Latest news with #NewBrunswicker
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Sea Dogs select top prospect in QMJHL draft with first pick overall
Article content The Saint John Sea Dogs secured a major player for their future and the Moncton Wildcats landed a top hometown prospect as the QMJHL draft unfolded over the weekend in Quebec. Article content Saint John, which finished 17th overall in 2024-25 and then landed the top pick overall in the draft lottery earlier this spring, landed six-foot-four centre Alexis Joseph with their No. 1 pick Friday evening to kick off the annual draft. Article content Article content Article content Joseph was rated at the top of many draft prognosticators' lists because of his size and abilities with College Esther Blodin in Quebec, where he racked up 56 points in 42 games with the Quebec U18 AAA squad. Article content Article content Saint John also secured five-foot-seven-and-a-half speedster Nolann Heroux of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que., with the No. 10 pick overall, and six-foot-one-and-a-half inch goaltender Jase MacPherson of Montague, Prince Edward Island, with its third pick, 29th overall. Article content Heroux recorded 50 points in 41 games with St-Eustache in Quebec U18 AAA this past season while MacPherson was 11-7 with a .908 save percentage with the Kensington Wild of the NB-PEI Under 18 Major Hockey League. Article content The Sea Dogs entered the draft with the No. 18 overall pick as well, following a trade with Rimouski that finalized a deal for former captain Eriks Mateiko in January. Article content Article content However, Saint John shipped that pick to Rouyn-Noranda for a series of picks, including a No. 2 and No. 4 on Saturday, a first rounder in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2027. Article content Article content The Gilles Courteau Trophy champion Wildcats waited until the second round to make their first pick and after a trade with Rimouski to drop to No. 24 overall (while gaining additional picks), they landed centre Marc MacPhee of Moncton. MacPhee was also the top New Brunswicker selected in the draft. Article content MacPhee, a five-foot-eight-and-a-half inch centre, racked up 38 points in 33 games with the Moncton Flyers of the NB-PEI Major under 18 league and then added seven points at the Telus Cup national championship.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
N.B. lotto winner decides against lump sum — opts for $1,000 a week for next 25 years
Barbara Nelson of Saint John, N.B., has worked at the same chain restaurant for many years. Most mornings, she picks up a Scratch'N Win lottery ticket on her way in and plays it in the break room before her shift. That simple routine just changed her life, with Nelson winning the top prize with her Set for Life ticket. The jackpot comes with a choice: lump-sum payout of $675,000 or $1,000 a week for the next 25 years. The New Brunswicker decided to go with the latter, and now, she's ready to hang up her apron and head into early retirement. 'With the way the economy has been going, I didn't figure I would get to retire early, or retire at all,' Nelson said. 'This says, 'Yes, you can.'' Nelson chose the annuity, giving her a reliable income stream for the next two and a half decades. That $1,000-a-week payout also adds up to $1.3 million — almost double the lump sum. With summer just around the corner, Nelson says she's especially looking forward to reclaiming her weekends, something she rarely had off while working. 'All the things that go on through the summer all happen on the weekends and I was always working the weekends,' Nelson said. 'Now I can do what I want and figure out what that is, instead of trying to pay bills. I can enjoy the summer.' She purchased her winning ticket at the Esso Proxi Church in Saint John. Her prize marks the seventh and final top prize awarded in the 4091 series of the game. For Nelson, that top-prize means one thing: retirement and freedom to enjoy life on her own terms. 'I like the Set for Life prize, that's why I get that ticket,' she said. 'Now I'm just going to sit back and see where it leads me and let what comes, come.' If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
N.B. lotto winner decides against lump sum — opts for $1,000 a week for next 25 years
Barbara Nelson of Saint John, N.B., has worked at the same chain restaurant for many years. Most mornings, she picks up a Scratch'N Win lottery ticket on her way in and plays it in the break room before her shift. That simple routine just changed her life, with Nelson winning the top prize with her Set for Life ticket. The jackpot comes with a choice: lump-sum payout of $675,000 or $1,000 a week for the next 25 years. The New Brunswicker decided to go with the latter, and now, she's ready to hang up her apron and head into early retirement. 'With the way the economy has been going, I didn't figure I would get to retire early, or retire at all,' Nelson said. 'This says, 'Yes, you can.'' Nelson chose the annuity, giving her a reliable income stream for the next two and a half decades. That $1,000-a-week payout also adds up to $1.3 million — almost double the lump sum. With summer just around the corner, Nelson says she's especially looking forward to reclaiming her weekends, something she rarely had off while working. 'All the things that go on through the summer all happen on the weekends and I was always working the weekends,' Nelson said. 'Now I can do what I want and figure out what that is, instead of trying to pay bills. I can enjoy the summer.' She purchased her winning ticket at the Esso Proxi Church in Saint John. Her prize marks the seventh and final top prize awarded in the 4091 series of the game. For Nelson, that top-prize means one thing: retirement and freedom to enjoy life on her own terms. 'I like the Set for Life prize, that's why I get that ticket,' she said. 'Now I'm just going to sit back and see where it leads me and let what comes, come.' If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
