PROVINCE ANNOUNCES SIX NEW CASES OF COVID-19, EASING OF SOME RESTRICTIONS 

Six new cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia were reported on Tuesday.  Five of the cases are in Central Zone with one of them related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada;  three are close contacts of a previously reported case; and the other is under investigation.  There is also one new case in Eastern Zone. It involves a close contact of a previously reported case.   It was also announced Tuesday that, unrelated to those cases, four new UK variant cases have been identified in the province. All four are in Central Zone, resolved, with no sign of community spread.

Nova Scotia is reopening its boundary with Newfoundland and Labrador and monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak in New Brunswick that could force health officials to once again restrict travel for residents of that province. Beginning 8 a.m. TODAY (Wednesday), travellers from Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia will not have to isolate for two weeks and Nova Scotians returning from that province won’t have to isolate either, Premier Iain Rankin said Tuesday. The premier similarly opened his province to New Brunswick travellers last month but said health officials are concerned about a recent rise in cases in the Edmundston, N.B., region and will reverse course if necessary. Rankin, however, said the plan to reopen the Atlantic travel bubble by April 19 is still a go if the situation in the region remains stable. “As you know, day to day things change quickly,” Rankin said. “We are watching the cases in our neighbouring provinces very closely.” Rankin also announced that malls, retail businesses and fitness facilities could begin operating at full capacity on Wednesday — as long as physical distancing rules are enforced. Also on Wednesday, the government said sports practices and games, along with arts and culture rehearsals and performances, can be held with a maximum of 75 people. Spectators can attend these events as long as they are not held inside school buildings.

Meanwhile, chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said the province is taking a second look at its rules for vaccinated rotational workers, who are required to complete two weeks of modified quarantine when they return home. As things stand, rotational workers are allowed limited outdoor activities but are prohibited from entering indoor public spaces and must be tested three times before finishing quarantine. Both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island recently allowed vaccinated rotational workers to re-enter their provinces without isolating. Strang said Nova Scotia is expecting further information later this week on whether vaccines limit asymptomatic transmission of the novel coronavirus. (With files from the Canadian Press)

 

RCMP INVESTIGATING LITTER DUMP, BELIEVED TO BE DELIBERATE  

RCMP Photo (submitted)

RCMP are investigating after residents of Pictou Landing First Nation noticed last Friday that their local roadway was littered with garbage upon entry into the community. Police say it’s believed that the garbage was deliberately put there.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pictou County District RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

 

FRASER ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN PICTOU COUNTY

Facebook photo: SeanFraserMP

Central Nova MP Sean Fraser has announced that the federal government will be contributing nearly $4.46 Million toward Phase One of the Municipality of Pictou County’s high speed internet project.  Tuesday’s announcement will see high speed internet access extended to different communities throughout the County and has the potential to improve cellular service in the region as well. Meanwhile, the application period for the next round of funding through the federal Universal Broadband Fund has closed, and further applications for the remainder of the region are under consideration.

 

PC Health Critic Karla MacFarlane has proposed changes to a PC Bill originally tabled two years ago in the fight against human trafficking.  The bill is aimed at ensuring that children are taught about the dangers of human trafficking as a part of the provincial education curriculum. The Bill would amend the Education Act, and the curriculum for grades seven to nine.  The Bill was first introduced by MacFarlane in 2019.

 

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PROVINCE

Nominations have opened for the 2021 Lieutenant-Governor’s Community Spirit Award.  Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Suzanne Lohnes-Croft says the award celebrates the strength and diversity of Nova Scotia’s vibrant communities.  The province says up to four community recipients are chosen by a selection committee based on applications that best fit the award’s criteria.  Nominations must be received by midnight on Friday May 14 and any nominations received for last years awards, that were cancelled due to COVID-19, will be considered for 2021.  Applications can be found online at https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future/community-spirit-award

The N.S. Government says amendments to the Securities Act will ensure consistency with other provinces and improve enforcement of securities laws.  The amendments, introduced on Tuesday, will give the Nova Scotia Securities Commission greater compliance and enforcement abilities.  The province says new statutory offences will be created for obstructing or interfering with hearings, investigations, or inspections and for aiding, abetting or counselling a person or company to breach provincial securities laws.  Whistleblowers will also have greater protection to report information on serious securities or derivatives-related misconduct.

The province says amendments to the Pension Benefits Act will make it quicker for Nova Scotians to access locked-in retirement accounts or life income funds in times of financial need.  Anyone currently wishing to unlock funds for reasons of financial hardship must apply to the superintendent of pensions, and wait for an approval letter which must be taken to their financial institution.  The amendments will allow financial institutions to directly approve applications and will reduce the paperwork needed to process requests.  The province also says it’s also eliminating the $116.65 application processing fee.