PRICE OF GAS HOLDS STEADY, DIESEL TAKES A DIP
No change in the price of gas this morning, but diesel has taken a big drop. Diesel now sits at $1.132 per litre in the local area, down seven cents from last week. Regular self-serve remains at $1.241 per litre. The UARB invoked the interrupter clause last week to drop gas prices by 8.1 cents per litre, but there was no change to the price of diesel at the time.
COVID-19 EXPENSES PUSH NOVA SCOTIA BUDGET INTO $585-MILLION DEFICIT
Photo: Finance and Treasury Board Minister Labi Kousoulis at the budget news conference (NS Gov)
The province’s Liberal government has tabled a budget focused on coping with continuing pandemic costs and improving its health system, creating a $585-million projected deficit for 2021-22. The new deficit estimate in Premier Iain Rankin’s first budget breaks a string of four consecutive balanced budgets, though the government has included a goal of returning to balance in four years. Additional COVID-19 expenses of close to $276 million for such things as personal protective equipment and mental health services are adding to a health budget that’s consuming 42 per cent of the $12.5-billion overall budget. The budget projects the largest mental health spending in the province’s history at $336.5 million, which includes a $12.3-million increase for new programming and $1.5 million to establish the new Office of Mental Health and Addictions. Overall, long-term care and home care spending has increased to $1 billion, with $22.6 million added to increase the number of care assistants, expand access to outside health professionals and provide primary care in nursing homes. The province says $617.3 million spent on Covid-19 expenses last year left it with a deficit of $705.5 million for the 2020-21 fiscal year. (The Canadian Press)
To view the budget documents, visit: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/budget-documents-2021-2022
STEWART SHOW CAUSE HEARING ADJOURNED UNTIL NEXT WEEK
The bail hearing for Daniel Kenneth Stewart of Fox Brook has been adjourned to Tuesday of next week (March 30) to allow him time to meet with his lawyer. Stewart was charged with two counts of attempted murder, various arson charges, aggravated assault, assault, mischief over $5,000 and being unlawfully in a dwelling in relation to an event on Granton-Abercrombie Road back in early January. (With files from Saltwire News)
4 NEW COVID-19 CASES REPORTED IN N.S.
Public health announced three new cases of COVID-19, as well as a case connected to Millwood High School in Middle Sackville in the latest update. One case is in Eastern Zone and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada. The other two cases are in Central Zone. One is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada and the other is a close contact of a previously reported case. Government says there are 25 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia and no one is being treated in hospital. Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang have their Friday briefing planned for 1 p.m. this afternoon.
Public Health is also advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 at three locations in the Central Zone and one location in the Western Zone, get details here: www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures
Nova Scotians are being asked to avoid non-essential travel to the Edmundston region of New Brunswick after the province reported a significant increase in COVID-19 cases yesterday. Last week, Premier Iain Rankin lifted quarantine requirements for New Brunswickers travelling into Nova Scotia, which also means Nova Scotians visiting New Brunswick no longer have to isolate when returning to their home province. Rankin said the new border policy won’t be changing despite the spike in cases. The province says Dr. Strang is in close contact with his New Brunswick counterparts and is continuing to monitor the situation. It’s unclear what this spike in cases means for the Atlantic bubble which is expected to open on April 19. The Premier and Dr. Strang are expected to provide an update on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia this afternoon at 1 p.m.
DESMOND INQUIRY: UNCLE OF EX-SOLDIER SAW NO SIGNS OF VIOLENCE DAY BEFORE MURDERS
Photo from Global News
An inquiry investigating why ex-soldier Lionel Desmond killed himself and his family in 2017 is hearing from his uncle, who says he saw no signs of violence from the man the day before the murders. Kenny Greencorn told the inquiry Thursday in Port Hawkesbury, that Desmond was a hard worker and that he never suspected any violence between the Afghanistan war veteran and his wife, Shanna. Greencorn says his wife, Sandra, was like a second mother to Desmond and that it was common for him to stay at their house, sometimes for a few days. Desmond served as a combat soldier in Afghanistan in 2007 and was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic street disorder and major depression in 2011, and received treatment before he left the Canadian Armed Forces. The provincial fatality inquiry, which started last year, has heard that the former infantryman complained about three separate accidents that may have caused a possible traumatic brain injury. The inquiry has now adjourned until the week of April 19, when witnesses from Veterans Affairs Canada are expected to testify. (The Canadian Press)
FEDERAL LIBERALS EARMARK $7.2 BILLION FOR HEALTH CARE, VACCINATION, MUNICIPALITIES
The federal Liberals have introduced legislation to provide $7.2 billion to cash-strapped provinces, territories and municipalities, with more than half going to immediate health-care needs. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says COVID-19 has placed extreme pressure on health-care systems across the country and Canadians need help urgently. She says $4 billion, to flow through the Canada Health Transfer, will help ensure health systems do not buckle under the continued strain of the pandemic. The bill also proposes $1 billion to support the rollout of COVID-19 vaccination programs. In addition, the legislation would provide $2.2 billion for municipalities and First Nations communities through the federal gas-tax fund. Freeland says the planned spending is a down payment on programs that will be more fully outlined in the federal budget next month. (The Canadian Press)