CBC
27-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Meet three young voters and top issues on their mind before election day
With just one day left before the federal election, you might be wondering what issues are top of mind for young voters as they head to the polls. Here's the perspective of three younger New Brunswicker voters. Mathieu Perron: Affordability, supporting the most vulnerable Mathieu Perron, a master's student in Health Management at l'Université de Moncton, says the cost of living is top of mind for him. This includes rising housing and energy costs, and wages that aren't keeping up with inflation. He said there's also the issue of post-secondary students deciding to move out of province once they graduate. "I think working out something regarding the economic development of rural areas is a big concern for many who want to stay in New Brunswick but maybe don't have the job opportunities to do so," said Perron. Perron said he is also concerned when he heard Conservative Leader Pierre Pollievre discuss making cuts to post secondary education. "It poses a risk to the accessibility of those institutions and the capacity of those institutions to keep offering programs," he said. Perron said tuition at l'Université de Moncton has needed to increase annually to keep up with costs. So, cutting funding on the federal level will burden students even more. He said he was pleased to see both major parties propose tax cuts for the middle class. Liberal Leader Mark Carney proposed a tax cut reducing the lowest federal income tax bracket from 15 per cent to 14 per cent. Pollievre says he would lower that same tax bracket to 12.75 per cent over a two-year period. "It's great, but for students who work and don't really make that much money, it's the wages that have to go up more than taxes need to be cut," said Perron. He would also like to see the student housing issue addressed, with a focus on building apartments designed specifically for students and their needs. "I know many people living four or five in the same apartment, which is something we have to do to pay the rent," said Perron. Perron voted in advance polling and said he decided to vote for a candidate who has shown strength in leadership. He said the candidate who got his vote was less divisive during the campaign and didn't try to bash their opponents. He said the candidate he voted for was also keen on maintaining social programs already in place to help the most vulnerable in the country. Daniel Mordi: Cost of living, immigration and financial aid Daniel Mordi, executive director of the New Brunswick Student Alliance, said housing, food insecurity, mental health services, access to healthcare, immigration and student financial aid are his greatest concerns for the federal election. He says these topics represent "major" challenges that students are facing all across the province. Elections Canada recorded that only 46.7 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 voted in the 2021 federal election. And, that's not lost on Mordi. He says that's likely because students don't feel the government cares about the issues impacting them. "There is no confidence in the governments from young people," said Mordi, "Students are looking for someone who does not just speak in numbers, but we need to see someone who's passionate about making a difference." Mordi said he hasn't seen any candidates talking about incentives to support students after graduation, in order to keep them in the province. He said New Brunswick needs to catch up to other provinces on that front. Mordi is waiting to vote on election day and says the candidate he votes for will be the one who understands that immigrants and international students contribute greatly to our country's economy. He also wants to see candidates who care about the issues impacting students. Allison Grace Lambert: Human rights, student support Allison Grace Lambert, a member of Wabanaki Two Spirit Youth Council, parent and mental health advocate, says Indigenous rights, mental health and women's health are the issues she's passionate about during this election. "If we have the resources to be healthy, we can raise our children to be happy and healthy and then they can serve their future generation," she told CBC radio's Information Morning Moncton. She said the affordability crisis is playing a role in deteriorating the mental health of many New Brunswickers. Lambert says the cost of living is difficult to manage with a two-person income, which doesn't leave many options for new mothers who are also students or recent graduates. Lambert said managing finances in this economy, from loan payments to trying to cover the cost of food and rent, can be very stressful. "At the end of the day, it's like you want to give up on it because it's like what's the point?" she said. Lambert would like to see more financial support for students so they are better set up to enter the workforce. Lambert will be voting on election day. She says the candidate she will vote for will be one with a focus on maintaining human rights and, in particular, women's rights.
