Back on the trail: N.S. party leaders wrap up first week of campaigning
Nova Scotia’s election campaign continued Friday, with party leaders hitting the road and focusing on tourism, child care and health care.
Nova Scotia's Liberal leader arrived at the Highland Village in Iona on Friday with a promise to raise investment to 5-million dollars over two years to maintain a program helping tourism companies use digital strategies to retain and grow their business.
“From no touching to digitally connecting products, such as hotels, golf, and restaurants. Travellers will be looking for ease and improved web presence from operators and that means the tourism sector will have to be a leader in digitization,” said Iain Rankin, N.S. Liberal leader.
Rankin says the program received 2.5 million dollars in June, but Friday’s announcement is additional funding.
Tourism revenues in the province bring in about $2.6 billion annually, but have dropped dramatically over the past year due to the pandemic.
“This type of program not only helps us rebound as an industry, but also allows us to pivot a bit and take advantages of new expectations and new avenues for reaching our community and clients,” says Rodney Chaisson, executive director of the Highland Village.
N.S. NDP leader Gary Burrill started his day in the riding of Fairview-Clayton Park, with his focus on helping families dealing with the high cost of before and after daycare.
Burrill says if elected the 29.5 million dollar program would be universal and open to anyone who needs it.
“A NDP government will provide free, school-based before and after school care at the elementary and primary levels,” says Burrill.
N.S. PC leader Tim Houston's focus was once again on health care, and the need for more family doctors.
Houston says solutions introduced by his team will include a physician savings program to keep doctors in Nova Scotia until they retire.
“Under a PC government Nova Scotia would match RRSP contributions for up to 15 thousand dollars per year for doctors with over 15 years of experience,” says Houston.
Part of party promises that continue to be rolled out, as we end week one on the campaign trail.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.