Transport de Clare is/was a society geared to provide wheelchair transport in the district of Clare, which is a district unto itself and not part of Digby. It has its own government and everything. It was "happy" fulfilling its mandate. Then last year its president declared to me and to anyone who would listen that he intended to not restrict himself to wheelchair service and intended to go out and service the general population like I do. Furthermore, he declared to me that he "WANTED" Digby, Digby Neck and Islands and Bear River. Further to that, he intended to remain subsidized, too.
He went out and plunked down a van in Bear River, as if claiming it for his own, and later admitted that he has only had a couple of calls. Even the owner of the anchor business in that community admits that there seems to be little interest in his service.
The Da Bus not for profit Society was started out of Digby Neck and area and produced and matched the same proposal to council as Trans de C. This society did not have an accessible van but declared that with approval of their proposal, they would go out and get one, with funding and corporate donations.
The municipal councilors did not want to know the numbers of need for a)an accessible van b)how many people were mobility challenged and needing the service. They did not want a study to find out.
This is yours and my money.
Two identical proposals.
One difference: one headed by a man. one spearheaded by a woman, with a board of mostly women.
A *Forum* is defined as a discussion of matters or issues. Look it up. T de C held a forum at which when two questions were allowed, and these two were against T de C, the questions were cut off abruptly and any further questions not allowed.
The "audience" was divided into groups, each at which one of his attendants was stationed. They produced a list of questions designed to elicit favourable responses to T de C. When someone in one group (I was there to witness this) asked if he could get a word in edgewise and ask a question and voice an opinion, the attendant said no, there were a set of questions that had to be followed and that was that.
Outside, at a break, I was able to get one question in to this attendant. I asked if any of the T de C drivers were hired. The answer was yes, they were drivers from Clare. I asked what they did in the areas they intended to service. The answer was oh they had a whole list of volunteers in those areas. They didn't need to...(and she cut herself off before saying "to pay them").
Trans de Clare has a municipal councillor on their board!
Da Bus would be providing THE SAME SUBSIDIZED RATES AS TRANSPORT DE CLARE. Da Bus is in the municipal structure of the Digby area. Any drivers would be hired here.
Go phone your councilor right now. You know this setup is wrong. Phone Maritza Adams, Jim MacAlpine, Linda Gregory.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Paul Hawken on World Events
From "The Tyee"
Opinion
Paul Hawken Saw Wave of Change Coming: Now What?
Eco-entrepreneur wrote book portending Tahrir Square and Occupiers. He'll speak on new opportunities in Vancouver Tuesday. Here's a taste.
By David Beers, 11 Nov 2011, TheTyee.ca
Author Paul Hawken
Paul Hawken: How can we British Columbians do more with our 'blessings'?
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Related
Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities
Why They Joined Occupy Vancouver
Peaceful and boisterous, Vancouver's occupiers joined a global outcry that it's time to redistribute out-of-whack wealth.
Adbusters' Kalle Lasn Talks About OccupyWallStreet
The veteran culture-jammer on his role in getting the protest rolling, magic memes, what he would demand, and more.
Sign Up for the Tyee Newsletter
Right about now, as economies and nature unravel, spawning all kinds of democratic uprisings, you'd probably like to spend time with a brilliant person who's been making hopeful sense of all this for not just weeks, but decades.
That person would be Paul Hawken. You can hear his ideas on how best to connect with the great wave of global change this Tuesday evening in Vancouver.
Hawken has worked with Martin Luther King, Jr., established several highly successful green enterprises as well as the Natural Capital Institute think tank, and written groundbreaking bestsellers including The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability and Natural Capitalism: The Next Industrial Revolution. Four years ago he published Blessed Unrest, an investigation into the myriad groups around the planet advocating for justice and the environment, an amorphous "largest movement in the world" that Hawken concluded was unstoppable. Think back to when Hawken began researching his book, around the time of Sept. 11, 2001. That was not the most obvious moment to go looking for, and find, the spirit of Tahrir Square and Occupy Wall Street, but Hawken nailed it.
It may be because Hawken, who lives in Sausalito, California and made his first serious money by building a quality tool company, is a practical thinker, yet no one ever accused him of thinking too small.
On Tuesday evening Hawken will draw on examples from around the world to discuss ways to leverage our wisdom, our money and our humanity for a better world. Then a panel of local social entrepreneurs will join Hawken in a discussion of projects and initiatives that are transforming our local community and society. Audience members will also be given an opportunity to join in the conversation. To learn more about the event, click here.
Sponsored by Vancity, this gathering is intended to inform and invigorate anyone working for a better world in business, not for profits, government or other settings. The venue is the Orpheum Theatre; start time is 7:00 p.m. Tickets, priced on a sliding scale, can be reserved here.
FREE! Get The Tyee delivered direct to your inbox, daily or weekly.
In anticipation of Tuesday evening, The Tyee emailed Paul Hawken some questions and here's what he sent back:
Do you think Blessed Unrest predicted the Occupy Movement? Do the Occupiers represent a new phase of what you were cataloguing in your book?
"Blessed Unrest was published in 2007 but I had written about this phenomenon before then. In 2001 I wrote an essay for a book entitled 'Imagine: What America Could be in the 21st Century.' In it I described the movement from which Occupy emerges. Although people have quoted from Blessed Unrest and other essays with the view to my having predicted Occupy, I would say no. I try not to predict. I wrote about something that was evident more than 10 years ago. The difference is that the movement is now visible to many. The Occupiers represent a new manifestation of what has been present and growing all along. This is a bit long but this is what I wrote 10 years ago.
"In the United States, more than 30,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, and citizens' groups are addressing the issue of social and ecological sustainability in the most complete sense of the word. Worldwide, this number exceeds 100,000. Together they address a broad array of issues, including environmental justice, ecological literacy, public policy, conservation, women's rights and health, population, renewable energy, corporate reform, labour rights, climate change, trade rules, ethical investing, ecological tax reform, water, and much more. These groups follow Gandhi's imperatives: some resist, while others create new structures, patterns, and means. The groups tend to be local, marginal, poorly funded, and overworked. It is hard for most groups not to feel palpable anxiety -- that they could perish in a twinkling. At the same time, a deeper pattern is emerging that is extraordinary.
"If you ask each of these groups for their principles, frameworks, conventions, models, or declarations, you will find they do not conflict. This has never happened before in history. In the past, movements that became powerful started with a unified or centralized set of ideas (Marxism, Christianity, Freud) and disseminated them, creating power struggles over time as the core mental model or dogma was changed, diluted, or revised. The sustainability movement did not start this way. It does not agree on everything, nor should it ever, but remarkably it shares a basic set of fundamental understandings about the earth, how it functions, and the necessity of fairness and equity for all people in partaking of the earth's life-giving systems.
"These groups believe that self-sufficiency is a human right; they imagine a future where the means to kill people is not a business but a crime, where families do not starve, where fathers can work, where children are never sold, where women cannot be impoverished because they choose to be mothers. They believe that water and air belong to us all, not to the rich. They believe seeds and life itself cannot be owned or patented by corporations. They believe that nature is the basis of true prosperity and must be honored. This shared understanding is arising spontaneously, from different economic sectors, cultures, regions and cohorts. And it is growing and spreading, with no exception, throughout this country and worldwide. No one started this worldview, no one is in charge of it, and no orthodoxy is restraining it. It is the fastest and most powerful movement in the world today, unrecognizable to the American media because it is not centralized, based on power, or led by white, male, charismatic vertebrates. As external conditions continue to change and worsen socially, environmentally, and politically, organizations working toward sustainability increase, deepen, and multiply.
"Our children, who will look back 50 years from now and wonder at what these groups accomplished, are avidly reading Harry Potter books. What they know from these books is that there are too many Muggles in the world. As Bill McKibben wrote in his articles on the protests in Seattle, one kept seeing the sticker 'Wake up Muggles.' If Muggles stand for a hyper-rational world of no magic, economic analysis, and hyper-growth at all costs, then what we are beginning to see is the reemergence of a celebratory resistance to what Caroline Casey calls the 'Reality Police,' the angry columnists, the vacant politicians, the blind economists, the obsessed CEO, and pathological financiers, the people who cannot see that what is emerging now is the possibility of being fully human."
Blessed Unrest emphasized the atomized and therefore difficult to define nature of the world's myriad groups working for social justice and environmental preservation. Is there a danger that we place too much emphasis on the Occupy movement to stand in for all this unruly effort all over the world?
"When you ask do we place too much emphasis on Occupy, I guess you would have to define who we is because we generally stands for the media, not people, and how the media reports Occupy has been consistently inaccurate and skewed and will no doubt continue. It will be years before we understand the meaning and impact of the Occupy movement. It may fall apart, it may cohere, it may morph, or it may grow and overthrow by its presence the corrupt and collusive machinations of corporations and legislatures in the U.S. and throughout the world.
"What the Occupy movement cannot do is prevent the bankruptcy of the U.S., Japan, China and much of Europe, which is where we are but have so far deferred by financial contortions. This is not being brought about by the peasants or even the middle class, but by oligarchies everywhere. We have created the delusion of economic growth and well being by creating unpayable debts to the future, whether they are financial debts, the debt of resource depletion, or the debt of structural poverty, and the Occupy movement is holding up a mirror to a political/financial system that is manifestly unfair and which is causing incalculable damage to the world, whether it is liar loans or the Athabasca Tar Sands."
Scan the world and tell us if you think any world leaders really get the power of this "blessed unrest" and have made an intelligent alliance with it.
"I think Bill Clinton gets it. He is not in office, but he is as much of a world leader now as he ever was as president, only now he is using civil society as his vehicle. But past that, I would say no. There is no current elected leader that understands the power of civil society. "
So you don't think Obama gets it? Has he betrayed its energy that helped him get elected?
"Obama is a lawyer. Lawyers frame and think in linear and logical ways. Obama is approaching a non-linear complex system, i.e. the world economic system, as a problem of logic advised by people who both created and benefited from the financial morass we are in today. Since he is dealing with a problem that does not have a linear solution, he is a bit hapless."
What if any lesson does Obama's experience offer other world leaders at this moment?
"I cannot think of anything Obama offers with respect to his experience. He is running the largest empire in history with no experience in running anything at all. He is backed by a default reserve currency that provides him and the Federal Reserve great latitude and leverage to paper over our problems at home. If he did not have this legacy currency, we would be facing a situation similar to Italy and Greece, and soon France. In his defence, he did not cause or create it, and no one has had to deal with what he is facing ever before."
PAUL HAWKEN EVENT, NOV. 15
Leveraging our wisdom, money and humanity for a better world.
Where: Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver.
When: Nov. 15, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Sliding scale starting at $5, suggested price $20.
Find out more here.
Reserve tickets here.
What do you say to people who have become disillusioned with electoral politics to the point that they say "all politicians are alike"?
"I don't think it is helpful to see politicians as the bête noir of society. Politicians are people just like everyone else and I find many to be honorable and dedicated. That being said, I think we are looking for love in all the wrong places when we turn to national governments, because the role of governments is to slow things down, make commerce and citizens heedful of core values and the rule of law in the case of Canada and the U.S. Thus, they are not equipped to deal with the scale and rapidity of change we are witnessing, changes which will become ever more pronounced.
"Only citizen-based organizations and commerce can respond to change in a time-frame commensurate with the issues involved. Electoral politics, because it is hog-tied by problems it is ill equipped to solve, is devolving just as Plato predicted in The Republic, wherein the lowest common denominator becomes the arbiter of electoral politics. When that happens, we should not be surprised that nuance and civility have disappeared, and that many politicians do not have the intellectual capital to parse the issues or speak in a reasonable, non-polemical manner."
As the founder of the Natural Capital Institute and several companies that adhere to sustainable principles, please talk a bit about how business can be a positive source for social change.
"Business makes the biggest contribution by choosing what it does, and how it does it. Much of what we make and sell is absurd, unhealthy, useless, or toxic. We have to ask ourselves what is actually helpful at this time in history, what is needed, not just what people are addicted to. Marketing sugary, fatty junk food that creates the basis for obesity and type 2 diabetes is not helpful. Farming organically and banking carbon in the soil is extraordinarily helpful. Both are food businesses. The first type of business can never be sustainable whereas the second is inherently sustainable. Businesses that make things we need but do so in a destructive or uninformed way can become helpful by completely redoing how they manufacture and distribute their product, much as what happened with Ray Anderson and the Interface carpet company."
What qualities do you see in Vancouver and its region that make it a particularly fertile place for the kind of shift you have written about?
"I am not familiar enough with Vancouver to speak with any certitude on this. What I notice are the following qualities that greatly support the transformation the world is undergoing: functional governance systems that are not afraid of taxes or setting high standards; a fairly paid workforce; a diverse community; relative income equality; great schools; and a culture of innovation.
"What British Columbia has to be aware of is that it is an extraordinarily blessed place on the planet, and in some ways, it is removed from the travails and exigencies that most people in the world face on a daily basis. It could be said that true discovery and innovation lies in the shadows, that it rests within constraint rather than unbounded prosperity.
"Having just returned from Australia, there is a similarity to Canada in that both countries are resource rich in a world of diminishing resources. Both countries' economic futures are guaranteed for decades to come, and the question I would ask is whether or not these countries will use their blessings to lead the world."
Opinion
Paul Hawken Saw Wave of Change Coming: Now What?
Eco-entrepreneur wrote book portending Tahrir Square and Occupiers. He'll speak on new opportunities in Vancouver Tuesday. Here's a taste.
By David Beers, 11 Nov 2011, TheTyee.ca
Author Paul Hawken
Paul Hawken: How can we British Columbians do more with our 'blessings'?
Text size:
Rate this:
Login/Register
Related
Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities
Why They Joined Occupy Vancouver
Peaceful and boisterous, Vancouver's occupiers joined a global outcry that it's time to redistribute out-of-whack wealth.
Adbusters' Kalle Lasn Talks About OccupyWallStreet
The veteran culture-jammer on his role in getting the protest rolling, magic memes, what he would demand, and more.
Sign Up for the Tyee Newsletter
Right about now, as economies and nature unravel, spawning all kinds of democratic uprisings, you'd probably like to spend time with a brilliant person who's been making hopeful sense of all this for not just weeks, but decades.
That person would be Paul Hawken. You can hear his ideas on how best to connect with the great wave of global change this Tuesday evening in Vancouver.
Hawken has worked with Martin Luther King, Jr., established several highly successful green enterprises as well as the Natural Capital Institute think tank, and written groundbreaking bestsellers including The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability and Natural Capitalism: The Next Industrial Revolution. Four years ago he published Blessed Unrest, an investigation into the myriad groups around the planet advocating for justice and the environment, an amorphous "largest movement in the world" that Hawken concluded was unstoppable. Think back to when Hawken began researching his book, around the time of Sept. 11, 2001. That was not the most obvious moment to go looking for, and find, the spirit of Tahrir Square and Occupy Wall Street, but Hawken nailed it.
It may be because Hawken, who lives in Sausalito, California and made his first serious money by building a quality tool company, is a practical thinker, yet no one ever accused him of thinking too small.
On Tuesday evening Hawken will draw on examples from around the world to discuss ways to leverage our wisdom, our money and our humanity for a better world. Then a panel of local social entrepreneurs will join Hawken in a discussion of projects and initiatives that are transforming our local community and society. Audience members will also be given an opportunity to join in the conversation. To learn more about the event, click here.
Sponsored by Vancity, this gathering is intended to inform and invigorate anyone working for a better world in business, not for profits, government or other settings. The venue is the Orpheum Theatre; start time is 7:00 p.m. Tickets, priced on a sliding scale, can be reserved here.
FREE! Get The Tyee delivered direct to your inbox, daily or weekly.
In anticipation of Tuesday evening, The Tyee emailed Paul Hawken some questions and here's what he sent back:
Do you think Blessed Unrest predicted the Occupy Movement? Do the Occupiers represent a new phase of what you were cataloguing in your book?
"Blessed Unrest was published in 2007 but I had written about this phenomenon before then. In 2001 I wrote an essay for a book entitled 'Imagine: What America Could be in the 21st Century.' In it I described the movement from which Occupy emerges. Although people have quoted from Blessed Unrest and other essays with the view to my having predicted Occupy, I would say no. I try not to predict. I wrote about something that was evident more than 10 years ago. The difference is that the movement is now visible to many. The Occupiers represent a new manifestation of what has been present and growing all along. This is a bit long but this is what I wrote 10 years ago.
"In the United States, more than 30,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, and citizens' groups are addressing the issue of social and ecological sustainability in the most complete sense of the word. Worldwide, this number exceeds 100,000. Together they address a broad array of issues, including environmental justice, ecological literacy, public policy, conservation, women's rights and health, population, renewable energy, corporate reform, labour rights, climate change, trade rules, ethical investing, ecological tax reform, water, and much more. These groups follow Gandhi's imperatives: some resist, while others create new structures, patterns, and means. The groups tend to be local, marginal, poorly funded, and overworked. It is hard for most groups not to feel palpable anxiety -- that they could perish in a twinkling. At the same time, a deeper pattern is emerging that is extraordinary.
"If you ask each of these groups for their principles, frameworks, conventions, models, or declarations, you will find they do not conflict. This has never happened before in history. In the past, movements that became powerful started with a unified or centralized set of ideas (Marxism, Christianity, Freud) and disseminated them, creating power struggles over time as the core mental model or dogma was changed, diluted, or revised. The sustainability movement did not start this way. It does not agree on everything, nor should it ever, but remarkably it shares a basic set of fundamental understandings about the earth, how it functions, and the necessity of fairness and equity for all people in partaking of the earth's life-giving systems.
