Coyotes- A Letter to the Minister

Minister of Natural Resources
John MacDonell
min-dnr@gov.ns.ca

It is my belief that the minister has reacted to panic and to those who do not love our wildlife or the diversity of nature, and to those humans who may have caused the problem in the first place by feeding coyotes.
Leg hold traps are cruel and unusual punishment to a whole species of animal that is normally shy and withdrawing. IS the minister reacting to extinguish a whole species because of rare unfortunate encounters?
Coyotes deal with the rodent population. Does the minister want us to be overrun with rodents? Coyotes deal with the sick and dying and the dead animals.
Leg hold traps are banned in most other places. Why? Because of the dreadful suffering it causes anything that’s living that gets caught in one. The serrated steel jaws penetrate with an awful force causing severe and utter pain. Animals sometimes try to end this excruciating pain by biting their own legs off. That’s how bad it is.
The trapper on the t.v. the other night said that (in my words) they are using leg hold traps to cause this terrific pain so the animal will associate humans with a horrific ordeal or the sounds of it.
1) trappers eliminate the scent of a human on the trap by wearing gloves and covering with sand so the animal will step into the trap. A coyote otherwise would avoid humans and their scent. So trapping will not cause a coyote to associate this awful experience with humans. Other coyotes may hear the trapped animals painful howls and its whimpering in distress. This also will not create a negative association about humans. The trapper walks in, sees this helpless, hurting animal (that he has caused) and kills it. The trapped animal may see a negative association there, but only for an instant. Another animal hearing the agony will have no knowledge that a human did it.
2) The program indicated that the trappers were going to only kill the aggressive coyote. A trapper who is receiving money for killing coyotes is going to make no distinction on what he thinks is an aggressive coyote or one that’s just going to bring him 20 bucks for his hide. Leg hold traps do not know an aggressive coyote from the normal shy one. Leg hold traps also don’t discriminate about what steps in them. Maybe it would be a coyote. Maybe it would be a deer who has caused no problem but to exist. But maybe it would be your own kid.

This land, this earth was “owned” by animals before humans came in. It is *US* who are in *their* territory. And we didn’t always kill them. We were vegetarians, first, before we became predators. We and the other animals always found ways of living together, before the human turned to killing.

Trapping coyotes is not only a barbaric form of cruelty, killing coyotes does not reduce their numbers. They just have a bigger litter later. The fact that the minister’s own employees stood up against him should tell you something big time. You could imagine that most government employees would fear for their jobs. Yet they had the guts to stand against something that was wrong.

Do you have the guts? *Stop this barbarism! We are better humans than this! Stop the leghold traps and the bounty, Minister, and start to deal with the matter on a higher level. We need to stop killing off or trying to kill off species in our world. We need diversity. We need to find ways of living together instead of the primitive first reaction of “kill it”.* Readers: copy and paste this paragraph, if you feel the same, and email it to the minister. Add your own thoughts or other phrases from this page. E-address is at top and elsewhere on this page.

Educate the humans who are causing the problem in the first place. Educate humans on how to deal with coyotes. Educate humans that not all coyotes are bad. Educate humans that everything in this world is interrelated and interdependent. And that we’ve got to stop messing with it.

The rule of law says that you don’t make laws for the extraordinary situations. And the practice of governance says that you don’t react to a panic over an unfortunate but extremely rare occurrence with barbarity and unjustified cruelty and attempt to exterminate a species in this world.

Power Costs and Renewable Energy in B.C.

Get ready to pay more for power. A lot more


Vancouver Sun October 16, 2010


a.. Story
b.. Photos ( 1 )


WIND POWER: Ontario has a plan to siphon billions from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers. B.C. is planning to do the same thing next year.
Photograph by: Reuters Files, Vancouver Sun
We're often told that British Columbia has the lowest prices for electricity in North America, but the claim is only partly true. Households that use up to 750 kWh a month do pay the lowest monthly rate on the continent; however, the average household uses 1,000 kWh and based on that level of consumption, B.C. ranks third behind Quebec and Manitoba.

