A Special Weather Statement has been issued indicating that significant rainfall and strong winds are expected late in the day Wednesday into Thursday. Total possible rainfall amounts of 30 to 50 mm are expected, with some areas possibly getting as much as 60mm. Maximum wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h are also forecast, but exposed coastlines could see gusts approaching 100 km/h.
The Nova Scotia legislature will open for its spring sitting today. The sitting is expected to be dominated by the third budget from the governing Progressive Conservatives, which is to be tabled on Thursday. The government is also expected to introduce legislation to create a new energy regulator and an independent system operator to take over Nova Scotia Power’s current function of determining grid access for independent power producers. Health care, a lack of housing and the cost of living are also issues expected to be highlighted during the sitting.
The provincial government has released a brief plan on coastal protection that places the onus on municipal governments. The government is acknowledging that climate change is eroding coastlines and bringing sea level rise in the report “The Future of Nova Scotia’s coastline.” However, the report emphasizes it’s up to municipal governments to consider risks to the coast in their zoning laws, as risks of coastal erosion and flooding grow. It says a new “navigator service” will be brought in to help property owners to understand potential risks.
The 160 striking faculty, librarians and lab instructors at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax have returned to face-to-face meetings with a conciliator.
The unionized staff went on strike two weeks ago.
The faculty association says the staff are among the lowest paid in the province and are seeking wage parity with other Atlantic universities.
Meanwhile, the vice president of administration says the university’s compensation offer is in line with what other Nova Scotia universities have provided their faculty, librarians and lab instructors.
