Province Marks 30th Anniversary of Westray Mine Disaster

The Nova Scotia government says families continue to carry the trauma of the Westray mine explosion 30 years ago yesterday, which remains one of the deadliest mining disasters in Canadian history.  A statement released on behalf of Premier Tim Houston says Nova Scotians will never forget the day when 26 hard-working men didn’t return home to their families in what an inquiry found was a preventable tragedy.  Nova Scotians gathered in the New Glasgow area Monday to mark the 30th anniversary of the explosion, including an assembly at Westray Miners Memorial Park. The crowd included victims’ family members — some of whom are continuing their calls for more criminal prosecutions of workplace deaths under amendments known as the Westray law.

 

Federal government investing $6.2 million for victims of crime in Nova Scotia

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti

The federal government is investing more than $6.2 million over five years to support provincial programs in Nova Scotia that assist victims of crime. Federal Justice Minister David Lametti says the funding is particularly important for Indigenous victims and for survivors of sexual assault who face added barriers in receiving access to justice. More than $3.5 million will fund a program that helps Indigenous Peoples access the legal system, and the money will also go toward hiring an Indigenous victims case coordinator. That portion of the funding will also be used to help track unpaid restitution orders and to help train staff who administer programs for victims of crime. The remaining $2.68 million will fund an initiative that helps victims of sexual assault access legal representation. That program also helps to ensure the privacy interests of complainants are raised when their sexual history is sought as evidence during trial. (The Canadian Press)

 

Passenger travel companies in Atlantic Canada are imposing fuel surcharges on their fares to offset the impact of escalating gas prices.  Casino Taxi in Halifax — the region’s largest taxi company — says a surcharge of $1.30 per fare will all go to drivers who are having to pay gas prices approaching two-dollars per litre.  Maritime Bus also has also added a fuel surcharge for inter-city routes despite efforts to keep rates down to encourage more people to ride the bus.  Owner Mike Cassidy says despite the addiction to personal cars, he thinks more people will opt to take the bus for trips within the region if prices continue to rise.

 

The pain at the gas pump shows no signs of easing.  Rising prices are continuing to smash records — the price of a litre jumped to $2.22 in Vancouver on Monday.  There’s the potential for lasting consequences on everything from the cost of goods to consumer behaviour.  The Conference Board of Canada says higher gas prices have a cascading effect on all sectors of the economy. Here in Nova Scotia, gas prices are in the range of 190 to 192-cents per litre, while diesel goes for 241 to 2424 cents per litre.

 

As of May 1st, there are nearly 92-thousand Nova Scotians on the province’s primary care wait-list, which is a record high.  The number of people waiting for a family doctor or nurse practitioner is up about four per cent from the month before.  More than nine per cent of Nova Scotians are on the wait-list, which does not necessarily include all residents who are without primary care.  The wait-list has grown by about 26-thousand people over a year.

 

Pictou County Roots for Youth will receive a one-time investment of $100,000 to support programming for at-risk youth, including youth experiencing homelessness.  The local funding is part of the Houston Government’s $700,000 investment to improve youth centres across the province. It was announced Friday morning, commemorating both National Mental Health Week and National Child and Youth Mental Health Day.  Pictou County Roots for Youth and the other recipients provide youth with a safe space where they can participate in a variety of programs, including creative expression, personal development and temporary housing.