Infant found abandoned on step of local business in Halifax

Halifax Regional Police say an infant was found abandoned in the 6000-block of Quinpool Road between 4 and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

After she was discovered, police said the baby girl was brought to the IWK Children’s Hospital, where ‎she was examined and deemed healthy.

Spokeswoman Const. Dianne Penfound said the baby girl was found on a step behind a building.

“She was assessed by (paramedics) and the staff felt she was healthy,” said Penfound.

Police officers and hospital staff have been unable to identify the baby or her parents. The baby is now in the care of The Department of Child Services.

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The baby is described as being of African Canadian descent and approximately four to five weeks old.

READ: Police, CFS investigating after child abandoned in stroller in Brandon

“Our number one focus is on the health and safety of that little baby,” said Kelly Regan, Minister of Community Services on Monday in Cape Breton.

“If no family has been found within 72 hours then the child will come into the permanent care of the minister.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "If no family has been found within 72 hours then the child will come into the permanent care of the minister."

Regan said that she was aware the last time something like this happened in Nova Scotia was in the 90s.

WATCH: Abandoned child ‘Baby Mary’ searches for parents 30 years later

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Police say the investigation is still ongoing.

Penfound said the incident is “very unusual.”

“It’s nothing I have seen (before),” she said. “We’re just trying to determine what the circumstances are that somebody would have left this child. Until such time we can talk to the person, we’re sort of at a loss.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's nothing I have seen (before)," she said. "We're just trying to determine what the circumstances are that somebody would have left this child. Until such time we can talk to the person, we're sort of at a loss."

Anyone with information regarding the abandoned infant is asked to contact the Halifax Regional Police at 902-490-5016 or Crime Stoppers.

— with files from The Canadian Press