Media Scan Wednesday February 10, 2021

Cape Breton tourism operators worried after cruise ship season cancelled Tourism operators in Cape Breton are becoming increasingly worried about keeping their doors open now that the upcoming cruise ship season has been cancelled for a second straight year. Last week, the federal government announced no cruise ships would be allowed in Canadian waters in 2021. Cape Breton was poised before the COVID-19 pandemic to have its best cruise season ever in 2020 due to the completion of a second cruise ship berth in Sydney, and many operators prepared for this by upgrading facilities. Travellers arriving in N.S. from N.L. must now quarantine for 14 days Travellers coming to Nova Scotia from Newfoundland and Labrador will have to isolate for 14 days upon arrival after 's most easterly province reported a surge Tuesday in COVID-19 cases. Most of the 30 new cases are in the metro area of St. John's, where officials were quick to implement gathering restrictions effective midnight in an effort to stop the spread. Discount airline Flair announces expansion into Maritimes Flair Airlines will offer service to the Maritimes this spring and summer, the discount carrier announced Wednesday. Flair, which bills itself as Canada's only independent low-fare airline, announced flights will begin May 1 in Halifax and Saint John, and in on June 4. The Maritime flights are part of a broader expansion that includes eight new Canadian destinations. Nova Scotia reports 1 new COVID-19 case Tuesday, set to receive largest shipment of Pfizer vaccines Nova Scotia reported one new case of the coronavirus on Tuesday and said nine cases remain active in the province. The new case is located in the central zone and is related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada. Only seven new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Nova Scotia in February. Halifax to look at applying for federal funding to help keep slow streets program rolling Many streets turned into a ghost town as residents listened to public health officials and stayed home during the pandemic. While some people are slowly going back to work, dining out and shopping at stores again, there still aren't as many people out and about as before. So the Government of Canada is looking for ideas from local governments, charities, non-profit organizations and community-led groups to help “transform public spaces in response to COVID- 19.” Public to get say on proposed north end Sydney arts and business development Cape Breton Regional Municipality council is turning to the public for input before deciding whether to waive parking requirements for the proposed conversion of a historic Sydney church into an elegant business and entertainment hall. On Tuesday, council voted unanimously to direct municipal planning staff to prepare a draft bylaw that if approved, would effectively exempt the developer behind the Sacred Heart project from having to provide 80 parking spaces as required under the CBRM’s present North End Sydney Secondary Land Use Bylaw. The draft will then be presented at an upcoming public hearing into the matter that was okayed by council at its last meeting two weeks ago. Annapolis Royal landmark eatery will become Whiskey Teller pub For decades, Ye Olde Town Pub on Church Street served up pub food and refreshments to Annapolis Royal residents and visitors. Now, new owners are giving the building a makeover and promising a fresh take on pub food. Laura Robinson is a general manager of the Thistle Hospitality Group, which oversees the management of hospitality operations for the Founders House, Fort View Golf Course, Fort-View Villages, as well as the extensive renovation of the Church Street building that will be the home of the Whiskey Teller pub. “For a long time, the tagline of Ye Olde Town Pub had been good food, good friends, good times. We didn’t want to stray away from the concept very much because that’s the whole point of your local pub. It’s a place where you feel at home, you are comfortable, grab a beer with some friends or have dinner with your family,” Robinson said during a recent interview. Negative COVID-19 test will soon be required at land border: Trudeau Non-essential travellers entering Canada through the land border will soon need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before arrival, Prime Minister announced today. "As of February 15th, when you return to Canada through a land border, you'll need to show a 72-hour PCR test, just like air travel," Trudeau said today during his regular morning media briefing outside Rideau Cottage. The prime minister said border officers can't legally deny entry to Canadians, but those who show up without proof of a test could face fines of up to $3,000. COVID-19 count soars to 30 in N.L., as Fitzgerald orders 'circuit breaker' for St. John's region Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is implementing new restrictions for the St. John's area, after the province announced 30 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. That marked a significant jump from the 11 cases announced Monday, with Dr. Janice Fitzgerald acknowledging that a cluster akin to one seen last March is "the likely scenario" now playing out in metro St. John's. All of Tuesday's cases are in the Eastern Health region. It's the second-highest single-day total since the start of the pandemic, just under the 32 cases announced March 25 during the province's first wave. No cheers: New COVID-19 outbreak deals another blow to hospitality industry A troubling new outbreak of COVID-19 in the metro St. John's area means another setback for the battered hospitality industry, but business leaders say they're ready to do their part to help contain the virus. "There's far-reaching impacts of the decision, but always for the right reasons," said Don-E Coady, spokesperson for the George Street Association, which represents 21 bars and restaurants in downtown St. John's. Brenda O'Reilly, who chairs Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador's board of directors, agrees. Ski hills allowed to open once stay-at-home order lifted Ski hills will be allowed to open in once the province lifts its stay-at-home order. The hills are quiet for now, but there's anticipation in the air. "We are extremely excited to be able to get going again," said Bill Creighton, CEO of Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort. Creighton said they're offering jobs to 600 people laid off around Christmas when the province-wide shutdown came into effect. The ski hill is preparing for an opening day some time next week. The stay-at-home order was extended to Feb. 16 in Waterloo Region.