Gasoline prices and diesel prices both decreased overnight in Nova Scotia. Gasoline prices decreased by 2.1 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at 172.4 cents per litre in the local area. Diesel prices decreased by 2.7 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for diesel at 173.8 cents per litre locally.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says insured losses from last year’s wildfires and deadly floods in Nova Scotia totalled 490-million-dollars. Eighty-eight per cent of claims related to a wildfire near Halifax have been resolved, as have 90 per cent of the claims from flooding in West Hants. The bureau’s report says the claims process has been delayed by a lack of skilled labour, shortages of building materials and too few adjusters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have agreed to stay in regular contact as wildfire continues to burn in Jasper.
Smith says up to half of the buildings in Jasper may have been burned after wildfire swept through the evacuated community.
Meanwhile, the operators of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge say although the hotel suffered some damage, most structures at the historic hotel have survived the wildfire and they plan to reopen in future.
Nova Scotia Health staff are calling people on a lengthy waiting list for family medicine to confirm the status of their requests. The Health minister says it is a push to “validate” the figure of 160-thousand people awaiting a family doctor or nurse practitioner. However, the opposition parties said they are concerned that the province is eager to have the list trimmed down as it has become embarrassing to Premier Tim Houston, who campaigned on the health issue in the last election. The Minister says the goal of the calls is not simply to take people off the list – if they’ve found a doctor — but to inform people of ways they can get access to care.
Effective July 1, seven United Way organizations across the Maritimes have unified into a single entity known as United Way Maritimes. The new organization serves Central and Southwestern New Brunswick, PEI and Mainland Nova Scotia.
The amalgamation comes after the boards of directors and memberships of the seven United Way organizations, including United way of Pictou County, passed resolutions to legally merge into one organization in late May. United Way Maritimes Interim CEO Sara Napier says that by coming together, they can be stronger and do even more for local communities.
A total of 31 teams took part in this year’s race on the River – Pictou County Dragon Boat Festival on the East River in New Glasgow. More than $81-thousand in funds was raised for the Pictou County Prostate Cancer Support Association, Special Olympics Northern Region, and Women Alike Breast Cancer Survivors.
