Iain Rankin, former N.S. premier and leader of Liberals, announces resignation

Former Nova Scotia premier Iain Rankin is resigning as leader of the provincial Liberal party after reflecting on his future over the holiday season. Rankin served as premier of the province for just over six months before losing in a summer election to the Progressive Conservatives. He told a news conference today he intends to continue as leader until the party holds a leadership race, but he also intends to focus on his family. The leader says he accepts responsibility for the election loss, adding he’d failed to lay out clearly a platform on how the province would recover economically from the pandemic. The 38 year old became leader of the party in late February last year after the party chose him to succeed two-term premier Stephen McNeil during a leadership convention. However, political observers have said his bid for the party’s third consecutive mandate was scuttled by an ineffective campaign and Rankin’s inability to connect with the public. (The Canadian Press)

 

40 people in hospital with COVID-19 as N.S. reports 1,020 cases on Tuesday

Nova Scotia reported 1,020 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.  They include 544 cases in Central Zone, 182 cases in Eastern Zone, 141 cases in Northern Zone and 153 cases in Western Zone.  There are 40 people in hospital with five in ICU. Their ages range from 26 to 98 years old, and the average age is 70.  Premier Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, will provide a COVID-19 update today at 3 p.m.  The update will be livestreamed at: https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast

**Locally, there will be a COVID-19 WALK-IN testing clinic from 11am to 3pm on Friday at the Pictou Legion.

 

Nova Scotia Health introduces temporary changes to visitor and support person restrictions

Nova Scotia Health is making changes to visitor restrictions across the province.  Effective 8:00a.m. today:

– Most hospital inpatients can have only one consistent fully vaccinated designated support person/family caregiver. This includes patients in emergency departments and those in labour and birth.

– Children under 19 admitted to hospital, patients in intensive care units and critically ill patients in emergency departments are allowed to have two designated support people. Only one is permitted to visit at a time.

The restrictions may vary by site due to COVID-19 activity within a facility.

 

N.S. teachers union calls for online learning amid provincewide COVID-19 outbreak

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union is calling for temporary online learning as the province deals with its largest COVID-19 outbreak to date. Students in the province are scheduled to return to class on Jan. 10 after an extended holiday break, but the union maintains a shift to remote learning is needed to give the school system the time to properly prepare. Union president Paul Wozney said in an interview today the province could face staff shortages and rolling school closures if students head back to class prematurely. Wozney says the union is also calling on the province to equip staff with adequate personal protection equipment, including 3-ply masks, and to improve ventilation in schools. He also fears that with the schools representing the largest interconnected system currently operating in the province, in-person learning could lead to massive spread of the disease. Chief medical officer Dr. Robert Strang said Monday he was cautiously optimistic because hospitalizations remain low despite record case numbers, and for the moment no further public health measures are planned. (The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will hold a call about COVID-19 with Premier Tim Houston and the other premiers next week.  The first ministers will discuss how governments are keeping citizens safe as the Omicron variant of the virus spreads rapidly through communities from coast to coast.  Trudeau’s comments came during a call with B-C Premier John Horgan, who is the chair of the Council of the Federation.  A surge in Omicron infections has forced the cancellation of in-class learning, postponed thousands of surgeries and procedures, and prompted the return of other pandemic restrictions in many regions.

 

Ottawa announces details of $40 billion child-welfare settlement

Ottawa has officially announced it has reached an agreement in principle with First Nations partners to compensate children harmed by its underfunding of child welfare. The federal Liberal government says of the $40 billion earmarked to be spent on the matter, $20 billion will pay for compensation and the other $20 billion will be spent on reforming the system over five years. It says First Nations children living on reserve and in the Yukon who were removed from their homes between April 1, 1991, and Mar. 21, 2022, are set to be compensated, along with their parents and caregivers. Ottawa says this includes those affected by what it calls the government’s narrow definition of Jordan’s Principle between Dec. 12, 2007, and Nov. 2, 2017, as well children who were unable to access an essential public service or product from April 1, 1991, to Dec. 11, 2007. Jordan’s Principle is a measure stipulating that jurisdictional disputes should not get in the way of providing services to First Nations children. The government says final settlement agreements must still be negotiated over the coming months. (The Canadian Press)

 

Construction begins on 79-unit mixed-use, multi-residential building in East River Business Park

MOPC Photo (contributed)

Construction is underway in the East River Business Park on a 79-unit mixed-use, multi-residential building.   The Dunkeld, owned by Somerled Properties, features one- and two-bedroom residential units, as well as 11,000 square feet of commercial space. It’s expected to open in spring of 2023 with a mixture of tenants that includes both families and seniors.