(NB-Budget)
A 50-million-dollar contingency fund to combat the U-S tariff threat has caused New Brunswick’s projected deficit for the coming fiscal year to increase to nearly 600-million-dollars.
The provincial Liberal government’s first budget since winning the election in October comes as U-S President Donald Trump implemented sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on goods from Canada.
Total revenues for the province in 2025-26 are budgeted to be nearly 13.8-billion-dollars while total expenditures before the contingency fund are projected at 14.3-billion-dollars.
Finance Minister René Legacy says the government will keep its main health-care promise setting aside 4.1-billion-dollars for the department an increase from last year. (The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Bills-Universities)
Various groups say a Nova Scotia government bill that would give them control over the province’s 10 universities is a case of overreach that could threaten academic freedoms.
President of the Canadian Association of University Teachers Peter McInnis told the public bills committee today that allowing the minister of advanced education to set terms and conditions for annual research grants is a concern.
If the legislation goes through it would link funding decisions to the government’s social and economic priorities and would allow it to appoint up to half of the members of a university’s board of governors.
Saint Mary’s University professor Cathy Conrad says there is concern that the funding will go to science and technology programs that align with government priorities for economic growth to the detriment of liberal arts program. (The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Anti-Racism-Grants)
The Nova Scotia government is set to provide grants to 11 community organizations that are working to address systemic hate, inequity and racism.
The funding that comes through the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism’s Community Network Grant program, and will support projects helping 2-S-L-G-B-T-Q-I-A-plus refugees and newcomers to anti-racism education.
Attorney General and Justice Minister Becky Druhan says she is proud to support the community drive projects to help make the province a more welcoming and inclusive place for all Nova Scotians.
The grants total is 400-thousand-dollars. (The Canadian Press)
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(NL-Attempted-Break-and-Enter)
Twillingate R-C-M-P has launched an investigation into a commercial break, enter and attempted theft of an A-T-M machine.
The incident happened at a Dearing’s Automotive in Fairbank on March 14th shortly after 5 a-m.
Video surveillance captured a masked suspect on the property who arrived in a pickup truck, then smashed the front entrance of the building and attempted to steal an A-T-M from inside.
The pickup truck was later found by police after the suspect, who is still at large, fled the scene. (The Canadian Press)
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(NL-Furey-Japan)
Premier Andrew Furey is in Japan this week to further strengthen Newfoundland and Labrador’s efforts to diversify trade markets and investment opportunities.
Furey will meet with executives of various industry organizations and corporations in sectors including seafood, natural resources, and critical minerals.
The trade mission is aligned with the province’s goal to expand its strategic global partnerships to advance economic growth.
It is also part of the broader Buy From Newfoundland and Labrador plan that was implemented when the U-S put tariffs on imports of Canadian goods. (The Canadian Press)
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(PEI-Missing-Woman-Death)
Mounties in P-E-I and multiple emergency service providers say a woman that went missing near Brackley Beach has died in hospital.
Around 4 p-m on Monday, R-C-M-P responded to a call of a missing person whose vehicle was located in the P-E-I National Park at Brackley Beach.
With the assistance of Parks Canada staff and boats, and various local fire departments the 51-year-old Harrington woman was found in the water by a Coast Guard helicopter.
She was sent to hospital where she was pronounced dead. (The Canadian Press)
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