NOVA SCOTIA GAINS MORE THAN 7,000 JOBS IN JANUARY, LOW COVID NUMBERS GETTING THE CREDIT
If you were thinking of avoiding the free COVID testing taking place at the Pictou Legion tomorrow and Sunday, here’s a reason to step up and get tested for something that takes just seconds to complete. Nova Scotia is leading the country in job growth, as we continue to show the rest of the country that we know how to take the pandemic seriously. In fact, Nova Scotia businesses created almost 4-thousand full time jobs in January, and more than 4-thousand part time paycheques. (7900 Nova Scotia jobs in both categories) Nationally, with COVID lockdowns in Ontario and Quebec, those two and several other provinces combined to lose 213,000 jobs. So while the national unemployment rate spiked up to 9.4 per cent of the workforce, Nova Scotians are getting good news, with our jobless rate dropping to 8.3 per cent.
MOBILE COVID TESTING AT PICTOU LEGION THIS WEEKEND
The Health Department Mobile Units will be in Pictou this weekend for testing tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 6th) and again on Sunday (Feb. 7th) at the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 16 (130 Veteran’s Dr, Pictou) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. BOTH DAYS. Public Health is encouraging anyone not experiencing any symptoms to get tested.
Appointments can be booked by filling out the self-assessment online at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en or if you don’t have access to the internet, by calling 811. Drop-in testing is still available, however, people are encouraged to book an appointment. Testing is available for all ages.
You may get tested at the Mobile Units if you:
- have no symptoms
- are not a close contact of a person with COVID-19, and
- are not isolating because of travel outside of Nova Scotia, PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador
Important notes:
- You do not need to self-isolate while you wait for your results.
- The testing method is standard PCR swab or Swish and Gargle for children up to age 18. Preparation is required for gargle testing (http://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/COVID-19/testing#gargle)
- Please bring your health card, if you have one.
- You may have to wait in line outside; please dress accordingly.
NOVA SCOTIA GAS AND DIESEL PRICES HIGHER THIS WEEK
Gas prices are up by 1.5 cents per litre, hitting $114.8 in the local pricing as the weekend approaches. Diesel prices are also more expensive, increasing by 3.2 cents, to $110.4 per litre this week.
PICTOU COUNTY TRANSIT SCHEDULING NOW COMING TOGETHER, BUT CHAD IS WAITING ON THE PROVINCE FOR PERMISSION TO OPEN
Running times for the new fixed route bus system in Pictou County’s Urban Core have been announced by Central Nova MP Sean Fraser, who says the buses will be picking up passengers from Monday – Saturday later this spring. He notes the bus service will operate from 7:00AM to 9:00PM and the fare will be $3.00. CHAD Transit’s Danny MacGillivray tells us the exact start-up date will be announced once the provincial utility and review board goes through all the steps of the licensing process.
Stops will include:
– NSCC Pictou Campus
– Foord St.
– Aberdeen Hospital
– New Glasgow Library
– The corner of Dover Ave. & High St.
– Highland Square Mall
– Pictou County Wellness Centre
NEW PLATES TO HONOUR RETIRED SEARCHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS
The provincial government is introducing new recognition for retired volunteer firefighters and ground search and rescue members. A special licence plate will be available to retired volunteer firefighters and ground search and rescue workers with at least 15 years experience. The plate comes at no cost, and those groups of drivers will also be exempt from paying vehicle permit fees.
GEOFF MACLELLAN WON’T BE RE-OFFERING UNDER NEW PREMIER
It’s now six and counting. That’s how many MLA’s in the McNeil government have announced they won’t be running in the next election, now that their boss is being replaced in an announcement that caps off a week-long voting process by provincial Liberals tomorrow night. This time, it’s Business Minister Geoff MacLellan who says he’s leaving politics behind to spend more time with his children. (NS Legislature Photo)
There is one new case of COVID-19 in the province today. Public Health says the infection is related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and the patient is self-isolating in the Central Zone. There are currently 10 active cases in the province, with two people being treated in hospital, including one in ICU.
The Town of New Glasgow is looking for volunteers on a number of its committees. Currently, there are openings on Committees for Active Living , the Climate Change Committee, the town’s Business Advisory Committee, the Regional Police Commission and the Planning Advisory Committee. To join one of those committees, you’ll need to submit the name of the committee you’d like to join and a brief account of your background before net Friday, February 12, 2021, at 12 noon. You can apply online for on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TownCommittees_05 Paper applications can be mailed or dropped off at Town Hall to: Town of New Glasgow Committee Applications c/o CAO Lisa M. MacDonald P.O.Box 7, 111 Provost Street New Glasgow, NS, B2H 5E1
It’s also worth noting that volunteer week starts April 18th, and there is a process to nominate your favourite volunteer through New Glasgow Town Hall. The available awards are: · Provincial Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer, the Scott Weeks Community Service Award, the Carlton Munroe Music & Event Memorial Award, the Cultural Heritage Award and the Award of Merit for Inclusive Community. Nominations can be done by filling in the link on our website. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ngvolnom
Nova Scotia’s new “Life Partners in Long-Term Care Act” has now been proclaimed and will take effect March 1st.
Premier Stephen McNeil says “Couples who have loved and supported each other should not have to face being separated when they enter long-term care,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “This legislation helps ensure life partners can stay together as they age, even if one person may need a different level of long-term care.” Besides nursing homes, it’ll also apply to life partners of veterans who reside in facilities where veterans’ units are located. The new law means couple and life partners are covered for admission to one of the 133 long-term care homes licensed and funded by the provincial government staring at the beginning of March.
The Forestry Innovation Transition Trust set up after the closure of Northern Pulp last year has announced a trio of new projects to help get forestry products to market. The Innovation Hub of Nova Scotia Inc. will receive $921,000 to support forestry related bioeconomy clients at the pre-commercial stage to overcome technical and business hurdles. The Verschuren Energy Centre at Cape Breton University is getting more than $672,000 over the next six months to support the development of a Bio-technology Acceleration Centre. Genome Atlantic is being awarded upwards of $315,000 over four years to support The Atlantic Tree Improvement Council (AtlanTIC) in producing more resilient, commercially important tree species in Nova Scotia. That will include collaborative breeding, field testing, and new tree improvement technologies to improve pest resistance and allow trees to grow more quickly with shortened breeding cycles.
