Provincial Grant Announced For Post-Secondary Students

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The Province has announced a one-time grant aimed at helping post-secondary students with the rising cost of living.

It says about 11,000 students who get Nova Scotia student assistance in the 2022-23 academic year will get a one-time payment of $550.

To be eligible, post-secondary students have to be Nova Scotia residents, qualify for and get Nova Scotia student assistance during the current academic year and attend university, Nova Scotia Community College or a private career college.

The government says students don’t have to apply for the grant.

It says the money will be deposited automatically into the bank accounts of most eligible students in January.

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Province Seeking Input On Discrimination in Health System

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The provincial Health Department has launched an online survey to collect feedback from people who might have experienced systemic racism and discrimination in the healthcare system.

The Department says this includes Indigenous people, African Nova Scotians and people of African descent as well as racialized groups, people who may have faced discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees and historically underrepresented populations.

People can fill out the survey at engage4health.ca. 

The survey will be available until January 27^th.

The province says information from the survey will be used to develop a health equity framework meant to help improve the system.

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Druhan Announces 50% Cut In Childcare Fees

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Early Childhood Minister Becky Druhan announced this morning childcare fees in the province are going down by 50 percent on December 31^st.

She was joined at the news conference by federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould.

An agreement between Ottawa and the province has a goal of bringing childcare fees down to an average of 10 dollars a day by March 31, 2026.

Childcare fees went down by 25 per cent, on average, on April 1^st with the reduction being retroactive to January 1^st.

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Regional Council Meeting In-Camera, This Morning

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Regional Council is meeting behind closed doors at City Hall in Sydney, this morning.

The municipality says the in-camera meeting falls under Section 22(2)(e) of the Municipal Government Act.

That section applies to meetings to discuss contract negotiations.

The meeting is scheduled to get underway at 10:00.

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Deadline Approaching For Red Cross Post-Fiona Help

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The Red Cross says people affected by storm Fiona have until a week from today to register for help.

It says households who have already registered do not need to register again.

The group says it doesn’t give assistance to every registered household and its assistance is intended to help those unable to meet urgent, basic needs because of the storm.

However, it adds Red Cross teams can help provide referrals for community resources, local crisis and mental health supports or other professional support services.

The Red Cross says it’s helped over 88,000 households affected by Fiona in Atlantic Canada.

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