Major Crime Unit executes search warrant in relation to child pornography investigation in New Glasgow

A 25-year-old Pictou County man has been charged with Possession of Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography and Making Available Child Pornography. He was arrested late Monday morning when New Glasgow Regional Police and the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit searched a home on Little Harbour Road in New Glasgow.  The search was the result of a two-week child pornography investigation. During the search, police seized several items, including a cell phone, tablet and gaming system.  He’s due to appear in Provincial Court in Pictou on November 29th.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Pictou County doctor gives up licence over voyeurism case

A New Glasgow family physician has reached an agreement with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia which will see him give up the practice of medicine.  Rafid Sabah Al-Nassar has admitted to placing a hidden camera in a washroom at his clinic. In November of 2016, Al-Nassar was charged with voyeurism by the New Glasgow Police Department, but that criminal charge was eventually stayed. (With files and photo from CBC)

 

Sean Fraser new immigration minister in Trudeau’s major cabinet shuffle

Twitter Photo: @SeanFraserMP

Central Nova MP Sean Fraser is one of the new ministers in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet.  Fraser was sworn in yesterday as the new minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship. Fraser has represented Central Nova in the House of Commons since 2015.   Previously, he had served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment and climate change and most recently was parliamentary secretary to the deputy prime minister and minister of finance, and to the minister of middle class prosperity and associate minister of finance.  Fraser is not the only Nova Scotian in cabinet. Anita Anand, the Oakville, Ontario MP who was appointed Defence minister, is originally from Kentville and was raised in the Annapolis Valley.  Anand had been the public services and procurement minister.

 

**Update 7pm**Police in Nova Scotia have confirmed a 10-year-old boy reported missing from North Preston, N.S. has been located safe.  

Ashayo Johnson was last seen wearing a blue puffy jacket with black sweat pants and light blue sneakers. (RCMP)

RCMP say a ground search is underway in North Preston for a missing 10-year-old boy from the community who was last seen on Tuesday. RCMP in Halifax are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Ashayo Johnson, who was reported missing at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday. An emergency alert was issued shortly before 10 a.m. this morning for the Halifax Regional Municipality and Hants areas. RCMP say there is a command post is set up at the North Preston Community Centre. Anyone with information is asked to contact Halifax District RCMP at 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers.  (With files from CBC)

 

1 death, 7 new COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia on Tuesday

Photo credit: Stéphane Mahé/Reuters

Nova Scotia reported a death from COVID-19 on Tuesday, the 100th for the province since the beginning of the pandemic.  A woman in her 70s in the western zone has died.  The province also reported seven new cases – all in the central zone. There have also been 24 recoveries.  There were 134 active cases in Nova Scotia as of Tuesday’s update.  Ten people are in hospital, including one in intensive care.  As of Tuesday’s report, 77.9 cent of Nova Scotians had been fully vaccinated.

Pfizer vaccines will be available during a drop-in clinic in Merigomish today. The Nova Scotia Health Authority says the clinic is open to anyone aged 12 or older for their first or second dose. The clinic will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Merigomish School House Community Hall, 1682 Shore Rd.  For a list of other drop-in vaccine clinics available across the province, visit https://www.nshealth.ca/drop-in-vaccine-clinics

 

Lower Truro man charged with child luring, child pornography offences

The RCMP has charged a man with child luring and child pornography offences.  On October 20, the RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit, Digital Forensic Services Unit and Colchester County District RCMP, executed a search warrant at a home in Lower Truro. Investigators were directed to the home after receiving information from the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre this past June.   38-year old Charles McLeod of Lower Truro was arrested at the home and has been charged with Luring a Child and Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child. McLeod was released on a number of strict conditions and will appear in Truro Provincial Court on January 12th.

 

Nova Scotia passes legislation banning protests that block access to hospitals

Nova Scotia has passed legislation banning protests that block access to hospitals and other health-care facilities.  The Protecting Access to Health Services Act passed third and final reading yesterday in the legislature.  The bill establishes a 50-metre “safe access bubble” around hospitals and other facilities, such as doctors’ offices, where protests won’t be permitted.  An adopted amendment clarifies that union picket lines will still be allowed. (With files and photo from the Canadian Press)

 

Crisis Mental Health Working Group lobbying provincial government for stronger services in Pictou County

Photo: Warden Robert Parker (MOPC Facebook)

The Crisis Mental Health Working Group is lobbying the provincial government for stronger services in Pictou County for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.  The working group has representatives from the six local municipalities and has been actively meeting for the past three years with a goal to greatly improve mental health crisis services in Pictou County. The group’s spokesperson, Municipality of Pictou County Warden Robert Parker, says there are less than adequate services available, with no beds in local hospitals. So, the Crisis Mental Health Working Group is calling on the Nova Scotia Government to open a separate access point that would have beds available and have professional mental health staff on call and/or in person, 24 hours a day, seven days a week who would be solely focused on helping people in a mental health crisis.

 

N.S. announces $2.1 million for recreation facility and trail projects

Pictou County Snow Riders (Facebook photo)

A $2.1-million investment from the province means community groups can move forward with projects that help promote healthier communities, and improve infrastructure. The funding includes $1.5 million for 40 projects through the Recreational Facility Development grant program. Those funds help community groups and municipalities develop recreation and sport facilities.  Some of the local grant recipients include Stellarton Memorial Community Association – $26,000, Little Harbour Community Centre Association – $49,000, & Pictou County Snow Riders – $100,000.  The government is also contributing $650,000 to 20 projects through the Recreational Trail Expansion grant program to help communities develop, expand and upgrade trails across the province.  One of the recipients is the Pictou County Trails Association – $20,000

 

NSLC reports 0.8 per cent earnings increase in second quarter

The NSLC is reporting an eight tenths of a per cent increase in earnings in the second quarter. The corporation said this week earnings totalled $78.4 million between July 5th and October 3rd, with total sales up 5.1 per cent and a 7.3 per cent increase in the number of store transactions. Nova Scotia products saw growth across all categories, with $5.5 million in local cannabis sales, $4.7 million in Nova Scotia wine sales, $7.7 million in local craft beer sales, $3.2 million in Nova Scotia spirit sales and $10 million in ready-to-drink sales. The NSLC says the gradual return to pre-pandemic purchasing patterns continued with a recorded decrease of 1.4 per cent in the average dollar value of each transaction.