In any case, B.C. consumers will soon pay more -much more -if the province follows the lead of Ontario where power prices are soaring, not just as a result of higher generation or transmission costs, but because of ill-conceived energy policies.

Under Ontario's Green Energy Act, a feed-in tariff (FIT) will siphon $3.8 billion from consumers' pockets by 2015 to subsidize wind and solar power producers.

B.C. plans to introduce a FIT program early next year.

The way the program would work is that BC Hydro would enter into energy supply contracts with alternative power producers at prices set to provide backers of these projects with an "acceptable" rate of return.

In Ontario, the power authority will pay prices ranging from about 20 cents/kwh to 80 cents/kwh; B.C.'s are likely to be in the same ballpark.

Given that the average residential price in B.C. is just over seven cents, it is clear that the cost to households will increase dramatically. In Ontario, the cost of residential power by 2015 is seen at 21 cents/kWh, nearly triple the price in 2003.

The idea is that a FIT will provide a revenue stream based on production that would enable projects to predict rates of return and attract financing to cover construction and operating costs. For the entrepreneur, a FIT transforms a bet on a pure power play into a surer thing, a subsidy play. All the risk is shifted to the residential consumer.

And the B.C. government plans to heighten that risk by focusing on emerging technologies, such as biomass, biogas, geothermal heat, solar, tidal and wind.

In order to prevent capital flight and job losses, governments that engage in this kind of reckless energy policy will have to find a way to insulate industrial power prices, leaving residential consumers to carry 100 per cent of the cost, although they account for only a third of electricity demand.

In the United Kingdom, FIT and other energy taxes, fees and charges increased the cost of energy so much that five million citizens were facing fuel poverty as of March 2009. Measures introduced to solve the problem reportedly exceeded the amount of revenue that the policies that caused it were designed to raise.

There's no doubt that former premier W.A.C. Bennett's hydroelectric vision in the 1960s helped B.C. to develop into the prosperous province it is today.

He well understood that energy policy and economic policy are one and the same, and that firm, cheap power was needed to exploit B.C.'s vast resources and attract investment. In fact, the mandate of BC Hydro is to ensure "reliable power at low cost for generations."

British Columbians -some grudgingly -may recognize that they have to pay slightly higher prices soon as our public utility embarks upon a program to modernize aging transmission lines.

But the energy policies the Liberal government is foisting on the province decouple energy from economics, impose higher than necessary costs on households and the outcome may parallel the experience in Europe -declines in manufacturing output, less business investment, weaker economic growth, fewer private sector jobs and additional taxes to finance social programs.

In Ontario, the combination of hydro rate hikes, eco-fees and the harmonized sales tax -the latter having raised barely a peep of protest when first introduced there -may now cost Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty the next election.

In the latest poll, 41 per cent backed Conservative leader Tim Hudak and only 29 per cent supported McGuinty. A telling statistic is that 86 per cent of those polled said they felt poorer than they did two years ago.

We are in favour of encouraging the development of alternative energy, but not at any price.

Since the government defanged the B.C. Utilities Commission, guardian of the public interest, there is no one looking out for the interest of residential ratepayers.

Median household incomes in B.C. have not seen much growth in recent years, the unemployment rate is relatively high, consumer and business confidence has fallen partly due to the continuing slowdown in the U.S., and there is a general anxiety about what our economic prospects are in the coming years.

So, this is not the time to erode the confidence of consumers and dampen economic activity by increasing the energy bills of British Columbians.



