There is a Special weather statement in effect for Nova Scotia advising of the potential or some significant snow. Snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 cm are possible from Wednesday overnight through Friday morning. Environment canada says the snow is likely to be very wet and heavy in nature. That, along with gusty easterly winds, may cause tree branches to break and result in some power outages. Both morning and evening commutes on Thursday are likely to be affected by the system. Snowfall warnings may need to be issued.
All four Atlantic Provinces increased their minimum wage on Monday. The smallest of those increases was in Nova Scotia as a 20 cent jump brings the province’s rate to 15 dollars 20-cents per hour. PEI’s minimum wage increased to $15.40 per hour; Newfoundland and Labrador to 15 dollars 60-cent; and New Brunswick to 15 dollars 30-cents. The federal minimum wage increased as well on Monday, from $16.65 to $17.30 per hour. The adjustment reflects the 3.9% increase in Canada’s annual average Consumer Price Index for 2023 and is aligned with inflation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says premiers would rather complain and “make political hay” out of his federal carbon pricing program than present an alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Trudeau made the remarks after Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey wrote a letter urging him to convene an “emergency meeting of leaders” to discuss options. Furey is among seven provincial leaders, including Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who wanted Trudeau to forgo a 15-dollars-per-tonne increase in the federal consumer carbon price, which went into effect yesterday. But Trudeau says the increase will also mean larger rebates, which families are set to receive beginning April 15th to help offset the higher cost of fuel.
Anti-carbon tax protesters caused delays Monday at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border.
Hundreds of cars and trucks lined either side of the highway early in the morning before the R-C-M-P eventually closed it at around 10 a-m.
Traffic was then diverted to a secondary road before the Trans-Canada was eventually reopened.
It came as the national consumer carbon tax increase took effect on Monday.
Renters in Nova Scotia say some landlords are refusing to rent to them because they have children. While family status is protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act, the process to file a complaint against a landlord for discriminating against people with children can take more than two years to be completed. One couple, denied a rental home in 2019 because they have a child, filed a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission in 2019 and say that after two years of waiting, it got them nowhere.
The Town of New Glasgow is inviting residents to the Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month Flag Raising Ceremony today. It’s at 12.00 p.m. at Glasgow Square Theatre parking lot. April is Autism Awareness Month — a month to embrace uniqueness, spread understanding, celebrate diversity and promote inclusion.
