Saint John tourism grows after N.S. ferry cut
Last Updated: Friday, August 27, 2010 | 9:08 AM AT Comments36Recommend21CBC News
The high-speed ferry service between Nova Scotia and Maine was axed in December 2009. (CBC)
The closure of a high-speed ferry in Yarmouth, N.S., is turning into a boon for tourism in Saint John.
The ferry, known as the Cat, ran from Bar Harbor, Me., to Yarmouth was cancelled late last year and the fallout has been an unexpected jump in U.S. tourists visiting Saint John.
It has also been a real boost for the Princess of Acadia ferry, which travels between Saint John and Digby, N.S.
Cathy McConchie and her husband Gerry are among many American travellers who had not expected their summer vacation would bring them anywhere near New Brunswick.
"We went to Bar Harbor. We made all the reservations online and I looked up the Cat because I knew it was at Bar Harbour and then when I saw it wasn't running I looked for the next ferry," McConchie said.
Jean Hewick is travelling to Nova Scotia from Albany, N.Y., and also said the high-speed ferry's cancellation rerouted her plans through New Brunswick.
"I knew that there was a ferry from Bar Harbor and that was my original plan. And when I went online to book my ferry there was no ferry from Bar Harbor and I was quite disappointed," Hewick said.
"So we had to drive much further to Saint John."
Service cut
The high-speed Catamaran ferry service in Yarmouth was cancelled in December 2009 after the Nova Scotia government refused to continue subsidies to sustain the ferry service. The ferry's final voyage came in April.
Bay Ferries Ltd. wanted at least $6 million from the government in 2010 to keep the Cat ferry running between Yarmouth and the Maine cities of Bar Harbor and Portland.
The ferry between Yarmouth and Maine began in 1997. The Nova Scotia government had given $18.9 million to the ferry service since the fall of 2007.
Bay Ferries also owns the Digby ferry service.
Although the Digby ferry traffic is seeing an increase this year, it too has been reliant on government funding to stay afloat.
In 2008, the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments paid $2 million each to help with Bay Ferries' operating costs, while the federal government put in $11.1 million.
The three governments also cobbled together $8 million in 2006 after Bay Ferries threatened to halt its run because of rising costs and declining ferry traffic.
Ferry traffic up
The spike in U.S. tourist traffic may be attributable to the fact that people trying to book the Cat online in Bar Harbor are automatically forwarded to the Digby ferry in Saint John.
A spokesman for Bay Ferries says traffic on the Princess of Acadia has grown in excess of 25 per cent over the past year.
Bay Ferries is adding three additional crossings weekly to the Princess of Acadia's fall schedule.
That spike in tourist traffic comes as no surprise to some Saint John bed and breakfast owners, such as Willa Mavis of Inn on the Cove, who have seen the number of American visitors rise.
"All the American ferry travellers we spoke to overnighted in the city before boarding the Princess of Acadia," Mavis said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/08/27/nb-saint-john-digby-ferry-523.html#ixzz0y8bHbVT7
Monday, August 30, 2010
NoRigs3
NS: NoRigs 3 seeks permanent oil and gas ban
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 30, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The NoRigs 3 Coalition of fishermen, fishing groups, environmentalists and Aboriginal groups is calling on the Nova Scotia government for a permanent ban on oil and gas exploration and development on Georges Bank.
Representatives of the NoRigs3 Coalition will meet with Premier Darrell Dexter early in September to press for a permanent ban.
The coalition says such a ban is the only rational choice for the government in light of the exceptional nature of the rich fishing ground and sensitive ecosystem on Georges Bank and in light of ongoing oil spills that prove the industry is not safe and cleanup not easy.
Spills in the last year include the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the West Atlas Montara blowout and spill in the Timor Sea in Australia and the Enbridge oil pipeline spill into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. The coalition notes the spills have done billions of dollars of damage and the full environmental and economic impact of these spills remains unknown.
“The clean-up costs and damage to the Gulf fishing and tourism industries are increasing every day,” says Denny Morrow, NoRigs 3 chairman. “Plus, damage to seabirds, turtles and other non-commercial species can’t even be estimated yet.”
This spring the Nova Scotia government extended a ban on oil and gas exploration and development on Georges Bank to the year 2015. It was to expire in 2012.
But given the proof by the BP spill that the most up-to-date technology for preventing oil pollution were ineffective in the Gulf of Mexico disaster, the NoRigs 3 Coalition will be asking the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments to place a permanent ban on oil and gas development on Georges Bank.
While Georges Bank is a shallow bank, the Georges Bank moratorium lands cover deep water as well. NoRigs 3 says an oil rig blowout on Georges Bank could easily result in similar damage costs of $1 billion per year to Canadian and U.S. fisheries on the Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. The New England tourism industry from Cape Cod to Maine could also be vulnerable if a blowout occurred on the Canadian portion of Georges Bank, as strong, counter clock-wise “gyre” currents on the Bank would likely carry the oil pollutants to Cape Cod and New England shorelines. BP is one of two companies currently holding leases on Georges Bank.
NoRigs3 member and long-time fishing company manager Claude d’Entremont says that at least two blowout disasters over the past 12 months have exposed the myths that oil and gas development technology is risk-free, that the forces of nature can always be controlled and that government regulations can prevent human error and malfeasance from triggering these accidents.
“At least two major spills have occurred in this time,” d’Entremont says, “spilling more 700,000 tons of oil into the sea.”
Mark Butler, policy director with the Ecology Action Centre, adds: “Instead of chasing the very last drops of oil into the most sensitive marine environments like Georges Bank, it is really time for North America to speed up the transition to a renewable energy economy.”
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 30, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The NoRigs 3 Coalition of fishermen, fishing groups, environmentalists and Aboriginal groups is calling on the Nova Scotia government for a permanent ban on oil and gas exploration and development on Georges Bank.
Representatives of the NoRigs3 Coalition will meet with Premier Darrell Dexter early in September to press for a permanent ban.
The coalition says such a ban is the only rational choice for the government in light of the exceptional nature of the rich fishing ground and sensitive ecosystem on Georges Bank and in light of ongoing oil spills that prove the industry is not safe and cleanup not easy.
Spills in the last year include the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the West Atlas Montara blowout and spill in the Timor Sea in Australia and the Enbridge oil pipeline spill into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. The coalition notes the spills have done billions of dollars of damage and the full environmental and economic impact of these spills remains unknown.
“The clean-up costs and damage to the Gulf fishing and tourism industries are increasing every day,” says Denny Morrow, NoRigs 3 chairman. “Plus, damage to seabirds, turtles and other non-commercial species can’t even be estimated yet.”
This spring the Nova Scotia government extended a ban on oil and gas exploration and development on Georges Bank to the year 2015. It was to expire in 2012.
But given the proof by the BP spill that the most up-to-date technology for preventing oil pollution were ineffective in the Gulf of Mexico disaster, the NoRigs 3 Coalition will be asking the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments to place a permanent ban on oil and gas development on Georges Bank.
While Georges Bank is a shallow bank, the Georges Bank moratorium lands cover deep water as well. NoRigs 3 says an oil rig blowout on Georges Bank could easily result in similar damage costs of $1 billion per year to Canadian and U.S. fisheries on the Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. The New England tourism industry from Cape Cod to Maine could also be vulnerable if a blowout occurred on the Canadian portion of Georges Bank, as strong, counter clock-wise “gyre” currents on the Bank would likely carry the oil pollutants to Cape Cod and New England shorelines. BP is one of two companies currently holding leases on Georges Bank.
NoRigs3 member and long-time fishing company manager Claude d’Entremont says that at least two blowout disasters over the past 12 months have exposed the myths that oil and gas development technology is risk-free, that the forces of nature can always be controlled and that government regulations can prevent human error and malfeasance from triggering these accidents.
“At least two major spills have occurred in this time,” d’Entremont says, “spilling more 700,000 tons of oil into the sea.”
Mark Butler, policy director with the Ecology Action Centre, adds: “Instead of chasing the very last drops of oil into the most sensitive marine environments like Georges Bank, it is really time for North America to speed up the transition to a renewable energy economy.”
Our Ferry Ridership Looking Good This Year
N.B.-N.S ferry's spike in riders fuels hopes
Last Updated: Saturday, August 28, 2010 | 2:03 PM AT
CBC News
The Princess of Acadia ferry docks in Saint John, N.B. Supporters hope an increase in passengers this year will convince governments to back the survival of the crossing. (CBC)Defenders of the subsidized ferry service that connects New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are hoping a spike in passenger traffic this summer will help save it.
Last week Bay Ferries Ltd. announced that the Princess of Acadia will add three extra crossings weekly between Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S.
There has been a 25 per cent jump in passenger numbers this summer, the company says.
The future of the service is in the hands of the federal and provincial governments. They have promised the crossing will stay open until the end of 2011, with a decision on what happens to the ferry service beyond that coming next fall.
In 2008, the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments paid $2 million each to help with Bay Ferries' operating costs, while the federal government put in $11.1 million.
Firm ongoing funding and a replacement for the federally owned, 1970s-era Princess of Acadia would likely be required to keep the crossing going.
The ferry business is especially important to the small town of Digby, which residents say would experience a huge drop in traffic if the ferry ever shut down.
Ferry vital to fish-packing
Jim Thurber, who heads a coalition in southwest Nova Scotia that is trying to save the ferry, said the strong summer shows that the ridership is there. He says the passenger numbers can be combined with a recent study by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency that said the ferry service is critical to the region's fish-packing industry.
"It should help in selling the fact that that service needs to remain and be guaranteed long-term," he said.
Stakeholders attribute the increase in passengers to the cancellation in December of the high-speed catamaran ferry that ran between Bar Harbor, Me., and Yarmouth, N.S. That crossing was also subsidized, and when Nova Scotia pulled its funding the crossing was cancelled.
Bay Ferries operated both vessels. People who look for the Bar Harbor crossing online are automatically forwarded to the Digby Ferry.
Digby-based restaurant owner Chris Cogswell said he has noticed the difference this summer.
"It's always been going downhill a bit for the last four years and this year it's actually coming back up the other way, so definitely the ferry traffic is helping for sure," he said.
Last Updated: Saturday, August 28, 2010 | 2:03 PM AT
CBC News
The Princess of Acadia ferry docks in Saint John, N.B. Supporters hope an increase in passengers this year will convince governments to back the survival of the crossing. (CBC)Defenders of the subsidized ferry service that connects New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are hoping a spike in passenger traffic this summer will help save it.
Last week Bay Ferries Ltd. announced that the Princess of Acadia will add three extra crossings weekly between Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S.
There has been a 25 per cent jump in passenger numbers this summer, the company says.
The future of the service is in the hands of the federal and provincial governments. They have promised the crossing will stay open until the end of 2011, with a decision on what happens to the ferry service beyond that coming next fall.
In 2008, the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments paid $2 million each to help with Bay Ferries' operating costs, while the federal government put in $11.1 million.
Firm ongoing funding and a replacement for the federally owned, 1970s-era Princess of Acadia would likely be required to keep the crossing going.
The ferry business is especially important to the small town of Digby, which residents say would experience a huge drop in traffic if the ferry ever shut down.
Ferry vital to fish-packing
Jim Thurber, who heads a coalition in southwest Nova Scotia that is trying to save the ferry, said the strong summer shows that the ridership is there. He says the passenger numbers can be combined with a recent study by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency that said the ferry service is critical to the region's fish-packing industry.
"It should help in selling the fact that that service needs to remain and be guaranteed long-term," he said.
Stakeholders attribute the increase in passengers to the cancellation in December of the high-speed catamaran ferry that ran between Bar Harbor, Me., and Yarmouth, N.S. That crossing was also subsidized, and when Nova Scotia pulled its funding the crossing was cancelled.
Bay Ferries operated both vessels. People who look for the Bar Harbor crossing online are automatically forwarded to the Digby Ferry.
Digby-based restaurant owner Chris Cogswell said he has noticed the difference this summer.
"It's always been going downhill a bit for the last four years and this year it's actually coming back up the other way, so definitely the ferry traffic is helping for sure," he said.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
ADEDA News
Testing The Tides
Fundy Tidal, Inc. of Westport has already announced plans to drop a test turbine in the waters off Digby County this fall to measure the potential for renewable energy from the tides, with hopes to begin commercial operation within three years. The turbine testing will be done in Grand Passage, which separates Long Island and Brier Island along Digby Neck. To bring everyone in the community, as well as interested alternative energy parties from all areas, up-to-date on their plans, Fundy Tidal along with scientists and government officials will be hosting an information session in Westport this Tuesday. It’s certainly a timely initiative, and receiving regional support. This fact was underlined in a recent media interview with the President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy who called for more regional cooperation, and cited tidal power as part of our region’s “unique (energy) diversity in a relatively small footprint”.
A Boost for Boatbuilders
In addition to new ventures underwater, there was good news for those industries in our area which traditionally ride the waves in our marine environment. The federal and provincial governments recently announced funding for a program to help the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association promote and market their products around the world. A spokesperson for one of this area’s leading shipyards, A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd., described the initiative as a significant one in “keeping this important part of our coastal livelihood alive, and greatly appreciated.”
Look up – Look Waaaaaay Up!
Ah, yes, one of the famous welcoming lines from the much loved CBC television children’s show The Friendly Giant. Well, the show’s now long gone – and that’s to be much lamented – but ”Friendly's” opening admonition can still hold true here if you’re visiting nearby Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The Park, in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada recently officially celebrated the designation of “Keji” as Nova Scotia’s first Dark Sky Preserve, committed to protect and preserve the night sky for visitors by applying strict lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution. By the way, there is absolutely no basis to the scurrilous suggestion by some that the much loved TV show met its demise because (my favourite character) Rusty the Rooster always appeared “half in the bag”. (Hey, just a little pun for those of us who knew and loved this wonderful series!).
An Oscar For Smiths Cove
Speaking of children’s entertainment, my home hamlet of Smiths Cove is the setting for a wonderful new children’s book set in that lovely seaside community. Oscar the herring gull is the mischievous hero of a book penned by “Cove” native Roberta Heembrock, who now lives in Calgary. It’s a warm tale of childhood summers on the Basin. And by the way, the human heroine of the story, Grammie Sara – in reality the author’s Aunt Mary Lou - is a friend of mine and one of the most respected and beloved members of our community. From this brief description I bet many of you already know who she is.
This Sporting Life
As I mentioned in my opening, summer may be on its slow slide into autumn, but for sports fans such as me, things are just heating up. Sure, the Canadian, US and college football seasons are swinging into play. But that most venerable, contemplative and analytical of pastimes – yes, I mean baseball - is heading into its home stretch. It’s far and away my favourite sport. I played it passionately as a kid, moving through my youth from third base, to shortstop to second base as my respective competitive leagues strengthened but my throwing arm didn’t. I have faithfully followed my beloved Saint Louis Cardinals for more than a half century and check their overnight results first thing every morning. But I also have to confess that like a lot of folks in Atlantic Canada, I grew up with my ear strained to a sometimes faint radio signal from Boston’s Fenway Park and followed the Red Sox on those long ago summer evenings. But there’s no doubt that the leading BoSox fan in all of our region was a young boy growing up in Freeport, on Long Island. Jim Prime’s new home is today a shine to the fabled Boston franchise and his loyalty has been rewarded. He has just been named as acting lieutenant-governor of Red Sox Nation by the Boston organization. Hard to say why Jim persevered with the Sox while I cemented such loyalty to the Cards, maybe because there was better radio reception on Digby Neck than in Cape Breton. Truth be told – it was the uniforms.
The Annapolis Digby area is full of sports buffs and sporting towns. At the other end of our region from Freeport – in the town of Bridgetown - an active group within the newly formed Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame is now planning to enshrine its first series of nominees. With over a century of local, national and international heroes in its remarkable sports annals they shouldn’t have any trouble developing a long list of candidates.
