FALL SESSION AT PROVINCE HOUSE EXPECTED TO BE SHORT
The fall session at the Nova Scotia legislature is expected to be a short one, and kind of disjointed. That’s because MLAs will be spending a lot of time shifting in and out of the chamber as they debate bills and put questions to cabinet ministers. All three parties have agreed to new pandemic rules that will limit the number of MLAs in the chamber to 29 at any given time, rather than the usual 51 members who make up the legislature. Debate will be halted every hour to give MLA’s waiting in the wings a chance to swap seats with those in the chamber, in order to give as many MLAs as possible a voice. The last time MLAs sat at Province House was back in March.
MAN MISSING IN COLCHESTER COUNTY, UPDATED POLICE PHOTO
It’s been a full month since anyone has seen 35-year-old Matthew Simon Harrie. He’s the 35-year-old man last seen September 20th in the Wittenburg area of Colchester County, near Stewiacke. Matthew Harrie is described as white, 5’10” and 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans. If you have information, you’re asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
TRENTON’S CAO TO MEET RETURNING OFFICER RE VOTE RESULTS
The next step in the Town of Trenton’s election appeal process in the wake of Saturday’s election comes today (Tuesday) as town CAO Wayne Teasdale meets with returning officer Josephine MacDonald. After that, Teasdale will share MacDonald’s information with members of Trenton council so they can then make a decision on either filing an objection to the way the election unfolded, or decide to let things stand. There’ve been allegations of wrongdoing by a number of people at Trenton Town Hall and online in the wake of results showing Shannon MacInnis lost to Don Hussher by just 62 votes.
RCMP AND FISHERIES MINISTER ISSUE STATEMENTS ON LOBSTER DISPUTE
Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says RCMP trained in de-escalation and crowd control are in place through Yarmouth and Digby Counties, and any more law-breaking will not be tolerated in the lobster fishery dispute. Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan says all Canadians are now watching Nova Scotia. The Fisheries Minister says once we remove the criminals, vandals and online trolls, the real hard-working people in the fishery can be heard. Jordan says the issue is First Nations earning a livelihood on the water, and it’s time for fishing to bring Nova Scotians together instead of tearing them apart. The situation sparked an emergency debate last night in the House of Commons. A couple of restaurants in the Halifax-area are cutting lobster from their menu in support of the Mi’kmaq, who have been targeted with violence in their dispute with some commercial harvesters.
NS COVID CASE COUNT, BORDER RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED WITH U-S
There were no new COVID cases reported across Nova Scotia with yesterday’s update. But there are still 6 ongoing infections.
Ottawa says Canada and the United States will maintain border restrictions until at least the end of November as the coronavirus outbreak in both countries continues to worsen. The move is meant to keep people safe, and if things continue as they are, experts say the closed border policy could be with us into the new year. Incidental visits like vacations, day trips and cross-border shopping excursions have been forbidden since March in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions don’t apply to people like truck drivers and health care workers who work in one country and cross the border to work in the other.
MICROPHONES TO BE PARTIALLY MUTED AT THIS WEEK’S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will at times have their microphones cut during this week’s debate. The event’s sponsors on Thursday night say when one of the two candidates is given a chance to provide a two-minute answer to each of the six debate topics, his opponent’s microphone will be muted. The Commission on Presidential Debates is hoping that’ll avoid the need for Biden to say to Trump, “will you just shut up man, “ like he felt forced to do in the last debate. The final debate airs on U-S and Canadian TV at 10 o’clock Atlantic Time, this Thursday evening. (Photo – Courtesy Reuters News Agency)
Donald Trump is blasting his government’s own scientists for their criticism of his performance. In a campaign team phone call yesterday, Trump said “People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots, Every time he goes on television, there’s always a bomb. but there’s a bigger bomb if you fire him. But Fauci’s a disaster.” The doctor is both respected and popular, and Trump’s rejection of scientific advice on the pandemic has already drawn criticism from his own party and his political opponents. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “I’m not running scared, I’m running angry,…..because I think I’ve done a great job.” Trump has been consistently behind in the opinion polls.
The province’s Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) is once again available to low-income Nova Scotians. Applications are now open for the fall and winter season with a rebate of up to $200 for low-income Nova Scotians who cover the cost of their own heat. To qualify for the program, the income threshold is $29,000 for one-person households and $44,000 for households with more than one income earner. The applications are available at MLA’s offices and the Department of Community Services.
DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON TRUDEAUS RELEASED BY WE CHARITY
WE Charity says it covered nearly $24,000 in expenses for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s attendance at eight events over eight years. The dollar amount is being released at the request of the House of Commons finance committee. At the same time, the minority Liberals have now released a list of all paid speaking engagements taken on by Justin Trudeau before he became prime minister.
All Nova Scotians over six months old are being encouraged to get a flu shot this year. The seasonal influenza vaccine is now available from most pharmacies, family doctors, family practice nurses, nurse practitioners and clinics. It can take up to two weeks for the vaccination to provide protection. Nova Scotians are encouraged to get vaccinated in the coming weeks to see the full benefit before the flu season’s traditional arrival in late December and into early January. There’ve been shortages of flu shots in some provinces as people line up for it, fearing it’ll weaken their immune system to get the flu during the COVID-19 pandemic.
