Saint John Chief Financial Officer Kevin Fudge gives a presentation on the 2024 operating budget to the city's finance committee Monday. Photo: Andrew Bates/Brunswick News

A proposed tax cut for Saint John will help offset the hit of 6.5 per cent in assessment increases, but the city's residential property owners will still pay the biggest share.  

The city's Chief Financial Officer Kevin Fudge presented staff's budget recommendations to the city's finance committee Monday. The budget includes a $6.6-million increase in expenditures, or 3.5 per cent more than last year, and a rate cut of three cents from $1.58 to $1.55 per $100 of assessed value, he said.  

"We're continuing to have conversations with the province about industrial tax and fair taxation, and really that's a conversation about the residents taking an unfair amount of tax in the City of Saint John," said finance committee chair Coun. Gary Sullivan.  

"We've got to maintain roads and we've got to maintain public services .... for everybody, residents, commercial, heavy industry, but we've got one tax rate and a limited number of tools." 

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New Brunswick’s newly elected Liberal government will “work aggressively” to build new nursing homes – but also tap into underutilized existing resources – to clear up the growing backlog of hospital patients waiting for long-term care, according to the province’s new health minister.  

“At least” 1,000 people could benefit from the government’s plan to build 12 to 16 new nursing homes in the near future in communities with the “biggest need” across the province, said Dr. John Dornan, who was recently sworn in as health minister.  

“I can’t tell you where the shovels are going to hit the dirt and when they’re going to hit the dirt, but we’re committed to starting those (projects) relatively soon and we’ll be public about that, Social Development will be public about where these homes are going,” Dornan told Brunswick News last week.  

However, the health minister said the use of existing vacant nursing and special-care home beds will also be part of the provincial government’s plan to address the backlog.  

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In this file photo, a For Sale sign is posted on the lawn of a north-end duplex in Moncton. Year-over-year October home sales spiked by 12 per cent in New Brunswick, according to a new report from the Canadian Real Estate Association. In Saint John, sales jumped a whopping 43.1 per cent. They also rose in northern and valley regions (up 15.3 per cent) and Fredericton (up 5.5 per cent), but dropped by 3.2 per cent in Greater Moncton.

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Nova Scotia police have concluded the death of 19-year-old Walmart employee Gursimran Kaur, found inside a Halifax store on Oct. 19, was not suspicious and showed no signs of foul play, Global News reported. The investigation confirmed that no one else was involved in her death. Const. Martin Cromwell said although there was no foul play, there are "questions that may never have answers." Kaur’s mother discovered her in a bakery walk-in oven, prompting a workplace investigation by the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration. The store has remained closed since the incident, with Walmart providing grief counseling for staff and financial support for Kaur’s family. 

U.S. President Joe Biden's decision allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against targets within Russia has sparked varied reactions, including warnings from Moscow, Associated Press reported. The Kremlin warned that the decision could dramatically escalate the conflict, potentially involving NATO countries directly. Kyiv hinted at potential action and some Western allies showed support for the decision. This policy shift introduces a new, uncertain element to the conflict as it approaches its 1,000-day mark. The decision comes amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas and reports of North Korean troops aiding Russia. President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming administration also adds uncertainty, as he pledges to end the war.

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed plans Monday to declare a national emergency to facilitate mass deportations of undocumented migrants, a key campaign promise, ABC News reported. Trump responded “TRUE!!!” to a social media post suggesting the use of military assets for deportations. He has pledged to launch the "largest deportation program in American history" on his first day in office, focusing on removing what he called "criminals" from the country. Trump has appointed immigration hardliners to key positions, including Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and Tom Homan as "border czar." The plan involves mobilizing the National Guard and potentially using overseas troops. Experts warn of significant economic impacts.