Material Culture, Agriculture and Cafe Culture
The diversity of offerings that characterize our area is available again this week. If you’re interested in historic homes and beautiful gardens, you can take in the Five Century House Tour in Annapolis Royal. Our area’s farming focus, along with horse shows, ox pulls and great home cooking will be on display this week at the Digby County Exhibition. And if you’re looking for a weekend stop with a more francophone flavour, drop by the newly opened Acadian Centre at the Universite Sainte-Anne in Church Point. You can learn about Acadian history, visit the art gallery and boutique, and taste the assortment of homemade goodies in the charming cafe. Try and get them all in if you can.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Fundy Tidal, Inc. of Westport has already announced plans to drop a test turbine in the waters off Digby County this fall to measure the potential for renewable energy from the tides, with hopes to begin commercial operation within three years. The turbine testing will be done in Grand Passage, which separates Long Island and Brier Island along Digby Neck. To bring everyone in the community, as well as interested alternative energy parties from all areas, up-to-date on their plans, Fundy Tidal along with scientists and government officials will be hosting an information session in Westport this Tuesday. It’s certainly a timely initiative, and receiving regional support. This fact was underlined in a recent media interview with the President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy who called for more regional cooperation, and cited tidal power as part of our region’s “unique (energy) diversity in a relatively small footprint”.
A Boost for Boatbuilders
In addition to new ventures underwater, there was good news for those industries in our area which traditionally ride the waves in our marine environment. The federal and provincial governments recently announced funding for a program to help the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association promote and market their products around the world. A spokesperson for one of this area’s leading shipyards, A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd., described the initiative as a significant one in “keeping this important part of our coastal livelihood alive, and greatly appreciated.”
Look up – Look Waaaaaay Up!
Ah, yes, one of the famous welcoming lines from the much loved CBC television children’s show The Friendly Giant. Well, the show’s now long gone – and that’s to be much lamented – but ”Friendly's” opening admonition can still hold true here if you’re visiting nearby Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The Park, in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada recently officially celebrated the designation of “Keji” as Nova Scotia’s first Dark Sky Preserve, committed to protect and preserve the night sky for visitors by applying strict lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution. By the way, there is absolutely no basis to the scurrilous suggestion by some that the much loved TV show met its demise because (my favourite character) Rusty the Rooster always appeared “half in the bag”. (Hey, just a little pun for those of us who knew and loved this wonderful series!).
An Oscar For Smiths Cove
Speaking of children’s entertainment, my home hamlet of Smiths Cove is the setting for a wonderful new children’s book set in that lovely seaside community. Oscar the herring gull is the mischievous hero of a book penned by “Cove” native Roberta Heembrock, who now lives in Calgary. It’s a warm tale of childhood summers on the Basin. And by the way, the human heroine of the story, Grammie Sara – in reality the author’s Aunt Mary Lou - is a friend of mine and one of the most respected and beloved members of our community. From this brief description I bet many of you already know who she is.
This Sporting Life
As I mentioned in my opening, summer may be on its slow slide into autumn, but for sports fans such as me, things are just heating up. Sure, the Canadian, US and college football seasons are swinging into play. But that most venerable, contemplative and analytical of pastimes – yes, I mean baseball - is heading into its home stretch. It’s far and away my favourite sport. I played it passionately as a kid, moving through my youth from third base, to shortstop to second base as my respective competitive leagues strengthened but my throwing arm didn’t. I have faithfully followed my beloved Saint Louis Cardinals for more than a half century and check their overnight results first thing every morning. But I also have to confess that like a lot of folks in Atlantic Canada, I grew up with my ear strained to a sometimes faint radio signal from Boston’s Fenway Park and followed the Red Sox on those long ago summer evenings. But there’s no doubt that the leading BoSox fan in all of our region was a young boy growing up in Freeport, on Long Island. Jim Prime’s new home is today a shine to the fabled Boston franchise and his loyalty has been rewarded. He has just been named as acting lieutenant-governor of Red Sox Nation by the Boston organization. Hard to say why Jim persevered with the Sox while I cemented such loyalty to the Cards, maybe because there was better radio reception on Digby Neck than in Cape Breton. Truth be told – it was the uniforms.
The Annapolis Digby area is full of sports buffs and sporting towns. At the other end of our region from Freeport – in the town of Bridgetown - an active group within the newly formed Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame is now planning to enshrine its first series of nominees. With over a century of local, national and international heroes in its remarkable sports annals they shouldn’t have any trouble developing a long list of candidates.
Material Culture, Agriculture and Cafe Culture
The diversity of offerings that characterize our area is available again this week. If you’re interested in historic homes and beautiful gardens, you can take in the Five Century House Tour in Annapolis Royal. Our area’s farming focus, along with horse shows, ox pulls and great home cooking will be on display this week at the Digby County Exhibition. And if you’re looking for a weekend stop with a more francophone flavour, drop by the newly opened Acadian Centre at the Universite Sainte-Anne in Church Point. You can learn about Acadian history, visit the art gallery and boutique, and taste the assortment of homemade goodies in the charming cafe. Try and get them all in if you can.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Labels:
ADEDA news
Spirited Meeting in Sandy Cove
Fish farm foes make points
Opponents ‘had to take over meeting’
By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Sat, Aug 28 - 4:53 AM
Andy Moir is a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group opposing proposed fish farms in the Digby Neck area. (Jim Meek)
Opponents of two controversial fish farms in the Digby Neck area had their say at a meeting Thursday night but still want more public consultation.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department held an open house in Sandy Cove, where project foes insisted on expressing their concerns.
"It was a pretty interesting meeting," Andy Moir, a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group, said in an interview Friday.
"We told them that we weren’t interested in the meet-and-greet-style format, that we wanted to ask our questions and hear the answers."
The 150 people, including many local fishermen and representatives of the Bear River First Nation, gathered outside and walked in together. They then demanded to make their statements and ask their questions.
"Basically, we had to take over the meeting," said Moir, a resident of Freeport.
He said the group made its presentations in two hours.
Moir said the community wants more public consultation on a proposal submitted by Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., a division of Cooke Aquaculture of New Brunswick, to operate two salmon farms in St. Marys Bay, Digby County.
Celeste Sulliman, spokeswoman for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, said the meeting was useful and productive.
"The process that we went in with was not the process that we ended up utilizing," she said of the meeting in an interview Friday.
"We responded to the wishes of the community. They really wanted a forum where they could ask questions publicly."
Sulliman said the department will continue to take written submissions. She added that while there is public opposition, there are also supporters.
"We will continue to assess all the submissions, along with the science and the facts," she said.
Cooke Aquaculture wants the two fish farms operational by next spring.
The proposed farms total 84 hectares and are under government review. Written submissions will be accepted until Sept. 16. If approved, it would be the largest salmon farm in the province. The two 42-hectare sites — one at Freeport, the other at Grand Passage — would each see one million salmon raised and harvested every three years, Mike Szemerda, vice-president of salt water operations for Cooke Aquaculture, said in a recent interview.
The company maintains the farms will create 20 jobs, but opponents say it is more likely about 10 jobs would result.
It already operates one fish farm in the area, between Briar and Long islands.
About 80 per cent of the approximately 1,000 residents in that area signed a petition against it. Residents are concerned about pollution from the fish farms, interference with the lobster fishery and the possible impact on whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Opponents ‘had to take over meeting’
By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Sat, Aug 28 - 4:53 AM
Andy Moir is a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group opposing proposed fish farms in the Digby Neck area. (Jim Meek)
Opponents of two controversial fish farms in the Digby Neck area had their say at a meeting Thursday night but still want more public consultation.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department held an open house in Sandy Cove, where project foes insisted on expressing their concerns.
"It was a pretty interesting meeting," Andy Moir, a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group, said in an interview Friday.
"We told them that we weren’t interested in the meet-and-greet-style format, that we wanted to ask our questions and hear the answers."
The 150 people, including many local fishermen and representatives of the Bear River First Nation, gathered outside and walked in together. They then demanded to make their statements and ask their questions.
"Basically, we had to take over the meeting," said Moir, a resident of Freeport.
He said the group made its presentations in two hours.
Moir said the community wants more public consultation on a proposal submitted by Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., a division of Cooke Aquaculture of New Brunswick, to operate two salmon farms in St. Marys Bay, Digby County.
Celeste Sulliman, spokeswoman for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, said the meeting was useful and productive.
"The process that we went in with was not the process that we ended up utilizing," she said of the meeting in an interview Friday.
"We responded to the wishes of the community. They really wanted a forum where they could ask questions publicly."
Sulliman said the department will continue to take written submissions. She added that while there is public opposition, there are also supporters.
"We will continue to assess all the submissions, along with the science and the facts," she said.
Cooke Aquaculture wants the two fish farms operational by next spring.
The proposed farms total 84 hectares and are under government review. Written submissions will be accepted until Sept. 16. If approved, it would be the largest salmon farm in the province. The two 42-hectare sites — one at Freeport, the other at Grand Passage — would each see one million salmon raised and harvested every three years, Mike Szemerda, vice-president of salt water operations for Cooke Aquaculture, said in a recent interview.
The company maintains the farms will create 20 jobs, but opponents say it is more likely about 10 jobs would result.
It already operates one fish farm in the area, between Briar and Long islands.
About 80 per cent of the approximately 1,000 residents in that area signed a petition against it. Residents are concerned about pollution from the fish farms, interference with the lobster fishery and the possible impact on whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Young Farmers in N.S.
NS: Ten-year strategy necessary for survival, say farmers
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Hants Journal, August 27, 2010
[WINDSOR, NS] — Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Chuck Porter is cautiously optimistic following the announcement of a new government program that will aim to support young farmers who are eager to enter Nova Scotia’s commercial farming industry.
Porter, who believes that barriers to entry in the farming market have slowed growth in Nova Scotia’s agricultural production, is pleased with the announcement, but still questions the NDP government’s promise of a $900,000, 10-year agriculture strategy.
“The ‘ThinkFarm’ strategy is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Porter. “However, the NDP are doing nothing to support current and established farmers who are struggling to maintain their operations on a daily basis.”
Current farmers were promised a new farming strategy dating back to the 2009 general election campaign.
Porter, who met with dairy farmers last week, says that farmers can no longer wait.
“This strategy is critical to the long-term competitiveness and profitability of our farmers,” said Porter. “Nova Scotia’s Federation of Agriculture said back in April that they required the strategy now.”
Porter is encouraging Agriculture Minister John MacDonell to pursue the ThinkFarm initiative aggressively in light of a 2008 policy paper by the Young Farmers of Nova Scotia. The paper shows that commercial farm businesses in Nova Scotia will require a minimum of $500,000 of initial capital by this year.
“I understand that any investment takes time to mature,” said Porter. “But our farmers deserve better. I will not let this government off the hook when it comes to developing a long-term, viable solution to our agricultural issues here in Nova Scotia.”
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Hants Journal, August 27, 2010
[WINDSOR, NS] — Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Chuck Porter is cautiously optimistic following the announcement of a new government program that will aim to support young farmers who are eager to enter Nova Scotia’s commercial farming industry.
Porter, who believes that barriers to entry in the farming market have slowed growth in Nova Scotia’s agricultural production, is pleased with the announcement, but still questions the NDP government’s promise of a $900,000, 10-year agriculture strategy.
“The ‘ThinkFarm’ strategy is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Porter. “However, the NDP are doing nothing to support current and established farmers who are struggling to maintain their operations on a daily basis.”
Current farmers were promised a new farming strategy dating back to the 2009 general election campaign.
Porter, who met with dairy farmers last week, says that farmers can no longer wait.
“This strategy is critical to the long-term competitiveness and profitability of our farmers,” said Porter. “Nova Scotia’s Federation of Agriculture said back in April that they required the strategy now.”
Porter is encouraging Agriculture Minister John MacDonell to pursue the ThinkFarm initiative aggressively in light of a 2008 policy paper by the Young Farmers of Nova Scotia. The paper shows that commercial farm businesses in Nova Scotia will require a minimum of $500,000 of initial capital by this year.
“I understand that any investment takes time to mature,” said Porter. “But our farmers deserve better. I will not let this government off the hook when it comes to developing a long-term, viable solution to our agricultural issues here in Nova Scotia.”
Yarmouth Industrial Commission Acquires Ferry Terminal
NS: Control of Yarmouth ferry terminal comes home
By Michael Gorman, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 27, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — Control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal is going to the community.
West Nova MP Greg Kerr delivered the news to area municipal leaders on Thursday, saying this clears the path for pursuing an operator for 2011.
“The months of patience have paid off,” he said.
Although the process required much effort, Kerr said the ability of area municipal units to act with one voice — not to mention take the lead on the effort — last December when it was announced that The CAT ferry service would not continue, played a major role in the final outcome.
“When the municipalities agreed to formalize one voice in the area, that’s really what made the difference.”
West Nova MP Greg Kerr addresses municipal leaders Thursday with news that control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal would be going to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission. — Michael Gorman photo
Kerr said he expects the terminal lease to be formally signed over to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission (YAIC), the group leading the effort to restore ferry service, some time in September.
Dave Whiting, acting CEO of the YAIC, said they can now go ahead with formally pursuing an operator. Whiting said the timeline remains good to have ferry service restored in time for the 2011 season and he expects to have more news in October.
The next step, said Whiting, is to put out a formal request for proposals to determine what operators are interested and determine what ports in Maine are in play.
Both Kerr and Whiting said potential opportunities for greater partnerships with the U.S. need to be pursued but Whiting said that is something that will come once they determine what ports are legitimately interested. That also applies to what kind of involvement should be expected from the other side in terms of support for the service.
The community controlling the terminal opens the door for other opportunities in the area, although Whiting would not elaborate on those at this time. It also puts to rest, said Kerr, any concerns about the loss of customs services in the area.
Kerr stressed the need to document the impacts of no ferry service on the community this season to make the case for why it is so important, as well as stressing the importance of the link between the province and the United States in general.
By Michael Gorman, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 27, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — Control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal is going to the community.
West Nova MP Greg Kerr delivered the news to area municipal leaders on Thursday, saying this clears the path for pursuing an operator for 2011.
“The months of patience have paid off,” he said.
Although the process required much effort, Kerr said the ability of area municipal units to act with one voice — not to mention take the lead on the effort — last December when it was announced that The CAT ferry service would not continue, played a major role in the final outcome.
“When the municipalities agreed to formalize one voice in the area, that’s really what made the difference.”
West Nova MP Greg Kerr addresses municipal leaders Thursday with news that control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal would be going to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission. — Michael Gorman photo
Kerr said he expects the terminal lease to be formally signed over to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission (YAIC), the group leading the effort to restore ferry service, some time in September.
Dave Whiting, acting CEO of the YAIC, said they can now go ahead with formally pursuing an operator. Whiting said the timeline remains good to have ferry service restored in time for the 2011 season and he expects to have more news in October.
The next step, said Whiting, is to put out a formal request for proposals to determine what operators are interested and determine what ports in Maine are in play.
Both Kerr and Whiting said potential opportunities for greater partnerships with the U.S. need to be pursued but Whiting said that is something that will come once they determine what ports are legitimately interested. That also applies to what kind of involvement should be expected from the other side in terms of support for the service.
The community controlling the terminal opens the door for other opportunities in the area, although Whiting would not elaborate on those at this time. It also puts to rest, said Kerr, any concerns about the loss of customs services in the area.
Kerr stressed the need to document the impacts of no ferry service on the community this season to make the case for why it is so important, as well as stressing the importance of the link between the province and the United States in general.
Labels:
Yarmouth ferry terminal
A Spirited Group at Meeting in Sandy Cove
....About 150 or so, wanting a conventional,old-fashioned sit-down meeting- and had tiold then so, were greeted by the same old thing that we got....THE 150 walked out, regrouped, and re-entered and DEMANDED.....
And Andys' group got what it wanted...... Questions and Answers, audible>>>Everyone could hear.
Andy said it was clear that the experts,so-called, didn't have all too many answers....Goooooood for them...There is some community around afterall, at least on the Islands......d
d Anyway, good on them!
And Andys' group got what it wanted...... Questions and Answers, audible>>>Everyone could hear.
Andy said it was clear that the experts,so-called, didn't have all too many answers....Goooooood for them...There is some community around afterall, at least on the Islands......d
d Anyway, good on them!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Post that's Making the Rounds
Blogger's Opinion: Don't do this. Our fish stocks are low enough as it is. Even the last sculpin will be gone.
VOTING FOR WFN'S ULTIMTE FISHING TOWN HAS STARTED!
You are able to vote for a town once every 12 hours.
