Nova Scotia's newest member of the Senate is former Liberal MLA Tony Ince.

one of five people appointed to the Senate

by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau&nbsp;on Friday.

He said Trudeau called him on Thursday night with the news.

"I can tell you from where I stand right now, I'm honoured," Ince said Saturday. "I am looking forward to really doing good work there."

He'll be the second African Nova Scotian&nbsp;on the Senate, joining Sen.&nbsp;Wanda Thomas Bernard, who was appointed in 2016.

Ince previously served as MLA for Cole Harbour-Portland Valley from 2013 to 2024. 

 in last year's provincial election.&nbsp;

While in office, he held several cabinet positions, including as Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and the Minister of Communications Nova Scotia.&nbsp;

"I want to thank … all those individuals in my life and in my path that I've come across that have shared their perspective, their ideas,&nbsp;because all of that has made me who I am," said Ince.

Groups call to end deploying police for wellness checks

The East Coast Prison Justice Society, PATH Legal and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia are calling for an end to the deployment of police for wellness checks after the deaths of two people in the span of less than a week in Halifax last month.

A group of people holding a protest are shown outside of Halifax city hall.

A march demanding police no longer do wellness checks ended up at Halifax city hall Friday night.

Police protest

Feds sign $8 billion preliminary contract for new navy destroyers while Parliament sidelined

As the Liberal government appointed a flurry of senators and judges late Friday, it also committed taxpayers to spending $8 billion to start construction on three new naval destroyers. The eventual price tag for the trio of warships is expected to top $22.2 billion. The deal was signed while Parliament remains suspended.

An artist's rendering of the British Type 26 frigate, which has been submitted for consideration as the replacement for Canada's patrol frigates.

British Type 26 Frigate

An artist's rendering of the British Type 26 frigate, which has been submitted for consideration as the replacement for Canada's patrol frigates. 

Beech leaf-mining weevils are small. But researchers say they shouldn't be underestimated

The beech leaf-mining weevil isn't very big at only two millimetres in length. But Acadia University biology professor Kirk Hillier says it shouldn't be underestimated because of its size. The tiny green-and-gold invasive species can take down 36-metre trees in just a few years.

The beech leaf-mining weevil is an invasive species from Europe that threatens the American beech tree in Nova Scotia. 

beech leaf-mining weevil

After spate of intimate partner violence, N.S. announces $24M for transition houses

Premier Tim Houston says the new funding is the direct result of a meeting he attended in January with a coalition of women's support groups.

A sunlit room filled with children's toys and drawings.

A room filled with children's toys and drawings at Bryony House, a transition house in Dartmouth, N.S. The provincial government has announced nearly $24 million to help transition houses like this one. 

Bryony House

Advocates have been lobbying for more funding to address the epidemic. On Thursday, the Elizabeth Fry Society held a vigil in honour of Nova Scotians who have been victims of intimate partner homicide. Celina Aalders has the story.

N.S. announces funding to help survivors of intimate partner violence

Fight brews over $34K in cash discovered during large seizure of cigarettes

The Nova Scotia government wants $34,895 in cash discovered by police during a large seizure of cigarettes turned over to the province, but one of the men arrested in the contraband tobacco case is indicating he's willing to fight in court to get his money back.

RCMP seized $34,895 in cash during a traffic stop on May 3, 2023, on Highway 104 near Dagger Woods, N.S.

illegal cigarettes cash

Tony Ince was appointed to the Senate on Friday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Former Nova Scotia MLA Tony Ince appointed to Senate

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