Incoming Premier Tim Houston meets with Dr. Strang to discuss COVID-19
Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia
Premier-designate Tim Houston met with chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang on Wednesday to discuss COVID-19. Houston said earlier in the day that he planned to discuss issues such as how to reduce COVID-19 transmission when students return to school. He says other key concerns include increasing vaccinations and monitoring the fourth wave of the novel coronavirus in other parts of the country. Dartmouth North MLA Susan Leblanc also attended the meeting with government staff members. Houston told reporters that he plans to invite other parties to take part in meetings with public health officials and won’t politicize his government’s top priority — keeping people safe from the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fellow Progressive Conservative premiers in Atlantic Canada we’re congratulating Tim Houston Wednesday on his majority win. Both New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and PEI Premier Dennis King say they look forward to working with Houston on regional initiatives to help Atlantic Canada succeed in post-pandemic times. Higgs adds he’s confident Houston’s professional experience combined with his team’s understanding of the issues facing the region will serve him well as he becomes premier. King is also thanking Iain Rankin for taking on the role of Nova Scotia Liberal leader and premier at a challenging time during a worldwide pandemic. (With files from the Canadian Press)
Elections Nova Scotia releases unofficial final election results
Elections Nova Scotia has issued the unofficial final results of Tuesday’s provincial election. The agency says the Progressive Conservatives won 31 of the 55 electoral districts while the Liberals took 17, the NDP six seats and there is one Independent elected. It also released the unofficial voter turnout figure which came in at 55.2 per cent. That’s higher than in 2017 when voter turnout was 53.4 per cent. (The Canadian Press)
| Registered Parties | No. of candidates fielded | No. of candidates elected | Total no. of valid votes | % of Popular vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantica | 16 | 0 | 989 | 0.24% |
| Green Party | 43 | 0 | 9,001 | 2.14% |
| Liberal | 55 | 17 | 153,835 | 36.64% |
| NDP | 55 | 6 | 88,053 | 20.97% |
| PC Party | 55 | 31 | 161,379 | 38.44% |
| Independent(s) | 6 | 1 | 4,956 | 1.18% |
Summary of Results
Total number of votes cast: 419,840
Total number of valid votes: 418,213 (99.6%)
Total number of rejected votes: 1,536 (0.4%)
Total number of declined votes: 91 (0.0%)
Total number of registered electors: 759,341
Voter turnout percentage: 55.29%
N.S. reports nine new COVID-19 cases Wednesday
Nova Scotia reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday — all in Central Zone. Six of the cases are related to travel, two are close contacts of previously reported cases and one is under investigation. The province also reported six recoveries, leaving it with 25 active cases including one person in hospital in intensive care. Just over 77 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 68.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Small change in N.B. gas prices
A slight change the fuel pumps in New Brunswick this morning. Regular self-serve gas is down one-tenth of a cent per litre. Diesel is down two-tenths of a cent overnight. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
Trenton to hold Public Hearing on construction of a residential building in the town
Trenton Town Council will hold a Public Hearing to receive public submissions on an application by Atlantic Edge Properties Inc to construct an eight unit residential building on Dickie Street. Details regarding the application can be examined at the Town Office in Trenton before the Public Hearing. The Public Hearing will be held on August 31 in the Trenton Rink Annex.
Police make arrests, mace protesters angry at removal of homeless shelters in Halifax
A Halifax police operation to remove wooden shelters for the homeless led to arrests, people pushing against patrol cars and protesters having irritants sprayed in their faces Wednesday afternoon. The operation began at 6 a.m. local time, prompting a crowd to gather around two of the shelters on a lawn outside the old Halifax central library site on Spring Garden Road in the city’s downtown. One man sat on top of the wooden shelter constructed by an advocacy group for the homeless, and a police negotiator tried to talk him down while the crowd was held back by a cordon of officers. Late in the afternoon, Nova Scotia NDP Leader Gary Burrill stood behind police lines and chanted through a megaphone, “Homes, not cops!” He said it was disgraceful that years of neglect of the affordable housing supply had led people to erect tent cities. The largely peaceful protest involving more than 100 people grew rougher after the man came down from the roof of the shelter and was led away police, as some protesters placed their bodies in front of police vehicles. Halifax police weren’t immediately available for comment on how many arrests occurred over the course of the day. (The Canadian Press)
Puck drops on women’s world hockey championship in Calgary after pandemic hiatus
Hockey Canada announced earlier this week that Blayre Turnbull from Stellarton will be one of the captains for the upcoming Women’s World Hockey Championships. (Photo credit: Hockey Canada via Sportsnet)
The puck drops Friday on a women’s world hockey championship 859 days after the last one. Ten countries will compete in summer for a world title in Calgary with the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing less than six months away. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 world championship in Halifax and Truro, N.S. Those communities were awarded the championship again in 2021 when it was postponed from April to May. Iain Rankin, who was Nova Scotia’s premier then, pulled the plug on the tournament the same day international teams were departing for Canada. Nine countries arrived last Wednesday in Canada and joined the host team in a five-day hotel quarantine. The teams began skating Monday and all 10 countries played pre-tournament games Wednesday. Canada downed Finland 4-1 in Wednesday’s exhibition game ahead of facing the Finns again in Friday’s tournament-opener. (The Canadian Press)
Pictou County Intermediate Albions hosting provincials this weekend in Stellarton
The Pictou County Intermediate Albions are hosting provincials this weekend at the Albion Ball Field in Stellarton. Games begin Friday at 5pm with opening ceremonies to follow – Mayor MacGillivray will be throwing an opening pitch. *Anyone planning on attending is encouraged to have a non-medical face mask and sanitizer available, and to maintain physical distancing between groups.*
Summer Sizzler set for Riverside International Speedway on Saturday
The Summer Sizzler event at Riverside International Speedway is set for this Saturday, August 21st starting at 4pm. The show will feature the Wilson Equipment Twin 75s for the East Coast International Maritime Pro Stock Tour and the Henry’s AUTOPRO 75 for the Napa Sportsman Series. Both races are qualifying events for September’s IWK 250 Weekend.