"These groups believe that self-sufficiency is a human right; they imagine a future where the means to kill people is not a business but a crime, where families do not starve, where fathers can work, where children are never sold, where women cannot be impoverished because they choose to be mothers. They believe that water and air belong to us all, not to the rich. They believe seeds and life itself cannot be owned or patented by corporations. They believe that nature is the basis of true prosperity and must be honored. This shared understanding is arising spontaneously, from different economic sectors, cultures, regions and cohorts. And it is growing and spreading, with no exception, throughout this country and worldwide. No one started this worldview, no one is in charge of it, and no orthodoxy is restraining it. It is the fastest and most powerful movement in the world today, unrecognizable to the American media because it is not centralized, based on power, or led by white, male, charismatic vertebrates. As external conditions continue to change and worsen socially, environmentally, and politically, organizations working toward sustainability increase, deepen, and multiply.
"Our children, who will look back 50 years from now and wonder at what these groups accomplished, are avidly reading Harry Potter books. What they know from these books is that there are too many Muggles in the world. As Bill McKibben wrote in his articles on the protests in Seattle, one kept seeing the sticker 'Wake up Muggles.' If Muggles stand for a hyper-rational world of no magic, economic analysis, and hyper-growth at all costs, then what we are beginning to see is the reemergence of a celebratory resistance to what Caroline Casey calls the 'Reality Police,' the angry columnists, the vacant politicians, the blind economists, the obsessed CEO, and pathological financiers, the people who cannot see that what is emerging now is the possibility of being fully human."
Blessed Unrest emphasized the atomized and therefore difficult to define nature of the world's myriad groups working for social justice and environmental preservation. Is there a danger that we place too much emphasis on the Occupy movement to stand in for all this unruly effort all over the world?
"When you ask do we place too much emphasis on Occupy, I guess you would have to define who we is because we generally stands for the media, not people, and how the media reports Occupy has been consistently inaccurate and skewed and will no doubt continue. It will be years before we understand the meaning and impact of the Occupy movement. It may fall apart, it may cohere, it may morph, or it may grow and overthrow by its presence the corrupt and collusive machinations of corporations and legislatures in the U.S. and throughout the world.
"What the Occupy movement cannot do is prevent the bankruptcy of the U.S., Japan, China and much of Europe, which is where we are but have so far deferred by financial contortions. This is not being brought about by the peasants or even the middle class, but by oligarchies everywhere. We have created the delusion of economic growth and well being by creating unpayable debts to the future, whether they are financial debts, the debt of resource depletion, or the debt of structural poverty, and the Occupy movement is holding up a mirror to a political/financial system that is manifestly unfair and which is causing incalculable damage to the world, whether it is liar loans or the Athabasca Tar Sands."
Scan the world and tell us if you think any world leaders really get the power of this "blessed unrest" and have made an intelligent alliance with it.
"I think Bill Clinton gets it. He is not in office, but he is as much of a world leader now as he ever was as president, only now he is using civil society as his vehicle. But past that, I would say no. There is no current elected leader that understands the power of civil society. "
So you don't think Obama gets it? Has he betrayed its energy that helped him get elected?
"Obama is a lawyer. Lawyers frame and think in linear and logical ways. Obama is approaching a non-linear complex system, i.e. the world economic system, as a problem of logic advised by people who both created and benefited from the financial morass we are in today. Since he is dealing with a problem that does not have a linear solution, he is a bit hapless."
What if any lesson does Obama's experience offer other world leaders at this moment?
"I cannot think of anything Obama offers with respect to his experience. He is running the largest empire in history with no experience in running anything at all. He is backed by a default reserve currency that provides him and the Federal Reserve great latitude and leverage to paper over our problems at home. If he did not have this legacy currency, we would be facing a situation similar to Italy and Greece, and soon France. In his defence, he did not cause or create it, and no one has had to deal with what he is facing ever before."
PAUL HAWKEN EVENT, NOV. 15
Leveraging our wisdom, money and humanity for a better world.
Where: Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver.
When: Nov. 15, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Sliding scale starting at $5, suggested price $20.
Find out more here.
Reserve tickets here.
What do you say to people who have become disillusioned with electoral politics to the point that they say "all politicians are alike"?
"I don't think it is helpful to see politicians as the bête noir of society. Politicians are people just like everyone else and I find many to be honorable and dedicated. That being said, I think we are looking for love in all the wrong places when we turn to national governments, because the role of governments is to slow things down, make commerce and citizens heedful of core values and the rule of law in the case of Canada and the U.S. Thus, they are not equipped to deal with the scale and rapidity of change we are witnessing, changes which will become ever more pronounced.
"Only citizen-based organizations and commerce can respond to change in a time-frame commensurate with the issues involved. Electoral politics, because it is hog-tied by problems it is ill equipped to solve, is devolving just as Plato predicted in The Republic, wherein the lowest common denominator becomes the arbiter of electoral politics. When that happens, we should not be surprised that nuance and civility have disappeared, and that many politicians do not have the intellectual capital to parse the issues or speak in a reasonable, non-polemical manner."
As the founder of the Natural Capital Institute and several companies that adhere to sustainable principles, please talk a bit about how business can be a positive source for social change.
"Business makes the biggest contribution by choosing what it does, and how it does it. Much of what we make and sell is absurd, unhealthy, useless, or toxic. We have to ask ourselves what is actually helpful at this time in history, what is needed, not just what people are addicted to. Marketing sugary, fatty junk food that creates the basis for obesity and type 2 diabetes is not helpful. Farming organically and banking carbon in the soil is extraordinarily helpful. Both are food businesses. The first type of business can never be sustainable whereas the second is inherently sustainable. Businesses that make things we need but do so in a destructive or uninformed way can become helpful by completely redoing how they manufacture and distribute their product, much as what happened with Ray Anderson and the Interface carpet company."
What qualities do you see in Vancouver and its region that make it a particularly fertile place for the kind of shift you have written about?
"I am not familiar enough with Vancouver to speak with any certitude on this. What I notice are the following qualities that greatly support the transformation the world is undergoing: functional governance systems that are not afraid of taxes or setting high standards; a fairly paid workforce; a diverse community; relative income equality; great schools; and a culture of innovation.
"What British Columbia has to be aware of is that it is an extraordinarily blessed place on the planet, and in some ways, it is removed from the travails and exigencies that most people in the world face on a daily basis. It could be said that true discovery and innovation lies in the shadows, that it rests within constraint rather than unbounded prosperity.
"Having just returned from Australia, there is a similarity to Canada in that both countries are resource rich in a world of diminishing resources. Both countries' economic futures are guaranteed for decades to come, and the question I would ask is whether or not these countries will use their blessings to lead the world."
Friday, November 11, 2011
Choice and Democracy
How Large Organizations Suck You Away from Democracy
On this day, when we celebrate our freedoms, paid for with the lives of so many, the coercion against democracy, the ever-increasing erosion of democracy and the free enterprise system continues, and you are part of it. You are, I fact choosing it. And while you may think that by choosing it you are exercising a democratic right, perhaps it is different than that. There is no doubt that democracy *means* free enterprise, right? If you live in a democracy, we have free enterprise. This is normal. We take it for granted; we think it’s “just there”. We also think that our right to choose is just there. But is it?
We like to think that as adults we are mature in thinking, think deeply about things, and try to do the right thing. Or things. So how can your choice be taken away? How can you be actually “choosing’ to leave your democratic/free enterprise system while at the same time proclaiming the symbolism of Remembrance Day (being freedom and democracy), and loudly (sometimes) proclaiming that our system is better than others because we are “free”? Just how free are you, when it comes to making decisions about money, in our democratic/free enterprise system? Our free enterprise system, by the way, is based on the freedom to start and to have a business, and our democracy allows for anyone to do that (based on fair competition).
Still with me? We all know the above. So do our governments, at all levels (federal, provincial, municipal and town). Big business knows it. Advertisers know it. Other types of government know it (socialist, communist, etc.). And a variety of agencies, too. Whether it’s a political or corporate entity, they all use research (polls, psychology, studies) to determine how to achieve their goals, wishes and aims. They know us. They know the consumer. In governance, they know, (or think they know), and how to govern us. We wouldn’t have the need for political science, anthropologists, psychologists or sociologists otherwise. (lol). We, or rather they, need to understand humans and how to use that understanding.
So how is it that you can’t refuse a good sales pitch? (even tho’ you might have some inner qualms about it?).How come you can’t (or is it won’t) refuse a low low price on something, even tho’ your innards are thinking there might be something wrong with it?
We aren’t the poorest country, province or county in the world. We are one of the richest nations. Most of us, in Digby County, are not cooking our meals over open fires on the street as our only way of cooking or obtaining heat. We “choose” to BBQ in the summer. We “choose” to sit around a camp fire and toast marshmallow or warm our hands. And this is one of my points: “It’s the POOR who don’t have choices, right? They “have to” choose the lowest cost of doing anything, the lowest price from food to transportation. They’re the ones whose choices are severely limited.
If you are above the poverty line, do you have other choices? Can you make other choices than what’s the cheapest? Can you make another choice other than what’s the bottom line? Can you make another choice if your innards are not sure that it’s the right thing to do?
Why is it that there is a “wealthy” (not below the poverty line) person at the food bank? A neighbour accepting $500. a month not to tell a next door neighbour that a huge, destructive development will be taking place right next to him? An area where the standard of living is 10, 000 times over Biafra’s taking “donations” to the area’s clubs, societies, receipts of ball caps and T Shirts, for an activity that may cause others to lose their homes or may hurt the wildlife or even remove the landscape and affect quality of life? Don’t these same people or entities already enjoy quality of life? And it is usually the bigger organization, political structures, or bigger businesses that are “bribing” you to do what your innards are telling you isn’t right.
They are removing your choice by offering you something. They know that you, in your income bracket, which is not the lowest, will not refuse a “donations”, a “gift”, or a lower price.
Hence, we get the millionaires scrimping on things, billionaires low-paying their employees, the wealthy outfitting their enterprises from second-hand stores. Others using services really just meant for the poor. We are not that poor, you know. But it is not just the “wealthy”. Those who can well afford it, or are not below the poverty level are sucked way past principles, and incidentally, out of their choice, by a buck-or two.
You can get sucked into what current demonstrators would call corporate greed, by accepting a donation to your favourite cause. You don’t want to admit that it means you’ve been sucked into “theirs*. For example, accepting a “gift”, or donation from a fast food joint for placing their logo on the playground. You’ve also, now by popular opinion, contributed to the highest rates of obesity, heart disease and illness this society has had EVER. Not only your kids, but your friends’ kids. Some people were “sold” by political and corporate agencies to put wind turbines in a sensitive ecological and pristine nature areas, clear cutting the forest and hillsides to do it, removing the vegetation that controls run-off, and provides the oxygen that humans need to breathe; taking way the homes and habitats of may wild creatures, putting spinning blades in the air on the migratory bird flyway of many visiting and rare bird species, and obliterating the landscape, which provides quality of life to humans and other species, and flies in the face of a now global phrase, altho’ you may not have heard it before: “landscape conservation”, which is now recognized as needed, and valuable. If you think well we’re only one small area, then you are conveniently missing the point-the bigger picture. The world cannot sustain these on-going, increasing, and cumulative onslaughts.
Moving on: doesn’t the world seem to be going towards bigger and bigger “entities”? And do you know why you don’t plant a lawn full of Kentucky bluegrass only? Hopefully you’ll see the connection soon. You don’t plant a lawn full of one species or one variety of grass only. Why? Because if the one species (or monoculture, which you’ve created) of grass get a disease, your whole lawn is destroyed.
Yet farm operations are huge operations now. Some now are controlled by larger corporations such as Monsanto. Even seeds now are controlled by about 3 huge entities. I’m not saying that they did this, but if farmers were sucked into an offer by some of these big “daddies”, then their “no choice” choice as the larger entities counted on, has led to the farmers having no choice at all, from seeds to crop, and us having no choice about what we eat-genetically modified plants, seeds and all. Even the seeds are owned by only a very small number of companies. Maybe it’s true, but it’s counted on, that you will have no choice but to accept the offer.
The bigger entities’ (government or big enterprises) premise is that the general population will always take an offer of money or a lower price for something. And then you’re in *their* pocket, hooked into their agenda of corporate greed, or for the purpose of creating a monopoly-for control and money, for power and ego. But remember the lawn?
What ever happened, and what’s happening to the little guy? It’s the little guys who will prevent the “monoculture” or lawn disaster. Are you starting to understand what I’m saying?
Back to politics: free enterprise, which goes along with our democratic system, is base on any number of people who want to start a business, being free to do so, and trying to exist in fair competition with other (small) businesses, and according to all that market mumbo jumbo. Far right socialism or communism is the opposite .Everything is owned and run by the State (or province?). It tries to gobble everything unto itself, eliminating small business, and much of what we call “free will”, our freedoms and our choices. The “offer” to you, to make you accept this, is a lower price for things or some things. “The STATE” or the province, with your money, of course, will subsidize this .Or that. You become part of the State and are controlled by it, just like, for example the big cold land in the north of Europe. Which we, in our democracies hated. We fought wars against governments like that one. Millions of people over the world died for democracy and our freedoms. On this November the11th, 2011, how would you say we are doing?
You may not this a fair parallel, but on Wednesday night, there was a meeting, in which the President of particular operation proudly proclaimed that “WE (his type of operation) have taken over most of Nova Scotia. There’s only one slice left”.
People, caught up in the glossy performance production of promo, in which no discussion was allowed except for 2 questions), almost clapped for him. Imagine.
His operation is subsidized. A lower price. If you don’t “get” this, and the bigger picture, I’m almost sorry you’ve read this far. It’s been a long read, I know.
Yesterday, someone whom I can’t find the right descriptor for….an emissary (political) or agent of his), came to me, professing of potential “offers’ soon to come. The implication was “if only I would agree…”.
What do you think folks? What should I do? What should *you* do?
As always, my opinion (without predudice), the Blogger.
On this day, when we celebrate our freedoms, paid for with the lives of so many, the coercion against democracy, the ever-increasing erosion of democracy and the free enterprise system continues, and you are part of it. You are, I fact choosing it. And while you may think that by choosing it you are exercising a democratic right, perhaps it is different than that. There is no doubt that democracy *means* free enterprise, right? If you live in a democracy, we have free enterprise. This is normal. We take it for granted; we think it’s “just there”. We also think that our right to choose is just there. But is it?
We like to think that as adults we are mature in thinking, think deeply about things, and try to do the right thing. Or things. So how can your choice be taken away? How can you be actually “choosing’ to leave your democratic/free enterprise system while at the same time proclaiming the symbolism of Remembrance Day (being freedom and democracy), and loudly (sometimes) proclaiming that our system is better than others because we are “free”? Just how free are you, when it comes to making decisions about money, in our democratic/free enterprise system? Our free enterprise system, by the way, is based on the freedom to start and to have a business, and our democracy allows for anyone to do that (based on fair competition).
Still with me? We all know the above. So do our governments, at all levels (federal, provincial, municipal and town). Big business knows it. Advertisers know it. Other types of government know it (socialist, communist, etc.). And a variety of agencies, too. Whether it’s a political or corporate entity, they all use research (polls, psychology, studies) to determine how to achieve their goals, wishes and aims. They know us. They know the consumer. In governance, they know, (or think they know), and how to govern us. We wouldn’t have the need for political science, anthropologists, psychologists or sociologists otherwise. (lol). We, or rather they, need to understand humans and how to use that understanding.
So how is it that you can’t refuse a good sales pitch? (even tho’ you might have some inner qualms about it?).How come you can’t (or is it won’t) refuse a low low price on something, even tho’ your innards are thinking there might be something wrong with it?
We aren’t the poorest country, province or county in the world. We are one of the richest nations. Most of us, in Digby County, are not cooking our meals over open fires on the street as our only way of cooking or obtaining heat. We “choose” to BBQ in the summer. We “choose” to sit around a camp fire and toast marshmallow or warm our hands. And this is one of my points: “It’s the POOR who don’t have choices, right? They “have to” choose the lowest cost of doing anything, the lowest price from food to transportation. They’re the ones whose choices are severely limited.
If you are above the poverty line, do you have other choices? Can you make other choices than what’s the cheapest? Can you make another choice other than what’s the bottom line? Can you make another choice if your innards are not sure that it’s the right thing to do?
Why is it that there is a “wealthy” (not below the poverty line) person at the food bank? A neighbour accepting $500. a month not to tell a next door neighbour that a huge, destructive development will be taking place right next to him? An area where the standard of living is 10, 000 times over Biafra’s taking “donations” to the area’s clubs, societies, receipts of ball caps and T Shirts, for an activity that may cause others to lose their homes or may hurt the wildlife or even remove the landscape and affect quality of life? Don’t these same people or entities already enjoy quality of life? And it is usually the bigger organization, political structures, or bigger businesses that are “bribing” you to do what your innards are telling you isn’t right.
They are removing your choice by offering you something. They know that you, in your income bracket, which is not the lowest, will not refuse a “donations”, a “gift”, or a lower price.
Hence, we get the millionaires scrimping on things, billionaires low-paying their employees, the wealthy outfitting their enterprises from second-hand stores. Others using services really just meant for the poor. We are not that poor, you know. But it is not just the “wealthy”. Those who can well afford it, or are not below the poverty level are sucked way past principles, and incidentally, out of their choice, by a buck-or two.
You can get sucked into what current demonstrators would call corporate greed, by accepting a donation to your favourite cause. You don’t want to admit that it means you’ve been sucked into “theirs*. For example, accepting a “gift”, or donation from a fast food joint for placing their logo on the playground. You’ve also, now by popular opinion, contributed to the highest rates of obesity, heart disease and illness this society has had EVER. Not only your kids, but your friends’ kids. Some people were “sold” by political and corporate agencies to put wind turbines in a sensitive ecological and pristine nature areas, clear cutting the forest and hillsides to do it, removing the vegetation that controls run-off, and provides the oxygen that humans need to breathe; taking way the homes and habitats of may wild creatures, putting spinning blades in the air on the migratory bird flyway of many visiting and rare bird species, and obliterating the landscape, which provides quality of life to humans and other species, and flies in the face of a now global phrase, altho’ you may not have heard it before: “landscape conservation”, which is now recognized as needed, and valuable. If you think well we’re only one small area, then you are conveniently missing the point-the bigger picture. The world cannot sustain these on-going, increasing, and cumulative onslaughts.
