Labour Market News

Want to find out more about local or provincial labour market history? The labour market news archive may be a good place to start.

In this section, you can browse archived news titles, whose links are no longer functional, for up to one year from the current date. The archived news can help you understand the labour market trends in geographic areas and industries that are of interest to you.

• Week of 2024-05-10 to 2024-05-16

  • The N.S. Government has announced eight critical water, wastewater and emergency management projects in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality through the Municipal Capital Growth Program, a one-time $102M investment in projects across Nova Scotia.

    novascotia.ca

  • The NS College of Social Workers says workload and a lack of feeling valued contribute to challenges recruiting and retaining social workers in the province. The salary range is $56,518-$87,487 with social workers in N.S. paid at the low end of the scale nationally when starting out and then the higher end at 5-10 years experience.

    cbc.ca

  • Mount Saint Vincent University has announced it is partnering with the provincial and federal governments on a $10M expansion for its new child-care centre. The centre will allow for expanded teaching and research opportunities and create an additional 82 spaces, 32 of which will be dedicated to infants.

    cbc.ca

  • Cape Breton University is pushing ahead with plans for a new medical school that is on track to open in the fall of 2025, despite concern by local doctors about their ability to take on new teaching duties due to the ongoing shortage of family physicians and specialists. Detailed plans for recruiting staff are expected soon.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced the opening of a $25M state-of-the-art ocean federal research facility on the campus of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth. The Facility for Intelligent Marine Systems can accommodate 45-50 federal researchers and employees from various departments.

    canada.ca

  • Dalhousie University’s Creative Destruction Lab - Atlantic, will receive a 5-year provincial investment of $250k/year ($1.5M total) to support scalable science and technology start-up companies through programming, mentorship, education and networking.

    novascotia.ca

  • A report released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) states that Canada needs more and better training for truck drivers. Canada has Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT), but it isn’t implemented across all provinces and minimum training can vary.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-05-03 to 2024-05-09

  • To help address the demand for Medical Laboratory Technologists, the N.S Community College is increasing the number of seats in its training program from 40 to 60 this September. This follows last year’s introduction of a second training program program for up to 40 people in partnership with the Michener Institute of Education at University Health Network.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Villa Madina (Sackville), Downtown Village Lounge (Halifax), Kababji (Dartmouth), Gold Star Chicken (Bedford), EFES Turkish (Bedford), Torrid (Dartmouth) and Popeyes (Dartmouth); Closures: Curry Village (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • Premium Seafoods, a large N.S. seafood company, has stopped aquaculture operations after frustration with slow government processing of shellfish leases. In 2021, N.S. oyster farming was valued at $4.7M and mussels at $1.2M, considerably lower than P.E.I.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $650k for Dalhousie University’s Emera ideaHUB to enable them to add a spring cohort to its ideaBUILD program that will double the number of advanced technology startups for the next 3 years. Half of the new enrolments will be focused on biomedical technologies.

    novascotia.ca

  • The federal government has rejected N.S.’s plea to allow private daycare operators to tap into the $605M daycare expansion fund. Private operators make up about 55% of the province's daycare sector. A $25M provincial infrastructure program has been announced for new construction or major renovations to create new child-care spaces.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $3M in funding for the new Nova Scotia Centre for Curling Excellence facility to be built in Timberlea in Halifax Regional Municipality. It will become the new home of the Mayflower Curling Club with eight ice surfaces and at a total project cost of $22M.

    novascotia.ca

  • A heritage building in downtown Dartmouth will be the site of a new 26-storey high-rise development that will create 142 housing units, commercial space, and public seating. Halkirk Properties Inc. is the developer behind the project. Construction is expected to take 2.5 years.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC) reports that in the first three months of 2024, P.E.I. and N.S. had three times the number of apartment starts compared to N.B. Back in September, both P.E.I. and N.S. eliminated sales tax on new rental construction.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $9.8M in funding to Springboard Atlantic. Made up of 19 Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions, the group brings researchers and industry together to commercialize ideas in key sectors like advanced manufacturing, ocean sustainability and clean energy.

    canada.ca

  • WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association have reached a tentative collective agreement. The union represents around 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and skilled trade groups, who will need to ratify the deal with the airline.

    citynews.ca

  • East Coast artists say it’s a difficult time to make money in music. Artists are seeing rising expenses, while people have less disposable income to support developing artists. Some tour, sell CDs, or get their music in movies, TV and games to earn money.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-26 to 2024-05-02

  • It Takes a Village Child Care Centre is opening a second location in Hammonds Plains this summer that is expected to create about 75 new child-care spaces for toddlers and preschool-aged children. The centre received $275k in provincial funding for renovations to the space.

    novascotia.ca

  • Non-binding offers were made to buy all or part of SaltWire Network Inc., including some who want to keep the business running. The media companies employ about 800 independent contractors and 390 staff. Binding offers will be required by May 24.

    cbc.ca

  • Coverage began May 1 for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for seniors 70 years and older, which will eventually cover about 25% of Canadian residents without private dental plans. Until July, only dentists that have signed up can provide services.

    cbc.ca

  • Ottawa will cap work hours at 24 hours a week this September, for international students who work while studying. The prior 20-hour cap had been temporarily waived, but there were concerns that study permits could be used as unofficial work visas.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $5.6M in infrastructure funding for wastewater system upgrades and sidewalks in Lunenburg County. Funding is also coming from the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg ($6.5M) and the Town of Lunenburg ($187k).

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced funding to improve trails and community infrastructure in Lunenburg County. Grant recipients include Dynamite Trail Association ($1.8M) and the Town of Mahone Bay ($1M).

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Noor’s Mediterranean Kitchen (Peggys Cove), Sip n’ Dine (Halifax), Franyz Kitchen (Halifax) and Crown Appliance Plus (Cole Harbour); Closures: Salvation Army (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $1M in funding to Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in Cape Breton, Halifax Regional Municipality, Annapolis Valley and South Shore to support community-based and in-school youth mentoring programs. Each will receive a one-time investment of $250,000.

    novascotia.ca

  • Between January and March 2024, N.S. recorded 2,158 new housing starts, compared to 827 during the same time-period in 2023. The majority of the starts are multi-unit apartment buildings in the Halifax area. The industry continues to face a labour shortage.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced that 30 new paramedics are coming to the province from Australia in the next year following the first-ever health-care recruitment effort there. The first 13 will arrive in July with the rest starting in early 2025.

    ctvnews.ca

  • A child-care centre operated by the YMCA of Cape Breton, will be part of the new Nova Scotia Community College campus in Sydney when it opens in September. The centre will provide 50 child-care spaces for the community, with priority given to students and employees at the new campus.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced funding to improve trails and community infrastructure in the Chester-St. Margarets Bay Area. Grant recipients include St. Margaret's Bay Area Rails to Trails Association ($1.3M) and the Municipality of the District of Chester ($1M).

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced close to $4.4M in funding with an additional $4.6M contributed by the Town of Wolfville, the Municipality of the County of Kings, the Town of Kentville and the Village of New Minas for upgrades to water, wastewater and sidewalks.

    novascotia.ca

  • Canada's biofuel industry is welcoming $1.27B in proposed federal funding to help build new biofuel facilities, better compete with U.S. subsidies and reduce dependence on U.S. imports. There is currently $10B worth of operational or biofuel facilities being built in Canada.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-19 to 2024-04-25

  • N.S. Power has estimated a scaled-down version of the Atlantic Loop project at $700M. The electrical grid project to carry power from renewable energy projects between N.S. and N.B. received environmental approval in 2023, but no start date has been set.

    citynews.ca

  • An arbitration decision has awarded unionized RCMP officers an 8% salary increase over two years. The increase will apply to 20,000 RCMP members ranging from constable to staff sergeant major. A constable could earn up to $106,576 as of April 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $2.25M in funding towards the new $8.2M wastewater treatment plant and related infrastructure for the Municipality of Chester. The upgrade will allow sustainable service delivery for current properties and new development in the area.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Magnolia, Water Polo(Bertossi group), Johny’s, Tribute, e-joy Asian Market, Mak 902 and ASIA (all in Halifax) and Herbs (West Bedford). The Cunard (the new building beside Bishop’s Landing will also bring 6 new eateries to the Halifax waterfront this summer.

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $6.1M in funding for new water storage tank infrastructure in Three Mile Plains that will service Windsor and the West Hants Regional Municipality. It will increase water capacity to address the population growth and development the area is experiencing.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Halifax Regional Municipality approved its 2024-25 budget which includes a $1.04B operating budget and a $306.5M capital budget. Halifax Regional Police received funding for 22 new positions while the RCMP received funding for 6 officers. It also includes funding for community safety program positions including 10 new crossing guards.

    cbc.ca

  • Health Canada has released more details about the new federal dental-care plan and now states that dentists do not have to opt into the program. Dental offices will be able to submit digital dental plan claims through their existing software as well.

    Moncton Times & Transcript
• Week of 2024-04-12 to 2024-04-18

  • The N.S. Government has announced an aquaculture pilot project the Argyle Aquaculture Development Area, in the Municipality of the District of Argyle, that is expected to save industry time with pre-approved sites for growing shellfish and marine plants. In 2022, N.S. aquaculture was valued at $158M and directly employed about 800 people.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Maritime Fins (Cole Harbour), Sage and Sweetgrass (Halifax), Fresh Slice (Halifax), A Pria Café and Deli (Halifax), NH CAFÉ (Bedford Highway), Mr Gonzalez Mexican Cuisine (Eastern Passage), Wonder World (Hammonds Plains), Gong Cha (Halifax), and Sushi Wave (Halifax); Closures: Incandescent (Dartmouth) and Shanxi Paoma (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • All N.S. hospitals will have virtual urgent care stations in place by June in an attempt to address the issues caused by staffing shortages in the Canadian health-care system, which increasingly sees patients without access to primary care show up in emergency rooms for relatively simple health issues.

    cbc.ca

  • Tacoma Family Medicine (Dartmouth) has closed its walk-in clinic as of April 14, 2024 citing that they could no longer keep up with the increasing demand. The family practice will continue, but they will not be accepting any new patients, and at least 2 administrative workers will be laid off.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia Power has applied to regulators for permission to spend $31M for an electrical upgrade at the Michelin Tire plant at Waterville.

    cbc.ca

  • Alberta-based energy company, Pieridae Energy, is hoping to sell the permit from its abandoned Goldboro LNG plant on the Eastern Shore to the Simply Blue Group, a sustainable ocean-energy developer in Ireland. The sale could breathe new life into 108 hectares of undeveloped coastal industrial land.

    cbc.ca

  • Over 122,000 N.S. seniors without dental coverage could benefit from the new Canadian Dental Care Plan but challenges continue to exist as only 4 dentists in the province currently signed on, citing program and cost concerns. Most dentists are facing staffing shortages and capacity challenges regarding new patients.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $476k in funding spread over 3 years to fund a new municipal coastal protection co-ordinator position in response to concerns from municipalities that they do not have the in-house expertise to oversee coastal protection.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced a total combined provincial/municipal investment of $3.2M for wastewater upgrades in Pictou County to support growth in the community of Salem.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced a total combined provincial/municipal investment of $21.5M to extend water and wastewater service in Queens County to support the new 325 home build project in the Mount Pleasant area of Liverpool.

    novascotia.ca

  • A new 48-room long-term care home, Kiknu, celebrated its opening on April 17, 2024 in Eskasoni, the first in N.S. to be built in a First Nation community. Owned in partnership by Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation and Shannex, the home is part of N.S.’s plan to build 5,700 new and improved long-term care rooms by 2032.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. and N.B. governments have signed an agreement to formalize their partnership on the Chignecto Isthmus dyke land connecting the two provinces in advance of the massive $400M 10-year construction project that falls along the Trans-Canada Highway and includes the rail link and fibre optics/electricity infrastructure.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-05 to 2024-04-11

  • Sustainable Blue, a land-based salmon farm in Centre Burlington, was placed in receivership this month. An equipment malfunction last November led to the loss of 96,000 Atlantic salmon worth $5M, which had a significant impact on operations and revenue.

    cbc.ca

  • Fishermen in Atlantic Canada will vote this spring on whether to match the U.S. in increasing the minimum size limit of lobster they catch. Maine will increase its size limit to 84mm in 2025, then 86mm in 2027. Lobsters below that limit cannot be sold in the U.S.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers will hold a strike vote next week after contract talks stalled last September. The 9,000 members have been without a contract for two years, and issues include wages, job security, and access to telework.

    thewave.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Pizza Fiamma, Beirut Way Convenience & Lebanese Market, and Metro Mart (Halifax), Hot Topic and Steve Madden (Halifax Shopping Centre), Bar Burrito (Tantallon), Bunker On The Basin (Bedford), The Mattress Man (Porters Lake); Closures: T-Kettle (Dartmouth), en Vie and Tribeca (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced a new $3.2M student bursary fund that will support 320 students to train in high-demand construction trades programs at the N.S. Community College as part of the province’s plan to grow its skilled trades workforce. Applications are open until July 18.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $8.4M over the next several years to establish 8 new Integrated Youth Services sites including Amherst, Bridgewater, New Glasgow, Halifax (north-end and west-end), Sydney and Eskasoni. The first sites are expected to open in early 2025.

    novascotia.ca

  • The 52 unit tiny-home community for homeless people in Lower Sackville is running behind schedule, but expect to welcome the first residents in the fall. The N.S. government states it will spend $9.4M initially, along with $935K in annual operating costs.

    cbc.ca

  • Provincial Energy Ventures in Sydney Harbour, is being renamed the Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal and will offer marshalling services for huge steel parts for offshore wind turbines. The pier will still deal in coal, but is transitioning to new energy forms.

    cbc.ca

  • Although 1.6M seniors have signed up for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which is set to provide coverage next month, sign-up by dentists appears to be slow. Dentists state they are concerned with the paperwork required and lack of details.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-29 to 2024-04-04

  • The province has released the number of international students that can apply to each N.S. university in 2024. Cape Breton University, Mount Saint Vincent, and Université Ste-Anne are expected to be particularly hit hard financially by the reduction.

    cbc.ca

  • Unifor states that a new three-year agreement has been reached between the 240 Autoport workers it represents and the CN Autoport facility in Eastern Passage. The contract will see wage increases, lump-sum bonuses, and vacation and pension improvements.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Halifax councillors have finalized this year's budget, which will see 15 new firefighters for Hammonds Plains and six new RCMP officers for the Halifax area.

    cbc.ca

  • The Municipality of the County of Colchester has approved a $1B housing project that is being headed by Five Corners Properties. The development proposes to build 3,000 new residential units in Bible Hill within the next 10 years.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will commit $6B in new funding for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. Provinces will be able to access the money if certain conditions are met such as expanding infrastructure and allowing more multi-unit buildings and homes.

