GUN MURDERS MORE COMMON IN SMALLER TOWNS
Statistics Canada numbers for the years 2000 to 2016 show 20 per cent of the shootings in this country are because people are committing a murder. And 75 % of the gun deaths in Canada can be blamed on suicide. So it appears Canadians want something done about gun abuse in Canada, but they’re not able to agree on exactly what that should be. Although it appears doctors have their minds made up. Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (C-D-P-G) was formed last year. That group is advocating for a ban on handguns and assault-like rifles and say it’s not just a big city issue. The numbers show using guns as a murder weapon is almost 10 per cent more common in rural areas than it is in Canada’s larger cities.
FRASER GETS NATIONAL AWARD
The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health is recognizing Central Nova MP Sean Fraser for his work in helping their cause. As part of mental health week, Fraser will be one of 7 people receiving a Champion of Mental Health Award tonight in Ottawa. The Alliance says Fraser is a long-time supporter of community-driven initiatives and has been a strong supporter of Bill C-211. That legislation aims to develop a national mental health framework for veterans and first responders, which includes fire fighters and paramedics.
The Pictou County man who is charged with 11 counts of cruelty to animals stemming from an incident in February won’t be entering a plea until June 10th. David Oakley was charged when SPCA officers removed seven dead dogs, including six puppies from a property that he was renting. About a dozen protesters made their appearance outside the courthouse known in the streets and on facebook as they stood against animal use yesterday.
A Charlottetown woman, who pleaded guilty last month to infanticide in the deaths of two babies, has had a third charge laid against her in another death. Charlottetown Police say the remains of a third infant were found on Friday, and connected to Shannon Dawn Rayner. Deputy Chief Brad McConnell says the remains were found in a shed at Rayner’s former home in the suburb of Sherwood. The current resident called Charlottetown police to say a suspicious package had been found in the shed.
In the wake of a $15 million boost to inclusive education, the Education Department says the teacher’s union is back to playing politics. The union says its hearing from teachers and parents about cuts to some early-reading programs. The government says it’s not true. Last Thursday, the education minister announced 173 brand new hires for “inclusive education.” There will be new teachers and education assistants, support workers for African Nova Scotian and Mi’qmaw students and autism teacher specialists, among others. But the Teachers’ Union says it’s learning of cuts this fall, especially to a program called “early literacy support.” The Union is calling on the government to release a full list of schools where positions are being eliminated, but the government says it can’t do there are no cuts to talk about. The education department says for the 2019-20 school year, there will be more literacy supports and more guidance counsellors provincially than there were last year. It says how teachers and others are assigned is a “fluid process.”
TIM HOUSTON ON NS’s VERSATILITY AND RUGBY
Provincial P-C Leader Tim Houston says when it comes to provinces, small is beautiful. The Pictou East MLA says if he becomes premier in a few years, he’ll welcome how versatile a small province like Nova Scotia can be when it comes to solving problems. Houston says that kind of approach can apply to things like dealing with the Northern Pulp effluent project, to fixing our roads and even beefing up the health care system.
Houston is also commenting on the High School rugby controversy today. He says students deserve straightforward answers surrounding rugby cancellation in high schools.
Education Minister Zach Churchill issued a directive to the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) on Friday to immediately reinstate rugby for the rest of the school year.
But on the weekend, an Athletic Federation memo said it was up to school principals. But now comes word that Deputy Education Minister Cathy Montreuil actually met with officials from the NSSAF on March 29th to discuss the cancellation of rugby, the potential fallout, and possible alternatives.
Churchill said on Friday that their decision came without appropriate consultation. He then reiterated yesterday that his department had no knowledge of last week’s plan to announce the cancellation. Houston says, at a minimum, Churchill was disingenuous when he issued his directive to reinstate rugby, knowing full well that his department was engaged in the process.
The PC leader is calling on the minister to set the record straight on his role in the initial decision to cancel rugby.
On top of all of this….Rugby Nova Scotia issued a statement yesterday afternoon that they’re working with the provincial government “on the next step toward expedient reinstatement”.
The Town of New Glasgow held a flag raising and proclamation signing to mark North American Occupational Safety and Health Week Monday.
The flag was raised along the Riverfront. The goal of NAOSH Week is to focus peoples’ attention on being safe on the job and in your home.
Along with National Nurses week, it’s also National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada and the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society has just announced the launch of their new website. The society is thanking Northern Opportunities for Business Limited – NOBL who provided training money and support. You can find the new site at: http://www.aberdeenpcs.com/
Business and community leaders from across the province are gathering in Truro today to celebrate innovation at what they’re calling “The Planting Seeds Summit.” Business Minister Geoff MacLellan will speak. Other confirmed speakers include, Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation, which is a part-owner of the new cannabis plant in Stellarton. Also appearing at the Truro event today are Brennan Gillis, CEO of the Truro and Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity, Jeff McKinnon, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of TruLeaf in Bible Hill and Miriah Kearney, who is the founder and CEO of My Home Apparel in Truro. That takes place at the Community College on Truro’s Arthur Street today. The event comes with word from Truro’s mayor that a company has toured the town’s carpet plant that’s slated for a summer closure, with word there’s some interest in taking over the facility.
