Latest news with #TimHouston
CTV News
18 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Maine governor visiting New Brunswick, Nova Scotia next week
Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills delivers her State of the State address, Jan. 30, 2024, at the State House in Augusta, Maine. Following a meeting with Maritime premiers in Boston this week, Maine Gov. Janet Mills is visiting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to strengthen ties between the state and the provinces amid the ongoing trade dispute. Mills will visit Fredericton and Saint John on Monday before meeting New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt on Tuesday for a fireside chat hosted by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. Mills will meet Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston in Halifax on Wednesday. 'Maine has long enjoyed a special relationship with our Canadian neighbors,' said Mills in a news release. 'As summer begins, I look forward to visiting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to strengthen our historic economic and cultural ties, and discuss everything Maine has to offer.' Mills has been a vocal critic of the tariff situation between Canada and the United States, calling them 'a big tax heist' during an interview with CTV News Atlantic's Todd Battis.
CBC
20 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
N.S. government pushes for buy-in as some municipalities balk at resource development
Social Sharing Nova Scotia's minister of finance and municipal affairs said municipalities need to get onside with the province's push for more resource development, but stopped short Friday of spelling out what consequences they'll face if they don't. "We're just trying to explain the reality that we see the need to grow our resource economy, to have money to do all of these things," John Lohr said in an interview. He made the comments following a luncheon hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce where he was the featured speaker. In his remarks to the business crowd, Lohr spoke about the economic challenges the province is facing because of slowing population growth and uncertainty brought on by American tariffs. "We need to be more productive," he said. For months, Premier Tim Houston and his cabinet have been promoting more resource development to bring in additional revenue. Lohr noted on Friday that the results will not be immediate; rather, it's a "medium- to long-term" solution. Some municipalities have been pushing back against the province's plans, raising concerns about the pace of change and lack of consultation. When some municipalities recently asked the province to slow down its plans for uranium exploration, Houston responded with letters that suggested future provincial funding was on the line. Houston was even more pointed in a subsequent statement to CBC News. "If municipalities want more investment, they must allow for more economic development," the premier said earlier this week. Asked whether that means the province will cut off municipalities that don't comply, Lohr said, "I think it's way too early to say that." Liberal MLA Iain Rankin said the premier's message to municipalities is "entirely inappropriate." "Where is the line? Is it going to go down the line of infrastructure or schools or any important funding that goes to communities across the province?" Rankin said in an interview. "These are provincial taxpayers that live in these communities and they have every right to present their views to [municipal] council, and council has every right to vote on those issues." At least five municipalities recently asked the province to pause its plans to issue exploration licences for uranium in three areas with known deposits. Those requests ended up being moot — for now, at least — as no companies responded to the call for bids. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is looking to take things a step further. A subcommittee of the municipal council voted earlier this week to ask the province to reinstate a moratorium on uranium exploration and development that the Houston government repealed earlier this year.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Celebration of navy, armed forces comes to Halifax this week
The HMCS Montreal is pictured in the background. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic) Halifax will host a celebration of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces this weekend. Halifax International Fleet Week runs from Thursday to Sunday, offering ship tours, concerts and a drone light show along the harbourfront. The event kicked off with the ringing of the bell at 11 a.m. on Thursday. It was followed by a pop-up concert with the Stadacona Band at the Queen's Marque Courtyard. Announcement Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, along with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore, officially announced the opening of Halifax International Fleet Week 2025. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic) Highlights of the weekend include: dragon boat race at Graham's Grove Park in Dartmouth at 8:30 a.m. on Friday Navy Bike Ride at 10 a.m. on Saturday presentation on the First World War at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday Halifax Wanderers home game at the Wanderers Grounds at 3 p.m. on Saturday a drone light show over the Halifax Harbour at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday the Fleet Week Run at the CFB Stadacona at 9 a.m. on Sunday Last Post ceremony at the Last Steps Memorial Arch at 11 a.m. on Sunday a street party on Portland Street in Dartmouth from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday Fleet Week will also offer daily tours of the HDMS Vaedderen at Pier 23, the HMCS Charlottetown at Pier 20 and the HMCS Margaret Brooke at Pier 19. HMCS Montreal The HMCS Montreal is pictured in the background. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Napier Man Sentenced To Intensive Supervision For Distributing Child Sexual Exploitation Online