    cbc.ca

  • All four Atlantic Canadian provinces increased their minimum wage hourly rate on April 1. Newfoundland and Labrador now has the highest minimum wage at $15.60, followed by P.E.I. at $15.40, N.B. at $15.30, and N.S. at $15.20.

    globalnews.ca

  • Bramble Café has opened a vegan café at Agricola Street, while PZZA.co has opened at 858 Sackville Drive. City Shawarma is coming to Farnham Gate, while Bismillah Butcher and Deli will open in Bayers Lake, and Great Hobbies will open at Dartmouth Crossing.

    retales.ca

  • Ottawa announced over a $1B in early childhood education (ECE) initiatives as part of its 2024 budget. It will expand loans and grants for public and non-profit child-care providers to expand or renovate, train more ECEs, and increase student loan forgiveness.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2024-03-22 to 2024-03-28

  • A new report by the committee for the regional assessment of offshore wind development in N.S. says the province is likely 7-10 years away from an operating offshore wind farm and recommends 6 potential development areas including Sydney Bight, Canso Bank, Sable Island Bank and the Eastern Shore.

    cbc.ca

  • The largest healthcare construction project in N.S.’s history, The QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, is now underway. This phase of the project will cost the province $254M and is expected to create over 1,000 jobs for tradespeople and specialized workers.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Bramble Café (Halifax), Crescent Gold & Diamonds (Bedford), Simons (Halifax Shopping Centre), and Shajeela’s Kitchen (Bedford); Closures: Bedford Basin Farmers Market and Café (Bedford), Carter’s/Osh Kosh (Bedford), PMQ (Halifax), and The Source (Park Lane/Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • After boom times for craft breweries in N.S., many are experiencing challenging times citing the pandemic, interest rates, and inflation. Serpent Brewing (Spryfield) closed in 2023 and Off Track Brewing (Bedford) is closing soon while two other Halifax area breweries are planning to sell or restructure.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government and Shannex are partnering to expand and enhance the transitional care centre in West Bedford. Shannex will purchase the facility and lands for $46M and take over renovations and construction in April and build a 110-room addition.

    novascotia.ca

  • Some N.S. psychologists and psychiatrists have raised pay inequity and retention concerns over a provincial pilot program meant to address the growing autism and ADHD testing waitlist. Autism assessment costs by psychologists are $750 (public sector) compared to $4k (private sector). N.S. Health employs 96 psychologists with 31 vacancies.

    cbc.ca

  • The restructuring plan for Saltwire, which owns newspapers across Atlantic Canada, has been approved by a N.S. judge after seeking creditor protection due to insolvency. Headline Promotions, a Saltwire-owned company not directly related to the newspaper business, will layoff its 10 employees.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association wants to recruit and train more foreign-trained veterinarians, as well as establish a testing centre for internationally educated vets. The industry is struggling with labour shortages and mental health issues.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The national minimum wage will increase from $16.65 up to $17.30 an hour on April 1, a 3.9% cost of living increase. This applies to all federally regulated businesses and will affect about 30,000 employees nationwide.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2024-03-15 to 2024-03-21

  • A new report by the recruitment firm Hays says 71% of Canadian workers want to leave their job and find a better opportunity this year. The Hays report states that nearly half are unmotivated to work, and are dissatisfied in their role, pay and benefits.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Nova Scotia Teachers Union is set to hold a strike vote on April 11 after 10 months of negotiations with the provincial government. The union represents nearly 10,000 public school teachers and specialists. Schools have been challenged by a shortage of teachers and substitute teachers.

    cbc.ca

  • Bridgewater's only movie theatre, managed under the Cineplex Cinemas brand for the last 11 years, will close permanently on April 29, 2024. The next closest cinema will be an hour away in Halifax.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has paused the newly announced provincial program supporting commercial wine producers after concern around the potential impact on local grape growers. The subsidy would help Ontario-based Peller Estates and Devonian Coast cut costs and reduce prices, putting homegrown wines at a disadvantage.

    cbc.ca

  • N.S. Nurses' Union says "unsustainable pressure" is pushing people out of the profession and discouraging new entrants. There is currently a 16.5% vacancy rate, with 1,000 openings just in N.S. Health and the province spent $126M on private nursing agencies to bolster staffing numbers in 2023-24.

    cbc.ca

  • The North Sydney Recovery Support Centre officially opened on March 19, 2024. The new addictions centre is staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including a nurse practitioner, physician, nurse rehabilitation counsellors, community outreach workers and administrative staff.

    novascotia.ca

  • Doctors are facing extreme burnout amid a labour shortage that could worsen with about 25% of family physicians in N.S aged 60+. As of March 4, there were 213 physician vacancy job postings in N.S., 129 of them in family medicine, while about 156k people are on the primary care waitlist.

    citynews.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Jake’s Family Restaurant (Halifax), Herbs Indian Vegetarian & Vegan Feast (West Bedford), Simons (Halifax); Closures: The Harbour Brewing Company (Musquodoboit Harbour), Off Track Brewing (Bedford), Meadowbrook Meat Market storefront (Dartmouth) and Little Jo’s Pizza (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • Halifax Regional Municipality recently approved major improvements to the Dartmouth waterfront that could lead to new development, public spaces, cruise ships and new connections across the CN Rail line. A consultant will be hired to create the waterfront plan which will include public consultation.

    cbc.ca

  • Membertou First Nation (Cape Breton) has funding to build a record number of new homes in the community but are experiencing challenges by the widespread shortage of contractors and skilled tradespeople and the increased demand for housing. Community colleges have been working to attract and train new tradepeople.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia Community College has reached a tentative agreement with faculty and support staff averting a potential strike at the college. Details of the agreement will be released upon ratification.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $391,545 in funding to Aurea Technologies (Dartmouth) to support sales, marketing, and production of its portable wind turbine, Shine. The startup currently has 10 employees and contractors.

    canada.ca

  • An agreement has been signed between the Governments of Canada and Germany to establish a trade program to sell hydrogen produced in N.L. and N.S., with exports beginning as early as 2025. Currently, Everwind's Point Tupper (NS) has passed environmental assessments while World Energy GH2 (NL) is still awaiting approval.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-08 to 2024-03-14

  • Three Nova Scotia municipalities are receiving $9.1M in federal housing funding to fast-track the construction of over 500 homes over 3 years. These include Kings County ($6M for 220 new units), Chester ($2M for 200 new units) and the Town of Lunenburg ($1.1M for 135 units).

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia's Department of Labour has cleared the Donkin underground coal mine for year-round operation after an 8-month shutdown due to roof falls in the main access tunnel. Mine owners Kameron Coal have not yet indicated their plans.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government has decided to cancel the 2024 Maritime elver season for harvesting baby eels, as it was unable to control illegal fishing. Fisheries and Oceans states it needs more time to put in regulations to crack down on the illegal harvest.

    cbc.ca

  • The trucking industry in Atlantic Canada wants the government to do more about companies that employ drivers as independent contractors. This practice allows companies to make more money because the drivers don’t get benefits like sick days or overtime.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia’s first class of emergency medical responders have started their studies with Medavie HealthEd this month. The 14 students will graduate at the end of May, the first of 200 emergency medical responders who will be trained over the next 2 years. The next group begins in June.

    novascotia.ca

  • N.S. Health has reported about 153k people waiting for a doctor on the family practice registry as of Feb. 1, more than double 2021 numbers. Approximately 10% of those have been on the list for over 3 years. Challenges vary by area but key driving factors include population growth and practices closing.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $14M in joint federal/provincial funding to establish a network of new trails and reconstructed sidewalks in Inverness to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety and increase connectivity and walkability.

    canada.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: TNDude (Spryfield), The Sandman Signature Hotel and Denny’s/BarOne (Dartmouth), Silken Swim, Levantic Bakery, and Bollywood Bar & Lounge (Bedford), Chai Samosa, Buddy’s Deli, Kings Pier Vintage and Winners (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The Association of N.S. Midwives says demand for their services has been rising for years but has not been reflected in provincial funding levels and are pushing for increased funding for more positions. There are currently 16 midwives employed at 3 provincial sites (Halifax, Lunenburg, and Antigonish).

    cbc.ca

  • SaltWire Network Inc., the owner of 23 Atlantic Canada newspapers, has filed for creditor protection with $94M in debt. The company has 14 weekly papers, as well as the Chronicle Herald and Cape Breton Post in N.S., the Telegram in N.L., and the Guardian in P.E.I.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $3.1M in funding (Year 1) for 16 community-based organizations for projects that address gender-based violence including Elizabeth Fry Society, Antigonish Women’s Centre, N.S. Native Women’s Association, Africadian Empowerment Academy and Coverdale Justice Society.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced combined federal/provincial/municipal funding of $1.1M for Barrington to improve its wastewater treatment infrastructure.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2024-03-01 to 2024-03-07

  • The Town of Yarmouth has bought the former visitor information centre property from the N.S. Government and will be having public consultations on what to do with the property. With Yarmouth’s housing shortage, there is discussion that it could be used for a housing project.

    cbc.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: Better Golf (Hammonds Plains) and PetSmart (Halifax Shopping Centre).

    retales.ca

  • The Body Shop Canada will close nearly one third of its 105 Canadian locations, with four Martime locations closing in in Saint John, Dieppe, Sydney, and Truro. The company is seeking creditor protection and has closed all of its U.S. operations.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Halifax Regional Police will add 22 new positions this year to deal with staff shortages and population growth. The officer positions include 1 for the hate crime unit, 4 for community response, 2 for the police science training program, 2 for security checks, 1 for employee and family assistance, and 12 front-line patrol officers.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government is expanding its physician incentive programs to encourage more doctors to practise in the province. Qualifying physicians who establish a practice in the Central Zone can earn up to $75k in incentives while those outside the Central Zone are eligible for up to $125k.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $6,437,005 in funding through the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund to four Cape Breton organizations to help establish comfort centres and upgrade facilities to improve emergency preparedness, and assist companies with storm-related repairs.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $2.1M in funding to The Tomorrow’s Legends, a non-profit organization based in Sydney, to convert a former hockey arena to a solar-powered, net-zero state of the art multisport facility.

    canada.ca

  • Combined Federal ($155.7M), Provincial ($65M) and Municipal ($38M) Government funding was announced to build the Mill Cove Ferry Service for travel between Bedford and downtown Halifax. The project will include five electric ferries, two terminals and a maintenance facility.

    novascotia.ca

  • Combined Federal, Provincial and Municipal Government funding of over $17.7M was announced for 5 infrastructure projects in 3 communities in Pictou County to improve their capacity to manage wastewater and drinking water.

    canada.ca

  • N.S. wineries are concerned about the impact a new provincial program supporting commercial wine producers could have on local grape growers. The program would give $6-12M to 2 wine bottling companies that can purchase their grapes from outside Nova Scotia. The province’s wine sector adds $250M to the economy annually and sustains 1,100 jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government is providing one-time funding of $1M to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia’s Community Grant Program, which funds charities, community groups and organizations for projects focused on mental health services and supports.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia’s 2024-25 provincial budget shows an increase of 128 funded full-time staff for the disability support program. About 70 positions will be people moving from other parts of government while the rest are new jobs. The increase follows 77 new positions that were added in 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • The Faculty Association and Mount Saint Vincent University have reached a tentative agreement ending the current strike, which included full-time faculty, librarians and lab instructors. University staff were among the lowest paid in the province and asked for wage parity with other Atlantic universities.

    cbc.ca

  • HRM is considering funding 15 new full-time firefighter positions for Upper Tantallon to address staff shortages. Training for new recruits will begin in February 2025. Construction will begin soon on the new $40M fire station and headquarters in Bedford West with completion slated for spring 2026.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. government has issued two warnings to Emergency Medical Care, about poor ambulance service in recent months. The main issue appears to be a lack of staff, despite spending millions to upgrade the fleet, a new contact, and more training spots.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-23 to 2024-02-29

  • A veteran seafood analyst states that seafood exports from Nova Scotia to China have grown from $25M in 2007 to $666M in 2021, with most of that growth in lobster. In the early 2010s the Maritimes had an excess of lobster and targeted the market in Asia.

    cbc.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: PZZA.co (Sackville), Fishiam Sushi & Bubble Tea (Halifax), Kibo Sushi (Halifax), and Pazzo (Halifax); Closures: Centrall (Halifax Shopping Centre).

    retales.ca

  • St. John's-based Ocean Choice International (OCI) has sold its offshore scallop quota to three Nova Scotia companies. The value of the quota is estimated to be $200M and was purchased by Comeau's Sea Foods, LaHave Seafoods and Mersey Seafoods.

    cbc.ca

  • Calgary-based Lynx Air has ceased operations as of Feb. 26, after filing for creditor protection. The low-cost airline began in 2022 and flew out of Fredericton last summer. A Lynx spokesperson attributed the closure to growing financial pressures.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. government will issue a construction tender for a new Yarmouth emergency department in the spring. The new space will double the capacity and should be completed in 2027. An assisted living facility next to the hospital will also get $1M in upgrades.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia attracted 763 healthcare professionals and 244 construction professionals in 2023 through immigration programs. To help continue the province’s 70% retention rate of immigrants and their families, an extra $3M will go toward settlement supports.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia announced that 25 new modular public housing units will be installed in Glace Bay, Ingonish, Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish, Amherst, Springhill, Westville and Barrington. These are in addition to the 222 units announced previously.

    novascotia.ca

  • According to CMHC, Nova Scotia is tied with P.E.I. for the lowest rental vacancy rate in Canada. Despite a lot of construction in Halifax, its vacancy rate remains at 1%, while Cape Breton has dropped to 0.8% in 2023, compared to 6.1% in 2021.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Health Minister announced that prep work will begin in the spring of 2024 to prepare the site for the new Halifax Infirmary acute-care tower to be built at the QEII. It is estimated that it will cost about $245M for the first phase of construction.

    cbc.ca

  • Almost 240 Autoport workers in Eastern Passage have gone on strike after negotiations broke down between the company and Unifor Local 100 union. Autoport offered an 8% wage increase over three years to workers who currently earn $22.30 to $33.06 an hour.

    cbc.ca

  • Members of the Mount Saint Vincent University Faculty Association returned to the bargaining table after going on strike on Feb. 12. The association wants its faculty, librarians and lab instructors to receive the same wages as other Atlantic universities.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-16 to 2024-02-22

  • The N.S. Government is investing $3.6M in a new 6-month Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) training program with updated curriculum that will be piloted in April, with a second class in the fall. The current average length of CCA training is eight months.

