$1,000 FINES ISSUED IN SHEET HARBOUR UNDER HEALTH PROTECTION ACT
RCMP have charged two men for failing to self isolate following a checkpoint in Sheet Harbour, and they’ve both ended up with stiff fines. Last Thursday afternoon, RCMP were conducting a checkpoint at the intersection of Pool Rd. and Church Point Rd. on Highway 7 when a vehicle with expired plates pulled up.
Police then discovered the passenger had recently travelled outside of Canada and was on a mandatory self-isolation order that was supposed to last another week. That passenger was staying with the driver. Both men are charged with violating the Health Protection Act and have each been fined $1,000.
SLEW OF PROVINCIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AS PREMIER’S FINAL DAYS ON THE JOB DWINDLE TO HOURS
The province and Ottawa have announced almost $45 million for eleven Nova Scotia seafood projects.
Perennia Food and Agriculture in Bible Hill will pick up close to $3 million for two projects; one of those is to help expand premium seafood export markets. $1.2 million will go to Canso Seafoods.
Cape d’Or Sustainable Seafoods in Advocate Harbour, Cumberland County is receiving $3 million to boost land-based certified organic salmon farming.
The major chunk of that cash is about $14.5 million for the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance to support equipment and innovation activities for members.
The list of investments includes:
- $4,466,089 for Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia to maximize the productivity of shellfish sites
- $6,166,547 for Brazil Rock Area 33/34 Lobster Association to create functioning live wells on lobster vessels for improving quality
- $1,262,400 for Canso Seafoods to provide innovative equipment for new product lines
- $3 million for Cape d’Or Sustainable Seafoods to help expand capacity of land-based certified organic salmon farm
- $3,081,830 for Coldwater Lobster Association for lobster quality enhancement projects, as well as holding and aeration
- $14,453,234 for Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance to support equipment and innovation activities for members
- $1,795,650 for Perennia Food and Agriculture to support COVID-19 response in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors
- $1,178,550 for Perennia Food and Agriculture to help expand export markets for premium quality seafood
- $3,750,000 for Scotia Harvest Inc. to help provide a new processing facility for groundfish processing
- $4 million for Sustainable Fish Farming (Canada) Ltd. to help expand capacity to 1,000 metric tonnes of land
- $1,562,244 for Victoria Co-Op Fisheries to help provide modernization of processing facilities and equipment to achieve British Retail Consortium certification
The Forestry Innovation Transition Trust has announced a trio of new projects to help get forestry products to market.
The Innovation Hub of Nova Scotia Inc. will receive $921,000 to support forestry related bioeconomy clients at the pre-commercial stage to overcome technical and business hurdles. The Hub and its partners are working to transform underused forestry waste streams into sales opportunities.
The Verschuren Centre for Energy Sustainability at Cape Breton University is getting more than $672,000 over the next six months to support the development of a Bio-technology Acceleration Centre, bringing products to the commercial stage.
Genome Atlantic is being awarded upwards of $315,000 over four years to support The Atlantic Tree Improvement Council (AtlanTIC) in producing more resilient, commercially important tree species in Nova Scotia. That will include collaborative breeding, field testing, and new tree improvement technologies to improve pest resistance and allow to trees grow more quickly with shortened breeding cycles.
Nova Scotia’s new “Life Partners in Long-Term Care Act” has now been proclaimed and will take effect March 1st.
Premier Stephen McNeil says “Couples who have loved and supported each other should not have to face being separated when they enter long-term care,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “This legislation helps ensure life partners can stay together as they age, even if one person may need a different level of long-term care.”
Besides nursing homes, it’ll also apply to life partners of veterans who reside in facilities where veterans’ units are located. The new law means couple and life partners are covered for admission to one of the 133 long-term care homes licensed and funded by the provincial government staring at the beginning of March.
