ACCUSATIONS FLYING IN TRENTON AHEAD OF MUNICIPAL VOTE COUNT – (UPDATED FRIDAY AT 12 NOON)
Elections officials tell us if somebody suspects wrongdoing with the voting process in the Town of Trenton’s election results after they come in Saturday night, they have until November 7th to raise an official objection. After that, whoever raises that objection puts up a $500 deposit to show they’re serious, and the case goes to the courts. Trenton’s Incumbent Mayor Shannon MacInnis says he and some others on council have questions on whether so called “helping” people living in seniors’ centres cast their ballots by phone and online might be breaking the rules. Our newsroom has spoken with Don Hussher, MacInnis’s opponent in the Trenton mayor’s race. Hussher says he’s just been learning about the accusations and tells us it’s too early to comment on whether or not people backing him might be breaking the rules. But MacInnis says all candidates received an e-mail on the situation Thursday, so Hussher should be up to date by now.
What has people suspicious is that the voter turnout rate so far in Trenton is at 53.1 per cent. That’s the highest rate in the province.
The next best voting rate in the Pictou Region is 43.7 per cent in the Town of Stellarton
43.2 per cent in the Town of Pictou
39.5 per cent in rural Pictou County
39.2 per cent in Westville and 39 per cent among Town of New Glasgow voters.
Mix 941 will be on the air with election updates Saturday night at 8 o’clock, and again at 9pm.
We’ll get reaction in our election updates on Sunday morning at 9 and 10 o’clock, with a full review on our airwaves Sunday at 12 noon.
GAS PRICES DOWN, DIESEL UP IN NOVA SCOTIA THIS WEEK
Local gas prices are down by less than a penny, but it’s more expensive to drive a diesel this week. Gas is cheaper by 9-tenths of a penny, sitting at 95.3 cents for a litre of regular self-serve in the local pricing zone. Diesel is 1.4 cents a litre higher, with the best price at 89.3 cents a litre.
LOCAL REAL ESTATE PRICES UP BY ALMOST 26 PER CENT AS SALES SOAR
There’s good news on the real estate front across Nova Scotia, as people in the country’s larger cities continue to move into our area during the pandemic. Here in the Northern Real Estate zone, the selling price for a house is up by almost 26 per cent over last year, to more than $180,000 as sales continue to set new records in Nova Scotia. Sales of homes in this province are up by 38 per cent since August. Sales are also up in PEI, by 24 per cent. In fact, a realtor with Century 21 on the Island says he just had an Ontario couple pay $10,000 above the seller’s asking price in an effort to get away from higher concentrations of COVID-19 in Ontario.
MCNEIL TO DFO – LET’S GET MOVING ON FISHERIES DISPUTE
The Premier is calling for federal fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan to get both sides in the same room to resolve the ongoing lobster fishing dispute involving native and non-native lobster boat operators in Digby and Yarmouth Counties. Indigenous Chief Michael Sack is calling for more RCMP protection after violence erupted again this week. RCMP say they’ve added extra staff, but for professional reasons, they aren’t giving out any numbers.
CORONAVIRUS APP, LATEST CASES AND TESTING ALL MAKING FRIDAY HEADLINES
The latest provincial update shows no new cases of COVID 19 in the province, and three ongoing cases. Meanwhile, as Nova Scotians, we’re now able to get COVID-19 exposure alerts directly to our smartphones by using Health Canada’s free COVID Alert App. The COVID Alert can be downloaded through the Apple or Google Play app stores. When installed, the app communicates using Bluetooth with nearby phones whose owners have also installed the app. Its designers say the Alert does not collect your personal or health information and is unable to track names or other personal information.
The vast majority of Nova Scotians will continue to get FREE COVID testing. However, COVID-19 testing for essential work or travel purposes is being expanded province-wide in a deal with a Halifax company. But it’s only for those who need to show a negative test in order to keep working outside the province or travelling for urgent family reasons. That, after the McNeil government reached a deal with PRAXES Medical Group. The PRAXES testing began yesterday at a cost of $250 plus HST. All other Nova Scotians will continue to be tested for free.
TRUMP COMBATIVE, BIDEN CALM AND CRITICAL IN SEPARATE TOWN HALLS
Donald Trump’s Town Hall last night got his NBC moderator to say to him “ I don’t get that, you’re not someone’s crazy uncle tweeting your ideas” as he defended some of the conspiracy theories on Twitter. On the other end of the scale, his opponent Joe Biden took a calm and critical approach to Trump’s record in a separate town hall on ABC and some of the Canadian coverage so far shows Trump’s style came out looking “more defensive and combative. “ (WITH FILES FROM CBC)
LOCAL WEEKEND SPORTS NOTE….
These are our 2 games for the Wearwell Bantam Bombers this coming weekend.
Saturday “Home Opener Game” – 5:00pm (PCWC) Halifax Wolverines @ Bombers – home opener
Sunday “Road Game” – 3:15pm BMO Center (Pad B) Bombers @ Bedford