CBC
01-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
No fooling: N.B. Power rate hike April 1 to cost average residential customer $244
N.B. Power's latest rate increase took effect early Tuesday and for an average residential customer it will add about $244 in higher charges in the coming year according to a recent decision of the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board. The board held hearings into the rate increase last year, but had been waiting to finalize amounts so it could calculate and add in a surcharge that customers are to be billed to help retire past over-expenditures by the utility. Those surcharges were approved two weeks ago and incorporated into a new rate table and schedule all, of which was set to take effect April 1. "The Board has reviewed the revised and refiled table and has determined that it complies with the Board's direction," acting EUB chair Christopher Stewart wrote on March 21 in a final order that cleared the way for all elements of the new rate package to be implemented. According to data filed by N.B. Power with the EUB, its average residential customer consumes about 16,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. At that level, under the new rates, an urban household will pay $2,781.80 for electricity in the coming year, not including taxes. That is $244 more than last year. It is also $645.20 more than three years ago following increases in April 2024 and April 2023. The changes still leave N.B. Power with some of the lowest rates for electricity in the region outside Quebec. But with the utility's prices rising 30 per cent in three years, consumers have not been in a mood to look at silver linings. WATCH | Up, up and away: Why electricity rate increases have reignited debates over the role and future N.B. Power: How electricity rates have become a symbol of New Brunswick's affordability problems 2 hours ago Duration 2:22 N.B. Power rates for residential customers are lower than those in most neighbouring jurisdictions, but they have also risen 30 per cent in three years. The escalations are stinging weary consumers, which has the Holt government promising action of some kind, soon. Last week, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt expressed frustration with the parade of rate hikes and announced a government review of N.B. Power will soon be undertaken with all potential solutions, including a sale of the utility, up for discussion. She promised widespread public consultations will be a central part of that effort. "I am not going to assume that I know what every single New Brunswicker thinks about N.B. Power," said Holt. I certainly know what I hear them telling me right now — it needs to change. The rates can't keep going like they're going now and the status quo cannot continue." The price of electricity has emerged as a major political issue even though the latest increase was not a surprise. It was originally proposed by N.B. Power in December 2023 and has been subject to scrutiny and debate for the last 15 months. During October's general election, N.B. Power's future was not a major issue campaigned on by any party, but a series of events in February suddenly elevated concerns about its troubles. In mid-February, the province lowered its estimate of expected net earnings at N.B. Power for its most recent financial year by $59.3 million after another disappointing year of production at the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station. Days later, J.D. Irving Ltd announced it was cutting production in half at its Saint John paper mill and blamed rising electricity costs. Days after, utility executives disappointed MLAs by failing to complete a report on why bills to residential customers this winter have been so much higher than many expected. Last week, following those controversies, Holt said her government had investigated whether it might be able to cancel, delay or reduce the coming increase but decided it was not legally feasible. "We were looking at mechanisms to unravel the EUB decision, but there is not a lot at our disposal to affect April 1 right now," Holt said. An urban consumer of N.B. Power who uses 16,000 kilowatt hours of electricity this year will pay $354.60 in monthly service charges, $2,361.60 for the volume of electricity consumed, and a "rate rider" of $65.60 to help pay for financial troubles the utility encountered in previous years, most notably for problems encountered at Point Lepreau. All three of those amounts are higher than last year.
