5 New Brunswick cases to watch for in 2016

While it is never possible to predict everything that will be in the news, there are some stories that arecertain to capture thepublic's attention in 2016.

They are stories that carry on over time, covering everything from politics, to policing to the price of beer.

Here are some of the stories that will likely be back inNew Brunswick newsin 2016.

1. Michel Vienneau shooting by Bathurst police

In January 2015, Tracadie businessmanMichel Vienneauand his common-law wife Annick Basque returned from a trip to Montreal by train and got into their vehicle in the parking lot of the train station in Bathurst.

Minutes laterpoliceofficers, acting on information Vienneau was returning with drugs information that later proved to be unfounded approached their vehicle. Police say Vienneau accelerated, pinning one of the officers against a snowbank.

Shots were fired. Vienneau was dead.

On Nov. 19, Bathurst police officersConst. Patrick Bulger, 38, and Const. Mathieu Boudreau, 26, were each charged with manslaughter, as well as weapons charges, in connection with Vienneau's death.

• 2 Bathurst police chargedin Michel Vienneau death

Bulger and Boudreau are scheduled to appear in provincial court in Bathurst on Jan. 4.

In addition to the criminal proceedings in the case, two separate lawsuits against the City of Bathurst have been launched by Annick Basque. One is seeking financial compensation from the city, contending Vienneau's death was a result of police negligence. The other alleges she was arrested using excessive force and without cause in January, the day of the shooting.

2. Police under scrutiny

The two Bathurst police officers weren't the only ones in law enforcement to run into trouble with the law in 2015:

• Two Fredericton police officers are before the courts on charges of impaired driving while off-duty.
• Fredericton Const. Jeff Smiley was ordered dismissed by the New Brunswick Police Commissionas discipline stemming from a domestic assault case.
• Fredericton Const. Cherie Campbell is awaiting a discipline decision from the commission stemming from the shoplifting charge in Maine.
• Four members of the Woodstock RCMPwere suspended in November for alleged discreditable conduct and are under a criminal investigation of unspecified nature.

Chiefs of police in New Brunswick have stated their desire to rewrite the New Brunswick Police Act to give them the power to suspend officers without pay under certain circumstances.

• Leanne Fitch addresses concerns about Fredericton police actions

Meanwhile, the New Brunswick Police Association says police chiefs are staging a "power grab."

• Police association says chiefs staging 'power grab'

And the New Brunswick Police Commission is running out of money to handle the mounting number of arbitrations.

• New Brunswick Police Commission funding running out

The police commission has also been asked to review the Saint John Police Force's handling of the Richard Oland murder investigation.

The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners asked for the review after testimonyraised questions about the force's handling of the case. For instance, the washroom near Oland's office was used by police officers and others without ever being examined for evidence of a possible cleanup by the killer.

The police commissioners say the review is needed to make sure the public has confidence in the force and it will also be important for the morale of the officers.

• Saint John police's handling of Richard Oland murder investigation to be reviewed

Meanwhile, Saint John Police Chief John Bates has filed a complaint with the commission about deputy police chief Glen McCloskey. The investigation was asked for after testimony in the Oland trial from retired staff sergeant Mike King, who said McCloskey suggested he lie under oath about McCloskey'spresence at the bloody crime scene.

McCloskey also testified and denied King's allegations. Former Fredericton police chief Barry MacKnight has been appointed by the commission to investigate the case.

• Saint John police chief complaint about Glen McCloskey probed

3. Border beer battle

In the dog days of the August news cycle, GerardComeau'scourt fight against a charge of bringing too much alcohol into New Brunswick for his personal use made headlines across the country.

• Interprovincialliquor limits 'unconstitutional,' says lawyer

Comeau, a retired steelworker fromTracadie,was given a ticket for $292.50 for bringing 14 cases of beer, two bottles of whisky and a bottle of liqueur into New Brunswick from Quebec. The New Brunswick Liquor Control Actdicatespeople may only bring 12 pints of beer, or one bottle of liquor or one bottle of wine into New Brunswick.

Comeauis fighting the ticket, arguing the trade barrier is unconstitutional. His trial inCampbelltonheard from constitutional experts, high-ranking officials at N.B. Liquor andMooseheadBrewers, and even drew in mention of the Fathers of Confederation.

Judge RonaldLeBlancreserved his decision and no doubt the case will be back in the news when he renders his decision, which is expected by the end of April.

Regardless of howLeBlancrules, itlikely won't be the last time the border beer case will be in the news. Many expect the case will be appealed, possibly all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

4. Dual busing in schools

The long-standing New Brunswick practice of having separate school buses for the English and French school systems became a lightning rod for language discontent in the province in 2015.

There was chatter about it as the province toured the province in January looking for ways to save money, with some questioning of the cost of sending two buses down the same street to collect children going to schools in the same area.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodsidesparked a firestorm of protest when he tweeted in February that "duality makes no sense" and has to be on the table in provincial budget-cutting considerations.

Woodside, who was president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities at the time, later recanted. But thatdid little to calm the language tensions.

In April, Attorney General Serge Rouselle announced he would ask the New Brunswick Court of Appeal for its opinion on whether New Brunswick is legally obliged to provide buses for both language groups in order to protest the Charter language rights of the French community in New Brunswick.

• Serge Rousselle sends dual busing case to appeal court

The question put to the court is: "Is there, in New Brunswick, a constitutional obligation to provide distinct school transportation in relation to one or the other official language?"

The first appearance of the case on the Appeal Court's docket is for Feb. 16 to deal with preliminary matters. At some point, the court may have to rule whether any intervenors will be permitted to make arguments in the hearing. The court may also need to appoint someone to make the 'No' argument to the court.

5. Dennis Oland appeal

Dennis Olandmay have been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his father, Richard Oland, but that doesn't mean the courts have heard the last of the case. The Oland family and his legal team have said they plan to appeal the conviction.

• Dennis Oland plans to appeal guilty verdict in father's murder

"We know Dennis has been wrongfully convicted and we will pursue an appeal as soon as the process allows," said Connie Oland and Lisa Oland, Dennis's mother and wife, in a statement issued by lawyer William H. Teed.

"Not only are we certain Dennis is innocent, we are certain the person responsible for Dick's murder remains at-large."