for cranberries prompts farmers such as Gilles Martin to wonder if there's room for him in this business.

"I'm just wondering if people like myself and I know many others are interested in building their cranberry bog on their property," Martin said.

Stajduhar said Ocean Spray welcomes new farmers, who would get a share of the profits by joining the co-op.
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Old Posted Jan 18, 2009, 6:15 PM
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Windsor, NS;

Council to consider 118-unit development proposal

By GLEN PARKER
Sun. Jan 18 - 4:45 AM
A 118-unit residential development could be underway in the Falls Lake area near Windsor by the end of February.

Despite opposition from people living in the area, a development agreement between West Hants municipal council and Falls Lake Resort Inc. could be ratified at the Feb. 10 council meeting.

If the proposal gets the nod from council, there will be a 14-day period of appeal to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Presentations for and against the development were heard at a public meeting on Tuesday and at the West Hants planning advisory committee meeting Thursday in Windsor.

Shirley Pineo, chairwoman of the planning committee, said the developer "took it upon himself" to reduce the number of units to 118 from 132 in an attempt to reduce the population density of the proposed project.

But opponents mentioned a number of other concerns: deposits of uranium in the area that could be disturbed during construction; greater levels of ambient light in the area, where there are many cottages and extensive recreation; disturbance of wildlife habitat; and an increase in the number of floats and docks extending out into the lake.

Residents wanted to know how many rental units would be involved in the development and asked about the maintenance of a proposed buffer zone and enforcement of the terms of the development agreement.

"We have such limited powers in some areas — things like wells and septic systems," Ms. Pineo said, adding that some concerns should be addressed by provincial departments or agencies.

She also said questions about noise, wharfs, litter and speeding boats might be best handled by a condominium board.

The development is expected to include a mix of year-round homes and seasonal cottages. Falls Lake Resort would be located between Murphy Lake and Falls Lake and border on the existing Chalet Village housing development
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Old Posted Jan 23, 2009, 8:43 PM
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Black Rock, NS

Location set for three Bay of Fundy turbines
Tidal team announces advances in $59m effort to generate electricity
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Fri. Jan 23 - 6:30 AM

A team heading up a $59-million effort to generate electricity from Bay of Fundy tides announced some long-awaited advances in the project Thursday.

After spending $1 million and taking longer than anticipated searching for a test site, the team made announced in Halifax on Thursday where three test turbines will to be located in the Bay of Fundy.

The turbines will be submerged in water up to 45 metres deep near Black Rock, 10 kilometres west of Parrsboro, said Scott Travers of Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company of Hantsport.

"We have a great site and there’s lots of energy at this site," said Mr. Travers. "We want reliability for Nova Scotians. Obviously . . . we are going to be watching the environment very closely."

The Hantsport company, which is also hoping to test an underwater turbine, also announced it has found a replacement technology after Minas Basin dumped its original proposal to use an underwater electric kite last August.

Minas Basin will team up with Marine Current Turbines (MCT) of Bristol, England, which last year installed the world’s first commercial underwater turbine in Strangford Narrows in Northern Ireland.

"We’re very excited to combine our extensive experience in resource and energy development with MCT’s leading U.K. tidal power technology," said Mr. Travers.

Now Marine Current and Minas Basin hope to launch the SeaGen underwater turbine in 2010 and will spend between $15 million and $18 million to build and install the prototype, said Mr. Travers.

Marine Current is no stranger to trying to harness Bay of Fundy tides for energy. Last year, Marine Currents and Nova Scotia-based Maritime Tidal Energy Corp. were unsuccessful in winning a berth at one of the Bay of Fundy test sites.

Maritime Tidal Energy was not available for comment Thursday.

Minas Basin was awarded the contract last year to build a $14-million common test facility and find a location for the turbines. The facility, to be constructed with public and private money, will receive electricity from the turbines and process data.

Minas Basin is among the three groups of companies involved in the pilot project announced last year by the province to test tidal power technologies in the Bay of Fundy.

Besides Minas Basin and its new partner, other successful bidders were Clean Current of British Columbia and Nova Scotia Power, which has joined forces with Ireland’s OpenHydro.

The test turbines will be located about three kilometres from shore and are estimated to cost from $10 million to $15 million each. Mr. Travers said the project is pre-commercial and outlined the hurdles still to be overcome by these companies before electricity is generated by the waves.

"The challenges, first of all, is getting funding for all of our projects, (and) second deploying these monsters in the water."

NSP announced its partner, OpenHydro, has issued a call for bids in Nova Scotia to fabricators and shipyards to construct a huge tripod-shaped gravity base weighing 400 tonnes to hold the turbine on the ocean floor. The value of the contract was not disclosed nor how many people would be employed doing the work. NSP will be the first in the water and intends to launch the turbine this year.
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