Province moves to create fixed elections dates

Nova Scotia’s new Progressive Conservative government is following through on a promise to bring in fixed election dates. It has introduced amendments to the province’s Elections Act that would set July 15th, 2025 as the date for the next provincial election — with future votes to take place on the third Tuesday of July every four years. Nova Scotia is the last province in the country to introduce a fixed election date, with most other provinces choosing dates in October. Premier Tim Houston says his government chose a date in July because schools are vacant and can be used as polling stations.

 

African Nova Scotian Affairs has new associate deputy minister

Dwayne Provo (CREDIT: African Nova Scotian Affairs)

Nova Scotia’s premier has appointed a Black educational administrator as the new associate deputy minister in the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs.  Tim Houston says Dwayne Provo is a “quality person” for whom he has a lot of respect.  Houston had been criticized after naming Pat Dunn, who is white, as minister for the office, after the Progressive Conservatives won the Aug. 17 election.  The premier had also been denounced for choosing a non-Black person as Dunn’s deputy minister, and for removing Kesa Munroe-Anderson, who is Black, as a deputy in the office.  Houston says believes Provo’s appointment fulfils “the spirit” of a request from representatives of a coalition of several African Nova Scotian community groups during a recent meeting.  He says Provo is well-respected within the Black community and is someone who understands its needs and concerns. (The Canadian Press)

 

N.S. reports 24 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday

Nova Scotia is reporting 24 new cases of COVID-19 and 32 recoveries.  There are 23 cases in Central Zone and one case in Western Zone.  Nova Scotia Health says that on Tuesday, five schools were notified of exposures in those schools.  Nova Scotia has 187 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, 16 people are in hospital, including two in ICU.  As of Wednesday, 76.4 per cent of Nova Scotians were fully vaccinated.

Nova Scotia Health’s COVID-19 vaccine outreach clinics will be offering drop-ins for the Pfizer vaccine at a number of locations next week.  That includes: Dalhousie Agricultural College – MacRae Building (135 College Rd., Truro)  Thursday, Oct. 21 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Drop-in only

The number of New Brunswickers who have died as a result of COVID-19 has risen to 80 after the province reported five more deaths Wednesday.  Health officials reported 82 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  There are 68 people hospitalized in New Brunswick due to the virus, including 27 in intensive care.

 

Inquiry into Nova Scotia mass killing delays hearings until late January

Hearings that had been scheduled to begin in October for the commission of inquiry into last year’s mass killing that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia have been delayed until January.  The commission says the delay is to allow for time to review documents and witness interviews ahead of the hearings.   The hearings will now start in late January and run through early March.

 

Fuel prices take another jump in New Brunswick

Fuel prices are up again this week in New Brunswick.  Regular self-serve gas is up 2.7 cents per litre overnight.  Diesel increased by 2.9 cents.  Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.