FORMER PICTOU COUNTY DOCTOR FACING SEX CHARGES IN ONTARIO – POLICE SEEKING OTHER VICTIMS
DR. SAM NAGHIBI
A 68-year-old doctor who practiced in Pictou County until 2011 has been charged with sexual assault in Newmarket, North of Toronto. Last Friday, a 37-year-old woman told police she had been sexually assaulted by a doctor during a visit to a medical clinic in that area, about 20 minutes north of Metro Toronto. The accused M-D had been practicing here in Pictou County, and identified by investigators as Dr. Sam Naghibi. York Regional Police have put out a news release saying investigators want to ensure there are no additional victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward to Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Police say Dr. Naghibi left his Pictou County practice in 2011 and began working at the clinic north of Toronto a year later. (with files from Saltwire News and Newmarket Today, PHOTO from York Regional Police)
HUGE FARM BLAZE CREATES FIREBALL SEEN FROM SEVERAL COUNTIES NORTH OF BIBLE HILL LAST NIGHT CLOSES HIGHWAY 311 (UPDATED 3pm)
The latest news is mixed from that blaze near Truro last night that produced more than 6 hours of lasting flames, as up to ten fire departments fought a major dairy barn fire in North River. It closed the highway between Bible Hill and Tatamagouche from suppertime last night until 2:45 this morning. Officials say 5 of about 60 cattle at the farm died, but there are no human injuries to report. The flames were so intense, they could be seen in a 30-kilometer radius from northern Hants County to Debert and as far east as Kemptown. There’s no word on how that huge fire got started, but investigations are underway. (Photos from Jennifer Randall and Steve Currie, Facebook)
WEEKLY GAS AND DIESEL PRICES IN NEW BRUNSWICK PUSH SLIGHTLY HIGHER
New Brunswick gas prices are up by just under half a penny per litre this week. Diesel prices across the border are almost 2-cents a litre more expensive. Nova Scotia’s new prices come in at midnight.
PROUD BOYS AND OTHERS ADDED TO CANADA’S TERRORIST LIST
Ottawa is adding the Proud Boys and three other extreme right-wing groups to its list of terrorist organizations. That, after parliament passed a motion calling on the government to address the sort of neo-fascism and white nationalism that boiled over in Washington, D-C last month.
The four right-wing groups are among 13 new additions to the list this week, which also includes three groups linked to al-Qaida, four associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and one Kashmiri organization.
Once a group is added to the terror list, members can have their assets seized, and there are serious criminal penalties for any non-members duped into helping the groups to carry out their extremist activities. Others on the list include al-Qaida, Boko Haram and the Liberation Tigers. In the case of the Proud Boys, any member trying to recruit a Canadian to join their ranks, or caught raising money for them can be charged. (PHOTO-Bloomberg News)
LATEST ON CORONAVIRUS IN NOVA SCOTIA
New numbers from the Premier and Dr. Strang show more than 16-thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the province, which is an increase of 1,000 since Monday. Almost 3500 Nova Scotians have received their second dose and are completely vaccinated, which is an increase of 500 people in just one day. In addition, Dr. Strang says close to 5,000 doses of vaccines from two different suppliers are due in Nova Scotia later this week, and there are now ten cold vaccine storage sites across the province.
The first community-based clinic for Nova Scotians age 80 and older will begin later this month for people within an hour’s drive of Halifax as the vaccine rollout continues to expand.
Age will become the primary factor in who gets immunized and when in the general population. After Nova Scotians 80 and older receive their vaccine, the next group will be people 75- to 79-years-old. Vaccinations will continue in declining five-year age blocks until all Nova Scotians receive their vaccine.
That clinic for people 80 and up is slated for Monday, Feb. 22nd in Halifax. This prototype clinic will inform how future clinics are set up. Those eligible to participate in the clinic will be notified by MSI and contacted directly by mail to set up their appointments.
Nova Scotia has 11 active cases of COVID-19, with one new infection in the Halifax-Central Health Zone in the latest update. Premier McNeil says with variant cases across the border in New Brunswick, we need to stay vigilant and humble.
Dr. Robert Strang says with case numbers low in Nova Scotia, too many people without symptoms seem to think they don’t need to get tested. He says nothing could be further from the truth, and we need to make testing an ongoing part of our protocol. He says we’re in a good situation with COVID right now, but it’s tenuous. A reminder to Nova Scotians that there are 28 regular COVID-19 testing sites across the province. To find one closest to you visit: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting. Residents can book an appointment at any testing site across the province.