Click here to vote now
PROMOTE YOUR TOWN. It is up to you to get your friends, co-workers, fishing buddies & family voting for your town. Customize posters and web banners promoting your town by clicking here. Change your profile picture on your facebook, MSN or even BBM and post the link to your town. The top 2 vote getters in each region (Atlantic, Ontario and West) will move into the finals.
To learn more about how the voting works, click here.
Good Luck! The first round of voting ends September 1st.
VOTING FOR WFN'S ULTIMTE FISHING TOWN HAS STARTED!
You are able to vote for a town once every 12 hours.
Click here to vote now
PROMOTE YOUR TOWN. It is up to you to get your friends, co-workers, fishing buddies & family voting for your town. Customize posters and web banners promoting your town by clicking here. Change your profile picture on your facebook, MSN or even BBM and post the link to your town. The top 2 vote getters in each region (Atlantic, Ontario and West) will move into the finals.
To learn more about how the voting works, click here.
Good Luck! The first round of voting ends September 1st.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Digby Municipal Council Minutes
Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe Council meeting was called to order with Warden Thurberin the chair at 6:41 p.m. AttendanceCouncillors present: Jim Thurber, Warden Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Linda Gregory, Councillor Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryPrayerWarden Thurber welcomed everyone to the meeting, asked everyone to pause to seek guidance for the meeting and read theMunicipality’s mission statement. IntroductionsWarden Thurber asked Council and staff to introducethemselves before the meeting began.AgendaMOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved ascirculated.MOTION CARRIEDPresentationsNILMinutesMay 25, 2010It was mentioned that under New Business #3 - Meeting dates, it was the Warden and Councillor Gregory who were unable toattend the meeting originally scheduled for Culloden.MOVED and seconded that the minutes from the Council ofMay 25, 2010 be approved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising from MinutesDepartment of Energy Deputy Warden MacAlpine was unable to attend the meeting onJune 25, 2010 with the Department of Energy. Warden Thurber reported that there was a good turnout, better than the meetingthat was held in Yarmouth. They are willing to meet withCouncil as requested after their tour is done. Warden Thurberwill make the information received at the meeting available inthe Administration Department for Council to view. There isinformation available on their website as well.Old BusinessWarden ThurberNo Old Business.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia2Deputy Warden MacAlpineRoute 303 WideningPlanDeputy Warden MacAlpine asked for an update as to whether ameeting has been set with the engineer regarding the widening plan for Route 303. The CAO noted that this will be discussed later in the meeting.Councillor GregoryNo Old Business.Councillor AmeroNo Old Business.Councillor AdamsNo Old Business.New Business#1 Statement of Estimates 2010-2011Tax Rate Resolution 2010-2011 The CAO noted that the operating budget has beendeveloped by the management of the Municipality of theDistrict of Digby in consultation with the MunicipalCouncil. The budget is prepared based on the bestinformation available to date, and represents the goals andpriorities of the Municipality as a community and as acorporation. The budget is prepared with no changes to theresidential tax rate of $ 1.30 and commercial rate of $ 1.85.This year’s budget is proposing a less than 1% increase inrevenues over last year’s budget and basically no change in expenditures. MOVED and seconded that the Tax Rate Resolution 2010-2011 (attached) be approved as read. Deputy Warden MacAlpine wanted to note that he does notsupport the changes to the streetlight rates. He does supportthe budget.MOTION CARRIED#2 UNSM Resolutions – FallConference Warden Thurber asked for suggestions from Councilregarding any resolutions that should be forwarded toUNSM at the Fall Conference. Grass burning was brought up at the Rural Caucus meeting.A few units are looking at a bylaw. The Rural Caucusdidn’t seem to be taking it further. It was suggested that itbe reviewed by Municipal Council between now and winter. It was also suggested that a resolution go forward foranother paid holiday. This had been taken to Rural Caucuspreviously, but was tied to a certain holiday. It wassuggested to take it again without attaching a certainholiday to it. MOVED and seconded that Council prepare a resolution to present to the Government requesting the addition of a paidholiday under the Labour code for Nova Scotia. It was suggested to tweak the resolution that had previouslybeen prepared. There was a discussion of the pros and cons to the addition
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia3of another paid holiday. It was mentioned that this areadoes not have the kind of money that they do out west.Small businesses have already taken a hit with the rise ofminimum wage and CPP costs. It was noted that otherProvinces such as NB and PEI have more paid holidaysthan NS. It was also pointed out that this had come up anumber of years ago and it was expected to impact smallbusinesses, which it didn’t. MOTION CARRIED1 OPPOSED- Councillor Amero#3 Digby Neck FireDepartment – FundingRequest The Digby Neck Fire Department requested assistance inthe purchase of a Jaws of Life system. There was a discussion regarding this request. It was noted by Council that there is capital money available to FireDepartments through their area rates. It is up to each firedepartment how they prioritize these funds. Departmentscan borrow up to ten years of their capital funds from theMunicipality which would enable the department topurchase the Jaws of Life system right away. A meeting will be arranged to communicate thisinformation to the Digby Neck Fire Department.#4 Municipality of District of Barrington – Request for support– Street Light Rates The Municipality of the District of Barrington would likeUNSM to approach NS Power to get a reduced rate forstreetlights. Deputy Warden MacAlpine reported that at the last UNSMboard meeting there was a presentation on LED lighting.The company who made the presentation produces LEDlighting in Nova Scotia. They would like to see allMunicipal Units in Nova Scotia have LED streetlights. They would also like Municipalities to own their own streetlights and put them on existing poles. It is estimatedthat it would cost approximately one half million in capitalcosts for this type of project. These costs would be paid back within five to seven years. This initiative was done inHalifax. UNSM is going to look further into it. MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to theMunicipality of the District of Barrington acknowledgingthe letter that has been received and advising that Councildo support the initiative; however, Council would like to take it a step further and investigate alternative lighting opportunities to serve the community.MOTION CARRIED#5 Feedback on NovaScotia Coasts The feedback on Nova Scotia Coasts is due by June 30,2010. It was agreed that this is a very important topic forour Municipality and this initiative seems to be rushedalong in a period of six months where it took 10-15 years inNew Brunswick. It was agreed that each Councillor would provide theirfeedback and forward it to the CAO who would compile theresults to be discussed at another meeting. The deadline tosubmit comments to the CAO was set for July 6, 2010.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia4 It was agreed to send a letter stating that Council intends toprovide their feedback.AdministrationRequest for decision/directionNILCAO Report Weymouth LibraryMunicipal BuildingRenovations The CAO report for June 29, 2010 was included in themeeting package. A tentative date of July 29, 2010 has been set for the grandopening of the new Weymouth Library. It is scheduled for2:00 pm. The date will be confirmed next week. Tender closing has been extended to July 6, from June 28.PayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$496,308.66 for the month of May 2010 be approved aspresented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial Report The financial report will not be available until after thebudget is approved. CorrespondenceSouth West Health –Lyme Disease FactSheetIt was suggested that the information circulated from South West Health on Lyme Disease be put in the Coastline. Thiswould be good information to pass on to the public.Council CommitteesCommittee of theWholeNILBylaw & PolicyReviewNILAdvisory Committees#1 REMOManagement PlanningCommittee There was a REMO meeting last week. They are looking attrying to fill a position as alternate REMO coordinator.One application was submitted; however, based on theavailability of the applicant, the decision will be postponedfor 60 days. The REMO Coordinator has been working on a plan in regards to the Wharf Rat Rally regarding situations thatcould arise with having a large amount of people together.This will be taken to the committee. #2 Heritage AdvisoryCommittee The Heritage Advisory Committee has not met since thelast Council meeting. Councillor Adams wanted to note theletter that was circulated in the correspondence from NSTourism, Culture and Heritage, regarding the review of theHeritage Property Act, was asking that this information be
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia5forwarded to stakeholders. It was suggested that it possiblybe included in the Coastline.#3 Planning AdvisoryCommittee The orientation of new members was held on May 27, 2010.#4 Police AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Police Advisory Committee meetingsince the last report. The next meeting is scheduled for July. #5 Tri CountyHousing Authority A report was circulated on May 25, 2010.Regional / Joint Committees#1 Airport WorkingGroup The Airport Working Group’s unapproved minutes for May5, 2010 was included in the meeting package. A Fly-In lunch is scheduled on August 21, 2010 from 10 amto 2 pm to unveil the new name. There will be freechowder, discount fuel for the pilots, and a tour of dispatch.Peter Burnie had a Fly-In breakfast recently and it was verywell received. #2 Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA board minutes from May 5, 2010, as well asthe Managing Director’s Report for June 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. The annual meeting was held last week. The auditor gavehis report and gave very positive feedback to working with the RDA. #3 Digby AnnapolisDevelopment Corp The DADC has a meeting scheduled for July 7, 2010. Theyhave not met since the last Council meeting. DADC needsto discuss the building that they operate from.#4 Digby AreaLearning Association DALA met on June 23, 2010. They are looking for a newExecutive Director. Councillor Adams attended the adult learning graduation.She encouraged Council to attend if they could sometime. An addition is being added on to Learning Grove. The afterschool program will be offered during the summer. Thereare several students from the adult learning school that arecurrently working on the construction site.#5 Digby AreaTourism Association The Digby Area Tourism Association’s minutes from April7, 2010 were included in the meeting package. The nextmeeting is scheduled for September.#6 Digby AreaRecreation Committee The DARC minutes for March 17, 2010 were included inthe meeting package. The last meeting was held on June16, 2010 and the minutes have not yet been circulated.Highlights from this meeting include; the pool opened onJune 21, work on the Curling Club is ongoing, two staffmembers went on training courses, regular maintenance isbeing done by staff, work is commencing on the DESsoccer field, and they are currently looking at energy upgrades for arena.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia6 There is a Sports Fair scheduled for July 11, 2010. Therewill be activities available, as well there will be somecelebrities coming to talk to the kids and to sign autographson their way to the Digby Golf Classic. There was a discussion regarding the trail system. Therehave been complaints with motorized use of the rail beds inthe Smith’s Cove area. This will be taken back to DARC. There was a discussion regarding the progress that is being made with the development of trails. The repairs to the Curling Club are on schedule in terms of what they have received funds for. They are waiting for more grant money.#7 Digby Harbour Port Association Port day was held on June 28, 2010 for the first time. Boththe Warden and Councillor Adams were in attendance. TheWarden brought greetings from the Municipality. Therewere speakers scheduled from 10 am to 1 pm A report was released today regarding the status of the ferryservice for Digby. It seems positive. The consultants haverecognized the value of the service. There was a discussionon what steps need to be taken now that the report has beenreleased. Council will have a better idea of what is includedin the consultant’s report by the next meeting, as they havenot had much time to review it since it was just released. It was noted that there are a lot of people using the ferry asa connection to get to Yarmouth now that the CAT is gone. There will be only one Digby Harbour Port Associationmeeting this summer and Councillor Gregory will report onit at that time.#8 Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee meeting notes from July 29, 2008 were circulated in the meeting package. There was a meeting held on June 14, 2010, at which they discussedinstalling a light at the far end of the parking lot as it isquite dark. Repainting of the community room wasdiscussed as well. They are also investigating the cost of anadditional washroom as well as the installation of a benchand outdoor flowers. Also, they are looking at getting anew sign to be installed by the road so that people knowwhere the library is.#9 Fundyweb Broadband There has been no Fundyweb Broadband meeting since thelast Council meeting. It is hoped to schedule a meeting forthe near future. #10 IndustrialCommission The Industrial Commission minutes from February 23, 2010were circulated in the meeting package. There was ameeting on June 8, 2010. The Industrial Commission istrying to pursue opportunities of renewable energy. Theyare hoping to have RDA representatives come to the nextmeeting to discuss this.#11 Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority June board package wasincluded in the meeting package. There was a meeting on June 25, 2010. The majority of themeeting was held in camera to discuss the new building. The first two months into this year, the ridership is down
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia7fifteen percent. Hants is the only county that is not seeingdecreases. Deputy Warden MacAlpine wanted to pass along a concernthat it is hard for an elderly person to climb the stairs of thespare bus. There was a discussion regarding the maintenance costs forthe bus which came in $20,000 over budget. Apparentlybrake work that turned into a major job, as well other thingsattributed to this overage. #12 Senior SafetyCommittee The Senior Safety Committee minutes for May 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. There was a Senior SafetyCommittee meeting on June 17, 2010. They had their annual general meeting. There is a senior safety two-daydriving course being held on July 8, 2010. #13 Tideview Terrace Tideview Terrace met June 29, 2010. They had theirAnnual General meeting first. Councillor Gregory wasreelected as Chair, and Ben Cleveland was elected as Vice-Chair. The audited report is done and is available to anyCouncil member who would like to review it. CouncillorAdams congratulated Councillor Gregory on being electedChair. The facility is looking amazing and is on time and onbudget. #14 Waste Check There has been no Waste Check meeting. Waste Checkcompleted a strategic planning session with stakeholdergroups. They met with CAO’s as well. The CAO’s gavetheir input on where they would like to see Waste Check inthe upcoming years. The haulers gave their opinion onwhat could be improved. It was a very productive meeting. #15 Western CountiesRegional Library There has been no Western Counties Regional Library meeting since the last Council meeting. The buildingsteering committee for Weymouth Library met and had atour. It is a great facility. The shelving and furniture is tobe installed next week. The grand opening is scheduled for July 29, 2010.Council ReportsWarden Thurber Warden Thurber gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Deputy WardenMacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month.Councillor Gregory Councillor Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month. Councillor Gregory mentioned that Haley Cromwell, daughter of Scott Cromwell, Dispatcher for theMunicipality, won the Option & Opportunity Programaward at the DRHS graduation ceremony.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia8 Councillor Gregory also wanted to recognize that former Town of Windsor Mayor, Anna Allen received FCM’s AnnMacLean Award for outstanding service by a woman inMunicipal Politics. Councillor Amero Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Adams Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Comments from thegallery The meeting was opened up to the gallery for questions. There were no questions, but a resident of Bear Rivercommented that he found the meeting very informative and wished more people took advantage of the opportunity. AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 9.05PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia9BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the authority contained in section 72 of the MunicipalGovernment Act, the Council of the Municipality of the District of Digby hereby adopts theStatement of Estimates in the amount of $ 6,660,805 as presented for the fiscal year endingMarch 31, 2011.FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that a commercial rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (a) of theMunicipal Government Act be established at $1.85 per $100 of assessment, a residential andresource rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (b) of the Municipal Government Act be established at$1.30 per 100 of assessment.AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the following area rates pursuant to section 75 (2) beestablished for the provision of fire protection, street lighting and sidewalk maintenance.Sidewalk MaintenanceCodesConway SidewalkCM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentMount PleasantMM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentStreet lightingWeymouth Falls Light Rate1010.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Light Rate0111.00 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Neck Light Rate0311.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton Light Rate0511.00 cents per $100 of assessment Culloden Light Rate079.50 cents per $100 of assessment Smith’s Cove Light Rate088.00 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth North0910.00 cents per $100 of assessmentFire ProtectionDigby Neck Fire District15.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSmiths’ Cove Fire District26.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFreeport Fire District35.0 cents per $100 of assessmentTiverton Fire District45.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWestport Fire District55.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton/Brighton Fire District65.0 cents per $100 of assessmentPlympton Fire District75.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth Fire District810.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Fire District95.0 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Fire District105.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSouthville/Danvers Fire District 1115.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipality will bill and collect on behalf of theCommissioners for the Village of Weymouth, Village of Tiverton, Village of Freeport and theVillage of Westport an amount as determined by each Commission at duly convened meetings.Pursuant to the authority granted by the Municipal Government Act and Policy # 2001 MunicipalTax Collection, the Municipal Council hereby sets the interest rate on overdue taxes at the rate of16 percent per annum, and an interest rate of 10 percent per annum be established foroverpayment on taxes due to assessment appeals.This is to certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopting the tax rates forthe Municipality of the District of Digby passed the 29thday of June, 2010.______________________________________Linda FraserChief Administrative OfficerMunicipal Clerk
