UPDATE: Highway 17 re-opened from Marathon to Peninsula Road
Both lanes of Highway 17 from Marathon to Peninsula are re-opened after a collision.
Check Ontario 511 for up-to-date details.
News
UPDATE: Man charged with arson after 2 fires at Yarmouth apartment building
A man has been charged with arson after two fires at a Yarmouth apartment building.
RCMP say the first fire at the building on Cliff Street Tuesday morning was at the front of the building, and was quickly extinguished.
About an hour later, a second fire at the back of the building caused damage, and firefighters believed it was intentionally set.
A 30-year-old man was later arrested after surveillance video of the area was reviewed.
Officers say the man had a lighter, and there was a strong smell of gasoline.
The man is charged with arson, disregard for human life and failure to comply with a release order.
He’s scheduled to appear in Barrington court today.
Head-on crash outside Digby County under investigation
Alcohol may have been a factor in a head-on collision just outside Digby County.
It happened around 9:30 p.m. Easter Sunday on Highway 1 in Clementsport.
RCMP say the driver of one of the vehicles was a youth, and noted they showed signs of impairment.
The youth was arrested on scene then taken to hospital, a passenger in the vehicle, and the driver of the other vehicle all had minor injuries.
Police say they’re still investigating the factors that caused the crash, and if impaired driving charges will be laid.
Delays expected on Vaughan Harvey Blvd
There will be lane reductions on Vaughan Harvey Boulevard on Thursday.
Crews will be repairing a water main break between Gordon and St. George Streets.
Northbound lanes will be closed from 9 am to 4 pm.
The city says northbound traffic (towards St. George Street) will use the following detour: Vaughan Harvey Boulevard, Gordon Street, Cornhill Street, back to St. George Street
Traffic travelling West down Gordon Street will be diverted up High Street to help with traffic flow.
The traffic lights at the intersection of High and St. George Streets and Vaughan Harvey and St. George Boulevards will be inoperable while work is conducted.
Expect delays for your travel.
Debate over looming long-term care strike raised in legislature
The possibility of a strike by long-term care workers in Nova Scotia was front and centre during question period yesterday.
Halifax Armdale MLA Rod Wilson said workers are nearing a breaking point, with some earning only slightly above minimum wage even after years on the job.
“Long-term care workers have been telling me they don’t want a strike but they can no longer afford to pay their bills,” Wilson said.
He urged the province to act quickly, adding, “The minister could prevent a strike today by presenting a fair raise to long-term care workers.”
Wilson also raised concerns about how a strike could impact care inside nursing homes.
“We know a strike will mean reduced staff… there will be no kitchen staff, no housekeeping staff, no laundry staff,” he said. “Without them the risk of infection will go up.”
Seniors Minister Barb Adams defended the province’s position, saying a comparable deal has already been accepted elsewhere in the system.
“The offer that was made is the exact same offer that was made to acute care workers… and home care workers… and over 23 other long-term care facilities have already accepted the deal,” Adams said.
She also pushed back on concerns about safety during a potential strike.
“What the member just suggested… is just factually incorrect,” Adams said. “There is a legal requirement called an essential service contract.”
Adams added long-term care workers will continue to provide care if job action occurs.
“Our long-term care staff care so much about their clients, they are going to make sure that that care is provided.”
Wilson, however, said the current offer is not enough to prevent a strike, warning job action could begin as early as next week.
Nominations open for Yarmouth volunteer awards
Yarmouth Recreation wants to hear about volunteerism.
Nominations are open for their 52nd annual Volunteer Awards.
Community Engagement Officer Jillian Comeau says they’re looking to recognize people who make the community better.
“There are so many groups and individuals in the area that really work hard at getting jobs done and volunteering in the community, so we want to hear about them,” said Comeau.
One volunteer from the town and one from the municipality will be chosen as provincial volunteer award recipients.
The rest will be honoured at a ceremony in the fall.
“There are a lot of things that can’t happen without volunteers, so getting together on one night a year is a small way to celebrate all of their accomplishments.”
Nominations close April 26, at the end of Volunteer Week.
Saint John police chief speaks out
The chief of the Saint John Police Force issued a statement Wednesday regarding allegations made against him by members of the force.
Robert Bruce said after becoming aware of complaints made by officers in July 2025, he fully co-operated with the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners, the New Brunswick Police Commission and the independent third-party investigator.
“The majority of the allegations were found to be vexatious, frivolous and not made in good faith and were dismissed,” Bruce said.
“For the few remaining allegations, I took full responsibility for any action the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners or the New Brunswick Police Commission deemed below the standard expected of the Saint John Police Chief through the informal resolution process under the Police Act.”
Bruce said he’s worked since becoming chief in 2021 to improve trust and confidence in the force.
“The workplace culture I inherited was not one that embraced change or innovation,” he said. “There has been much resistance, specifically from the Saint John Police Association executive, which seeks to maintain the status quo because it benefits them.”
Bruce said the association’s actions were disappointing and predictable, accusing them of using similar tactics and attempts to discredit previous chiefs, city employees and councillors.
“These attacks move us farther from the modern, responsive police force the residents of Saint John expect and deserve,” he said.
He also suggested the timing of the accusations was not a coincidence, as the police union and the City were in the middle of labour negotiations at the time.
Bruce said he would not make any other statements on the matter.
Deadline to run in N.B. municipal elections is April 10
If you are thinking of running in the upcoming municipal election in New Brunswick, time is running out.
“You need to get a nomination paper completed and submitted to the local returning officer before 2 p.m. on April 10th. The nomination kits can be downloaded from the Elections New Brunswick website. On that paper, the instructions are quite clear, but you need to fill in information about yourself, the contest you want to compete in, and most importantly, you need at least 10 nominators who are eligible to vote in the contest in which you are running,” Kim Poffenroth, Elections NB Chief Electoral Officer, explained.
