Halifax-Mayor-Expenses)
Halifax’s auditor general says police are investigating expenses filed by Mayor Andy Filmore’s office after an audit showed four transactions worth a total of 111-thousand dollars did not comply with municipal policies.
Andrew Atherton says the largest expense was filed last year after the mayor’s offence hired a human resources consultant to help with hiring staff, which was supposed to cost 50-thousand dollars — but the final bill was 90-thousand dollars.
Atherton says the contract for the work was negotiated directly with the consultant without any invitations for competitive bids, as required by municipality’s regular procurement process.
Fillmore says he personally repaid some of the other expenses and assured council Monday that his staff has received training on how to properly handle future procurement.
As well, he says the four transactions were filed during early in his term as mayor and were moved through established municipal administrative approval processes — including signoff from senior administration officials.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NB-Housing-Support)
Three levels of government are spending 1.8-million dollars to build water and sewer infrastructure for a new housing development in western New Brunswick.
The provincial government announced the funding yesterday, which includes money from Ottawa and the Town of Grand Falls.
Provincial Environment Minister Gilles LePage says the funding will contribute to the development of 40 housing units.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NL-Food-Banks)
The Newfoundland and Labrador government says the 250-thousand dollars it earned from selling off American products at provincial liquor stores will be handed to the province’s food banks.
The province says the donation will go to the Community Food Sharing Association, which supports 60 food banks that serve more than 15-thousand people each month.
The donation is in addition to the 500-thousand dollars the province gave food banks in December, funds that also came from profits earned from sales of American booze.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Youth-Weapons)
R-C-M-P in Halifax have arrested two youths after responding to a weapons complaint in Fall River.
Police say the pair were arrested Friday after officers learned that one youth had pointed a gun at another before fleeing the area.
No injuries were reported.
A search warrant was executed Saturday and a long-barreled airsoft gun and airsoft handgun were seized.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NB-Murder-Trial) CHECK FOR DATING
A jury in New Brunswick has started deliberations following the double-murder trial of a man accused of killing two boys in Saint John.
The 12 jurors were sequestered yesterday after closing arguments from the Crown and defence.
Roman Kamyshny is accused in the stabbing deaths of a 10 year old and a 17 year old in January 2025.
The 46-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges.
(CBC News)
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(NS-School-Lunch-Program)
Nova Scotia is expanding its school lunch program to high schools, beginning this fall.
The pay-what-you-can lunch program is already in place at elementary and middle schools, and will be available at all public schools in September.
Responding to student feedback, the province says the program will add new meal options like chicken caesar wraps, chicken fried rice, ramen-style noodles and salads.
It also says high school students will have access to larger portion sizes.
(The Canadian Press)
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(Atlantic Update by The Canadian Press)
