The Record Ep. 64

On Aug. 13, the provincial government announced that commercial operations like forestry and mining now require a travel permit to continue working on Crown land. Where possible, such as in forestry, permits require work to be done between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m., fire suppression equipment must be on hand, and a two-hour fire watch is required after work is completed. On private land, any activities requiring heavy machinery, including agriculture and forestry, are strongly recommended to follow the same approach. Travel permits have already been issued to forestry companies and hundreds of other businesses operating in the woods, all with fire safety requirements. The province said it will continue assessing conditions and adjusting recommendations as necessary. Crews have responded to more than 100 fires this wildfire season, with forecasts showing dry conditions continuing into next week.

Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources, said industrial work on Crown land always involves safety precautions to reduce wildfire risk. The government is working with forestry, agriculture, and other industries operating on private land to follow similar measures until enough rain mitigates the dry conditions.

With a provincial burn ban and restricted travel on trails and wooded areas, the Municipality of the County of Richmond is appealing to residents. Due to extremely low precipitation and no significant rainfall expected soon, the municipality is asking Richmond Water Utility customers to follow voluntary water conservation measures, including reducing non-essential water use such as lawn watering, car washing, and filling pools; shortening showers; turning off taps when not in use; and washing only full loads of laundry and dishes.

The provincial government also announced expanded funding through the Emergency Services Provider Fund for fire departments, ground search and rescue teams, and hazardous materials units. The amount available has increased to $4 million, up $2.8 million from last year. Individual organizations can apply for up to $30,000, up from $20,000, and the fund will cover up to 90 per cent of costs. A new regional component offers up to $200,000 for projects addressing collective needs of multiple emergency organizations, with applications open Sept. 1 to Oct. 14. Eligible purchases include protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus, firefighting and rescue equipment, communication devices, water supply and suppression gear, emergency power, specialized vehicles, regional training facilities, shared equipment pools, mobile command units, multi-purpose vehicles, hazard and vulnerability analysis, risk reduction strategies, public education, FireSmart program enhancements, and mental health resiliency programs.

The McIntyres Mountain Quarry near Kingsville, Inverness County, is expanding after receiving environmental assessment approval on Aug. 7. Owned by Municipal Enterprises Ltd., the quarry has operated for about 15 years and supplies high-quality aggregate for local roads. The expansion will increase the operating footprint to 20.39 hectares, supporting continued extraction with occasional drilling, blasting, and temporary use of a portable rock crusher. The project is expected to start in the 2026 construction season, producing approximately 50,000 tonnes per year, with a projected 40-year lifespan. Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, emphasized the approval includes 33 stringent conditions to protect the environment while allowing sustainable development. Aggregate was added to the strategic minerals list on May 14.

On July 24, federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson met with Eastern Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture to discuss funding programs and enforcement of unauthorized fishing activities. The province also announced a new fund to support large-scale projects in agriculture and seafood, the Nova Scotia Seafood and Agriculture Strategic Investment Fund, with $4.71 million available for initiatives to boost productivity, adopt new technology, expand markets, or improve business practices. Funded projects must be completed by January 2027.

The province launched a new Coastal Classification System mapping tool to assess the suitability of coastal areas for aquaculture, including oysters, mussels, salmon, and trout. The publicly available tool helps the industry plan responsibly while maintaining the licensing process, providing greater confidence in aquaculture development. Jeff Bishop, Executive Director of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, highlighted its value in supporting business decisions.

In Inverness County, RCMP responded to a report on July 24 of a woman taking a box of cologne from a Port Hawkesbury store. She is described as 5'6", with long brown hair, glasses, and tattoos on her right forearm. Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.

On Aug. 10, emergency responders attended a motorcycle crash on the Cabot Trail at North Mountain. The 21-year-old driver from Victoria County was pronounced deceased at the hospital. A section of the Cabot Trail was closed for several hours during the investigation.

The provincial government announced new Harassment in the Workplace Regulations under the Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act, effective Sept. 1, applying to all provincially regulated workplaces. Employers must have written harassment prevention policies, commit to confidentiality and non-retaliation, and train staff on the policy, which must be reviewed at least every three years. Public engagement helped shape the regulations, with over 600 Nova Scotians sharing personal stories and calling for clearer policies and stronger supports. Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration, said the rules aim to create safer workplaces, while Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union President Janet Hazelton emphasized psychological safety as equally important to physical safety. Psychological workplace injuries reported in 2024 numbered 194, up from 150 three years ago.

The province is supporting four early-career researchers studying addictions and mental health in equity-deserving Nova Scotians, with grants awarded through Research Nova Scotia. Projects include Laura Lambe of StFX University studying mental health impacts of witnessing identity-based bullying, Jill Murphy of StFX researching collaborative priority-setting in rural mental health care, one project focused on Black women, and another on equity-deserving college students. Equity-deserving groups include Indigenous people, African Nova Scotians, racialized individuals, newcomers, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, Acadian/Francophone people, and rural residents. Brian Comer, Minister of Addictions and Mental Health, said the funding helps build universal access to mental health care, and Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia, noted the need to include underrepresented groups in mental health research.