Moving on: doesn’t the world seem to be going towards bigger and bigger “entities”? And do you know why you don’t plant a lawn full of Kentucky bluegrass only? Hopefully you’ll see the connection soon. You don’t plant a lawn full of one species or one variety of grass only. Why? Because if the one species (or monoculture, which you’ve created) of grass get a disease, your whole lawn is destroyed.
Yet farm operations are huge operations now. Some now are controlled by larger corporations such as Monsanto. Even seeds now are controlled by about 3 huge entities. I’m not saying that they did this, but if farmers were sucked into an offer by some of these big “daddies”, then their “no choice” choice as the larger entities counted on, has led to the farmers having no choice at all, from seeds to crop, and us having no choice about what we eat-genetically modified plants, seeds and all. Even the seeds are owned by only a very small number of companies. Maybe it’s true, but it’s counted on, that you will have no choice but to accept the offer.
The bigger entities’ (government or big enterprises) premise is that the general population will always take an offer of money or a lower price for something. And then you’re in *their* pocket, hooked into their agenda of corporate greed, or for the purpose of creating a monopoly-for control and money, for power and ego. But remember the lawn?
What ever happened, and what’s happening to the little guy? It’s the little guys who will prevent the “monoculture” or lawn disaster. Are you starting to understand what I’m saying?
Back to politics: free enterprise, which goes along with our democratic system, is base on any number of people who want to start a business, being free to do so, and trying to exist in fair competition with other (small) businesses, and according to all that market mumbo jumbo. Far right socialism or communism is the opposite .Everything is owned and run by the State (or province?). It tries to gobble everything unto itself, eliminating small business, and much of what we call “free will”, our freedoms and our choices. The “offer” to you, to make you accept this, is a lower price for things or some things. “The STATE” or the province, with your money, of course, will subsidize this .Or that. You become part of the State and are controlled by it, just like, for example the big cold land in the north of Europe. Which we, in our democracies hated. We fought wars against governments like that one. Millions of people over the world died for democracy and our freedoms. On this November the11th, 2011, how would you say we are doing?
You may not this a fair parallel, but on Wednesday night, there was a meeting, in which the President of particular operation proudly proclaimed that “WE (his type of operation) have taken over most of Nova Scotia. There’s only one slice left”.
People, caught up in the glossy performance production of promo, in which no discussion was allowed except for 2 questions), almost clapped for him. Imagine.
His operation is subsidized. A lower price. If you don’t “get” this, and the bigger picture, I’m almost sorry you’ve read this far. It’s been a long read, I know.
Yesterday, someone whom I can’t find the right descriptor for….an emissary (political) or agent of his), came to me, professing of potential “offers’ soon to come. The implication was “if only I would agree…”.
What do you think folks? What should I do? What should *you* do?
As always, my opinion (without predudice), the Blogger.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Senior's Legal Info Session
Legal Information Session With Ned Chase, QC TEP of Counsel, TMC Law Thursday, November 17th 1:30pm Digby Curling Center This FREE information session will empower you to make decisions for your care, your finances and your future. Ned has a special interest in Financial Abuse and Power of Attorney process and works diligently to educate peers, policy makers and seniors on tips to avoid misuse. All are welcome. Call Dawn Thomas, Seniors Safety Coordinator for more information or to pre register. 245-2579 or dawn.thomas@rcmp-grc.gc.ca The Use and Abuse of Power of Attorney and The Personal Directives Act
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Find and Prepare Candidates
Da Bus is a valid and legal notforprofit society. A society can legally hire or contract with a service provider to do work for them.
Kathleen's Shuttle and Tours is a legal.and licensed small business and is permitted by the URB to do shuttle service, charters and tours. Charters are where any individual or organization charters the van and driver to perform work for them.
The Da Bus society is an existing local organization with a board of local community members. It wishes to provide subsidized transportation to its own citizens of the area.
Transport de Clare is situated in another district of its own, which has its own governance structure. The T de C society was originally created, presumably, to provide wheelchair service in that district and was content to do so until recent times. The head of that organization then declared "he wanted" Digby County: Digby, Digby Neck and Islands and Bear River. And that he wasn't going to restrict himself to wheelchair people. He was going to serve the general population AND remain subsidized.
Don't you see a problem with this?
Da Bus wants to start subsidized service in your area immediately and can do so with some funding. It has asked both town council (Digby town would also benefit from the service) and municipal council (which represents Digby District, not Clare) for funding. The society is applying for other funding and seeking donations to purchase its own bus, which will be wheelchair accessible.
Over 150 signatures on a petition to get Da Bus to provide the service was collected in less than 5 days part-time, in your area, and more have come in. Council has ignored the direction and wants of its own communities, and is fixing to bring in an operation from another district entirely.
Do you question that? When *there is already an existing operation* in their own community? Are your hard-earned tax dollars going to go to the District of Clare?
I, Kathleen Gidney, owner/operator of Kathleen's Shuttle and Tours, am not on the board of the Da Bus society. I, however, know the area and many of its people, my family has been here for over 200 years. I already have a service that operates in the area, which can easily be contracted for my shuttle bus to do society work until the society gets its own bus. I am willing to do this.
So what's the problem with councils? They are stalling. Or bewildered. Or something we don't know about is in the picture and "they ain't sayin'".
Number one: Municipal councilor Randal Amero is on the board of Transport de Clare. This councilor tried to "rip me apart" at a recent council meeting, and tried to tell me my own licensing body would not allow me to do what was proposed. I knew I could and dutifully checked with the Utility and Review Board and what Mr. Amero was saying was wrong. I felt "attacked" during Amero's interrogation, and we can imagine why he did that.
But why was he allowed to speak (and attack me) in the first place? Don't you wonder about that and why council allowed him to speak?
Number Two: It may be that you will lose locally-operated subsidized transit in the area because: Councilor David Tudor of the Islands did not appear to want it. He was opposed to door-to-door subsidized transit because: "some people don't have phones".
Number Three: Warden Gregory, "representing" most of Digby Neck appeared to oppose the society's proposal to provide subsidized transit for you. Why? Why don't you ask her? and tell me. My email address is goingwithkathleen's@gmail.com or goingtodigby@gmail.com
Question authority, folks. It's a great bumper sticker and also a great practice. Question your representatives about their right to "represent" your area. Make your views known and that you are tired of them NOT representing you but making their own decisions together-themselves-without hearing you-behind closed doors.
The question of who should run your lives, and the question of whether they will turn to a locally operated and community-run service hangs in the balance and needs your help. Make donations. Phone Linda Gregory 245-2616 or put it in writing (even better, they can't ignore it) at lgregory@municipality.digby.ca Write a letter to the editor of both the Digby Courier and the Halifax Herald. Write to Greg Kerr.
Tell both or all of your "representatives" that their time to rule this way will not be supported if they don't support local organizations and local businesses and stop sending the money-your money-elsewhere.
After all the above, TdeC shouldn't get to do this-TdeC proposed the same thing.
Da Bus should be funded as it is an existing local organization.
My opinion and my say. Without predjudice: Blogger
Kathleen's Shuttle and Tours is a legal.and licensed small business and is permitted by the URB to do shuttle service, charters and tours. Charters are where any individual or organization charters the van and driver to perform work for them.
The Da Bus society is an existing local organization with a board of local community members. It wishes to provide subsidized transportation to its own citizens of the area.
Transport de Clare is situated in another district of its own, which has its own governance structure. The T de C society was originally created, presumably, to provide wheelchair service in that district and was content to do so until recent times. The head of that organization then declared "he wanted" Digby County: Digby, Digby Neck and Islands and Bear River. And that he wasn't going to restrict himself to wheelchair people. He was going to serve the general population AND remain subsidized.
Don't you see a problem with this?
Da Bus wants to start subsidized service in your area immediately and can do so with some funding. It has asked both town council (Digby town would also benefit from the service) and municipal council (which represents Digby District, not Clare) for funding. The society is applying for other funding and seeking donations to purchase its own bus, which will be wheelchair accessible.
Over 150 signatures on a petition to get Da Bus to provide the service was collected in less than 5 days part-time, in your area, and more have come in. Council has ignored the direction and wants of its own communities, and is fixing to bring in an operation from another district entirely.
Do you question that? When *there is already an existing operation* in their own community? Are your hard-earned tax dollars going to go to the District of Clare?
I, Kathleen Gidney, owner/operator of Kathleen's Shuttle and Tours, am not on the board of the Da Bus society. I, however, know the area and many of its people, my family has been here for over 200 years. I already have a service that operates in the area, which can easily be contracted for my shuttle bus to do society work until the society gets its own bus. I am willing to do this.
So what's the problem with councils? They are stalling. Or bewildered. Or something we don't know about is in the picture and "they ain't sayin'".
Number one: Municipal councilor Randal Amero is on the board of Transport de Clare. This councilor tried to "rip me apart" at a recent council meeting, and tried to tell me my own licensing body would not allow me to do what was proposed. I knew I could and dutifully checked with the Utility and Review Board and what Mr. Amero was saying was wrong. I felt "attacked" during Amero's interrogation, and we can imagine why he did that.
But why was he allowed to speak (and attack me) in the first place? Don't you wonder about that and why council allowed him to speak?
Number Two: It may be that you will lose locally-operated subsidized transit in the area because: Councilor David Tudor of the Islands did not appear to want it. He was opposed to door-to-door subsidized transit because: "some people don't have phones".
Number Three: Warden Gregory, "representing" most of Digby Neck appeared to oppose the society's proposal to provide subsidized transit for you. Why? Why don't you ask her? and tell me. My email address is goingwithkathleen's@gmail.com or goingtodigby@gmail.com
Question authority, folks. It's a great bumper sticker and also a great practice. Question your representatives about their right to "represent" your area. Make your views known and that you are tired of them NOT representing you but making their own decisions together-themselves-without hearing you-behind closed doors.
The question of who should run your lives, and the question of whether they will turn to a locally operated and community-run service hangs in the balance and needs your help. Make donations. Phone Linda Gregory 245-2616 or put it in writing (even better, they can't ignore it) at lgregory@municipality.digby.ca Write a letter to the editor of both the Digby Courier and the Halifax Herald. Write to Greg Kerr.
Tell both or all of your "representatives" that their time to rule this way will not be supported if they don't support local organizations and local businesses and stop sending the money-your money-elsewhere.
After all the above, TdeC shouldn't get to do this-TdeC proposed the same thing.
Da Bus should be funded as it is an existing local organization.
My opinion and my say. Without predjudice: Blogger
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Council meeting last night
Did anyone at the meeting get the impression that Councilor Tudor did not want door to door subsidized transportation on the Islands because some people don't have phones? Blogger
Presentation to Municipal Council Sep.26, '11
Blogger: this is the complete text of the presentation made to Municipal Council n the 26th. Pls note that on the special meeting of the 27th, Councilor Amero, who is on the board of Transport de Clarewas all for Transport de Clare, and said that *that* society that would look at the numbers. Pls read the text of the Da Bus presentation which all had heard. Then most councilors said they didn't want a study (which, of course we all know would produce the numbers). Council had been all for doing a feasibility study.
Councilor Amero also claimed that the society called Da Bus, when asked if they could provide the service said that they couldn't. Pls read the text of the presentation all heard. The society called Da Bus said they would get a wheelchair bus with funding.
In the meantime, readers, you should know that at the meeting last nite, it was revealed that your municipality is losing $180,000 each year on King's Transit and admitting that ridership has decreased approx. 29% in the past little while. In my view and that of others after the meeting (not including council) that $180,000 (multiplied by 7 years?) could be better spent on a worthwhile service like Da Bus in Digby municipality, and Transport de Clare, down in Clare, if he really needs it.
It would buy a wheelchair bus right now for the local municipality, instead of waiting for the applications for other funding to come in.
Council is thinking about spending 10,000 (more) of your municipal tax money and get 10,000 from the town of Digby tax money to give Kings Transit two more stops. Do you people from outside the town feel left out? The whole transportation discussions were originated supposedly from a concern about poor people in the remote areas. And all the while, both councils have been expressing a concern about the lack of ridership on Kings Transit. $20,000 more? when Da Bus could be bringing in the people they supposedly were concerned about from the rural areas and providing them with subsidized transportation? Are they talking out of both sides of their mouths? It would cost much less than now a proposed total of$200,000 to get a community bus for the Da Bus society that would get people from the rural areas into Digby and perhaps include the ferry and Smith's Cove area and have a successful operation from Bear River to the town. Remember, the new society called Da Bus, *wants* people to get on Da Bus! and this organization is a local one and it's all local people from this community who are on the board.
Councilor Amero, who is on the board of Transport de Clare, claimed that the Digby municipal area Da Bus is a "private" operation. HERE BE IT KNOWN: It is no more "private" than Transport de Clare.
What is going on here, folks?
Jim MacAlpine wonders how much more money should we spend on transit and transit studies, but there seems to be a distinct avoidance on the part of the pro Kings Transit study to determine the numbers that would state a need for more Kings Transit service, and now the council's apparent avoidance of any study that would determine need elsewhere also, except Amero's promotion of the society he is on that *they* would produce numbers. He was trying to say that T de C would do a good thing by producing numbers and Da Bus wouldn't- which of course, it had stated it would. But then it seemed like all council decided it did not want to determine the numbers of people who could use or would use or who need a subsidized transportation service on Digby Neck and Islands and elsewhere. Da Bus proposed providing the service to the area and collecting data while doing it. Why not? Doesn't this sound like a good idea?
12 pages of names and signatures of people in the area were provided to Warden Gregory and Deputy Warden MacAlpine of people who want subsidized transportation by a Digby area community organization (called Da Bus). It was ignored. YOU were ignored. How do you feel about that?
Your thoughts and opinions on these very strange events are welcome. Just write: goingtodigby@gmail.com and I'll post them here.
Dear Council Members
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I thought it would be beneficial to say a few thins tonite about the service proposed under the auspices of the Society called oDa Bus, which is a notforprofit society. It is designed to help members of our community to over come the barriers to accessing goods and services such a groceries, banks, medical appointments etc that will help them stay in this community or stay in their homes longer and helping them have a better life here.
It is not a taxi service. They cannot flag down a ride, they must phone ahead and pre-book. The service will pick people up at their door. The society will begin this service on Digby Neck and both islands. The travel from this area would go up to Digby and start the return home in mid to late afternoon.
It is a local service provided by a board of local community members and the service portion carried out by a local person. This is a useful and caring endeavour, and would be an enhancement to life in Digby County. People could stay in their homes longer, and stay in the area longer, rather than leave.
And we would rather our tax dollars stay in the community as well. If council endorses the idea of Buy Local, it would seem right to spend the locally obtained tax dollars on supporting its own community-developed initiatives. Before, there wasn’t a notforprofit transportation society in existence. There is one now.
The society as well would employ a local person who would effect the service. That person would, when the day is done, go and spend their paycheck in *this* community. The societies act permits a notforprofit society to hire or contract with someone to perform work for them. Da Bus can contract with Kathleen’s Shuttle, the existing transportation provider in the area, to kickstart the program as soon as possible, and when more funding sources are accessed, the society will buy a community wheelchair accessible bus of its own.
As the existing transportation provider in the area, I am very familiar with the area and its communities and its people. You will see by documents that I have given you that the communities all up the Neck and Islands support the proposal. And the people of Digby do too. While using my vehicle to initiate the program, I will conduct a study which will provide data on the number of calls received, the number of pickups, the approximate age group of interested people and their mobility issues, for example. The data may be easier obtained by someone who is a local in the community. And, my family has been in the area for…oh, at least a couple hundred years.
This proposal also helps the municipality avoid competing with a local business by funding a similar operation. The goal, I think, is, as the society proposes, to enhance services, and not take away from what already exists. There now seems to be a community of local officials who believe in the essence of this proposal: “I think we should respect local businesses”-deputy warden MacAlpine; the words of town Deputy Mayor Mike Bartlett in the July 19 issue of the Digby Courier about the Maud Lewis merchandise: promoting and helping and not hurting, and Danny Harvieux in the joint Annapolis-Digby initiative, much in support of buying local and using services we have.
Da Bus is a workable and *wonderful* solution to enhancement of services while avoiding taking away from services; a solution and an initiative developed within the community, by its own community members. Please see the board of directors in the documents submitted. Your support is important to Da Bus, and our community.
Councilor Amero also claimed that the society called Da Bus, when asked if they could provide the service said that they couldn't. Pls read the text of the presentation all heard. The society called Da Bus said they would get a wheelchair bus with funding.
In the meantime, readers, you should know that at the meeting last nite, it was revealed that your municipality is losing $180,000 each year on King's Transit and admitting that ridership has decreased approx. 29% in the past little while. In my view and that of others after the meeting (not including council) that $180,000 (multiplied by 7 years?) could be better spent on a worthwhile service like Da Bus in Digby municipality, and Transport de Clare, down in Clare, if he really needs it.
It would buy a wheelchair bus right now for the local municipality, instead of waiting for the applications for other funding to come in.
Council is thinking about spending 10,000 (more) of your municipal tax money and get 10,000 from the town of Digby tax money to give Kings Transit two more stops. Do you people from outside the town feel left out? The whole transportation discussions were originated supposedly from a concern about poor people in the remote areas. And all the while, both councils have been expressing a concern about the lack of ridership on Kings Transit. $20,000 more? when Da Bus could be bringing in the people they supposedly were concerned about from the rural areas and providing them with subsidized transportation? Are they talking out of both sides of their mouths? It would cost much less than now a proposed total of$200,000 to get a community bus for the Da Bus society that would get people from the rural areas into Digby and perhaps include the ferry and Smith's Cove area and have a successful operation from Bear River to the town. Remember, the new society called Da Bus, *wants* people to get on Da Bus! and this organization is a local one and it's all local people from this community who are on the board.
Councilor Amero, who is on the board of Transport de Clare, claimed that the Digby municipal area Da Bus is a "private" operation. HERE BE IT KNOWN: It is no more "private" than Transport de Clare.
