Posted: Jan 07, 2021 6:04 PM AT | Last Updated: January 7 A suspect was arrested shortly before noon on Wednesday by Amherst police.(Katie Simmonds/Facebook) The minister responsible for the Emergency Management Office in Nova Scotia says he's willing to discuss granting police direct access to issue public alerts. However, Chuck Porter cautioned Thursday that granting police that ability, as is the case in neighbouring New Brunswick, does not guarantee speedier action in notifying the public about an unfolding situation. "They [police] know by the minute the situation and what is going on," Porter told reporters following a cabinet meeting. "They know when it's best to issue the alert and what needs to be said, more importantly, in the alert and information that they want out."