BARRIE —
A devastating rain storm that rocked Atlantic Canada has left washed out roads and flooding along the northeast coasts of Nova Scotia and southwestern Newfoundland.
Efforts are underway now in some areas to assess the damage and reopen vital transportation routes, though officials say cleanup from the storm could take weeks.
Here’s a closer look at what’s happening.
PORT AUX BASQUES
Residents and officials in Port Aux Basques, N.L., are concerned about supply shortages after the heavy rain washed out vital transportation routes.
The small town’s mayor, Brian Button, told CTV’s Your Morning that four different washouts have been reported along the Trans-Canada Highway.
He said provincial officials have not yet been able to make it out to the town to assess the damage because the weather “hasn’t let up enough.”
“But from a conference call it looks like hopefully everybody will be on the ground this morning,” he said.
Button said currently, the biggest concern is accessing health care.
He said Port Aux Basques relies heavily on Corner Brook – a larger city in the area — for a lot of medical services.
However, with roads washed out, Button said accessing those services could be difficult.
“But, we’ve been assured by officials things are being looked after on that end, and we shouldn’t have to worry about things there,” he said.
Button said he is also concerned the town could experience issues getting other supplies too, and has urged residents not to overstock or hoard items.
“Get what you need and we’ll hopefully get by here.”
RECORD RAINFALL
In a tweet Thursday, Environment Canada said the town received 165.1 millimetres of rain over the past two days.
“This sets an all-time record for most rainfall in a two-day period for the southwest coast town,” the tweet read.
Button said once evaluations are complete and the damage can be assessed, officials will devise a recovery and clean-up plan.
“Until that’s done, we really won’t know, and won’t have an idea on how we’re actually going to put all this into motion right now,” he said.
Port aux Basques received 165.1 mm of rain over the past two days. This sets a new all-time record for most rainfall in a two-day period for the southwest coast town. That, and more information about this week’s storm available here: https://t.co/1wYAC04YGV. #NLwxpic.twitter.com/G0kB0mmek1
— ECCC Weather Newfoundland and Labrador (@ECCCWeatherNL) November 25, 2021
SOME FERRY SERVICE RESTORED
Meanwhile, preparations are also underway to temporarily resume the Argentia – North Sydney ferry.
In a press release issued Thursday morning, Marine Atlantic said resuming the ferry service will help provide the province with a marine link to transport both people and “critical supplies.”
“Following a request from the Provincial Government, Marine Atlantic has implemented its contingency plan to temporarily resume the Argentia ferry service,” the notice reads.
The company said the first sailing schedule between North Sydney, N.S. and Argentia, N.L., is scheduled to depart at 5 p.m. Atlantic Time on Thursday.
NOVA SCOTIA
Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, the heavy rain caused damage and washouts in Victoria, Antigonish and Inverness counties.
Speaking to CTV’s Your Morning on Thursday, Jason Mew, director of incident management at Nova Scotia’s emergency management office, said crews are working to assess damage to “several dozen roads” and at least five bridges.
He said they will be reopened as quickly as possible, once it is safe to do so.
Mew said provincial officials are also in touch with municipalities to determine what support is needed and where.
“Right now the provincial co-ordination centre is activated,” he explained. “That’s what we do at the provincial level, we co-ordinate the overall whole of government response for these types of emergencies.”
According to Mew, “a few people” have been evacuated from their homes.
“Presently they’re being taken care of,” he said.
Mew said their homes are being assessed by crews and insurance companies to determine when it will be safe for them to return.
The province is also working with Environment Canada, Mew said, as they wait for water levels to drop so they can ensure work is done in a safe manner.
“We received a lot of rain, in some places up to 280 millimetres,” he said. “So public works and a lot of different departments that are trying to assess some of this damage, it’s just to be able to get in there and do that inspection safely without endangering some of the employees that do that work.”
Mew said his biggest concern right now is reopening roadways.
“A lot of the roads that have been washed away, we do have another way of getting around,” he said. “But it’s always nice to have the main roads open as quickly as possible just in case someone requires to get somewhere quickly.”
Speaking at a press conference Thursday morning, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said the damage from the storm in the province is “significant.”
“It’s probably at least $7 million,” he said. “So we’ll trigger federal programming [and] we’ll do what we can to help people return to normal.”
Houston said there have been “some improvements” in cleanup efforts, even in the past day.
“But there’s a lot of work to be done to rebuild, repair, restore. Some of that is provincial responsibility, some of that is federal,” he said.
Houston said Canada’s Minister of National Defence Anita Anand reached out to him “immediately ” regarding aid.
“We don’t think that’s necessary now,” he said. “But I will tell you the lines of communication are open [and] we’ll trigger the federal programs and we’ll do what’s necessary to support those Nova Scotians that need it.”
FEDS ‘STANDING BY’ TO HELP
In a tweet Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his support to Atlantic Canada.
“I know this isn’t easy to go through and I know you’re worried,” he wrote. “We’ve got your back – and we’re standing by to provide any assistance you and your community may need. Please, stay safe.”
To the people of Atlantic Canada, who are dealing with extreme weather conditions: I know this isn’t easy to go through, and I know you’re worried. We’ve got your back – and we’re standing by to provide any assistance you and your community may need. Please, stay safe.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
