Government of Nova Scotia News

Finance and Treasury Board -- Government is writing off $15.2 million in unpaid or uncollected debts as of March 31.

Energy -- More Nova Scotians will be able to lower their energy bills with increased government support for home efficiency improvements.

Premier's Office -- Le gouvernement s’engage à verser plus the 13 millions de dollars au Plan d’action Virage pour la population vieillissante de la Nouvelle-Écosse.

Premier's Office -- Government is committing more than $13 million to SHIFT: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for an Aging Population.

Natural Resources -- Government is keeping three provincial parks open five weeks longer than usual this season to meet public demand.

Justice -- Halifax Regional Police and the provincial government are taking additional steps to help solve two homicides in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Health and Wellness -- NOTE: A full list of the Council of the College of Paramedics members follows the release. The College of Paramedics will come into effect on April 1, making paramedicine a self-regulated profession in Nova Scotia.

Public Prosecution Service -- The appointment of new Crown attorneys in Halifax and Dartmouth was announced today, March 30, by the Public Prosecution Service.

Communities, Culture and Heritage -- The former Cherry Brook Community Hall will be revived as a community hub for social and recreational services, thanks to a $150,000 investment from the province.

Housing Nova Scotia -- More seniors, low-income homeowners and people with disabilities in Nova Scotia will be able to remain in their homes longer thanks to significant improvements to existing home repair and adaptation programs.

Communities, Culture and Heritage -- Three communities in rural Nova Scotia are getting help to build a new community centre.

Education and Early Childhood Development -- Karen Casey, ministre de l'Éducation et du Développement de la petite enfance, a reçu les 18 recommandations initiales du Conseil pour l'amélioration des conditions en salle de classe, et a demandé au ministère et aux conseils scolaires de procéder à leur exécution. Huit des recommandations seront mises en application immédiatement, et le processus est en cours pour les dix autres.

Education and Early Childhood Development -- Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Karen Casey has received the 18 initial recommendations from the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions and has directed her department and school boards to act on them. Eight of the recommendations will be immediately implemented and ten are in progress.

Agriculture -- The Department of Agriculture is collecting feedback through an online survey to help shape future policy that will succeed the Growing Forward 2 agreement between federal and provincial governments when it ends next year.

Finance and Treasury Board -- Finance and Treasury Board Minister Randy Delorey said tax relief is coming for small businesses in a balanced budget to be delivered next month.

Housing Nova Scotia -- Mulgrave Park residents will soon benefit from a $5 million investment to preserve social housing in their neighbourhood.

Communities, Culture and Heritage -- The Lunenburg Yacht Club will be able to expand its facilities and host world-class sailing events thanks to a $150,000 investment from the province.

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal -- Highway 104, eastbound near exit 13, will be down to one lane beginning Tuesday, March 28, to replace a damaged girder on the structure above it.

Business -- NOTE: A list of the municipalities and groups receiving funding by region is at the end of this release. People in communities across rural Nova Scotia will begin to see improved access to high-speed internet as early as this summer.

Energy -- A community pilot project led by the Town of Amherst will explore the environmental and economic benefits of smart grid technology.