What is going on here, folks?
Jim MacAlpine wonders how much more money should we spend on transit and transit studies, but there seems to be a distinct avoidance on the part of the pro Kings Transit study to determine the numbers that would state a need for more Kings Transit service, and now the council's apparent avoidance of any study that would determine need elsewhere also, except Amero's promotion of the society he is on that *they* would produce numbers. He was trying to say that T de C would do a good thing by producing numbers and Da Bus wouldn't- which of course, it had stated it would. But then it seemed like all council decided it did not want to determine the numbers of people who could use or would use or who need a subsidized transportation service on Digby Neck and Islands and elsewhere. Da Bus proposed providing the service to the area and collecting data while doing it. Why not? Doesn't this sound like a good idea?
12 pages of names and signatures of people in the area were provided to Warden Gregory and Deputy Warden MacAlpine of people who want subsidized transportation by a Digby area community organization (called Da Bus). It was ignored. YOU were ignored. How do you feel about that?
Your thoughts and opinions on these very strange events are welcome. Just write: goingtodigby@gmail.com and I'll post them here.
Dear Council Members
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I thought it would be beneficial to say a few thins tonite about the service proposed under the auspices of the Society called oDa Bus, which is a notforprofit society. It is designed to help members of our community to over come the barriers to accessing goods and services such a groceries, banks, medical appointments etc that will help them stay in this community or stay in their homes longer and helping them have a better life here.
It is not a taxi service. They cannot flag down a ride, they must phone ahead and pre-book. The service will pick people up at their door. The society will begin this service on Digby Neck and both islands. The travel from this area would go up to Digby and start the return home in mid to late afternoon.
It is a local service provided by a board of local community members and the service portion carried out by a local person. This is a useful and caring endeavour, and would be an enhancement to life in Digby County. People could stay in their homes longer, and stay in the area longer, rather than leave.
And we would rather our tax dollars stay in the community as well. If council endorses the idea of Buy Local, it would seem right to spend the locally obtained tax dollars on supporting its own community-developed initiatives. Before, there wasn’t a notforprofit transportation society in existence. There is one now.
The society as well would employ a local person who would effect the service. That person would, when the day is done, go and spend their paycheck in *this* community. The societies act permits a notforprofit society to hire or contract with someone to perform work for them. Da Bus can contract with Kathleen’s Shuttle, the existing transportation provider in the area, to kickstart the program as soon as possible, and when more funding sources are accessed, the society will buy a community wheelchair accessible bus of its own.
As the existing transportation provider in the area, I am very familiar with the area and its communities and its people. You will see by documents that I have given you that the communities all up the Neck and Islands support the proposal. And the people of Digby do too. While using my vehicle to initiate the program, I will conduct a study which will provide data on the number of calls received, the number of pickups, the approximate age group of interested people and their mobility issues, for example. The data may be easier obtained by someone who is a local in the community. And, my family has been in the area for…oh, at least a couple hundred years.
This proposal also helps the municipality avoid competing with a local business by funding a similar operation. The goal, I think, is, as the society proposes, to enhance services, and not take away from what already exists. There now seems to be a community of local officials who believe in the essence of this proposal: “I think we should respect local businesses”-deputy warden MacAlpine; the words of town Deputy Mayor Mike Bartlett in the July 19 issue of the Digby Courier about the Maud Lewis merchandise: promoting and helping and not hurting, and Danny Harvieux in the joint Annapolis-Digby initiative, much in support of buying local and using services we have.
Da Bus is a workable and *wonderful* solution to enhancement of services while avoiding taking away from services; a solution and an initiative developed within the community, by its own community members. Please see the board of directors in the documents submitted. Your support is important to Da Bus, and our community.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
FESTIVAL IN THE COVE
A great big round of applause for those who participated in or attended the Festival in the Cove on Aug. 20 and 21st! It was a great start to what is sure to be an interesting and fun annual event. We had an artisan and flea market, Scouts were there with a BBQ, karaoke was a fun evening event and followed up the following day with an awe-inspiring author's reading and drum circle. Thanks go out to Danny, Debbie and Davey, Shirley, Mabel, Trisha, Pat and Joanna, Basma, Sheila and Harold, the summer crew from the States, Mac Bisop for use of the school, Kristy for helping, CJLS which paid us a visit and left snacks, Wayne and company and each and every person who came to the event.
THEY SAID IT COULDNT BE DONE!! We showed 'em. We showed em that a festival on Digby Neck CAN happen, it can be successful, and it can be done with a good spirit.
Looking ahead to the next year, we hope to improve upon the last and keep doing so every year. This was the first year. And nothing will be perfect in the second year. Or the third. Or more. Imperfection is normal, and it takes getting used to when you see it in others (smile). It is a fallacy to think that any event will be perfect when it involves the participation of any other people, and each one of us has a different view of what is perfect, and there will always be someone who says it wasn't perfect-according to them.
But perfect can be the establishment of a festival on the Neck. Perfect can mean that more than one person had a table at the market. Perfect, or more than perfect, can mean that 20 people went to karaoke! Perfect can mean the image-evoking words- in public- of a young person who said she was too shy to do this and yet did, perfect can mean the echo of your heartbeat in an African drum, and perfect can mean the happy smile of a Scout just barely clearing the top of the counter where he was serving refreshments to visitors. Perfect was the generousity of a walking stick carver when he gave away his creative work at the end of the day, and perfect was the generousity of the hookers who took the time to talk about their work and show it, when some weren't even selling it, and perfect was the ease with which both particpants and visitors spoke, joked and laughed with each other and began to build relationships- I saw their smiles, I saw them talking with each other and laughing and I saw people buying each others' work or items for sale.
I SAW THIS EVENT AS PERFECT! It all depends on what "place" you are coming from.
Many many thanks to all of you!! from, I believe, many of us.
Kathleen
Onwards and upwards to next year!!
THEY SAID IT COULDNT BE DONE!! We showed 'em. We showed em that a festival on Digby Neck CAN happen, it can be successful, and it can be done with a good spirit.
Looking ahead to the next year, we hope to improve upon the last and keep doing so every year. This was the first year. And nothing will be perfect in the second year. Or the third. Or more. Imperfection is normal, and it takes getting used to when you see it in others (smile). It is a fallacy to think that any event will be perfect when it involves the participation of any other people, and each one of us has a different view of what is perfect, and there will always be someone who says it wasn't perfect-according to them.
But perfect can be the establishment of a festival on the Neck. Perfect can mean that more than one person had a table at the market. Perfect, or more than perfect, can mean that 20 people went to karaoke! Perfect can mean the image-evoking words- in public- of a young person who said she was too shy to do this and yet did, perfect can mean the echo of your heartbeat in an African drum, and perfect can mean the happy smile of a Scout just barely clearing the top of the counter where he was serving refreshments to visitors. Perfect was the generousity of a walking stick carver when he gave away his creative work at the end of the day, and perfect was the generousity of the hookers who took the time to talk about their work and show it, when some weren't even selling it, and perfect was the ease with which both particpants and visitors spoke, joked and laughed with each other and began to build relationships- I saw their smiles, I saw them talking with each other and laughing and I saw people buying each others' work or items for sale.
I SAW THIS EVENT AS PERFECT! It all depends on what "place" you are coming from.
Many many thanks to all of you!! from, I believe, many of us.
Kathleen
Onwards and upwards to next year!!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Digby Councils Poised to Quash Local Small Businesses
Digby area councils are poised to quash local small businesses, as retired bank manager alters wheelchair transportation service which he has for years used the public purse to fund.
Man with agenda has declared to this blogger that he has no intention of restricting his doings to the disabled or the elderly, and has told council that he cannot determine who is disabled or needing the service the society originally received and keeps receiving subsidies for in fulfilling the intended purpose and spirit of that organization.
And this retired bank manager has requested even more funding from councils and a variety of organizations to turn himself into a subsidized shuttle business.
There are three taxi businesses who provide transportation services, and at least two shuttle businesses who would lose from this.
Who can compete with somebody who is subsidized? They get their expenses paid for and therefore only have half the costs.
The man and his subsidized organization aren't even local.
Do I have an opinion? YES!
Do you?
I hope so. Please write even a note to your council members or to Linda Gregory or the town mayor -Ben Cleveland- expressing your thoughts.
Even write a letter to the newspaper.
Blogger
Man with agenda has declared to this blogger that he has no intention of restricting his doings to the disabled or the elderly, and has told council that he cannot determine who is disabled or needing the service the society originally received and keeps receiving subsidies for in fulfilling the intended purpose and spirit of that organization.
And this retired bank manager has requested even more funding from councils and a variety of organizations to turn himself into a subsidized shuttle business.
There are three taxi businesses who provide transportation services, and at least two shuttle businesses who would lose from this.
Who can compete with somebody who is subsidized? They get their expenses paid for and therefore only have half the costs.
The man and his subsidized organization aren't even local.
Do I have an opinion? YES!
Do you?
I hope so. Please write even a note to your council members or to Linda Gregory or the town mayor -Ben Cleveland- expressing your thoughts.
Even write a letter to the newspaper.
Blogger
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Posting to this Blog
Please DO NOT send me scanned PDF files. These will not be posted and only result in frustration to the person who in good spirit would want to publish your information. Send me a Word file, text file or an email sent to kathleen1954@auracom.com
Monday, June 13, 2011
Update from the Rowes on the Community Supper
Looking forward to seeing everyone at
The Digby Neck Community Pot Luck Supper
Tuesday June 14, 6 p.m.
Digby Neck Consolidated School
Sandy Cove
The Digby Neck Community Pot Luck Supper
Tuesday June 14, 6 p.m.
Digby Neck Consolidated School
Sandy Cove
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Aquaculture Coments via Digby Courier
Comments on the Digby Courier online:
Daniel Mills - June 12, 2011 at 12:01:50 Based on past dealings with Mr.Belliveau, and his reassurances that giant wind-catchers would "have no effect on the environment", i.e. to say, the people of Waterford,Rossway,and Gullivers Cove on Digby Neck, it is laughable that he would expect us to accept that there will be "no adverse effects on the environment" in the Baie Ste Marie or the Bay of Fundy because, as he say's: "I believe in the science." (I used to believe in Fairy Tales when I was little; didn't most of us? But in time we learned that they are not true...Mr. Belliveau and Aesop seem to be coming from a similiar place and appear to hold the monopoly on myth,) It is even more interesting that Mr.Haise would say: " The last thing we want is for people in the communities to be pitted against one another" and a claim that they have been Nova Scotia for a long time. Mr. Haise cannot have had his eyes and ears wide open.....or else his head buried in the sand. That's exactly how politics is done in Nova Scotia: small town/district Municipal Councils courting all and any business that comes around behind closed doors, and when the consumation has transpired, the commercial embryo is imposed and inflicted on an unsuspecting public, to be followed by lip-service consultations of a sort which effectively mean nothing....while sides are taken,lies are spoken, and false promises for countless jobs which never happen. Those in the line of fire naturally will react negatively because there are so many unanswered questions, while those who will not see or feel the effects jump on board.......and another war begins. Divide and Conquer is the name; profits for corporations from afar and beyond haul in the dollars.
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Conditions I agree with these conditions.
moya murphy - June 12, 2011 at 11:57:46 The Minister of the Environment is short sighted (once again) re the salmon farms. The effluent from this is disgusting, lice is rampant. Despite what they say about jobs they will be temporary with just one or two people throwing pellets into the cages. Cooke's aquaculture were refused permission to put in such huge farms in New Brunswick which is why they turned to Nova Scotia. I don't understand how they can lease part of the ocean, surely the ocean belongs to everyone. A sad day for the residents of the Islands and the Digby Neck. Moya
Daniel Mills - June 12, 2011 at 12:01:50 Based on past dealings with Mr.Belliveau, and his reassurances that giant wind-catchers would "have no effect on the environment", i.e. to say, the people of Waterford,Rossway,and Gullivers Cove on Digby Neck, it is laughable that he would expect us to accept that there will be "no adverse effects on the environment" in the Baie Ste Marie or the Bay of Fundy because, as he say's: "I believe in the science." (I used to believe in Fairy Tales when I was little; didn't most of us? But in time we learned that they are not true...Mr. Belliveau and Aesop seem to be coming from a similiar place and appear to hold the monopoly on myth,) It is even more interesting that Mr.Haise would say: " The last thing we want is for people in the communities to be pitted against one another" and a claim that they have been Nova Scotia for a long time. Mr. Haise cannot have had his eyes and ears wide open.....or else his head buried in the sand. That's exactly how politics is done in Nova Scotia: small town/district Municipal Councils courting all and any business that comes around behind closed doors, and when the consumation has transpired, the commercial embryo is imposed and inflicted on an unsuspecting public, to be followed by lip-service consultations of a sort which effectively mean nothing....while sides are taken,lies are spoken, and false promises for countless jobs which never happen. Those in the line of fire naturally will react negatively because there are so many unanswered questions, while those who will not see or feel the effects jump on board.......and another war begins. Divide and Conquer is the name; profits for corporations from afar and beyond haul in the dollars.
Submit a Comment
Submit a Comment
This form is NOT used for emailing the article to a friend. Please use the "Send to a friend" link at the top of the page for that purpose.
The Digby Courier is not responsible for posted comments. Please be polite and confine your comments to the subject of the posted story. If you have an account, please sign on to it..
Your name* Email* (we keep all emails private) Comment* Agreement
We ask that users remain courteous. You may not post insulting, discriminatory or inappropriate content, which may be removed at our discretion. We are not responsible for user content and opinions. Use of this site as well as content submission & ownership are governed by our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
Member organizations should be non-profit in nature, and promote legal activities. Any organization found promoting illegal activities or commercial products or services will be deleted from the site.
Conditions I agree with these conditions.
moya murphy - June 12, 2011 at 11:57:46 The Minister of the Environment is short sighted (once again) re the salmon farms. The effluent from this is disgusting, lice is rampant. Despite what they say about jobs they will be temporary with just one or two people throwing pellets into the cages. Cooke's aquaculture were refused permission to put in such huge farms in New Brunswick which is why they turned to Nova Scotia. I don't understand how they can lease part of the ocean, surely the ocean belongs to everyone. A sad day for the residents of the Islands and the Digby Neck. Moya
Aquaculture and Jonathan Riley
Published on June 11, 2011
Published on June 11, 2011
Jonathan Riley As Simple as That
The people and communities of Digby Neck and Islands have challenges, including a lack of health care and policing, a declining population, closing schools and a ferry service that sometimes leaves you stranded.
Now along comes a company from New Brunswick, a company that calls itself “the largest fully integrated and independent salmon farming company in North America.”
And they say, “we have the answers, we have jobs.”
And as it turns out, the people of the Islands, don’t have any choice but to accept those farms and any extra challenges that come with them.
More than 80 per cent of the population out there signed a petition against the new salmon leases for Cooke Aquaculture. Eighty per cent is a clear majority, a resounding definite ‘No thanks.’
Despite that, despite articulate and persistent opposition from the people of the Islands, Sterling Belliveau, Nova Scotia’s minister of fisheries approved the leases.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Islands is the paternalistic attitude of the provincial government. Any hope that the NDP would be different has vanished only two years into their government.
Now I don’t pretend to know more about fishing or the ocean or aquaculture or even big business than Belliveau does. He’s got me there.
The big difference between Sterling Belliveau and me is I went down the Islands to talk to the people there about their concerns. Belliveau said it was “more convenient” to meet in Digby.
It wasn’t easy for me to get down there either. I haven’t got a car yet and had to borrow one from a friend, cause I thought the story was that important. I’m pretty sure the minister has a car.
Like Belliveau, when he met them in Digby, I couldn’t give the fishermen and concerned citizens down there any answers. But I went back to Digby and asked those questions to Cooke Aquaculture and to the minister.
They are getting me the answers, they say. Cooke Aquaculture has offered me a trip out to see the site in Grand Passage for myself. I can’t wait.
But let’s get back to the challenges facing Digby Neck and Islands. The people there aren’t sitting around with their hands open, begging for help. They too are working towards solutions, looking for answers, trying to figure out their future.
They see in their community a lot of potential, a lot of positives, a lot of strengths. One of those strengths is a clean productive marine environment that has provided for their community for generations.
The minister says there is 13,000 km of coastline in Nova Scotia and lots of room for everyone. So it shouldn’t be a problem to find another site. He says the ‘proponent’ (Cooke Aquaculture) chose the site. Tell them to choose to another site.
It would have been as easy as that.
Published on June 11, 2011
Jonathan Riley As Simple as That
The people and communities of Digby Neck and Islands have challenges, including a lack of health care and policing, a declining population, closing schools and a ferry service that sometimes leaves you stranded.
Now along comes a company from New Brunswick, a company that calls itself “the largest fully integrated and independent salmon farming company in North America.”
And they say, “we have the answers, we have jobs.”
And as it turns out, the people of the Islands, don’t have any choice but to accept those farms and any extra challenges that come with them.
More than 80 per cent of the population out there signed a petition against the new salmon leases for Cooke Aquaculture. Eighty per cent is a clear majority, a resounding definite ‘No thanks.’
Despite that, despite articulate and persistent opposition from the people of the Islands, Sterling Belliveau, Nova Scotia’s minister of fisheries approved the leases.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Islands is the paternalistic attitude of the provincial government. Any hope that the NDP would be different has vanished only two years into their government.
Now I don’t pretend to know more about fishing or the ocean or aquaculture or even big business than Belliveau does. He’s got me there.
The big difference between Sterling Belliveau and me is I went down the Islands to talk to the people there about their concerns. Belliveau said it was “more convenient” to meet in Digby.
It wasn’t easy for me to get down there either. I haven’t got a car yet and had to borrow one from a friend, cause I thought the story was that important. I’m pretty sure the minister has a car.
Like Belliveau, when he met them in Digby, I couldn’t give the fishermen and concerned citizens down there any answers. But I went back to Digby and asked those questions to Cooke Aquaculture and to the minister.
