(NB-RCMP-Watchdog)
A police oversight agency has concluded that a New Brunswick R-C-M-P officer did not commit a crime when he engaged with provincial peace officers conducting an impaired driving investigation into his son.
The police watchdog for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia says it investigated after the officer’s son was in a motor vehicle accident in last year that resulted in a driving suspension and an impaired driving investigation.
The agency says the officer spoke to Justice and Public Safety employees working on the file and informed them of his rank with the R-C-M-P, despite supervisors directing him not to.
The watchdog determined the officer had a personal interest in his son’s investigation, but his actions were not dishonest, corrupt or oppressive.
The New Brunswick R-C-M-P says a code of conduct investigation is underway in relation to the incident.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NB-Holt-Speech)
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is expected to lay out the priorities and challenges facing her government in the year ahead today in her second State of the Province address.
Holt recently said her government put a lot of effort into building a foundation for health care in 2025 and patients will start seeing results in 2026.
The premier has also spoken about the challenges the government has faced, including the vulnerability of the province’s forestry sector to U-S tariffs.
In November, the government revealed the deficit had increased to 834.7-million dollars, a 52 per cent increase over the 549-million dollar deficit projected in the March budget.
(The Canadian Press)
(Atlantic Update by The Canadian Press)
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(NL-MUN-Sale)
Newfoundland and Labrador’s only university is selling off several buildings in an effort to cut costs.
Memorial University will put three buildings in St. John’s up for sale, as well as its Harlow Campus in England.
The buildings include the Johnson Geo Centre and the Signal Hill Campus overlooking the St. John’s harbour.
The university administration is trying to cut spending by more than 25-million dollars as it faces shortfalls driven by inflation, aging infrastructure and fewer enrolments.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-AI-Charges)
Police have charged a 69-year-old Halifax man for allegedly using artificial intelligence to make child sexual abuse images.
Police say the investigation began in September and officers arrested the man earlier this week.
The investigation is ongoing but police say they do not believe any real children were involved in the creation of the material.
The man is facing charges of distributing, making and possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Ubisoft-Rally)
A union rally is planned this morning to pressure a video game developer to reopen a Halifax studio that was closed earlier this month.
The Canadian branch of the Communications Workers of America says it has filed a complaint with the Nova Scotia Labour Board accusing Ubisoft of closing the Halifax operation in order to shut down the newly formed union.
The Paris-based video game company has said the closure had nothing to do with a union drive that resulted in 60 employees joining.
The union says Nova Scotia’s labour minister needs to hold the company accountable, since it received 11-million dollars in provincial subsidies.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Blood-Collection)
Canadian Blood Services says it is in desperate need of blood and plasma donations after winter weather disrupted its usual collections.
The organization says in the last six days alone, it has had 15-hundred fewer donations than usual.
It believes severe winter weather and seasonal illnesses are behind the cancelled appointments.
It has also had to cancel 16 donation events this month.
(The Canadian Press)
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