PROVINCE HOUSE SITS TODAY AS PARTIES TAKE AIM AT THEIR FAVOURITE ISSUES
The spring session of the legislature is underway today, with the new Premier facing the opposition in the Spring session for the very first time. Just 12 of 51 MLAs will be allowed inside the legislature during this sitting, to respect COVID-19 rules.
For his part, Premier Iain Rankin says one of his first priorities is to bring in forestry legislation based on the Lahey Report. Tory Leader Tim Houston says he’s anxious to debate the state of Nova Scotia’s Health Care system. Gary Burrill of the NDP says he wants to talk about all Nova Scotians getting access to the same rules when it comes to sick days. (Bing Images)
NISSAN ISSUES RECALL OVER BRAKE LIGHTS ON SENTRAS
Nissan is recalling more than 854,000 Sentra vehicles in Canada and the U-S because of a brake-light issue.
The problem is those brake lights might not come on when the brake pedal is pressed.
The reason is due to potential silicon contamination from grease used near the brake light switch, which can cause oxidation. In addition to the brake lights not working, Nissan says the engine may not start.
In a best-case scenario, owners should end up be alerted by a dashboard light. The recall affects some Sentra compacts made between 2016 through 2019.
Five new cases of COVID-19 are being reported in Nova Scotia today, March 9th.
Three of the cases are in Central Zone and the other two are in Western Zone. They are all close contacts of previously reported cases.
The National Microbiology Lab confirmed five new variant cases – three more cases of the UK variant and two more cases of the South African variant, all of which are in Central Zone.
This brings the total number of cases of the UK variant in Nova Scotia to 11 and the South African variant to eight.
All three UK variant cases and one of the South African variant cases are directly linked to known cases or international travel.
PROVINCE MOVES TO FIX AMBULANCE SYSTEM WITH RELEASE OF FITCH REPORT
The province says it is accepting 90% of the recommendations from the Fitch Report on how to make long-term, improvements to Emergency Medical Services province-wide. The Liberals say that includes the use of patient transfer vans. In addition, Health Minister Zack Churchill has issued a directive to the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) to bring down ambulance offload times, with monthly reports on that issue going to his office. The NDP says the report shows the system needs more money. Tory MLA Colton LeBlanc, who is a former paramedic, is hoping the report leads to positive changes for his former colleagues, in particular the call for them to work to their full scope of practice.
Paramedics say 40 per cent of their time is currently being spent on non-emergency situations. (Photo – Andrew Vaughan, Canadian Press)
STELLARTON TARGETS NS HEALTH’S LACK OF LOCAL COVID VACCINE CLINICS
The Town of Stellarton is jumping on the bandwagon to ask the province to set up COVID vaccination clinics in Pictou County. That follows last week’s statement from Premier Iain Rankin that it’s something he’d consider, but so far, he hasn’t made anything official.
EXPERTS SAY SHOPPING AROUND FOR A VACCINE WILL ONLY SLOW DOWN CANADA’S PANDEMIC RECOVERY
Experts are saying the approval of a fourth vaccine in Canada should not give Canadians the green light to hold off on getting inoculated, in order to shop around or wait for other doses with higher efficacy rates.
Dr. Peter Liu heads up Ontario’s COVID-Science Advisory Table. He says if Canadians have that attitude, it will only end up lengthening the time it takes to get the pandemic under control.
On Friday, Health Canada approved the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. It is the fourth vaccine approved along with shots from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford.
Despite different efficacies, trials have shown that people who did become infected after getting vaccinated only experienced a mild illness. Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti is an infectious disease specialist in Mississauga, Ontario and he says after studying the results so far, he has not been able to find a single hospitalization or death among the thousands of people who received any of the four major vaccines approved in Canada. (wth files from Canadian Press, CBC News)
Stellarton Town Councillors are in favour of copying what’s happening at the police building in downtown Truro, which is currently offered as a place where online buyers and sellers can meet in a safe and well-lit space to do their transactions. The idea locally is to use Stellarton Town Hall as a similar venue, with signage currently being prepared for the back of the building, since police are inside. It’s also worth noting that the space is also under scrutiny by several surveillance cameras.