They are getting me the answers, they say. Cooke Aquaculture has offered me a trip out to see the site in Grand Passage for myself. I can’t wait.
But let’s get back to the challenges facing Digby Neck and Islands. The people there aren’t sitting around with their hands open, begging for help. They too are working towards solutions, looking for answers, trying to figure out their future.
They see in their community a lot of potential, a lot of positives, a lot of strengths. One of those strengths is a clean productive marine environment that has provided for their community for generations.
The minister says there is 13,000 km of coastline in Nova Scotia and lots of room for everyone. So it shouldn’t be a problem to find another site. He says the ‘proponent’ (Cooke Aquaculture) chose the site. Tell them to choose to another site.
It would have been as easy as that.
Andy Moir on Fish Farms via Dan Mills
Here's a news release we did in reaction to M. Belliveau's interview on CBC the other morning, defending his decision to allow the fish feed lots. Feel free to spread it around. Andy
Minister Belliveau stated that his decision to approve the 2 fish farm sites for St. Mary's Bay was based on sound science. Where is this sound science?
The science/expert advice provided in Transport Canada's Screening Report by DFO Science is rife with statements such as: "Additional research is required", "unknown", "limited data sources", "limited in scope and depth due to time constraints to provide advice", "Not possible with the available information to determine...", "given the available information it is not possible to quantitatively assess the likelihood of risk reduction", etc. If he has in his possession other Science upon which he based his decision, the public wants to see it. If not, his decision was not based on sound science, as he states.
Minister Belliveau stated in his CBC interview yesterday about his approval of 2 ( 1 million each) fish farm sites for St. Mary's that there had been extensive public consultation and all of the concerns of the community and traditional fisheries have been addressed. This is simply not true. I, and over 100 people at the Digby Neck Public consultation meeting in August, 2010 asked relevant questions, and not ONE of us has received an answer to our questions.
When the public is asked to comment/ask questions/state their concerns, but no answers are provided, when requests for information go unanswered, - this is not Public Consultation. Minister Belliveau and his Departments have been made aware of the public's issues and concerns, but have chosen to ignore them; and lie about it.
We have been asked to state our issues and concerns repeatedly, but have been provided no answers. At the 2nd meeting with Minister Belliveau ( April 30), he refused to discuss Transport Canada's Screening Report. He and Deputy Paul LeFleche stated they had not seen it, and yet it had been on-line since April 4. They stated they were meeting again for us to provide information/concerns to them, and again provided no answers to community and fishermen concerns. Minister Belliveau also stated at this meeting that they are just looking at THIS project. We pointed out to him that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act clearly states that cumulative effects must be looked at/assessed. This means that each assessment must consider the interactions among environmental effects of past, current and future projects and activities. Minister Belliveau stated he did not want to discuss any other projects.
Minister Belliveau stated that the footprint of the approved fish farms is very small. This is misleading. These are huge fish farms. The number of fish is 2 million (if NOT overstocked). Not only how much" bottom" is being taken up (which he was talking about) , but the number of fish contained is very important. The greater the number of fish contained, the greater the likelihood of introduction and spread of disease; and in turn, the greater the need to use pesticides to treat farmed fish. These pesticides are then released into the waters and travel away from the cages in plumes, and impact the marine environment. The environmental footprint is vastly larger than the "footprint" as Minister Belliveau stated it , and lead the audience to believe.
Minister Belliveau alluded to "conditions" on the approval that the company will have to follow. And that these conditions will protect the traditional fisheries and the environment. What are these conditions? How will the environment and traditional fisheries/ lobster industry be protected when the standard operating procedures of open-net fish farms pollute and contaminate the environment by releasing waste feed ,fish feces and pesticides into the waters? It is inherent in the operation.
Minister Belliveau states that the monitoring program will ensure that no harm is caused to the environment and traditional fisheries. This monitoring will be conducted by a third party. He does not tell you that this third party is hired by the Company. He states that farms would be shut down if there are adverse effects. He does not tell you at what point he considers there to be adverse effects. He does not tell you that the public has not been given access to these monitoring results. He does not tell you that fish farms with over 70% (and higher )species loss still continue to operate. How is this causing no harm?
When asked: Won't fish feces and feed impact the environment, lobster and traditional fisheries? Minister Bellliveau stated that this has been addressed by DFO, and they have said that there will be no adverse effect. He does not tell you that estimating the amount of fish feces and waste feed that will be produced by these farms is NOT a requirement for the environmental assessment. He does not tell you that environmental impacts away from the cages from fish feces and waste feed were not evaluated. (These particles are resuspended because it is an open-net operation in a fluid environment.) By Cooke's own admission on their new website, each fish produces .8195 kg of fish feces. When you do the math, the amount of fish feces that 2 million salmon would produce is 1639 metric tonnes (and easily another 500 metric tonnes of waste feed) each production cycle. This sounds like a very significant number to ignore in an environmental assessment of impacts...
Minister Belliveau states that privatization of the coast by these aquaculture companies is far from a reality. He does not explain that statement.
It is a reality. He is approving licenses for private companies to operate in the waters which licenses this area only to them. Traditional fishermen are being displaced, and they, and the marine environment on which they rely to survive, are being put in jeopardy by the polluting nature inherent in these open-net fish farm operations.
Minister Belliveau stated that his decision to approve the 2 fish farm sites for St. Mary's Bay was based on sound science. Where is this sound science?
The science/expert advice provided in Transport Canada's Screening Report by DFO Science is rife with statements such as: "Additional research is required", "unknown", "limited data sources", "limited in scope and depth due to time constraints to provide advice", "Not possible with the available information to determine...", "given the available information it is not possible to quantitatively assess the likelihood of risk reduction", etc. If he has in his possession other Science upon which he based his decision, the public wants to see it. If not, his decision was not based on sound science, as he states.
Minister Belliveau stated in his CBC interview yesterday about his approval of 2 ( 1 million each) fish farm sites for St. Mary's that there had been extensive public consultation and all of the concerns of the community and traditional fisheries have been addressed. This is simply not true. I, and over 100 people at the Digby Neck Public consultation meeting in August, 2010 asked relevant questions, and not ONE of us has received an answer to our questions.
When the public is asked to comment/ask questions/state their concerns, but no answers are provided, when requests for information go unanswered, - this is not Public Consultation. Minister Belliveau and his Departments have been made aware of the public's issues and concerns, but have chosen to ignore them; and lie about it.
We have been asked to state our issues and concerns repeatedly, but have been provided no answers. At the 2nd meeting with Minister Belliveau ( April 30), he refused to discuss Transport Canada's Screening Report. He and Deputy Paul LeFleche stated they had not seen it, and yet it had been on-line since April 4. They stated they were meeting again for us to provide information/concerns to them, and again provided no answers to community and fishermen concerns. Minister Belliveau also stated at this meeting that they are just looking at THIS project. We pointed out to him that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act clearly states that cumulative effects must be looked at/assessed. This means that each assessment must consider the interactions among environmental effects of past, current and future projects and activities. Minister Belliveau stated he did not want to discuss any other projects.
Minister Belliveau stated that the footprint of the approved fish farms is very small. This is misleading. These are huge fish farms. The number of fish is 2 million (if NOT overstocked). Not only how much" bottom" is being taken up (which he was talking about) , but the number of fish contained is very important. The greater the number of fish contained, the greater the likelihood of introduction and spread of disease; and in turn, the greater the need to use pesticides to treat farmed fish. These pesticides are then released into the waters and travel away from the cages in plumes, and impact the marine environment. The environmental footprint is vastly larger than the "footprint" as Minister Belliveau stated it , and lead the audience to believe.
Minister Belliveau alluded to "conditions" on the approval that the company will have to follow. And that these conditions will protect the traditional fisheries and the environment. What are these conditions? How will the environment and traditional fisheries/ lobster industry be protected when the standard operating procedures of open-net fish farms pollute and contaminate the environment by releasing waste feed ,fish feces and pesticides into the waters? It is inherent in the operation.
Minister Belliveau states that the monitoring program will ensure that no harm is caused to the environment and traditional fisheries. This monitoring will be conducted by a third party. He does not tell you that this third party is hired by the Company. He states that farms would be shut down if there are adverse effects. He does not tell you at what point he considers there to be adverse effects. He does not tell you that the public has not been given access to these monitoring results. He does not tell you that fish farms with over 70% (and higher )species loss still continue to operate. How is this causing no harm?
When asked: Won't fish feces and feed impact the environment, lobster and traditional fisheries? Minister Bellliveau stated that this has been addressed by DFO, and they have said that there will be no adverse effect. He does not tell you that estimating the amount of fish feces and waste feed that will be produced by these farms is NOT a requirement for the environmental assessment. He does not tell you that environmental impacts away from the cages from fish feces and waste feed were not evaluated. (These particles are resuspended because it is an open-net operation in a fluid environment.) By Cooke's own admission on their new website, each fish produces .8195 kg of fish feces. When you do the math, the amount of fish feces that 2 million salmon would produce is 1639 metric tonnes (and easily another 500 metric tonnes of waste feed) each production cycle. This sounds like a very significant number to ignore in an environmental assessment of impacts...
Minister Belliveau states that privatization of the coast by these aquaculture companies is far from a reality. He does not explain that statement.
It is a reality. He is approving licenses for private companies to operate in the waters which licenses this area only to them. Traditional fishermen are being displaced, and they, and the marine environment on which they rely to survive, are being put in jeopardy by the polluting nature inherent in these open-net fish farm operations.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Community Pot Luck Supper
June 14 at 6pm at Digby Neck School. Come bring a friend, come meet some friends. Come one come all!
Blogger apologizes for a previous erroneous date
Blogger apologizes for a previous erroneous date
Fish Farms in St. Mary's Bay
Nova Scotia environmentalists upset by government approval of aquaculture site
(The Canadian Press) – 21 hours ago
HALIFAX — Conservation and community groups are criticizing the Nova Scotia government's approval of a salmon aquaculture project in St. Mary's Bay.
Sterling Belliveau, the minister responsible for aquaculture, approved the commercial operation this week, but residents and environmentalists say they're concerned about its potential to hurt the lobster fishery.
The Ecology Action Centre says there are also worries about the potential for the spread of diseases and parasites to the wild Atlantic salmon population.
Karen Crocker of the St. Mary's Bay Coastal Alliance is also upset because she says Belliveau didn't follow up on some of their concerns before final approval was given.
In an email, Belliveau says he has listened to the various parties and understands their worries for the area off Digby Neck.
He says strict conditions have been placed on the operation and the province will ensure there are no "significant adverse effects" on the environment and fisheries.
(The Canadian Press) – 21 hours ago
HALIFAX — Conservation and community groups are criticizing the Nova Scotia government's approval of a salmon aquaculture project in St. Mary's Bay.
Sterling Belliveau, the minister responsible for aquaculture, approved the commercial operation this week, but residents and environmentalists say they're concerned about its potential to hurt the lobster fishery.
The Ecology Action Centre says there are also worries about the potential for the spread of diseases and parasites to the wild Atlantic salmon population.
Karen Crocker of the St. Mary's Bay Coastal Alliance is also upset because she says Belliveau didn't follow up on some of their concerns before final approval was given.
In an email, Belliveau says he has listened to the various parties and understands their worries for the area off Digby Neck.
He says strict conditions have been placed on the operation and the province will ensure there are no "significant adverse effects" on the environment and fisheries.
Aquaculture
Salmon leases will displace 20 fishermen
Sheldon Dixon will be looking for a new place to fish in the fall. Jonathan Riley photo
Published on June 10, 2011
Published on June 10, 2011
Jonathan Riley Topics : Bays Alliance , Nova Scotia , Westport
Nova Scotia’s minister of aquaculture and fisheries has approved two salmon farms in the middle of a traditional and prolific lobster grounds.
“I can assure you this is not going to have an impact on our traditional fisheries especially our lobster industry," said Minister Sterling Belliveau.
Sheldon Dixon of Tiverton says he and 19 other fishermen will have to find somewhere else to put their traps.
“In that particular spot, DFO has done the studies and it’s a hotspot.,” says Dixon. “When we’re at meetings with them, they have it marked right on their maps, based on our catch logs, they know how many lobster are caught there.”
Information on the Cooke Aquaculture webpage www.aquaculturegrowsns.com says the two leases combined will cover an area of 84 hectares (209 acres).
Nell Halse, a spokesperson for Cooke Aquaculture says the company might apply for one more site in St. Mary’s Bay in the next five years.
“But we’ll have to look at that carefully. We would have to go through the whole application process again.”
She says the company had originally planned to apply for three sites but that after public consultation they decided to reduce that number to two.
“We actually moved our site because of their concerns. They asked us to move to the site where we are now.”
Halse wasn’t able to say exactly who suggested that site.
Karen Crocker of Freeport, head of the Save Our Bays Alliance, says she has no idea who “they” could be.
“I was at that public meeting in Freeport when they asked us to show them a spot where they could put their cages and every fishermen there said there is no spot in St. Mary’s Bay where we are comfortable saying ‘this is a good spot for a salmon farm.’”
One thing is sure, Minister Belliveau says his department had no part in choosing the site.
“What we’re dealing with here is the application from the proponent. They look at the areas and based on good business, they tell us where they would like to locate it.”
Dixon says by times in the fall that the selected area might have 100 traps in it.
“It’s peppered with lobster. In the fall when the lobster come up the bay, they’re hungry, they’ve shed their shells and getting fat right here where they want to put the cages.”
Dixon says this lease arrangement is a big change from the way fisherman have traditionally worked with each other.
“There has never been one fishery where they come in and hold bottom for years and eliminate other fishermen from using that bottom. What you’re looking at here is the privatization of the fishery and the coastline.”
Minister Belliveau says Nova Scotia has 13,000 km of coastline and so there is lots of room for everyone.
“The footprint of this site is very small compared to the overall vastness of our oceans,” he said. “Our fishing industry usually starts from the high-water mark and goes right off to the 50-mile limit. It’s like anything else out there, you learn to fish around it.”
Johnny Graham, a fisherman from Westport, says it’s more complicated than that.
“Usually the fisherman balance themselves out. If I’m fishing here, then Sheldon goes down there. But if they push fishermen off that shore, it’s going to push them onto us, and it’s just putting more boats into a smaller area.”
Dixon says there are other problems with pushing the fishermen offshore.
“With the state of the environment and fuel prices the way they are, wouldn’t it be nice if fishermen could fish inshore?” asks Dixon. “But they want to drive us off this shore. It’s going to burn more fuel and it’s going to cost us more money. None of this is right.”
Sheldon Dixon will be looking for a new place to fish in the fall. Jonathan Riley photo
Published on June 10, 2011
Published on June 10, 2011
Jonathan Riley Topics : Bays Alliance , Nova Scotia , Westport
Nova Scotia’s minister of aquaculture and fisheries has approved two salmon farms in the middle of a traditional and prolific lobster grounds.
“I can assure you this is not going to have an impact on our traditional fisheries especially our lobster industry," said Minister Sterling Belliveau.
Sheldon Dixon of Tiverton says he and 19 other fishermen will have to find somewhere else to put their traps.
“In that particular spot, DFO has done the studies and it’s a hotspot.,” says Dixon. “When we’re at meetings with them, they have it marked right on their maps, based on our catch logs, they know how many lobster are caught there.”
Information on the Cooke Aquaculture webpage www.aquaculturegrowsns.com says the two leases combined will cover an area of 84 hectares (209 acres).
Nell Halse, a spokesperson for Cooke Aquaculture says the company might apply for one more site in St. Mary’s Bay in the next five years.
“But we’ll have to look at that carefully. We would have to go through the whole application process again.”
She says the company had originally planned to apply for three sites but that after public consultation they decided to reduce that number to two.
“We actually moved our site because of their concerns. They asked us to move to the site where we are now.”
Halse wasn’t able to say exactly who suggested that site.
Karen Crocker of Freeport, head of the Save Our Bays Alliance, says she has no idea who “they” could be.
“I was at that public meeting in Freeport when they asked us to show them a spot where they could put their cages and every fishermen there said there is no spot in St. Mary’s Bay where we are comfortable saying ‘this is a good spot for a salmon farm.’”
One thing is sure, Minister Belliveau says his department had no part in choosing the site.
“What we’re dealing with here is the application from the proponent. They look at the areas and based on good business, they tell us where they would like to locate it.”
Dixon says by times in the fall that the selected area might have 100 traps in it.
“It’s peppered with lobster. In the fall when the lobster come up the bay, they’re hungry, they’ve shed their shells and getting fat right here where they want to put the cages.”
Dixon says this lease arrangement is a big change from the way fisherman have traditionally worked with each other.
“There has never been one fishery where they come in and hold bottom for years and eliminate other fishermen from using that bottom. What you’re looking at here is the privatization of the fishery and the coastline.”
Minister Belliveau says Nova Scotia has 13,000 km of coastline and so there is lots of room for everyone.
“The footprint of this site is very small compared to the overall vastness of our oceans,” he said. “Our fishing industry usually starts from the high-water mark and goes right off to the 50-mile limit. It’s like anything else out there, you learn to fish around it.”
Johnny Graham, a fisherman from Westport, says it’s more complicated than that.
“Usually the fisherman balance themselves out. If I’m fishing here, then Sheldon goes down there. But if they push fishermen off that shore, it’s going to push them onto us, and it’s just putting more boats into a smaller area.”
Dixon says there are other problems with pushing the fishermen offshore.
“With the state of the environment and fuel prices the way they are, wouldn’t it be nice if fishermen could fish inshore?” asks Dixon. “But they want to drive us off this shore. It’s going to burn more fuel and it’s going to cost us more money. None of this is right.”
Fish Farming in St. Mary's Bay
Via Dan Mills
Good Afternoon,Everyone,
Carol & Ashraf forwarded this on to me.I don't know if you were tuned into CBC INFORMATION MORNING OR NOT when Mr. Belliveau confirmed that his Department had given approval to the Mega Project or not yesterday at noon.(The Mega-Fish Farm for St.Mary's Bay)
If you didn't, I am sure you can access it on-line....not that I have a clue how to do it.