    novascotia.ca

  • Acadia University is set to launch its new Africentric Bachelor of Education Program in Fall 2024 that will create more opportunities to increase the number of African Nova Scotian teachers in schools. It will target African Nova Scotian student-support workers currently employed in schools to upgrade their skills to teach.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $1.2M over the next 2 years to the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (Cherry Brook) to support several key projects that are aimed at expanding the centre’s resources and community engagement.

    novascotia.ca

  • Black and Indigenous Nova Scotians are still experiencing lower employment rates compared to the rest of the population. According to OneNS, the 2021 age-adjusted employment rate was 42.8% for First Nations and 46.1% for African Nova Scotians which fell behind the provincial rate of 51.9%.

    cbc.ca

  • Data between 2018 and 2022 from the Canadian Institute of Health Information, shows that N.S. is one of several Canadian provinces (the only maritime province) that experienced an outflow of physicians. Dalhousie University’s medical school currently admits 134 medical students annually with 79 positions allocated for N.S. residents.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic provinces signed a new Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism, which will provide $30M in funding over the next four and a half years. The agreement aims to expand tourism year-round. Tourism in the region employs more than 111,000 workers.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced a new payroll rebate agreement to support the growth of global technology services company Cognizant, which could see as many as 1,000 new jobs within 6 years. Cognizant currently employs 1,000 people in the province where the Information and Communications Technology sector contributed $2.06B to the GDP in 2022.

    novascotia.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: Tesla (Burnside Industrial Park/Dartmouth) and Halifax Vintage Co-op (Halifax); Closures: Hyve Halifax (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • A new state-of-the-art nurse training facility will open at Acadia University (Wolfville) for the 2026-27 academic year that will allow Acadia to obtain accreditation for a standalone nursing program that will target graduating 63 nurses every year by 2027. The N.S. Government is contributing $13.9M towards the project.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $405k in funding to support the County of Kings Municipality to install electric vehicle charging stations in six different locations, including some stations that will use solar energy with battery storage. The municipality is contributing $270k to the project.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has approved a 120-unit housing development on 12 hectares in Fall River in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The developer, Perry Lake Developments, will begin work with municipal staff to move the project forward.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-09 to 2024-02-15

  • The N.S. Government has announced its $1.6B 2024-25 Capital Plan. Highlights include $301.7M for the Halifax Infirmary expansion and CBRM healthcare redevelopment projects, $146.1M for hospital construction/renewal projects, $208.5M to build/renovate schools, and $47.1M in building/repairing public housing.

    novascotia.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: Pink Piano Cafe & Lounge (Sackville), Frank & Oak (Halifax Shopping Centre), DB Pearlz (Halifax), Starbucks (Halifax); Closures: Fujiyama (Halifax), Needs (Windsor Street location/Halifax), and Birch & Anchor (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • Over $1M in combined Federal/Provincial/Municipal funding has been announced to improve drinking water and wastewater management infrastructure in the Village of Port Williams.

    canada.ca

  • 160 full-time faculty, librarians and lab instructors represented by the Mount Saint Vincent University Faculty Association went on strike on February 12 after failing to reach an agreement with their employer. The main issue cited was the current compensation package.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced plans to streamline education program requirements with prospective teachers able to apply after 2 years of undergraduate study. The policy change is intended to address the provincial teacher shortage. Job offers have been extended to all prospective education degree graduates of a N.S. university.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government is partnering with Safety Services Nova Scotia to hire 15 new examiners to work out of Access Nova Scotia centres in the Halifax area to help reduce driving test wait times at a cost of about $2.3M.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has designated 15 new provincial parks and plans to expand 2 others as a part of the provincial parks and protected areas plan. The province now has 128 provincial parks.

    cbc.ca

  • Champlain Seafoods (Montreal) have announced that their Riverside Lobster International processing plant in Meteghan will shut down permanently citing insufficient lobster landings to sustain current processing capacity. Last spring the company employed about 80 local employees and 70 temporary foreign workers.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced two new initiatives to grow the provincial workforce in skilled trades. One is funding more training seats in high-demand trades that include electrician, plumber, carpenter, powerline technician, industrial mechanic, welder, metal fabricator, and automotive service technician. The other is waiving certification exam fees.

    novascotia.ca

  • Saint John-based Coast Tire & Auto Service and Andy’s Tire Group, which is headquartered in Halifax, have announced a merger. The new group will have roughly 500 staff, 46 stores, three distribution centres, and three retreading plants across Atlantic Canada.

    thewave.ca

  • The Dept of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is proposing to close the commercial Maritime fishery for baby eels or elvers in 2024. DFO said it is not possible to have a safe and sustainable elver fishery in 2024, after unauthorized fishers flooded the market in 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada's actors, directors, musicians and the groups representing them have expressed major concerns over the livelihood and reputational threats Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses to them and have called on the Federal Government to include industry protections in its proposed AI legislation.

    citynews.ca

  • Bell Media’s parent company BCE Inc. states that it will sell 45 of its 103 regional radio stations and layoff 9% of its workforce or 4,800 jobs. CTV and BNN Bloomberg will see immediate cuts. Five Atlantic radio stations will be sold to Maritime Broadcasting.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-02 to 2024-02-08

  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has reduced the share of the Gulf of St. Lawrence redfish quota held by Clearwater Seafoods and other offshore licence holders by 20%, in part to encourage Indigenous participation in the fishery. The commercial redfish harvest is resuming this year after a 30-year moratorium.

    cbc.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: The 7 Virtues (Halifax), Kohinoor Resto-Bar (Halifax), Kababji (Dartmouth), and M&M Food Shop (Tantallon); Coming Soon: Pure Casa Café and Splurge Cheesecake and Snack Bar (Porter’s Lake); Closures: Papa Mario’s (Bedford Highway).

    retales.ca

  • $2.3-$3M in provincial government funding has been announced to cover contractor repairs to the Chester Connection Trail from July’s flood damage. Other recipients include Queens County Rails to Trails ($144k), LaHave River Trail ($285k), Bay-to-Bay Trail ($98k), Hubbards and Area ATV Club ($85k), and others.

    lighthousenow.ca
• Week of 2024-01-26 to 2024-02-01

  • Data from the N.S. Association of Realtors show that on average, provincial real estate prices were up 2.9% in 2023 compared to 2022, while sales were down 17.2%. Low inventory continues to drive up demand and competition, keeping prices high, while high interest rates are pricing some people out of the market.

    cbc.ca

  • New and Coming Soon Businesses: Red Swan Pizza (Dartmouth), Raj’s Pizza (Halifax), and Snover (Halifax); Closures: Reitman’s (Scotia Square-Halifax), Backoo’s (Halifax), and RCHMND (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $3.5M in funding to Cape Breton University (CBU) to help them support an upgraded instructional facility for science-based research and learning. CBU is one of Canada’s fastest growing universities with over 8,000 students and over 800 employees.

    canada.ca

  • Staff shortages remain a limiting factor in improving health care in Nova Scotia as new projects are developed in areas such as cancer treatment. In addition to a shortage of family doctors, the provincial health authority has 150 radiological technologist openings and another 40 in pathology and laboratory medicine.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government’s 1-year pilot program to help establish the new public billing model for the universal mental health care transition, will start with psychologists, registered counselling therapists and social workers. N.S. has about 750 registered counselling therapists and a surge in clients is expected.

    cbc.ca

  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has released the redfish quota allocations for the Atlantic Provinces when the fishery reopens later this year after a nearly 30-year hiatus with N.L. at 19% (+2.0), N.S. at 33% (-5.8), N.B. at 11% (+3.1), and P.E.I. at 5% (+0.5). The total allowable catch will be 25k tonnes.

    cbc.ca

  • Northern Pulp in Abercrombie Point has officially terminated its unionized workforce of 110 former mill workers as of January 1, 2024. Unifor, the union representing the workers, will meet with company officials later this month. The mill shut down operations four years ago.

    cbc.ca

  • As contract talks begin, the N.S. Government and General Employees Union says job vacancies for health-care professionals have increased by 200% since 2019 with 1,100 full-time equivalent positions currently vacant across the province.

    cbc.ca

  • The Halifax Stanfield International Airport reported 3.6M passengers in 2023, an increase over 2022, but still about 15% lower pre-pandemic numbers of 4.2M. Passenger numbers between Halifax and the U.S. also dropped 45% between 2019 and 2023. Expansion by all airline partners is expected in 2024.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-01-19 to 2024-01-25

  • Changes to N.S.’s foreign health-care workers credentialing process in 2023 have led to an influx of nurses and an exodus of continuing care assistants from long-term care facilities where many foreign-trained nurses took temporary CCA positions. N.S. is working to fill the shortage by recruiting CCA’s from the Philippines and other countries.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint Mary's University in Halifax is scheduled to close its English-language training centre on May 1, 2024. The closure, which impacts about 24 staff and instructors, is due to declining demand for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) training at the school and a steady shift to private-sector providers.

    cbc.ca

  • A decision by the U.S. to increase the minimum legal size of lobster from 82mm to 84mm in 2025 and then 86mm in 2027, could reduce the amount of lobster shipped to the U.S. from Canada by 10-30%. The decision was made due to a reduction of young lobster.

    cbc.ca

  • New Businesses: Turkaz, The Daily Grind, The Moxy, and Grounds Café (all in Halifax), Milestones (Dartmouth), Jukai Japanese and Thai (Bedford); Coming Soon: Brilliant Jewellery & Repair and Bramble Café (all in Halifax) Envy+Grace (Dartmouth); Closures: East West (Dartmouth), Minato Sushi (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced over $950k in funding over 2 years on new programs and projects to help beef farmers increase production and stay competitive. The province has 380 licensed beef producers ,11 provincially inspected beef abattoirs and 86 licensed meat processing facilities.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2024-01-12 to 2024-01-18

  • The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates 3.5M additional housing units will be needed by 2030 to address the housing affordability issue. The Atlantic provinces are exploring ways to boost factory-built housing as one solution to accelerate housing construction in the region.

    cbc.ca

  • The Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton will be receiving $8.25M in funding from the federal Rapid Housing Initiative to build 32 new homes. Membertou is contributing $1.12M with $665k coming from Indigenous Services Canada. Construction has begun with completion expected by summer.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government announced that the deadline of Jan. 18 for small businesses to repay their CEBA loans, will not be extended any further. If a business misses the deadline, the CEBA loan will be converted to a three year loan at 5%.

    charlottefm.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Sip Bar + Fare (Dartmouth), Anoinette’s Cheesecake (Sackville), Harvest (Dartmouth), and Hot Topic (Bedford); Closures: Fung Lum (Bedford).

    retales.ca

  • Halifax’s Macdonald Bridge is receiving a $75M makeover with a goal of extending its life by 75 years. Stantec has been hired as the engineering company with a construction tender expected to go out in spring. The project is expected to begin construction in Fall 2024 to be completed by 2027.

    cbc.ca

  • The Halifax Partnership, HRM’s economic development organization, recently attended several international job fairs where they received over 4,000 applications for 35 job offers from Halifax companies. Most of the jobs were for construction tradespeople with additional opportunities in information technology, manufacturing, business and financial sectors.

    cbc.ca

  • Winter tourism operators in northern Cape Breton are seeing an increasing number of out-of-province tourists. The area's winter tourism offerings are being better promoted and local amenities such as restaurants and accommodations have extended their seasons.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government has announced $980k for 56 electric vehicle charging stations in the Halifax area to be installed this spring.

    cbc.ca

  • N.S.-based company, Heritage Memorials, has been awarded the new $236,830 contract to construct a tomb of the unknowns at the Newfoundland National War Memorial in St. John's slated to be completed by July 1.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will provide up to $86M in funding to 15 organizations across Canada to help speed up the credential process of 6,600 internationally educated health workers. The aim is to help fill labour gaps and strengthen the healthcare system.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2024-01-05 to 2024-01-11

  • The Government of Canada has signed a $355M bilateral agreement with N.S. to improve health care over 3 years. This investment is expected to increase primary health provider access, reduce backlogs and wait times, further support mental health services, and provide greater health data access.

    canada.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Chicken Little Café (West Bedford), Monasaba (Bayer’s Lake), Swaad Sagaa Indian Cuisine, Sugar Marmalade and Bombay Bazaar grocery (all in Halifax), Indian Spice Land (Spryfield), Iyalode African Wholesale Market (Dartmouth); Closures: Charmed Aroma (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • Annapolis Valley Early childhood educators are concerned that staffing shortages in the pre-primary program are leading to burnout and difficulty attracting staff. The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education currently have 28 openings with 9 people hired in December.

    cbc.ca

  • N.S. has announced they will train up to 200 emergency medical responders over the next 2 years to help improve emergency care in the province. Training by Medavie HealthEd will start in March 2024 with the first graduating class working by summer. A bridging program will be developed to help some transition to paramedics.

    novascotia.ca

  • Pete's Frootique downtown Halifax workers, represented by the Service Employees International Union, have ratified their first 3-year collective agreement with Sobeys. The deal includes at least a $1/hour raise ranging from $15.45 to $19.57 and a $250 signing bonus.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia regulators have approved a new oyster farm in Antigonish Harbour. Town Point Consulting intends to grow up to 3M oysters a year from three sites spanning 36 hectares.

    cbc.ca

  • Cape Breton regional police officers ratified a new 4-year collective agreement with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on December 18 affecting 200 officers. It includes a 4% and subsequent annual increases of 4, 3.5 and 3.5% while officers with four or more years of service will get an additional 3.75% in 2024.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-29 to 2024-01-04

  • The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE) is experiencing staffing shortages, with vacancies for permanent and spare bus driver positions. The school board is also actively recruiting janitors, educational assistants, and early childhood educators.

    Saltwire

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Hardisty Brewing, Sephora and Yummy Deli (all in Dartmouth), KIBO Sushi, Anytime Fitness, City Mart, and Meltwich (all in Halifax), El Centro Pizza (Cole Harbour) and Panada Pizza (Musquodoboit); Closures: Coffee Matters (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • Nova Scotia’s minimum wage will increase to $15.20/hr. on April 1, 2024. Moving forward, the rate will increase each April based on the consumer price index plus one percentage point. About 6% of workers worked for minimum wage during fiscal 2022-23 primarily in retail trade and food/accommodation.

    novascotia.ca

  • N.S. Health and U.S.-based company Varian have entered a 10-year multi-disciplinary oncology partnership to provide new, state-of-the-art oncology equipment and software. N.S. Health will invest up to $224M. Varian will open a new Halifax office that will create at least 60 jobs.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government is expanding funding support for the Work-based Trades Practical Assessment program that will increase the supply of skilled trades professionals in the province. The new funding will see about 175 newcomers experienced in construction trades receive support to complete their apprenticeship.

    novascotia.ca

  • In 2023, the N.S. College of Nursing began fast-tracking the licensing process for nurses from seven countries including the Philippines, India, Nigeria, U.S.A., U.K., Australia and New Zealand. N.S. Health also made changes to its onboarding process and has onboarded over 400 nurses since July.

