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Pictou County News, August 21st 2026

Emma Freckelton — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:04:02 +0000

Gasoline and diesel prices both went up overnight in Nova Scotia. The price of regular gasoline increased by 4.4 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at $1.87 per litre in the local area. The price of diesel increased by 3.0 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $2.42 per litre locally.

Energy minister and Pictou West MLA Marco MacLeod has apologized for misogynistic rap lyrics he wrote before he entered politics. MacLeod’s voice shook at times yesterday as he told reporters that he needs to demonstrate his sincerity through his actions. Last week, a song MacLeod recorded 13 years ago resurfaced online, containing misogynistic terms for women and references to cocaine use. MacLeod says he isn’t stepping away from politics, and though he has not reached out to the women’s group that called for his resignation, he’s read its statements to understand its perspective.

Canada’s premiers are weighing whether to return American alcohol to store shelves as part of a possible new trade agreement with the United States.

A deal between Canada and the U-S is expected to address the latter’s tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber and autos, along with American concerns over dairy access and Canada’s retaliatory measures.

Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says negotiators are very close to an agreement.

Many key details remain unknown.

Premier Tim Houston says Canada’s U-S trade dispute has been a wake-up call to diversify Nova Scotia’s economy. He says Nova Scotia also has to be more self-sufficient, especially on the energy file. Houston responded to the potential Canada-U-S trade deal from Banff, Alberta, where he’s promoting energy projects at an industry conference.

Pictou County News, August 20th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:59:50 +0000

Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked provinces to return U-S alcohol to their stores as Canada finalizes a trade deal with the United States.

The U-S had cited the booze ban, Canada’s dairy supply management system and tariff-free auto quotas as prime reasons for threatening 50 per cent tariffs on an array of Canadian goods.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says it was a specific ask from the prime minister that came directly out of the negotiating table.

He says he is optimistic about the deal and that the broad strokes of it seem really good for Canada.

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Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is in Alberta this week to talk with energy executives. Houston plans to deliver a speech to The Canadian Energy Executive Association’s annual conference today. The three-day conference is being held in Banff. Houston’s office confirmed he is travelling to the conference with his chief of staff, Nicole LaFosse Parker.

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The RCMP have charged a woman with multiple driving-related offences after receiving several reports of unsafe driving in Colchester and Pictou counties. On Tuesday afternoon, RCMP began receiving calls about a possible impaired driver in the Londonderry area. The driver refused to stop when police attempted a traffic stop on Hwy. 104 and continued eastbound. Another attempted traffic stop in Pictou County with a spike belt failed. Soon after, officers responded to a crash alert and found the vehicle in the ditch on Jollytown Rd. near Upper Brookside Rd. in East Mountain. A child who was in the vehicle at the time of the crash was taken to hospital by EHS with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver, a 28-year-old Onslow Mountain woman, was arrested and is charged with seven offences including Impaired Driving; Dangerous Driving; and Flight from Police.

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Nova Scotia Power officials say they don’t know why a digital copy of almost all customer information collected over three decades was not automatically deleted as intended. Banking information, social insurance numbers and other data belonging to hundreds of thousands of customers, was accessed in a March 2025 cyberattack on the company. Executive Blake Williams says that Nova Scotia Power has mechanisms to automatically delete certain data. That didn’t happen in this case, and he said the utility isn’t sure why.

Pictou County News, August 19th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:54:00 +0000

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada and the United States have made “substantial progress” on recent trade talks.

U-S President Donald Trump on Tuesday delayed new tariffs for three days as the two countries work to finalize a deal.

Trump on social media pointed to the Keystone X-L pipeline, suggesting the project could be revived as part of the discussions.

The U-S had threatened 50 per cent tariffs on about 28-billion dollars worth of Canadian goods, including wine, cement and hockey sticks.

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During its Monday meeting, New Glasgow Town Council passed a motion calling on the Province to close the local homeless shelter and work with the Town and community partners on a transition plan.
A statement from Town Council says the plan would ensure individuals currently accessing the shelter continue to receive appropriate housing, mental health, addiction, and other supports. The statement says Council firmly believes the current emergency shelter model, operating as is and where is, is not adequately addressing the complex needs of people experiencing chronic homelessness and addiction.

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Officials at Nova Scotia Power say they can’t explain why hacked customer data was not deleted as planned.

The information was accessed in March 2025 by what the company has said were Russia-based actors seeking a ransom.

It contained addresses, phone numbers, banking information, social insurance numbers and other customer data.

Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin has renewed the party’s call for the government to launch an independent review of the utility.

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Hike Nova Scotia has announced that the Pictou County Hiker Challenge badge is being relaunched with a new look and new trails. It is a partnership of Hike Nova Scotia and New Glasgow, Stellarton, Westville, Trenton, Pictou, Pictou Landing First Nation and the Municipality of Pictou County. It’s been over five years since the regional badge was launched in Pictou County, and Hike Nova Scotia says it was time for an update. Earning the Pictou County Hiker Challenge badge means completing seven hikes or walks, one in each of the seven communities over the course of a year. A launch event is happening on Thursday on the Fitzpatrick Mountain Trail at 6 pm.

