The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced yesterday that it has commenced a federal environmental assessment for the Boat Harbour Remediation Project. The Agency is inviting the public and Indigenous groups to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment. This is the second of four opportunities for the public to comment on the environmental assessment of the project. Comments will be accepted until May 10th, more details here: https://ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/evaluations/document/128138?culture=en-CA
Pictou Centre MLA Pat Dunn introduced the Safely to School Act this week at the provincial legislature. Under the bill, drivers who fail to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights will get 10 demerit points on their licence and a six-month suspension. The maximum fine will also increase to $5,000. In a news release, Dunn says he hopes the increased penalty will be deterrent for drivers and ensure the safety of students. He’s calling for other parties to support the bill and pass it before the end of the session. Just this week Halifax District RCMP say a Jeep Cherokee drove into the back of a school bus that was stopped with its lights and stop sign activated in Hammonds Plains. There were 21 children on the bus but no one was hurt. The driver of the Jeep was issued a summary offence ticket.
A 36-year-old Halifax man is facing a number of charges after RCMP shut down a section of Highway 102 overnight for public safety reasons. East Hants District RCMP were called out to Milford last night around 9:30pm. They were told a vehicle was in the median and the driver had a long gun. Police say when the officers arrived, the driver wouldn’t communicate with them. They called in an Emergency Response Team to assist and shut down the highway in both directions, between Milford and Elmsdale. The suspect was taken into custody just before 1:30 a.m. He is set to appear in Shubenacadie Provincial Court today facing charges of:
• Careless use of a firearm
• Possession of a firearm in motor vehicle
• Discharge firearm by portion of highway
• Breach of recognizance (2 counts)
• Firearm or weapon possession contrary to prohibition order
• Possession of a Firearm for dangerous purpose
• Transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle
• Possession of prohibited weapon
• Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
• Failure or refusal to comply with demand
Trenton town council passed a resolution this week to submit a proposal to the federal government on behalf of a group of residents planning to restore Trenton Park. The not-for-profit organization known as the “Hemlock Group” have been working on the research and development of this project since 2013 with Trenton’s Mayor, Council, and staff to achieve a restoration plan. The proposed project will be submitted to the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure program. Trenton has also applied for provincial grants. Mayor Shannon MacInnis says the town is very excited to see this project move to the next stage, inching one step closer to actually putting a shovel in the ground.” He says residents of Trenton and Pictou County would be “so fortunate to see this come to fruition.” The towns of Stellarton, New Glasgow, and Pictou, along with the Municipality of Pictou County, have said previously they will lend financial support to the project.
Three women arrested at the Alton Gas site near Fort Ellis have now been released. RCMP say the arrests were made in order to enforce an injunction ordering an end to a blockade of the natural gas storage project. A “temporary exclusion zone” and a road closure on Riverside Road was put in place, but that’s since been lifted. The RCMP say their Division Liaison Team met with the demonstrators at 9 a.m., and the two sides had an open dialogue for several hours. In a news release police say, “When it was determined that the terms of the injunction were not going to be met voluntarily, discussions continued and members took three women into custody without incident for Civil Contempt of an Injunction Order.” Indigenous demonstrators have maintained a two-year blockade at the gate to halt the company’s plan to use water from the Shubenacadie River to flush out salt deposits to create underground natural gas storage caverns and then dump the leftover brine into the river. The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia issued a temporary injunction last month ordering the demonstrators to move to a nearby fenced-in area. (CP)
Nova Scotia Health Authority says there will be a temporary Emergency Department closure at the Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital in Tatamagouche this Friday. The closure will be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. due to a lack of physician coverage. Patients with emergencies will be redirected to the Colchester East Hants Health Centre or the most appropriate emergency department for care.
