(NL-Furey-Resigns)
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey has announced his resignation.
The orthopedic surgeon says he has always maintained that he is not “a career politician,” telling reporters in St. John’s he could not commit to another full term in office.
Furey won the Liberal leadership before he was elected premier in August of 2020.
He says the time has come to return to his family and the operating room, noting he will stay on as premier until his replacement is chosen. (The Canadian Press)
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(NB-Public-Tourism-Input)
New Brunswick residents are being asked for their input on a new tourism strategy in the province.
Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Isabelle Thériault says the goal of the Fresh Look strategy is to see the province in a new light with the help of input gathered from New Brunswickers.
It’s part of the planning process for a five-year strategy that includes getting input from residents and industry while researching data and tourism trends at both a small and large scale.
Residents interested in taking part in the survey can do so via the New Brunswick government website until March 21st. (The Canadian Press)
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(Jupiter-Tidal)
A tidal power company that had hoped to test its technologies in the Bay of Fundy has shut down.
Ross Sinclaire, C-E-O of Jupiter Hydro, says his company has sold its patents.
Nova Scotia gave the firm two testing permits in 2019.
Over the years, there have been many attempts to harness the Bay of Fundy’s massive tides, but large-scale commercial efforts have largely failed.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Interprovincial-Trade)
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston tabled a bill today aimed at eliminating interprovincial trade barriers.
Houston says his Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act is aimed at encouraging the mutual recognition of goods, services and labour mobility across all sectors of the Canadian economy.
The law would see goods produced in another province or territory that passes similar legislation be treated the same as products produced in Nova Scotia.
Houston says the bill signals Nova Scotia is open for business as the threat of potential U-S tariffs looms and he’s calling on other provinces and territories to follow suit. (The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Accountability)
Nova Scotia’s freedom of information commissioner says a new government bill threatens the right to access records.
Tricia Ralph is calling on the Progressive Conservative government to withdraw the legislation, saying it weakens the public’s right to access government records.
At issue are amendments to an omnibus bill tables by the government that allow departments the ability to refuse access requests on the basis they’re “trivial, frivolous or vexatious.”
Premier Tim Houston withdrew other amendments in the bill on Monday that would have allowed his government to fire the auditor general without cause, amid rising public criticisms of the legislation. (The Canadian Press)
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(Atlantic Update by Lisa Laporte)
