TODAY’S HEARING HEARS SENTENCING ARGUMENTS – JUDGE TO GIVE NAIL-SHOOTER’S SENTENCE NEXT MONTH
A local judge has reserved his sentencing decision for the man convicted in Pictou County’s nail-gun shooting in a carpentry workplace last year. Shawn Hynes’ Defence Lawyer Andrew O’Blenis presented 19 character references praising Hynes as thoughtful and caring before the Wednesday morning sentencing hearing adjourned. He also told court that Mr. Hynes has suffered threats by e-mail and has been afraid to leave his house. Some of those e-mails told Hynes that “somebody was going to finish him off when he got to jail. ” Earlier, Crown lawyer Bill Gorman reviewed his theory for Judge Del Atwood – which is that after a verbal exchange, Hynes pointed a nail gun at his young victim, and as he was running away, Nhlanhla Dlamini was shot in the upper back, puncturing his lung. In September of last year, Shawn Wade Hynes was found guilty of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. Before court adjourned so Judge Atwood could consider his sentence, Hynes apologized to Dlamini and to the black community for any suffering this has caused. The case goes back to court in March.
WHAT DOES THE PROVINCIAL BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT MEAN FOR PICTOU COUNTY?
Photo credit: The Canadian Press
Provincial Finance Minister Karen Casey says yesterday’s balanced budget will benefit Pictou County and the rest of the North Shore in a number of ways, but business groups are more worried about the medium and long-term debt it’ll create. She’s pointing to the twinning of highway 104 between Sutherland’s River and Antigonish. The minister’s budget also sets aside a predictable budget for the Forestry Innovation Rebate Program to improve production and help diversify wood products and markets. Casey also says the $54-million dollars set aside this year for hospital renewals will help renovate the North Cumberland Health Centre in Pugwash, providing benefits to Pugwash and Tatamagouche. The minister says $75.3 million this year for the new Doctor’s Master Agreement will mean that family and emergency doctors here will be the highest paid in Atlantic Canada and other specialties like psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology will also be in for significant pay hikes. This year’s operating grant for the Yarmouth-to-Maine ferry is $16.3 million. There’s also extra spending for 560 families to qualify for new rent supplements. Business groups say the budget increases longer and medium term borrowing, and Casey’s $55 million budget surplus for this year has the opposition pointing to an election this fall. But the Finance Minister tells our newsroom that’s not part of this plan. Jack Kyte at the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce says the budget is just showing us the tip of the iceberg when he looks at the economic impact of the Northern Pulp closure. Kyte says trying to offset that with government spending means we’ll all be paying in the end.
FATHER OF LOCAL GIRL VOWS TO FIGHT FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS DRUG AS OTTAWA WORRIES ABOUT COSTS
Chantelle Lindsay takes part in her friend Kayla McNutt’s wedding in this handout photo. Lindsay died
after being denied access to a “life-saving” therapy for cystic fibrosis. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Trevor Allen Photography)
The father of a Nova Scotia woman who died after a battle with cystic fibrosis says the federal government’s “chess game” with the pharmaceutical industry cost his daughter her life. A memorial service will be held in Truro today for 23-year-old Chantelle Lindsay, who was unable to access a new therapy for the genetic disease. Mark Lindsay says he promised his daughter he would continue the fight to make the “life-saving” drug Trikafta available in Canada. Health experts say could it treat 90 per cent of patients with cystic fibrosis.
Health Canada says the drug’s manufacturer, Vertex, hasn’t submitted Trikafta for approval for use in Canada, and it can’t force the company into doing that. A Vertex spokeswoman says the federal government’s recent drug-pricing reforms could limit access to treatments for rare diseases. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is an arms-length agency tasked with protecting consumers from excessive drug costs. It’s now considering “significant changes” to the draft guidelines in response to feedback from patient advocates.
Conservative leadership candidate Peter MacKay says he has no plans to repeal the legalization of recreational cannabis use if he becomes prime minister. He says he would never reverse it, be he is very concerned about the impacts of too much pot on mental health, on children and on impaired driving with other … unintended consequences ” MacKay told CBC’s Power & Politics that if the Trudeau government follows the U.K. in clearing Chinese telecom giant Huawei to participate in Canada’s 5G network, a government led by him would repeal that decision.
NOVA SCOTIA PICKED AS POTENTIAL HOME FOR RETIRED WHALES RAISED IN CAPTIVITY
A beluga whale is seen in this undated handout photo. A U.S.-based conservation group has selected an eastern shore Nova Scotia community for a form of retirement home for whales and dolphins raised in captivity. The Whale Sanctuary Project said Tuesday it has decided in favour of a coastal area of about 40 hectares in an inlet off Port Hilford, along the province’s rugged and lightly populated Eastern Shore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Catherine Kinsman
The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced it wants to provide a home for about eight whales in a 40-hectare inlet southeast of Sherbrooke, in the small Eastern Shore community of Port Hilford.Charles Vinick, director of the non-profit group, says it still requires provincial and federal permits and an estimated $12 to $15 million for capital costs, plus advice and consultation with people who live in that part of the province. The project involves installing nets to enclose an inlet, creating an area where the retired orca and beluga whales are free to swim and dive deeply, while still being fed and cared for by the group. Vinick says they’ll be asking for input from whoever wants to give advice, with a special focus on lobster fishermen. He says he’s pleased with the strong community support for the project so far, which has been key to selecting the Nova Scotia option over possibilities in British Columbia and Washington State.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
The Nova Scotia Teachers Union and Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education is looking for nominations are currently accepting nominations from students, teachers, school administrators, and the community in recognition of outstanding educators in the local school system. Do you know an educator who supports and inspires students in creative and innovative ways using effective educational practices? Nominate an educator today!
If you can’t decide what to wear today (Wednesday, Feb. 26), think PINK!
Today is Pink Shirt Day to help take a stand against bullying. Each February, the national movement sees thousands of people across the country wear pink to show their support for safe and inclusive schools, workplaces and communities. This year’s theme, “Lift Each Other Up” reflecting the origins of Pink Shirt Day, which began in Eastern Canada back in 2007, when two Nova Scotia students took action after witnessing a younger student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school. The students bought 50 pink T-shirts and encouraged schoolmates to wear them and send a powerful message of solidarity to the bully.
SPORTS
Congrats to the North Nova Education Centre ski teams who competed at Regionals yesterday at Ski Wentworth and are brought home two banners – Intermediate Girls and Senior Boys!
Severn Parsons is first place Intermediate Girl; Taylor Long is second place Senior Girl; Cale MacLaughlin is second place senior boy as well. Way to go everyone!!!
The 2nd round of the playoffs is set for the Weeks Major Midgets. They’ll take on the South Shore Mustangs with the first 2 games on the road. But they come back to the Wellness Centre for games 3 & 4 on March 7th & 8th.
NBA:
It was a heavyweight tilt but at the end the Milwaukee Bucks got the upper hand on the Toronto Raptors, defeating them 108-97.
NHL:
The Flames took down the Bruins 5-2.
The Canucks beat the Canadiens 4-3 in OT.
The Leafs beat the Lightning 4-3.
The Wearwell Bantam Bombers have a trio of playoff games coming up:
Saturday (Feb 29) – Play-off Game #1 (BOMBERS @ ACCEL) 5:00pm Civic Centre Halifax
Friday (March 6) – Play-off Game #2 (ACCEL @ BOMBERS) 8:00pm PCWC
Saturday (March 7) – Play-off Game #3 (ACCEL @ BOMBERS) 8:30pm PCWC