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/ready+more+power+more/3682418/story.html#ixzz12cWboo1J

Municipal Council Agenda

Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting DateOctober 12, 2010Pause to Seek GuidanceApproval of the AgendaAdditions/DeletionsPresentationsApproval of Minutes September 13, 2010Old Business /BusinessArising from Minutes# 1.0TeamWeymouth Request for Letter of Support# 2.0# 3.0Other BusinessArisingDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaNew Business#1Western Valley PeeWeeAAA Tournament Request for Municipality to place an advertisement in their program for the tournament#2Digby Library Repairs Interior Repairs:1. Main Library & Program Room –Painting & Plaster Repairs2. Program Room – Hanging SystemOutside Repairs:1. Awning for Outside Entrance#3#4#5#6# 7# 8CorrespondenceReceivedInformation Only# 1 Municipality of the District of Barrington Local fish plant workers – EI # 2 Phil Barrett, RCMP False Alarm Strategy# 3 Harold (Jr) Theriault Copy of letter to Min Estabrooks, TIR#4Conway Workshop Letter requesting signage for theirorganization in Conway#5Nova Scotia GamingCorporation 2009-10 Social Responsibility CommunityReport#6Nova ScotiaDepartment of Justice Request for feedback to possible amendments to the Police ActChief AdministrativeReport October 12, 2010Request for Decisions/Direction
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting Dates/RemindersOct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pm Smith’sCove Fire Hall Nov 8th– Special Council @ 6:00 Tiverton Community Centre Nov 8th– COTW following Special CouncilMeeting – Tiverton Community Centre Nov 22nd– Council @ 6:00 pm BartonSchool Dec 13th– COTW @ 6:00Acaciaville Baptist Church Hall.Department Reports for September 2010 Administration Taxation Building Department Building Permit Municipal Fire Inspector Airport/Dispatch Dispatch Call Report Airport Statistical  Dog Control Activity Dog Control Financial  Coordinator Program DevelopmentUpdates from PreviousmeetingsSpecial Projects UpdatesStrategic PrioritiesUpdateNotice of MotionIn-CameraAdjournment

