Province prepares to aid Syrian refugees

The Community Services Department will be hiring an Arabic-speaking case worker to help with an expected influx of Syrian Refugees when their federal funding expires in the New Year.

The minister Joanne Bernard says her department wants to be ready when Ottawa’s financial support ends 12 months after each family arrives. There are about 1,300 Syrian refugees who have come to Nova Scotia since last December.

Premier at tree lighting in Boston and signing research deal

Premier Stephen McNeil sign a partnership agreement yesterday between Nova Scotia and the University of Massachusettes-Dartmouth to develop marine technology.

McNeil was also in Boston for the annual lighting of the Nova Scotia Christmas Tree. The ceremony on the Boston Common drew about 20,000 people last night with another 250,000 watching on T-V.