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia2Deputy Warden MacAlpineRoute 303 WideningPlanDeputy Warden MacAlpine asked for an update as to whether ameeting has been set with the engineer regarding the widening plan for Route 303. The CAO noted that this will be discussed later in the meeting.Councillor GregoryNo Old Business.Councillor AmeroNo Old Business.Councillor AdamsNo Old Business.New Business#1 Statement of Estimates 2010-2011Tax Rate Resolution 2010-2011 The CAO noted that the operating budget has beendeveloped by the management of the Municipality of theDistrict of Digby in consultation with the MunicipalCouncil. The budget is prepared based on the bestinformation available to date, and represents the goals andpriorities of the Municipality as a community and as acorporation. The budget is prepared with no changes to theresidential tax rate of $ 1.30 and commercial rate of $ 1.85.This year’s budget is proposing a less than 1% increase inrevenues over last year’s budget and basically no change in expenditures. MOVED and seconded that the Tax Rate Resolution 2010-2011 (attached) be approved as read. Deputy Warden MacAlpine wanted to note that he does notsupport the changes to the streetlight rates. He does supportthe budget.MOTION CARRIED#2 UNSM Resolutions – FallConference Warden Thurber asked for suggestions from Councilregarding any resolutions that should be forwarded toUNSM at the Fall Conference. Grass burning was brought up at the Rural Caucus meeting.A few units are looking at a bylaw. The Rural Caucusdidn’t seem to be taking it further. It was suggested that itbe reviewed by Municipal Council between now and winter. It was also suggested that a resolution go forward foranother paid holiday. This had been taken to Rural Caucuspreviously, but was tied to a certain holiday. It wassuggested to take it again without attaching a certainholiday to it. MOVED and seconded that Council prepare a resolution to present to the Government requesting the addition of a paidholiday under the Labour code for Nova Scotia. It was suggested to tweak the resolution that had previouslybeen prepared. There was a discussion of the pros and cons to the addition
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia3of another paid holiday. It was mentioned that this areadoes not have the kind of money that they do out west.Small businesses have already taken a hit with the rise ofminimum wage and CPP costs. It was noted that otherProvinces such as NB and PEI have more paid holidaysthan NS. It was also pointed out that this had come up anumber of years ago and it was expected to impact smallbusinesses, which it didn’t. MOTION CARRIED1 OPPOSED- Councillor Amero#3 Digby Neck FireDepartment – FundingRequest The Digby Neck Fire Department requested assistance inthe purchase of a Jaws of Life system. There was a discussion regarding this request. It was noted by Council that there is capital money available to FireDepartments through their area rates. It is up to each firedepartment how they prioritize these funds. Departmentscan borrow up to ten years of their capital funds from theMunicipality which would enable the department topurchase the Jaws of Life system right away. A meeting will be arranged to communicate thisinformation to the Digby Neck Fire Department.#4 Municipality of District of Barrington – Request for support– Street Light Rates The Municipality of the District of Barrington would likeUNSM to approach NS Power to get a reduced rate forstreetlights. Deputy Warden MacAlpine reported that at the last UNSMboard meeting there was a presentation on LED lighting.The company who made the presentation produces LEDlighting in Nova Scotia. They would like to see allMunicipal Units in Nova Scotia have LED streetlights. They would also like Municipalities to own their own streetlights and put them on existing poles. It is estimatedthat it would cost approximately one half million in capitalcosts for this type of project. These costs would be paid back within five to seven years. This initiative was done inHalifax. UNSM is going to look further into it. MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to theMunicipality of the District of Barrington acknowledgingthe letter that has been received and advising that Councildo support the initiative; however, Council would like to take it a step further and investigate alternative lighting opportunities to serve the community.MOTION CARRIED#5 Feedback on NovaScotia Coasts The feedback on Nova Scotia Coasts is due by June 30,2010. It was agreed that this is a very important topic forour Municipality and this initiative seems to be rushedalong in a period of six months where it took 10-15 years inNew Brunswick. It was agreed that each Councillor would provide theirfeedback and forward it to the CAO who would compile theresults to be discussed at another meeting. The deadline tosubmit comments to the CAO was set for July 6, 2010.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia4 It was agreed to send a letter stating that Council intends toprovide their feedback.AdministrationRequest for decision/directionNILCAO Report Weymouth LibraryMunicipal BuildingRenovations The CAO report for June 29, 2010 was included in themeeting package. A tentative date of July 29, 2010 has been set for the grandopening of the new Weymouth Library. It is scheduled for2:00 pm. The date will be confirmed next week. Tender closing has been extended to July 6, from June 28.PayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$496,308.66 for the month of May 2010 be approved aspresented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial Report The financial report will not be available until after thebudget is approved. CorrespondenceSouth West Health –Lyme Disease FactSheetIt was suggested that the information circulated from South West Health on Lyme Disease be put in the Coastline. Thiswould be good information to pass on to the public.Council CommitteesCommittee of theWholeNILBylaw & PolicyReviewNILAdvisory Committees#1 REMOManagement PlanningCommittee There was a REMO meeting last week. They are looking attrying to fill a position as alternate REMO coordinator.One application was submitted; however, based on theavailability of the applicant, the decision will be postponedfor 60 days. The REMO Coordinator has been working on a plan in regards to the Wharf Rat Rally regarding situations thatcould arise with having a large amount of people together.This will be taken to the committee. #2 Heritage AdvisoryCommittee The Heritage Advisory Committee has not met since thelast Council meeting. Councillor Adams wanted to note theletter that was circulated in the correspondence from NSTourism, Culture and Heritage, regarding the review of theHeritage Property Act, was asking that this information be
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia5forwarded to stakeholders. It was suggested that it possiblybe included in the Coastline.#3 Planning AdvisoryCommittee The orientation of new members was held on May 27, 2010.#4 Police AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Police Advisory Committee meetingsince the last report. The next meeting is scheduled for July. #5 Tri CountyHousing Authority A report was circulated on May 25, 2010.Regional / Joint Committees#1 Airport WorkingGroup The Airport Working Group’s unapproved minutes for May5, 2010 was included in the meeting package. A Fly-In lunch is scheduled on August 21, 2010 from 10 amto 2 pm to unveil the new name. There will be freechowder, discount fuel for the pilots, and a tour of dispatch.Peter Burnie had a Fly-In breakfast recently and it was verywell received. #2 Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA board minutes from May 5, 2010, as well asthe Managing Director’s Report for June 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. The annual meeting was held last week. The auditor gavehis report and gave very positive feedback to working with the RDA. #3 Digby AnnapolisDevelopment Corp The DADC has a meeting scheduled for July 7, 2010. Theyhave not met since the last Council meeting. DADC needsto discuss the building that they operate from.#4 Digby AreaLearning Association DALA met on June 23, 2010. They are looking for a newExecutive Director. Councillor Adams attended the adult learning graduation.She encouraged Council to attend if they could sometime. An addition is being added on to Learning Grove. The afterschool program will be offered during the summer. Thereare several students from the adult learning school that arecurrently working on the construction site.#5 Digby AreaTourism Association The Digby Area Tourism Association’s minutes from April7, 2010 were included in the meeting package. The nextmeeting is scheduled for September.#6 Digby AreaRecreation Committee The DARC minutes for March 17, 2010 were included inthe meeting package. The last meeting was held on June16, 2010 and the minutes have not yet been circulated.Highlights from this meeting include; the pool opened onJune 21, work on the Curling Club is ongoing, two staffmembers went on training courses, regular maintenance isbeing done by staff, work is commencing on the DESsoccer field, and they are currently looking at energy upgrades for arena.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia6 There is a Sports Fair scheduled for July 11, 2010. Therewill be activities available, as well there will be somecelebrities coming to talk to the kids and to sign autographson their way to the Digby Golf Classic. There was a discussion regarding the trail system. Therehave been complaints with motorized use of the rail beds inthe Smith’s Cove area. This will be taken back to DARC. There was a discussion regarding the progress that is being made with the development of trails. The repairs to the Curling Club are on schedule in terms of what they have received funds for. They are waiting for more grant money.#7 Digby Harbour Port Association Port day was held on June 28, 2010 for the first time. Boththe Warden and Councillor Adams were in attendance. TheWarden brought greetings from the Municipality. Therewere speakers scheduled from 10 am to 1 pm A report was released today regarding the status of the ferryservice for Digby. It seems positive. The consultants haverecognized the value of the service. There was a discussionon what steps need to be taken now that the report has beenreleased. Council will have a better idea of what is includedin the consultant’s report by the next meeting, as they havenot had much time to review it since it was just released. It was noted that there are a lot of people using the ferry asa connection to get to Yarmouth now that the CAT is gone. There will be only one Digby Harbour Port Associationmeeting this summer and Councillor Gregory will report onit at that time.#8 Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee meeting notes from July 29, 2008 were circulated in the meeting package. There was a meeting held on June 14, 2010, at which they discussedinstalling a light at the far end of the parking lot as it isquite dark. Repainting of the community room wasdiscussed as well. They are also investigating the cost of anadditional washroom as well as the installation of a benchand outdoor flowers. Also, they are looking at getting anew sign to be installed by the road so that people knowwhere the library is.#9 Fundyweb Broadband There has been no Fundyweb Broadband meeting since thelast Council meeting. It is hoped to schedule a meeting forthe near future. #10 IndustrialCommission The Industrial Commission minutes from February 23, 2010were circulated in the meeting package. There was ameeting on June 8, 2010. The Industrial Commission istrying to pursue opportunities of renewable energy. Theyare hoping to have RDA representatives come to the nextmeeting to discuss this.#11 Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority June board package wasincluded in the meeting package. There was a meeting on June 25, 2010. The majority of themeeting was held in camera to discuss the new building. The first two months into this year, the ridership is down
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia7fifteen percent. Hants is the only county that is not seeingdecreases. Deputy Warden MacAlpine wanted to pass along a concernthat it is hard for an elderly person to climb the stairs of thespare bus. There was a discussion regarding the maintenance costs forthe bus which came in $20,000 over budget. Apparentlybrake work that turned into a major job, as well other thingsattributed to this overage. #12 Senior SafetyCommittee The Senior Safety Committee minutes for May 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. There was a Senior SafetyCommittee meeting on June 17, 2010. They had their annual general meeting. There is a senior safety two-daydriving course being held on July 8, 2010. #13 Tideview Terrace Tideview Terrace met June 29, 2010. They had theirAnnual General meeting first. Councillor Gregory wasreelected as Chair, and Ben Cleveland was elected as Vice-Chair. The audited report is done and is available to anyCouncil member who would like to review it. CouncillorAdams congratulated Councillor Gregory on being electedChair. The facility is looking amazing and is on time and onbudget. #14 Waste Check There has been no Waste Check meeting. Waste Checkcompleted a strategic planning session with stakeholdergroups. They met with CAO’s as well. The CAO’s gavetheir input on where they would like to see Waste Check inthe upcoming years. The haulers gave their opinion onwhat could be improved. It was a very productive meeting. #15 Western CountiesRegional Library There has been no Western Counties Regional Library meeting since the last Council meeting. The buildingsteering committee for Weymouth Library met and had atour. It is a great facility. The shelving and furniture is tobe installed next week. The grand opening is scheduled for July 29, 2010.Council ReportsWarden Thurber Warden Thurber gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Deputy WardenMacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month.Councillor Gregory Councillor Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month. Councillor Gregory mentioned that Haley Cromwell, daughter of Scott Cromwell, Dispatcher for theMunicipality, won the Option & Opportunity Programaward at the DRHS graduation ceremony.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia8 Councillor Gregory also wanted to recognize that former Town of Windsor Mayor, Anna Allen received FCM’s AnnMacLean Award for outstanding service by a woman inMunicipal Politics. Councillor Amero Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Adams Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Comments from thegallery The meeting was opened up to the gallery for questions. There were no questions, but a resident of Bear Rivercommented that he found the meeting very informative and wished more people took advantage of the opportunity. AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 9.05PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesJune 29, 2010Bear River, Nova Scotia9BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the authority contained in section 72 of the MunicipalGovernment Act, the Council of the Municipality of the District of Digby hereby adopts theStatement of Estimates in the amount of $ 6,660,805 as presented for the fiscal year endingMarch 31, 2011.FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that a commercial rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (a) of theMunicipal Government Act be established at $1.85 per $100 of assessment, a residential andresource rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (b) of the Municipal Government Act be established at$1.30 per 100 of assessment.AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the following area rates pursuant to section 75 (2) beestablished for the provision of fire protection, street lighting and sidewalk maintenance.Sidewalk MaintenanceCodesConway SidewalkCM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentMount PleasantMM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentStreet lightingWeymouth Falls Light Rate1010.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Light Rate0111.00 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Neck Light Rate0311.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton Light Rate0511.00 cents per $100 of assessment Culloden Light Rate079.50 cents per $100 of assessment Smith’s Cove Light Rate088.00 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth North0910.00 cents per $100 of assessmentFire ProtectionDigby Neck Fire District15.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSmiths’ Cove Fire District26.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFreeport Fire District35.0 cents per $100 of assessmentTiverton Fire District45.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWestport Fire District55.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton/Brighton Fire District65.0 cents per $100 of assessmentPlympton Fire District75.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth Fire District810.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Fire District95.0 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Fire District105.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSouthville/Danvers Fire District 1115.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipality will bill and collect on behalf of theCommissioners for the Village of Weymouth, Village of Tiverton, Village of Freeport and theVillage of Westport an amount as determined by each Commission at duly convened meetings.Pursuant to the authority granted by the Municipal Government Act and Policy # 2001 MunicipalTax Collection, the Municipal Council hereby sets the interest rate on overdue taxes at the rate of16 percent per annum, and an interest rate of 10 percent per annum be established foroverpayment on taxes due to assessment appeals.This is to certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopting the tax rates forthe Municipality of the District of Digby passed the 29thday of June, 2010.______________________________________Linda FraserChief Administrative OfficerMunicipal Clerk
Labels:
Digby Municipal Council minutes
Digby Municipal Council Agenda
Council AgendaMeeting DateAugust 23, 2010Meeting LocationCulloden Community HallCall to OrderWarden Jim ThurberPause to Seek GuidanceWarden Jim ThurberReading of Mission StatementWarden Jim ThurberDocumentsSubject AreaApproval ofthe AgendaAdditions/Deletions Council StaffSpecialPresentationsPresentations& Hearings Jonathan McClellan-West Nova Agro Commodities Ltd Dana Morin – Fundy Tidal MinutesApproval/AmendmentsJune 29, 2010
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Council AgendaBusinessArising fromMinutes/Old Business1.Organizational Review Motion to accept proposal fromRamp Up Consulting to conductOrganizational Review2.Deputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsWarden ThurberNew Business# 1Association ofMunicipal Administrators2010 Fall Convention Municipal Sponsorship - $ 1,000# 2Deputy WardenJimmy MacAlpine Crosswalks on Highway 303# 3TLS Animal Shelter Funding Request- $ 12,000# 4Councillor Randall Amero Transportation Study-NS TransitResearch Incentive Program(TRIP) # 5Councillor LindaGregory Tax Reduction for PropertyDamage# 6UNSMCapped Assessment ProgramBriefing Session – September 9, 2010# 7Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopmentCommitteeTax Exemption Request