Pictou County News, August 18th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:50:59 +0000

New Glasgow Police are looking for the public’s help in locating a missing person — 24-year-old Victoria Lynn Davidson — who was last seen on August 12 (last Wednesday) at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Swallow Street in New Glasgow.

Victoria Lynn Davidson is described as five-foot-one, approximately 120 lbs, with red hair. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a green long-sleeved shirt and white Adidas.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Victoria Lynn Davidson is asked to contact the New Glasgow Police or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.

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Energy Minister and Pictou West MLA Marco MacLeod has apologized after criticism over a rap song he recorded before he entered politics. MacLeod sang on a track called “George Jones,” which includes derogatory terms for women and a reference to using cocaine. MacLeod posted a note to social media over the weekend apologizing. Some critics say the lyrics are hateful toward women and violent, and have questioned whether MacLeod should remain in the provincial cabinet. Adsum House, a Halifax women’s shelter, says it was “sickened” by MacLeod’s song and called for him to resign.

Canada-U-S trade talks are expected to continue today as sweeping new American tariffs are set to take effect Wednesday.

U-S Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joined Monday’s negotiations, suggesting talks may include tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles.

Canada-U-S Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says negotiations are not finished, and Prime Minister Mark Carney says he plans to speak with U-S President Donald Trump before the deadline.

The new 50-per cent tariffs would target about 28-billion dollars worth of Canadian goods.

Statistics Canada says the annual rate of inflation accelerated to three per cent in July.

Last month saw motorists once again paying more to fill up their tanks, as well as paying more for air travel and travel tours.

Inflation had cooled to 2.8 per cent in June as the U-S and Iran worked toward a peace agreement.

But fresh conflict in the Gulf region in July pushed global gas and fuel prices higher again.

The July inflation figures are the Bank of Canada’s last look at price data before it makes its next interest rate decision in early September.

Last month’s inflation was highest in Nova Scotia, at five per cent.

Nova Scotia is beefing up its regional emergency management groups with 800-thousand dollars in new funding. The cash will be split between a dozen organizations and will help improve communications systems, hire staff, rent offices and pay for training. The province says 37 different municipalities will benefit from the new funding.

Pictou County News, August 17th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:30:15 +0000

Canada-U-S Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U-S Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are continuing negotiations, as the clock ticks down to a new round of American tariffs set to take effect.

U-S President Donald Trump has ordered 50 per cent levies on a range of Canadian goods starting on Wednesday.

Washington says the move is tied to Canadian trade measures, including provincial bans on U-S liquor.

The two held a virtual meeting Sunday that Canadian officials described as constructive.

The Energy Minister, Pictou West MLA Marco MacLeod, is receiving criticism for a song he made a decade ago. Adsum House, a Halifax shelter that primarily serves women, says it is –quote– “sickened” by the material. The lyrics include several derogatory words towards women. Several media outlets confirmed that MacLeod sang on a song released under the name of Meadowville called “George Jones.” It has since been taken down from streaming services.

Nova Scotia university teachers are raising concerns about the province taking greater control over which academic programs receive funding. Legislation last year ties university funding to government social and economic priorities and requires schools to review their programs. The Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers fears programs such as arts, English and philosophy could face cuts or consolidation. The province says the reviews — due in October — are meant to better align university programs with student demand and labour market needs.

Researchers at St. FX are looking for ways to cut methane emissions from Nova Scotia’s largest landfills. The province is giving the University more than 240-thousand dollars to measure emissions and find ways to capture the greenhouse gas. Nova Scotia’s target it to reduce greenhouse gas levels 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The province says it’s on track to meet its goal.

Pictou County News, August 14th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:04:16 +0000

Nova Scotia Health is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 25-year-old Jesse James Denny, who is missing from Aberdeen Regional Hospital. Jesse is 6-feet-tall and 170-pounds.

He was last seen leaving the Aberdeen Hospital at 4:30 am on Thursday, wearing a block/stripe patterned long sleeve shirt, grey pants and black sandals. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency.

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Gas and diesel prices went up overnight in Nova Scotia. The price of regular gasoline increased by 4.4 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for regular self-serve at $1.82 per litre in the local area. The price of diesel increased by 9.3 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $2.39 per litre locally.

Fewer Nova Scotians are on the wait list for a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

The public health authority says there are now 54-thousand-582 people on the registry of residents in need of primary care.

This is down by about four-thousand people when compared with the previous month.

As of August 1st, about five per cent of Nova Scotia’s population were still seeking a family doctor.

With the clock ticking down on U-S President Donald Trump’s latest tariff deadline, Canada-U-S Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met with his American counterpart Thursday.

The tariffs on a range of Canadian goods are set to take effect August 19th.

U-S Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said the levies are a response to provincial bans on U-S liquor, Canada’s supply-managed dairy system and quotas on certain U-S vehicles.

After the sit-down, LeBlanc said on social media Thursday evening that negotiations were ongoing.

