(NB-Fiscal-Update)
The New Brunswick government is projecting a budget deficit of nearly 400 million dollars this fiscal year.
The province’s third-quarter fiscal update says the shortfall is mainly due to soaring health-care costs, including 108 million dollars spent on travel nurse contracts by the previous Progressive Conservative government.
The government says total revenue is expected to be 30.3 million dollars lower than what’s in the budget because of lower H-S-T revenue.
Finance Minister René Legacy told reporters yesterday that it will be “difficult if not impossible” to balance the budget before the March 31st end of the fiscal year.
(The Canadian Press/ CBC News)
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(US-Cda-Tariffs)
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says the premiers told U-S officials that tariffs would have negative impacts on both Canadians and Americans.
She is in Washington D-C with all other premiers this week to make a case against the sweeping 25-per-cent tariffs on most Canadian goods proposed by U-S President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile a top White House adviser said Canada becoming the 51st state remains a consideration following a meeting with premiers where leaders were cautioned to take Trump at his word.
The last-minute meeting with White House officials James Blair and Sergio Gor provided an opportunity for premiers to make Canada’s case directly to top Trump aides.
(The Canadian Press)
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(Bay-Northumberland-Ferries-Sale)
Bay Ferries Limited and Northumberland Ferries Limited have announced that president and C-E-O Mark Wilson is the new owner.
The companies say the sale was completed last week, although no details have been released.
Wilson has been with the ferry companies since May 2021 and assumed the role of president and C-E-O in May 2024.
Headquartered in Charlottetown, the ferry companies operate in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P-E-I and the U-S state of Maine.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NB-Child-Porn-Arrests)
The New Brunswick R-C-M-P’s internet Child Exploitation unit has charged a 49-year-old man from Richibucto-Village.
R-C-M-P say they seized and searched several electronic devices and have charged the man with possession of child pornography and transmitting child pornography.
The man has already appeared in court and is expected to appear again in March.
The Mounties are asking anyone with information about possible victims to come forward to assist their investigation.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Celtic-Music-Investments)
The Nova Scotia government has announced funding for the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Juidque.
The Celtic Music Interpretive Centre Society is getting 750-thousand dollars through the province’s Community Economic Development Fund.
The investment is to help revitalize the centre with a remodelling of the space and digitization of its archives.
The funding is also expected to help expand the society’s online presence by funding live music broadcasts, exhibits and video productions.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Liberals-Letter)
Nova Scotia Liberals are calling on Tim Houston’s government to strengthen the province’s economy in a quick and decisive manner.
In a letter, the Liberals say they intend to introduce a suite of bills aimed at strengthening the economy, increasing accountability, and providing support to Nova Scotians.
The Liberals are calling on the premier to pass the bills with speed to ensure economic stability as U-S tariffs continue to cause uncertainty in the market.
Trade Critic Iain Rankin says the stakes are too high for the province’s leaders to be mired in partisanship.
(The Canadian Press)