A Napier-based man in his 20's has been granted permanent name suppression and sentenced to two years intensive supervision and six months community detention. This follows his appearance at the Napier District Court on 17 June 2025, after an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs' Digital Child Exploitation team. The offender had earlier pled guilty to four representative charges relating to the distribution and possession of online child sexual abuse material. He became a person of interest to the Department of Internal Affairs after they received three referrals from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) with an email address that, through investigation, was attributed to the offender. A search warrant was then executed at his home address where investigators located and seized two devices for further examination. Forensic analysis of the devices found movie and image files depicting child sexual exploitation and abuse with children as young as 21 months of age. 'These images capture a real crime scene. Child sexual exploitation material depicts real children who have been sexually abused and exploited for these files to be created,' says Tim Houston, Manager of the Digital Child Exploitation Team. As part of his sentence, Judge Mackinstosh ordered the iPhone used during the offending to be forfeited and all objectionable material destroyed. About Department of Internal Affairs' Digital Child Exploitation Team: In 2024, the Digital Child Exploitation team conducted 69 investigations into child exploitation and helped to safeguard 14 New Zealand children from harm. Additionally, the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System blocked over one million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual abuse material. Support and Resources Parents and caregivers are encouraged to engage with their tamariki about safe online practices. Advice and support for parents and caregivers on protecting their children online is available at If you have concerns about potential online harm or wish to report a crime, contact the Digital Child Exploitation Team at DIA. For situations where abuse is occurring or a child is in immediate danger, contact the Police at 111. Victims of child or sexual abuse crimes can access help and support services by contacting: Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334 Text 4334 If you are concerned about your own or someone else's sexual behaviour, please reach out for support: Safe Network: 09 377 9898 WellStop: 04 566 4745 STOP: 03 353 0257 Stand Strong, Walk Tall Notes: DIA uses the term child sexual abuse imagery. The term child pornography downplays the harm of child sexual abuse. For more information on the role of the Digital Child Exploitation Team, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visithttps://
National Observer
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Premier writes Nova Scotia municipal leaders who voted to pause uranium plans
After at least two Nova Scotia municipalities voted in favour of asking the provincial government to slow down on its uranium exploration plans, their offices received several-page-long letters from Premier Tim Houston saying the province needs the industry to keep funding municipalities. Letters sent to the chief administrative officers of West Hants Regional Municipality and Municipality of Pictou County list 90 and 115 projects, respectively, the province has funded in each region. The letters signed by Houston say Nova Scotia has given Pictou more than $293 million and West Hants more than $227 million since he first formed government in 2021. 'These are just a few of the investments and I have no doubt that your Council has many more wants and needs. We would love to be able to meet every ask, but to do that, we need the resources to move forward,' both letters read. 'We would hope that we're not treated any differently from any other municipality when it comes to funding projects,' said Abraham Zebian, the mayor of West Hants Regional Municipality, in an interview Tuesday. Robert Parker, warden of the Municipality of Pictou County, said the letter made it apparent the premier was disappointed their council voted earlier this month in favour of asking the province to pause before granting leases for uranium projects. 'There was frustration coming through in the letter that perhaps we hadn't stood strongly enough behind this effort to get uranium exploration started in our county,' Parker said in an interview Tuesday. After at least two Nova Scotia municipalities voted in favour of asking the provincial government to slow down on its uranium exploration plans, their offices received several-page-long letters from Premier Tim Houston. 'But our job as a municipality isn't necessarily always to agree with the province. Our job is to represent the voices of the people in our rural county here.' Parker said council was presented with concerns from residents who were worried about potential health and environmental issues and were seeking more information about uranium exploration and the province's plans. 'The decision of the council had nothing to do with whether we were pro or against uranium (exploration). It was just to give us a pause,' Parker said. Houston's letters start by saying he is aware of the recent vote, and that he appreciates the concern surrounding protecting Nova Scotia's land, air and water, and 'I'm sure you know that as a Nova Scotian, my government would never do anything to intentionally put our environment at risk.' The letters go on to say the province remains committed to 'thoughtfully and safely' moving ahead on all natural resource projects, because the province is in need of the economic boost. 'Over time, as a society we started to listen to groups that used loud voices and fear to shut down jobs and opportunities. They often don't want development in our province. They are happy with this status quo,' he said. The premier said the province will get 'both sides of the story,' gather facts on uranium, and hold discussions on a project-by-project basis. Parker said residents need more information about the province's plans in order to get on board. 'Not everybody is against all this, but they want to be consulted,' he said. Zebian agreed, saying his constituents are open minded and ready to learn more about the issue — 'but you have to show them what the plan is and have an open conversation on this, what the intention of the government is… and the safeguards that will be put in place.' West Hants council voted in favour of asking the province to pause on uranium bids until the municipalities can learn more about it on the evening of June 10, and Zebian said the letter arrived the following morning. 'It was surprising to receive. That's never happened to me in all my years of municipal government,' he said. The mayor has been in municipal government for 10 years. Parker said while the letter, which his office received on June 6, was surprising — 'there's a bit more history here.' The warden said in February, Houston's minister of municipal affairs, John Lohr, sent the municipality a letter asking them to publicly voice their support for the province's natural resource plans. 