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Council Agenda#8Deputy WardenJimmy MacAlpine Highway 303 – Third LaneConstruction#9Emera Utility Services Orderly & Peaceful ExemptionCAO ReportRequest for Decision orDirection Re-appointment of Glenn Dunn as citizen representative onADEDA Board Motion to appoint Hiltz & Seamone as Project Manager forAdministration Building Renovations Decision/DirectionMeeting Dates/Reminders Sept 13th- COTW @ 6:00 pmNorth Range Community Hall Sept 27th- Council @ 6:00 pmWeymouth Waterfront Library Oct 12th–(Note change fromthe 11th) COTW @ 6:00 pmDigby Neck Consolidated School Oct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pmSmith’s Cove Fire HallMeeting Action ItemUpdatesProject UpdatesPayables- June 2010 $ 660,589.77Financial Report June 30, 2010
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Council AgendaCorrespondence 1.County of Annapolis Copy of letter to Greg Kerr, MPregarding CCME Municipal WasteWater Management Strategy and Proposed Regulations under theFisheries Act2.Minister Jennex, SNSMR Approval of funding under PCAPof $ 124,0253.Minister Jennex, SNSMR 12 month notice letter to UNSM4.Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal Delayed construction of Highway101/Mary Jane Riley RoadInterchange5.6.7.8.CouncilCommittees1.COTW2.By-law &PolicyCapital Budget 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015
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Council AgendaAdvisoryCommittees# 1 REMOManagementPlanning CommitteeWarden Thurber/Deputy WardenMacAlpine# 2 HeritageAdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams# 3 Planning AdvisoryCommitteeWarden ThurberDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryNo meeting since last report# 4 PoliceAdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsJuly meeting postponed until new citizen members appointed# 5 Tri CountyHousing AuthorityR FitzgeraldReported May 25thCouncil
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees# 1Airport Working GroupDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Adams Minutes May 5, 2010 Unapproved minutes July 21st Event to unveil new nameheld August 21st# 2Annapolis DigbyEconomicDevelopmentAgencyWarden Thurber MD Report - July 2010 No Board meeting in July Next meeting Aug 26th#3Digby AnnapolisDevelopmentCorpWarden ThurberCouncillor AmeroNo meeting since last report#4Digby Area Learning AssociationCouncillor Adams#5Digby Area TourismAssociationCouncillor Gregory#6Digby Area RecreationCommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor Amero Minutes May 19thand June16th Recreation Manager ReportJune & July Facility Supervisor ReportJune /July Active Living CoordinatorReport July Aquatic Report June/July#7Digby HarbourPort AssociationCouncillor Gregory#8Digby LibraryCommitteeDeputy WardenMacAlpine No meeting since last report#9FundywebBroadbandDeputy WardenMacAlpine CouncillorAmero No meeting since last report-# 10 IndustrialCommissionDeputy WardenMacAlpine Councillor AmeroNo meeting since last report# 11 Kings TransitAuthorityCouncillor Amero June Minutes July General Manager Report June Ridership Report
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees (con’t)# 12 Senior SafetyCommitteeCouncillor AdamsCouncillor Gregory# 13 Tideview TerraceCouncillor GregoryWarden Thurber & Councillor Adams# 14 Waste CheckDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Gregory# 15 Western CountiesRegional LibraryDeputy WardenMacAlpine Minutes May 2010CouncilActivity Reports/OtherCommitteesWardenThurberDeputy WardenMacAlpine CouncillorGregoryTown of Digby SourceWater ProtectionAdvisory Committee Minutes: Mar 4th, Apr 8th, May 12, July 13thCouncillorAmeroCouncillorAdamsNotice ofMotionIn CameraAdjournment
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Council AgendaBusinessArising fromMinutes/Old Business1.Organizational Review Motion to accept proposal fromRamp Up Consulting to conductOrganizational Review2.Deputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsWarden ThurberNew Business# 1Association ofMunicipal Administrators2010 Fall Convention Municipal Sponsorship - $ 1,000# 2Deputy WardenJimmy MacAlpine Crosswalks on Highway 303# 3TLS Animal Shelter Funding Request- $ 12,000# 4Councillor Randall Amero Transportation Study-NS TransitResearch Incentive Program(TRIP) # 5Councillor LindaGregory Tax Reduction for PropertyDamage# 6UNSMCapped Assessment ProgramBriefing Session – September 9, 2010# 7Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopmentCommitteeTax Exemption Request
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Council Agenda#8Deputy WardenJimmy MacAlpine Highway 303 – Third LaneConstruction#9Emera Utility Services Orderly & Peaceful ExemptionCAO ReportRequest for Decision orDirection Re-appointment of Glenn Dunn as citizen representative onADEDA Board Motion to appoint Hiltz & Seamone as Project Manager forAdministration Building Renovations Decision/DirectionMeeting Dates/Reminders Sept 13th- COTW @ 6:00 pmNorth Range Community Hall Sept 27th- Council @ 6:00 pmWeymouth Waterfront Library Oct 12th–(Note change fromthe 11th) COTW @ 6:00 pmDigby Neck Consolidated School Oct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pmSmith’s Cove Fire HallMeeting Action ItemUpdatesProject UpdatesPayables- June 2010 $ 660,589.77Financial Report June 30, 2010
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Council AgendaCorrespondence 1.County of Annapolis Copy of letter to Greg Kerr, MPregarding CCME Municipal WasteWater Management Strategy and Proposed Regulations under theFisheries Act2.Minister Jennex, SNSMR Approval of funding under PCAPof $ 124,0253.Minister Jennex, SNSMR 12 month notice letter to UNSM4.Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal Delayed construction of Highway101/Mary Jane Riley RoadInterchange5.6.7.8.CouncilCommittees1.COTW2.By-law &PolicyCapital Budget 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015
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Council AgendaAdvisoryCommittees# 1 REMOManagementPlanning CommitteeWarden Thurber/Deputy WardenMacAlpine# 2 HeritageAdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams# 3 Planning AdvisoryCommitteeWarden ThurberDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryNo meeting since last report# 4 PoliceAdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsJuly meeting postponed until new citizen members appointed# 5 Tri CountyHousing AuthorityR FitzgeraldReported May 25thCouncil
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees# 1Airport Working GroupDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Adams Minutes May 5, 2010 Unapproved minutes July 21st Event to unveil new nameheld August 21st# 2Annapolis DigbyEconomicDevelopmentAgencyWarden Thurber MD Report - July 2010 No Board meeting in July Next meeting Aug 26th#3Digby AnnapolisDevelopmentCorpWarden ThurberCouncillor AmeroNo meeting since last report#4Digby Area Learning AssociationCouncillor Adams#5Digby Area TourismAssociationCouncillor Gregory#6Digby Area RecreationCommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor Amero Minutes May 19thand June16th Recreation Manager ReportJune & July Facility Supervisor ReportJune /July Active Living CoordinatorReport July Aquatic Report June/July#7Digby HarbourPort AssociationCouncillor Gregory#8Digby LibraryCommitteeDeputy WardenMacAlpine No meeting since last report#9FundywebBroadbandDeputy WardenMacAlpine CouncillorAmero No meeting since last report-# 10 IndustrialCommissionDeputy WardenMacAlpine Councillor AmeroNo meeting since last report# 11 Kings TransitAuthorityCouncillor Amero June Minutes July General Manager Report June Ridership Report
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees (con’t)# 12 Senior SafetyCommitteeCouncillor AdamsCouncillor Gregory# 13 Tideview TerraceCouncillor GregoryWarden Thurber & Councillor Adams# 14 Waste CheckDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor Gregory# 15 Western CountiesRegional LibraryDeputy WardenMacAlpine Minutes May 2010CouncilActivity Reports/OtherCommitteesWardenThurberDeputy WardenMacAlpine CouncillorGregoryTown of Digby SourceWater ProtectionAdvisory Committee Minutes: Mar 4th, Apr 8th, May 12, July 13thCouncillorAmeroCouncillorAdamsNotice ofMotionIn CameraAdjournment
On Line Gambling in N.S.?
NS: Nova Scotia might still take gamble on ALC proposal
By Alex Boutilier, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, August 20, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — Nova Scotia will continue to consider running its own form of online gambling, despite comments by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.
Williams said he opposed the idea of setting up a provincial online gambling site, even though Atlantic Lottery Corporation estimates $50 million in revenue flows out of the province to international gaming companies.
He said Newfoundland doesn’t have to “scratch and claw” for money.
But Finance Minister Graham Steele said Nova Scotia doesn’t need approval from other provinces to go ahead with an online gaming initiative.
While he acknowledged gambling takes a social toll, he said the government has mechanisms for dealing with problem gambling.
“Gambling has a social cost, but then so does alcohol,” said Steele. “Just outright banning gambling doesn’t strike me in particular as the best approach.”
Editor’s Note: We want your opinion —
By Alex Boutilier, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, August 20, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — Nova Scotia will continue to consider running its own form of online gambling, despite comments by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.
Williams said he opposed the idea of setting up a provincial online gambling site, even though Atlantic Lottery Corporation estimates $50 million in revenue flows out of the province to international gaming companies.
He said Newfoundland doesn’t have to “scratch and claw” for money.
But Finance Minister Graham Steele said Nova Scotia doesn’t need approval from other provinces to go ahead with an online gaming initiative.
While he acknowledged gambling takes a social toll, he said the government has mechanisms for dealing with problem gambling.
“Gambling has a social cost, but then so does alcohol,” said Steele. “Just outright banning gambling doesn’t strike me in particular as the best approach.”
Editor’s Note: We want your opinion —
Labels:
gaming gambling online gambling
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Concern over Star
Actor Michael Douglas treated for throat tumour Douglas stars in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Hollywood actor Michael Douglas is being treated for a tumour in his throat, his publicist has said.
The Wall Street star, who is married to actress Catherine Zeta Jones, will undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy.
"I am very optimistic," the 65-year-old Oscar winner told People magazine.
The actor's spokesman told the publication that doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Douglas stars in a Wall Street sequel, out this autumn.
In June, Douglas's son from his first marriage, Cameron, was sentenced to five years in prison for dealing methamphetamine and possessing heroin.
Douglas also has two children from his marriage to Zeta Jones, whom he married in 2000.
The actor is the son of film legend Kirk Douglas.
His other films include Romancing the Stone, The American President, Basic Instinct, Falling Down and Traffic.
The Wall Street star, who is married to actress Catherine Zeta Jones, will undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy.
"I am very optimistic," the 65-year-old Oscar winner told People magazine.
The actor's spokesman told the publication that doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Douglas stars in a Wall Street sequel, out this autumn.
In June, Douglas's son from his first marriage, Cameron, was sentenced to five years in prison for dealing methamphetamine and possessing heroin.
Douglas also has two children from his marriage to Zeta Jones, whom he married in 2000.
The actor is the son of film legend Kirk Douglas.
His other films include Romancing the Stone, The American President, Basic Instinct, Falling Down and Traffic.
Labels:
Hollywood stars
There's Trafficking...and Then There's Drugs
Trafficked children working in UK 'cannabis farms'By Rowan Bridge
Reporter, BBC Radio 5 Live
Cannabis is being grown on an industrial scale in 'cannabis factories' Children are being trafficked into the UK to work in so-called 'cannabis factories' according to police.
The factories grow cannabis on an industrial scale.
They are typically located in private houses, but sometimes in agricultural and commercial properties.
A study for the Association of Chief Police Officers has found children are being used to tend crops, to illegally divert electricity for the factories, and to break into rival sites.
Even if the children are found they rarely talk about what has happened to them and often run away from local authority care.
Growing scale
The report into the commercial cultivation of cannabis shows how the number of factories discovered by the police has grown massively in recent years.
Between 2004 and 2007 police discovered an average of 800 factories a year.
In 2007/08 that rose to just over 3,000, and by 2009/10 it ballooned to almost 7,000.
ACPO says that rise is being driven by a number of factors. Commander Allan Gibson is the Association's lead on tackling cannabis production.
"The police response is now stronger and more effective through better co-ordination and intelligence sharing between forces and other agencies and more covert operations against the operators.
The level of publicity around cannabis since its reclassification in 2008 has meant that more members of the community are now reporting any unusual signs of habitation in buildings and houses which is leading to more detections."
Criminals have traditionally used residential homes for the factories, blacking out windows and installing high intensity lighting and a watering system to propagate the plants.
'Gardeners' rarely let out
The report explains how illegal Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants are trafficked into the country and then put to work as 'gardeners' in the factories.
They can pay up to £10,000 per person to be smuggled into the UK and many then have to pay off their debts by tending to the cannabis plants.
They are often left instructions in their own language telling them how and when to feed the plants.
They are rarely, if ever, allowed to leave the property until the crop is ready to be harvested, with food and other necessities being brought to them.
Smuggled children
The report says children have been trafficked into the UK to work in factories, to divert electricity and to raid rival cannabis farms.
Even if they are found by the authorities getting their co-operation has proved extremely difficult.
"Children identified as victims of trafficking appear extremely wary of authorities and communicate little about their experiences in exploitation or about their captors.
"This may be because they are fearful for family members, as many will have unpaid debts, perhaps explaining their reasons for not disclosing information and going missing from care."
As well as growing cannabis the intelligence suggests the criminals who grow cannabis are involved in a range of criminal activity.
That includes producing and distributing most types and classes of drugs, counterfeit currency, fake DVDs, money laundering, prostitution, forgery and what they call 'bad on bad' crimes such as extortion, blackmail, kidnap, robbery and assault.
Reporter, BBC Radio 5 Live
Cannabis is being grown on an industrial scale in 'cannabis factories' Children are being trafficked into the UK to work in so-called 'cannabis factories' according to police.
The factories grow cannabis on an industrial scale.
They are typically located in private houses, but sometimes in agricultural and commercial properties.
A study for the Association of Chief Police Officers has found children are being used to tend crops, to illegally divert electricity for the factories, and to break into rival sites.
Even if the children are found they rarely talk about what has happened to them and often run away from local authority care.
Growing scale
The report into the commercial cultivation of cannabis shows how the number of factories discovered by the police has grown massively in recent years.
Between 2004 and 2007 police discovered an average of 800 factories a year.
In 2007/08 that rose to just over 3,000, and by 2009/10 it ballooned to almost 7,000.
ACPO says that rise is being driven by a number of factors. Commander Allan Gibson is the Association's lead on tackling cannabis production.
"The police response is now stronger and more effective through better co-ordination and intelligence sharing between forces and other agencies and more covert operations against the operators.
The level of publicity around cannabis since its reclassification in 2008 has meant that more members of the community are now reporting any unusual signs of habitation in buildings and houses which is leading to more detections."
Criminals have traditionally used residential homes for the factories, blacking out windows and installing high intensity lighting and a watering system to propagate the plants.
'Gardeners' rarely let out
The report explains how illegal Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants are trafficked into the country and then put to work as 'gardeners' in the factories.
They can pay up to £10,000 per person to be smuggled into the UK and many then have to pay off their debts by tending to the cannabis plants.
They are often left instructions in their own language telling them how and when to feed the plants.
They are rarely, if ever, allowed to leave the property until the crop is ready to be harvested, with food and other necessities being brought to them.
Smuggled children
The report says children have been trafficked into the UK to work in factories, to divert electricity and to raid rival cannabis farms.
Even if they are found by the authorities getting their co-operation has proved extremely difficult.
"Children identified as victims of trafficking appear extremely wary of authorities and communicate little about their experiences in exploitation or about their captors.
"This may be because they are fearful for family members, as many will have unpaid debts, perhaps explaining their reasons for not disclosing information and going missing from care."
As well as growing cannabis the intelligence suggests the criminals who grow cannabis are involved in a range of criminal activity.
That includes producing and distributing most types and classes of drugs, counterfeit currency, fake DVDs, money laundering, prostitution, forgery and what they call 'bad on bad' crimes such as extortion, blackmail, kidnap, robbery and assault.
Labels:
UK cannibis
An Igloo-shaped Church
Canada workers rebuild igloo-shaped church Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, sits 200 miles (320km) south of the Arctic Circle Canadian workers are rebuilding an igloo-shaped Anglican cathedral in the northern territory of Nunavut, after it was damaged by arson in 2005.
The church, made of wood rather than ice, will sit 200 miles (320km) south of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut's capital, Iqaluit.
The original St Jude's Anglican Cathedral was demolished after a fire police say was deliberate.
Staff from St Jude's blessed the steel frame of the new circular church.
The building was rendered structurally unsound after a fire ripped through the interior five years ago.
But now church officials hope work on the new cathedral will be completed by late December 2011.
"They'll see the dome-shaped, igloo-type shape taking place, and for them [the congregation] it will mean, 'Finally, we're beginning, after a long delay,'" Reverend Brian Burrows told CBC News.
Mr Burrows said the start of rebuilding had followed years of fundraising and the overcoming of numerous obstacles.
"There was, first of all, a false start with the original construction company [that] went bankrupt about four years ago, I think," Mr Burrows said.
The church has since renegotiated with a new firm and decided to send the materials for the church in by air.
Mr Burrows said the initial stage of construction would only fix the building's exterior and an additional $1.2m (£765,000) would be needed before work could start on the inside of the cathedral.
