Over 48,000 customers still waiting for power to be restored in N.S. and P.E.I.
More than 48,000 customers were still without power in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Sunday around 3:30 p.m., eight days after post-tropical storm Fiona hit Atlantic Canada, according to Nova Scotia Power and Maritime Electric outage maps.
On Saturday, the federal government announced it approved requests for federal assistance from the provincial governments of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The move will see additional support provided by the Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Coast Guard, and Transport Canada to assist with tree and debris removal, roadwork, aerial imagery and mapping of damage and accommodation supports.
In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson for Canada’s defence minister said an additional 200 armed forces members are deploying to Nova Scotia Sunday, bringing the total number of troops on the ground to roughly 550.
The department spokesperson did not specify how many personnel are deploying to P.E.I., nor Newfoundland and Labrador.
NOVA SCOTIA
As of 3:30 p.m., more than 27,200 Nova Scotia Power customers did not have electricity, according to the utility’s outage map.
It showed more than 1,000 customers were without power in the service areas of Stellarton, Truro, Sydney, Amherst and Goshen.
“We are working very much at the community level right now,” said Lia MacDonald, Northeast Emergency Operations Centre Lead for NS Power in a release Sunday. “Given the extent of the damage crews still face, we expect customers, particularly those in the northeast region, and some in Cape Breton, will see their estimated restoration times change.”
At the peak of power outages following Fiona, roughly 415,000 customers did not have power.
“This has been tough on customers, that isn’t lost on us. Our dedicated crews continue to work in the areas hardest hit,” said Mark Sidebottom, Cape Breton Emergency Operations Centre Lead for NS Power in a release.
According to NS Power, over 500 people are on the ground in Cape Breton Sunday, including powerline technicians, forestry technicians, damage assessors and field support. The utility also says they have 100 crew members focused on power restorations between Main-a-dieu, Mira, to Forchu.
NS Power says 89 per cent of customers on Cape Breton Island have now had power restored.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
As of 3:30 p.m., more than 21,500 Maritime Electric customers did not have power, according to the utility’s outage map.
The communities of Charlottetown, Cornwall and Stratford had the highest number of outages in the province.
One day after the post-tropical storm ripped through P.E.I., about 82,000 Maritime Electric customers were without power.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
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.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
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.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.