Gasoline prices and diesel prices both increased overnight in Nova Scotia.  Gasoline prices increased by 3.3 cents per litre.  The minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline is now 167.3 cents per litre in the local area.  Diesel prices went up by 4.1 cents per litre, meaning the minimum pump price for diesel is 198.1 cents per litre locally.

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Premier Tim Houston says U-S president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products could cost thousands of jobs in Nova Scotia.  Houston says the proposed tariffs could threaten jobs in the agriculture and fishery sectors as well as in the manufacturing of products such as tires.   Tire giant Michelin operates three plants in Nova Scotia, and Houston says his government has been in discussions with the company as the province looks to protect jobs across its economy.   He says he will travel to Washington, D-C on February 12th as part of a mission of Canadian premiers and will also likely do more lobbying at a meeting of U-S governors on February 20th to get the message out that tariffs are a threat to American jobs as well.

 

 

R-C-M-P say they are continuing a search for a Truro man who was reported missing one year ago yesterday.  Zachery Kellock was last seen on Millbrook First Nation after leaving his Truro home in a vehicle with two other people on January 14th, 2024.  The 23-year old man failed to return home and was reported missing by his family two days later.  Police say they believe there are people who have information that can help their investigation and they are urging them to reach out to investigators.

 

 

An increase in home building in the Maritimes has helped boost the number of housing starts across Canada.  Canada Mortgage and Housing says the total number of housing starts in 2024 rose by two per cent compared with 2023.  Chief economist Mathieu Laberge says while the increase shows some progress, he says Canada needs significantly higher supply growth to restore affordability in urban centres.

 

 

A government announcement is set for today in Pictou.  Pictou West MLA Marco MacLeod will be taking part, on behalf of Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr, along with Central Nova MP Sean Fraser, who will be representing the federal Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister.  Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan will also be taking part in what’s being termed a storm protection announcement.

 

 

In sports,

The Pictou County Weeks Crushers lost 4-3 to Yarmouth in Maritime Hockey League action.