Municipal Council Minutes

Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe meeting was called to order with Deputy Warden MacAlpine in the chair at 6:00 pm.AttendanceCouncillors present: 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 SecretaryPrayerDeputy Warden MacAlpine asked everyone to pause to seekguidance for the meeting and requested that everyone keep in mind the people missing on the scallop dragger. AgendaMOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved ascirculated.MOTION CARRIEDHearings & PresentationsSean Fredericks & Niki Lewis – Keith Trimper MemorialPlaygroundMOVED and seconded that Mr. Sean Fredericks and Ms.Niki Lewis come before the committee to make a presentation on the Keith Trimper Memorial Playground.MOTION CARRIED Mr. Fredericks and Ms. Lewis made a presentation to theCommittee regarding the replacement of the DigbyElementary School’s playground which is twenty-four yearsold and has been deemed unsafe. A committee has beenformed in an effort to make this project happen. Thecommittee has gone into the community to get grants and funding. “Let Them Be Kids” have agreed to fund half of the equipment cost for this project. The committee’s goalsare to promote and encourage community involvement,provide areas for school and community use, provide a safe
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia2play space for students as well as various other projects. Itwas noted that the project includes the installation of a pieceof equipment for disabled students. The project cost is$130,000. The committee is seeking funding from theMunicipality. A question and answer period followed thepresentation. The group would like to get a response fromCouncil as soon as possible as the build day is scheduled totake place on September 25, 2010. A copy of thepresentation as well as the project budget was requested byCouncil. Deputy Warden MacAlpine thanked them for thepresentation.MinutesJuly 12, 2010It was noted that Noise email should be replaced with NoiseBylaw in the agenda section of the July 12, 2010 minutes.MOVED and seconded that the minutes of July 12, 2010 beapproved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising/OldBusinessTransportation Study –NS Transit Research Incentive Program(TRIP) – JointApplication Update There was a discussion on the Transportation Study, NSTransit Research Incentive Program. It was noted that jointapplications were encouraged. Council had originallydiscussed applying jointly with the Municipality ofAnnapolis, Town of Digby and the Municipality of Clare.There was some concern that all of these units may not beinterested in participating. Council expressed their interestto go forward even if only the Municipality and Town of Digby are interested. The deadline for applications isSeptember 22, 2010.Other BusinessArising NILDeputy WardenMacAlpine No Business Arising
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia3Councillor Gregory -Conway – Highway303 expansion Councillor Gregory mentioned that residents in Conway areinquiring whether the Department of Transportation wouldbe able to further expand the lanes in Conway in the futureand take more of their land. It was advised to direct them toBasil Pitts, Department of Transportation.Councillor Amero No Business ArisingCouncillor Adams No Business ArisingNew Business#1 West Nova Agro –Letter of SupportMOVED and seconded that a letter be sent in support of thebusiness development proposal for West Nova Agro. It was noted that the CAO should note in the letter that theMunicipality is interested in promoting renewable energyopportunities.MOTION CARRIED#2 Team Weymouth –Funding Request -$5,000 Team Weymouth and the Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopment Committee have recently become successfulin securing funding to complete phase II of the WaterfrontDevelopment. They have recognized that a number ofthings have to happen along with phase II, one being thehiring of a consultant with the aim to find ways to attractforeign direct investments. Team Weymouth is requesting$5,000 from Council to move forward with this project.There was a short discussion of Council and it was agreedthat the CAO will follow up with ADEDA to find out if Team Weymouth is working with them to make thishappen. This request will was referred to the next councilmeeting. It was also suggested that Team Weymouth beinvited to the next Council meeting which is scheduled inWeymouth to make a presentation. # 3 Fall for Bear River – Funding Request -$500 A funding request has been received from the organizing committee for the Fall for Bear River festival in the amountof $500.  The Community grants account has $4,600 remaining forthis fiscal year and there are two other requests yet to be
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia4considered.MOVED and seconded that Council approve the fundingrequest for the Fall for Bear River festival in the amount of$500. MOTION CARRIEDCorrespondenceMinister of Health –Palliative CareServices It was noted that correspondence from the Minister ofHealth regarding palliative care services was not included inthe package. This information will be forwarded rightaway.Chief AdministrativeReportMaud Lewis Site –SignageMunicipal Building –RenovationsNovember MeetingDatesCrosswalks – Highway303 The CAO report dated September, 2010 was included in theCOTW Package. Councillor Adams brought up that the sign has been placedfor the Maud Lewis site. It was noted that Councilmisunderstood what type of sign was being installed.  Deputy Warden MacAlpine noted that there is a lot of workbeing done on the Municipal building. The project isestimated to be completed by January. The CAO noted thatthe heating proposal is in and is on budget. It was decided by Council to hold a special Council sessionon November 8, 2010 for the swearing in ceremony for thenew Councillor in District 4. This will be followed by aCOTW meeting. These meetings will be scheduled at theLittle River Baptist Church Hall at 6 pm. The Councilmeeting for November will be held on November, 22, 2010at the Barton School at 6 pm. The COTW meeting forDecember 13, 2010 will be held at the United BaptistChurch Hall in Acaciaville at 6 pm. It was noted that the Department of Transportation does notfund crosswalks, but will install them for municipalitiesupon their approval. Council would like to have crosswalksadded on Highway 303. The CAO will add this to theagenda for the next meeting with Transportation.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia5Request for Decisions/Direction NILDepartment ReportsTaxation The Taxation report for both July and August 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. Building Inspection Report/Fire Inspection Report The Building Inspection report for both July and August2010 were included in the meeting package. It was noted that permits were up over the last year.Airport/Dispatch The Airport/Dispatch report for both July and August 2010were included in the meeting package. It was noted that it was good to see that the surveillance equipment has beeninstalled at the Airport.Dog Control Activityand Financial Report The Dog Control Activity and Financial report for both Julyand August 2010 were included in the meeting package. Coordinator ProgramDevelopment The Coordinator Program Development report for July 9 to August 12, 2010 was included in the meeting package.Other BusinessN/AUpdates fromPrevious meetingsN/ASpecial ProjectsUpdatesN/AStrategic PrioritiesUpdateThe Strategic Priorities update was not available.Notice of MotionN/AComments from theGalleryNIL
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 2010North Range, Nova Scotia6AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 7:31PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK