Fuel prices down today in Nova Scotia
A break at the pumps. Gas and diesel prices went down overnight in Nova Scotia. Gas prices went down by 5.7 cents per litre to 167.7 locally. Diesel prices dropped overnight by 8.2 cents to 175.1 cents per litre in the local area.
Advisory group urges N.S. students to continue mask use at school
Photo credit: Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Nova Scotia’s Pediatric Pandemic Advisory Group is strongly recommending students continue wearing masks in school until at least mid-April. The group of eight doctors makes the call in an open letter as Nova Scotia prepares to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on Monday. The letter says the wearing of masks in school after March break would give doctors time to assess the impacts of the new Omicron variant — and of the lifting of mask mandates in other provinces. The letter also notes that students are used to wearing masks and says there is no clear evidence they cause meaningful harm.
**Due to technical issues, the province said on Thursday the weekly COVID-19 news release and data dashboard update would be delayed until Friday, March 18.
Travellers will soon see a more lenient border policy. Those who have their shots will no longer need to show a COVID-19 test to enter Canada beginning April 1st. The change comes at the very beginning of the tourist season and the tail end of the Omicron wave. New reported cases of COVID-19 have declined since mid-January. Ottawa says that’s due to a high vaccination rate and fewer cases of the virus being detected at the border.
RCMP searching for suspects following break and enter, theft at Pictou County convenience store
RCMP Photo (submitted)
Pictou County District RCMP are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men in connection with a break-in this week at a store on Hwy. 376 in Lyons Brook. Shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to the break-in a break at a convenience store. They determined that two men got into the store and stole approximately $3,000 in cigarettes and cash. The first man is described as white with a slim build. He was wearing a blue hooded sweater, with white lettering on the left arm and white lettering on the upper right shoulder, dark boots and a white non-medical mask. The man was carrying a wooden baseball bat with a black ring around the middle of the bat. The second man is described as a white man who was wearing a dark-coloured hooded sweater, a red t-shirt underneath, and blue jeans. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Ottawa and provinces to spend $16.1 million on health research in the Maritimes
Ottawa and the three Maritime Provinces will spend 16-million dollars over the next three years fund patient-oriented health research. Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says in order to provide Canadians with high-quality health care, the government needs research evidence to show what works. The funding will support the work of the Maritime SPOR Support Unit — which stands for Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research. During the last two years the unit has contributed to 56 projects related to COVID-19 including a study on the impact of the pandemic on mental health.
Stellarton receives $11,000 in Federal funding to help with cost of new art exhibit commemorating Town’s history
Photo credit: Sean Fraser MP Facebook
Funding through ACOA will support three heritage projects in Stellarton. The Town received $11,000 for the development and implementation of a Heritage Walking Tour, the purchase and installation of town signage, and a 12-piece canvas set leading up to the town’s Heritage Room.
The government is investing $1.3 million in new hearing and speech technology that will benefit newborns and children. The funding for Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia includes:
— $982,000 to replace cochlear implant devices, which expire over time and are no longer supported by manufacturers
— $322,000 for new equipment for screening newborns’ hearing
— $11,400 to replace a nasometer, which is a device used to assess and treat nasality problems associated with cleft palate or oral cancer.
Legislative changes to better support families dealing with family separation will come into effect in Nova Scotia on April 1. The amendments to the Parenting and Support Act, passed during the spring 2021 sitting of the legislature, provide clarity and bring the provincial legislation in line with amendments to the federal Divorce Act. The provincial changes update language, describe the duties of parents and give additional guidance and information to the courts.
HMCS Halifax to deploy tomorrow as part of NATO support for Ukraine
Photo credit: Brett Ruskin/CBC News
HMCS Halifax heads out Saturday as it’s being deployed in support of NATO and will be joining allied ships in the Baltic region. HMCS Montreal is already there. HMCS Halifax was supposed to be going soon to the Middle East, but with the situation in Ukraine, it’s been retained by Ottawa.
Applications are now open for Ukrainians and their families fleeing Russia’s invasion to come to Canada. The new federal program will allow those looking for a temporary refuge to live, work and study in Canada before they decide whether to stay here or return to their home country. The government expects applications will take about two weeks to process for non-complex cases. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the government is open to the idea of chartering planes to bring Ukrainians to Canada once their applications have been approved.
Local sports:
The Pictou County Weeks Crushers are back in the win column after defeating Grand Falls 7-3 last night at the Wellness Centre. The Crushers are back on home ice Saturday night when they host Campbellton.
The postponed Maritime Junior Hockey League game that was scheduled for March 13th between the Pictou County Weeks Crushers and the Yarmouth Mariners at Mariners Centre has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 22nd.
