Premier Tim Houston is slamming protestors for blocking a few Nova Scotia highways late last week after a cannabis raid in a Cape Breton First Nation.
In a lengthy post on social media, Saturday, Houston said blocking highways is unacceptable and RCMP are doing their job to uphold the law and keep Nova Scotians safe.
“They deserve respect, not confrontation,” said Houston.
“The unlawful obstruction of others is not peaceful. It undermines public safety, respect for law enforcement and the rule of law itself. Our roadways are our lifebood.”
He says that at any given time people could be travelling to medical appointments, hospital, work or caring for their families.
Houston adds, the province wants to work together on the drug crisis and not accept the “status quo”.
RCMP say it was around 7:30 a.m., Thursday, when officers searched an illegal storefront on Highway 4. Two men were arrested.
In response to this, protestors blocked access to Highway 4 in Potlotek.
Officers then left the scene on foot leaving behind their cruisers.
Seven RCMP vehicles left in Potlotek were damaged. RCMP say they had “broken windows, dents, deflated tires, removed tires, and urine-soaked interior surfaces.”
Several RCMP cars parked outside of a cannabis store along Highway 4 in Potlotek First Nation on Thursday. PHOTO: ACADIA BROADCASTING
In a statement, Potlotek First Nation said it’s not a matter of enforcement but rather, jurisdiction.
“Time and time again Mi’kmaq are forced to respond when provincial laws and enforcement actions are imposed on our communities without respect to our rights, our leadership or our authority.”
One protestor told our newsroom officers took fridges, shelves and signs.
Two other highways were blocked in solidarity – highway 105 in Whycocomagh and 102 in Shubenacadie.
Crackdown
It was in December when the province ordered a cannabis crackdown.
In a post on social media, Chief of Sipekne’katik First Nation Michelle Glasgow says it’s not about “weed shops” getting raided. “It’s about the government asserting jurisdiction over Our Communities and over Our Unceded Mik’maq Lands.”
“If we allow this to continue then we are allowing the assimilation of Mi’kmaq into a society that was meant to destroy us.”
At this time, no arrests have been made related to the protests.
All of New Brunswick and most of Nova Scotia are under yellow weather alerts Friday, as wintry weather continues to pass through the region.
Environment Canada has issued yellow-level snowfall warnings for some northern areas of New Brunswick, with yellow-level freezing rain warnings for the other northern regions and the southeastern part of the province.
Freezing rain warnings in the southwest were lifted late Friday afternoon.
It’s much the same for Nova Scotia, with yellow-level freezing rain warnings in effect everywhere except the southwestern part of the province.
Precipitation is expected to change to rain in the afternoon or evening, depending on the location.
Two members of the Thunder Bay Police Service are being recognized for exemplary work in the last year.
“Both of the recipients today were nominated by people in the building because of the outstanding work they’ve done,” Police Chief Darcy Fleury said at Thursday’s award ceremony. “We have a very difficult job. Having the organization recognize you is so important to people as they progress in their careers.”
Constable Joshua Pugh received the Lifesaving Award for acts of bravery and heroism for an event that occurred on December 24, 2025.
“It was a very, very traumatic event. What [Pugh] did that day went above and beyond the call of duty, and [he] showed what police officers are there to do,” Fleury said.
During that call, Pugh was shot at by an armed male who refused to comply with police commands. He returned fire and incapacitated the suspect before administering first aid immediately following the exchange.
Police Chief Darcy Fleury (far left) and TBPA President Colin Woods (far right) present Constable Josh Pugh with the Lifesaving Award (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/April 2 2026)
“A call like that, by nature it could be very dangerous,” Pugh said. “So you’re thinking about keeping the public safe, keeping yourself safe and the other officers that are on the scene. Heading to the scene, you’re planning in your head what could happen, so you can try and be as prepared as you can when you get there.”
To Pugh, courage means doing the right thing even when you’re scared.
“It’s the reason I go to work every day,” he said.
Constable Ken Ogima received a Bravery Award for his work that day, but was not present at the award ceremony.