The church, made of wood rather than ice, will sit 200 miles (320km) south of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut's capital, Iqaluit.
The original St Jude's Anglican Cathedral was demolished after a fire police say was deliberate.
Staff from St Jude's blessed the steel frame of the new circular church.
The building was rendered structurally unsound after a fire ripped through the interior five years ago.
But now church officials hope work on the new cathedral will be completed by late December 2011.
"They'll see the dome-shaped, igloo-type shape taking place, and for them [the congregation] it will mean, 'Finally, we're beginning, after a long delay,'" Reverend Brian Burrows told CBC News.
Mr Burrows said the start of rebuilding had followed years of fundraising and the overcoming of numerous obstacles.
"There was, first of all, a false start with the original construction company [that] went bankrupt about four years ago, I think," Mr Burrows said.
The church has since renegotiated with a new firm and decided to send the materials for the church in by air.
Mr Burrows said the initial stage of construction would only fix the building's exterior and an additional $1.2m (£765,000) would be needed before work could start on the inside of the cathedral.
Labels:
Churches igloo Nunavut Canada
Monday, August 16, 2010
Mink Farming
NS: NSUARB denies appeal by farmers, mink breeders
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, August 16, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) has dismissed an appeal challenging a minimum 500-foot setback requirement the Municipality of Yarmouth introduced last fall. The setback creates a buffer between lakes and waterways and farming operations.
The appellants had included several farmers and the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association who argued the increased setback — made by means of an amendment to a municipal land-use bylaw — was not in keeping with the intent of the municipal planning strategy.
But in a decision dated August 12, the NSUARB said Yarmouth municipal council had reasonably carried out the intent of the strategy.
The municipality amended its land-use bylaw last fall. The amendment increased the required minimum setback distance of buildings, structures, pen areas, manure piles, manure storage facilities and burial sites for the disposal of dead animals used in connection with mink and fox ranches, hog and fowl operations from 328 feet to 500 feet from any off-site waterwell or any watercourse or waterbody.
At the time of the amendment public concern and anxiety was high over blue-green algae that has been polluting lakes in the area. Many believe runoff from mink farms is a contributing factor. At the time the municipality had also received an application from R&N Farms Limited for a development permit to build a mink farm on Sloans Lake.
During a NSUARB hearing, the board heard from three organic farmers who spoke to the difficulty of being included in the definition of a fox, mink, hog or fowl operation, given that they are not intensive livestock operations.
One of the appellants, farmer Kevin Hamilton, was concerned the increased setback requirement may result in fewer farms in the area. He said, for instance, there is a farm next door to him that he might be interested in purchasing, but the barn is within 500 feet of the well and therefore could not be used.
The appellants had also argued the setback had no foundation and was arbitrary.
The municipality had held a public hearing last September about the proposed amendment to its bylaw. The NSUARB noted that of the 19 people who gave oral presentations, only two opposed. And of the 22 written submissions the municipality received, only one person opposed the bylaw.
The NSUARB also noted that the evidence before it showed that during the public hearing the president of the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association said a 500-foot set-back was fine and that they would work with the community. The board notes in its decision that the association did not address this in its arguments or evidence presented to the NSUARB.
In its decision the NSUARB also noted that a 2009 Nine Lakes Report issued by the Department of Environment recommended municipalities do what they could to prevent nutrients from affecting the water quality of lakes and recommended that one of the methods of doing so was to create buffers.
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, August 16, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) has dismissed an appeal challenging a minimum 500-foot setback requirement the Municipality of Yarmouth introduced last fall. The setback creates a buffer between lakes and waterways and farming operations.
The appellants had included several farmers and the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association who argued the increased setback — made by means of an amendment to a municipal land-use bylaw — was not in keeping with the intent of the municipal planning strategy.
But in a decision dated August 12, the NSUARB said Yarmouth municipal council had reasonably carried out the intent of the strategy.
The municipality amended its land-use bylaw last fall. The amendment increased the required minimum setback distance of buildings, structures, pen areas, manure piles, manure storage facilities and burial sites for the disposal of dead animals used in connection with mink and fox ranches, hog and fowl operations from 328 feet to 500 feet from any off-site waterwell or any watercourse or waterbody.
At the time of the amendment public concern and anxiety was high over blue-green algae that has been polluting lakes in the area. Many believe runoff from mink farms is a contributing factor. At the time the municipality had also received an application from R&N Farms Limited for a development permit to build a mink farm on Sloans Lake.
During a NSUARB hearing, the board heard from three organic farmers who spoke to the difficulty of being included in the definition of a fox, mink, hog or fowl operation, given that they are not intensive livestock operations.
One of the appellants, farmer Kevin Hamilton, was concerned the increased setback requirement may result in fewer farms in the area. He said, for instance, there is a farm next door to him that he might be interested in purchasing, but the barn is within 500 feet of the well and therefore could not be used.
The appellants had also argued the setback had no foundation and was arbitrary.
The municipality had held a public hearing last September about the proposed amendment to its bylaw. The NSUARB noted that of the 19 people who gave oral presentations, only two opposed. And of the 22 written submissions the municipality received, only one person opposed the bylaw.
The NSUARB also noted that the evidence before it showed that during the public hearing the president of the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association said a 500-foot set-back was fine and that they would work with the community. The board notes in its decision that the association did not address this in its arguments or evidence presented to the NSUARB.
In its decision the NSUARB also noted that a 2009 Nine Lakes Report issued by the Department of Environment recommended municipalities do what they could to prevent nutrients from affecting the water quality of lakes and recommended that one of the methods of doing so was to create buffers.
ADEDA News
While regional tourism operators are reporting positive indications of increased traffic from visitors arriving by the traditional land based routes, especially from the United States, there’s been perhaps even busier business from visitors arriving by sea. The major media outlets have been featuring stories recently on the economic boom being provided to the tourism industry from cruise ship traffic to Atlantic Canada. The traditional destinations in Nova Scotia such as Halifax and Sydney are as popular as always, but the Bay of Fundy is also becoming an exceptionally well-liked choice for the cruise industry.
One of the recent signs of our growing attractiveness was the visit to Digby of the cruise ship MV Balmoral, which brought 1200 visitors and contributed dramatically the local economy during its one day visit last fall. We here at the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency (ADEDA) have been working closely with the local Cruise Fundy organization (www.cruisefundy.com) to revive the cruise ship and international yachting visitation program to the Annapolis Basin, with encouraging prospects.
And we are tremendously encouraged to note the success being experienced at the Port of Saint John, where officials claim that the Bay is becoming a major draw, with one official stating “the cruise industry has heavily endorsed the Bay of Fundy area in brochures and advertising campaigns distributed all over the world”.
That’s got to be a major plus as the tourism industry campaigners in our area aggressively approach the cruise market.
All For One
And the phenomenal tidal tug of the Fundy revealed its awesome strength in a more unusual fashion recently. In a rare show of political unanimity Canada’s provincial Premiers collectively endorsed the Bay of Fundy’s candidacy for being selected as one of the new seven wonders of nature competition (www.new7wonders.com). The Bay of Fundy is one of only 28 candidates still remaining for selection, and the only Canadian nominated site. As a matter fact, the only other North American site under consideration is the Grand Canyon. It’s always wonderful when our political leaders all come together in common cause, even if that harmony is precipitated by a single option.
Everything Old is New Again
There’s a new zest for some seasoned timbers in Bear River. While the community may have lost its iconic windmill to the ravages of age, the folks in Bear River are determined to save their museum. The Bear River Heritage Museum celebrates the area’s boat building, lumbering and social history. It’s operated by the Bear River Historical Society and its future was conserved at a recent community meeting.
Door to Door Through the Centuries
And speaking of seasoned timbers, there’s probably no better way to view our architectural heritage than by walking the beautiful tree lined streets of Annapolis Royal at this time of year. And this month the Annapolis Heritage Society and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens are combining to offer everyone a chance to walk through the ages with a tour of selected heritage homes as well as view historic garden arrangements. A wonderful combination of material culture with agriculture – and all for a good cause.
Past and Present Pageantry
In Digby they’ve been strolling through the past in a more theatrical fashion. A dramatic performance depicting the town’s social history was premiered at the Digby Community Theatre by the Digby Area Theatre Society. Written and directed by the very prolific Hal Theriault, along with the talented Paul Saulnier, and performed by an enthusiastic amateur cast, “Pages From Our Story” received a warm review over its two day presentation. While in a pageant of different kind, but received with equally great community zeal, congratulations are extended to Syndee LeBlanc of North Range who was chosen this year’s Queen of the town’s annual Scallop Festival, succeeding Josie Zakhour of Digby.
Do You Want “Wings” with That Lunch?
Sure enough we’re justifiably proud of our historical accomplishments, heritage buildings, “wooden ships and iron men”, and all that stuff. And we do really want a part of that burgeoning cruise ship business. But the Annapolis Digby area today also offers contemporary ways to come and go. One of these is a modern community airport facility. The Municipality of Digby Airport is Nova Scotia’s highest airport at 499 feet above sea level and capable of accommodating medium, twin engine aircraft. Situated on 500 acres of land with a 3950 foot runway, the airport is equipped with AVGAS and ground phone services and is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week. It’s going to get a new name shortly and to celebrate it’s hosting a Fly In Lunch and Open House. So plan to “drop in”, so to speak.
Artful Weekend Opportunities
If you’re looking to explore your sensitive side in Annapolis Digby this weekend, there’s a veritable palette of opportunities. You might want take in “Paint The Town” in Annapolis Royal where artists from all over participate and paint in this popular annual event on Saturday and Sunday. For a musical break Saturday night take a trip down the road to Margaretsville’s Evergreen Theatre, easy to find now with its spiffy new road signage. Featured this weekend is Papilo, listed on the playbill as “a neo-traditional band that captures the organic spirit and drive of traditional Celtic, folk, Nordic and world music”. Now, if that doesn’t seem to offer something for everybody, I’m challenged to know what could do it better.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
One of the recent signs of our growing attractiveness was the visit to Digby of the cruise ship MV Balmoral, which brought 1200 visitors and contributed dramatically the local economy during its one day visit last fall. We here at the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency (ADEDA) have been working closely with the local Cruise Fundy organization (www.cruisefundy.com) to revive the cruise ship and international yachting visitation program to the Annapolis Basin, with encouraging prospects.
And we are tremendously encouraged to note the success being experienced at the Port of Saint John, where officials claim that the Bay is becoming a major draw, with one official stating “the cruise industry has heavily endorsed the Bay of Fundy area in brochures and advertising campaigns distributed all over the world”.
That’s got to be a major plus as the tourism industry campaigners in our area aggressively approach the cruise market.
All For One
And the phenomenal tidal tug of the Fundy revealed its awesome strength in a more unusual fashion recently. In a rare show of political unanimity Canada’s provincial Premiers collectively endorsed the Bay of Fundy’s candidacy for being selected as one of the new seven wonders of nature competition (www.new7wonders.com). The Bay of Fundy is one of only 28 candidates still remaining for selection, and the only Canadian nominated site. As a matter fact, the only other North American site under consideration is the Grand Canyon. It’s always wonderful when our political leaders all come together in common cause, even if that harmony is precipitated by a single option.
Everything Old is New Again
There’s a new zest for some seasoned timbers in Bear River. While the community may have lost its iconic windmill to the ravages of age, the folks in Bear River are determined to save their museum. The Bear River Heritage Museum celebrates the area’s boat building, lumbering and social history. It’s operated by the Bear River Historical Society and its future was conserved at a recent community meeting.
Door to Door Through the Centuries
And speaking of seasoned timbers, there’s probably no better way to view our architectural heritage than by walking the beautiful tree lined streets of Annapolis Royal at this time of year. And this month the Annapolis Heritage Society and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens are combining to offer everyone a chance to walk through the ages with a tour of selected heritage homes as well as view historic garden arrangements. A wonderful combination of material culture with agriculture – and all for a good cause.
Past and Present Pageantry
In Digby they’ve been strolling through the past in a more theatrical fashion. A dramatic performance depicting the town’s social history was premiered at the Digby Community Theatre by the Digby Area Theatre Society. Written and directed by the very prolific Hal Theriault, along with the talented Paul Saulnier, and performed by an enthusiastic amateur cast, “Pages From Our Story” received a warm review over its two day presentation. While in a pageant of different kind, but received with equally great community zeal, congratulations are extended to Syndee LeBlanc of North Range who was chosen this year’s Queen of the town’s annual Scallop Festival, succeeding Josie Zakhour of Digby.
Do You Want “Wings” with That Lunch?
Sure enough we’re justifiably proud of our historical accomplishments, heritage buildings, “wooden ships and iron men”, and all that stuff. And we do really want a part of that burgeoning cruise ship business. But the Annapolis Digby area today also offers contemporary ways to come and go. One of these is a modern community airport facility. The Municipality of Digby Airport is Nova Scotia’s highest airport at 499 feet above sea level and capable of accommodating medium, twin engine aircraft. Situated on 500 acres of land with a 3950 foot runway, the airport is equipped with AVGAS and ground phone services and is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week. It’s going to get a new name shortly and to celebrate it’s hosting a Fly In Lunch and Open House. So plan to “drop in”, so to speak.
Artful Weekend Opportunities
If you’re looking to explore your sensitive side in Annapolis Digby this weekend, there’s a veritable palette of opportunities. You might want take in “Paint The Town” in Annapolis Royal where artists from all over participate and paint in this popular annual event on Saturday and Sunday. For a musical break Saturday night take a trip down the road to Margaretsville’s Evergreen Theatre, easy to find now with its spiffy new road signage. Featured this weekend is Papilo, listed on the playbill as “a neo-traditional band that captures the organic spirit and drive of traditional Celtic, folk, Nordic and world music”. Now, if that doesn’t seem to offer something for everybody, I’m challenged to know what could do it better.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Digby County Could Use a Million Bucks Too
NS: Funding makes artists feel like a million bucks
By Alex Boutilier, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, August 10, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore has announced $1.1 million in federal funding for arts, heritage and culture projects in Halifax Regional Municipality.
The minister made the announcement in conjunction with Nova Scotia Finance Minister Graham Steele and Health Minister Marilyn More at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia yesterday morning.
“We know that arts and culture plays an important element of the quality of life in our cities,” said Moore. “Arts and culture is also an important economic engine.”
Australian contortionist Bendie Em performs along the waterfront at the Halifax International Busker Festival on Thursday. — Ryan Taplin/Metro Halifax photo
The funding will go to 21 different organizations, ranging in genres from contemporary dance to independent film making to a fiddle festival.
Some of the largest local recipients of the federal arts and heritage funding announced yesterday:
• Symphony Nova Scotia - $356,021
• Live Art Production Society Contemporary Dance Series - $262,000
• TD Halifax Jazz Fest - $114,000
• Kinetic Studio Series - $85,000
• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia - $70,900
*Editor’s Note: We want your opinion: Which industry/sector should be top priority for the Province of Nova Scotia in terms of providing funding and support? Participate in our poll on this website!
By Alex Boutilier, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, August 10, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore has announced $1.1 million in federal funding for arts, heritage and culture projects in Halifax Regional Municipality.
The minister made the announcement in conjunction with Nova Scotia Finance Minister Graham Steele and Health Minister Marilyn More at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia yesterday morning.
“We know that arts and culture plays an important element of the quality of life in our cities,” said Moore. “Arts and culture is also an important economic engine.”
Australian contortionist Bendie Em performs along the waterfront at the Halifax International Busker Festival on Thursday. — Ryan Taplin/Metro Halifax photo
The funding will go to 21 different organizations, ranging in genres from contemporary dance to independent film making to a fiddle festival.
Some of the largest local recipients of the federal arts and heritage funding announced yesterday:
• Symphony Nova Scotia - $356,021
• Live Art Production Society Contemporary Dance Series - $262,000
• TD Halifax Jazz Fest - $114,000
• Kinetic Studio Series - $85,000
• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia - $70,900
*Editor’s Note: We want your opinion: Which industry/sector should be top priority for the Province of Nova Scotia in terms of providing funding and support? Participate in our poll on this website!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
ADEDA News
From Peter
It’s a wonderful time of the year to be a “foodie” here in Annapolis Digby, with burgeoning crops filling our fields, and the roadside stands and local farmers’ markets bursting with fresh produce. For the past week or so I’ve been gulping down more fresh local berries and vegetables that a foraging brown bear. We make a habit at “Chez MacLellan” of visiting the markets and subscribe to a local Community Sustainable Agriculture initiative, so I can pursue a healthy indulgence without fear of stepping on the scale.