A runaway victory for the Green Party in yesterday’s byelection in B-C. Ottawa pundits say if that’s a precursor to this fall’s general election, we can expect to be taking notice of the Green Party’s strength, as they went from dead last in the 2015 election to a first place finish as the votes were counted in B-C last night.
PICTOU COUNTY SPORTS
The (Town of New Glasgow) is hosting Beginner and Intermediate pickleball clinics on Tuesday, May 28th from 7:00pm until 9:00pm at New Glasgow Academy with IPTPA Certified pickleball instructors Brooke Siver and Elya Postma. The cost of the clinic is $30 per person. To register, contact veronica.deno@newglasgow.ca or 902-755-8363.
PICTOU ATOM COMETS POST BIG WIN
Congratulations to the Pictou Female Atom Triple-A Comets , as they captured the NB Cup in Moncton this past weekend by defeating PEI.
The Marathon of Respect and Equality gets underway Wednesday, May 8th across Pictou County. This is the 10th anniversary of the marathon, led by Henderson Paris. There are rallies in Pictou, Westville, Stellarton, New Glasgow and Pictou Landing. Things wrap up with a rally at North Nova Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 pm.
Here is the schedule for Wednesday, May 8th, 2019
· 7:50 am- All Runners gather at Pictou Tourist Bureau to prepare for Run, sign waivers, etc. Please call 928-9347 or 752-2709 if you need a drive from New Glasgow to Pictou on the morning of the Run.
· 8:10 am- Run leaves Tourist Bureau and travels north toward Pictou along West River Road, then Water Street to Rally at Town Square
· 8:25 am- Run arrives at Pictou Rally
· 8:40 am- Run departs rally, travels along Water Street, then left on Coleraine Street, then left on Church Street and returns to Tourist Bureau
· 8:55 am- All Core Runners board bus to travel to Up-River Towns section of Run
· 9:15 am- Bus arrives at Walter Duggan Elementary School in Westville for Westville Rally
· 9:35 am- Run departs Westville Rally and proceeds down Spring Garden Road to Main Street, then south on Main Street to Drummond Road/Acadia Avenue toward Town of Stellarton
· 10:30 am- Run arrives at Stellarton Rally at NSCC Pictou Campus gymnasium
· 10:55 am- Run departs Stellarton Rally and travels east on Acadia Avenue, then left onto Foord Street and continues on Foord/Stellarton Road toward Town of New Glasgow (Route toward New Glasgow Rally at New Glasgow Academy is Stellarton Road to George Street, George Street to Riverside Parkway, Riverside Parkway to MacLean Street, MacLean Street to Albert Street, Albert Street to New Glasgow Academy)
· 11:40 am- Run arrives at New Glasgow Rally at New Glasgow Academy
· 12:00 am- Core Runners board bus to travel to Pictou Landing section of Run
· 12:25 pm- Bus arrives at sharp turn in Pictou Landing; Run travels along Pictou Landing Road toward Pictou Landing First Nation
· 12:45 pm- Run arrives at Pictou Landing Rally
· 1:10 pm- Core Runners depart Pictou Landing First Nation by bus and travel toward Town of Trenton and last section of Run
· 1:35 pm- Runners get off bus at Superior Propane driveway and travel along Pictou Landing Road/Main Street, then left onto Duke to arrive at Trenton Rally at Trenton Elementary School at 1:45 pm
· 2:00 pm- Run leaves Trenton Rally and travels south along Main Street toward New Glasgow
· Run continues along Trenton Road to Provost Street and travels toward East River Road
· 2:50 pm- Run turns left onto Marsh Street and stops at church parking lot on Marsh Street for drink/snack (time permitting)
· 3:00 pm- Run continues east on Marsh Street, travels Marsh Street to Vale Road, bears right to Vale Road, travels Vale Road to Park Street, turns right to Park Street and travels toward North Nova Education Centre
· 3:30 pm- Run ends at NNEC Rally in Gym
NHL Playoffs
Boston 3 Columbus 0
(Bruins win series 4-2)
Colorado 4 San Jose 3 (OT)
(Series tied 3-3)
NBA Playoffs
Milwaukee 113 Boston 101
(Bucks lead series 3-1)
MLB
American League
N.Y. Yankees 7 Seattle 3
Baltimore 4 Boston 1
Minnesota 8 Toronto 0