    Cape Breton Post

  • The Public Service Commission's 2022-2023 annual report states that the federal public service grew by 6.5% from April 2022 to March 2023, adding 16,642 new employees. Over 423,000 people applied to externally-advertised public service positions.

    Other Sources
• Week of 2023-12-22 to 2023-12-28

  • The N.S. Government has announced it will delay the adoption of new national building standards that were set to begin on January 1, citing labour shortages and supply chain issues as reasons. These include updated national codes for building, plumbing and energy for new buildings.

    cbc.ca

  • Halifax has exceeded national expectations for a recovery in tourism after a successful 2023 with hotel room sales up 9.2% over 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The strong recovery was aided by large events like The North American Indigenous Games and the World Juniors Ice Hockey Championship.

    citynews.ca

  • The NS Government has lifted the July 15 stop work order on the Donkin coal mine as of December 27. The mine’s operator, Kameron Coal Management Ltd., can resume production if it chooses to but must still hire an independent engineer to review the ground control plan before February 29.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Oaklawn Farm Zoo in Aylesford has closed after 4 decades in business due to retirement.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-15 to 2023-12-21

  • The N.S Government has announced its new Green Hydrogen Action Plan to help develop the sector in alignment with provincial climate change goals. It supports domestic use and export of green hydrogen with a focus on safety, a skilled workforce, research and innovation, and public engagement.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government is raising the wages of early childhood educators (ECE) and introducing a comprehensive group benefits and pension package for all those working in the provincially licensed sector. Wages will range from $22.91-$28.78/hr. for ECEs Level 1, 2 and 3, and up to $34.54 for ECEs in leadership roles.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: 2Crows Brewing/Yeah Yeahs Pizza (Halifax), Stubborn Goat (Halifax), Sketti & Ball (Halifax), Vandal Doughnuts (Dartmouth/2nd location), McDonald’s (Timberlea), Pet Valu (Halifax), The Empanada Shop (Halifax), and Dejean European Bakery (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • Joint federal/provincial funding of $582,000 has been announced for four active transportation research and planning projects in the Halifax Regional Municipality led by Vélo Canada Bikes, Saint Mary’s University, the Halifax Regional Municipality, and Cycling Nova Scotia.

    canada.ca

  • The University of King's College will be securing a design team to work on the plans for a new building that would double its student residence capacity, and also include space for a new gym, wellness centre and the university's journalism school.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced over $500M in funding for roadwork and major projects already underway in its 2024-25 Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan. The new work includes a $75M budget increase for gravel road upgrades and rehabilitating paved roads.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $18.3M in funding to N.S. over 4 years to help end gender-based violence including the Peer Outreach Support Services and Education Project ($1M) and the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre ($725k).

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $4,144,807 in funding to support 5 aerospace and defence companies. These include ESL Technology ($2.58M) to create 18 new jobs by end of 2025, Aerotec Engines Ltd. ($500k) to create 10-15 new jobs, I.M.P Group Ltd. ($478k), Modest Tree Media Inc. ($334k), and Spiri Robotics ($250k).

    canada.ca

  • Nine new healthcare professionals have been added to the Digby Collaborative Family Practice team based out of the Digby and Area Health Services Centre including 4 family physicians, 2 nurse practitioners, a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse and a pharmacist.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia Power was given environmental approval to construct a new 345-kilovolt transmission line from Onslow, N.S., to the N.B. border. It will also upgrade the power substation in Onslow. The new lines will help to create a green energy grid.

    cbc.ca

  • The Lobster Fishers of P.E.I. Marketing Board says the price of live lobster is as high as $11.50 a pound, up from $7.50 last year. Catches were down this year in New England, N.S., and N.B., plus demand is high in the Asian market, followed by the U.S.

    cbc.ca

  • Statistics Canada reports that Canada’s inflation rate was steady at 3.1% in November, with mortgage costs, food and rent with the biggest increases. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was up by 2.5% in N.S, 2.1% in N.L., 1.7% in N.B., and only 0.4% in P.E.I.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-12-08 to 2023-12-14

  • The N.S. Dental Association is concerned that amid the shortage for dental assistants and hygienists, dental offices won’t able to service the 130k new patients estimated for 2024 in response to the new $13B federal dental care plan announcement. By 2025, N.S. is expected to need an additional 40 hygienists and 70 assistants.

    cbc.ca

  • A new collaborative family practice clinic opened on December 4, 2023, in Eastern Passage that will allow the community’s existing family practice with two nurse practitioners to expand to include a mental health social worker and physician.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Bells Lane Kitchen, Aisle 24, The Wine Spa, and Osmow’s (all in Halifax), BMO (Dartmouth Crossing), Sudz in the City (Cole Harbour), Taquitos (West Bedford), Goldy’s (West Bedford) and Good Earth Coffeehouse (Halifax Chapters); Closures: Noodle Nami (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government is considering the expanded use of family practice anesthetists (family doctors with additional training and certification in anesthesia) in hospitals following a successful 2-month pilot project at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. There is a national and provincial shortage of anesthesiologists.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia Works, providing services to job seekers and employers through over 50 employment centres are facing 8-15% funding cuts at in-person employment centres across the province as of January 1, 2024. No details are yet available as it relates to the impact on service delivery and employment.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada and Nova Scotia have announced a combined $2M investment in disaster mitigation infrastructure in Lawrencetown in the Halifax Regional Municipality that includes rebuilding a section of Route 207 along the beach further away from the coast and naturalizing the existing section.

    canada.ca

  • A new study from Downtowns Atlantic Canada Inc. reports that downtown businesses are dealing with security issues, lack of staffing, decreased foot traffic due to remote work, and concerns about repayment of the federal CEBA small business loans.

    globalnews.ca

  • A new research report by the Atlantic Economic Council shows Indigenous businesses contributed 5% of Atlantic Canada’s GDP, over 8% of jobs, and about $3.6B to the economy in 2020. The report identified 660 Indigenous-owned businesses and 2,400 self-employed persons in N.S. as of 2023.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-01 to 2023-12-07

  • The N.S. Government has announced 2 new child-care programs, the Minor Infrastructure Program and the Family Home Start-Up Program, which will help create new child-care spaces in licensed not-for-profit child-care centres and family homes across the province.

    novascotia.ca

  • Mersey River Wind Inc., a subsidiary of Roswall Development of Halifax, announced that construction of a major wind farm in Queens County will begin next spring now that the company has secured Crown land near Milton. Turbines are expected to begin arriving in 2025.

    cbc.ca

  • CBC/Radio Canada announced it will cut about 10% of its workforce or roughly 600 unionized and non-unionized positions, due to financial pressures. Another 200 vacant positions will also be cut. It’s unknown how many layoffs will be in Atlantic Canada.

    vocm.com

  • According to Statistics Cananada, 11% of women and 16% of men were self-employed in 2022. The report also stated that 80% of self-employed women and 68% of self-employed men had no employees in 2022.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Turner Drake & Partner’s new consulting report indicates Halifax needs 17,500 additional housing units to meet current demand and about 31,000 units by 2027. To meet this target, the number of units being built needs to triple to about 9,000 units per year. Developers cite high interest rates and labour shortages as challenges.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Torrid (Dartmouth Crossing), Hot Topic (Halifax Shopping Centre), Chef in the Kitchen (Halifax), Kiyoto Sushi (Halifax), and Red Swan Pizza (Dartmouth); Closures: Incandescent Clothing Company (Bedford), Flora James Shop (Halifax), and Smittys (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • Two new, accelerated Bachelor of Education Programs at Cape Breton University will help increase the number of teachers in the province with the number of funded seats at the university, increasing to 115, from 40. There are about 480 first-year students enrolled in B.Ed. programs in N.S. this year.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Digby-Saint John ferry (MV Fundy Rose) is no longer being considered for temporary redeployment in spring 2024 to service the route between Souris, P.E.I., and the Magdalen Islands. Trucking and tourism operators had expressed concern about the potential impact such a change could have on businesses.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced that travel nurses working for N.S. Health, IWK Health or a government-funded long-term care facility can only be hired for a maximum 180-days effective December 15. There are over 350 travel nurses working in Nova Scotia at any given time.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Governments of Canada and N.S. have announced to the Canada-N.S Offshore Petroleum Board a shared decision to veto the fundamental decision to issue a $1.5M exploration licence to Inceptio Ltd. that would have given them the exclusive right to explore in a shallow water parcel on the Sable Bank.

    novascotia.ca

  • Millbrook First Nation has partnered with transportation logistics company, Canadian Rail Equipment Works and Services, to develop an inland shipping terminal near Truro (Onslow). The terminal is expected to create about 300 jobs with construction scheduled to begin in 2024.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-24 to 2023-11-30

  • Mastermind Toys, the Canadian toy retailer, has filed for creditor protection and intends to close some of its 66 stores across Canada. The company states that it faced a number of challenges such as the pandemic, increased competition, and a poor economy.

    charlottefm.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Fjällräven (Halifax), Dessert Yard (Halifax), Xaymaca Bar & Grill Cole Harbour, Pizza Fiamma (Halifax); Closures: KSD (Dartmouth), The Underground Snax (Barrington St./Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced housing development approvals for Bedford West to enable the development of up to 2,060 new homes that will include apartments, townhouses, semi-attached and single-family units. HRM is receiving federal funding to hire 29 employees for the planning and developing group.

    cbc.ca

  • Alberta energy company Pieridae has officially announced it is abandoning plans for a liquefied natural gas terminal at Goldboro on the province's Eastern Shore and selling its Goldboro subsidiary and associated assets. The move was cited as a strategic pivot towards an Alberta-focused natural gas production and processing business.

    cbc.ca

  • The Town of Wolfville is estimated to need 830 additional housing units within the next 3 years to keep up with demand as it deals with above-average population growth over the past 5 years (21% compared to 5% provincially). The town is seeking funding for consultants and a new staff position to help create 120 units over 3 years.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association reports that more than 600 cruise ships came to the region between April and August, with a 28% increase in port calls. The Port of Sydney and Saint John experienced record-breaking activity in 2023.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The N.S. Forestry Innovation Transition Trust has announced $9.8M for the new Ecologically Sustainable Forestry Equipment Program to support businesses to buy or retrofit equipment for sustainable harvesting operations. The program will be administered by the Nova Scotia Community College.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Construction Association of N.S. has described the provincial housing shortage as a generational challenge due to labour shortages and the rising costs of home building. N.S. is projected to be short 41,200 homes by 2028 and there are currently 2,000-3000 construction job openings across the province.

    cbc.ca

  • According to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, labour shortages in N.S. have cost businesses about $1B potential lost sales and contracts in 2022. The construction and manufacturing sectors were the most affected and the province estimates it will need 11,000 new tradespeople by 2030.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government recently announced plans for 2,200 additional new and replacement long-term care rooms in Nova Scotia by 2032. Challenges include competition with other major health-care construction projects, skilled labour shortages, increased construction costs, higher interest rates and staffing needs to operate them.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova-Scotia based Vida Living, a real estate company that offers affordable housing, has expanded into the P.E.I. market. The company, which owns 2,000 units in the Maritime provinces, bought 20 apartment buildings in Stratford and Charlottetown.

    cbc.ca

  • Despite the strength of the seafood sector, three maritime seafood companies were forced into receivership in 2023 with TD Bank as a secured creditor. These include Chester Basin Seafoods, Meridien Atlantic and Rocky Coast Seafoods, and P.E.I.’s South Shore Seafoods.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-17 to 2023-11-23

  • The Government of Canada has granted EverWind Fuels a $125M loan to help the company build a proposed green hydrogen production plant in Point Tupper. Some site preparation work has already begun. The project would bring thousands of jobs to Cape Breton and Nova Scotia while helping the area transition away from fossil fuels.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Recruitment working group is looking to recruit international health-care workers in a more collaborative approach, as opposed to drawing from other provinces. Dubai, India, the Philippines, and Ireland are all potential recruitment sites.

    ctvnews.ca

  • P.E.I.-based pharmaceutical company BioVectra has nearly completed its $90M expansion, which will see another 125 people hired. It will open a new biologics fermentation facility and development lab in Windsor, N.S. and Canada's first mRNA vaccine biomanufacturing centre in Charlottetown.

    cbc.ca

  • The Nova Scotia-based fuel company, Maritime Fuels, has filed for bankruptcy and PwC has been appointed as the licensed insolvency trustee in charge of dealing with creditors.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $2.99M annually for the newly opened 50-bed emergency shelter in Dartmouth, which will operate until May 2026. The funding will cover building rental, operating and staff costs, and wraparound services through the non-profit volunteer homelessness organization 902 Man Up.

    novascotia.ca

  • Riverside Lobster International in Meteghan, after halting processing in July, says it will not process lobster this fall and winter, citing lower catches throughout the Maritimes and Maine as the reason in a surprise move that will leave about 100 locals without employment. At peak times Riverside employs about 150 people.

    cbc.ca

  • Workers at the downtown Halifax location of Pete's Frootique have been on strike as of November 18. Sobeys (owners) have announced they are closing this location indefinitely due to the strike while the workers, members of the Service Employees International Union, are seeking pay increases. The Pete's Frootique Bedford location remains open.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $188M funding to build a new naval training centre at Canadian Forces Base Halifax Combatant Training and Integration Centre – Atlantic. Completion is expected by 2029. The centre is expected to sustain 650 jobs in the Halifax area while being built.

    cbc.ca

  • A new 3-year collective agreement with paramedics was ratified by members of the International Union of Operating Engineers on November 17. The contract runs until October 31, 2026, and includes a 16.5% classification adjustment, 8.5% cost of living increases and a small retention allowance.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced 2,200 addititional long-term care rooms that will be added or replaced by 2032, in addition to about 3,500 new and replacement rooms expected to be completed by 2027. Construction across the province is set to begin this fall, with 336 rooms expected in three Halifax Regional Municipality communities.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: The Korinoor (Halifax), Taquitos/Cocina de Mexico (West Bedford), Starbucks (Sackville/Superstore), Daisy Jo’s Boutique (Dartmouth), Hey Babe Sports Bar (Bedford/replacing Patrons), Caissie Pizza & Donair (Bedford), Downtown Pizza/Mango Burrito (Halifax), Pizza Delight (Dartmouth); Closures: Score Pizza (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has paused its plan to fast-track wind farms until the framework for offshore areas are in place.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-16

  • The N.S. Government has announced $1.9M in funding to support staffing, programming and leasing costs on a collaboration with Grafton Developments to create a new long-term supportive housing option in Halifax for women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness. YWCA Halifax will provide 24/7 support at the site which is expected to open in December.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Halifax Convention Centre hosted 155 events in 2022-23 and is on track to have its busiest year yet. Combined with the Scotiabank Centre, the two together brought in $105M in economic impact for businesses with 270 events and nearly 680,000 guests. Over 170 events are planned for the convention centre in 2023-24.

