The public inquiry into the April 2020 shootings in Nova Scotia is calling for an overhaul of the way society handles the “epidemic” of gender-based, intimate-partner and family violence.
In addition to creating better supports for victims of such violence, the report released last Thursday says governments should pass laws to abolish mandatory arrest and charging policies.
The commission says a “prevention-oriented public health approach to violence” should be adopted, which includes treatment for perpetrators.
One Halifax-based advocate says achieving what the report recommends will require bold, transformative and necessary change.
The minimum wage increase in three of the four Atlantic provinces falls short of helping the most vulnerable according to a social advocate.
Robert MacKay of the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Development says people need 20 dollars an hour or more to get by and live a “minimal and decent life.”
The rate in Nova Scotia and in Newfoundland and Labrador rose to 14 dollars and 50 cents an hour on Saturday, while New Brunswick’s increased to 14 dollars and 75 cents.
Ian Lee, a business professor at Ottawa’s Carleton University, says the increases will disproportionately affect small businesses because they can’t afford them as easily as large corporations.
Nova Scotia Health’s COVID-19 vaccine outreach clinics will be offering drop-in vaccines this week in all zones, and locations include:
New Glasgow Public Health Office (6 months to 5 years)
Community Health Centre, 690 East River Rd., New Glasgow
Wednesday, April 5 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Appointments must be pre-booked
Visit CanImmunize to register: https://novascotia.flow.canimmunize.ca/en/covid-flu-booking
Voters in PEI will go to the polls today in a provincial election.
The Progressive Conservatives of Premier Dennis King are seeking to keep a majority government after calling the election March 6th.
At dissolution, the Tories held 15 of the legislature’s 27 seats, the Green Party had eight seats and the Liberals had four.
The campaign’s main issues included the state of health care, housing shortages and climate change.
