Top stories right now

1. Seafood tariffs dropped — big win for New Brunswick
Ottawa removed seafood and fish from its retaliatory tariff list against the U.S. This reverses a planned 25% tariff that would have hit processors hard.

p]:inline” data-streamdown=”list-item”>Why it matters locally: About $400M worth of Maine lobster comes into Nova Scotia / New Brunswick for processing each year and then goes back to the U.S.

MP John Williamson said he pushed for it as a win for southwest NB, arguing the response to Trump’s tariffs should target the U.S. economy, not Canadian workers U.S. Senator Angus King called it a “tremendous sigh of relief” for Maine’s industry too, since about half their fall catch goes to Canadian processors In Nova Scotia, Premier Tim Houston was on CNN talking about the broader trade fight — Canada putting $20B in counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, but needing to diversify exports like seafood, forest products and critical minerals 2. Newfoundland and Labrador — $10M spaceport investment
Federal government + province + NordSpace are putting $10M into the Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX) in St. Lawrence, N.L. It’s pitched as Canada’s first commercial space launch site and a step toward sovereign launch capacity. The announcement was shared by Premier Tony Wakeham and MP Joanne Thompson this week.

Related energy moves:

p]:inline” data-streamdown=”list-item”>Ottawa and Quebec signed what is being called North America’s largest-ever clean energy deal, highlighted by the Liberal Party

Federal government is also cutting red tape for offshore wind along the Atlantic coast and Nova Scotia is opening a new offshore oil and gas licensing round — estimates are 47-148 Tcf gas and 19-49 Bbbl oil in place

3. Public safety & infrastructure

p]:inline” data-streamdown=”list-item”>Truro train derailment – Aug 29: Freight cars derailed on Queen Street in Truro, NS yesterday. No injuries reported, but Queen St was blocked and residents said it shook houses. Truro Fire, SHRU and Bible Hill Fire on scene

Saint-Simon Church arson – NB: Century-old church in Saint-Simon (built 1917) was destroyed in an overnight fire Aug 27. Police arrested a 68-year-old local resident, Gilles Mallet, as a person of interest. Fire chief said motion detectors triggered around 3:20am Annapolis County shooting: RCMP charged 20-year-old Angel Paul with attempted murder after a shooting on Clementsvale Road in Princedale Aug 26 PEI home invasion arrest: 31-year-old Brandon Allan Vance Butler was arrested in New Brunswick on a warrant for an Aug 5 home invasion in O’Leary, PEI Highway 103 repaving: MLA Iain Rankin says the next 6.3km from Exit 3 to 4 will be tendered this week — moved up from next year Only-in-NB story: Saint-Quentin RCMP are investigating the theft of an entire cabin from Rang 9 & 10 Road in Kedgwick — building gone, foundation left

4. Economy & community

p]:inline” data-streamdown=”list-item”>Tourism boost: Ottawa signed a $30M Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism with the four provinces — $18M from ACOA to push year-round tourism

Competition Bureau: Approved Couche-Tard’s acquisition of Wilsons gas stations with conditions to resolve competition issues in Atlantic Canada Ganong in Saint John: Federal support announced for Ganong Bros. Limited to optimize supply chains Halifax housing debate: Mayor Andy Fillmore wrote to PM Carney and Premier Houston about Halifax as “Canada’s Defence City,” but comments were dominated by concerns about tent encampments and affordability. A CTV Atlantic report also looked at changes to NS income assistance affecting Dartmouth tent encampment residents 5. Weather to watch
The Weather Network says final week of August is running 2-3 degrees above seasonal across Atlantic Canada with humid, tropical nights in the Maritimes. Forecasters are also watching two potential tropical developments in the Atlantic basin.