The Bank of Canada is holding its key rate at 2.25 per cent, after stronger-than-expected economic growth.

Governor Tiff Macklem suggested the bank’s key rate is sitting in the sweet spot to have the most impact as inflation steadies near the target.

Analysts now expect the next move could be a rate hike, not a cut.

The Central Bank says global trade uncertainty continues to play a disfiguring role in Canada’s outlook, making for an unclear path ahead.

 

 

Nova Scotia Power will hold public meetings to answer ratepayers’ questions about how the company has estimated power bills since a cybersecurity breach shut down automated meter readings in the spring.  Nova Scotia Power has faced intense criticism from customers who say their estimated bills have been unfairly inflated. One of those sessions is going to be held in Truro on December 18th from 12pm to 4pm at Colchester Branch 26 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

 

 

A new report says Nova Scotia is not adequately protecting women migrant workers in the province, nor is it providing them with information about their rights.  The report from the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia says the group spoke with dozens of migrant workers in Pictou, Colchester, and Cumberland counties.  Over half of all respondents complained of overcrowding in employer-provided housing, and 62 per cent reported having too few washrooms or other facilities.  The authors of the report say the findings raise the alarm regarding the human rights of women migrant workers in the province.

 

 

The Nova Scotia N-D-P is calling on government to ramp up support to community groups that provide those in need with food.

The party cited the recently released Canada’s Food Price Report which estimates a family of four will pay on average one-thousand-dollars more on groceries next year.

N-D-P member Susan Leblanc wrote to ministers calling on them to set up a plan for stable, predictable funding for community groups that are providing affordable food to Nova Scotians.

 

 

In sports,

At the Junior A World Challenge in Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada East beat Sweden 5-4 in a shootout to clinch first place.  Canada East will face Canada West in a semi-final on Friday afternoon.

The Maritime Junior Hockey league All-Star game in Yarmouth saw the Eastlink South All–Stars beat the Eastlink North All-Stars 5-4 in overtime.