PICTOU COUNTY HIGH SPEED INTERNET MAKING PROGRESS

If the current phase of high-speed internet roll-out across rural Pictou County has you anxious to get it, you might want to talk with your neighbours.  County of Pictou staff say the more people who want the service on a section of road or street, the quicker it’ll get connected.  CAO Brian Cullen told last night’s meeting at Council Chambers that’s as long as you’re in a zone where infrastructure is about to be installed.  He adds a new County website is currently in the works to let people know if they’re currently under the internet plan, or about to be added in the months ahead. It also lets people choose between a wireless or fibre high-speed package. (Bing Image)

 

NOVA SCOTIA POSTS FIRST SCHOOL-RELATED COVID INFECTIONS

The latest number of new COVID-19 infections in Nova Scotia started out at 2 people yesterday, but by suppertime last night, it had increased to 4, with two school-related cases being reported in Cherry Brook and Cole Harbour.  Education Minister Zach Churchill says everyone in a class where a case in confirmed will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, and be provided with “at home learning supports. “ The news means that as of this morning, there are 25 active Coronavirus infections across Nova Scotia. The premier and Dr. Robert Strang are planning an update this afternoon.

POLL SHOWS ALMOST 7 OUT OF 10 CANADIANS WILLING TO GET COVID VACCINE

A new poll shows that the proportion of Canadians planning to get vaccinated for COVID-19 is on the rise after some encouraging initial results from Pfizer’s vaccine trial.

The survey by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that 69 per cent of respondents plan to get inoculated against the coronavirus once Health Canada approves a vaccine that is free and broadly available.  That’s a jump of 6 percentage points from the 63 per cent who said they would take the offer to get a needle that would let them live a life closer to normal one month ago.

Still, about one in five respondents said they do not intend to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine if it’s ready in the spring.  That’s despite early results last week showing it’s 90 per cent effective.  Expect more polling with yesterday’s news about the Moderna vaccine being even more effective. (Photo – Reuters News Agency)

 

FRASER COMMENTS ON LATEST VACCINE MOVES

Central Nova M-P Sean Fraser says with the recent news of promising COVID vaccine candidates from Pfizer last week and Moderna this week, the agreements Ottawa has signed make Canada a world leader in vaccine preparedness.  That said, the local Liberal M-P is cautioning that even if a vaccine were approved for use tomorrow, it would take months to manufacture, distribute, and inoculate enough people before it could offer major protection to the population. The advantage of this latest vaccine is that it can be stored at regular fridge temperatures, while last week’s product from Pfizer would need to be kept at extreme temperatures of minus 70 degrees.

 

NOVA SCOTIA RECALLS FLU SHOTS AS A PRECAUTION, SHOWS SYSTEM IS WORKING – STRANG

Chief medical health officer Dr. Robert Strang says health care providers have been advised not to use a specific flu vaccine batch until further notice. That, after “adverse events” experienced by three people in New Brunswick.  Strang says that trio of people had a bit of numbness in their limbs or face areas within a week of getting their shots, but no symptoms since.  Whether or not it’s vaccine-related is still not positive.  But Strang says Nova Scotia received 120,000 doses of this specific lot back in September and nobody in this province has had any numbness. Still, he’s going with the “better safe than sorry approach” until New Brunswick can prove whether or not there’s a definite link.  Dr. Strang says, “These events demonstrate that there is a robust vaccine safety program in Canada and that a cautious approach is always taken when specific issues are identified.”

 

NOVA SCOTIA MOVES UP WITH ITS ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS IN NATIONAL SURVEY

A new study from Carleton University shows Nova Scotia improving its rank in a review of provincial energy efficiency policies. This is the second year Efficiency Canada released its provincial scorecard.  Last year Nova Scotia ranked 4th overall and first in the category for energy efficiency programs. This year, Nova Scotia moved to 3rd place OVERALL, yet we narrowly lost the top spot in energy efficiency programs to upstart Prince Edward Island.  It’s worth noting that PEI modeled its administrative system and programs on the ones set up here in Nova Scotia.

Read the full report online: https://www.scorecard.efficiencycanada.org/2020

Nova Scotia has the highest electricity savings, the third highest heating fuel savings, and is the second-most generous when it comes to low-income and Indigenous energy help programs.

 

 

CRIME NEWS – DIGBY COUNTY RCMP CHARGE HANTS COUNTY WOMAN

 

Digby County RCMP now say they have charged a woman in their ongoing investigation of an incident of pushing, shoving and name-calling that got violent at a fish plant in New Edinburgh back on October 14th.

22 year old Kristen Sack of Hants County is the third person charged. She’s facing an assault charge when she appears before a judge in February.

 

NSCC OPEN HOUSE GOES VIRTUAL WITH TUITION PRIZES

The annual open house for the Nova Scotia Community College starts today and it’s an online event this year. The week-long series of information sessions showcasing what the college has to offer runs until November 26th.

NSCC says it is waiving the application fee for people who attend an online session and as you apply, you’ll have your name entered to win one of fourteen $1,000 tuition credits.  A complete list of interactive events and the schedule is available on the NSCC website. 

 

QUEBEC PLANS TO BAN CARBON VEHICLES

The province of Quebec plans to ban all cars that run on diesel and gasoline by 2035.  Premier Francois Legault says he can’t look his kids in the eye and tell them he didn’t take measures to protect the earth’s future during his time in office.  He says jurisdictions where there’s resistance to the idea need to step up their game.

 

SPACE TRAVELLERS SAFE AND WORK GETS UNDERWAY AT SPACE STATION TODAY

They’re safely in space.  Three Americans and one Japanese space traveller arrived safely at the International Space Station late last night.  Their journey in the Dragon Capsule from earth took them 27 hours. Space station astronaut Kate Rubins called out “Oh, what a good voice to hear,” when the Dragon’s commander, Mike Hopkins, first made radio contact.  The station will be their home until the spring.  (Cdn Press Photo)