R-C-M-P say six women have now died as a result of intimate-partner violence in Nova Scotia over the past three months.

The latest victim is a 22-year-old woman who was found inside a burning home in the Annapolis Valley over the weekend.

Her identity has not been released.

A 28-year-old is in custody and has been charged with murder and arson with disregard for human life.

 

 

A new report from the C-D Howe Institute says Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have the worst-ranked provincial health care systems in the country.  The report looks at factors including access to care and health outcomes, and places Newfoundland and Labrador last among the provinces, and Nova Scotia second last.  The report also finds that on average, Canada fares poorly compared to its peer countries in measures such as affordability, administrative efficiency and equity.

 

 

Within the next week, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland will announce her intention to run for the Liberal party leadership.

A source close to her campaign team says the announcement will come just before the U-S presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

Another source says Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne plans to reveal whether he will run during a talk today at the Canadian Club in Toronto.

Ontario M-P Chandra Arya and former Montreal M-P Frank Baylis are the only two to officially join the contest.

 

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to meet with the premiers on Wednesday to finalize Canada’s response plan to Donald Trump’s tariff threat.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is fresh off a weekend visit with the U-S president-elect in Florida and cautioned Ottawa against blocking energy exports to the U-S.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he wants to keep the option open while Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also pushed back on the idea.

Over the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Canadians need to “be ready” for economic threats, adding all leaders need to put Canada first and show a united front.