A Nova Scotia woman has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and forgery after thousands of dollars in funds were taken from Premier Tim Houston’s riding association.
Tara Cohoon — the former treasurer for the Pictou East Progressive Conservative Association — entered the pleas for fraud over 5-thousand dollars and forgery — in a brief appearance in Pictou provincial court yesterday.
Police laid charges against the 44-year-old woman October 23rd, several weeks after Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston reported the theft to police.
According to the agreed statement of facts read in court, bank records showed the amount missing was “about 60-thousand” dollars and the removal of funds had been going on “for a long time.”
The RCMP Northeast Nova Major Crime unit is investigating a suspicious sudden death in Bible Hill. Last Friday at about 9:30am, Colchester County District RCMP responded to a home as part of a wellbeing check and found a deceased 42-year-old woman and an unconscious man. The man was taken to hospital. Police say there is no evidence at this point that suggests there is a risk to the public.
After nearly a decade in power, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will step down as Liberal leader once his party selects a replacement. Trudeau made the announcement Monday morning from his residence in Ottawa, in what was his first news conference since Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last month. The P-M said the country “deserves a real choice in the next election,” admitting he was not the best option due to “internal battles” within his caucus. Governor General Mary Simon has granted Trudeau’s request to prorogue Parliament, meaning M-Ps won’t return to the House of Commons until March 24th.
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says he is considering the decision to run for Liberal party leader closely with family over the coming few days. Carney and former B-C premier Christy Clark have both been subject to Conservative attack ads in recent weeks as speculation is already buzzing in Ottawa about who may vie for the job.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland are also possibilities.
