After a very challenging season in 2024 for the Northumberland Ferries service between Caribou and Wood Islands, Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand has ordered an audit into the performance of the ferry service. The Minister has indicated that frequent service disruptions with Northumberland Ferries last year weren’t acceptable. Anand says it’s important to ensure the company has policies to prevent future cancellations and delays, as well as guaranteeing safe operations. There was no service from mid-September until early December as repairs were being done to the MV Confederation after it was involved in a collision and the MV Saaremaa was out because of mechanical issues.
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Ottawa is continuing its plans to boost border security as U-S President Donald Trump continues his threats of tariffs against Canada. Public Safety Minister David McGuinty says Canada’s response involves political, official and operational outreach.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada is also concerned about border security and wants to stop the illegal movement of guns and people north from the United States. Joly will be meeting with U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D-C on Wednesday and has said she will be in contact soon with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland argues Canada can turn the tables on Donald Trump and avoid massive U-S tariffs on Canadian goods by scaring key American businesses. The former finance minister says her plan calls for the immediate release of a long list of 200-billion dollars in retaliatory tariffs and wants U-S exporters to worry whether their businesses will be hit. The idea is to put enough pressure on politically connected lobby groups from key states to convince them to call on Trump to drop the tariff threat. That includes Florida orange growers, Wisconsin dairy farmers and Michigan manufacturers.
Nova Scotia Public Health says it is expanding its Nurse-Family Partnership Program. It’s now accepting referrals for expectant mothers in northern and western zones in Nova Scotia after launching in the east just under a year ago. The Nurse-Family Partnership program is a free, voluntary home-visiting program that matches someone pregnant with their first child with a specially trained public health nurse. It provides greater access to enhanced prenatal and postnatal support up to the child’s second birthday.
The Town of Trenton says Community Grant Applications for the 2025-26 fiscal year are now being accepted. Grant applications must be received no later than February 28 to be assessed in preparation for the 2025-26 General Operating Budget. Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, February 28th.
