Family makes emotional plea for missing daughter
Twenty-seven-year-old Jami Springer was last seen on Aug. 31 in Moncton. The RCMP continues to treat her disappearance as suspicious, as it is unusual for her to be out of touch with her family for such an extensive period of time. Springer’s family made a plea to the public this week in an effort to get any information that could help the police find their daughter. According to the CBC, the RCMP has already been following up on several tips received from the public. They believe someone has further information about her whereabouts, but have yet to come forward.
Nova Scotia senators call for Atlantic Canada to hold onto Supreme Court seat
Four Nova Scotia Senators have sent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an open letter asking him to guarantee that Atlantic Canada maintains a seat on the Supreme Court of Canada. According to the CBC, Senators James Cowan, Jane Cordy, Terry Mercer and Wilfred Moore said that losing the seat could undermine Canada’s relationship with the Maritimes. A seat will open up when Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell retires in September of 2017. The open letter comes after Trudeau announced in August that the application process will be open to any qualified and bilingual Canadian lawyer or judge. Members of Parliament from all parties recently voted in favour of a motion to respect regional representation in Supreme Court appointments.
White-tailed deer populations drastically decline
The Northeast Deer Research Network is beginning a three-year project to find out why white-tailed deer populations are declining in the province. According to the Department of Natural Resources, the deer population has declined by 70 per cent in the past 30 years, from 270,000 in 1985 to 70,000 in 2014. Researchers will use GPS data over three winters to monitor the deer’s habitats. They will also look into the impact of coyotes and harsh winters on the white-tailed deer population.
Seven dolphins trapped in bay
Seven white-backed dolphins became stranded after entering a shallow bay near Lameque, N.B. last Wednesday. One of the dolphins died on Friday. Experts say the dolphins are running out of time as the water in the bay will soon start to get colder. Even the stress of a rescue attempt could be fatal to the animals. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not set a date for its next rescue attempt.
2015-16 fiscal year closes with $260.5M provincial deficit
The New Brunswick government closed the past fiscal year, which ended on March 31, with a lower deficit than anticipated – a $100-million reduction from the previous year. Finance Minister Kathy Rogers said the government is on the right track. Despite this, New Brunswick’s debt has now doubled in size over the last nine years. The provincial debt now sits at a record $13.7 billion.
Co-authored by Catherine Turnbull.