Pictou County News, August 13th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:22:40 +0000

With an eye on recruitment, Healthy Pictou County is again expanding its 360° Virtual Reality Hub with two new immersive experiences that provide an inside look at the Operating Room at Aberdeen Regional Hospital and the Orthopedic Assessment Clinic. The new virtual spaces help advance ongoing efforts in supporting recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals by showcasing the people, facilities, and collaborative healthcare environment in Pictou County. Through the 360° experience, users can step inside the O-R as the surgical team prepares a patient for surgery, showcasing the collaboration and precision involved in delivering surgical care at Aberdeen Regional Hospital.

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A new Statistics Canada report says crime rates slightly increased in Nova Scotia last year, despite crime severity dropping both in the province and across the country.

The crime rate, which tracks the volume of crime per capita regardless of severity, increased by one per cent in Nova Scotia.

The 2025 rate of 6-thousand-147 incidents per 100-thousand people is the highest the province has seen since 2012.

This provincial increase stands in contrast to the national crime rate, which dropped two per cent last year.

A newly incorporated organization is set to support Black politicians across Canada. The Canadian Congress of Black Politicians formally announced its incorporation as a national organization this month and will aid those facing challenges with representation and discrimination. The non-partisan group says it’s the only national organization representing Black elected officials, with 150 members across the country at all levels of government.

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Hockey Canada says five players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team — acquitted last year of sexual assault — have breached the organization’s code of conduct. The organization says it has accepted the board’s recommendation that suspensions continue for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod. Formenton is eligible for immediate reinstatement

Pictou County News, August 12th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:23:40 +0000

The interrupter was used to increase gasoline and diesel prices overnight in Nova Scotia. The price of regular gasoline increased by 6.5 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at $1.78 per litre in the local area. The price of diesel increased by 9.3 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $2.30 per litre locally.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Pictou County News, August 10th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:44:41 +0000

R-C-M-P are investigating recent thefts of copper wire in Nova Scotia that have caused phone and internet outages, as well as significant property damage. On August 4th, R-C-M-P in Hants County were called to a vacant building in Hantsport, where a copper cable was stolen, resulting in significant damage to the building’s electrical system. The Mounties say that between July 28th and August 4th, telecommunications lines were cut and stolen from two separate locations resulting in phone and internet outages. In another incident, a long a power line was cut and pulled from the ground on or around August 4th.

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A clinical trial for a new vaccine targeting the deadly Ebola virus has begun in Nova Scotia.

Health Canada has authorized Moderna to conduct the Phase 1 trial, which started when a volunteer in Truro received the first vaccination last Monday.

The company expects to enroll 80 volunteers in Truro, Halifax and Toronto.

The participants will not be exposed to the virus during the trial, which is designed to evaluate the vaccine’s safety, determine dosages and monitor for side effects.

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Sailors from Japan are expected to take part in a special wreath-laying ceremony today in Halifax.

The sailors, members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, arrived in Halifax harbour on the weekend aboard two training vessels.

They are expected to join members of the Royal Canadian Navy this morning to form a ceremonial guard for the ceremony at the Sailors’ Memorial in Point Pleasant Park.

The Canadian military says members of the ceremonial guard will be carrying unloaded rifles as part of the official commemoration.

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Communities in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia saw record-high temperatures on Friday. In New Brunswick, the temperature reached 32.6 Celsius in Saint John, breaking a record for August 7 that was set in 1996. In western Newfoundland, it reached 27.5 degrees in Stephenville, beating a record for the date that was set in 1908. And in Nova Scotia, two records for August 7 fell on Friday when the temperature reached 32.6 Celsius at the Halifax airport, and 32.2 degrees at the Shearwater military airport on the east side of Halifax harbour.

Pictou County News, August 7th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:01:14 +0000

Most of the Maritimes remains under heat warnings.

Environment Canada has issued alerts for all of Nova Scotia and P-E-I, along with most of New Brunswick, except for the northwest area of the province.

Temperatures could reach as high as 33 degrees in some areas, with the humidex making it feel like 39 degrees in parts of New Brunswick.

The warnings remain in place this morning and could continue into the weekend in some places.

Significant decreases overnight in gasoline and diesel prices. The price of regular gasoline decreased by 9.7 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at $1.71 per litre in the local area. The price of diesel went down by 9.8 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $2.21 per litre locally.

Nova Scotia’s attorney general says he wants answers on how an innocent man served 18 months in prison after investigators mixed up his online username.

Last month Brandon Klayme was acquitted on child exploitation charges after an appeal court found investigators had confused his username with that of the actual suspect.

He had already served his 18-month sentence.

Attorney General Scott Armstrong said he’s going to meet with prosecutors to find out what happened, and says he’s not ruling out a public inquiry.

Nova Scotia will ban children under 14 from riding electric scooters and e-bikes this fall. Public Works Minister Fred Tilley says the new age limit is part of upcoming changes to the province’s Traffic Safety Act. Tilley says advances in technology are allowing e-scooters and e-bikes to travel much faster than before. The Canadian Institute for Health Information says e-scooter hospitalizations climbed 32 per cent from the previous year.