A Fredericton radio host who was arrested by the FBI remains in custody in Puerto Rico, and is being deemed a “risk of flight and danger to the community.” Trevor Doyle was arrested April 3 after he allegedly tried to solicit sex from an FBI agent who was pretending to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been charged with sexual enticement of a minor. According to court documents, Doyle’s case appeared in Puerto Rico court on Monday. His defense attorney did not request conditions of release or a bail hearing, but reserved his right to reopen the detention hearing at a later date. As a result of the hearing, he was detained pending a trial.
Genetically modified salmon raised in Prince Edward Island are poised for the leap to grocery shelves. This is a Canadian first but has left traditional producers concerned about setting their farmed fish apart. Environment Canada recently gave notice it has approved U.S.-based AquaBounty to grow the salmon at its site about 74 kilometres east of Charlottetown. AquaBounty says it would begin stocking its Rollo Bay facility “as soon as possible,” with the first harvest of AquAdvantage salmon estimated late next year. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the agrifood analytics unit at Dalhousie University, says it’s likely AquaBounty “production will be ramped up in Canada.” (CP)
Trenton volunteers were recognized last evening by the town for the work they do in the community:
Shauna Fukes (Albion Boxing Club)
Leonard Eaton (First United Church)
Marge Landry & Leanne Caverley (Royal Canadian Legion Branch #29)
Gillian Atwood (397 Royal Canadian Air Cadets)
Jim Aucoin (VON of Pictou County)
Dan MacDonald (Trenton FunFest)
Justin MacCulloch (Trenton Fire Department)
The 2019 Florence Gouthro Memorial Volunteer of the Year award recipient was Ken MacDonald. Ken was nominated this year by the Trenton FunFest committee.
The town of Stellarton also held their Volunteer recognition night this week. The Francis “Bud” MacKay Volunteer of the Year winner was Tara Carruthers who was nominated for her work with youth basketball by GR Saunders. Congratulations to Diane Cameron, Sandra Darroch, Bev Fortin and Heather MacLellan who were also recognized for their volunteer work in the community.
SPORTS:
Maritime Hockey League:
The finals are set in the MHL,
The Campbellton Tigers have defeated the Summerside Western Capitals to advance to the Canadian Tire Cup final! They’ll take on the Yarmouth Mariners in the best of 7 series to see who will advance to the Fred Page Cup.
QMJHL:
Drummondville defeated the Sherbrooke Phoenix 4-2 to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
The Halifax Mooseheads brought out the brooms in Moncton last night and swept the Wildcats in 4 straight games, they were down 2-1 going into the 3rd and scored 3 unanswered goals to win 4-2.
IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship:
Team Canada will take on Team Germany this morning at 11am. Semi Finals will be held on Saturday Afternoon and the Finals on Sunday.
MLB:
For the first time in history, the Houston Astros have swept the Yankees. They won last night 8-6.
Jordan Lyles threw 10 strikeouts to give the Pirates a huge 5-2 win over the Cubs.
NHL:
The playoffs have begun in the NHL,
Last night the Blue Jackets shocked the Lightning in Tampa Bay, they were down 3-0 going into the second period but they rallied back with goals from Nick Foligno, David Savard, Josh Anderson and Seth Jones to win game 1, 4-3. Also, Truro referee Jon McIsaac had the call for game 1.
The Islanders got an OT goal from Josh Bailey to lift New York to a 1-0 series lead over the Penguins.
The Blues rallied back after a Patrick Liane goal in the 1st period to score 2 in the 3rd and take game 1 against the Jets 2-1.
Miro Heiskanen had the game of his life for the Dallas Stars in game 1 against the Predators, he scored twice and Mats Zuccarello added the frosting as the stars take a 1-0 series lead over Nashville defeating them 3-2.
Vegas showed up in San Jose unprepared to face the Sharks and it showed early, the Sharked netted 3 in the 2nd and took game 1 away from the Golden Knights 5-2.
Tonight, Toronto and Boston get underway in game 1 at 8pm.
Carolina and Washington begin at 8:30.
Colorado and Calgary drop the puck at 11.
