A 6.5 per cent electricity rate increase took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, for residential customers of Nova Scotia Power. The utility says customers can expect an average increase of $11 a month to their power bills.
Along with a record Christmas Eve crowd, the community kitchen and food bank also saw roughly double their usual numbers on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Donor generosity allowed some of Canada's largest food banks to build up record reserve balances during the pandemic, but some are already watching the money drain away.