No new cases of Covid-19 reported in N.S.

For the second day in a row, the province reported no new cases of COVID-19. There are six recoveries, bringing the total number of cases to 22. As of Thursday, 46.8 per cent of Nova Scotians have received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Aiming to allow vaccinated Americans into Canada by mid-August: PM to premiers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is aiming to allow fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents into Canada by mid-August. Trudeau also says he told the premiers by phone that if the current vaccination rate remains on its current trajectory, fully vaccinated travellers from around the world could be arriving by early September. The Prime Minister’s Office broke the news in a readout from Thursday’s COVID-19 call with the premiers and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Trudeau told the premiers that Canada is leading the G20 in vaccination rates: 80 per cent of eligible Canadians have had a first dose and more than half are fully vaccinated. Pressure has been mounting on the federal government to continue to ease the restrictions at the border, which have been in effect since March of last year. The process has already begun: last week, the Canada Border Services Agency began exempting fully vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents from a 14-day quarantine requirement. (The Canadian Press)

Cruise ships will be allowed back into Canadian waters sooner than expected, with the federal government announcing the ban will be lifted as of Nov. 1, 2021. The federal minister of transport says the prohibition of cruise ships in Canadian waters will end at that time “if operators are able to fully comply with public health requirements.”

 

Northern Pulp Effluent Treatment Plant Project to Undergo Class II Environmental Assessment

Northern Pulp released preliminary details of facility upgrades, including a new effluent treatment system, on Thursday, two months after submitting a plan to the provincial Department of Environment for approval.  Mill owner Paper Excellence said its $350-million transformation plan would slash water use, reduce wastewater components, lower visible plumes from the mill’s stacks and remove detectable odours during normal operations.  Despite added steps to treat wastewater, the plan to restart the mill continues to involve discharging treated effluent from the Northern Pulp mill into Pictou harbour.  Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan questioned why it took so long for the company to propose cleaning up the mill’s environmental footprint -adding that locals have been “overwhelmingly pleased” with the improved air quality since the plant was shuttered 18 months ago.  The mill has long been a source of tension in Pictou County, with the economic benefit of hundreds of rural forestry jobs pitted against environmental concerns and the impact on Pictou Landing First Nation.  In June 2020, the mill was granted protection from its creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, a move aimed at allowing the company to restructure.  Paper Excellence did not release details about how it plans to pay for its $350 million overhaul of the mill. (With files from the Canadian Press)

Northern Pulp’s effluent treatment plant project will undergo a Class II environmental assessment. The province says an environmental assessment panel will be appointed to review the project and provide a report and recommendations to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The process typically takes 275 days, not including the time to prepare the environmental assessment report, which can take up to two years. The company’s proposal involves changes to the pulp mill itself, as well as the design and construction of a new effluent treatment plant. The province says once the new project is registered for an environmental assessment, the department will draft terms of reference for public review and comment. Northern Pulp formally withdrew its previous replacement effluent treatment project from the environmental assessment process in early May.

 

Jump at the pumps in N.S.

Fuel prices in Nova Scotia are up today. Regular self-serve increased 3.1 cents per litre overnight to $1.392 in the local area. Diesel is up 2.1 cents per litre to $1.264.

 

Nova Scotia Sending Wildfire Crews to Help Provinces Battling Fires

Photo: The Brenda Creek wildfire is seen in an image from the BC Wildfire Service on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Nova Scotia is sending help to other provinces currently battling out of control forest fires. The Department of Lands of Forestry says 23 wildland firefighters and one agency representative will leave Halifax this morning. They’ll be joining up with other Atlantic Canadian firefighters to form two 17-person crews headed to Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

 

Nova Scotians concerned about coastal development can now share their thoughts on proposed rules that will determine what can and cannot be built on the province’s vulnerable coastlines. The Coastal Protection Act, passed 2019 to set out clear rules for Nova Scotia’s 13,000 kilometres of coastline. The province says it’s now working to develop regulations and is consulting on the ideas that will form those regulations. Consultation begins today, July 15, and will continue until Sept. 17. Nova Scotians can see the documents and share their feedback at novascotia.ca/coast/

 

Ribfest cancelled for 2021

Pictou County Ribfest have announced they’re shifting planning to 2022.  Over the last several months, the organizing committee says they’ve been exploring the possibility of hosting a drive-thru format, but they made the decision to postpone the event. Organizers are now focused on next year, with the goal of continuing to grow the event.

Meanwhile, the Scotsburn Fire dept. will not be hosting the Annual Pork Chop BBQ this year. In an update on Facebook, the department says planning for this major fundraiser begins in early May and due to high Covid numbers and uncertainty at that time, they had to make the decision before placing orders. So, be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s BBQ, which is planned for July 27th.