(NB-Vacant-Buildings)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A city councillor in Saint John, New Brunswick, wants the province to introduce a tax on empty properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brent Harris runs a non-profit called Vacant-To-Vibrant, which acquires empty properties and brings them back to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says new life is possible for the majority of the city\u2019s vacant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Saint John told C-B-C News that it is monitoring 175 vacant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over 90 per cent are residential properties.
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(PEI-US-Booze)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American alcohol will be back on liquor store shelves in Prince Edward Island today as the province sells off its stockpile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The island\u2019s liquor commission says they have 44-thousand units of liquor available, worth about 3-point-two million dollars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finance Minister Jill Burridge says that should net the province about 600-thousand dollars in profits, which they plan to donate to island food banks beginning in January. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
P.E.I. is the latest province to announce plans to sell off its American stockpile and donate the proceeds, following Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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(NS-Power-Inflated-Bills)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nova Scotia\u2019s largest electric utility will hold a public meeting later today to answer ratepayers\u2019 questions about how the company has estimated power bills since a cybersecurity breach shut down automated meter readings in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nova Scotia Power has faced intense criticism from customers who say their estimated bills have been unfairly inflated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The privately owned utility says the first in a series of public sessions will be held this afternoon in Yarmouth at the fire hall on Pleasant Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company\u2019s director of customer care, Chris Lanteigne, is expected to speak to the media before the session begins at 1:30 p-m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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(NL-Double Homicide)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police in Newfoundland and Labrador say two suspicious deaths in St. John\u2019s are being investigated as homicides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says two men aged 38 and 53 were found dead inside an Aldershot Street home on December 1st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No arrests have been made, though investigators say there is nothing suggesting the attacks were random.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet determined how they died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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(NS-NDP-Affordability)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Nova Scotia N-D-P are calling on government to ramp up support to community groups that provide those in need with food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The party cited the recently released Canada’s Food Price Report which estimates a family of four will pay on average one-thousand-dollars more on groceries next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
N-D-P member Susan Leblanc wrote to ministers calling on them to set up a plan for stable, predictable funding for community groups that are providing affordable food to Nova Scotians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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(PEI-Gun-Buyback)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charlottetown won\u2019t be using police resources to take part in the federal government\u2019s assault-style firearm buyback program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
City Council voted 10-0 not to participate in the program during a regular meeting last night, contrary to a staff recommendation to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 75 people showed up to speak out against the program and against any city participation in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheers and clapping erupted in the council chamber and from an overflow room when the vote was taken. (CBC News)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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