Outstanding in their Fields
Another tune that dances through my fertile, if often unfocused, mind at this time of the year is Murray McLauchlan’s “The Farmer’s Song”, a lyrical tribute and heartfelt thank you to those hard working folks who make sure we have this gift of plenty. Last week a report out of Halifax suggested that the amount of local food being purchased by consumers had declined over a ten year period. But the good news was that this trend seemed to be reversing markedly due to determined local marketing and more access. One of the initiatives introduced by the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture was its “Meet Your Farmer” campaign, which featured a local farm family from Lawrencetown.
Savour the Flavour
You can “cultivate” your own summer countryside experience this month in a number of ways, whether you live in Annapolis Digby or make the smart decision to come and visit with us. There are always the excellent agricultural exhibitions for the counties of Annapolis (August 16-21) and Digby (August 25-28) of course. And you can share the home grown taste of our region at a zesty upcoming event in Annapolis Royal later this month. If you want to also indulge your creative juices in support of our agricultural endeavours Annapolis Highland Vineyards, an award winning local winery, has announced a contest looking for submissions for their 2010 vintage label designs.
A “Cornucopia” of August Offerings
Whatever gets you moving around Annapolis Digby this month – and wherever you find yourself in our area – there’s equal abundance in things to see and do. Annapolis Royal has an ambitious program of events celebrating the 300th anniversary of the renaming of the town; and at the other end of the Annapolis Basin the town of Digby has an equally impressive array of activities, beginning of course with this week’s annual Scallop Days festival. And to experience a special cultural treat, don’t forget that our neighbours in Clare are hosting the Festival Acadien de Clare, the oldest Acadian festival in the world, which continues until August 15. Keep checking the Upcoming Events section of our web site for information on these and other offerings.
Crafting A Framework For Success
While August is undeniably a great time to kick back and enjoy our region’s fresh foods, fine wines, and fun events, a talented team in our local workforce is celebrating in a slightly different way, with a business success story. Lewis Mouldings of Weymouth is anticipating a banner year for its global woodworking enterprise. The Digby County manufacturer of finger-pointed pine mouldings has announced solid sales projections and the accompanying financial support of the province’s economic development agency.
Sharing Our Blessings
It is indeed a good time to celebrate the good fortune and good times that come with living where we do. But it’s also rewarding to know that folks in our area can take a moment to remember that there are other parts of this world that don’t share in our abundance of resources and opportunities. Over the weekend Annapolis County supporters of a school in Thailand held a “Gigantic Bake and Yard Sale” as part of their ongoing campaign to support young Burmese refugee children. The project was started by a Canadian journalist originally from Middleton, and let’s hopes that this event, and all future endeavours, will see their goals met.
“Fore” Warned
With all the activities going on this week, I’ll be close to home celebrating the Digby Scallop Days festival. Especially the street parade on Saturday, where I hope to share the event with the first of my two grandsons born over the past year. But before that, I’ll be participating in the Tartan Classic golf tournament , a charity event for the Digby Area Learning Association, and where all the participants are encouraged to wear kilts (and yes I will) or at least some regalia of Scottish correlation. Now even after all these years I remain the ultimate “duffer” so if you see me – stand clear. No matter where - because I can spend so much time in the woods that I risk the moniker of the “Smiths Cove Sasquatch” (better than the” Yarmouth Yeti” one supposes). And after all that activity, golf, parades, etc., there’s the prospect of a feed of those delicious, world famous, Digby scallops. Join me – figuratively speaking – and Bon Appétit!
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
It’s a wonderful time of the year to be a “foodie” here in Annapolis Digby, with burgeoning crops filling our fields, and the roadside stands and local farmers’ markets bursting with fresh produce. For the past week or so I’ve been gulping down more fresh local berries and vegetables that a foraging brown bear. We make a habit at “Chez MacLellan” of visiting the markets and subscribe to a local Community Sustainable Agriculture initiative, so I can pursue a healthy indulgence without fear of stepping on the scale.
Outstanding in their Fields
Another tune that dances through my fertile, if often unfocused, mind at this time of the year is Murray McLauchlan’s “The Farmer’s Song”, a lyrical tribute and heartfelt thank you to those hard working folks who make sure we have this gift of plenty. Last week a report out of Halifax suggested that the amount of local food being purchased by consumers had declined over a ten year period. But the good news was that this trend seemed to be reversing markedly due to determined local marketing and more access. One of the initiatives introduced by the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture was its “Meet Your Farmer” campaign, which featured a local farm family from Lawrencetown.
Savour the Flavour
You can “cultivate” your own summer countryside experience this month in a number of ways, whether you live in Annapolis Digby or make the smart decision to come and visit with us. There are always the excellent agricultural exhibitions for the counties of Annapolis (August 16-21) and Digby (August 25-28) of course. And you can share the home grown taste of our region at a zesty upcoming event in Annapolis Royal later this month. If you want to also indulge your creative juices in support of our agricultural endeavours Annapolis Highland Vineyards, an award winning local winery, has announced a contest looking for submissions for their 2010 vintage label designs.
A “Cornucopia” of August Offerings
Whatever gets you moving around Annapolis Digby this month – and wherever you find yourself in our area – there’s equal abundance in things to see and do. Annapolis Royal has an ambitious program of events celebrating the 300th anniversary of the renaming of the town; and at the other end of the Annapolis Basin the town of Digby has an equally impressive array of activities, beginning of course with this week’s annual Scallop Days festival. And to experience a special cultural treat, don’t forget that our neighbours in Clare are hosting the Festival Acadien de Clare, the oldest Acadian festival in the world, which continues until August 15. Keep checking the Upcoming Events section of our web site for information on these and other offerings.
Crafting A Framework For Success
While August is undeniably a great time to kick back and enjoy our region’s fresh foods, fine wines, and fun events, a talented team in our local workforce is celebrating in a slightly different way, with a business success story. Lewis Mouldings of Weymouth is anticipating a banner year for its global woodworking enterprise. The Digby County manufacturer of finger-pointed pine mouldings has announced solid sales projections and the accompanying financial support of the province’s economic development agency.
Sharing Our Blessings
It is indeed a good time to celebrate the good fortune and good times that come with living where we do. But it’s also rewarding to know that folks in our area can take a moment to remember that there are other parts of this world that don’t share in our abundance of resources and opportunities. Over the weekend Annapolis County supporters of a school in Thailand held a “Gigantic Bake and Yard Sale” as part of their ongoing campaign to support young Burmese refugee children. The project was started by a Canadian journalist originally from Middleton, and let’s hopes that this event, and all future endeavours, will see their goals met.
“Fore” Warned
With all the activities going on this week, I’ll be close to home celebrating the Digby Scallop Days festival. Especially the street parade on Saturday, where I hope to share the event with the first of my two grandsons born over the past year. But before that, I’ll be participating in the Tartan Classic golf tournament , a charity event for the Digby Area Learning Association, and where all the participants are encouraged to wear kilts (and yes I will) or at least some regalia of Scottish correlation. Now even after all these years I remain the ultimate “duffer” so if you see me – stand clear. No matter where - because I can spend so much time in the woods that I risk the moniker of the “Smiths Cove Sasquatch” (better than the” Yarmouth Yeti” one supposes). And after all that activity, golf, parades, etc., there’s the prospect of a feed of those delicious, world famous, Digby scallops. Join me – figuratively speaking – and Bon Appétit!
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Labels:
ADEDA news
Community Events
Aug. 28 2-6 pm
Fundraiser for the Foodbank. FOOD!!! MUSIC!!! It'll be a great time! Admission: Free will donation or a non-perishable item or items
Directions to the Hillgrove Baptist Church Hall:
coming from Annapolis...GOING TOWARDS DIGBY .... take exit #26...MAKE A LEFT TURN at stop sign on exit ramp.
Drive straight for about 2 kms and there will be a church on the right hand side of the road...on a sharp corner. The Hall is right next door to the church. Parking is to the left of the Church.
Fundraiser for the Foodbank. FOOD!!! MUSIC!!! It'll be a great time! Admission: Free will donation or a non-perishable item or items
Directions to the Hillgrove Baptist Church Hall:
coming from Annapolis...GOING TOWARDS DIGBY .... take exit #26...MAKE A LEFT TURN at stop sign on exit ramp.
Drive straight for about 2 kms and there will be a church on the right hand side of the road...on a sharp corner. The Hall is right next door to the church. Parking is to the left of the Church.
Halifax Airport Has Plans
NS: Airport unveils 10-year capital plan, raises fees
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, Aug. 5/10
[HALIFAX, NS] – As part of its planning for the next phase of improvements to Halifax Stanfield International Airport, the Halifax International Airport Authority is developing its next 10-year Capital Plan (2011-2020) to improve passenger safety, help reduce flight delays, develop new revenue streams and continue to upgrade its facilities to expand current services and enhance the passenger/visitor experience.
“Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA) is one of the most critical pieces of transportation infrastructure in Atlantic Canada,” says Tom Ruth, president and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA). “Over half of all the air passengers and air cargo that move in our region pass through our airport. We’ve accomplished a lot since the airport was transferred from the federal government 10 years ago, but there is more to be done to ensure HSIA continues to be a key driver in regional economic growth.”
HIAA’s comprehensive new 10-year capital plan will be finalized this fall, although its development has already identified several major infrastructure improvements, including:
• the purchase of several new pieces of state-of-the-art snow and ice control equipment to significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of this crucial element of airfield safety management;
• terminal building expansion of domestic/international check-in hall creating a higher volume, more efficient check-in process;
• expansion of the terminal building at the north end in anticipation of additional flights from European Union nations under Canada’s liberalized air access agreement with them, and additional U.S. preclearance flights;
• expansion of the south end of the building to accommodate additional jet bridges;
• expansion of retail/food & beverage locations post-security; and
• the phased development of commercial, revenue-generating lots on airport property between the terminal building and Highway 102.
“These improvements are required to meet the needs of our current and future passengers and visitors, allowing us to compete effectively for new business anticipated from Canada’s ‘Blue Sky’ initiative with the European Union, and to adapt to the long-term needs of our airline partners,” Ruth says.
There are three ways major Canadian airports like Halifax Stanfield can fund necessary capital improvements – reinvest operating surpluses, borrow and use the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). Like other airports, HIAA uses all three. Operating surpluses will continue to be reinvested; a bond issue is planned for later this year; and the AIF is being changed to $20 from $15, effective January 1, 2011. This change will be reflected on airline tickets sold on or after October 1, 2010 for Halifax passengers whose flight departs on or after January 1, 2011.
Like 50 other Canadian airports, HIAA uses the revenue from the AIF to help fund its airport improvement program. Projects at HSIA to be funded by the AIF are determined through a consultation process with the airlines that serve Halifax. The AIF, which is added to the price of each originating airline ticket, is collected by the airlines.
“Responsible, effective management of the growth and development of the airport is essential to ensure its long-term financial health,” Ruth says. “We’re committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, both as Nova Scotia’s principal air connection to the world and as a huge economic engine for our community. This new 10-year capital plan will help us fulfill these responsibilities.”
“Management of this critical asset requires that we budget and manage our resources to create modest annual surpluses, allowing us to maintain moderate aeronautical fees charged to airlines to enhance our competitive position; maintain our A+ credit rating; and maintain a debt per enplaned passenger ratio that is below the average of the other major airports in Canada,” Ruth adds.
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, Aug. 5/10
[HALIFAX, NS] – As part of its planning for the next phase of improvements to Halifax Stanfield International Airport, the Halifax International Airport Authority is developing its next 10-year Capital Plan (2011-2020) to improve passenger safety, help reduce flight delays, develop new revenue streams and continue to upgrade its facilities to expand current services and enhance the passenger/visitor experience.
“Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA) is one of the most critical pieces of transportation infrastructure in Atlantic Canada,” says Tom Ruth, president and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA). “Over half of all the air passengers and air cargo that move in our region pass through our airport. We’ve accomplished a lot since the airport was transferred from the federal government 10 years ago, but there is more to be done to ensure HSIA continues to be a key driver in regional economic growth.”
HIAA’s comprehensive new 10-year capital plan will be finalized this fall, although its development has already identified several major infrastructure improvements, including:
• the purchase of several new pieces of state-of-the-art snow and ice control equipment to significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of this crucial element of airfield safety management;
• terminal building expansion of domestic/international check-in hall creating a higher volume, more efficient check-in process;
• expansion of the terminal building at the north end in anticipation of additional flights from European Union nations under Canada’s liberalized air access agreement with them, and additional U.S. preclearance flights;
• expansion of the south end of the building to accommodate additional jet bridges;
• expansion of retail/food & beverage locations post-security; and
• the phased development of commercial, revenue-generating lots on airport property between the terminal building and Highway 102.
“These improvements are required to meet the needs of our current and future passengers and visitors, allowing us to compete effectively for new business anticipated from Canada’s ‘Blue Sky’ initiative with the European Union, and to adapt to the long-term needs of our airline partners,” Ruth says.
There are three ways major Canadian airports like Halifax Stanfield can fund necessary capital improvements – reinvest operating surpluses, borrow and use the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). Like other airports, HIAA uses all three. Operating surpluses will continue to be reinvested; a bond issue is planned for later this year; and the AIF is being changed to $20 from $15, effective January 1, 2011. This change will be reflected on airline tickets sold on or after October 1, 2010 for Halifax passengers whose flight departs on or after January 1, 2011.
Like 50 other Canadian airports, HIAA uses the revenue from the AIF to help fund its airport improvement program. Projects at HSIA to be funded by the AIF are determined through a consultation process with the airlines that serve Halifax. The AIF, which is added to the price of each originating airline ticket, is collected by the airlines.
“Responsible, effective management of the growth and development of the airport is essential to ensure its long-term financial health,” Ruth says. “We’re committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, both as Nova Scotia’s principal air connection to the world and as a huge economic engine for our community. This new 10-year capital plan will help us fulfill these responsibilities.”
“Management of this critical asset requires that we budget and manage our resources to create modest annual surpluses, allowing us to maintain moderate aeronautical fees charged to airlines to enhance our competitive position; maintain our A+ credit rating; and maintain a debt per enplaned passenger ratio that is below the average of the other major airports in Canada,” Ruth adds.
Some of the Highest Taxes in the Country
NS: Comprehensive tax review needed
By Darrell Cole, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Amherst Daily News, Aug. 5/10
[AMHERST, NS] – Reducing the HST alone will not solve the cross-border shopping issue that exists between Cumberland County and neighbouring New Brunswick, says Liberal leader Stephen McNeil.
Responding to questions during a town hall-style public meeting at Amherst Regional High School, McNeil says he would not have increased the HST by two per cent to fight the deficit, but would have looked at the province’s entire tax system.
“We have some of the highest taxes in the country. To raise the HST from 13 to 15 per cent actually created a larger problem in this community (than the one) the NDP said they were going to fix,” McNeil says. “Now people aren’t just leaving for the price of gas, they’re leaving for every commodity and everything you want. It absolutely makes no sense.”
McNeil says his party has been calling for a comprehensive tax review for several years. In many cases, he adds, government adjusts one tax without thinking of its impact on other taxes.
“It’s no good to look at one tax because you can’t understand the unintended consequences of changing that tax two or three years down the road if you don’t look at the totality of our tax system,” McNeil says. “What we would encourage this government to do is instead of waiting a few years down the road and being thrown out of government so we can do it, steal our idea now and have a comprehensive tax review.”
This tax review should include extensive consultations across the province in which government actually listens to Nova Scotians instead of holding talks similar to what Finance Minister Graham Steele did during his Back to Balance tour.
By Darrell Cole, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Amherst Daily News, Aug. 5/10
[AMHERST, NS] – Reducing the HST alone will not solve the cross-border shopping issue that exists between Cumberland County and neighbouring New Brunswick, says Liberal leader Stephen McNeil.
