Jump at the pumps in N.S.

Fuel prices are up in Nova Scotia today. Gas increased 6.2 cents $1.734 cents per litre in the local area. Diesel jumped 12.4 cents per litre to $2.067.

 

N.S. reports 13 new COVID-19-related deaths in weekly update, continued increase in lab-confirmed cases

The province reported 13 deaths and 42 people in hospital in its weekly COVID-19 update released Thursday. Health officials also reported a total of 3,453 positive PCR tests from March 16-22, an average of 493 new COVID-19 cases per day. This total does not include positive rapid tests.  Nova Scotia lifted nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on Monday. Some restrictions remain, including mandatory seven-day isolation for anyone who tests positive and continued mask-wearing at health-care facilities, jails and courts. Students also must still wear masks in school for a few more weeks.

 

Crown’s appeal of Shawn Wade Hynes’ 2021 sentencing adjourned until May

The hearing of the Crown’s appeal of Shawn Wade Hynes’ 2021 sentencing has been adjourned until May. Hynes was found guilty of assault with a weapon and criminal negligence causing bodily harm when he shot his co-worker, Nhlanhla Dlamini in the back with a nail gun while on a worksite in Abercrombie in 2019. Last April, Judge Del Atwood sentenced Hynes to an 18-month conditional sentence, which included a period of house arrest, followed by 12 months probation. Hynes was also sentenced to complete 120 hours of community service. A hearing with the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal was scheduled for Thursday to hear the Crown’s arguments. But before the Crown started its submissions, the panel stated it had concerns about the scope of information the parties were working with, asking if the Crown had a recording of the April 23, 2021 trial transcripts. The Crown at the time could not produce them. It is estimated several weeks to get the full transcripts and the matter will appear back in court on May 26th. (With files and photo from SaltWire News)

 

N.S. announces $13-million support package for low-income residents as cost of living rises

The province says it is providing $13.2 million to help vulnerable Nova Scotians address the impact of rising fuel prices.

The support package includes:

— a one-time payment of $150 to all current income assistance recipients, including Disability Support Program participants receiving income support; for example, a single parent on income assistance with three children will receive $600
— a one-time payment of $150 to all currently eligible recipients of the Heating Assistance Rebate Program; the payment is expected to be made by the end of April
— $1 million to Feed Nova Scotia to distribute among their 140 food banks provincewide
— $200,000 to local food banks across the province which are not part of the Feed Nova Scotia network.

Payments to eligible recipients of income assistance and the disability support program will be processed next week.

 

Nova Scotia proposes ‘groundbreaking’ legislation to address systemic racism

Pat Dunn, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, is shown at the Nova Scotia legislature with NDP MLA Suzy Hansen (left) and Liberal MLA Angela Simmonds (right) in Halifax on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keith Doucette

The Nova Scotia government is proposing what it calls a “groundbreaking” bill to address systemic racism, hate and inequity in the province. Developed by an all-party committee, the Dismantling Racism and Hate Act commits the government to developing a provincial strategy to deal with issues of racism and equity by July 2023. It will also require other public bodies, such as municipalities, colleges and universities, to develop strategies. Under the bill, which includes definitions for hate and racism, the government will have to submit an annual progress report on equity and anti-racism measures beginning in July 2023. It will also see the government develop data to help monitor and address systemic hate, inequity and racism. Pat Dunn, the minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, says the legislation is a signal that hate and racism are not acceptable in the province. (The Canadian Press)

 

Provincial court to lift suspension of fine payments for summary offences

The provincial court will be lifting the suspension of fine payments for summary offense convictions that was imposed at the start of the pandemic. Anyone with outstanding summary offence tickets that were issued after March 16th, 2020, will be expected to deal with them as of April 1st. The judiciary says those with outstanding tickets will receive a letter from the court with a new deadline to pay the fine, and if payment is not received, they may not be able to renew their driver’s licence or vehicle permit. Fines issued on or after April 1st are due on the date indicated on the ticket, unless the individual notifies the court that they intend to plead not guilty and appear in court.

 

N.S. passes bill to protect senior health officials from harassment outside homes

The Nova Scotia legislature quickly adopted new legislation Thursday protecting senior health officials from harassment and intimidation outside their homes. The move saw amendments to the Access to Health Services Act unanimously pass third and final reading in just under 10 minutes. Justice Minister Brad Johns said the changes to the law are in direct response to protests that occurred this week outside the home of Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health. Johns said the changes extend the existing 50-metre safe buffer zone prohibiting protests around health-care facilities to include the homes of health workers. They also broaden the definition of health workers to include senior health executives. Fines for contravening the amended Act would remain at $5,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations. The RCMP has said there were anti-mask protests Sunday, Monday and Tuesday outside a home on the street where Strang lives in the Fall River area, east of Halifax. Police subsequently arrested two people, who now face charges of criminal harassment. (The Canadian Press)

 

County Council wants the province to consider new ways to reduce the ever-expanding deer population. District 7 Coun. David Parker put a motion forward during this week’s property services meeting that a letter be sent to Nova Scotia Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton asking it consider making changes to its deer harvesting regulations. Coun. Parker said the deer population is growing in the county and it’s a concern for motorists as well as homeowners who have gardens.

 

Stellarton is adopting a universal water meter system. As it stands now, all residential properties pay a flat rate for water. With this new system, each residence’s pay will be based on its water usage. While some commercial buildings in Stellarton already have a water meter, those that don’t will be getting meters as well. Once a contract is awarded, the successful proponent will distribute further information to residents about installation. It is anticipated that installation could begin as early as May to July of this year and it’s expected that it will take a year or so to complete. The town will only start charging people based on water usage once all the meters are installed.

 

Wildlife centre in N.S. plans to build quarantine space to fight spread of avian flu

A wildlife facility in Nova Scotia is raising funds to build a quarantine space as the province deals with a growing number of cases of H5N1 bird flu. Brenda Boates of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Brookfield, N.S., says the organization estimates it needs $7,000 to build a facility to house birds it suspects are infected with the disease. The organization is now using a modified garage to quarantine the birds, including eagles and other raptors, and is looking to create a separate building. Boates says the rehab centre’s makeshift quarantine area is currently empty after its most recent occupants were released either into the facility’s flyways or back into the wild, making it a perfect time to build a permanent structure. This follows the province’s first confirmed case of the highly pathogenic avian flu strain in January and additional cases in wild birds and commercial flocks since, including the discovery of the disease in a non-commercial flock in southern Nova Scotia last week. Boates says birds are quarantined for up to 30 days if they have injuries or symptoms that may suggest they’re infected with the disease, but none of the birds quarantined so far has tested positive for the disease. (The Canadian Press)

 

Amendments to the Wildlife Act, introduced on Thursday in the Nova Scotia Legislature, will allow the provincial government to develop regulations to discourage the feeding of wildlife. Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton says, “Feeding is typically driven by good intentions, and people’s wish to enjoy wildlife, but it can lead to the spread of disease and risks to the health and safety of people and wildlife.”