MINISTER SAYS WORKING AT HOME COULD WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS, UNION OPTIMISTIC
The provincial minister responsible for the Public Service Commission says he’s keeping an open mind about the potential of permanently modified work arrangements for members of the civil service in a post-COVID world. Ben Jessome says in many cases, people working from home have “produced a positive level of productivity that we’re really excited about.” While there are always going to be jobs that require people to be on site, meeting face-to-face with others, Jessome says the issue has been on the radar of his office for a while, and the pandemic has brought it to the forefront. Government Employees’ union President Jason MacLean says he’s pleased to hear Jessome’s position. MacLean says N-S-G-E-U is prepared to collaborate on exploring the idea, but he’s hoping any change can be across the board, instead of every government office using a different approach
Former Trenton Mayor Shannon MacInnis says he’s always had a goal of representing Pictou County at the provincial level. He also says as a small business operator and a father of three, people in the riding of Pictou Centre can relate to him. MacInnis announced yesterday that he’s going after the Liberal nomination in Pictou Centre. He will be vying for the nomination against retired social worker and active community volunteer, Jim McKenna. MacInnis says he’s looking forward to a respectful contest with McKenna and will let Liberals judge who should fly the party’s colours for voters in Pictou Centre during the next provincial vote.
WOMAN TO BECOME SECOND IN COMMAND AT CANADA’S MILITARY
Hot on the heels of International Women’s Day, the Canadian military’s second-in-command will soon be replaced by a woman. It’s being reported as part of a major shakeup of the senior ranks of the embattled institution, which has been mired in allegations of gender equality issues.
Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau will be moved aside as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in order to make way for Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen. Several reports say Allen will be formally presented as the new 2nd-in-command later today. She will become the first woman to hold the position of vice chief. The job means she’ll be responsible for the day-to-day administration of Canada’s military. (with files from CBC and Global News, photo from facebook)
A Kentville man in his 60’s will be going to court in April over a child pornography investigation.
Investigators moved in last week after a social media app notified them that child pornography was being shared using their service. RCMP and Kentville police went to an Kentville apartment last Thursday, and then arrested one man while seizing electronic devices. 64-year-old Bradley Wilson Crouse has been charged with two counts of transmitting child pornography and three counts of child porn possession. HE’s been released from police custody and is due to appear in Kentville provincial court on April 21st.
JUBA’LEE LEGACY TO BE FEATURED ON EASTLINK TV EVERY SATURDAY EVENING IN MARCH
Juba’lee Legacy, a presentation of the Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia will be broadcast on Eastlink TV, Saturdays at 8 p.m. during the month of March. It’s a 45-minute musical, multi-media extravaganza celebrating the heritage, stories and legacy of the African Nova Scotian community while spreading the important message of inclusivity and anti-racism. Drawing on the broad talent pool of diverse Nova Scotian performers and inspired by the musical production, DRUM!, Juba’lee Legacy also highlights the unique relationship among people in the indigenous community and the many other cultures of the province, promoting the powerful message that although we can celebrate our distinctiveness, working together we are stronger. The 20-strong cast led by music director, Doris Mason from Pictou County, includes talented musicians Jeremiah Sparks, Reeny Smith, Mahalia Smith, Dutch Robinson, Hubert Frances and many others. The virtual production, filmed at Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth, is also streaming for a limited time at Jubalee.ca
LOCAL SPORTS
The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) has announced that Crushers game that got postponed from January will now take place this coming Sunday. That means Pictou County Weeks’ Crushers home game with Summerside ow be played at 3:00 o’clock on Sunday afternoon.
The Pictou County Scotians will head into game 2 of their playoff series with Eskasoni tonight at 6. The Scotians won the first game of that series on Sunday.
