Snow storm in Atlantic Canada delays flights, claims one life at 14:56 on February 13, 2006, EST.

HALIFAX (CP) - A record-breaking storm that socked the northeastern U.S. with more than 60 centimetres of snow Sunday lost much of its punch as it moved through Atlantic Canada.

Environment Canada meteorologist Jeremy March said the weather system rapidly intensified south of Cape Cod before it reached Canada's East Coast.

"Most of the moisture in the system got wrung out over the New England states," said March from his Halifax office.

"We kind of dodged a bullet, it could have been much worse," he said.

Nonetheless, the storm dumped as much as 20 centimetres in some areas of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I., as high winds limited visibility and made driving hazardous because of whiteout conditions.

The poor weather forced 14 planes destined for the northeastern U.S. to divert to the airport in Gander, N.L.

The flights included eight passenger aircraft along with six military and cargo planes making trans-Atlantic trips to New England.

By Sunday night all but two of the aircraft had left the airport.

The nasty conditions also resulted in dozens of cancellations and delays at the Halifax International Airport.

Arrivals and departures were affected early Monday and travellers were advised to check ahead before leaving for the airport.

Forecasters said the weather system would push into Newfoundland, while strong winds and some flurries were expected to persist into the afternoon in Nova Scotia.

Most schools in mainland Nova Scotia were cancelled as a result.

Meanwhile, conditions were being blamed for an accident that claimed the life of a man in Trenton, N.S.

Police said the unidentified victim was killed Sunday in a crash involving a snowmobile and a snow plow at a town intersection.

Police said a second man on the snowmobile was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

They blamed poor road conditions and visibility for the accident.

April 18, 2006; New Brunswick; Overeaters, smokers and drinkers: the doctor won't see you now; Health care is meant to be open to everyone equally. But some doctors question, even deny, treatment to those with certain vices. NICHOLAS KOHLER AND BARBARA RIGHTON.

It's a touchy subject. So touchy that after an hour-long interview, one Calgary orthopaedic surgeon decides he wants to remain anonymous. From New Brunswick, where a surgeon recently cancelled an operation on a crippled man's leg, a Moncton Hospital spokesperson calls asking Maclean's to stop trying to contact the doctor. At issue: health care for patients with self-destructive vices -- overeating, smoking, drinking or drugs. More and more doctors are turning them away or knocking them down their waiting lists -- whether patients know that's the reason or not. Frightening stories abound. GPs who won't take smokers as patients. Surgeons who demand obese patients lose weight before they'll operate, or tell them to find another doctor. Transplant teams who turn drinkers down flat. Doctors say their decisions make sense: why spend thousands of dollars on futile procedures? Or the decision is the product of frustration: why not make patients accountable for their vices? Others call it simple discrimination. But in a health system with more patients than doctors can treat, where doctors have discretion over whom they'll take on, some say it's inevitable that problem patients will get shunted aside in favour of healthier, less labour-intensive cases. (Keep reading here.. eventually you get to the part about the snowmobiler that refused his doctor's advice.. it's long, but a very good exposé of our Canadian health care system - if that interests you!) here...
***

NBFSC promotes 'Zero Tolerance' for drinking and driving ; Sled check crew, Grand Bay NB - Grand Bay sled check;

Members of the local Mothers Against Drunk Driving Chapter, along with representatives of the RCMP, the local snowmobile club, and the NBFSC President held a sled check in Grand Bay on Saturday, Feb. 22nd. The NBFSC promotes 'Zero Tolerance' for drinking and driving. more...

***

Volunteer waits for snowfall; Linda Hersey SPORTS PEOPLE

"Last year, the groomer went out the for the first time on the 23rd of January," says snowmobiler Charlie Arsenault of Dieppe, "so things could still change around."

Snowmobilers everywhere are keeping their fingers crossed in that regard, hoping the white stuff will descend upon us in great abundance and thereby opening local snowmobile trails.

In the meantime, this active businessman (Friction Plus & Advanced Motorsports Ltd.) is at the ready as president of the Dieppe Snowmobile Club.

"We co-ordinate and take care of the groomers, maintenance on the groomers, schedule the people that run the groomer, do some fundraisers when we get a chance and trail maintenance," he says of the many things that must be taken care of to run a successful club. "It's pretty well volunteer-driven."

A former hockey player who still enjoys a good game of tennis, Arsenault has been involved with snowmobiles for about 12 years now and he is completely sold on the sport. story here...

***
Snowmobilers die in ice accident
Last updated Feb 14 2005 ; CBC News;
Two snowmobilers from New Brunswick are dead after an accident in Quebec.

Germain Tremblay and Catherine True were from Burton, near Oromocto. Their bodies were discovered on the ice of Lac Doumic on Monday morning. story here...