Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for Pictou County, indicating that a developing storm will affect the Maritimes this holiday weekend.

The agency says that while it is too soon to provide specific details, the potential exists for strong winds accompanied by significant amounts of rain which may impact travel and power.

The stormy weather is expected Friday afternoon into Saturday.

 

 

Diesel prices went down overnight in Nova Scotia as the Utility and Review Board invoked the Interrupter Clause due to significant shifts in the market price of diesel oil.

Diesel prices decreased by 7.5 cents per litre.

The minimum pump price for diesel is now 198.9 cents per litre in the local area.

Gas prices were not affected.

 

 

A dangerous person alert issued by the RCMP in Nova Scotia was ended early this morning.

The alert was issued in regards to an armed suspect they were looking for in Lower Clarks Harbour after responding to a report of gun shots in the community.

Police had asked people in the Lower Clarks Harbour area to shelter in place, but the Mounties announced at about 12:30am that officers had taken the suspect into custody safely and residents were no longer being asked to remain inside their homes.

The suspect was a 52-year-old man from Lower Clarks Harbour.

 

 

For the second time in three months, Nova Scotia’s finance minister has discovered 1.3 billion dollars in added revenues, thanks mainly to a surging economy.

Allan MacMaster revealed the latest positive financial news Tuesday while releasing details of a budget update for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2023.

With the latest boost in revenue, the size of the deficit for 2022-23 is expected to be much smaller than was forecast when he tabled his latest budget in March.

The province is now expecting a 142.6 million deficit — 363.6 million less than the original forecast.

 

 

Nova Scotia Health may be struggling with long wait times in its emergency rooms, but Accreditation Canada has announced the health service is being accredited “with commendation.”

The health agency says the designation is given to organizations that went “above and beyond the already high standards of the Accreditation program.”

Accreditation Canada is an independent, not-for-profit organization that sets standards for quality and safety in health care.

The provincial health authority hosted 30 Accreditation Canada surveyors recently to evaluate the organization’s governance, leadership, risk management, infection prevention and control, and medication management measures, as well as the quality of care provided by the organization.

 

 

At this week’s Council meeting, Mayor Nancy Dicks recognized the efforts of everyone at Ward One Recreation Centre, North End Recreation Centre and Summer Street during Hurricane Fiona.

With widespread power outages impacting the entire municipality for both businesses and residents, they went above and beyond in establishing Comfort Centres, allowing all residents to charge their phone, get a hot meal, and connect with others during the aftermath of Fiona.