The commissioners leading the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia began their first day of hearings on the defensive. This after Premier Tim Houston accused them of disrespecting the victims’ families in a statement released yesterday. The premier highlighted criticism by lawyers who represent 23 individuals and families, noting the inquiry has yet to release a witness list and has been vague about whether witnesses will be subject to cross-examination. Commission chairman Michael MacDonald says cross-examination will be part of the inquiry, but he confirms a pre-determined list of witnesses won’t be used.
On Tuesday, the province reported three deaths related to COVID-19 — two of them in the Central Zone and one in Northern Zone. Nova Scotia also reported two new hospital admissions and no discharges. There are 53 people in hospital who were admitted due to COVID-19 and are receiving specialized care in a COVID-19 designated unit. That includes 12 people in ICU. 263 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday since the last update on Sunday. There are an estimated 1,858 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. 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.
New Glasgow Regional Police are investigating 15 incidents of thefts from vehicles from the Westside area of New Glasgow. They happened late last Saturday night into early Sunday morning, and saw personal identification papers and valuables stolen mostly from unlocked vehicles. New Glasgow Regional Police are advising you to lock your vehicle. Police have seen over 30 thefts from vehicles this year, and in many of those cases the vehicles were left unlocked and valuables were in plain view.
A former Nova Scotia cabinet minister launched his campaign for the provincial Liberal leadership Tuesday by urging the party to refocus following its defeat in last summer’s election. Zach Churchill says he is running to bring his experience and the lessons he’s learned in government to help rebuild the party. The M-L-A from Yarmouth held several cabinet portfolios in the former Liberal government, including health, education, natural resources and municipal affairs. He is the second person in the leadership race following fellow M-L-A Angela Simmonds who launched her campaign earlier this month.
A portrait of the first Black woman elected in Nova Scotia, has been added to the walls of the provincial legislature. Yvonne Atwell was elected in 1998 as part of what was considered a breakthrough election for the N-D-P in Nova Scotia. Atwell represented the district of Preston until the 1999 election. Her portrait will be displayed in the lobby of the legislature, on the same wall with the portraits of former premiers.
