Hundreds of additional spaces will soon be available at licensed child-care centres and homes in northern Nova Scotia.

The provincial government announced 300 new spaces as part of 15-hundred being created across the province.

The spaces will be in Pictou County, Cumberland County and Truro with availability ranging from this spring to the fall.

Additional spaces will be added later this year at facilities in Cape Breton, Antigonish and Pugwash.

 

 

The Nova Scotia government has announced it’s investing in 60 new and expanding healthcare clinics across the province.

The expansion includes collaborative family practice teams, primary care clinics, after-hours clinics, urgent care centres and urgent treatment centres.

The goal is to connect more Nova Scotians to primary care.

The government is reminding residents that primary care can also be accessed through Virtual-Care-N-S, mobile primary care clinics, 8-1-1 and community pharmacies.

 

 

Premier Tim Houston will be making a nursing announcement today at Acadia University.

The Premier will be joined by Hants West MLA  Melissa Sheehy-Richard; President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia University Peter Ricketts; Kimberley Lamarche, Dean of Nursing at Cape Breton University; and Margaret Champion, Dean of Health and Human Services at Nova Scotia Community College.

 

 

The latest Economic Update from the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council says that while the Atlantic economy is off to a good start in 2023 thanks to population and employment gains, economic growth will be lower this year due to high interest rates and inflation.

For Nova Scotia specifically, APEC says Nova Scotia’s economy is robust in the face of high inflation and interest rates, aside from residential sales and starts.

It says labour demand is firm but part-time positions are growing at a faster rate than full-time positions.

APEC adds that while the unemployment rate is increasing, it remains low.

Also, Nova Scotia’s population growth is breaking records thanks to international and interprovincial migration.

 

 

A wildfire that broke out on Monday southwest of Digby is no longer spreading.

The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables confirmed crews were able to contain the blaze to 1.1-square-kilometres Wednesday, but noted the blaze is not yet under control.

Hot, dry and windy conditions on Monday helped the fire to spread near Hasset, forcing the evacuation of five nearby homes.