Firefighters have been on-scene of a significant fire overnight at a seafood processing facility in Cape John, Pictou County.  The River John Fire Department responded to the blaze shortly before 9:00pm and mutual aid was dispatched from Tatamagouche, Scotsburn, Caribou, New Glasgow, Abercrombie, West River, Wallace and Pictou Fire Departments.

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Retaliatory tariffs on 29.8-billion dollars of U-S goods are now in effect after U-S President Donald Trump slapped 25-per-cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada.   Trump openly challenged U-S allies with the levies, vowing to take back wealth he says was “stolen” by other countries.

Canada’s Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says there was no choice but to respond and says it’s hurtful for the competitiveness of North America.

The dollar-for-dollar tariffs went into effect early this morning.  Meanwhile, federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are set to have a face-to-face meeting later today with one of America’s top economic officials at the White House, U-S Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

 

 

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is headed to New York and Boston to promote the province’s exports.

Houston says he will host two discussions in New York about opportunities in the seafood and critical minerals sectors.

In Boston, he will speak to an international audience at Seafood Expo North America — the continent’s largest seafood conference.

Houston says he will also talk about the impact of tariffs and the importance of continued trade relations with the United States.

 

 

The Bank of Canada has lowered its key interest rate by a quarter point to 2.75 per cent.  This marks the central bank’s seventh consecutive interest rate cut.  Inflation has been well-behaved and the economy did pick up speed so far this year, but the Bank of Canada warns the tariff battle with the United States could change that.  It notes that trade uncertainty is already hurting the Canadian economy as consumer and business confidence is — quote — “shaken.”

 

 

Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall Friday after the formal resignation of Justin Trudeau.

Governor General Mary Simon will preside over the swearing-in ceremony for Carney and his new cabinet.

 

 

Nova Scotia is getting about 809-million dollars as part of an historic tobacco settlement that’s impacted all of Canada.  Last week, an Ontario Superior Court justice approved a 32.5-billion dollar settlement between three major tobacco companies and the provinces and territories.  Prince Edward Island is getting 168-million dollars, while New Brunswick is receiving about 614-million dollars from the settlement.