(WEA-Atl-Storm)
Winter storm warnings remain in effect for much of Atlantic Canada.
A huge, slow-moving storm is expected to linger over most of Nova Scotia and eastern P-E-I today before heading into Newfoundland and Labrador.
Northern and eastern Nova Scotia — including Cape Breton — are expected to get another 5 to 15 centimetres of blowing snow today, with more in the forecast for the Cape Breton Highlands — and another 5 to 10 centimetres in eastern P-E-I.
Southern and eastern Newfoundland can expect between 15 and 25 centimetres of snow by tonight, and in eastern Labrador wind gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour could create blowing snow and poor visibility.
(The Canadian Press)
—
(NB-Health Boards)
The New Brunswick government says it’s bringing back elected members to the boards of its regional health authorities.
The boards used to have both elected and appointed members but the former Progressive Conservative government eliminated them in 2022, moving to fully-appointed boards the following year.
The current Liberal government says a recent court decision found the change failed to consider Charter rights.
Health Minister John Dornan says consultations with health authorities and other officials will begin soon with the elections expected in 2030.
(The Canadian Press)
—
(NS-School-Closures)
Many public schools in Nova Scotia are closed today due to snowy conditions.
The province remained under an Environment Canada snowfall warning this morning, and many flights are delayed out of the Halifax airport.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality says transit would not be running this morning, and municipal offices are closed until at least 1 p-m.
Most Nova Scotia Community College campuses and universities have delayed their opening or are closed for the day.
(CBC News)
—
(NS-AG-Health)
The Nova Scotia auditor general says public reporting on the provincial health system needs improvement.
Kim Adair released a new report this morning saying that changes need to be made so taxpayers can see if their multi-billion-dollar investment in health care is paying off.
The government’s 2022 action for health plan promised to provide regular progress reports on the number of doctors and nurses in the province and access to primary health care and long-term care.
Adair says the report identified transparency concerns and says that caution and context are needed to understand the province’s reporting on its health-care progress.
(The Canadian Press)
—
(NL-Water-Bomber)
Newfoundland and Labrador will soon have a fifth water bomber back in service after almost eight years on the shelf.
The C-L-415 water bomber was damaged back in 2018 when it hit a rock in a lake on the Burin Peninsula.
The government announced a 17-million contract to fix it last year.
The government says it will be back in operation in time for this year’s wildfire season, but there’s been no decision on where it will be stationed.
(CBC News)
—
(NS-Canso Causeway)
Wildlife advocates are calling for changes to the Canso Causeway connecting Cape Breton to mainland Nova Scotia after the death of an endangered leatherback turtle.
The Canadian Sea Turtle Network says the causeway and its tidal lock are disrupting the endangered species’ migration patterns, with a long detour around Cape Breton Island the only alternative route.
One G-P-S-tracked turtle named Diana died from exhaustion and hypothermia in 2024 after trying to cross the Canso Strait nine times, reveal emails from federal officials.
The provincial government says enhancements for ocean animal passage will be included if the causeway needs expansion or reconstruction in the future.
(CBC News)
(Atlantic Update by The Canadian Press)