    cbc.ca

  • On November 10, after months of work stoppages and layoffs at the Donkin Mine since July, the over 60 remaining mine employees were laid off. Owners Kameron Coal announced they are ending all work at the mine indefinitely while still awaiting provincial approval to resume operations. Overall, 130 people were impacted since July.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced new funding about $3.8M ($750k/year for 5-years) to support Nova Scotia entrepreneurs through startup hub Volta to continue delivering educational programs, mentorship, tools and supports to help startups. Volta was established in 2013 and currently supports 61 resident companies.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Canadian Union of Public Employees – N.S. says 10% of its continuing-care workers quit in the past year amidst an ongoing shortage of nurses and home support workers. They cite ongoing issues including less than full-time employment, out-of-pocket expenses, and compensation. The Victorian Order of Nurses is short about 170 continuing-care assistants and about 100 registered nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • Combined federal, provincial and municipal funding of $54M has been announced for Transit Cape Breton to purchase 6 new electric buses and build an upgraded bus maintenance and charging facility.

    canada.ca

  • The new Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre, N.S.’s first public-private healthcare partnership, is now open in Halifax. It will provide a wide range of appointment-based services such as X-ray, blood work, ultrasound, eye care, orthopedic assessment, rehabilitation, and more.

    novascotia.ca

  • On November 8, 2023, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists reached a tentative agreement with the group representing major production studios. This follows the new contract recently signed by the Writers Guild of America that ended a 148-day strike. N.S. experienced a significant negative impact this summer due to strike-related production delays.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: 091 Indian Takeout (Dartmouth), Monasaba (Bayer’s Lake Industrial Park), Vandal Doughnuts (Dartmouth/2nd location), The Pink Piano Café & Lounge (Sackville); Closures: Sprout Therapy (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca
• Week of 2023-11-03 to 2023-11-09

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Backoos in the 4 pad (Bedford), Gong-Cha (Halifax), Naughty Kitty Café (Inside BAD Dog Cycles/Timberlea), Manilla Thai Grill in the Nine Locks Taproom (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The Canadian Institute of Health Research is investing $2M in a research project dedicated to making sexual health services accessible in N.L and N.S. pharmacies over the next 5 years. Many pharmacists face resource and staff shortages within their regular workload.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced an additional $2M investment in the Community Housing Growth Fund to create a dedicated stream to support Black-led community housing initiatives. The Community Housing Transformation Centre will administer the grants to approved projects over 3 years.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Atlantica Centre for Energy has created a new literacy project called Fuel 4 the Future (F4F). The aim is to raise awareness of opportunities in the clean energy sector and create new career pathways in clean hydrogen, biofuels, and renewable natural gas.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Statistics Canada data shows residential construction costs increased by 8.4% in Halifax in the third Quarter of 2023 compared the same quarter in 2022, although increases have slowed over the past few years. Factors include labour shortages, increased build time, supply-chain disruptions, high interest rates and local events such as flooding and wildfires.

    cbc.ca

  • CN and Genesee & Wyoming, which owns the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway, have announced a partnership aimed at long-term growth opportunities in eastern Canada. The CN investment could affect the provincial subsidy for the Cape Breton line from Point Tupper to Sydney.

    cbc.ca

  • The new Red Spruce Mental Health Centre, operated by Acadia University, recently opened two locations, one at Acadia's Wolfville campus and the other at the Red Door Sexual Health Centre in Kentville. Both locations are expected to be fully operational by early 2024.

    cbc.ca

  • Veterinarians across Canada are increasingly reporting burnout and deteriorating mental health conditions due to elevated stress levels, staff shortages and growing demand for services. Canada has had a shortage of vet technologists, technicians and vets.

    cbc.ca

  • Scotiabank has announced job cuts amounting to 3% of its global workforce and the closure of several branches across Atlantic Canada, predominantly in rural locations, citing a growing preference for online banking. In N.S. closures will include Annapolis Royal, Bridgetown and Shelburne (Spring 2024) and Fairview (Halifax) and New Waterford (November 2024).

    cbc.ca

  • The Keltic Lodge in Ingonish is temporarily closing half of its accommodations and restaurants next year to renovate its 70-year-old main lodge and cottages. The shutdown will affect the resort's temporary foreign workers whose 2-year employment contracts between May 15 and October 31 were not renewed.

    cbc.ca

  • With a provincial work-stop order still in effect for Donkin Mine, the Kameron Coal owned mine has layed off another 15 employees, while the remaining staff of 60 have had their work hours reduced from 5 days a week down to 3. This follows the layoff of 40 miners in July 2023.

    saltwire.com
• Week of 2023-10-27 to 2023-11-02

  • The N.S. Government has announded $32M in funding for its new one-time Municipal Capital Growth Program to support priority provincial infrastructure projects under the categories of water and wastewater, accessibility, brownfield redevelopment, and climate change adaptation.

    novascotia.ca

  • The federal government made changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which will allow employers in seven sectors that have labour shortages, to hire up to 30% of their staff until Aug 30, 2024. Sectors include accommodation and food services, construction, food manufacturing and hospitals.

    Globe & Mail

  • According to the First Atlantic Municipal Report released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), small businesses want more support from municipalities. They would like to see reduced taxes, less paperwork, and quicker processing.

    thewave.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Sushi Koisho (Dartmouth), ButterMilk (Dartmouth), Chai Samosa (Halifax) and Mavericks Baking (Hammonds Plains).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $5M in funding to repair over 45 flood-damaged trails across the province. The funding will go directly to non-profit trail organizations administered through NS Trails and will be used to pay contractors to repair trails and reimburse community groups for already completed work.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $47.3M to start the new Cellular for Nova Scotia Program to expand telecommunications infrastructure and communications networks throughout the province. Phase 1 will improve cell coverage using existing infrastructure while Phase 2 will close any remaining coverage gaps with new infrastructure.

    novascotia.ca

  • Service Employees' International Union Local 2 representing workers at the Pete's Frootique in Halifax is negotiating its first collective agreement with Sobeys Inc. for higher wages and improved benefits. Pete's Frootique and Fine Foods, with locations in Halifax and Bedford, was sold to Sobeys Inc. in 2015.

    cbc.ca

  • Everwind Fuels has submitted environmental assessment plans to the provincial government for two of its three proposed wind farms with plans to file the third in 2024. The three projects are Bear Lake (West Hants), Kmtnuk (Colchester) and Windy Ridge (Colchester).

    cbc.ca

  • Health departments across Canada are increasingly using nursing agencies to fill shifts that aren’t covered by current staff. Agency nurses get higher pay and have more flexibility, while working beside public system nurses who earn less and are asked to work more.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-20 to 2023-10-26

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Nayya Pizza (Halifax/3rd location), 7:40 European Breakfast & Diner Restaurant (Hammonds Plains), Patwari Pizza/Indian Curryhouse (Sackville), New Asian Food Market (Chain Lake), PetValu (Timberlea), Jellies (Halifax), Red Wing Shoes, Curry Hut, Incandescent (all Dartmouth), Rollz Ice Cream (Halifax), and Villa Madina/Mucho Burrito, PZZA.co, Orginal Six Barbershop, Antionette’s Cheesecake (all Sackville); Closures: Big Rays (Fairview), Reitmans (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • Combined Federal/Provincial/Municipal funding of $3.695M has been announced for two projects that will support inclusive recreational infrastructure in Liverpool and provide updates to the Liverpool Community Sports Field, a Mi’kmaw learning trail and a coastline protection project in Western Head.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $2.9M in support of 6 N.S.-based innovative life sciences companies to enhance product offerings, scale-up production, create efficiencies and reach new markets. The recipients include Adaptiiv Medical Technologies, Daxsonics Ultrasound, NovaResp Technologies, Sparrow Bioacoustics, Allumiqs and B-Line.

    canada.ca

  • A new stream of Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program, the Critical Construction Worker Pilot - includes 21 in-demand construction sector occupations, largely focused on trades for as welders, electricians, carpenters, bricklayers, crane operators and heavy equipment operators.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government recently announced it will add up to 5,000 new apprentices to the system in the next 3 years, increase the number of journeypersons by 1,000 a year, and increase the apprentice retention rate to 60% within 5 years at an estimated cost of about $100M over three years.

    novascotia.ca

  • Health administrative professionals represented by the N.S. Government & General Employees Union have ratified a new 5-year contract. The agreement includes 3 years of retroactive increases of 6.5% covering the period of Nov. 1, 2020 to Oct. 31, 2023, followed by 3% and 2% increases on Nov. 1, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has released its 5-year housing plan “Our Homes, Action for Housing”, representing a projected $1B of investment for the creation of more than 40,000 new housing units. A recent needs assessment report estimated that the current pace of construction will lead to a shortage of 41,200 units by 2027-28.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education is actively recruiting new school bus drivers due to a staffing shortage for both spare bus drivers and permanent positions. Drivers usually work a 5-hour split shift and must also complete criminal record and child abuse registry checks.

    cbc.ca

  • The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education is working to hire more casual bus drivers to backfill for staff who are ill or away. Officials have noted 22 bus cancellations due to driver shortages so far this year, compared to 3 last year.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-13 to 2023-10-19

  • N.S.’s More Opportunities for Skilled Trades program, which was launched back in June 2022 to attract youth into skilled trades has only received 1,810 applicants out of 7,500 expected to qualify. Tradespeople, nurses, and numerous film industry occupations are eligible under the program.

    cbc.ca

  • Health ministers from across Canada have identified its main priorities for health care. These include improving retention, examining training and supply demands, quicker international credential process, easier labour mobility, and improved workforce data.

    cbc.ca

  • Cape Breton University saw its enrolment figures grow by over 3,000 students in the last year, with about 77% of the 9,100 students being international students. The university plans to cap enrolment due to a lack of space, housing and available positions. `

    globalnews.ca

  • New research from KPMG Canada found that extreme weather events this year have impacted nearly 60% of small and medium-sized businesses in Canada. Over 50% of those surveyed experienced a significant rise in overall costs, while 44% reported a direct loss in revenue.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Despite the large construction project in Sydney, where the new NSCC campus is being built, many proposed developments have not materialized. It is expected that with the low vacancy rate, new housing incentives, and lower material costs, projects will begin.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. and N.S. have reached an agreement with the federal government on phasing out coal and increasing the use of renewable energy to generate electricity by 2030. The plan involves upgraded transmission lines, with an emphasis on wind, solar and nuclear power.

    cbc.ca

  • A wind power report states that Atlantic Canada has the opportunity to become a global leader in renewable energy if it harnesses its offshore wind potential. The Sable Island Bank could ideally handle 1,000 offshore turbines and supply around 70,000 GWs.

    cbc.ca

  • New Businesses: Wrap N’ Roll (Sackville), Charger Burger (Sackville), Roy’s Restaurant (Sackville), Freshii (Halifax Shopping Centre), Booster Juice (Cole Harbour), Turkuaz Restaurant (2nd Location/Halifax); Closures: Subway (Burnside) and Dekie’s (Sackville).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. government amended the Health Services and Insurance Act on October 13, to include mental health and addictions care as part of a publicly funded healthcare system. The province has already invested $65M over the past two years.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-10-06 to 2023-10-12

  • The N.S. government is launching a pilot project this fall in Sydney, which will see 12 new child-care spaces created with extended hours, specifically aimed at health-care workers. It is hoped it will help with recruitment and retention of health professionals.

    cbc.ca

  • According to Statistics Canada, employment levels rose by 64,000 across Canada in September, although the unemployment rate remained at 5.5%. N.B. lost 2,700 jobs, whereas N.S. and P.E.I. added 1,800 and 2,700, respectively.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Lower Sackville will be the location of the first N.S. tiny home community, which will see 52 units built on Cobequid Road. The province will spend $9.4M in the construction of public housing and hopes to house the homeless next summer.

    globalnews.ca

  • Nova Scotia won’t be part of the proposed Atlantic Loop as part of its new clean energy plan, but are planning to add 30% more wind and 5% more solar energy to the grid. The province said the Loop was too costly and wouldn’t be viable for its 2030 targets.

    cbc.ca

  • N.S. paramedics have rejected the latest contract offer from the province, which includes a 20% wage increase over a three-year period. Several paramedics stated the contract didn’t address work-life concerns, as workers often have to work extra hours.

    cbc.ca

  • ACOA will invest over $4.8M in six Annapolis Valley companies to help them grow through automation, expansion and access to new markets. The companies are Scotian Gold, Atlantic Poultry, Nova Agri, Van Meekeren Farms, Eden Valley Poultry and Sustainable Blue.

    canada.ca

  • Serpent Brewing in Spryfield, Pizza Girls on Main St, and all of Kara’s Day Spa locations have closed. Philthy Philly’s has opened on Quinpool Road, Mountain Warehouse has opened in Dartmouth Crossing, and Starbucks is opening on Herring Cove Road.

    retales.ca

  • The province is doing a review of a pharmacist pilot project, which currently has 25 pharmacies across N.S. offering free appointments and services for minor ailments. With 315 pharmacies in N.S. it is hoped the service will be expanded based on demand and staff levels.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-09-29 to 2023-10-05

  • N.S., P.E.I and N.L. raised their minimum wage rate by 50 cents on Oct. 1 to $15/hour. N.S. has agreed to increase its minimum wage in line with consumer price inflation plus 1%.

    cbc.ca

  • The Municipality of East Hants is opposed to a proposed expansion of the Mount Uniacke quarry. Northumberland Capital would like to expand the site from four to 40 hectares. There are concerns about traffic, effects on surface water, and blasting.

    cbc.ca

  • Elmridge Farm in Annapolis Valley has invested heavily to construct a stainless steel production facility, but is idle waiting to be certified. Small-scale food processing in Atlantic Canada has declined over 30 years, but can generate needed revenue for farmers.

    cbc.ca

  • New Businesses: Bravado Wine Bar (Halifax), Isle at Ease (Halifax), Reiyee Vintage (Halifax), Sugar Marmalade (Halifax Shopping Centre), Pizza Delight (Dartmouth); ; Closures: Kor-B-Q (Clayton Park).

    retales.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced joint Federal/Provincial funding of over $11.9M to support the Kings Transit Authority's purchase of Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs), hybrid transit vehicles, and related infrastructure.

    canada.ca

  • A combined $83M in federal and provincial funding will go toward the development of more than 200 new public housing units across Nova Scotia. Units will be built in Bridgewater, Kentville, Truro, Cape Breton and in the Halifax region.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-09-22 to 2023-09-28

  • The Government of Canada has announced $9M to help improve the readiness of designated climate comfort centres. Funding will be used for facility and equipment upgrades, emergency supply purchases and training.

    canada.ca

  • The federal government will begin its category-based selection from the Express Entry immigration pool this week and begin with agriculture and agri-food occupations. The process will allow Canada to invite those with specific skills and training.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government will begin its category-based selection from the Express Entry immigration pool this week and begin with agriculture and agri-food occupations. The process will allow Canada to invite those with specific skills and training.

