Jump at the pumps in N.S. ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend
As expected, fuel prices in Nova Scotia have risen ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend. Regular self-serve gas jumped 4.7 cents per litre to $142.7 in the local area. Diesel is up seven cents per litre to $140.2 cents.
Proof of vaccination will soon be required for hospital visitors in N.S.
Visitors to Nova Scotia hospitals will be required to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19 when entering facilities effective next week. Nova Scotia Health announced Thursday that visitors, including support people and designated caregivers, will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated starting Oct. 13. The new rule also includes people accompanying patients who are entering hospitals or clinics for appointments or procedures. Exemptions may be made for emergency situations and end-of-life care. Proof of vaccination will not, however, be required for patients seeking care or receiving treatment. The measure comes after the provincial government announced a vaccination mandate for workers in the health-care and education sectors late last month. (The Canadian Press)
Nova Scotia reports 30 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday
The province reported 30 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the number of active cases to 247. Twenty-six of the new cases are in the central zone, two are in the western zone and two in the eastern zone. Sixteen people are in hospital due to COVID-19, with five of them in intensive care.
N.S. to invest millions in non-emergency patient transfer vehicles, staff
Photo: Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson in a session with paramedics in Sydney during the Speak Up for Health Care Tour in September (Communications Nova Scotia)
The provincial government is adding more staff and more vehicles to the province’s non-emergency patient transfer service. It’s part of an effort to improve ambulance response times and clear ambulance backlogs at the province’s hospitals. Government is adding $3.1 million to the service’s annual budget, hiring 28 new drivers and buying five additional ambulances. The province is also spending $1.9 million to buy eight patient transfer vans to be deployed in New Glasgow, Truro, Yarmouth, Amherst, Antigonish, and Cape Breton by the end of December.
Canada adds 157,000 jobs in September, returning to pre-pandemic levels
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Statistics Canada says the economy added 157,000 jobs in September, bringing employment back to pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The unemployment rate fell to 6.9 per cent, down from 7.1 per cent in August. The last time Canada had this large an employment gain was in June 2021, when the economy added 231,000 jobs. The statistics agency says the job gains were widespread, but concentrated in full-time work and evenly split between the public and private sector. Still, the ranks of long-term unemployed who have been without work for six month or more remained little changed last month and was still double the number recorded in February 2020. And Statistics Canada notes that the employment rate remains just below the pre-pandemic figure, reflecting the fact that job growth hasn’t matched population growth over the past 19 months. Nova Scotia saw a net increase of 1,300 full-time jobs and 200 part-time jobs. However, the province’s unemployment rate rose two-tenth to an even eight per cent as the labour force grew by 2,600. (The Canadian Press)
Woman and 3 children jump from 2nd-floor window to escape fire this week in Colchester County
The Canadian Red Cross says a woman and her three children had to jump from an upstairs window to escape the flames from a blaze near Debert. The fire happened early Tuesday on East Folly Mountain Road. All four were checked at hospital, and the Red Cross says one child was later transferred to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. The other three are now staying with relatives. Red Cross volunteers from Truro have been helping them with emergency purchases like food, clothing, and other basics.
Premier reconsidering choice of non-Black deputy in African N.S. affairs office
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says his government is re-examining its decision to appoint a deputy minister who is not Black to the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs. Houston says his choice for deputy minister was criticized last week during a meeting with representatives from a coalition of several African Nova Scotian community groups. The premier has drawn fire since he appointed Pat Dunn, who is white, as minister for the office, after the Progressive Conservatives won the Aug. 17 election. Critics have called Dunn’s appointment “inappropriate” and “tone deaf” and also objected to the removal of Kesa Munroe-Anderson, who is Black, as a deputy in the office. While Houston has made clear his support for Dunn, he says he accepts the Black community’s concern over who should be Dunn’s deputy minister. He added that the community will “see some action there,” although he wasn’t specific about what will be done. (The Canadian Press)
Nova Scotia will not appeal a recent court decision that found there was discrimination against people with disabilities who had sought services and housing in the community. Premier Houston said Thursday he doesn’t believe anyone should have to take government to court to make it “do the right thing.” Houston says his government has heard “loud and clear” the message issued by the Court of Appeal, adding that he pledges to work with the disabled community to ensure they have the proper support. He says the province will work as quickly as it can to provide more housing options for people with disabilities. In a landmark decision issued Wednesday, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal said the provincial government’s failure to offer people with disabilities “meaningful” access to housing and care is demonstrated by long wait-lists. The group that launched the appeal, the Disability Rights Coalition, urged the government Wednesday to respect the equality of people living with disabilities. (The Canadian Press)
Sports note:
The Valley Wildcats defeated the Weeks Junior A Crushers 5-1 last night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. The Crushers are on the road to PEI this weekend for game against Summerside on Saturday.
