RCMP officers were in Plymouth in Pictou County Sunday to respond to a situation involving a man who had barricaded himself inside a home.

At the time, the RCMP indicated there was no immediate threat to anyone outside the home.

In an update issued at about 1:00pm on Sunday, the RCMP announced that officers had taken the man into custody.

 

 

The Bank of Canada is expected to hold its key interest rate steady this week as inflation continues to slow, despite other data suggesting the economy is still running hot.

The central bank is set to announce its next interest rate decision on Wednesday.

The announcement will be accompanied with updated economic projections for growth and inflation in its quarterly monetary policy report.

B-M-O chief economist Douglas Porter says although the economy is growing faster than anticipated, lower-than-expected inflation will convince the Bank of Canada to hold its key interest rate at 4.5 per cent.

 

 

The latest COVID numbers for Nova Scotia Health indicate dropping numbers of people with the illness in hospital.

As of Friday, there were 12 people who were admitted and hospitalized due to COVID, with two in I-C-U.

There are 66 in hospital for other reasons who have also contracted COVID-19.

There were 67 Nova Scotia Health employees off work as of Thursday due to being diagnosed as positive for COVID-19, awaiting results of a COVID-19 test, or being exposed to a member of their household.

 

 

Some political experts are calling for a review of Canada’s democratic processes — including ministerial responsibility — amid accusations of foreign interference in elections.

Lori Turnbull, director of Dalhousie University’s school of public administration, says there should be a critical conversation about what’s working in our democracy and what isn’t.

Her comments come as government staffers take on more responsibility and powers, with unelected staff sometimes being asked to answer for government decisions.

One example of this is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, who is set to testify in front of a parliamentary committee on foreign interference this week.

 

 

King Charles III is planning to take a shorter route to Westminster Abbey for his coronation.

He will be trimming the procession route his mother took in 1953 as he aims for a more modest event.

Buckingham Palace says the lower-key ceremony on May 6th will still be steeped in ancient traditions and adorned with royal regalia from the Crown Jewels, but will also feature some modern touches.

Queen Elizabeth II’s was the first coronation to ever be televised 70 years ago.