R-C-M-P continue to investigate four recent copper wire thefts reported across Nova Scotia between July 28th and August 4th.  The incidents involved cut power and telecommunications lines in Colchester and Cumberland counties, along with stolen cables from a vacant building in Hants County.  Police say the thefts can cause dangerous outages, with one Colchester County incident disrupting phone and internet service.  No arrests have been made, and R-C-M-P warn the thefts also pose serious risks to those attempting to remove live electrical wiring.

Starting in September, work-ready Nova Scotians receiving income assistance will be referred to Nova Scotia Works for employment services.  The province says the change will give recipients access to the same job supports and opportunities available to other job seekers.  People who need additional help before entering the workforce will continue receiving support through community-based service providers.  Existing employment supports will remain in place until March 2027 while the province develops new pre-employment services for clients who are not yet work-ready.

With Canada’s top trade negotiators in Washington this week pursuing a new U-S trade deal, a new report highlights the consequences of the Canada-U-S-Mexico agreement ending.  A study by the Canadian American Business Council — conducted by Oxford Economics — says Canada could lose 102-thousand jobs if the agreement breaks down.  Meanwhile, the U-S could lose 214-thousand jobs in 2027 if CUSMA died.  A new round of 50 per cent American tariffs on a range of Canadian goods is set to take effect in days, unlike most of U-S President Donald Trump’s other tariffs, these would have no exemptions for goods that comply with CUSMA.