Canada marks first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This is the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is the outcome of federal Bill C-5. As a direct response to the Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, this statutory holiday is a day that honours the lives lost and survivors of residential schools, and their families and urges all residents of Canada to come together and reflect on how, as a nation, we can work towards a fair, equitable and inclusive future where all will be able to reach their fullest potential.
Two very special activities taking place on the Pictou Waterfront
The town of Pictou says there will be two very special activities taking place on the Pictou Waterfront to acknowledge and commemorate the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities, and to honour those who have been affected by this injustice. There will be a sidewalk painting event from 3-5pm on Caladh Avenue in Pictou. People are invited to paint an orange heart or a white feather as a symbol of remembrance for those who never returned from Residential Schools. The town says the sidewalk of acknowledgement will be on Caladh Ave. between Depot and Creighton Streets.
Crepe Expectations on the Pictou waterfront are hosting a free community concert later today. Morgan Toney, a Mi’kmaq fiddler from We’koqma’q First Nation, will perform on the Pictou Waterfront Marina Stage beginning at 5:00pm. Toney, a music ambassador for the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, has performed at Celtic Colours and alongside Ashley MacIsaac, and has written songs with ECMA winner Keith Mullins. Mullins joins Toney on the guitar, while Isabella Sampson and Jessie Cox also take the stage on piano/vocals and guitar – collectively known as Barn Bhreagh.
N.S. says all health-care workers, school staff must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 30
Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is introducing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for professions such as health-care workers and teachers as part of the next phase of its reopening plan. Chief medical officer Dr. Robert Strang says health care workers, teachers and other education staff will need to provide proof of vaccination by November 30th or face being put on unpaid leave.
Phase 5 of Nova Scotia’s reopening plan is starting October 4 with a cautious approach. While most restrictions will be lifted, some will be maintained, and border restrictions will be added for people coming from Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. In Phase 5, masks will continue to be mandatory in indoor public places; physical distancing and gathering limits for events hosted by a recognized business or organization will be lifted; the informal gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors will remain in place; and proof of full vaccination will be required for non-essential events and activities. Starting at 12:01 a.m. on October 4, proof of full vaccination will be required for people who are 12 and older to participate in discretionary, non-essential events and activities that gather people together, such as going to restaurants, movies, sports events, theatre performances, social events and the gym. Effective at 8 a.m. on October 4, everyone coming to Nova Scotia from other Canadian provinces and territories will need to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. Their isolation will be based on vaccination status and testing.
Families of children in pre-primary to Grade 6 in the province’s public school system will receive free COVID-19 rapid testing kits. Over a thousand volunteers are putting together 80,000 rapid test kits for the pilot program, called Test to Protect Kids. The pilot program will see Nova Scotia provide 320,000 rapid tests to make testing more accessible to families and support early detection of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Nova Scotia reported 41 new cases of COVID-19 and 21 recoveries. As of today, Nova Scotia has 224 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, 12 people are in hospital, including two in ICU.
Province projects smaller 2021-22 budget deficit, even with $80M in new spending
Finance and Treasury Board Minister Allan MacMaster (Communications Nova Scotia)
A fiscal update released Wednesday is forecasting Nova Scotia’s deficit will be 140-million dollars lower than originally projected last spring, due in part to higher income tax revenue. Finance Minister Allan MacMaster says the deficit is now expected to come in at 445-million dollars for 2021-22 — down from the 585-million predicted by the former Liberal government in its March budget. McMaster also announced just over 80-million dollars in new spending, including 32-million for a grant to help seniors remain in the their homes. He says the new Conservative government was given a clear mandate in the provincial election last month to make investments that will improve the lives of Nova Scotians.
N.B. Gas Prices
The price for self serve regular in New Brunswick is down by 0.2 cents today to a new maximum price of 140.8.
Local sports note:
The Pictou County Weeks Junior A Crushers Season Home Opener is tonight (Thursday) at the Wellness Centre taking on the South Shore Lumberjacks. Puck drops at 7:00 pm.
