Slow-moving winter storm to push into Atlantic Canada tonight
A large, slow-moving storm is expected to park itself over Atlantic Canada tonight. An ugly mix of rain, freezing rain and heavy snow is anticipated in all four provinces. Colder air is expected to push into the region from the north overnight, bringing heavy snow over central and southern New Brunswick, northern Nova Scotia and western PEI. A prolonged bout of freezing rain could make for dangerous conditions in southern Nova Scotia and eastern PEI. There is a Freezing Rain warning for Pictou County with heavy freezing rain mixed with ice pellets on Friday.
**With the milder weather and rain in the local forecast today, Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education buses will be travelling on paved roads only. This means students will be picked up in the morning and dropped off in the afternoon at the bus stop on the paved road nearest their residence.
Nova Scotia reports 6 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, 92 in designated hospital units
Six COVID-19 related deaths were reported in Nova Scotia on Wednesday. 5 of the 6 deaths were in Central Zone, and one was in Western Zone. The province also reported 10 new hospital admissions and 10 discharges. There are 92 people in hospital who were admitted due to COVID-19 and are receiving specialized care in a COVID-19 designated unit. That includes 13 people in ICU. An additional 395 new cases of COVID-19 were also reported yesterday. There are an estimated 3,632 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia.
Increased visitor restrictions are being implemented at Aberdeen Hospital to reflect COVID-19 activity. Enhanced visitor restrictions are in place at a number of facilities in Northern Zone where inpatients and long-term care residents are not able to receive visitors.
Those facilities include:
- Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow – Transitional Care Unit (NEW)
- Bayview Memorial Health Centre, Advocate Harbour
- South Cumberland Community Care Centre, Parrsboro
- Sutherland Harris Memorial Hospital, Pictou – Northumberland Veterans Unit
Exceptions may be made for palliative care patients, patients receiving Medical Assistance in Dying and other patients nearing end of life in consultation with their care team.
‘All options on the table’ to end protest ensnaring Ottawa, says police chief
Ottawa’s police chief says “all options are on the table” to end to what he considers the “occupation” of the capital by some lingering truckers and others protesting COVID-19 restrictions. Chief Peter Sloly says that could include negotiations with the leadership behind the convoys that arrived in Ottawa last Friday, or it could happen through police enforcement, or the military could be called in. Police say the several hundred protesters still clogging up Ottawa’s downtown are a highly volatile group of unlawful individuals that could grow on the weekend. (The Canadian Press)
N.S. government kills electric utility’s bid to impose ‘net-metering’ charge on solar
The Nova Scotia government is blocking a bid by Nova Scotia Power to charge fees to customers who sell renewable power back to the electricity grid. The utility floated the idea in a recent rate application, prompting a backlash from the solar energy industry and solar power users across the province. Nova Scotia Power then delayed the proposed fee for a year. But the province moved Wednesday morning to block the bid. Nova Scotia Power issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying it would withdraw its application and is committed to working together with government and stakeholders to meet the shared climate goals. (With files from the Canadian Press)
Pictou man arrested for firearms offences
Inverness County District RCMP have arrested a man for firearms offences after searching a home in Pictou County. On January 10th, police launched an investigation after a video, posted to social media, showed a man in a business waving a handgun around in a reckless manner and allegedly having an over capacity magazine. It was determined that the incident occurred in Whycocomagh. As a result of their investigation, RCMP searched a home on High St. in Pictou and seized five restricted firearms including rifles and handguns, one unrestricted firearm, prohibited magazines, ammunition, body armour, a duty belt with attached holster and magazine pouches and cell phones. A 35-year old Pictou man will be facing a number of firearms related charges and will be in court in Port Hawkesbury in May.
No injuries reported after vehicle crashes into building Wednesday afternoon in New Glasgow
Shortly after 4:00pm on Wednesday, New Glasgow Regional Police responded to an accident in which a vehicle crashed into a building on East River Road. Police say a driver lost control of their vehicle in a parking lot, and it crashed into the front entrance of the H&R Block office. The driver wasn’t injured, and neither were three people who were in the office at the time. The building sustained extensive damage. New Glasgow Regional Police continue to investigate.
Tories choose Manitoba MP Candice Bergen as interim leader after ousting O’Toole
Photo credit: The Canadian Press
The federal Tories have chosen a new path forward, one without Erin O’Toole at the party’s helm. Following a vote Wednesday afternoon to remove O’Toole as party leader, the Conservative caucus then voted Manitoba M-P Candice Bergen to take up the reins on an interim basis. M-Ps and party members now once again find themselves taking on the soul-searching exercise of finding a new permanent leader.
Fuel prices up again in New Brunswick
Gas prices are up 5.4 cents in New Brunswick this morning to 154.4 cents per litre. Diesel Prices are up 5.3 cents per litre to 170.5. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
Sports:
-Blayre Turnbull of Stellarton scored a hat trick and added two assists to help lead Canada to an 11-1 win over Switzerland to open the women’s hockey action at the Olympics in Beijing. Canada will now face Finland on Saturday. John Morris and Rachel Homan lost 6-4 to Great Britain in their Mixed Doubles opener in Olympic curling.
-The Maritime Junior Hockey League has announced that Saturday’s game between the Pictou County Weeks Crushers and Yarmouth Mariners at Mariners Centre has been rescheduled for February 18th.
