The next move in what happens with power rate increases in Nova Scotia lies with the Utility and Review Board.

The board has been presented with a proposed settlement between Nova Scotia Power and representatives of its customers, where rates would go up by close to 14 per cent over the next two years.

There’s also the possibility of costs of severe storms being passed on to ratepayers, if another storm like Fiona sweeps through.

The regulator hasn’t indicated yet how exactly it will deal with the proposed increase, which is the maximum allowed under a recent provincial government bill.

 

 

The deadline to register for financial help from the Red Cross for damage caused by post-tropical storm Fiona is this week.

The agency says people have until Friday at 5 p-m to sign up.

Much of the donations collected for Fiona relief have been distributed to registered households across the region in payments of 500-dollars.

The Red Cross says it is still in discussions with governments about how to spend any donated money that remains.

 

 

On Saturday, Colchester County District RCMP officers were on the scene of a complaint where a firearm was pointed on Rylan Ave. in Bible Hill.

The suspect was safely arrested and the RCMP will continue the investigation.

 

 

Nova Scotia is distributing 10.9-million dollars in one-time funding to 28 transit operators across the province to help offset lost revenue as people stayed home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The provincial government says the funding will go to 20 community operators as well as eight fixed route operators including Halifax Transit.

The recipients include:

-CHAD Transit, Pictou County, $96,167

-Pictou County Transit (Stellarton and New Glasgow), $109,722

The funding comes from a 750-million dollar federal investment to help municipalities across the country maintain transit service levels in the face of decreased ridership due to the pandemic.

 

 

Police in Nova Scotia are asking people to be weary of holiday scams.

Police say they’ve received several reports of people getting calls from strangers pretending to be a relative calling from jail.

Someone then pretending to be a lawyer gets on the call and asks for money so the fake family member can be released.

Police are reminding people to be suspicious of calls asking for money.