Provincial health ministers gathered in Vancouver are expecting to hear specifics today after the federal government announced increased health-care funding for provinces and territories.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the jurisdictions must commit to expanding the use of common key health indicators and to building a “world-class” health data system for the country.

British Columbia’s health minister, Adrian Dix, says all provinces and territories have forged ahead with changes to try and secure more health professionals, but they face significant challenges without more funding.

 

 

The Nova Scotia government says construction is underway or about to begin on new accessible housing for 350 students at three Nova Scotia Community College campuses.

It says the new campus housing in the Pictou and Dartmouth regions will ease pressure on housing supplies in those areas.

The provincial government is providing 112-million dollars for the three projects that were announced in its housing and homelessness strategy a year ago.

The new student housing at the Pictou campus in Stellarton is expected to open in September 2024.

 

 

Information sessions and a ratification vote will be held for Local 73 of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union representing striking school support workers in the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education as a tentative agreement was reached Sunday night.

That tentative agreement is being recommended for acceptance by the committee.

Officials say no details on the tentative agreement will be publicly released until members have had an opportunity to review the tentative agreement and vote.

It is expected that Local 70’s bargaining committee, representing striking school support workers in the South Shore Regional Centre for Education will be back at the table today.

 

 

Nova Scotia-based Empire is confirming that an I-T system issue is affecting certain pharmacies at its grocery stores across Canada, including Sobeys.

Empire says the computer problems have made it difficult for some customers seeking prescriptions but its stores remain open.

It says the stores aren’t experiencing significant disruptions but some in-store services are working intermittently or with a delay.

The company says it’s making progress in solving the technical difficulties that were first reported on the weekend but is unable to determine when they will be fixed.

 

 

On Monday, Jim McKenna represented the Town of New Glasgow at the 48th Annual Provincial Volunteer Awards.

Along with being involved in many different community organizations, Jim formed and organized a team of volunteers to deliver food from the Pictou County Food Bank during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

This initiative resulted in over 6,000 food orders being safely delivered to those in need.