**Traffic note**East River Road will be reduced to 3 lanes (varying north and south bound) throughout the day (Friday, April 8, 2022) beginning at 7:30am. Installation of light structures at the new active transportation crossing will be taking place. The Town of New Glasgow says those travelling on East River Road should plan ahead and allocate extra time for travel. Please travel safely through the construction zone and be aware of pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, workers, and work vehicles.

 

Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (PCISCEU) charge three with drug offences.

Three men are facing charges after New Glasgow Regional Police conducted a traffic stop Thursday – assisting the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit in an ongoing drug investigation. As a result of the traffic stop, police arrested a 38-year old, 25-year old and 27-year old man, and searched the vehicle. That search saw police seize a large amount of cocaine and methamphetamine.  All three men are facing charges of Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; and Possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.  Two of the three have been released from police custody, while the third has been remanded into police custody.  Two of the three individuals were released from police custody and will appear in court at a later date. The third individual has been remanded into police custody and is set to appear in court today.

 

Slight drop fuel prices overnight

There’s a slight drop at the pumps in Nova Scotia today.  Gas is down 2.2 cents per litre to $1.663 in the local area.  Diesel dipped 2.6 cents overnight to $2.041 cents per litre.

 

Nova Scotia sees significant increase in lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19

Despite a significant jump in the number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Nova Scotia over the last week, officials said Thursday there are no immediate plans to reintroduce measures such as mandatory masking.  The province released its weekly report Thursday which identified 6,991 new positive lab cases of the Omicron and BA.2 variants of novel coronavirus. That’s 2,803 more confirmed cases than were reported the previous week, when there were 4,188.  “There’s no doubt the current situation is concerning,” said Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health. “COVID-19 is challenging us once again.”  However, despite some public and political pressure in the province, Strang said there would be no immediate return to widespread restrictions.  “I am confident that we are in the position to manage this pandemic without restrictions, even with the virus activity we are seeing,” he said.  Strang said the province has a high degree of immunity, largely the result of vaccination but also from previous infections, which together provide “a high level of protection from severe disease.”   The weekly report also noted eight more deaths, bringing the total to 263 since the pandemic began. There were 61 new hospital admissions due to the virus and 32 discharges, and as of Wednesday a total of 57 people were in hospital with the disease. (The Canadian Press)

Meanwhile, Dr. Strang has announced that another booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to those Nova Scotians who are 70 and older and those in long-term care.  They can receive a booster 120 days after their primary series or first booster dose.  For anyone under 70 living in long-term care, the period is 168 days.  More information on the availability of second booster doses will be announced next week.  Yesterday, the province also announced the Novavax vaccine is available for adults 18 and older as a first, second or booster dose at some locations beginning today.  Rapid test kits are going to be available at Access Nova Scotia locations, some food banks, MLA offices, public libraries, and testing sites.

 

Atlantic Canada’s pharmacists want more responsibilities to ease burden on hospitals

Photo Credit: The Canadian Press

Pharmacists in the Atlantic region are advocating increasing their scope of practice.  Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia head Allison Bodnar says the pandemic has highlighted the value of pharmacists, but there’s more they can do.  In Atlantic Canada, pharmacists can assess and treat more than 30 minor ailments.  Pharmacists say this should be expanded to help more people access the health care they need.

 

$452B federal budget focused on affordability, innovation

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s second pandemic budget turns Canada’s fiscal focus to making life more affordable for people and giving a long-needed boost to Canadian productivity.  But Freeland is wrapping the budget in copious amounts of yellow caution tape, warning of extreme economic uncertainty posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the lingering effects of COVID-19.  She makes clear the budget is winding down pandemic-related spending that headlined the last two years, shifting to social economic drivers like housing, immigration and child care.  That should help the Liberals pass this budget easily given their new deal with the New Democrats, with multiple NDP priorities such as dental care, green jobs and a tax on excess bank profits making the cut.  Freeland warns heavily about the security threat posed by Russia’s aggression in Europe, responding with more than $8 billion in new defence spending and up to $1 billion more in new loans for Ukraine.  Federal spending falls to $452 billion in the new fiscal year with a deficit of $52 billion, which are the lowest figures since before the pandemic but still significantly above pre-pandemic levels. (The Canadian Press)

 

Province introduces legislation to enshrine Mi’kmaq as province’s first language

From left, Blaire Gould, Executive Director, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey; L’nu Affairs Minister Karla MacFarlane; Chief Leroy Denny, Eskasoni First Nation and Chair, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey; and Justin Huston, CEO of L’nu Affairs, meet before the bill is introduced (Communications Nova Scotia)

Mi’kmaq is going to be designated as the province’s first language.  The Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation to bring about the change yesterday.  The bill also establishes a joint committee to create a multi-year strategy protecting the language.  Leaders in Mi’kmaq education say they’ve had concerns about language loss in their communities in recent years, but there has been some resurgence in the use of the Indigenous language among young people.

 

N.S. Tories propose bill to prohibit extra fees for small solar power producers

Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative government tabled legislation today aimed at protecting the province’s solar energy sector.  The proposed amendments under the Electricity and Public Utilities Acts mean residents with renewable electricity sources, such as solar panels, won’t have to pay anything to Nova Scotia Power as long as they produce enough electricity.  Amendments include a guarantee that ratepayers who are connected to the grid and generate renewable power will not have to pay Nova Scotia Power to “net meter,” which is when they receive a credit for electricity provided back to the grid.  Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton says the changes will empower residents to “join our fight against climate change.”  The amendments come after the government rejected a bid from Nova Scotia Power in February that would have allowed the utility to charge fees to customers who sell renewable power back to the grid. (The Canadian Press)

 

N.S. NDP introduces bill restricting non-disclosure agreements for harassment cases

Nova Scotia’s NDP is introducing legislation today aimed at restricting non-disclosure agreements for harassment cases.  NDP justice spokesperson Claudia Chender says the bill would protect victims of sexual assault or harassment who are vulnerable to being pressured into silence through the use of such agreements, known as NDAs.   Chender says too often sexual assault victims are urged to sign non-disclosure agreements — which prohibit them from speaking publicly about certain facts — which result in the concealment of potential crimes and abuse.  This bill would restrict people from entering NDA agreements in situations involving allegations or proven cases of harassment or discrimination.  The legislation is modelled after a similar bill passed in Prince Edward Island.  The governing Progressive Conservatives say they’re studying the issue. (The Canadian Press)

 

Westville’s new CAO starting on May 1st

Scot Weeres is the new Chief Administrative Officer of the town of Westville, and is to assume his new responsibilities on May 1st. Weeres will be coming from Ontario and has experience in municipal, provincial and First Nation governments.

 

Certain Kinder brand chocolate products recalled due to possible Salmonella

A recall has been expanded to Canada involving some Kinder brand chocolate products linked to an outbreak of salmonella in several European countries.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the recalled products include Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Surprise, Kinder Surprise Miraculous and Kinder Egg Hunt Kits.  The products distributed by Ferrero Canada were sold nationally with best-before dates ranging from June 19th to November 29th.  The CFIA says there have been no related illnesses reported here.