    Chronicle Herald

  • A new report says N.S.'s ambulance service saw an increase in average wait times last year from 14 to 25 minutes. The longest delays were recorded at Halifax-area hospitals, where paramedics spent 25% of their time waiting to transfer their patients.

    cbc.ca

  • Destination Cape Smokey in Ingonish is a step closer to building a tree walk and lookout tower as an added tourist attraction. Meetings were held with tree walk architects and officials in Europe over planning rules.

    cbc.ca

  • Thousands of health-care admin professionals across the province are set to picket after being without a work contract for three years and pay raises for four years.

    Cape Breton Post

  • The College of Family Physicians of Canada wants the residency programs for family doctors to increase from two to three years in 2027. While this extra clinical specialty training could better prepare doctors and physicians, it could also add to the shortage of family doctors.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. government will remove the provincial HST from new multi-unit apartment building construction projects, in a bid to address the housing crisis. While the province says it will cost $80-$100M a year, it acknowledges that more skilled labour is required.

    cbc.ca

  • N.S. is expanding its fast-tracked immigration program to include international students who want to become paramedics and pharmacy technicians in order to address the shortage of health care workers. Up to 400 pharmacy techs and paramedics are needed over three years.

    cbc.ca

  • The International Graduates in Demand stream of Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program has been expanded to include paramedics and pharmacy technicians. This allows International students who have graduated from N.S. post-secondary institutions to apply for a work permit and permanent Canadian residency.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-09-15 to 2023-09-21

  • Four independent senators have released a report that is critical of Canada’s international education program and suggest that designated learning institutions (DLIs) need to be held accountable for their recruitment practices. They would like to see greater protection and support for international students and a national policy developed. Atlantic Canada accounts for 5% of international students.

    Other Sources

  • New Businesses: Adidas (Dartmouth Crossing), Ben & Florentine (Dartmouth) and the new TD Bank (Dartmouth); Closing: John’s Lunch (Woodside).

    retales.ca

  • East Coast Metal Fabrication, based in the Sydport Industrial Park in Sydney, closed in late August 2023 with the layoff of the 10 remaining employees, after over two decades of metal fabrication and construction in eastern Cape Breton. The company was a major employer of welders, equipment operators and other metal workers with peak employment of 50 in 2015/2016.

    Chronicle Herald

  • Cape Breton University administrative and support staff voted in favour of a new tentative collective agreement on Sept. 7, 2023. The 3-year agreement includes wage increases of 4.15%, 2% and 2.25%, respectively and a new pay band that will see wages rise by 8% in year 1. The approximately 90 employees work in finance, admissions and registration, student affairs, library services, IT, and academic support.

    Cape Breton Post

  • The Government of Canada has announced around $2.9M for Eden Valley Poultry to help the company modernize its processing, packaging and wastewater systems and adopt an enterprise resource planning system that is expected to increase processing capacity and efficiency.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada announced joint federal/provincial/municipal funding of over $4.1M to support water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in Windsor. These improvements will increase the access to drinking water and the capacity to treat and manage wastewater and storm water.

    canada.ca

  • A new report from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation concluded that Nova Scotia will need 70,000 more housing units by 2030, in addition to what is already in the works in order to address the affordability gap and increasing population. Developers suggest the biggest barriers are labour shortages, higher interest rates and rising construction costs.

    cbc.ca

  • Two new Centres of Rural Aging and Health will operate from Nova Scotia Community College’s Strait Area campus in Port Hawkesbury and Shelburne campus with the assistance of $425k in provincial funding. The centres are modelled after the pilot centre at the Annapolis Valley campus in Middleton established in 2021.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced over $4.4M for 6 climate change related agricultural sector projects. This includes $2.4M to hire climate adaptation co-ordinators at Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp., the Christmas Tree Council of NS, the Agri-Commodity Management Assoc. and Horticulture NS as well as projects at TransCoastal Adaptations ($1.9M) and NSCAD University ($112k).

    novascotia.ca

  • ACOA announced it will invest $12.6M in core funding to support the 41 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) in Atlantic Canada. CBDCs support economic development in primarily rural areas and help businesses to grow and create jobs.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2023-09-08 to 2023-09-14

  • Canada’s military has a vacancy rate of around 10% and recruitment has been unable to keep up. This comes after the Armed Forces relaxed the dress standards a year ago in an effort to attract new recruits. Other measures include offering signing bonuses and shorter contracts.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government made its first municipal agreement under the multi-billion dollar Housing Accelerator Fund, which is part of a new housing strategy. The idea is to offer incentives for municipalities to reduce red tape and allow for quicker construction.

    ctvnews.ca

  • A new report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.(CMHC) states that Canada needs an additional 3.5M housing units by 2030, above and beyond current projections. Immigration, rising incomes, and limited supply are driving demand.

    ctvnews.ca

  • New Businesses/Coming Soon: Fjällräven (Halifax), Daisy Jo’s Boutique (Dartmouth), Harvest (Dartmouth), High Mart (Halifax), Bells Lane Kitchen (Halifax), Sketti and Ball (Halifax) and Pazzo Ristorante & Enoteca (Halifax); Closures: East of Grafton (Halifax) and Bianco Apertivio (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • A new collaborative family practice clinic opened in Masstown on September 8. The practice shares a care team with the West Colchester Community Health Centre in Bass River. The care team includes nurse practitioners (3), administrative support staff (3), a registered nurse, pharmacist, and social worker. A part-time doctor is set to join in January 2024.

    novascotia.ca

  • There are currently about 2,600 substitute teachers across Nova Scotia and the N.S. Teachers Union anticipates finding available subsitutes will remain challenging this year. Reasons cited include compensation (lowest substitute teacher pay in the region), working conditions, increasing numbers of people leaving the profession and fewer entrants.

    infomedia.gc.ca

  • The CRTC, which regulates Canada's broadcasting system, has approved a new licence to run an FM radio station in Lunenburg. Owner Scott Clements plans to launch the new rock station on the air by mid-2024.

    cbc.ca

  • Nova Scotia Health recently posted updated figures that show 142,457 people are trying to find a family practice - a decrease of 9,544 people since the registry was last updated in July. However, the total number is still in excess of 14% of the population as ongoing efforts to boost recruitment and expand collaborative care clinics continue.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced its purchase of the former Wheelhouse Motel in Lunenburg, which will be converted into mixed-income housing for healthcare workers. The site will include 10-12 one-bedroom units plus 6 townhouses at a total project cost of $4.7M.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health pilot project launched on September 12 with $4.5M in funding (over 3 years) by the N.S. Government. In partnership with Dalhousie University, the centre provides mental health and addictions care through clinical psychology PhD students under the supervision of registered clinical psychologists.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-09-01 to 2023-09-07

  • Commercial licence holders in the Maritime baby eel fishery have lost their legal bid to overturn the federal decision to cut the commercial elver quota by 14% and give it to Indigenous bands, without compensation to private licence holders.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced nearly $1.2M in funding for Rogers to bring high speed internet to 16 rural communities across Cape Breton that includes over 440 Indigenous households. The funding will be used to install fibre-optic internet with a completion date of spring 2025.

    cbc.ca

  • The Department of Health and Wellness reported that 5.5 additional full-time positions would clear the shortage of midwives in Halifax but funding for midwives in the province has been stagnant for 4 years. There are currently only 16 midwives working at 3 sites - Halifax, Lunenburg and Antigonish.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. government has announced close to $1M through the Recreational Trail Expansion Fund. The funding includes over $580k in capital grants for 27 trails and over $400k in operating funding to support groups managing 23 trails on the provincial rail bed.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $2M in funding for clean technology growth in Cape Breton that includes Verschuren Centre ($1M) to expand its research centre, Cotex Technologies ($500k) to begin production of its biodegradable fertilizer coating in a North Sydney facility, and Dispersa ($500k) to scale-up production.

    canada.ca

  • New Businesses: Aviyal Indian Kitchen (Sackville), two Starbucks (Sackville), Martha’s Pizza II (Halifax), and Aisle 24 (Halifax); Closures: East of Grafton (Halifax), Hopyard (Halifax), and Peppereka (Burnside).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced project funding through two provincial programs to assist municipalities to create inviting spaces and provide job opportunities. These include 27 projects ($569,968) through the Beautification and Streetscaping Program and 14 projects ($311,598) through the Community Works Program.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-08-25 to 2023-08-31

  • Transit Cape Breton is adding 2 new routes and 2 improved routes to its bus service around Sydney starting on September 5, 2023 as ridership in the area hits an all-time high. Growing student enrolment at Cape Breton University is driving the need for the expansion.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $2.2M in funding to the Ship Hector Society for upgrades to the Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou to help boost long-term tourism growth in the area. Major upgrades at the interpretive centre will include new roofing, windows, doors, and solar panel installation.

    canada.ca

  • New Businesses: Peppercorns Eatery (Bedford), Manuela’s Cakery (Bedford), Aly Mae’s Bread Basket (Dartmouth), Xaymaca Grocery (Dartmouth), Virani’s Pizza (Dartmouth), Asado Wood Fired Grill (Dartmouth), Little Luxuries Soapworks (Dartmouth) and JYSK (Bridgewater).

    retales.ca

  • N.S. continues to experience a chronic shortage of child-care spaces as it works on an action plan to access federal funds for child care and early childhood education of $123M (2023/2024), $143M (2024/2025), and $169M (2025/2026). N.S. has created 400 of the 1,500 new child-care space goal and has increased wages for early childhood educators.

    cbc.ca

  • A new wilderness area in Guysborough County - The Archibald Lake Wilderness Area - will encompass 684 hectares of forest, wetland and 3 lakes. Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia Inc. wants to build an open-pit gold mine near the wilderness area using water from one of the lakes and is assessing the potential impact of the new designation.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-08-18 to 2023-08-24

  • Canada is seeing a steady influx of international students, with a record 550,150 international study permits issued last year, but more student housing is needed. There is currently no cap on students allowed or requirement for schools to build housing.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada’s first offshore wind farm is coming to Nova Scotia off the coast of Goldboro through a partnership between global renewable energy group DP Energy and SBM Offshore, an organization that specializes in building infrastructure at sea at an estimated cost of about $1.5B.

    charlottefm.ca

  • New Businesses: Hardisty Brewing Co. storefront location (Cole Harbour), Nayya Pizza (2nd location/Lower Sackville), Planet Fitness (Woodlwan/replacing World Gym), Toys R Us (Bayers Lake); Closures: Coburg Social closed abruptly this week.

    retales.ca

  • The quota for the Southwest Nova Scotia/Bay of Fundy herring fishery has been decreased by 11% for 2023 and has dropped by 50% since 2018. Nova Scotia's fishing industry and conservation groups are at odds over the quota. The commercial herring fishery is worth about $19.5M.

    cbc.ca

  • After years of declining enrolment, N.S. has added over 9,700 students to public schools over the 9-year period from 2014-15 to 2022-23. Over 100 new classroom teachers were hired throughout the province in 2022 for a total of about 10,000 while 60 ESL teachers were hired in the last few years bringing the total to 100.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Liquor Corporation’s first-quarter 2023 financial results show total sales down 0.1% to $219.1M, with a 6.7% increase in cannabis sales and a 1.1% decrease in beverage alcohol sales compared with the year prior. Local cannabis led the growth of Nova Scotia products with a 22.2% increase in sales to $9.5M.

    novascotia.ca

  • Licensed cannabis producers and retailers continue to struggle due to dropping prices, a saturated market and a heavy tax burden. They are predicting a significant increase in the number of bankruptcies within the next 18 months without any federal level changes to help the industry.

    cbc.ca

  • Canadian tech companies using the Global Talent Stream (GTS) to recruit foreign workers has dipped 2.8% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. The use of GTS is still above pre-pandemic levels, despite layoffs and hiring slowdowns.

    thelogic.co
• Week of 2023-08-11 to 2023-08-17

  • The N.S. Government Employees Union representing provincial correctional officers says there is a staffing shortage crisis at the Central NS Correctional Centre in Dartmouth - the province's largest jail. Staffing challenges include experienced officers retiring at the same, or faster rate than new recruits.

    cbc.ca

  • Recent job data from Statistics Canada shows that construction employment has decreased by 71,000 across Canada since January 2023. The industry has 80,000 vacancies, which has impacted costs and productivity, while there is a growing need for new homes.

    www.msn.com

  • The N.S. Government recently commissioned a survey of newcomers and a review of existing programs which concluded that there was an insufficient number of settlement workers for the existing workload which has seen settlement organizations serving 55-60% more immigrants than expected.

    cbc.ca

  • Gateway Meat Market (Dartmouth) have submitted a development proposal, now in its second phase, for a large expansion to double its retail space. The store first opened in 2008 and currently employs close to 80 staff.

    cbc.ca

  • New Businesses: BarBurrito (Tantallon), Tarek’s 2 (Spryfield) and Room + Spaces (Dartmouth Crossing) while Fluevog Shoes is scouting downtown Halifax locations for a new store spring opening. Closures: Oasis (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced that a new commercial whelk fishery will be introduced in spring 2024 in the waters off Eastern Cape Breton. A successful exploratory whelk fishery there supported about 55 jobs and the new commercial whelk fishery is expected to generate more opportunities.

    canada.ca

  • The Donkin coal mine run by Kameron Coal is to remain shut with a stop-work order while the N.S. Government reviews operator's safety plan and is satisfied that the mine is safe. As a result, close to 40 employees have been temporarily laid off at the mine and there is no reopening date estimate yet.

    ctvnews.ca

  • A joint federal/provincial investment of $6.4M will fund the expansion of over 150 new child care spaces in licensed centres and family homes in Southern N.S. that include spaces in Lockeport, Shelburne, Wedgeport, Tusket, Church Point and Digby.

    novascotia.ca

  • Joint federal ($2M) and provincial ($1.5M) funding has been announced for the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial to upgrade the Chéticamp Cultural Quarter - a multifunctional arts facility. Upgrades will include a conference room, art gallery, artist studios, a 200-seat theatre, a community library and a café.

    canada.ca

  • The Northumberland Strait fall lobster fishery has opened up after weather delays, allowing boats in southern P.E.I., northwestern N.S. and southeastern N.B. to set their traps. Demand for this season's catch is expected to be high and push up prices.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-08-04 to 2023-08-10

  • As the federal government tries to expand access to dental care through the Canadian Dental Care Plan, its success could be hampered by a shortage of dental staff. Across Canada there is a scarcity of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other staff.

