Wasp in fatal encounter with David Eby on B.C. campaign trail

The Nova Scotia government is dedicating almost $22 million for a suite of sustainable development and energy efficiency programs.

In its announcement, the province says the funding is to support the net-zero construction sector.

The province says the money will fund an affordable rental construction pilot program with $6.4 million to encourage private and non-profit developers to build net-zero affordable housing.

The investment includes $13.5 million to top up an existing program that funds energy efficiency improvements — as long as the housing provider commits to long-term affordable rent.

Nova Scotia is also putting $600,000 toward energy efficiency evaluations at no charge for new homes built outside the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Housing Minister John Lohr says the money will help the province build more energy efficient homes and help the province meet its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.

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Quebec provincial police arrested a man in connection with the disappearance of 29-year-old Kelsey Watt, who was reported missing over the weekend southwest of Montreal.

Police say they found a woman’s body today near Watt’s home in Hemmingford, Que., adding that an autopsy has been ordered.

Later in the day, investigators with the crimes against persons unit arrested a man in his 30s in connection with her disappearance.

Police say in a statement they are attempting to clarify the man’s involvement in the case.

Watt was last seen about 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 in Hemmingford, a town on the Quebec-U.S. border about 50 kilometres southwest of Montreal.

A vast search for the missing woman took place over the weekend involving provincial police patrol officers, specialized police units, local firefighters and the RCMP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says its offer of financial aid to the province’s wine industry is still on the table, despite it being rejected by grape growers.

During a briefing today, officials from the Finance Department said the offer presented to an industry working group last week is fair and compliant with international trade rules.

The offer increases payments to wineries by an additional $1.6 million — for a total of $6.6 million per year — and it gives payments capped at up to $1 million per year to the province’s two commercial wine bottlers.

The department says the funding amounts to a 65-35 per cent split — a ratio based on the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation’s acquisition costs for wines from local wineries and wines from the province’s commercial bottlers.

Officials say the new funding will not take effect by the proposed Oct. 1 date because the wineries don’t want the money, although the government is set to continue talks.

Wine growers say commercial bottlers shouldn’t receive public money, arguing that the province’s offer would effectively subsidize foreign grape juice at the expense of Nova Scotia-grown grapes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.