VIOLA DESMOND’S FINE REPAID – GOING TOWARD CBU SCHOLARSHIP
Nearly 75 years after she refused to leave the whites only section of downtown New Glasgow’s Roseland movie theatre, the province has symbolically repaid Viola Desmond’s $26 fine and court costs.
During a virtual ceremony held yesterday, Desmond’s sister Wanda Robson accepted a readjusted total of $1,000 that will be used for a one-time scholarship to Cape Breton University. Robson says her mother always told her children that “Education is the way to get ahead.” An official cheque for the original $26 total is to be displayed at the Nova Scotia legislature along with Desmond’s pardon certificate. (Pictured Above – NS Gov’t)
LEGISLATURE TO SIT IN EARLY-MARCH
The provincial legislature will begin its Spring sitting on March 9th. The Lieutenant-Governor will read the speech from the throne to open the session at 1:00 o’clock that afternoon, with a new Premier in charge of the government side of the house, with one of three men poised to take that position in an online vote that’s expected to be counted by early Saturday evening. Premier McNeil says that date was chosen to give his successor time to install his new cabinet members.
TRENTON RINK NEEDS YOUR HELP FOR HOCKEYVILLE $$$
The Trenton Rink, otherwise known as the Minor Sports Community Centre, would like you to post your photos, reactions and stories on the Kraft-Hockeyville website, since they only have 10 days left for this round of Kraft Hockeyville. They’re looking to win a quarter-million dollars in prize money, and the winning rink will also get to host an NHL exhibition game.
To help them out, just log in to Kraft Hockeyville. Then, click on Find my arena.
Writing a story about the rink nets them 10 points toward a Hockeyville win.
Adding up to 5 photos = 15 points
Doing up to 15 reactions =15 points
And writing a quick note =1 point
If you need help please call (902) 752-2382 or drop by the Trenton rink office.
TRIBUTE TO FORMER MAYOR OF STELLARTON
The recent passing of Stellarton’s former Mayor, Joe Gennoe is bringing about a number of tributes. Current Mayor Danny MacGillivray says Joe Gennoe had deep roots in the Town of Stellarton, with his family’s roots going back for over a century, becoming famous for their bread beginning back in 1921. The family business grew and prospered under Joe’s direction.
Mayor MacGillivray says “Joe led Town Council for ten important years. He supported the development of the Albion Business Park, which is now proving critical to the long-term prosperity of our town. He stood against amalgamation in 2015 and he kept the tax rate stable. The business community knew of Joe’s prudent financial foresight for many decades. The Town of Stellarton is indebted to Joe, as he saw fit to bring those savvy business skills to his role of Mayor from 2006–2016. “
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SIMPLIFIES CONTACT-TRACING AT EATERIES
The NS Restaurant Association is helping its members track their patrons during this pandemic. The group wanted to bring a consistent solution to all businesses, since it represents about 1,550 establishments.
HRM-based SimplyCast has agreed to provide technology to check-in patrons at dine-in restaurants across the province.
The new approach allows patrons to use their own cell phones to check in upon arriving to a restaurant. Before patrons enter any establishment, they will simply take out their phone, type a keyword plus their name, and send it to 11011. The person then steps into the restaurant, shows their confirmation SMS message, and then proceed to their dining experience.
DALHOUSIE STUDY, WE AREN’T AS “RECIPE-FRIENDLY” AS WE THOUGHT
Only about a third of us have learned a new recipe since the pandemic began, not as many as food scientists were expecting A new study from Dalhousie University shows we’re not as “food literate” as we could be. Food literacy is understanding the impact of our food choices on health, nutrition, the environment, and our economy, according to Dalhousie’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab.
The survey results show that before the pandemic, 56.6 per cent of Canadians knew at least seven recipes. That number has increased to 62.1 per cent in January.
The average Canadian now knows 6.7 recipes, compared to 6.2 recipes pre-pandemic. Dalhousie researchers are finding the results surprising. Their report says “Given how more domesticated Canadians have become, we were expecting that ratio to be much higher.”