    Other Sources

  • The federal government announced a new three-year pilot program, which will speed up the approval process for companies with a track record of using foreign workers. It is hoped it will help with labour shortages, especially in the agricultural sector.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • The average rate for a hotel room in the Halifax area increased by about 20% in 2023 compared to 2022 cited as a response to the significant 17% increase in visitor numbers over the previous year. The occupancy rate in Halifax is 66%, roughly the same as Montreal and slightly lower than Toronto.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced nearly $1M toward three N.S. companies for projects that will help to further Atlantic Canada’s ocean technology innovation and growth. They include Lunenburg’s ABCO Industries, Halifax’s ReelData and Dartmouth Ocean Technologies. The ocean sector is estimated to grow to over $25B by 2030 worldwide.

    canada.ca

  • N.S. Blueberry growers say the recent provincial wildfires will spark new growth as the plants are more resilient than most due to large root systems. Nova Scotia produces between 45-60M pounds of wild blueberries each season and exports over $100M worth a year.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has partnered with online home-sharing platform Happipad to expand their program across the province through a $1.3M investment over 2 years. Happipad matches renters with hosts and staff in Nova Scotia will provide user support.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $5.6M to develop a new 2-year physician assistant master’s program at Dalhousie University along with $1.5M in annual funding – the first one in Atlantic Canada. The program is expected to begin in January 2024 and will be open to 24 students with provincial applicants being given priority.

    novascotia.ca

  • Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services and EverWind Fuels have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a green fuel transshipment corridor between EverWind’s proposed Burin Peninsula hydrogen project and its Point Tupper facility in Cape Breton. The vessel will be crewed by up to 16 full-time Indigenous mariners.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-07-28 to 2023-08-03

  • Halifax police are exploring ways expand officer recruitment as the force deals with long-term absences and large numbers of potential retirements. 74 officers are eligible for retirement in 2023, 16 in 2024 and 20 in 2025, with a total of 208 officers eligible for retirement between now and 2029.

    cbc.ca

  • New Businesses: Aroma Maya (Dartmouth), Market Price (Halifax), Spirit Halloween (Bayers Lake), Activate (Dartmouth Crossing), and Macao Imperial Tea (Fairview).

    retales.ca

  • Since 2015, N.S. has added nearly 111k new residents for a total population of 1,047,232 as of April 1, 2023, driven largely by immigration and migration from other provinces. Growth over the past year has been the fastest on record since 1951, and current projections suggest the population will surpass 1.15M by 2030.

    cbc.ca

  • The Cape Breton Regional Hospital (Sydney) is the first location in N.S. outside of Halifax’s QEII Health Sciences Centre to hire someone through the clinical assistant program, which allows physicians who have trained/worked in other jurisdictions who are not yet eligible for their full licence to use their skills to support patient care.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government and General Employees Union that represents all 17 telehealth associates at the 811 telehealth phone line says staffing shortages coupled with a wage rate of $18.44/hour are leading to burnout. They are employed by Emergency Medical Care Inc. with the current contract expiring in 2024.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-07-21 to 2023-07-27

  • The N.S. Government has announced an $8.5M 5-year funding agreement for the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship to assist them to continue to increase the province’s share of the global marine technology sector and support innovators to grow successful companies and create jobs.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia Power reported a 16% increase in permit requests over 2022 figures and hire and trained 15 new employees to decrease the wait time for permits. This comes after receiving feedback from electrical contractors about the increased wait times which affect construction projects in the province.

    cbc.ca

  • The new mental health and addictions day hospital is now open in Sydney, Cape Breton. The interdisciplinary team of mental health specialists working there include a psychiatrist, nurses, social workers, an occupational therapist, a recreational therapist and a pharmacist.

    novascotia.ca

  • New Businesses: Hallycraft the Búkà, Banh Mi A&B, Tribeca, Flenjor Foods, The Wobbley Duck, The Dukes Public House (all in Halifax), Pizza Delight (Dartmouth), and The Kilted Goat Country Store (Bedford); Closing: Level 8 Nightclub and Katch (Halifax), and The Posh Pearl (First Lake).

    retales.ca

  • A tentative agreement has been reached between the N.S. Government and the 4 unions representing 10,000 nurses in the province. The 5-year contract retroactive to 2020, will see total salary increases over the contract of 21% (nurse practitioners), 15-21% (registered nurses) and 12-17% (licensed practical nurses). The contract also includes other premiums and incentive.

    cbc.ca

  • Doctors N.S. and the N.S. Government have ratified a new 4-year collective agreement for physicians on July 20, 2023 that provides a new compensation model option for family physicians based on hours worked, services provided and number of patients as well as funding to hire allied healthcare providers, such as physiotherapists and dietitians.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced close to $2M in water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades for the Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish to help better serve the existing community and allow for future development growth.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-07-14 to 2023-07-20

  • Nav Canada, which oversees Canada's air traffic controllers, says it's recruiting and training over 400 new staff in order to address a labour shortage across Canada. During the pandemic Nav Canada cut 720 jobs and terminated its training program.

    cbc.ca

  • EverWind has announced plans to develop three wind farms that are expected to create 650 construction jobs and 30 full-time positions. Proposed sites in Colchester include Windy Ridge ($660M) and Kmtnuk ($190M), while Bear Lake ($170M) is in Hants. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2024/2025.

    cbc.ca

  • A new collaborative family practice clinic opened in Amherst on June 8, 2023 that will include 2 nurse practitioners, a family practice nurse, a family doctor and rotations by a pharmacist and social worker.

    novascotia.ca

  • New Businesses: Palm Tree Kitchen, Au Liban , Martha’s II Pizza (Halifax), Jessy’s Pizza (Porters Lake), Fledglings & Folk, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (Sackville), Homesense (Bedford Commons), Long & McQuade (Dartmouth Crossing); Closing: The Tare Shop (Halifax), Press Play Café and Beaver Bank Pizza (Sackville).

    retales.ca

  • The Government of Canada and the Municipality of the District of Clare have announced joint funding of over $2.9M to renovate the Clare Veterans Centre in Saulnierville. The funding will enable accessibility enhancements, a solar array installation and numerous equipment upgrades and renovations.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced approximately $43M for infrastructure improvements and projects related to Hurricane Fiona recovery in Parks Canada administered places on Cape Breton Island that include the Fortress of Louisbourg and Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Sites.

    canada.ca

  • The 2023 North American Indigenous Games officially opened in Halifax on July 16 bringing together about 5,000 athletes, coaches and mission staff from 750 First Nations across the continent.

    cbc.ca

  • Provincial judges have expressed concern about chronic staffing shortages at the Central NS Correctional Facility (Dartmouth) that have resulted in numerous lockdowns. In addition to ongoing recruitment efforts, the province has been developing other workforce initiatives to help improve staffing in correctional facilities.

    cbc.ca

  • Signal Gold has announced a delayed start to the construction of its Goldboro project as a result of changes in government timelines and the lack of availability of investment funds in the public financial markets.

    guysboroughjournal.com

  • Statistics Canada released figures showing that Canada’s inflation rate rose 2.8% year over year in June. P.E.I. had the lowest year-over-year increase at 0.2%, while Newfoundland and Labrador’s inflation rate was 1.7%, N.S. was 1.9%, and N.B. was 2.1%.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-07-07 to 2023-07-14

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $1.6M in joint federal-provincial funding to support green energy upgrades to the Bayside Travel Centre in Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. Project works include installing a direct current microgrid energy system.

    canada.ca

  • The Nova Scotia TV and film industry has been impacted with production delays as a result of the Writers Guild of America strike that began on May 2 with the union representing actors set to also strike this week if a deal is not reached. Key issues include wages, residuals and regulations on Artificial Intelligence.

    cbc.ca

  • The Halifax Forum redevelopment project is a step closer to reality as the Halifax regional council voted in favour of the provision of a detailed site and facility design for the project. The redevelopment project cost has increased from $81M in 2021 to an estimated $110M in 2023 due to inflation.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $1.3M for three projects under the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund. These include two energy efficiency projects by two Cape Breton community housing organizations and a third project involving research on climate change’s impact on groundwater and wells.

    novascotia.ca

  • Emergency Medical Care Inc., the company contracted by the N.S. Government to provide ambulance service in the province, has hired 53 paramedics in 2023. However, 49 have also left the system, 16 of whom were advanced-care paramedics.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government and General Employees Union has called on the N.S. Government to open contract wage negotiations early for the 18 telehealth associates employed with Emergency Medical Care Incorporated. They currently earn $17.05-$18.44/hour while HRM employees with similar duties start at $26.90/hour.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-30 to 2023-07-06

  • The Old Sydney Society, a group that offers historical walks and ghost tours in downtown Sydney, is experiencing a staff shortage of tour guides and needs at least 5 additional guides by fall which is beginning of their high season. The shortage currently limits tour numbers and new programming.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Tatamagouche Ice Cream (seasonal location/Dartmouth), Oceanstone Spa (Peggys Cove), Propeller Brewing (Bedford Highway), Latitude 44 (Halifax), and A Fresh New You (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • Over 10,000 Nova Scotia RNs, LPNs and nurse practitioners who work in hospitals, satellite clinics and in public health throughout the province's acute and community care sector have been without a contract since November 2020 and have filed for conciliation after recent stalled contract talks.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government and the Halifax Regional Municipality have partnered to move forward with a new, licensed long-term care facility in Dartmouth. The facility, one of seven planned for HRM, will be owned and operated by Northwood and will provide 96 long-term care rooms. All seven are expected to open in 2025.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia Farmers have been struggling to maintain and harvest their crops after a rainy start to the summer. The Annapolis Valley, which is home to many farms and vineyards, has seen about 80 mm of rain in the last 10 days - waterlogging crops and washing away pesticides.

    cbc.ca

  • The Electric Vehicle (EV) Association of Atlantic Canada says that with the carbon tax driving up fuel costs, there should be increased interest in people buying EVs. Rebates for EVs can also be as high as $10K in provinces like N.S. and N.B.

    globalnews.ca

  • N.S. Power intends to convert three coal-fired units at the Lingan Generating Station in Cape Breton to heavy fuel oil in 2030 and keep them operating until 2050. The Point Tupper Coal plant will be converted to natural gas in 2029 while Point Aconi and the two plants in Trenton will be retired by 2029.

    cbc.ca

  • The YWCA Halifax has taken over ownership of Swings Daycare in Elmsdale after the previous owner announced their retirement. The transition comes at a time that the province continues to struggle with a child-care shortage as pressure continues from people in the sector retiring.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-23 to 2023-06-29

  • The N.S. Government has announced funding for a new school to replace Trenton Elementary and Trenton Middle School, under the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education, which will serve about 280 students. The new school is expected to open in September 2027.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $56,250 in funding to Coastal Gardens, an Indigenous and woman-owned garden centre in Pugwash. The funding will be used to construct two additional greenouses with automated systems that will triple capacity and increase production by 90%.

    canada.ca

  • The Canadian Union of Public Employees says it is relieved that after months-long shortage of 911 dispatchers Cape Breton Regional Municipality has hired 2 new dispatchers in training, 6 more in the final hiring stages, and another 16 candidates being interviewed. The positions have been changed from part-time to full-time.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced $6.4M in funding for the design and construction of a new 50-km coastal hiking trail, “The Seawall Trail”, within the Polletts Cove-Aspy Fault Wilderness Area north of the Cabot Trail. It will include huts and bridges, as well as marketing, communications and engagement with local Mi’kmaw communities.

    novascotia.ca

  • Doctors Nova Scotia have reached tentative agreements with the Provincial Government on new 4-year contracts for 3,400 doctors in the province. Details about the contracts to be released upon ratification.

    cbc.ca

  • The union representing Halifax Regional Police officers reported that in the past 6 months there were 20 resignations, all of which went to the RCMP, and 10 retirements. Reasons for the shortage include burn out, compensation, lack of training/career opportunities, and competition from other municipalities and the RCMP.

    cbc.ca

  • About 5,000 Nova Scotia health-care workers represented by three unions have voted overwhelmingly to reject the tentative agreement with the provincial government reached back in April. It includes clerks, equipment operators, administrative assistants, transcriptionists and health record technicians in hospitals.

    cbc.ca

  • Many airlines are struggling to find qualified pilots, due to a limited labour supply and greater demand for air travel. Transport Canada says about 1,100 pilot licences were granted annually prior to the pandemic, compared to under 500 in 2020 and 238 in 2022.

    vocm.com

  • Fisheries and Oceans has announced that it will double the redfish experimental quota in Atlantic Canada, but N.S.-based Ka'le Bay Seafoods states that there is already too much redfish in the market and this will cause the price to drop.

    Telegram

  • The former Windsor textile mill could soon become part of Mill Island - a larger hockey-themed development by United Gulf Developments. It would include a museum, restaurant, outdoor rinks, and a new building with 164 residential units and commercial/office space. Construction could begin within a year following approval.

    globalnews.ca

  • Ottawa announced a new express entry stream for health professionals in the economic immigration program. Invitations will go to foreign doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and optometrists to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced funding for a new school to replace Windsor Forks and Three Mile Plains district schools that will fall under the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education. The new school is expected to open in September 2029.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced the new pilot CCA–Practical Nursing Bridging Program that will offer 25 continuing care assistants currently working in Nova Scotia a free 2.5 year practical nursing diploma program starting in January 2024 to build career advancement opportunities in the sector.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government is contributing $10M toward the new Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax that follows the $1.7M previously provided in 2022-23 for new programs and initiatives at the current centre.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: JUKAI Japanese & Thai (Bedford West), Panada Pizza (Musquodoboit Harbour), Flower Street (Dartmouth), Mind Games (Dartmouth); Closures: Greco (Main Street/Dartmouth), Pizza Girls (Dartmouth), Quality Used Books (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced funding to build a new French first-language school to serve the historic Acadian community of Tor Bay in Guysborough County. Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial intends to open the new school during the 2023-24 school year.

    novascotia.ca
• Week of 2023-06-16 to 2023-06-22

  • The Government of Canada has proposed a $4.5B loan to N.S. for the Atlantic Loop, which has a $6.8B overall capital cost, to expand the electrical grid connections between Quebec, N.B., and N.S. to increase access to renewable electricity. N.S. is concerned about loan repayment and continues to explore alternatives such as offshore wind and tidal power.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: The Good Robot beer garden (Halifax), MediTerra Grocery (Bedford), Mind Games (Dartmouth), Stories (Halifax), Charger Burger/Wowly (Sackville) and Yilan (Halifax); Closures: Shawarma King (Sackville), Qiu Brothers (Halifax), and Wasabi Grill (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • The Government of Canada will invest over $3.7M to construct a new facility for the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in Trenton. The facility will include a community room, kitchenette, and technology to support local business activities.

    canada.ca

  • The N.S. Government has unveiled a new 5-year school capital plan worth nearly $1B which includes $707.2M in new funding. The plan includes four replacement schools including one slated for New Germany and one for Porters Lake plus two in yet to be announced locations.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. government is investing over $5.1M to improve public transportation services in the province. The funding will assist 29 municipalities and community organizations in purchasing vehicles, supporting operations and planning, and enhancing transportation accessibility.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. government has announced $3.2M to fund eight new Integrated Youth Services sites that will offer a range of supports, including mental health, social, and education services as well as employment assistance.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia has announced 4 new affordable housing projects. The developments include Antigonish Affordable Housing Society (14 units/Antigonish), Affirmative Ventures (6 units/Westphal), One World Building Association (32 units/Hammonds Plains) and Spryfield Social Enterprise and Affordable Housing Society (48 units/Spryfield).

    novascotia.ca

  • The union representing police officers say the Cape Breton regional police are facing severe staffing shortages, with some shifts up to 40% understaffed and officers working 18-hour shifts. Recruitment efforts have been underway and 8 new officers are expected to start this summer.

    cbc.ca

  • Halifax Transit service reductions introduced in February, will now continue indefinitely due to ongoing staff shortages. Despite progress on recruitment and hiring, there were still 42 vacancies for conventional bus operators at the end of March, with 598 of 640 positions filled.

    cbc.ca

  • New research by TD Bank has found that more women with young children are joining the Canadian labour force, due to more flexible work environments and better access to child care. The participation rate has increased to 78.8%, since the summer of 2020.

