***Starting today, May 7, people aged 45 and older can book appointments for the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at clinics across the province. COVID-19 vaccination appointments must be made online at https://www.novascotia.ca/vacc
Province reports 182 new COVID-19 cases Thursday
Nova Scotia reported 182 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with 155 of the cases in Central Zone, 16 in Eastern Zone, seven in Northern Zone and four in Western Zone. Two of the cases in Central Zone involve a staff member and resident of the Clarmar Residential Care Facility, a residential care home in Dartmouth. This is the third staff member and third resident at the facility to test positive. Nova Scotia has 1,309 active cases of COVID-19. There are 45 people in hospital, including nine in ICU.
Nova Scotia Health Public Health is advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 on a Maritime Bus, six Halifax Transit routes, two Air Canada flights and two WestJet flights. All potential exposure notifications are listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures
COVID-19 restrictions in Nova Scotia are tough, but they could get tougher: premier
Premier Iain Rankin says he’s frustrated with residents and visitors who aren’t taking the pandemic seriously despite a nearly 80 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases in two weeks. Rankin warned during a virtual news conference Thursday that he might bring in tougher restrictions on travel to reduce the rapid spread of the virus. That would be in addition to a two-week lockdown imposed last week that he says was harsher than restrictions imposed at the start of the pandemic. Rankin says the coming Mother’s Day weekend could be a turning point for the province and is urging people to stay home and mark the day virtually or by phone. Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang are set to provide an update this afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. This update will be livestreamed on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast (With files from the Canadian Press)
New Glasgow Regional Police charge 11 people for violating public health orders
New Glasgow Regional Police have charged nearly a dozen people for violating the Health Protection Act and the Emergency Management Acts, following four separate incidents. On Wednesday night, they charged a man who was reported to be repeatedly not social distancing in the downtown area of New Glasgow. He faces a fine of over $2400. Late Wednesday night, police responded to a report of a gathering at a home in Trenton and 4 men and 4 women were charged for failing to comply with the act or regulations limiting social gatherings to household. Violation of this act carries a penalty of $2422.00. On Thursday afternoon at a store in New Glasgow, a woman from the Mosher River area was charged for violating orders to restrict travel to within their own municipality. She faces a fine of nearly $700. The same charge was laid against a man from the Dartmouth area when police responded to a shoplifter call at a grocery store in New Glasgow on Thursday. Police say they would like to thank the vast majority of Nova Scotians who are following the restrictions and directives set forth by the Government of Nova Scotia. The public can report violations under the Nova Scotia Health Protection and Emergency Management Acts by calling New Glasgow Regional Police at 902-752-1941 or in the event of an emergency call 911. For more information visit: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
Jump at the Pumps in N.S.
It costs you more to fill that tank in the vehicle today. Gas prices went up 3.3-cents per litre overnight, putting the logical price for regular self serve at 129.7 cents per litre. Diesel prices rose 1.6 cents per litre overnight and now sit in the local area at 117.3 cents per litre.
Silent Protest planned for this afternoon at Pictou Court House
Facebook photo shared by Angela Bowden
A silent protest is set to take place at the Pictou Court House on Water Street this afternoon by local activist Angela Bowden in response to the sentence handed down to Shawn Wade Hynes on April 23rd. Hynes was sentenced to house arrest for 18 months for shooting Nhlanhla Dlamini in the back with a nail gun at a construction site in Abercrombie on Sept. 19, 2018. Dlamini suffered a punctured lung and he spent four days in hospital and a month off work because of his wound. There was wide-spread frustration and anger following the sentencing last month, with many feeling there should have been jail time to reflect the seriousness of the crime. In a media release, Bowden says the sentencing by Judge Del Atwood “ultimately failed to validate and protect Black lives in this province.” Bowden will be outside the Pictou Court House between 2-4 this afternoon and volunteers are placing between 50-100 signs to represent those that are not able to gather in person due to Covid 19 restrictions.
This Sunday marks the 29th anniversary of the Westray Mine disaster in Pictou County.
In the early morning of May 9, 1992, an explosion ripped through the Westray coal mine in Plymouth, killing all twenty-six miners working the night shift. 11 years after the tragic event, the federal government enacted Bill C-45 (the “Westray Bill”) in direct response to the Westray Mine disaster. The bill provided a new set of rules for corporate liability in Canada. Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, there are no in person events scheduled for this weekend. Over the years, family and friends have gathered at Westray Miners Memorial Park in New Glasgow, which pays tribute to the workers who perished in the explosion.
Veteran member of Nova Scotia’s Liberal government announces June 1 resignation
A veteran member and former cabinet minister in Nova Scotia’s Liberal government says she has submitted her resignation. In a post to Facebook today, Margaret Miller says her resignation from the legislature will take effect June 1. Miller does not give a reason for leaving but says her move “does not reflect on my feelings for the party or my hardworking colleagues.” An assistant in her East Hants constituency office reached by phone today says Miller is declining further comment. Miller’s pending departure follows the May 3 retirement of former premier Stephen McNeil and means the Liberals will lose their one-seat majority in the legislature. A former president of MADD Canada, Miller was first elected in 2013 and served as minister in the environment and natural resources portfolios under McNeil.
The resignation follows a report by CBC on Thursday about an email Miller sent this week to Premier Iain Rankin’s chief of staff, saying she planned to resign from caucus following a new hire as director of strategic initiatives in Rankin’s office. The report said Miller told Joanne Macrae she was “beyond disappointed” by the hire and saw no other way to express her feelings. Rankin said following cabinet Thursday that he had no evidence of improper behaviour by a member of his staff toward any members of his caucus. (The Canadian Press)
Stellarton Homecoming Cancelled for 2021
The Town of Stellarton says that with the unpredictability of the pandemic, it’s made the difficult decision to postpone Homecoming until next year. The town says that in making the decision, they considered all of the possible options to safely hold an adapted version of Homecoming, and had discussions with other local event organizers and Events Nova Scotia to determine the best plan for safe gatherings. However, with the increase in COVID-19 cases and restrictions in the province, and the uncertainty of when the restrictions will ease, they felt the only option was to postpone again for this year.
Nova Scotia proclaims changes passed in 2020 to Elections Act
Nova Scotia has proclaimed amendments to the province’s Elections Act that were passed by the legislature in March 2020. Government says the changes are aimed at making voting easier by providing internet voting to military members deployed outside the province and by offering electronic ballots at advance polls. The changes also remove the requirement that voters provide their sex and make it optional for voters to provide their gender when they register. The bill includes more than 40 amendments and it passed through the legislature with all-party support. (With files from the Canadian Press)
