PROVINCE ANNOUNCES TEACHERS’ UNION PENSION REVIEW PANEL
The province and Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) have appointed an independent three-person expert panel to recommend ways to protect and strengthen the Teachers’ Pension Plan. The plan has an unfunded liability of $1.5 billion and a funded ratio of 78.2 per cent as of Dec. 31, 2019. While there is no immediate risk the plan won’t be able to meet its ongoing pension obligations, there are currently more people drawing a teachers pension in this province than there are paying into it.
NSTU and the province agreed to the panel process last October. The panel will consult broadly with teachers and other plan members, conduct education sessions about the extent of the deficit and options for resolution, and bring forward non-binding recommendations to make the plan fully funded within a reasonable period of time and within its framework. The three panel members announced today are:
- Elizabeth Brown, a Toronto-based pension lawyer, who has been involved in numerous high-profile pension restructure situations
- Gale Rubenstein, a Toronto lawyer who has extensive experience with pensions arising from her practice as an insolvency lawyer. She is also currently the chair of the Ontario University’s Pension Plan and was extensively involved in the restructuring of that plan
- Conrad Ferguson, an actuary based in Fredericton, New Brunswick who had a distinguished career with Morneau Shepell before retirement. He maintains some direct involvement with the firm on a part-time basis.
STINGRAY BRINGS “94.1 THE BREEZE” TO PICTOU COUNTY STARTING THURSDAY AT MIDNIGHT
We’re on the verge of bringing you a brand new radio station with songs you’ll love. This coming Friday, January 15th, (at 12:01 am) a warm new breeze will arrive in Pictou County as Stingray launches 94.1 The Breeze…Pictou County’s Relaxing Favourites.
94.1 The Breeze (CKEC-FM) will offer Pictou County listeners something new that has been missing on the dial for many years. With easy, relaxing, and familiar favourites, 94.1 The Breeze will provide an oasis from today’s extremely noisy and busy world. Listeners can expect a broad playlist spanning five decades, from the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and today. The new station at this point on your radio dial will feature artists like Lionel Richie, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Whitney Houston, Sara McLachlan, Billy Joel, Sean Mendez, Bruno Mars, The Culture Club, The Police and Adele, to name a few, giving listeners a non-stop stream of relaxing favourites that they can listen to at work, at home, or in the car. Program Director Scott George says “We’ve heard the concerns of our listeners wanting a better variety and familiarity. So starting tomorrow night at midnight and ramping up with the Ann and A-J show Friday morning and beyond, Scott says “we’re offering that, and much more”.
George says “They were all huge hits, and for some reason, radio across Nova Scotia seems to have forgotten about them. 94.1 The Breeze is bringing those fantastic songs – and that relaxing, familiar feel – back to the radio.” So tune in starting Thursday, January 14th at midnight for 94.1 The Breeze, Pictou County’s Relaxing Favourites.
Nova Scotia has one new case of COVID-19 this morning, which means there are 27 active cases province-wide. And there’s a major number of retail locations in the Truro area where COVID 19 exposure is possible recently. In addition, there’s yet another flight into Halifax to consider for COVID. The full update is Potential COVID Exposures | Nova Scotia Health Authority (nshealth.ca)
The new infection is in the Central Zone. The premier is reminding us again about last week’s announcement that any Nova Scotians or New Brunswickers crossing the border between Sackville and Amherst will have to quarantine for 14 days. That new law is officially in effect as of 8 o’clock this morning, and it applies to any cross-border trips that are deemed to be non-essential. Workers, child-sharing and medical trips will have special rules, but only if they are considered to be 100 per cent essential. Dr. Robert Strang says that new rule only applies to New Brunswick, and not to PEI and Newfoundland.
On top of that, Dr. Strang says people coming to the province from anywhere…with the EXCEPTION of P.E.I. and Newfoundland/Labrador will still need to quarantine for 14-days – even if they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s because the vaccines are proven to keep the person whose gotten the shot from getting Coronavirus THEMSELVES …..but it’s not yet proven that their inoculations will prevent people from spreading the deadly infection beyond their own body. So the Nova Scotia health department doesn’t want to take any chances by making the quarantines mandatory for visitors who’ve already been vaccinated.
The other big announcement from Dr. Strang and the Premier this week is that rotational workers working in the rest of Canada will need to be tested for COVID starting this Friday. That’s for anyone who has worked outside Nova Scotia, and come Friday, it will be mandatory to protect rotational workers, their families and their communities. Strang says those workers can book their appointment using the online assessment. If they miss their first test, they’ll get a phone call. If they miss a test after that, they’ll be fined $1,000.
The province is pumping an extra $25 million into helping Nova Scotia universities deal with the pandemic.
All 10 universities have been facing unexpected money challenges for 2020-21, including decreased tuition fees and residence fees, while also being forced to invest more to target online learning. Advanced Education Minister Lena Metlege-Diab says the money will also cover the extra cost of keeping campuses extra clean during the ongoing State of Emergency.
Canada has reached a deal to buy another 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. That doubles the number of doses the country has locked-in from the U.S. pharmaceutical giant and brings the total number scheduled to arrive this year from the pair of vaccine makers to 80 million. That’s enough to vaccinate the entire Canadian population with two doses per person, as required.
FREE MEMBERSHIPS BEING OFFERED TO DEANS
DEANS, which means Destination Eastern and Northern Shores is celebrating ten years of bringing more visitors to our part of the province. Despite the pandemic, they plan to celebrate all year, but they are kicking off the New Year by offering FREE memberships for 2021. Membership renewals are easy, if you are a current member, they ask that you visit coastalnovascotia.ca and ensure your information listing is accurate. If you need edits please email cindy@visitdeans.ca and changes will be made immediately. If you are not a current member, they can look after that! Email cindy@visitdeans.ca and she will send along a form for you to complete and once that is completed your business will be added to the directory on their website coastalnovascotia.ca
Managing Director Cindy MacKinnon says she and her board, plus the businesses who are members know that they’re Stronger Together in promoting each other’s success. One of their favourite sayings is that QUOTE “our visitors will run out of time before they run out of things to do on our Shores.” DEANS represents 420 communities across four counties.
Colchester RCMP and Truro Police have arrested a Salmon River man following the search of a home on Monday of this week. (Jan 11th) That’s when officers searched a Salmon River home and arrested a man. As part of the search, police seized drugs, firearms, a restricted weapon, ammunition, cash and drug paraphernalia. The man’s date in Truro Provincial Court is April 28th.
RCMP have announced charges against 23 more people in connection with a violent incident October 13 at a lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico. 15 people from Shelburne County and Yarmouth County have been charged with break and enter. 8 people, also from Yarmouth County and Shelburne County, face a break and enter charge in addition to a charge of mischief. The people accused range in age from 22 – 65.
HIGHER-STAKES ONLINE GAMBLING COMING TO NS?
An online casino that’s been rolled out by Atlantic Lotto in New Brunswick could be on its way to Nova Scotia and PEI. Lottery executives have been trying to convince the four Atlantic governments to give the online casino idea the green light for 5 years. With the pandemic cutting into casino revenue, there now appears to be more of an appetite for the idea. But gambling addiction experts in Halifax say it’s going to normalize online betting, and that will increase additions and the crime that’s often needed to support peoples’ gambling habits.
SHUBIE SAM GOING ONLINE ONLY NEXT MONTH
Add one more thing to the list of things going virtual because of the pandemic. Shubenacadie Sam will be making his annual prediction on the arrival of spring on February 2nd via social media and the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park website. It’s slated for the usual time, without any public gatherings, at 8 am on February 2nd.
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