Fleet Manager Aaron Dowsell received an Innovation Award for saving the force over $500,000 in about two years of work by optimizing repair work for police vehicles in the garage.
“I was hired on and basically given full reins to the garage,” Dowsell said. “I didn’t do it for any kind of award. My job is just to come in and give 100% of what I can do.”
Dowsell’s biggest change was bringing maintenance and repair work in-house instead of outsourcing it elsewhere.
“It’s a trifold of benefits: it cuts costs rather than farming it out, we get discounts on the parts, and it brings the vehicles back into service way quicker,” he said.
Police Chief Darcy Fleury (far left) and TBPA President Colin Woods (far right) present Fleet Manager Aaron Dowsell with the Innovation Award (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/April 2 2026)
A third individual who chose not to be named was recognized for his efforts in a fatal car crash on Highway 11/17. The officer and an off-duty paramedic attempted to pull a victim out of a burning vehicle, but were unsuccessful. The officer was able to pull the paramedic to safety as the fire intensified and the vehicle began to explode.
In Nova Scotia, regular self-serve ranges from about $1.89 to $1.91 per litre while diesel is selling for between $2.46 and $2.48 per litre.
On Prince Edward Island, the maximum prices are just over $1.99 a litre for regular self-serve, more than $2.57 per litre for diesel and $1.93 per litre for home heating oil.
A Moncton man is being memorialized a century after his tragic death in a fire at the Capitol Theatre.
On March 26, 1926, a major fire broke out, and Alexander “Sandy” Lindsay, a member of the Salvage Corps, attended the scene to fight the fire along with other members.
A brick wall collapsed near an area where the capital adjoins the Empress Theatre, and his skull was crushed. Lindsay was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and they tried very hard to save him, but while waiting for surgery, he passed away.
Moncton fire Capitol Theatre dedication (March 2026) IMAGE: ACADIA BROADCASTINGMoncton fire Capitol Theatre dedication (March 2026) IMAGE: ACADIA BROADCASTING
“He was an incredible man who was well-known across the region for his time selling advertising with the local daily paper of the time. He was really involved in the community. He was a member of the Rotary Club. He was a member of the Moncton Curling Association. He had a wife, Emily. They had a son, John, who was 18. It was a true loss that he lost his life volunteering to save the Capitol Theatre,” Managing Director Kim Rayworth told our newsroom.
The theatre has dedicated a seat in Lindsay’s honour, with a plaque.
Rayworth says 100 years later, his presence can still be felt at the theatre.
Moncton fire Capitol Theatre dedication (March 2026) IMAGE: ACADIA BROADCASTING
“I feel him. And I think it’s beautiful in a way that he gets to be here with hundreds of people daily. He was said to have been an amateur musician and performer. He was a member of the choir. And I think how great it must be for him to feel everyone’s energy and excitement for coming together here. There is no greater sacrifice, so for me, it touches me a lot. I’m really happy when the paranormalists want to come in here and study it. I’m really happy that his memory stays alive. This is just another small way we can do that by putting a plaque on a seat,” Rayworth expressed.
Moncton Fire Deputy Chief Keith Guptill says this is a huge deal for them
“It reminds us of what the ones that are here today, of what we do and why we do it. To see the appreciation that these folks are sharing with us, with the City of Moncton, with the Moncton Fire Department and the local community, is such an encouragement to us,” Guptill explained.
Moncton fire Capitol Theatre dedication (March 2026) IMAGE: ACADIA BROADCASTINGMoncton fire Capitol Theatre dedication (March 2026) IMAGE: ACADIA BROADCASTING
The province has officially selected Foundever Assistance Services Corp. as the new provider for New Brunswick’s virtual care service.
In a press release on Thursday, the government announced it had signed the contract with the Luxemberg-based company.
Health Minister John Dornan said in the release the company was selected for its “strong” roots in the province and proven track record of providing New Brunswickers with the 811 Tele-Care service.
