Roundup: 27 COVID deaths in October, feds promise $1.8M for wind-energy project, Pictou rugby club marks 50 years
As grocery chains rake in record profits, Queens County Food Bank chair Shelly Panczyk reports a 20-per-cent increase in the number of families relying on donations. Photo: Submitted
Plus: Turning to local food options as corporate grocery profits soar
COVID-19 killed 27 Nova Scotians in October, according to the provincial government’s monthly update. That’s a dip in the death toll from September, when the disease killed 36 people. But concurrently, hospitalizations increased, with 234 people admitted for treatment this month, up from 206.
The World Health Organization reports 216,738 confirmed new COVID cases around the globe in the last 24 hours. So far, the disease is known to have killed at least 6,593,715 people, including 47,118 in Canada and 617 Nova Scotians.
Vote with your wallet
With Canadians’ grocery bills at an all-time high, the Queens County Food Bank in Liverpool reports a recent 20-per-cent jump in the number of people using its services, even as it becomes harder to feed them.
“Donations are down at all the food banks because people are struggling; they just don’t have the money to donate like they used to,” food bank chair Shelly Panczyk tells LighthouseNow. “We could see it coming.”
Food is pricier than ever but management from the giant grocery chains insist they’re not profiteering, despite their eye-popping fiscal results.
Loblaws reports a 30-per-cent increase in profits to $556 million, with revenues climbing to $17.39 billion in the third quarter of 2022, up from $16.05 billion over the same period last year. And Empire, owner of Sobeys, recently reported $1.98 billion in profits, a $65.7-million increase over last year.
One wonders how much better off we’d be if more of that money stayed in Nova Scotia. It’s not an option for everyone, but if you’re able to shop around, foodie Colleen Thompson has advice in the latest issue of Unravel Halifax on how you can use your hard-earned food budget more wisely, get better products, and support local businesses instead of corporate behemoths.
Ottawa funds wind-energy project
The federal government has promised $1.8 million to develop new Nova Scotian offshore wind projects.
“Our country will need to produce two times as much clean power as it does right now, if we’re to follow Canada’s emissions reduction plan,” says Cape Breton-Canso MP Mike Kelloway. “Canada needs to speed up the electrification of its economy, whether it’s through deploying clean energy, eliminating single-use plastics, or putting a price on pollution.”
Drake Lowthers has more for the Reporter.
Pictou rugby club marks golden anniversary
The Pictou County Senior Rugby Club, which formed in 1971, is marking its 50 anniversary on Saturday, after COVID kiboshed last year’s party.
Shelby Macdonald, current club president, is excited to bring players past and present together to celebrate the sport.
“I love the game,” she says. “I think of my time with the club and the camaraderie between teams. That’s what elevated my love of the game. I got to see where rugby could take you.”
Steve Goodwin has more for the Pictou Advocate.
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