NS: Province releases latest tourism stats
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, July 21, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — The provincial government recently released its latest tourism industry figures, revealing a rise in visitor numbers.
Nova Scotia reportedly welcomed 614,100 visitors between January and May, up four per cent compared to the same time last year.
The province experienced a decrease of three per cent during the month of May, a slight drop compared to 2009.
Visits to novascotia.com during May increased by 21 per cent compared to last year, reflecting increased marketing efforts in key markets.
Room nights sold between January and May were up two per cent across the province compared to the same time period in 2009. Room nights sold in May remained unchanged.
Between January and May, domestic travel showed a growth of four per cent. Visits from Ontario were up five per cent and visitors from Atlantic Canada and Quebec increased by six per cent in each market compared to this time last year. Visits from Western Canada were down 19 per cent.
Visitors from the United States from January to May also increased by four per cent compared to last year, while overseas visitors were down by four per cent. Visitors from the United Kingdom are down slightly, with a two per cent decrease.
The number of people traveling to Nova Scotia by road during the first five months of the year grew by seven per cent. Air travel decreased by four per cent in the same period.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tax Payers Federation Wants an Office Here
NS: Scandal prompts taxpayers federation to come east
By Alex Boutilier, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, July 21, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — The MLA expense scandal and the recent HST increase have a national taxpayers’ advocacy group planning to open up an Atlantic bureau.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is only “months” away from establishing an east coast office in Halifax, according to spokesman Scott Hennig.
The policy watchdog organization is currently in the fundraising stages for the new office, which would cover all four Atlantic Canadian provinces.
“We rely on the support of regular, taxpaying Canadians to step forward and put up the money to help us get started,” said Hennig.
Hennig pointed to the MLA expense scandal and the recent HST increase as catalysts for the decision to move forward with the office.
“In Nova Scotia, there’s been some prime examples of places where there’s been waste, places where there’s been a lack of accountability,” he said. “We’re hopeful that there’s enough Atlantic Canadians who want to see a full-time, on-the-ground presence of a taxpayer watchdog.”
By Alex Boutilier, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, July 21, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — The MLA expense scandal and the recent HST increase have a national taxpayers’ advocacy group planning to open up an Atlantic bureau.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is only “months” away from establishing an east coast office in Halifax, according to spokesman Scott Hennig.
The policy watchdog organization is currently in the fundraising stages for the new office, which would cover all four Atlantic Canadian provinces.
“We rely on the support of regular, taxpaying Canadians to step forward and put up the money to help us get started,” said Hennig.
Hennig pointed to the MLA expense scandal and the recent HST increase as catalysts for the decision to move forward with the office.
“In Nova Scotia, there’s been some prime examples of places where there’s been waste, places where there’s been a lack of accountability,” he said. “We’re hopeful that there’s enough Atlantic Canadians who want to see a full-time, on-the-ground presence of a taxpayer watchdog.”
Labels:
taxes canada nova scotia HST
Oh Sure, Let's Have Lots of Mercury
Blogger's Note: Something smells in what went down here
NS: Province eases emissions rules after outcry over rate hike
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, July 22, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — Premier Dexter said on Tuesday that he and his NDP government would consider loosening regulations on mercury emissions as one option to reduce a potential Nova Scotia Power rate hike.
Today, they followed through.
In a media release issued late this morning, the premier announced the government plans to amend its air quality regulations to extend the deadline for achieving the 2010 cap until 2014 and require an even lower emissions cap of 35 kilograms by 2020. By 2020, total mercury emissions will be lower than originally set. Nova Scotia Power will be required to make up for any emissions over 65 kilograms per year and submit a plan on how it will be accomplished.
The NDP government’s move comes a week after it was publicly criticized by business and community groups for not taking action to help mitigate a proposed double-digit electricity rate hike by Nova Scotia Power.
“Nova Scotians said the proposed power increase would have a devastating impact and government listened,” said Premier Dexter. “Nova Scotia Power has agreed to look at a change in their technology in order to reduce costs, make electricity more affordable and ensure the province meets its mercury emission targets.”
Nova Scotia Power released projections two weeks ago about the cost of fuel to generate power which could see electricity rates increase by 12 per cent or more for residential customers and 18 per cent or more for large industries, effective in January.
The utility, however, attributes only about half of the increase to the cost of meeting provincial regulations on mercury emissions, currently set at 65 kilograms per year.
This had some calling “foul” on Wednesday. In Metro News, Liberal energy critic Andrew Younger said slackening the rules wouldn’t solve anything since mercury emissions accounted for only a portion of the rate increase. He accused the government of deliberately misleading the public, calling the emissions standards debate a “red herring”.
“Why not focus the public discussion on what is the long-term solution to all these rate increases, instead of talking about the short-term political gains,” said Younger.
NS: Province eases emissions rules after outcry over rate hike
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Daily Business Buzz, July 22, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — Premier Dexter said on Tuesday that he and his NDP government would consider loosening regulations on mercury emissions as one option to reduce a potential Nova Scotia Power rate hike.
Today, they followed through.
In a media release issued late this morning, the premier announced the government plans to amend its air quality regulations to extend the deadline for achieving the 2010 cap until 2014 and require an even lower emissions cap of 35 kilograms by 2020. By 2020, total mercury emissions will be lower than originally set. Nova Scotia Power will be required to make up for any emissions over 65 kilograms per year and submit a plan on how it will be accomplished.
The NDP government’s move comes a week after it was publicly criticized by business and community groups for not taking action to help mitigate a proposed double-digit electricity rate hike by Nova Scotia Power.
“Nova Scotians said the proposed power increase would have a devastating impact and government listened,” said Premier Dexter. “Nova Scotia Power has agreed to look at a change in their technology in order to reduce costs, make electricity more affordable and ensure the province meets its mercury emission targets.”
Nova Scotia Power released projections two weeks ago about the cost of fuel to generate power which could see electricity rates increase by 12 per cent or more for residential customers and 18 per cent or more for large industries, effective in January.
The utility, however, attributes only about half of the increase to the cost of meeting provincial regulations on mercury emissions, currently set at 65 kilograms per year.
This had some calling “foul” on Wednesday. In Metro News, Liberal energy critic Andrew Younger said slackening the rules wouldn’t solve anything since mercury emissions accounted for only a portion of the rate increase. He accused the government of deliberately misleading the public, calling the emissions standards debate a “red herring”.
“Why not focus the public discussion on what is the long-term solution to all these rate increases, instead of talking about the short-term political gains,” said Younger.
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