“This new contract will benefit New Brunswickers through an improved virtual care experience for patients,” he said.
Dornan said some of the “improved” services included the ability to book phone appointments, access to case management and follow-up care for high needs patients, and schedule appointments instead of waiting in a virtual room.
Before awarding the contract to Foundever, Woodstock-based company eVisitNB provided the service.
In February the province announced it was not renewing eVisitNB’s contract and instead a new company would take over.
The province initially said that eVisitNB would provide the service until March 31, with the new company taking over on April 1.
However, on March 24 Dornan told reporters the company was not ready.
In an update on virtual care, Dornan said eVisitNB’s contract has been extended 90 days, and the company will continue to provide virtual care while the province transitions to the new vendor in June.
Foundever’s contract spans two years, with the option to renew annually for up to two additional years.
The service has a $12.9-million annual budget, based on 250,000 services per year, with payment only for the services delivered.
In an email statement, spokesperson for the Department of Health Sean Hatchard said in the fiscal year of 2025-2026 , until March 15, eVisitNB offered 233,532 visits for a cost of over $11 million.
Hatchard clarified that the two contracts – which are four years apart – are not identical and different services will be included in the new provider’s contract.
Municipalities and organizations are being encouraged to get their plans ready.
A new round of funding through the province’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund is about to be released.
The program offers funding to repair or upgrade existing sport and recreation facilities or build new ones.
The Ford government is adding another $300 million to the fund, bumping it to $500 million.
Sport Minister Neil Lumsden says it is the largest investment since it was created two years ago.
“With this expanded investment, we help more communities modernize aging facilities, build new infrastructure, and ensure people have high-quality spaces to play, train, and stay active,” says Lumsden.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says it will help enhance and expand sport and recreation facilities.
“And will also create jobs and help communities unlock economic opportunities that come from hosting local, national, and international sporting events and competitions,” says Bethlenfalvy.
An initial round of funding supported nearly 100 projects, including the construction of 17 new facilities.
The province intends to release further details regarding eligibility and the application guidelines at a later date.
“To everyone who is planning and putting in an application, I will say this: it’s competitive. Bring your A game,” says Lumsden.
Officials gathered at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown on April 1 to highlight over $1 billion in investments for one of the country’s key army bases.
The investment comes as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to achieve the NATO 2 per cent defense spending target, which has arrived five years ahead of schedule, according to a federal release.
The news first came from an announcement that Carney made in Halifax last week, where he highlighted investments in Atlantic Canada’s military resources.
Key investments at CFB Gagetown include $871 million to modernize and rebuild the range and training area, as well as $172 million to establish new ground-based air defence infrastructure.
$20.2 million has gone towards the creation of a transition services building, which is meant to help and support Canadian Armed Forces members and their families through transition between duty and civilian life.
Completion of the 1537 square-metre building’s construction was initially anticipated in March of 2026, but delays might have occurred.
Fredericton-Oromocto MP David Myles says he is thrilled to see the historic investment in CFB Gagetown.
“It will be transformative for our troops, our community, our region, and our country,” said Myles. “These are generational investments in our CAF that will ensure they have the equipment and facilities they need to operate in an ever-evolving defence landscape. In our region, this will bring good jobs, dynamic industries, and a growing defence sector that will continue to lead on a national scale.”
“Through investments at CFB Gagetown, we are strengthening Canada’s defence capabilities while delivering real benefits for New Brunswick. These initiatives support our Canadian Armed Forces members, enhance training and readiness, and contribute to a strong and resilient local economy,” said Honourable Dominic Leblanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy.
“This investment at CFB Gagetown strengthens the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces and delivers real, lasting benefits for our members, their families, and the wider community,” said the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence. “By modernizing critical infrastructure and advancing world-class training capabilities, we are ensuring our forces are ready to defend Canada and stand with our allies in an increasingly complex security environment. At the same time, we are supporting Canadian industry and creating good jobs. This is how Canada is stepping up, meeting our NATO commitments and building a stronger, more secure future for Canadians.”