In anycase, the following letter from Karen Crocker who heads the group on the Islands explains most cleary the current situation and the deception perpetrated by Mr. Belliveau.
Her request is clear......bombard CBC INFORMATION MORNING WITH E-MAILS
CBC INFORMATION MORNING e-mail ad is infomorning@halifax.cbc.ca
Danny
PS: Should infomroning be rejected, type in the whole worfd ...informationmorning@halifax.cbc.ca
From: Karen Crocker
To: fundy-aquaculture-concern@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 9:40 AM
Subject: CBC
Good morning,
This morning Minister Belliveau was on CBC Information Morning discussing salmon farming in NS. If you all can access this interview please listen to it and send in your comments to CBC. The Minister indicated that good solid science had been undertaken on this application and based on this science the province made its decision. He also indicated that his department had considerable public consultation and that he had met all of the concerns brought forth by the public. To date we have not received one word on any of our concerns and nothing has been addressed. We need to bombard CBC with the truth, the Minister was very misleading in his facts, this needs to be addressed by all of us.
Thank you,
Karen Crocker
Good Afternoon,Everyone,
Carol & Ashraf forwarded this on to me.I don't know if you were tuned into CBC INFORMATION MORNING OR NOT when Mr. Belliveau confirmed that his Department had given approval to the Mega Project or not yesterday at noon.(The Mega-Fish Farm for St.Mary's Bay)
If you didn't, I am sure you can access it on-line....not that I have a clue how to do it.
In anycase, the following letter from Karen Crocker who heads the group on the Islands explains most cleary the current situation and the deception perpetrated by Mr. Belliveau.
Her request is clear......bombard CBC INFORMATION MORNING WITH E-MAILS
CBC INFORMATION MORNING e-mail ad is infomorning@halifax.cbc.ca
Danny
PS: Should infomroning be rejected, type in the whole worfd ...informationmorning@halifax.cbc.ca
From: Karen Crocker
To: fundy-aquaculture-concern@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 9:40 AM
Subject: CBC
Good morning,
This morning Minister Belliveau was on CBC Information Morning discussing salmon farming in NS. If you all can access this interview please listen to it and send in your comments to CBC. The Minister indicated that good solid science had been undertaken on this application and based on this science the province made its decision. He also indicated that his department had considerable public consultation and that he had met all of the concerns brought forth by the public. To date we have not received one word on any of our concerns and nothing has been addressed. We need to bombard CBC with the truth, the Minister was very misleading in his facts, this needs to be addressed by all of us.
Thank you,
Karen Crocker
Friday, June 10, 2011
Digby Municipal Council Minutes
Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe meeting was called to order with Warden Gregory in thechair at 6:03 pm.AttendanceCouncillors present:Linda Gregory, WardenJimmy MacAlpine, Deputy WardenRandall Amero, CouncillorDavid Tudor, CouncillorStaff present:Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative OfficerGordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative OfficerCora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryRegrets:Maritza Adams, CouncillorPrayerWarden Gregory asked everyone to pause to seek guidance forthe meeting. AgendaWarden Gregory added Medical Students as New Business# 2. Deputy Warden MacAlpine added an item to InCamera.MOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved asamended.MOTION CARRIEDHearings & PresentationsBob Sweeney – DigbyMunicipal FireAssociationMOVED and seconded that Mr. Bob Sweeney from theDigby Municipal Fire Association come before the committee to make a presentation.MOTION CARRIEDMr. Sweeney thanked Council for the opportunity to speakto Council. Mr. Sweeney would like to see a feasibilitystudy done. The Municipality of Clare went through theprocess of a feasibility study and the fire service has done
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia2great since.A question and answer period followed Mr. Sweeney’spresentation. Council asked whether the Association is also looking into a sustainability study as well. Council madethe comment that if the feasibility study went forward, itwould review the sustainability of all fire departments. Itwas also discussed that perhaps it might be easier to recruit volunteers if the gear and equipment were updated. It wasnoted that there might be a possibility that some firedepartments might shut down as a result of the feasibilitystudy. Council advised the Association that they need toknow what it is they would like to get from the study, theTerms of Reference.Warden Gregory asked that the departments introducethemselves and provided each department with a chance tospeak to Council on behalf of their department.There were 9 fire departments present. Chief Lee Wentzell,Digby Neck; Chief Walley Devries, Westport; Chief Gerald Moore, Freeport; Paulette Walker, Digby; Chief DarrylJelfs, Bear River; Chief Roy Mullen, Weymouth; ChiefRobert Sweeney, Plympton; Chief Dwayne Haight, Smith’sCove; and Chief Cromwell, Southville (late).The representatives from each department were given achance to speak. Comments from the departments included:Fire departments should maintain a certain level ofservice.Would like to see the Association be able to have thesame results as the Municipality of Clare.Would not want to lose any fire departments as aresult of the feasibility study.Fire departments are in desperate need of newequipment, vehicles and in some cases buildings.Doug Cromwell from Southville was late for the meeting and it was agreed to go on with other business until hearrived.MinutesApril 11, 2011MOVED and seconded that the minutes of April 11, 2011 beapproved as circulated.MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia3Business Arising/OldBusiness#1 Tax Exemption Request – Good Samaritan CommunityChurchThe CAO had been directed after the last meeting to contactthe Good Samaritan Community Church to see when theyintend to build their church. There has been no response.This item will be added to the next Council agenda.#2 Nova Scotians forEqualization FairnessDeputy Warden MacAlpine has no further information at this time, but will have it available for the May Councilagenda.Other Business ArisingDeputy WardenMacAlpineNo Business ArisingCouncillor AmeroNo Business ArisingCouncillor AdamsAbsent. Warden Gregory noted that Councillor Adams’mother-in-law passed away.Councillor TudorNo Business ArisingWarden GregoryNo Business ArisingNew Business#1 Digby Elementary– Funding Request –Ocean Blue Fun RunThe Ocean Blue Fun Run takes place in June.MOVED and seconded that the funding request for the Ocean Blue Fun Run be referred to the budget process.MOTION CARRIED#2 Medical StudentsA letter was received by Southwest Health asking if theMunicipality and the Town would consider offering medical students or residents bursaries while they are still inschool, in lieu of signing bonuses. For example, offer them$25,000 per year for the 4 years of medical school for a 4
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia4year return of service to Digby.It was mentioned that students need to be aware that theycould be working in Weymouth and Bear River as well. Warden Gregory will mention it.There was a discussion on the terms of the contract and theconsequences of students changing their mind and wanting to buy it out.MOVED and seconded that Council consider a medicalstudent bursary while they are still in school, which wouldequal half of $25,000 per year for 4 years.MOTION CARRIEDChief Administrative ReportThe CAO report dated May 9, 2011 was included in theCOTW Package.MeetingsThe By-law and Policy meeting on June 6, 2011 conflictswith FCM. It was agreed to hold this meeting on May 30, 2011 since there was no meeting scheduled for that date.Joshua Slocum MonumentMr. Hersey provided Council with some pictures of the Joshua Slocum monument as well as a quote for repairs.Council agreed that the costing was good for the repairs.It was agreed that permission must be obtained from theproperty owners to allow people to view the monument on the property as well as go on the property to fix it.Request forDecisions/DirectionNILDepartment ReportsTaxationThe Taxation report for April 2011 was included in the meeting package. Building Inspection Report/Fire Inspection ReportThe Building Inspection report for April 2011 was included in the meeting package. Environmental ServicesThe Environmental Services report for April 2011 wasincluded in the meeting package.
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Page 5
Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia5Airport/DispatchThe Airport/Dispatch report for April 2011 was included inthe meeting package. Council discussed the possibility of having dispatch recruit additional business. The Deputy CAO advised that it hasbeen discussed. It could be handled in two ways; thedispatch supervisor could solicit customers, or electedofficials could approach the wardens of neighboring municipalities to see if there is any interest.MOVED and seconded that research be done in regards to a fee schedule and what levels of service could be offered bythe dispatch department at the Airport.MOTION CARRIEDDog Control Activityand Financial ReportN/ACoordinator Program DevelopmentThe Coordinator Program Development report for April2011 was included in the meeting package.Other BusinessN/ADigby Municipal FireAssociation –ContinuedMOVED and seconded that Mr. Doug Cromwell from the Southville Fire Department come before Council.MOTION CARRIEDMr. Cromwell provided Council with an overview of theresults of the feasibility study that was done in Clare. Therewas $1,000,000 borrowed over 10 years, which was used tobuy trucks, halls, and equipment for the departments mostin need. Council has the final decision on where the moneyis allocated. The fire area rate is used to pay off the loan.The feasibility study was hired out to a retired chief from another area. It was noted that the Digby Municipal Fire Associationwould have a majority vote after the feasibility study wascompleted.Warden Gregory thanked the Association for coming andpresenting to Council.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia6Updates fromPrevious meetingsThe updates from previous meetings were included in the CAO report.Special Projects UpdatesThe special projects updates were included in the CAOreport.Strategic Priorities UpdateN/ANotice of MotionN/AComments from theGalleryN/ARecessThere was a 5 minute recess before proceeding in camera.In Camera MOVED and seconded that the meeting proceed in camerato discuss a contractual issue.MOTION CARRIEDRegular session resumed.AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 8:15 PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia2great since.A question and answer period followed Mr. Sweeney’spresentation. Council asked whether the Association is also looking into a sustainability study as well. Council madethe comment that if the feasibility study went forward, itwould review the sustainability of all fire departments. Itwas also discussed that perhaps it might be easier to recruit volunteers if the gear and equipment were updated. It wasnoted that there might be a possibility that some firedepartments might shut down as a result of the feasibilitystudy. Council advised the Association that they need toknow what it is they would like to get from the study, theTerms of Reference.Warden Gregory asked that the departments introducethemselves and provided each department with a chance tospeak to Council on behalf of their department.There were 9 fire departments present. Chief Lee Wentzell,Digby Neck; Chief Walley Devries, Westport; Chief Gerald Moore, Freeport; Paulette Walker, Digby; Chief DarrylJelfs, Bear River; Chief Roy Mullen, Weymouth; ChiefRobert Sweeney, Plympton; Chief Dwayne Haight, Smith’sCove; and Chief Cromwell, Southville (late).The representatives from each department were given achance to speak. Comments from the departments included:Fire departments should maintain a certain level ofservice.Would like to see the Association be able to have thesame results as the Municipality of Clare.Would not want to lose any fire departments as aresult of the feasibility study.Fire departments are in desperate need of newequipment, vehicles and in some cases buildings.Doug Cromwell from Southville was late for the meeting and it was agreed to go on with other business until hearrived.MinutesApril 11, 2011MOVED and seconded that the minutes of April 11, 2011 beapproved as circulated.MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia3Business Arising/OldBusiness#1 Tax Exemption Request – Good Samaritan CommunityChurchThe CAO had been directed after the last meeting to contactthe Good Samaritan Community Church to see when theyintend to build their church. There has been no response.This item will be added to the next Council agenda.#2 Nova Scotians forEqualization FairnessDeputy Warden MacAlpine has no further information at this time, but will have it available for the May Councilagenda.Other Business ArisingDeputy WardenMacAlpineNo Business ArisingCouncillor AmeroNo Business ArisingCouncillor AdamsAbsent. Warden Gregory noted that Councillor Adams’mother-in-law passed away.Councillor TudorNo Business ArisingWarden GregoryNo Business ArisingNew Business#1 Digby Elementary– Funding Request –Ocean Blue Fun RunThe Ocean Blue Fun Run takes place in June.MOVED and seconded that the funding request for the Ocean Blue Fun Run be referred to the budget process.MOTION CARRIED#2 Medical StudentsA letter was received by Southwest Health asking if theMunicipality and the Town would consider offering medical students or residents bursaries while they are still inschool, in lieu of signing bonuses. For example, offer them$25,000 per year for the 4 years of medical school for a 4
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia4year return of service to Digby.It was mentioned that students need to be aware that theycould be working in Weymouth and Bear River as well. Warden Gregory will mention it.There was a discussion on the terms of the contract and theconsequences of students changing their mind and wanting to buy it out.MOVED and seconded that Council consider a medicalstudent bursary while they are still in school, which wouldequal half of $25,000 per year for 4 years.MOTION CARRIEDChief Administrative ReportThe CAO report dated May 9, 2011 was included in theCOTW Package.MeetingsThe By-law and Policy meeting on June 6, 2011 conflictswith FCM. It was agreed to hold this meeting on May 30, 2011 since there was no meeting scheduled for that date.Joshua Slocum MonumentMr. Hersey provided Council with some pictures of the Joshua Slocum monument as well as a quote for repairs.Council agreed that the costing was good for the repairs.It was agreed that permission must be obtained from theproperty owners to allow people to view the monument on the property as well as go on the property to fix it.Request forDecisions/DirectionNILDepartment ReportsTaxationThe Taxation report for April 2011 was included in the meeting package. Building Inspection Report/Fire Inspection ReportThe Building Inspection report for April 2011 was included in the meeting package. Environmental ServicesThe Environmental Services report for April 2011 wasincluded in the meeting package.
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Page 5
Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia5Airport/DispatchThe Airport/Dispatch report for April 2011 was included inthe meeting package. Council discussed the possibility of having dispatch recruit additional business. The Deputy CAO advised that it hasbeen discussed. It could be handled in two ways; thedispatch supervisor could solicit customers, or electedofficials could approach the wardens of neighboring municipalities to see if there is any interest.MOVED and seconded that research be done in regards to a fee schedule and what levels of service could be offered bythe dispatch department at the Airport.MOTION CARRIEDDog Control Activityand Financial ReportN/ACoordinator Program DevelopmentThe Coordinator Program Development report for April2011 was included in the meeting package.Other BusinessN/ADigby Municipal FireAssociation –ContinuedMOVED and seconded that Mr. Doug Cromwell from the Southville Fire Department come before Council.MOTION CARRIEDMr. Cromwell provided Council with an overview of theresults of the feasibility study that was done in Clare. Therewas $1,000,000 borrowed over 10 years, which was used tobuy trucks, halls, and equipment for the departments mostin need. Council has the final decision on where the moneyis allocated. The fire area rate is used to pay off the loan.The feasibility study was hired out to a retired chief from another area. It was noted that the Digby Municipal Fire Associationwould have a majority vote after the feasibility study wascompleted.Warden Gregory thanked the Association for coming andpresenting to Council.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 9, 2011Seabrook, Nova Scotia6Updates fromPrevious meetingsThe updates from previous meetings were included in the CAO report.Special Projects UpdatesThe special projects updates were included in the CAOreport.Strategic Priorities UpdateN/ANotice of MotionN/AComments from theGalleryN/ARecessThere was a 5 minute recess before proceeding in camera.In Camera MOVED and seconded that the meeting proceed in camerato discuss a contractual issue.MOTION CARRIEDRegular session resumed.AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 8:15 PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
Labels:
Digby Municipal Council minutes
Digby Municipal Council Agenda
Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting DateJune 13, 2011Meeting LocationCouncil ChambersCall to OrderWardenPause to Seek GuidanceWardenApproval of the AgendaAdditions/DeletionsPresentationsClaredon Robicheau, Transport de ClareApproval of MinutesMay 9, 2011Old Business /Business Arising from Minutes# 1.0Municipal Fire Services – Fire Department five year fundinghistory# 2.0Deputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsCouncillor TudorWardenGregory
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaNew Business#1Debt collection service contract with SNSMR and request for designation#2Canadian Owners & Pilots Association 2014 Conference #3#4#5#6Correspondence ReceivedInformation Only# 1Copy of letter to Tri County Regional School Board# 2SNSMR-Cost sharing programs# 3Communities, Culture and Heritage-Amendments to Heritage Property Act#4#5# 6
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaChief Administrative ReportJune 13, 2011Meeting Dates/RemindersDate & TimeMeetingLocationJune 20, 2011 @ 6:00 pmBy-Law & PolicyMunicipal BoardroomJune 27, 2011 @ 6:00 pmPublic HearingCouncil ChambersJune 27, 2011 @ 6:15 pmCouncilCouncil ChambersJuly 4, 2011No MeetingJuly 11, 2011 @ 6:00 pmBy-Law & PolicyMunicipal BoardroomJuly 18, 2011No MeetingJuly 25, 2011 @ 6:00 pmCouncilCouncil ChambersAugust 1st& Aug 8thNo MeetingAug 15, 2011COTWCouncil ChambersAugust 22nd& 29thNo MeetingRequest for Decision/DirectionN/ADepartment Reports for May 2011AdministrationTaxationBuilding Department Permit ReportMunicipal Fire Inspector Environmental ServicesDispatch Call ReportAirport ReportDog Control Activity/Financial Coordinator Program Development
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaUpdates from PreviousmeetingsSpecial Projects UpdatesNotice of MotionIn-CameraAdjournment
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaNew Business#1Debt collection service contract with SNSMR and request for designation#2Canadian Owners & Pilots Association 2014 Conference #3#4#5#6Correspondence ReceivedInformation Only# 1Copy of letter to Tri County Regional School Board# 2SNSMR-Cost sharing programs# 3Communities, Culture and Heritage-Amendments to Heritage Property Act#4#5# 6
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaChief Administrative ReportJune 13, 2011Meeting Dates/RemindersDate & TimeMeetingLocationJune 20, 2011 @ 6:00 pmBy-Law & PolicyMunicipal BoardroomJune 27, 2011 @ 6:00 pmPublic HearingCouncil ChambersJune 27, 2011 @ 6:15 pmCouncilCouncil ChambersJuly 4, 2011No MeetingJuly 11, 2011 @ 6:00 pmBy-Law & PolicyMunicipal BoardroomJuly 18, 2011No MeetingJuly 25, 2011 @ 6:00 pmCouncilCouncil ChambersAugust 1st& Aug 8thNo MeetingAug 15, 2011COTWCouncil ChambersAugust 22nd& 29thNo MeetingRequest for Decision/DirectionN/ADepartment Reports for May 2011AdministrationTaxationBuilding Department Permit ReportMunicipal Fire Inspector Environmental ServicesDispatch Call ReportAirport ReportDog Control Activity/Financial Coordinator Program Development
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaUpdates from PreviousmeetingsSpecial Projects UpdatesNotice of MotionIn-CameraAdjournment
Booze for Sale
Petition asking for liquor store on Long Island and Digby Neck
Curious onlookers gathered to watch the first load of beer come off the truck and into Brier Island’s new NSLC agency store. Jonathan Riley photo
Published on June 10, 2011
Published on June 10, 2011
Jonathan Riley Residents of Long Island and Digby Neck want a place to buy alcohol, too. They say the recent decision by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to put an agency store on Brier Island did little for them.