Responding to questions during a town hall-style public meeting at Amherst Regional High School, McNeil says he would not have increased the HST by two per cent to fight the deficit, but would have looked at the province’s entire tax system.
“We have some of the highest taxes in the country. To raise the HST from 13 to 15 per cent actually created a larger problem in this community (than the one) the NDP said they were going to fix,” McNeil says. “Now people aren’t just leaving for the price of gas, they’re leaving for every commodity and everything you want. It absolutely makes no sense.”
McNeil says his party has been calling for a comprehensive tax review for several years. In many cases, he adds, government adjusts one tax without thinking of its impact on other taxes.
“It’s no good to look at one tax because you can’t understand the unintended consequences of changing that tax two or three years down the road if you don’t look at the totality of our tax system,” McNeil says. “What we would encourage this government to do is instead of waiting a few years down the road and being thrown out of government so we can do it, steal our idea now and have a comprehensive tax review.”
This tax review should include extensive consultations across the province in which government actually listens to Nova Scotians instead of holding talks similar to what Finance Minister Graham Steele did during his Back to Balance tour.
Labels:
Nova Scotia taxes HST
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Gas Creates Gas
Traffic blamed for greenhouse gas emissions increase in Austria
English.news.cn 2010-08-06 08:17:10 FeedbackPrintRSS
VIENNA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Traffic emissions are the biggest obstacle for Austria to achieve its Kyoto targets as the country reported an increase in greenhouse gas emissions this year for the first time since 2007.
For all of 2010, traffic was expected to produce a total of 23 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the maximum benchmark of 18.9 million tons as set by the Kyoto Protocol, the Traffic Club of Austria reported Thursday.
Statistics from the Federal Environment Agency of Austria show that traffic has always been a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
In 2008, Austria produced 8.5 million more tons of greenhouse gas than that of 1990, although domestic heating, waste management, agriculture and energy gases together reduced 5.3 million tons of emission.
In that year traffic alone, however, caused an increase of 8.6 million tons of emissions, compared with an increase of 5.1 million tons caused by industry.
Special Report: Global Climate Change
English.news.cn 2010-08-06 08:17:10 FeedbackPrintRSS
VIENNA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Traffic emissions are the biggest obstacle for Austria to achieve its Kyoto targets as the country reported an increase in greenhouse gas emissions this year for the first time since 2007.
For all of 2010, traffic was expected to produce a total of 23 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the maximum benchmark of 18.9 million tons as set by the Kyoto Protocol, the Traffic Club of Austria reported Thursday.
Statistics from the Federal Environment Agency of Austria show that traffic has always been a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
In 2008, Austria produced 8.5 million more tons of greenhouse gas than that of 1990, although domestic heating, waste management, agriculture and energy gases together reduced 5.3 million tons of emission.
In that year traffic alone, however, caused an increase of 8.6 million tons of emissions, compared with an increase of 5.1 million tons caused by industry.
Special Report: Global Climate Change
Hopes Raise for Yarmouth Ferry
NS: Optimism high for ferry service
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, Aug. 5/10
[Yarmouth, NS] – The interim CEO of the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission says he is very optimistic with how efforts are progressing to gain local control of the ferry terminal on Water Street and reestablish ferry service.
“I’m very optimistic that something is going to fall into place here and by mid September or so we’ll be able to have a very positive announcement,” says Dave Whiting.
Since March, work has been taking place with Transport Canada to gain local control of the ferry terminal on Water Street. The terminal is owned by the federal government and leased to Bay Ferries. The divestiture of the terminal is needed to move forward with ferry service.
The local town and municipal councils chose to have the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission serve as the lead agency in the divestiture.
“That’s the piece that has to fall into place. The difficulty is everybody has to justify everything. You have to be seen as fair,” Whiting says. “So if (the government is) going to lease the premise to us, it has to be a fair lease to all taxpayers. They can’t look at Yarmouth and say we’re going to give it to you for $1 without justifying it. So there is work being done in that regard.”
Whiting says he believes he can safely say at this point that the area will start out with a temporary resolution to the terminal issue and then move forward into a permanent, long-term resolution.
“And that would be acquiring the terminal on behalf of the people of the region,” he says.
As previously reported, there has been upwards of seven companies expressing interest in operating a ferry service. For those who have done their homework and groundwork ahead of time, Whiting says there is time to get a ferry service up and running for the 2011 season, even if the pieces only fall into place this fall.
Summing up the efforts involving divestiture of the terminal and the reestablishment of ferry service that have been taking place, Whiting says, “It’s come a long way and at this point I’m extremely optimistic. I think in the next little while we will be moving forward, getting documents prepared and getting people to actually come forward.”
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, Aug. 5/10
[Yarmouth, NS] – The interim CEO of the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission says he is very optimistic with how efforts are progressing to gain local control of the ferry terminal on Water Street and reestablish ferry service.
“I’m very optimistic that something is going to fall into place here and by mid September or so we’ll be able to have a very positive announcement,” says Dave Whiting.
Since March, work has been taking place with Transport Canada to gain local control of the ferry terminal on Water Street. The terminal is owned by the federal government and leased to Bay Ferries. The divestiture of the terminal is needed to move forward with ferry service.
The local town and municipal councils chose to have the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission serve as the lead agency in the divestiture.
“That’s the piece that has to fall into place. The difficulty is everybody has to justify everything. You have to be seen as fair,” Whiting says. “So if (the government is) going to lease the premise to us, it has to be a fair lease to all taxpayers. They can’t look at Yarmouth and say we’re going to give it to you for $1 without justifying it. So there is work being done in that regard.”
Whiting says he believes he can safely say at this point that the area will start out with a temporary resolution to the terminal issue and then move forward into a permanent, long-term resolution.
“And that would be acquiring the terminal on behalf of the people of the region,” he says.
As previously reported, there has been upwards of seven companies expressing interest in operating a ferry service. For those who have done their homework and groundwork ahead of time, Whiting says there is time to get a ferry service up and running for the 2011 season, even if the pieces only fall into place this fall.
Summing up the efforts involving divestiture of the terminal and the reestablishment of ferry service that have been taking place, Whiting says, “It’s come a long way and at this point I’m extremely optimistic. I think in the next little while we will be moving forward, getting documents prepared and getting people to actually come forward.”
Noah Richler on Books
My Books, My Place
Canlit on the beach
Noah Richler takes time out from reading on Sandy Cove Beach. Canlit's baying snipers should not read anything into the fact he appears to be sleeping. The Globe and Mail
Noah Richler on three universal stories rooted in the places they are written
Noah Richler
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Sandy Cove, an exquisite and storied village halfway down Nova Scotia's Digby Neck, is the hideaway I could not do without. This week I have been reading three Canadian novels – not a plan, just the way it is.
The first of these, Allan Donaldson's Maclean, is a short, crisply written novel of a soldier returning to his New Brunswick village from the Great War, and his alcoholism and inability to fit in. There is the toughness of David Adams Richards here, and an eye for male estrangement of the early Richard Wright – and in all this weariness, there is light.
Kathleen Winter's novel, Annabel, is another that is absolutely riveting from the very first page. At its most basic, Annabel is the story of a hermaphrodite child raised in Labrador. It is about the struggle of genders within one child, and how that struggle makes the child another thing entirely, though effectively about any kind of suppression. Its language is breathtaking and her subject is thrilling because – hard to manage these days – it is so very new. I have friends I worry about handing this novel to, because of its subversive, but beautiful, power.
I have followed the work of Kathleen's equally talented brother Michael for years. He is a clever and highly original writer whose every book is entertaining, but at the same time a declaration against his craft. In his new novel, The Death of Donna Whalen, he has decided that the best way to write the murder of a woman who was stabbed 31 times in St John's, Nfld., is to hand over all right of representation to the characters themselves, selecting verbatim from their court testimony. True to form, his book puts the value of the novelist's contribution on trial, though still doesn't manage to convict him. There is artifice here, plenty of it – and, as with his sister's and Donaldson's novels, there is not just a rooting in place but an outright love of it. Pace CanLit's tedious, baying snipers, there is nothing provincial at all about any of these books. Great literature is local.
Noah Richler is the author of This is My Country, What's Yours? A Literary Atlas of Canada.
Canlit on the beach
Noah Richler takes time out from reading on Sandy Cove Beach. Canlit's baying snipers should not read anything into the fact he appears to be sleeping. The Globe and Mail
Noah Richler on three universal stories rooted in the places they are written
Noah Richler
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Sandy Cove, an exquisite and storied village halfway down Nova Scotia's Digby Neck, is the hideaway I could not do without. This week I have been reading three Canadian novels – not a plan, just the way it is.
The first of these, Allan Donaldson's Maclean, is a short, crisply written novel of a soldier returning to his New Brunswick village from the Great War, and his alcoholism and inability to fit in. There is the toughness of David Adams Richards here, and an eye for male estrangement of the early Richard Wright – and in all this weariness, there is light.
Kathleen Winter's novel, Annabel, is another that is absolutely riveting from the very first page. At its most basic, Annabel is the story of a hermaphrodite child raised in Labrador. It is about the struggle of genders within one child, and how that struggle makes the child another thing entirely, though effectively about any kind of suppression. Its language is breathtaking and her subject is thrilling because – hard to manage these days – it is so very new. I have friends I worry about handing this novel to, because of its subversive, but beautiful, power.
I have followed the work of Kathleen's equally talented brother Michael for years. He is a clever and highly original writer whose every book is entertaining, but at the same time a declaration against his craft. In his new novel, The Death of Donna Whalen, he has decided that the best way to write the murder of a woman who was stabbed 31 times in St John's, Nfld., is to hand over all right of representation to the characters themselves, selecting verbatim from their court testimony. True to form, his book puts the value of the novelist's contribution on trial, though still doesn't manage to convict him. There is artifice here, plenty of it – and, as with his sister's and Donaldson's novels, there is not just a rooting in place but an outright love of it. Pace CanLit's tedious, baying snipers, there is nothing provincial at all about any of these books. Great literature is local.
Noah Richler is the author of This is My Country, What's Yours? A Literary Atlas of Canada.
The Ombudsman
The following is a retraction from a blog post I made earlier: The Ombudsman's Office is one step you can take if you are looking into how to deal with government matters. I had an incredibly less than respectful experience with one of the staff members there, and so my earlier negative post.
However, other staffers may not be that way, and even this person who had no regard for the issues she was dealing with, was able to find a useful piece of information for me. Your experience with this office may be vastly different than mine in terms of respect and consideration, so do give them a try, you never know what they may turn up for you! Christine, the supervisor, (I believe that may be the title of her position), is a wonderful person.
However, other staffers may not be that way, and even this person who had no regard for the issues she was dealing with, was able to find a useful piece of information for me. Your experience with this office may be vastly different than mine in terms of respect and consideration, so do give them a try, you never know what they may turn up for you! Christine, the supervisor, (I believe that may be the title of her position), is a wonderful person.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Most Men-and women-Shave, Don't They?
Blogger: okay, I'll risk being a little "risque", here.
March 9, 2010 12:25 PM
Megan Barnes Driving While Shaving! Fla. Woman Arrested After Crash, Grooming "Bikini Area" Say Cops
Credit: WFOR/Monroe County Sheriff's Office)
CUDJOE KEY, Fla. (CBS/WFOR) Megan Barnes was driving while doing what?!?!
No, the 37-year-old woman wasn't on her cellphone. She wasn't texting, either.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Ms. Barnes was driving while shaving - there's more - driving while shaving her, uh, "bikini area." Well, that's what the cops call it.
It might not surprise you to learn that during Barnes' ride on the razor's edge, she allegedly crashed into the backup of a pickup truck in Cudjoe Key, Fla, according to CBS affiliate WFOR. Then, she and her ex-husband reportedly drove another half-mile before being pulled over last Tuesday morning.
We're told the ex-husband was actually doing the steering -- from the passenger seat, of course.
Patrol officers say they determined that in addition to this bit of "landscaping" behind the wheel, Barnes was already driving with a suspended license, just one day after she was convicted of driving under the influence.
Now, for her apparent adventure with blade in hand, throw in charges of reckless driving, driving with a revoked license, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and driving without insurance. The good news, nobody was seriously hurt.
Trooper Gary Dunick, describing what Ms. Barnes was thinking, explained, "She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit."
We knew there was a logical explanation.
Story contributed by CBS affiliate WFOR.
March 9, 2010 12:25 PM
Megan Barnes Driving While Shaving! Fla. Woman Arrested After Crash, Grooming "Bikini Area" Say Cops
Credit: WFOR/Monroe County Sheriff's Office)
CUDJOE KEY, Fla. (CBS/WFOR) Megan Barnes was driving while doing what?!?!
No, the 37-year-old woman wasn't on her cellphone. She wasn't texting, either.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Ms. Barnes was driving while shaving - there's more - driving while shaving her, uh, "bikini area." Well, that's what the cops call it.
It might not surprise you to learn that during Barnes' ride on the razor's edge, she allegedly crashed into the backup of a pickup truck in Cudjoe Key, Fla, according to CBS affiliate WFOR. Then, she and her ex-husband reportedly drove another half-mile before being pulled over last Tuesday morning.
We're told the ex-husband was actually doing the steering -- from the passenger seat, of course.
Patrol officers say they determined that in addition to this bit of "landscaping" behind the wheel, Barnes was already driving with a suspended license, just one day after she was convicted of driving under the influence.
Now, for her apparent adventure with blade in hand, throw in charges of reckless driving, driving with a revoked license, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and driving without insurance. The good news, nobody was seriously hurt.
Trooper Gary Dunick, describing what Ms. Barnes was thinking, explained, "She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit."
We knew there was a logical explanation.
Story contributed by CBS affiliate WFOR.
Labels:
automobile driving safety
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Works for You Employment Program
NS: Province seeks partners to boost employment
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, Aug. 3/10
[HALIFAX, NS] – The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is looking for partners to support the Works for You program.
Works for You is funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and helps unemployed or low-skilled Nova Scotians prepare for, find and maintain work.
The department issued a request for proposals on Friday, July 30, to registered charities, non-profit organizations and educational institutions that offer these services. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 7.
“Last year, our department and partners provided a wide array of employment programs and training that helped more than 2,000 Nova Scotians with their search for employment,” says Marilyn More, minister of Labour and Workforce Development.
Nova Scotia gained 75 certified continuing care assistants through LMA funded training programs last year, filling an industry shortage and connecting people to high-value careers. African Nova Scotians took part in a program that connected them to apprenticeship, employment and post-secondary training opportunities in the construction sector.
The program is designed for people who don’t qualify for employment insurance and those who lack a high school diploma. Works for You places special emphasis on support for minority groups, including Aboriginal or African Nova Scotians, people with disabilities and Acadian and francophone Nova Scotians. The program also targets youth, women, income assistance recipients, new entrants and re-entrants to the workforce, and people who were formerly self-employed.
The funding comes from the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement, which was signed in 2008. More information about the Works for You program is available at www.gov.ns.ca/employmentnovascotia/lma-information/.
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, Aug. 3/10
[HALIFAX, NS] – The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is looking for partners to support the Works for You program.
Works for You is funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and helps unemployed or low-skilled Nova Scotians prepare for, find and maintain work.
The department issued a request for proposals on Friday, July 30, to registered charities, non-profit organizations and educational institutions that offer these services. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 7.
“Last year, our department and partners provided a wide array of employment programs and training that helped more than 2,000 Nova Scotians with their search for employment,” says Marilyn More, minister of Labour and Workforce Development.
Nova Scotia gained 75 certified continuing care assistants through LMA funded training programs last year, filling an industry shortage and connecting people to high-value careers. African Nova Scotians took part in a program that connected them to apprenticeship, employment and post-secondary training opportunities in the construction sector.
The program is designed for people who don’t qualify for employment insurance and those who lack a high school diploma. Works for You places special emphasis on support for minority groups, including Aboriginal or African Nova Scotians, people with disabilities and Acadian and francophone Nova Scotians. The program also targets youth, women, income assistance recipients, new entrants and re-entrants to the workforce, and people who were formerly self-employed.
The funding comes from the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement, which was signed in 2008. More information about the Works for You program is available at www.gov.ns.ca/employmentnovascotia/lma-information/.
Labels:
Employment program nova scotia
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