(NB-Point-Lepreau)
The Point Lepreau nuclear generating station in southern New Brunswick was taken offline late Monday.
The province’s Crown-owned electric utility, N-B Power, issued a public alert, saying maintenance was needed on a cooling fan.
The utility says the station will remain offline until the fan is fixed, but no timeline was offered.
Officials at the plant describe the fan as a mandatory piece of equipment, but they say there is no risk to public safety.
(CTV News)
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(NB-Emergency-Debate)
New Brunswick’s Green party leader says he’s asked for an emergency debate on the impending 25 per cent U-S. tariffs on many Canadian goods set to begin on April 2nd.
David Coon says the legislative assembly must have an emergency debate to give M-L-As the opportunity to discuss the threat the tariffs pose to New Brunswickers, and what should be done about them.
He says tariffs have already created a great deal of uncertainty for New Brunswick.
U-S President Donald Trump’s threats of a sweeping 25-per-cent tariff on imports from Canada has cooled off the province’s economy, which sees about 12-billion dollars worth of goods cross into Maine every year. (The Canadian Press)
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(NB-Budget)
The New Brunswick government has tabled a 14.-billion dollar budget with a hefty deficit.
The budget includes an increase in health-care spending and a contingency fund to deal with U-S tariffs.
Finance Minister René Legacy’s budget forecasts a 549-million-dollar deficit that is expected to swell to nearly 600-million dollars when the tariff contingency fund is added.
Legacy says the government will honour its health-care promises, earmarking 4.1-billion dollars for the department, which is about 293-million more than last year.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Civil-Servants)
The minister responsible for Nova Scotia’s civil service says a bill that would allow the government to dismiss non-unionized workers without cause will go ahead without changes.
Twila Grosse says workers will be treated fairly, but she adds the government believes it needs the right skill set among its employees to grow the province.
Grosse says she didn’t hear anything during this week’s testimony before the public bills committee that has changed her mind.
Several speakers told the committee the bill would erode workers’ rights.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NL-Bird-Flu)
Environment Canada is reporting minimal avian flu among wild birds tested in Newfoundland.
The agency says it has tested the carcasses of four wild birds flagged to officials in Newfoundland, and only one animal tested positive for bird influenza.
Environment Canada says they are monitoring the situation, but it appears the avian flu outbreak that ravaged wild seabirds off the coast of Newfoundland may have run its course.
All sick or dead birds found in Newfoundland and Labrador should be reported to the department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for testing.
(VOCM)
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(PEI-Forestry-Report)
The final report of P-E-I’s forestry commission says a better balance is needed to ensure the health of Island forests.
The report calls for an expanded buffer incentive which allows landowners to place a conservation agreement on land within 50 metres of a watercourse, preventing an area from being farmed or developed for at least 20 years.
It also calls for a significant increase in funding to the province’s forest enhancement program to encourage better private woodlot management.
The commission also recommends that future funding agreements be long term and be covered by memorandums of understanding outlining the responsibilities of all parties.
(The Canadian Press)