Topics : Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation , Store in Centre Grove , Long Island , Brier Island , Freeport
Ossinger’s Store in Centre Grove, in the middle of Long Island, used to sell alcohol but closed this spring.
The NSLC put out a tender on April 4 asking for proposals for an agency store in the Digby Neck area, from Sandy Cove to Brier Island.
Two stores applied for the tender: R. E. Robicheau’s on Brier Island run by Wally and Joyce DeVries, and Long Island Trading in Tiverton on the eastern end of Long Island, run by Stanton Seamone.
On May 27, the NSLC announced that they had accepted the DeVries’ bid and they started selling alcohol on June 7.
Karen Crocker of Freeport has no problem with Brier Island getting a store but she doesn’t see how it helps people on Digby Neck and Long Island.
She started a petition requesting the NSLC maintain at least the level of service the people of Long Island had grown accustomed to.
Stanton Seamone who runs Long Island Trading says there were 138 signatures on the petition in his store and another 80 or so in Freeport on June 9.
David Tudor of Freeport is the municipal councilor for district four which covers Brier and Long islands and Digby Neck down past Little River. He says he is happy that Brier Island has a store, but he would have been happier if both stores had been accepted.
“I thought there was room for both stores. Now for people in East Ferry it means two ferry trips. So this doesn’t help them really.”
Rick Perkins, spokesperson for the NSLC, says Robicheau’s won the contract through a public tender process and any unsuccessful applicants can, upon request, receive an explanation and a debriefing on their submission.
The request for proposals states that potential stores must be at least 10 kilometres from any agent in any other community, and at least 13 kilometres from the closest existing NSLC store.
The request for proposals, including selection criteria, is available here online
Curious onlookers gathered to watch the first load of beer come off the truck and into Brier Island’s new NSLC agency store. Jonathan Riley photo
Published on June 10, 2011
Published on June 10, 2011
Jonathan Riley Residents of Long Island and Digby Neck want a place to buy alcohol, too. They say the recent decision by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to put an agency store on Brier Island did little for them.
Topics : Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation , Store in Centre Grove , Long Island , Brier Island , Freeport
Ossinger’s Store in Centre Grove, in the middle of Long Island, used to sell alcohol but closed this spring.
The NSLC put out a tender on April 4 asking for proposals for an agency store in the Digby Neck area, from Sandy Cove to Brier Island.
Two stores applied for the tender: R. E. Robicheau’s on Brier Island run by Wally and Joyce DeVries, and Long Island Trading in Tiverton on the eastern end of Long Island, run by Stanton Seamone.
On May 27, the NSLC announced that they had accepted the DeVries’ bid and they started selling alcohol on June 7.
Karen Crocker of Freeport has no problem with Brier Island getting a store but she doesn’t see how it helps people on Digby Neck and Long Island.
She started a petition requesting the NSLC maintain at least the level of service the people of Long Island had grown accustomed to.
Stanton Seamone who runs Long Island Trading says there were 138 signatures on the petition in his store and another 80 or so in Freeport on June 9.
David Tudor of Freeport is the municipal councilor for district four which covers Brier and Long islands and Digby Neck down past Little River. He says he is happy that Brier Island has a store, but he would have been happier if both stores had been accepted.
“I thought there was room for both stores. Now for people in East Ferry it means two ferry trips. So this doesn’t help them really.”
Rick Perkins, spokesperson for the NSLC, says Robicheau’s won the contract through a public tender process and any unsuccessful applicants can, upon request, receive an explanation and a debriefing on their submission.
The request for proposals states that potential stores must be at least 10 kilometres from any agent in any other community, and at least 13 kilometres from the closest existing NSLC store.
The request for proposals, including selection criteria, is available here online
Labels:
Digby Digby Neck rural living
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Seafood Chowder Supper
Seafood chowder supper put on by the Digby Neck Volunteer fire dept and Ladies Auxiliary on Sat. June 11 5:30pm Adults $8. Kids under 12 $5.
Come one, come all!
Come one, come all!
Labels:
Digby Neck Events
Monday, June 6, 2011
Dan Mills offers Potato Seed
Good Afternoon and Hello!
The Old Coot is plantin' taters today - " Better the day; better the deed", it's been said since long ago.
He keeps his potato winter crop in a Cold Room in the basement every year.....and found enough Yukon Gold to plant for this season.
But, he found well over a milk crate of the Banana style (aka 'Finger Pototes'), and two nearly full of blue ones.These are the desendants of those which my old friend, Vaughn Height gave me ten or so years ago, and he claimed they'd been in his family since his father brought them off a ship some 60 years before.
I found a lot more than I expected and has all that he needs already planted....I shall put them in the car port -they are well sprouted and ready to go in the ground- and anyone who wishes some may come and help themselves. Bring a pail or a box please, and help yourself whether I am home or not.
In a weeks time I'll assume no one wants any and put them in the compost.
Danny
Pls.ask your neighbors. I don't have many local e-mail ads...d
The Old Coot is plantin' taters today - " Better the day; better the deed", it's been said since long ago.
He keeps his potato winter crop in a Cold Room in the basement every year.....and found enough Yukon Gold to plant for this season.
But, he found well over a milk crate of the Banana style (aka 'Finger Pototes'), and two nearly full of blue ones.These are the desendants of those which my old friend, Vaughn Height gave me ten or so years ago, and he claimed they'd been in his family since his father brought them off a ship some 60 years before.
I found a lot more than I expected and has all that he needs already planted....I shall put them in the car port -they are well sprouted and ready to go in the ground- and anyone who wishes some may come and help themselves. Bring a pail or a box please, and help yourself whether I am home or not.
In a weeks time I'll assume no one wants any and put them in the compost.
Danny
Pls.ask your neighbors. I don't have many local e-mail ads...d
Labels:
Digby Neck
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Digby Neck Events
Digby Neck Community Pot Luck Supper
6 p.m. Tuesday June 14, 2011
Digby Neck Consolidated Elementary School
Sandy Cove
Please bring your favourite dish to share and enjoy a delicious meal and conversation in warm fellowship with friends. If you don't have time to prepare something come anyway. There is always plenty of good food. Invite your neighbours.
Everyone is welcome.
Please put it on your calendar!
6 p.m. Tuesday June 14, 2011
Digby Neck Consolidated Elementary School
Sandy Cove
Please bring your favourite dish to share and enjoy a delicious meal and conversation in warm fellowship with friends. If you don't have time to prepare something come anyway. There is always plenty of good food. Invite your neighbours.
Everyone is welcome.
Please put it on your calendar!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
An Australian Mr. Digby
Blogger: My, what you find on the internet about the word or name Digby!
Man was tortured, strangled: witness
BY EMMA SPILLETT
28 May, 2011 01:00 PM
AN ANGLE grinder was allegedly used to torture former Cronulla man Matthew Digby before he was kicked in the head and strangled to death with a dog leash, Wollongong Local Court was told last week.
A male witness, known only as P550, told the court accused murderer Richard James Walsh had confessed to killing Mr Digby, 35, and then burning his body in a car in January last year.
Members of Mr Digby's family wept in court as they heard P550 recount how Walsh admitted to sinking an angle grinder into Mr Digby's leg when he refused to divulge information about a robbery at co-accused Lauren Mae Batcheldor's house in early 2010.
Walsh allegedly told P550 the pair took Mr Digby to an oval earlier to question him.
He said Walsh told him that when Mr Digby tried to run away, he punched him, dragged him to a car and chained his hands with a dog leash. Walsh then allegedly drove Mr Digby to a house and parked in the garage, where he punched and slapped him until he was unconscious, the court heard.
According to P550, Mr Digby later made a threat to Walsh about what he would do when released and Walsh had responded: "Now you've said that I can't let you go."
He then went to get Mr Digby a "last drink".
P550 said when Walsh returned, he noticed Mr Digby had freed an arm from the leash. It is alleged Walsh became angry, opening the back of the car to kick Mr Digby repeatedly in the head, the witness said.
P550 said Walsh told him he wrapped a dog leash around Mr Digby's neck and pulled until his body stopped moving. He allegedly said he later moved Mr Digby's body into the front passenger seat and placed a tyre on his stomach, before putting a tarp over him.
Walsh allegedly told P550 he had driven to a dirt road in the bush the following day, where he planned to leave Mr Digby's body.
According to P550, Walsh said he noticed blood had seeped on to the car's floor, so he doused the car and the body with fuel and set it alight, then called Batcheldor, who picked him up a short time later.
In another alleged conversation with P550, Walsh admitted there was blood on the garage floor and he had used bleach to clean it.
P550 said Walsh also told him he and Batcheldor went to a pawn shop to look for her stolen jewellery. She found a chain, which she believed Mr Digby had pawned, the court heard.
P550 was the final witness in a three-day committal hearing involving Walsh and Batcheldor, who are charged with murdering and kidnapping Mr Digby last year.
After hearing the evidence, Magistrate Ian Guy decided there was a case against the pair and committed them to stand trial later in the year.
Walsh and Batcheldor are expected to appear in the Supreme Court in Sydney for arraignment on August 5.
Man was tortured, strangled: witness
BY EMMA SPILLETT
28 May, 2011 01:00 PM
AN ANGLE grinder was allegedly used to torture former Cronulla man Matthew Digby before he was kicked in the head and strangled to death with a dog leash, Wollongong Local Court was told last week.
A male witness, known only as P550, told the court accused murderer Richard James Walsh had confessed to killing Mr Digby, 35, and then burning his body in a car in January last year.
Members of Mr Digby's family wept in court as they heard P550 recount how Walsh admitted to sinking an angle grinder into Mr Digby's leg when he refused to divulge information about a robbery at co-accused Lauren Mae Batcheldor's house in early 2010.
Walsh allegedly told P550 the pair took Mr Digby to an oval earlier to question him.
He said Walsh told him that when Mr Digby tried to run away, he punched him, dragged him to a car and chained his hands with a dog leash. Walsh then allegedly drove Mr Digby to a house and parked in the garage, where he punched and slapped him until he was unconscious, the court heard.
According to P550, Mr Digby later made a threat to Walsh about what he would do when released and Walsh had responded: "Now you've said that I can't let you go."
He then went to get Mr Digby a "last drink".
P550 said when Walsh returned, he noticed Mr Digby had freed an arm from the leash. It is alleged Walsh became angry, opening the back of the car to kick Mr Digby repeatedly in the head, the witness said.
P550 said Walsh told him he wrapped a dog leash around Mr Digby's neck and pulled until his body stopped moving. He allegedly said he later moved Mr Digby's body into the front passenger seat and placed a tyre on his stomach, before putting a tarp over him.
Walsh allegedly told P550 he had driven to a dirt road in the bush the following day, where he planned to leave Mr Digby's body.
According to P550, Walsh said he noticed blood had seeped on to the car's floor, so he doused the car and the body with fuel and set it alight, then called Batcheldor, who picked him up a short time later.
In another alleged conversation with P550, Walsh admitted there was blood on the garage floor and he had used bleach to clean it.
P550 said Walsh also told him he and Batcheldor went to a pawn shop to look for her stolen jewellery. She found a chain, which she believed Mr Digby had pawned, the court heard.
P550 was the final witness in a three-day committal hearing involving Walsh and Batcheldor, who are charged with murdering and kidnapping Mr Digby last year.
After hearing the evidence, Magistrate Ian Guy decided there was a case against the pair and committed them to stand trial later in the year.
Walsh and Batcheldor are expected to appear in the Supreme Court in Sydney for arraignment on August 5.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Hurry to add your input:Organic Salmon Farming
PETITIONING
Canadian General Standards Board(Mark Schuessler)
STARTED BY
Bronwen Barnett
Vancouver, Canada
OVERVIEW
Make sure your voice is heard on the proposed “organic” standard!
We expect the organic label to mean the food we're buying is produced in a way that is better for the environment and our health. But right now, the Canadian General Standards Board has proposed 'organic' aquaculture standards that would certify aquaculture practices that are already harming our oceans.
Draft two of the standard is now being considered for Canadian regulation and is open to a FINAL public comment period. This is your last chance to have your say count.
The proposed organic standards for farmed fish will allow the use of synthetic parasiticides, up to 100% non-organic and potentially unsustainable wild fish feed and net-cages which scientific evidence has linked to negatively harming wild salmon and marine ecosystems.
Organic aquaculture standards should adhere to the same set of principles used in standards for other organically certified food products. Unfortunately this is not the case with the proposed organic aquaculture standard.
The public comment period is open until May 31, 2011 and we are urging residents of Canada and consumers in the United States to take action and oppose the organic certification of net-cage salmon farms. The US remains the largest market for Canadian farmed salmon and until US organic aquaculture standards are passed into regulation, Canadian “organic” salmon could be sold on American shelves and menus.
Note: We will add this formal comment submission as an addendum to this petition.
Posted by the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform
Read Petition Letter
PETITION LETTER
Organic aquaculture standards need to be consistent with existing organic standards
Greetings,
Re: The proposed Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard
Components of the proposed Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard violate the very principles of organic production.
The standards allow for the use of parasiticides which is inconsistent with current organic standards and what consumers have come to expect when choosing organic. The standards also allow more wild fish to be used in feed than farmed fish produced, allowing a net-loss of marine protein that depletes natural systems. Organic principles within the aquaculture standard state biological productivity must be maximized.
The standards do not include strong measures to prevent well-documented impacts of net-cages on the health of wild salmon and marine ecosystems:
• Escapes of farmed fish
• Uncontrolled disposal of fish feces into the ocean
• Release of synthetic parasticides directly into the ocean
• Entanglement deaths of marine mammals, and
• The spread of disease and parasites
In the very least, a Canadian organic aquaculture standard needs to reflect practices that address the well-researched impacts of aquaculture. Such a standard would support producers that are using innovative practices to deliver truly sustainable products.
I urge the Canadian General Standards Board to ensure that the “Canadian Organic Aquaculture” standard does not accommodate either the use of non-organic, wild fish as feed or open net-cage systems. It is our hope that the organic label will continue to provide consumers with a clear and consistent understanding of how their food is produced and ensure them that their choice of an organic food product supports a safer, more humane, more sustainable environment.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
[Your name]
Blogger: You can post your letter online and it will be added to the petition or contact Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform
The info sent out above was sent out by David Suzuki and you can also go to his site. You can also go to: www.change.org
Canadian General Standards Board(Mark Schuessler)
STARTED BY
Bronwen Barnett
Vancouver, Canada
OVERVIEW
Make sure your voice is heard on the proposed “organic” standard!
We expect the organic label to mean the food we're buying is produced in a way that is better for the environment and our health. But right now, the Canadian General Standards Board has proposed 'organic' aquaculture standards that would certify aquaculture practices that are already harming our oceans.
Draft two of the standard is now being considered for Canadian regulation and is open to a FINAL public comment period. This is your last chance to have your say count.
The proposed organic standards for farmed fish will allow the use of synthetic parasiticides, up to 100% non-organic and potentially unsustainable wild fish feed and net-cages which scientific evidence has linked to negatively harming wild salmon and marine ecosystems.
Organic aquaculture standards should adhere to the same set of principles used in standards for other organically certified food products. Unfortunately this is not the case with the proposed organic aquaculture standard.
The public comment period is open until May 31, 2011 and we are urging residents of Canada and consumers in the United States to take action and oppose the organic certification of net-cage salmon farms. The US remains the largest market for Canadian farmed salmon and until US organic aquaculture standards are passed into regulation, Canadian “organic” salmon could be sold on American shelves and menus.
Note: We will add this formal comment submission as an addendum to this petition.
Posted by the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform
Read Petition Letter
PETITION LETTER
Organic aquaculture standards need to be consistent with existing organic standards
Greetings,
Re: The proposed Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard
Components of the proposed Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard violate the very principles of organic production.
The standards allow for the use of parasiticides which is inconsistent with current organic standards and what consumers have come to expect when choosing organic. The standards also allow more wild fish to be used in feed than farmed fish produced, allowing a net-loss of marine protein that depletes natural systems. Organic principles within the aquaculture standard state biological productivity must be maximized.
The standards do not include strong measures to prevent well-documented impacts of net-cages on the health of wild salmon and marine ecosystems:
• Escapes of farmed fish
• Uncontrolled disposal of fish feces into the ocean
• Release of synthetic parasticides directly into the ocean
• Entanglement deaths of marine mammals, and
• The spread of disease and parasites
In the very least, a Canadian organic aquaculture standard needs to reflect practices that address the well-researched impacts of aquaculture. Such a standard would support producers that are using innovative practices to deliver truly sustainable products.
I urge the Canadian General Standards Board to ensure that the “Canadian Organic Aquaculture” standard does not accommodate either the use of non-organic, wild fish as feed or open net-cage systems. It is our hope that the organic label will continue to provide consumers with a clear and consistent understanding of how their food is produced and ensure them that their choice of an organic food product supports a safer, more humane, more sustainable environment.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
[Your name]
Blogger: You can post your letter online and it will be added to the petition or contact Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform
The info sent out above was sent out by David Suzuki and you can also go to his site. You can also go to: www.change.org
Monday, May 16, 2011
ADEDA News
Local Focus
Our first stop this week is right here in the hallowed, if albeit abbreviated, halls of ADEDA HQ.