    Globe & Mail

  • Over 35,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada employed at the Canada Revenue Agency have ratified new collective agreements with the Treasury Board of Canada. The deal includes wage increases of 12.6% over 4 years and protections against contracting out.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2023-06-09 to 2023-06-15

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Vans (Halifax), Mera Café (Halifax), 2 Crows Brewing (Halifax), Osmow’s (Bayers Lake), Red Wing Shoes (Dartmouth), Villa Madina (Sackville), and Mucho Burrito (Sackville); Closures: GoodFare Café (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced a $2M investment to help community groups, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations make needed upgrades to recreation facilities. The funding will assist 46 projects in total.

    novascotia.ca

  • The NSLC has released its fiscal 2022-2023 year-end financial results reporting a 6% increase with $860.7M in total sales. Alcohol sales increased by 4.3% while cannabis sales experienced a significant 9.3% increase. Eleven new cannabis locations were added bringing the total to 48 stores.

    citynews.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced joint federal-provincial-municipal funding of over $8.3M to upgrade Chester’s wastewater collection system and treatment plant. The upgrades will increase capacity and provide wastewater service to a new housing development project in the community.

    canada.ca

  • The national unemployment rate rose to 5.2%, the first increase since last August. Nova Scotia had a net decrease of 5,200 jobs and its unemployment rate fell to 5.7% with fewer people in the labour force.

    charlottefm.ca

  • APEC reports have identified over 500 major capital projects in the region this year, with an investment value of $225 billion, which is 48% higher than in 2022. There are concerns about a shortage of labour and worker retention, due in part to lack of housing and healthcare issues.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Over 1800 workers at the Halifax Regional Centre for Education represented by CUPE have reached a tentative contract agreement with the province. It includes educational assistants, early childhood educators, student support workers, community outreach workers, school library specialists, and others.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-02 to 2023-06-08

  • Two daycares near Halifax have been destroyed as a result of the recent wildfires. These include ForestKids Early Learning, also known as Hammonds Plains Children's Centre (82 children) and Giant Steps (Upper Tantallon). The loss has exacerbated the existing provincial shortage of child-care centres.

    cbc.ca

  • Marco Group Ltd. was awarded the $45.7M contract to build the replacement for St. Joseph's-Alexander McKay Elementary (Halifax), while RCS Construction was awarded the $37.8M contract for the new Conseil Scolaire Acadien school (Clare), which is expected to be ready for the 2024-25 school year.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Cha Baa Thai (Bayer’s Lake), Mezza’s (Dartmouth), Nine Locks (Waverley), El Este (Scotia Square-Halifax), Banh Mi A&B (Halifax), Cowboy Bar & Grill (Halifax) and Tarek’s Café (Spryfield); Closures: The Foggy Goggle (Halifax) and Ray’s Lebanese (Burnside).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government is assessing the wind power industry’s interest in putting commercial offshore wind turbines in waters under provincial jurisdiction in sites such as Chedabucto Bay, Mahone Bay and St. Marys Bay. Projects are expected to take 8-10 years to develop after a seabed licence is awarded.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-26 to 2023-06-01

  • The Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association states that many peach, plum and nectarine trees were severely damaged after an extreme cold snap in February, which will impact crop volumes. Stone fruits make up less than 5% of the N.S. tree fruit orchard industry.

    cbc.ca

  • Ottawa has launched a category-based selection for Canada’s economic immigration management system, Express Entry. Special focus will be on workers with French or experience in healthcare, trades, transport, agriculture and STEM professions.

    canada.ca

  • The Department of Natural Resources has announced a new legislation that will enable Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to explore the potential of offshore wind development. Canada’s East Coast has significant potential for growth and financial investment.

    nationalpost.com

  • Fisheries and Oceans have extended the closure of the baby eel fishery in the Maritimes for another 45 days. The extension takes place amid ongoing concerns over conservation and poaching. Fishery officers have made over 110 arrests since the fishery closed in mid-April.

    globalnews.ca

  • The ForestKids Early Learning in Yankeetown was destroyed from the wildfire that has been burning out of control around the Hammonds Plains area. The couple that run the daycare stated their intention to rebuild.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Stillwell Brewing (Halifax), Harnois Énergies (Dartmouth), Zen House (Halifax), Scotiabank (Larry Uteck Boulevard), Caissie Pizza (Bedford Highway), Meltwich (Halifax); Closures: Into The Wild pet store (Dartmouth).

    retales.ca

  • The launch of an expanded ferry service to Tancook Islands will begin in the fall of 2024 after the completion of a new dock and facilities in Blandford. A.F. Theriault and Son (Meteghan) was awarded the $10.6M shipbuilding contract in 2021 with the ferry expected to be completed by summer 2024.

    cbc.ca

  • A new survey from BDO Debt Solutions reports that over 25% of Canadians are considering taking on extra work (or a second job) to pay down their debts. It also states that about a third of Canadians find themselves so deep in debt that they are not sure what to do about it.

    thewave.ca

  • Construction has begun on a new $48M rail line project that will connect Halifax's south-end container terminal with the Fairview Cove terminal by 2026. The project will take most transport truck traffic out of downtown Halifax. In 2022, there were over 25K jobs connected to activities at the Port of Halifax.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-19 to 2023-05-25

  • The Government of Canada has announced joint federal-provincial funding of over $1.5M to modernise the Village of St. Peter’s drinking water infrastructure.

    canada.ca

  • The latest assessments from Fisheries and Oceans Canada states that the Maritime lobster population is strong and the fishery is sustainable, despite warming ocean temperatures. Lobsters can tolerate a wider range of temperatures than other species.

    cbc.ca

  • In March the number of Canadians receiving jobless benefits through Employment Insurance fell to a record low, as the labour market remained tight. This was the lowest number of regular EI beneficiaries going back to 1997.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • The N.S. Government has created a new department, the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, to focus on digital services and cybersecurity. Staff from the Nova Scotia Digital Service will move to the new department which will employ 798 employees with an annual budget of $229.1M.

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Walter’s Snack Bar (Halifax), Virani’s Pizza (Halifax), Sugar Fix (Halifax), Daily Grind (Halifax), and Toys R Us/Babies R Us (Chain Lake); Closures: Flower Child (Halifax) and Budapest Bisztro (Halifax).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced a new francophone school for the Eastern Shore to serve students from pre-primary to grade 8 to replace École des Beaux-Marais as part of the plan to update aging schools. The school is expected to open in September 2027 though the site has not yet been selected.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced joint federal-provincial funding of over $9.7M to build new water and wastewater infrastructure in Kentville. This will increase capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater while opening up new land to build housing in Kentville.

    canada.ca

  • Staffing shortages at Nova Scotia jails have escalated to the point where inmates are going to court with Charter rights challenges. New hirings have been mostly offset by departures due to the high stress environment while the provincial collective agreement for correctional officers doesn't expire until 2024.

    cbc.ca

  • The Association of Nova Scotia Midwives say the lack of educational opportunities is driving the midwife shortage. There is currently no formal midwifery training program in Atlantic Canada. In N.S., the province funds 16 positions, but has two temporary positions that remain unfilled.

    cbc.ca

  • WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (union) representing its pilots reached a last-minute deal on May 18, averting a strike planned for the following day. Key issues addressed in the tentative agreement include job security, working conditions and wages.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-12 to 2023-05-18

  • The Nova Scotia College of Nursing has seen a significant influx of applications since the introduction of fast-tracked licensing for out-of-province nurses at the end of March and some international nurses at the start of May. As of May 16, the college has received 10,526 applications.

    citynews.ca

  • The N.S. Government has reported that 168 doctors (78 family doctors and 90 specialists) have started practising in the province from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. NS Health hired 155 of them while IWK Health hired 13 and the net gain was 86 physicians.

    novascotia.ca

  • Video game design company Ubisoft Halifax is expanding to a new studio downtown. There are more than a dozen video game studios operating across Nova Scotia, employing over 300 people, with 80 of those employed by Ubisoft. The move is seen as indicative of the growing video game industry here.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Nova Scotia shellfish farmers will now be allowed to add kelp to aquaculture leases as a new report suggests the industry could be worth $40M in the province within 3-5 years. Kelp can be processed and used as an additive to food, health and beauty products.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government has announced six new long-term care facilities being built in Halifax Regional Municipality that will add 720 beds to the province by 2025. The locations include Dartmouth (2), Bedford (2), Tantallon (1) and Lower Sackville (1). Construction has already begun at some of the sites.

    cbc.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Tribeca Bistro, Bar & Café (Halifax), EatGRK (Halifax), Adidas (Dartmouth Crossing/October), Indi’s Shoetique (Bedford), Wild Things (Bedford), Cyclesmith (Dartmouth), The Fog Company (Halifax), and Rumi Coffee Company (Halifax); Closures: Lindt (Clayton Park location).

    retales.ca

  • Sustainable Marine Energy, a firm that hoped to create tidal power from the Bay of Fundy tides is winding up operations due to what it claims as excessive regulatory hurdles from the federal Fisheries Department. The company is placing its Canadian subsidiary into bankruptcy.

    cbc.ca

  • The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508 has signed a new 4-year contract that runs until August 2025. The contract is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2021, and will see Halifax Transit operators receive a wage increase of 3% each year and addresses other issues training money and wage parity between drivers of accessible and conventional buses.

    cbc.ca

  • Construction is set to begin on the new Halifax Infirmary Site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre after the N.S. Government reached an agreement with Plenary PCL Health. The agreement covers initial site prep work for the acute care tower, which will have 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, an intensive care unit and a new emergency department.

    novascotia.ca

  • The Government of Canada through ACOA, has announced $2.8M in funding to help 4 cleantech start-ups and a not-for-profit energy efficiency organization create sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. These include Rayleigh Solar Tech, Graphite Innovation and Technologies, Prosaris Solutions, Arolytics and EfficiencyOne.

    canada.ca

  • Restaurants Canada is concerned about the federal deadline of Dec 31, for restaurants to pay back their COVID-19 loans. According to the association bankruptcies are up 116% since 2022, as businesses face rising costs, labour shortages and supply constraints.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A new program, called the early maintenance mobilization project, will soon be rolled out at regional hospitals across the province. As a result, 45 new positions in recreation or rehabilitation therapy will be distributed among regional hospitals by September.

    cbc.ca

  • Under interim understandings with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, three Cape Breton Mi'kmaw First Nations (Potlotek, We'koqma'q, and Eskasoni) will fish during the commercial season under renewed moderate livelihood understandings. The season is now open around Cape Breton and closes in mid-July.

    cbc.ca

  • Dalhousie University (Halifax) has announced plans for a new $12M ocean science centre expected to open in 2025. The project is being developed in collaboration with Discovery Centre International and will become a destination for students, tourists and the public.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.S. Government announced $4M to fund an additional 180 licenced practical nursing seats at 6 N.S. Community College campuses and establish a nursing program at Acadia University. The Acadia program will launch in September 2023 with 21 seats before growing to 63 a year. Both institutions will require more faculty.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-05 to 2023-05-11

  • Northern Nova Scotia will see over 300 new child-care spaces in licensed centres and family homes in 2023 as a result of combined federal-provincial funding as part of the 1,500 new, licensed child-care spaces planned for N.S. It includes 50 spaces at Pictou County’s new YMCA child-care centre scheduled to open this fall.

    novascotia.ca

  • Over 1800 workers at the Halifax Regional Centre for Education represented by CUPE are on strike as of May 10 after failing to reach an agreement with the province. It includes educational assistants, early childhood educators, student support workers, community outreach workers, school library specialists, and others.

    cbc.ca

  • Cape Breton will see over 300 new child-care spaces in licensed centres and family homes in 2023 as a result of combined federal-provincial funding. This is part of the 1,500 new, licensed child-care spaces planned for N.S. and includes 50 at the new child-care centre at Cove Guest Home Community Lodge (Sydney).

    novascotia.ca

  • New/Coming Soon Businesses: Centrall (Halifax), Labels (Dartmouth), Go Bong (Halifax), Lilac and Thistle (Halifax); Closing: Uncle Leos Brewery (Pictou), Heartwood (Quinpool location only).

    retales.ca

  • The N.S. Government’s recent $10k bonus offer to nurses who left the province’s healthcare system has resulted in 148 retired, casual and travel nurses accepting permanent positions in the publicly funded system for at least 2 years. As a direct result, 34 hard-to-fill positions (posted for at least 90 days), are now staffed.

    novascotia.ca

  • Clean Foundation will receive $5.4M in provincial funding to deliver new community and homeowner programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change. Most of the funding is for the Community Climate Capacity Support Program where climate change co-ordinators will assist communities with their projects.

    novascotia.ca

  • Nova Scotia farmers will receive a 25% increase in funding support through a new federal-provincial funding agreement. The new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership will invest $46.25M over 5 years in Nova Scotia’s agriculture sector and focus on 5 key priorities including helping them adapt to climate change.

    novascotia.ca

  • The N.S. Government, under the Land for Housing Initiative, is providing Valley Roots Housing Association with provincially owned land in New Minas for the development of a 24 unit co-operative housing development with an anticipated construction start date of early 2024.

    novascotia.ca