Gasoline prices decreased slightly overnight in Nova Scotia, while diesel prices stayed the same. Gasoline prices decreased by 0.9 cents per litre (9-10ths of a cent per litre). The minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline is now 156.1 cents per litre in the local area. There’s no change in diesel prices, meaning the minimum pump price for diesel remains 168.6 cents per litre locally.
Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill says his party will lower income taxes by raising the basic personal exemption amount to 15-thousand 705 dollars if elected on November 26th. Churchill says the basic personal amount for people who earn under 75-thousand dollars a year will also be doubled, saving the average middle class family about 311 dollars a year.
N-D-P Leader Claudia Chender says her party will ban fixed-term leases, establish rent control and slash the province’s rent cap in half to 2.5 per cent to prevent large rent increases. Chender says the idea is to save renters money and help keep housing affordable.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston says his party will establish a provincial nurse travel team, eliminating the need to hire private companies. Houston says that if the Tories are elected to govern on November 26th, the 30-member team will be made up of Nova Scotia Health employees who will get the same pay and benefits as other nurses in the public system. He says a pilot program would launch by the end of this year with the estimated cost at 5.3 million dollars.
A swearing-in ceremony has been held for the Town of New Glasgow’s recently elected Council Members. Prior to the ceremony and the Oath of Allegiance to the Office and Code of Conduct sign-off, the Council and senior staff participated in a smudging ceremony led by Jane Hennessey from Pictou Landing First Nation, who also provided a message of resilience and peace. The new Council includes Mayor Nancy Dicks; Ward One Councillors Jocelyn Dorrington and Jim McKenna; Ward Two Councillors Dawn Peters and Clyde Fraser; and Ward Three Councillors Joe MacDonald and Jessica MacDonald.
Halifax-born singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan has postponed tour dates for her upcoming 30th anniversary tour due to illness. The musician says she needs to take time to heal her vocal chords after having acute laryngitis. McLachlan says she is working to reschedule show dates across six provinces–including shows in Halifax and Moncton, New Brunswick–as quickly as possible. All previously purchased tickets will be honoured on the new dates.
In sports,
In the Maritime Hockey League, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers are in Campbellton tonight to face the Tigers.
