LOCAL THERAPIST IN COURT ON ASSAULT CHARGES
Allegations of domestic violence have resulted in a Pictou County therapist having his license suspended. Brian MacIsaac of Stellarton was arrested over the assault accusations. Court papers show it happened on Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 12th. MacIsaac is charged with assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, unlawful confinement, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and choking his alleged victim. None of the allegations have been proven and MacIsaac is slated to appear before a judge at the Pictou Courthouse on November 12th.
WESTJET TO START ISSUING PANDEMIC REFUNDS EARLY NEXT MONTH
WestJet says it will soon start providing refunds to passengers whose flights were cancelled by the pandemic. The Calgary-based airline says it will begin contacting all eligible flyers with WestJet and Swoop on Nov. 2nd. The first refunds will come to people whose flights were cancelled this past March, as the pandemic began, in the original form of payment and not as future flight vouchers. The process is expected to take six to nine months. Westjet is asking customers to wait to be contacted, in order to avoid overloading its call centre.
VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN NB GAS AND DIESEL PRICES
New Brunswick gas prices are lower, but by less than a penny per litre this week. Diesel prices are pretty much stagnant, as we get ready for Nova Scotia’s new prices tonight.
The latest numbers on COVID-19 show another day with no new cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. There are still 5 active cases in the Central Health Zone. Despite that, health care insiders say Nova Scotians should refrain from feeling too smug, and only have to look at the more than 100 COVID infections in New Brunswick last week, to see how quickly things can change. That number dropped to 92 active cases in New Brunswick yesterday, and one man died of COVID in the northern town of Dalhousie. Also, one high school student has now been added to New Brunswick’s COVID infection list.
SPENDING BY CONSUMERS UP, ESPECIALLY ON HARDWARE, FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Shoppers here and across the country have been on a spending spree, and the latest numbers from August prove it. Canadian retailers logged $53.2 billion in sales in August, the fourth month in a row that sales have increased since cratering in April because of the pandemic.
Statistics Canada says overall, sales grew by $192 million, or 0.5 per cent, from what we spent during July. If you seen the parking lots around hardware stores lately, you’ll know it’s been driven by higher sales of building materials, along with food and beverage stores. On the downside, sales at clothing stores were unchanged and sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores fell a bit, as did furniture.
Online sales did okay, but they’re losing momentum as brick-and-mortar stores reopen, and people venture out to spend in their own neighbourhoods, especially with lower COVID infection counts here in the Atlantic Bubble.
OTTAWA PREPARED FOR VARIOUS U-S ELECTION OUTCOMES
Ottawa is preparing for the weeks of uncertainty that might follow a U.S. presidential election day with no clear winner — by drawing up contingency plans for the border and other issues that might erupt between the Nov. 3rd vote and inauguration day in January. The cabinet committee on global affairs and public security has been eyeing several scenarios: President Donald Trump’s re-election, OR…a victory by Democrat Joe Biden, or possibly a lengthy period of uncertainty coupled with multiple court challenges to decide the outcome, with possible violence on American streets. Meanwhile, millions of Canadians and Americans are expected to watch Biden and Trump in the final debate of this election. It airs tonight at 10 o’clock Atlantic Time. And last night, U-S authorities said they’re now investigating Russia and Iran for being behind threatening e-mails promising attacks on peoples’ homes if they don’t vote for Trump. Barack Obama took to the microphone last night in a rally for Biden. He told the crowd that Trump’s habit of “making stuff up” does nothing to help people during a pandemic that Trump ignored. He also says Trump inherited the great economy that he so often likes to brag about. (with files from Cdn Press, CBC)
COURT ORDER GRANTED TO HELP INDIGENOUS LOBSTER HARVESTERS
The Chief of the Sipekne’katik band says yesterday’s court order is aimed at protecting Mi’kmaw fishing gear in the Yarmouth and Digby County areas. Michael Sack says his people have 15,000 pounds of lobster in storage, but they’ve been blocked from selling it by threats. Colin Sproul of the Maritime Fishermen’s union appeared before a Commons Committee on the issue last night.
VALLEY TENNIS COACH TO BE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL LURING
A Kentville Supreme Court jury has convicted a former tennis instructor of internet luring and two other charges involving one of his former students. Aaron Byron Cumberland turns 30 today. (Thursday) He has also been found guilty of invitation to sexual touching and making sexually explicit material available to a boy under the age of 16. Cumberland’s sentencing is slated for December.
More than a dozen retired folks gathered at Glasgow Square yesterday for the first orientation to prepare them to mentor young people fresh in their careers or businesses. The Mentoring Plus Strategy is a four-year pilot funded by Ottawa through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. While the government’s aim is to help seniors stay healthy, happy and involved in their communities, it’s also a win-win helping young people with valuable advice for their own careers and businesses. Orientations are also being planned for the project’s other two pilot locations in Colchester and Kings counties.
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