Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health says the province’s few remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be dropped on Wednesday.

Dr. Robert Strang says it’s time to take that step given the high vaccination rate across the province and a low risk of severe COVID-19.

Strang says he expects “smaller waves” of virus activity over the summer and that while the pandemic is not over, Nova Scotians have the tools needed to keep each other safe.

As of Wednesday, it will no longer be mandatory to self isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 and use of masks will go from strongly recommended to optional.

 

 

The RCMP Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Unit has charged a man with possessing and transmitting child pornography.

On June 15, with help from New Glasgow Regional Police, Pictou County District RCMP, and the RCMP Digital Forensic Services Unit, the unit executed a search warrant at a home in New Glasgow.

Investigators were directed to the home after receiving information from the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre in December, 2021.

A 22-year old New Glasgow man was arrested at the home and he’s been charged with Possession of Child Pornography (2 counts), Accessing Child Pornography, and Transmitting Child Pornography.

He’s been released on conditions and will appear in Pictou Provincial Court on August 22.

 

 

The federal government says it has signed a 20-billion-dollar final settlement agreement to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by underfunding of child welfare.

The Assembly of First Nations and plaintiffs in two class-action lawsuits agreed to the deal.

Indigenous Services Canada says the settlement is the largest in Canadian history.

 

 

The federal government will unveil an historic plaque today in Pictou to pay tribute to Canada’s only all-Black unit to serve during the First World War.

The No. 2 Construction Battalion, also known as the “Black Battalion,” was established in 1916 to accommodate black men who wanted to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

The segregated, non-combat unit was tasked with building roads, railways and forestry operations in the United Kingdom and France.

The plaque will be unveiled at 11 a-m at Memorial Park in Pictou.