Those who want to run for local government must be 18 years of age and a Canadian citizen. They must also be living in the municipality for at least six months where they want to run as a candidate. If they are running as a Ward councillor, they must be living in that ward on the day they file nomination papers.
Poffenroth added that it is not unusual for New Brunswickers to wait until the last minute to file, especially in municipal elections. “It’s a little less common in provincial elections. I think it’s because people are waiting to see who else is running, is there going to be a vacancy, is there going to be a need for an election?”
She also encouraged not waiting until the last minute, because of the very hard deadline. If your nomination papers are even one minute late to the returning officer on April 10, they won’t be accepted.
“There’s no flexibility there,” Poffenroth added.
So what happens if the deadline comes and goes, and positions remain vacant on municipal councils and District Education Councils?
Poffenroth explained that if there are no candidates or not enough, a byelection will need to be held, likely in October or November.
“For District Education Councils and for Advisory Committees for the rural districts, in those cases, the minister is responsible, so either the Minister of Education or the Minister of Local Government will appoint people to those positions,” Poffenroth stressed.
Many people will also be elected by acclamation if no one else puts their name forward to run against them.
“Your Mayors and Councillors, these people are making decisions about matters that affect voters on a day-to-day basis. We’re talking about policing and fire services, parks and recreation and property taxes. So these are things that I think are really important to New Brunswickers. Knowing that your views are represented and that there are people who will advocate for your community on all these kinds of important issues. It’s really important that you have an opportunity to express your opinion about who you want on those councils,” Poffenroth spelled out.
She also expressed that it’s important people participate, shape and give back to their communities in the way they want to see them move forward over the next four years.
Voters will cast their ballots on May 11.
Codiac RCMP warn of distraction theft scams in area
The Codiac Regional RCMP is making the public aware of a recurring distraction theft scam in the region involving fake jewelry.
The deception begins when a scammer approaches a victim in a public setting like a parking lot or a sidewalk. Police say the scammers will claim to be from Dubai and will begin to share stories or conversation.
During the interaction, they will place fake gold jewelry like rings and necklaces on victims – potentially as a gift or offering – all while using the generosity as a diversion to take off the victim’s real jewelry.
The RCMP says maintaining personal space, saying no to contact, keeping valuables secure, and trusting gut reaction will help residents stay safe.
Police invite anyone who is a victim of these individuals or has information to contact the Codiac RCMP at (506) 857-2400. If the suspect is still on scene, call 911. Otherwise, submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
N.B. investing $6.7M in wildfire prevention
The wildfire season has launched in New Brunswick, but it comes earlier than anticipated. There are concerns about record-low precipitation, a lack of snow, and prolonged drought conditions.
The province is spending $6.7 million to help support forest protection and fighting wildfires.
Premier Susan Holt and Natural Resources Minister John Herron announced the news at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton on Wednesday.
Funds will be divided among the groups involved in protecting New Brunswick from wildfires.
Holt said that being prepared is her government’s top priority, which is why they are committing funds to support personnel, equipment, and training for this year’s wildfire season.
$1.725 million will be invested annually to convert 74 forest ranger positions to year-round positions, according to Holt.
“These are people who spend their winter months increasing their readiness, preparing warehouses and equipment, doing robust training and deployment opportunities,” said Holt. “These are the people who kept New Brunswick safe last year, and our government is committed to supporting them and making those positions permanent.”
Holt also mentioned 16 signed agreements that will provide municipalities with wildfire fighting equipment kits and the required training. She says her government will continue to roll these agreements out into 2027.
$2.6 million will help develop community wildfire resiliency plans, of which 24 are already in place.
$484 thousand has been allocated to the North Shore Tribal Council, the Wolastoqey Tribal Council, and the MAWIW Tribal Council to support their communities in preparing for wildfires.
“We have made $6.4 million in capital investment for 2026-27 to build up our provincial fire equipment warehouse and fire hose processing facility in Fredericton … important facilities and equipment to rebuild. We need to rebuild and relocate our fire-retardant storage facility as well,” listed Holt.
Holt also mentioned upgrading reloading bases in Fredericton and Miramichi, as well as four more reloading bases across the province.
“We have allocated an additional $3 million to Forest Protection Limited in our contract with them for 2026-27 to make four fire boss planes available in New Brunswick,” she said.
These four new planes can skim water from lakes and rivers to drop upon burning brush and trees, which will aid in the faster suppression of fires when they are identified.
Holt said a forest ranger has been designated to each district in the province to lead preparation for the season under guidance from the wildfire ranger lead.
“These positions are going to help ensure that preparation for the season occurs consistently across all districts within the department so that we are ready everywhere,” said Holt.
Minister Herron acknowledged the work of forest rangers and firefighters who kept the province safe during last year’s wildfire season before speaking about the funding.
“We had a very arduous season last year. Because of the immense skill that our firefighting team has, we did not lose a single structure throughout the entire summer,” said Herron, “so that is a testament to the strength and skill that these men and women have.”
“You had our back, so the very least we can do is that this government and this Premier have your back,” said the natural resources minister.
Herron warned that Climate Change Canada has projected that the summer months in the province will be among the hottest years on record, with above-average temperatures as a result of climate change.
“On behalf of our wildfire prevention officers, I encourage people to continue to enjoy the outdoors while being vigilant with backyard fire pits, motorized vehicles, hunting, fishing, camping activities, and to report fires so that action can be taken quickly,” said Herron.
The provincial government has also launched a Fire Watch page, which New Brunswickers can refer to here. It will be updated at 2 p.m. daily, according to Herron.