'That letter very much asked for us to either sign the letter (in support) and send it back or to hold a press conference announcing that we were fully on side with the government's resource exploration plan. We as a council didn't respond to that,' Parker said. The warden said signing that letter or voicing support at that stage would have been akin to 'giving them a blank cheque, saying whatever you're going to do, we're fine with.' Not responding to the February letter and voting in favour of asking to slow down on uranium do not mean the municipality is opposed to economic activity and progress on natural resources, Parker said. '(Houston) wants to take the 'no' out of Nova Scotia. Well, the best way to do that is by educating people and informing people before the decisions made, not after the decision.' The premier's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The provincial government added uranium to its list of priority critical minerals May 14, and it issued a request for exploration proposals for three sites with known deposits of the heavy metal. Interested companies had until June 11 to submit their proposals. On June 12, the premier told reporters there had been no bids, but he affirmed that he is committed to movement on natural resources exploration. Letters sent to the chief administrative officers of West Hants Regional Municipality and Municipality of Pictou County list 90 and 115 projects, respectively, the province has funded in each region. The letters signed by Houston say Nova Scotia has given Pictou more than $293 million and West Hants more than $227 million since he first formed government in 2021. 'These are just a few of the investments and I have no doubt that your Council has many more wants and needs. We would love to be able to meet every ask, but to do that, we need the resources to move forward,' both letters read. 'We would hope that we're not treated any differently from any other municipality when it comes to funding projects,' said Abraham Zebian, the mayor of West Hants Regional Municipality, in an interview Tuesday. Robert Parker, warden of the Municipality of Pictou County, said the letter made it apparent the premier was disappointed their council voted earlier this month in favour of asking the province to pause before granting leases for uranium projects. 'There was frustration coming through in the letter that perhaps we hadn't stood strongly enough behind this effort to get uranium exploration started in our county,' Parker said in an interview Tuesday. 'But our job as a municipality isn't necessarily always to agree with the province. Our job is to represent the voices of the people in our rural county here.' Parker said council was presented with concerns from residents who were worried about potential health and environmental issues and were seeking more information about uranium exploration and the province's plans. 'The decision of the council had nothing to do with whether we were pro or against uranium (exploration). It was just to give us a pause,' Parker said. Houston's letters start by saying he is aware of the recent vote, and that he appreciates the concern surrounding protecting Nova Scotia's land, air and water, and 'I'm sure you know that as a Nova Scotian, my government would never do anything to intentionally put our environment at risk.' The letters go on to say the province remains committed to 'thoughtfully and safely' moving ahead on all natural resource projects, because the province is in need of the economic boost. 'Over time, as a society we started to listen to groups that used loud voices and fear to shut down jobs and opportunities. They often don't want development in our province. They are happy with this status quo,' he said. The premier said the province will get 'both sides of the story,' gather facts on uranium, and hold discussions on a project-by-project basis. Parker said residents need more information about the province's plans in order to get on board. 'Not everybody is against all this, but they want to be consulted,' he said. Zebian agreed, saying his constituents are open minded and ready to learn more about the issue — 'but you have to show them what the plan is and have an open conversation on this, what the intention of the government is… and the safeguards that will be put in place.' West Hants council voted in favour of asking the province to pause on uranium bids until the municipalities can learn more about it on the evening of June 10, and Zebian said the letter arrived the following morning. 'It was surprising to receive. That's never happened to me in all my years of municipal government,' he said. The mayor has been in municipal government for 10 years. Parker said while the letter, which his office received on June 6, was surprising — 'there's a bit more history here.' The warden said in February, Houston's minister of municipal affairs, John Lohr, sent the municipality a letter asking them to publicly voice their support for the province's natural resource plans. 'That letter very much asked for us to either sign the letter (in support) and send it back or to hold a press conference announcing that we were fully on side with the government's resource exploration plan. We as a council didn't respond to that,' Parker said. The warden said signing that letter or voicing support at that stage would have been akin to 'giving them a blank cheque, saying whatever you're going to do, we're fine with.' Not responding to the February letter and voting in favour of asking to slow down on uranium do not mean the municipality is opposed to economic activity and progress on natural resources, Parker said. '(Houston) wants to take the 'no' out of Nova Scotia. Well, the best way to do that is by educating people and informing people before the decisions made, not after the decision.' The premier's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The provincial government added uranium to its list of priority critical minerals May 14, and it issued a request for exploration proposals for three sites with known deposits of the heavy metal. Interested companies had until June 11 to submit their proposals. On June 12, the premier told reporters there had been no bids, but he affirmed that he is committed to movement on natural resources exploration.
