The Ally Centre of Cape Breton has had all its core federal funding cut. The Sydney-based Centre’s goal is to prevent blood borne diseases. It provides a needle exchange as well as anonymous HIV testing and testing for Hepatitis B & C, and syphilis. Executive Director Christine Porter says she just got word about the funding cut this morning. She adds without it the centre can’t stay open. Porter says the 151-thousand dollars in annual, federal money covers the salaries of three workers plus their rent, heat and lights as well as other operational expenses. She adds they’ve contacted area MP’s Mark Eyking and Rodger Cuzner about the funding cut.

The price of gas went down by more than predicted, overnight. Gas fell by 3 cents a litre and now goes for a minimum of $1.04.5 in Cape Breton. However, the price of diesel went up by 2.3 cents and now costs a minimum of 97.6 cents on the Island.

A crowd of about 700 gathered at Centre 200 last night for the debate between the two candidates for Regional Mayor. Mayor Cecil Clarke and challenger Rankin MacSween tackled questions mostly posed by audience members on topics ranging from taxes to the high rate of child poverty in the CBRM. MacSween described Clarke as a likeable, lifelong politician who hasn’t accomplished much during his first term as mayor. Clarke defended his record and says he looks forward to a brighter economic future for the area. The pair spared over port development with MacSween questioning the decision to hand over marketing of the port to a pair of private consultants with no competition. Clarke says the effort is now being handled by “international marketers” who are investing their own money to boost Sydney’s reputation internationally.   Municipal and school board elections take place on October 15^th with advance voting taking place between October 5^th and 12^th.

The two candidates for Regional Mayor will go head to head in a debate, tonight. The Cape Breton Post and the CBC have teamed up with the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce to host the debate at Centre 200. Some of the questions for incumbent Mayor Cecil Clarke and New Dawn Enterprises president Rankin MacSween will come from the crowd, during the event. The debate will be held in the lower bowl of Centre 200 because organizers had to turn people away from the 2012 event when the main concourse was the venue. The debate is due to get underway at 7:00 with the doors opening at 6:00. In the 2012 municipal election, Clarke got 59 percent of the vote while MacSween picked up 38 percent in a five-person race. Municipal and school board elections will be held on October 15^th. Advanced voting takes place form Oct. 5-12.

We don’t yet have gas price predictions, this week. However, the price of gas in New Brunswick went down by 2.6 cents a litre, last night. Diesel there fell by 1.1 cents. The current minimum price for a litre of regular gas in Cape Breton is $107.5 cents. Diesel now goes for a minimum of 95.3 cents a litre on the Island.