There’s a new seasonal member of our team and I’d like to take the chance to welcome him. He’s a talented, inquisitive and energetic summer student, and he’s going to be working especially with businesses to raise the profile of the “buy local” movement, as it applies to the broader goods and services sector of our region. Welcome to Annapolis Digby Brandon Greer!
Brandon’s role in the “buy local” development area appears to be increasingly timely and significant. Just ask Tim Halliday, who operates Driftwood Greenhouse in Gulliver’s Cove. His Digby Neck greenhouse is expanding its facilities and capacity for producing English cucumbers to meet the growing “buy local” demand. “This is the first major expansion for our business since 2004 and the new facility will allow us to double our production,” he says.
And if you’re thinking that developing a personal “buy local” strategy might be too onerous, or that your participation just won’t make a difference, well, think again. The inventive members of the Paradise Women’s Institute’s reported that their April Meeting was all about buying local, a thoughtful session getting caught up on where our food comes from, what the real ‘cost’ of food is and sharing what they were all doing to sustain local industry. They came up with a novel concept that we can all consider to begin our journey down the path to better upporting our community producers.
Come to think of it, maybe you should start right in this weekend with your newly energized “buy local” resolve by remembering to visit the area’s farm markets. This is the time of year when they are relocating and reopening all across Annapolis Digby. For example, the Bridgetown market begins on Tuesday, May 17th from 2-6pm beside Endless Shores Books. The fabled Annapolis Royal Farmers and Traders Market returns to its seasonal location at the Town Centre on St George Street this Saturday from its winter home at the Historic Gardens (yes, Virginia, it’s open year round as Annapolis Royal Mayor Phil Roberts so promptly and properly reminded me after a posting of a couple of weeks ago), and on Sunday the Bear River Farmers’ and Artists Market re-opens on the waterfront from 1-4 PM. They’re all around us – check your local community web sites for more information.
And, by the way, continuing on the theme of local eco-innovation, congratulations to the team from Digby Regional High School for their stellar Silver performance at the recent provincial Envirothon competition.
Tidal Teamwork Touted
One of the great memories from youthful Sunday evenings spent staring at the black and white flickering of the “Ed Sullivan Show” was the occasional appearance of one James Francis “Jimmy” Durante. I just loved the guy. And while many are familiar with his signature sign off of “Good Night Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are”; I chortled more at his frequent observation that “Everybody wants ta get inta the act.” OK, maybe I wasn’t a normal kid. Nonetheless, and in a very positive way, I was reminded of that line as things continued to get more and more active in the area of tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy. At a recent session in Digby hosted by ADEDA, developers of a tidal power project in Maine were urging consideration of a regional approach with those developers creating similar small scale projects in this area. It’s a good point and there definitely was continued activity to report on that topic as ongoing small scale tidal energy testing plans were being made for the areas of Long and Brier Islands on Digby Neck.
Celebratory Summer Planned
I’m as guilty as anyone about sometimes taking for granted the historic sites that dot Annapolis Digby, figuring I’ve already seen what’s to be seen. That of course would be a mistake any time, because there’s always something new on display. And it’s especially true this year. In 2011, Parks Canada is celebrating its 100th birthday as the world’s first national parks service and yesterday, May 15, Parks Canada’s Fort Anne and Port-Royal National historic sites opened for a particularly exciting season with new exhibits, cultural programming, and with a long list of celebratory birthday events being planned.
Communicating Change
Most writers, me included, take a deliberately solitary approach to our craft, not wanting to share our editorial space. But in this case there’s an exceptional inclusion that’s important for all of us. We’re making changes to our communications strategies here at ADEDA, and our interim Managing Director Dan Harvey wanted to use the newsletter, among other venues, to directly outline what’s happening in this area. Here’s Dan’s message:
“As any not-for-profit group can attest, making the call on judicious use of limited financial resources can be an enormous challenge.
It’s no different here at ADEDA- in the course of preparing our work plan for this year, we carefully scrutinized how we are applying the funding we are given: what items are essential, what are discretionary, costs and benefits, and so on. All of these questions were asked objectively, in the light of the deliverables in our current Business Plan.
Our data on your usage of our weekly newsletter indicates your needs and expectations with respect this communication vehicle are less. One of the things Peter and I concluded when we analyzed the data that there were a lot more Daily Newsletters, Blogs, and Social Media sites, in addition to our strong weekly media coverage, than when the newsletter started 3 years ago.
Feedback from the public has been that they want and need to hear from their Regional Development Authority regularly, but that face-to-face contact is preferred. We agree with that whole-heartedly- you can’t beat the personal touch! To that end, we’ve built into our plan a series of formal connections with town/municipal councils, boards of trade and other business organizations, as well as economic sector groups throughout the year. We see that as the best way to update you on progress, and receive public feedback.
Having said that, we recognize not everyone will be able to access these meetings. So two things will take place: 1. Our Website will be undergoing a re-vamp: we will present more information, in line with our Business Plan themes. 2. The newsletter will remain, but in a monthly format.
The content will remain Local: successful and inspiring people and businesses from our community; major announcements and trends in economic development; profiles of leaders in our region; promotion of important upcoming events taking place in our region; information on new programs that business owners can access by working with our agency or government; profiles on ADEDA board members, and much more
In short, we want the Monthly newsletter to be interesting, informative, and useful to you. We want to share the good news that takes place, and for our readers to feel up-to-date on what your economic development agency is doing on your behalf.
Our weekly newsletters will continue until May 30th, with the next one after that being June 27th, the start of the monthly schedule.
Kind Regards,
Dan Harvey
(902) 638-4009
dharvey@annapolisdigby.com
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
Our first stop this week is right here in the hallowed, if albeit abbreviated, halls of ADEDA HQ.
There’s a new seasonal member of our team and I’d like to take the chance to welcome him. He’s a talented, inquisitive and energetic summer student, and he’s going to be working especially with businesses to raise the profile of the “buy local” movement, as it applies to the broader goods and services sector of our region. Welcome to Annapolis Digby Brandon Greer!
Brandon’s role in the “buy local” development area appears to be increasingly timely and significant. Just ask Tim Halliday, who operates Driftwood Greenhouse in Gulliver’s Cove. His Digby Neck greenhouse is expanding its facilities and capacity for producing English cucumbers to meet the growing “buy local” demand. “This is the first major expansion for our business since 2004 and the new facility will allow us to double our production,” he says.
And if you’re thinking that developing a personal “buy local” strategy might be too onerous, or that your participation just won’t make a difference, well, think again. The inventive members of the Paradise Women’s Institute’s reported that their April Meeting was all about buying local, a thoughtful session getting caught up on where our food comes from, what the real ‘cost’ of food is and sharing what they were all doing to sustain local industry. They came up with a novel concept that we can all consider to begin our journey down the path to better upporting our community producers.
Come to think of it, maybe you should start right in this weekend with your newly energized “buy local” resolve by remembering to visit the area’s farm markets. This is the time of year when they are relocating and reopening all across Annapolis Digby. For example, the Bridgetown market begins on Tuesday, May 17th from 2-6pm beside Endless Shores Books. The fabled Annapolis Royal Farmers and Traders Market returns to its seasonal location at the Town Centre on St George Street this Saturday from its winter home at the Historic Gardens (yes, Virginia, it’s open year round as Annapolis Royal Mayor Phil Roberts so promptly and properly reminded me after a posting of a couple of weeks ago), and on Sunday the Bear River Farmers’ and Artists Market re-opens on the waterfront from 1-4 PM. They’re all around us – check your local community web sites for more information.
And, by the way, continuing on the theme of local eco-innovation, congratulations to the team from Digby Regional High School for their stellar Silver performance at the recent provincial Envirothon competition.
Tidal Teamwork Touted
One of the great memories from youthful Sunday evenings spent staring at the black and white flickering of the “Ed Sullivan Show” was the occasional appearance of one James Francis “Jimmy” Durante. I just loved the guy. And while many are familiar with his signature sign off of “Good Night Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are”; I chortled more at his frequent observation that “Everybody wants ta get inta the act.” OK, maybe I wasn’t a normal kid. Nonetheless, and in a very positive way, I was reminded of that line as things continued to get more and more active in the area of tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy. At a recent session in Digby hosted by ADEDA, developers of a tidal power project in Maine were urging consideration of a regional approach with those developers creating similar small scale projects in this area. It’s a good point and there definitely was continued activity to report on that topic as ongoing small scale tidal energy testing plans were being made for the areas of Long and Brier Islands on Digby Neck.
Celebratory Summer Planned
I’m as guilty as anyone about sometimes taking for granted the historic sites that dot Annapolis Digby, figuring I’ve already seen what’s to be seen. That of course would be a mistake any time, because there’s always something new on display. And it’s especially true this year. In 2011, Parks Canada is celebrating its 100th birthday as the world’s first national parks service and yesterday, May 15, Parks Canada’s Fort Anne and Port-Royal National historic sites opened for a particularly exciting season with new exhibits, cultural programming, and with a long list of celebratory birthday events being planned.
Communicating Change
Most writers, me included, take a deliberately solitary approach to our craft, not wanting to share our editorial space. But in this case there’s an exceptional inclusion that’s important for all of us. We’re making changes to our communications strategies here at ADEDA, and our interim Managing Director Dan Harvey wanted to use the newsletter, among other venues, to directly outline what’s happening in this area. Here’s Dan’s message:
“As any not-for-profit group can attest, making the call on judicious use of limited financial resources can be an enormous challenge.
It’s no different here at ADEDA- in the course of preparing our work plan for this year, we carefully scrutinized how we are applying the funding we are given: what items are essential, what are discretionary, costs and benefits, and so on. All of these questions were asked objectively, in the light of the deliverables in our current Business Plan.
Our data on your usage of our weekly newsletter indicates your needs and expectations with respect this communication vehicle are less. One of the things Peter and I concluded when we analyzed the data that there were a lot more Daily Newsletters, Blogs, and Social Media sites, in addition to our strong weekly media coverage, than when the newsletter started 3 years ago.
Feedback from the public has been that they want and need to hear from their Regional Development Authority regularly, but that face-to-face contact is preferred. We agree with that whole-heartedly- you can’t beat the personal touch! To that end, we’ve built into our plan a series of formal connections with town/municipal councils, boards of trade and other business organizations, as well as economic sector groups throughout the year. We see that as the best way to update you on progress, and receive public feedback.
Having said that, we recognize not everyone will be able to access these meetings. So two things will take place: 1. Our Website will be undergoing a re-vamp: we will present more information, in line with our Business Plan themes. 2. The newsletter will remain, but in a monthly format.
The content will remain Local: successful and inspiring people and businesses from our community; major announcements and trends in economic development; profiles of leaders in our region; promotion of important upcoming events taking place in our region; information on new programs that business owners can access by working with our agency or government; profiles on ADEDA board members, and much more
In short, we want the Monthly newsletter to be interesting, informative, and useful to you. We want to share the good news that takes place, and for our readers to feel up-to-date on what your economic development agency is doing on your behalf.
Our weekly newsletters will continue until May 30th, with the next one after that being June 27th, the start of the monthly schedule.
Kind Regards,
Dan Harvey
(902) 638-4009
dharvey@annapolisdigby.com
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
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Digby Neck Events
Digby Neck Community Pot Luck Supper
Thursday May 12, 2011
6 p.m.
Rossway United Baptist Church
Thursday May 12, 2011
6 p.m.
Rossway United Baptist Church
Labels:
Digby Neck Events
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Hummingbird Alert
Dan Mills says he had a hummer at his house today signalling the advent of Mother's Day!
Kudos to you and all mothers and all those who love mothers! Blogger
Kudos to you and all mothers and all those who love mothers! Blogger
Thursday, May 5, 2011
ADEDA News
Outward Looking
Most often in these weekly newsletters the focus is on what’s happening in and around our area. That’s not because we’re by nature introspective – it’s just that we’ve got lots going on here. But we’re also proud of what we can share with the wider world and the close relationships we have with the global community. One way this gets done is through trade shows and international expositions. It’s a valuable marketing strategy, and one in which ADEDA has specifically participated as appropriate. They build understanding, foster relationships – and most important – they bring in business.
And speaking of international relationships and ties shared by many of our local communities, Annapolis Royal just completed a special gift in honour of the 300th anniversary of its sister city – Annapolis, Maryland. A heritage tapestry, stitched by Moira MacDonald of Lawrencetown, will now hang in the Maryland State legislature.
Energetic Ideas
Our area is seeking to secure an intra-provincial tie as well these days. Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland is hoping the provincial government will actively support the Digby area’s new initiative to attract tidal energy companies to utilize its strategically located port facilities. The Town and Municipality are “spending our own money to show we are the port of choice when industry looks for a repair and maintenance base”, the Mayor said, adding, “We’re waiting for the province to take a stand because this will ramp up quickly”.
While tidal forces and wind power remain the cutting edge renewable energy initiatives here in Annapolis Digby these days, there’s another biofuel option being pondered these days that also holds potential for this region. It’s algae. Yes, what many of us dismiss as pond scum, is as common around these parts as, well, seaweed. And according to a keynote speaker at the recent Renewable Energy Conference it can be an ideal renewable energy resource since it consumes CO2 and can be grown in freshwater or salt water.
Publishing in Paradise
Books are big here. We have a long literary legacy of internationally renowned authors, and we have been delighted to regularly report the continuing accomplishments of our local writers, illustrators and publishers. So the fact that the community of Paradise will host a repeat of last year’s popular “Word in the Hall” event should come as no surprise. The daylong event for publishers, writers, printers, booksellers and readers will offer displays, question and answer sessions, book signings and networking opportunities for the bookish bunch – in whose company, I hasten to add, I proudly include myself.
Plotting the Tourist Map
Tourism is a key component of the ADEDA strategic plan. And, what with our recent national and international award winning public gardens, country inns, eco-adventure opportunities, and historic sites positioning Annapolis Digby as a signature travel destination, thoughtful planning is more than smart – it’s vital. So it’s definitely important news when we learn that the Strategic Tourism plan for Southwest Nova Scotia is set to be released to industry stakeholders at the upcoming Tourism Summit scheduled for May 17 at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa. The Plan was commissioned by Destination Southwest Nova Scotia (DSWNS) and will be part of its annual general meeting.
Sweet Tweets
If by now, like me you've determined that social networks and online communities are an important – and inevitable - component in your overall marketing strategy, then consider taking in the Social Media marketing workshop at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre (ABCC) this week. Don’t know if there’s any space left but if you’re interested you’d be wise to check. Social media takes creativity, planning and consistent monitoring. Your online presence and social media are quickly becoming your most valuable marketing tools - but only if they’re done right.adeda
Just wondering, but maybe - just maybe – my invitation to the royal wedding was “tweeted” to me, and that’s how I missed it. There’s got to be a reason. I do have a morning suit after all, and the salad bowl gift set was all wrapped.
Oh well, I’ve always liked Harry better anyway.
Most often in these weekly newsletters the focus is on what’s happening in and around our area. That’s not because we’re by nature introspective – it’s just that we’ve got lots going on here. But we’re also proud of what we can share with the wider world and the close relationships we have with the global community. One way this gets done is through trade shows and international expositions. It’s a valuable marketing strategy, and one in which ADEDA has specifically participated as appropriate. They build understanding, foster relationships – and most important – they bring in business.
And speaking of international relationships and ties shared by many of our local communities, Annapolis Royal just completed a special gift in honour of the 300th anniversary of its sister city – Annapolis, Maryland. A heritage tapestry, stitched by Moira MacDonald of Lawrencetown, will now hang in the Maryland State legislature.
Energetic Ideas
Our area is seeking to secure an intra-provincial tie as well these days. Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland is hoping the provincial government will actively support the Digby area’s new initiative to attract tidal energy companies to utilize its strategically located port facilities. The Town and Municipality are “spending our own money to show we are the port of choice when industry looks for a repair and maintenance base”, the Mayor said, adding, “We’re waiting for the province to take a stand because this will ramp up quickly”.
While tidal forces and wind power remain the cutting edge renewable energy initiatives here in Annapolis Digby these days, there’s another biofuel option being pondered these days that also holds potential for this region. It’s algae. Yes, what many of us dismiss as pond scum, is as common around these parts as, well, seaweed. And according to a keynote speaker at the recent Renewable Energy Conference it can be an ideal renewable energy resource since it consumes CO2 and can be grown in freshwater or salt water.
Publishing in Paradise
Books are big here. We have a long literary legacy of internationally renowned authors, and we have been delighted to regularly report the continuing accomplishments of our local writers, illustrators and publishers. So the fact that the community of Paradise will host a repeat of last year’s popular “Word in the Hall” event should come as no surprise. The daylong event for publishers, writers, printers, booksellers and readers will offer displays, question and answer sessions, book signings and networking opportunities for the bookish bunch – in whose company, I hasten to add, I proudly include myself.
Plotting the Tourist Map
Tourism is a key component of the ADEDA strategic plan. And, what with our recent national and international award winning public gardens, country inns, eco-adventure opportunities, and historic sites positioning Annapolis Digby as a signature travel destination, thoughtful planning is more than smart – it’s vital. So it’s definitely important news when we learn that the Strategic Tourism plan for Southwest Nova Scotia is set to be released to industry stakeholders at the upcoming Tourism Summit scheduled for May 17 at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa. The Plan was commissioned by Destination Southwest Nova Scotia (DSWNS) and will be part of its annual general meeting.
Sweet Tweets
If by now, like me you've determined that social networks and online communities are an important – and inevitable - component in your overall marketing strategy, then consider taking in the Social Media marketing workshop at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre (ABCC) this week. Don’t know if there’s any space left but if you’re interested you’d be wise to check. Social media takes creativity, planning and consistent monitoring. Your online presence and social media are quickly becoming your most valuable marketing tools - but only if they’re done right.adeda
Just wondering, but maybe - just maybe – my invitation to the royal wedding was “tweeted” to me, and that’s how I missed it. There’s got to be a reason. I do have a morning suit after all, and the salad bowl gift set was all wrapped.
Oh well, I’ve always liked Harry better anyway.
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