The Nova Scotia New Democrats are calling for a provincial inquiry into what they say is a deteriorating emergency-care system.

The call comes after newly released provincial health data from 2017 to 2022 shows that deaths in hospital emergency departments hit the highest level last year in the six years covered.

It shows that there were 558 emergency department deaths across the province in 2022 — up more than 10 per cent from the previous year.

 

 

The Nova Scotia government says it’s adding about 600 more single long-term care rooms to help meet growing demand and free up hospital beds.

The province says about 280 people are currently in hospital waiting for placement in long-term care while others are waiting at home.

It says negotiations are underway with companies selected to build the new spaces in the Central Zone and that the locations of the new rooms will be released when that process concludes.

The new beds are part of a provincial plan to open 35-hundred long-term care rooms across the province by 2027 — including about 12-hundred new spaces and 23-hundred replacement rooms.

 

 

Shortly after 9:30am on Wednesday, New Glasgow Regional Police conducted a traffic stop on a Black Dodge Avenger on Park Street in Trenton.

While the traffic stop was taking place, the passenger fled the scene.

Police say 35-year old David Allen Lemmon of Pictou County already has an active arrest warrant for a Breach of a Conditional Sentence Order.

He is now wanted by police on a Province Wide Arrest Warrant and other charges are pending for Wednesday’s incident.

New Glasgow Regional Police are asking for the public’s help to locate him and the Black Dodge Avenger.

Anyone who sees David Allen Lemmon is asked to refrain from approaching him and to call NGR police immediately.

 

 

Statistics Canada says that Moncton saw the biggest population growth last year among urban regions in Canada.

The agency says the latest population estimates show that the Moncton metropolitan area grew by 5.3 per cent between July 2021 and July 2022, followed by Halifax at 4.4 per cent.

That’s more than double the national growth rate of 2.1 per cent and is the first time in more than 20 years that the two fastest-growing metropolitan areas were in Atlantic Canada.

 

 

A number of individuals with the Town of New Glasgow and New Glasgow Regional Police have received medals at the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal Presentation Ceremony.

The ceremony recognizes exceptional Nova Scotians who have given their time and talents in service to their communities, province, and country.

Recipients of the Platinum Jubilee Medal include:

Town of New Glasgow Employees:

Jeff Grant

Geralyn MacDonald

Earl MacKenzie

Kelly Sloan

New Glasgow Regional Police:

Gary MacPherson

Acting Corporal Kelly Moore-Reid

Sergeant Darryl Paris