FRASER ANNOUNCES CASH FOR SPRINGVILLE PROJECT
Central Nova MP Sean Fraser has announced $100,000 in new cash for the Springville Church Hall. The money is coming under the small projects component of Ottawa’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF). It will help pay for two new accessible washrooms and a new kitchen area, making the building accessible to volunteers and visitors.
PREMIER PUTS MONEY INTO GAELIC EDUCATION
Premier Iain Rankin has announced $1.92 million in provincial money to renovate a former convent to create a satellite campus of the Gaelic College. Rankin made the announcement over the weekend during a visit to the site of the new campus in Mabou. Rankin says the funding will help in promoting, preserving and perpetuating the Gaelic language, culture and identity. Once it’s renovated, the former St. Joseph’s Convent and Renewal Centre will be known as Mabou Hill College. The facility was built in 1952. Students will receive credit recognition for courses through Cape Breton University. (Cdn Press)
RED CROSS HELPS OUT AFTER FIRES IN TATAMAGOUCHE & TRURO
It was a bad weekend for fires in Tatamagouche and Central Truro. At least 19 people were forced out of their apartments in a fire that damaged at large three-storey heritage house containing more than a dozen apartments on downtown Truro’s Queen Street. The Red Cross and its volunteers helped out most of them. That building at 43 Queen Street was once used as a maternity annex of Truro’s former hospital. Red Cross volunteers have also helped two adults displaced by a fire that destroyed a two-storey house in Tatamagouche over the weekend. That took place on the Lake Road, and nobody was hurt in either the Truro fire or the one in Tatamagouche.
FRASER RESPONDS TO TORY TALK OF A FEDERAL ELECTION
Central Nova M-P Sean Fraser says he’s seen the Conservatives speculate about a spring election call on an almost-daily basis, but says there’s nothing like that being considered on the government side of the House of Commons. He says talk of that being the reason for the federal budget being delayed until May is nothing more than a guessing game. He says with 58,000 submissions ahead of the budget, it’s only fair to delay it, so peoples’ concerns are taken into account. Fraser says the focus right now is for a continued economic recovery. He makes that comment in light of the big news on Friday that Canada’s created more than a quarter-of-a-million jobs in February, and the job market in Nova Scotia continues to be healthy. (Saltwire Photo)
NO NEW NS COVID CASES REPORTED, MOBILE TESTING IN TATAMAGOUCHE THIS WEEK (updated 4:10 pm)
No news cases of COVID-19 are being reported in Monday’s provincial update. Nova Scotia continues to lead the country in keeping the deadly infections under control. An update from the Premier and Dr. Robert Strang is expected on Tuesday afternoon.
Dr. Robert Strang says people should check the province’s coronavirus vaccine website to see if they’re eligible to book an appointment and to see Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout. Eligible Nova Scotians can only book a coronavirus vaccine appointment through the online booking tool or the toll-free phone line at 1-833-797-7772.
COVID-19 Testing | Nova Scotia Health Authority (nshealth.ca)
Also, a timely reminder that there’s mobile testing for COVID in Tatamagouche today, tomorrow and Wednesday. The Public Health Mobile Unit will be available for drop-in and pre-booked appointments at the Tatamagouche Fire Fire Hall on Main Street from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Community members are encouraged to pre-book their testing appointments at the Mobile Unit by completing the self-assessment online at Book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment in Nova Scotia (canimmunize.ca) If you don’t have access to the internet, call 811.
*Drop-in testing is based on capacity. It is recommended that you pre-book your appointment online.
GROUP SAYS PROVINCE NEEDS TO GET RID OF THIRD PARTY RULE IN FUNDRAISERS
Allison Marshall is asking the Rankin government to change its policy when it comes to online ticket sales. Currently, the Pictou County chapter of CARMA Cat Rescue Maritimes and other charities across the province, are not permitted to sell 50/50, raffle and draw tickets online without going through an approved third party. Marshall heads up fundraising for the group’s Pictou County chapter, and says they did an online event using a third party, but ended up paying that service 14 per cent of their profits. She’s asking the province to change that, so non-profits can do the tickets themselves and keep their own money. Marshall says they would still apply for a lottery licence, but without the need of a third party, they could reap better rewards for their hard work. She’s set up a petition to help gain support on the group’s Pictou County facebook page.
