NS: Steele orders stop to March madness spending
By Paul McLeod, Metro Halifax
Source: Metro Halifax, March 19, 2010
[HALIFAX, NS] — The province is putting a halt to “March madness” spending by civil servants, says Finance Minister Graham Steele.
A letter to senior bureaucrats dated March 4 from the treasury board directs them not to make any unplanned year-end spending.
Steele said the letter was meant to defuse the idea that if departments don’t spend their entire budget it will be cut down the following year. He said he heard at almost every Back To Balance meeting with the public they believe departments go on a spending spree in March.
“We do want to make sure civil servants get the message that the kind of spending where you spend money for the sake of spending money will not be tolerated,” he said.
Finance Minister Graham Steele speaks with reporters in this file photo from last year. Steele is telling government departments to avoid the rush on spending that occurs near the end of the fiscal year. — Ryan Taplin/Metro Halifax photo
Steele said the treasury board is keeping a close watch and if frivolous spending is discovered it will be dealt with on an individual basis.
The Liberals were unconvinced the letter would be enough.
Several tenders went out in recent days with deadlines right before the March 31 end of fiscal year. One tender for the first phase of Bluenose II restoration was posted March 18 and closes just four days later.
Many tenders end in the two days before the fiscal year ends, including contracts for portable radios and to carpet and floor office buildings.
Liberal leader Stephen McNeil said the most egregious spending was the NDP topping up the Industrial Expansion Fund — an economic development pot controlled by cabinet — with $75 million at the beginning of this month.
“If it didn’t come out of departments, he’s borrowed the money. And that’s end of the year spending,” McNeil said. “It’s pretty rich for Graham Steele to be telling civil servants to live within their budgets when their own government’s not doing it.”
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Turbines and Solar in Digby Indust. Park?
Another municipality is doing it.
NS: Municipality pursues business park with “eco” spin
By Amy Woolvett, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Coast Guard, March 17, 2010
[SHELBURNE, NS] — The Municipality of Shelburne hopes to attract tenants into the Shelburne Industrial Park by developing it as an ecologically friendly site complete with wind turbines and an ocean source heating system.
The first phase of the project to develop the industrial park as an eco park with renewable energy infrastructure is provide the tenants with power and energy options that are sustainable and have low environmental impact.
“There are a lot of industrial parks in the province,” said chief administrator Kirk Cox for the municipality. “We are trying to find a niche or value, something innovative that we can do to stand out.”
He explained that tenants would benefit if the park were to provide alternative sustainable energy to current and future park tenants.
The project would involve installing two complementary renewable energy technologies: ocean source heat pumps and eight to 10 small (100 kW) wind turbines.
“First for the financial value to businesses but also to meet their sustainable mandate to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Cox.
Nova Scotia Power has partnered with the municipality as they launch a study on the feasibility of the development.
Some of the larger current tenants of the park include Roseway Hospital, Nova Scotia Community College and Ven Rez Products Limited. Discussions held between the tenants and the municipality have been positive.
According to project plans, the ocean source heat pumps would remove heat from seawater and transfer it to a three-kilometre, closed-loop piping system that would then deliver heat to users in the industrial park cluster through heat exchangers.
The heat source generated would provide at least 80 per cent of the heat required by clients using oil as their primary heat.
It is expected that the wind farm would offset the energy usage of the heat pumps as well as offset around 90 per cent of the electrical energy used by clients.
The projected cost for the development of the ocean source heating system and wind turbines is $8.5-million.
“It is going to cost a lot of money to do it but we are hoping to get a lot of people to help across all levels of government,” said Cox.
The project planning estimates that 75 to 80 per cent of the total capital costs could be provided through outside sources.
In order to draw in clients, the tenants would have to save at least 10 per cent in their annual energy costs, the municipality predicts.
“Any business that has a high energy usage could save millions,” explained Cox.
NS: Municipality pursues business park with “eco” spin
By Amy Woolvett, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Coast Guard, March 17, 2010
[SHELBURNE, NS] — The Municipality of Shelburne hopes to attract tenants into the Shelburne Industrial Park by developing it as an ecologically friendly site complete with wind turbines and an ocean source heating system.
The first phase of the project to develop the industrial park as an eco park with renewable energy infrastructure is provide the tenants with power and energy options that are sustainable and have low environmental impact.
“There are a lot of industrial parks in the province,” said chief administrator Kirk Cox for the municipality. “We are trying to find a niche or value, something innovative that we can do to stand out.”
He explained that tenants would benefit if the park were to provide alternative sustainable energy to current and future park tenants.
The project would involve installing two complementary renewable energy technologies: ocean source heat pumps and eight to 10 small (100 kW) wind turbines.
“First for the financial value to businesses but also to meet their sustainable mandate to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Cox.
Nova Scotia Power has partnered with the municipality as they launch a study on the feasibility of the development.
Some of the larger current tenants of the park include Roseway Hospital, Nova Scotia Community College and Ven Rez Products Limited. Discussions held between the tenants and the municipality have been positive.
According to project plans, the ocean source heat pumps would remove heat from seawater and transfer it to a three-kilometre, closed-loop piping system that would then deliver heat to users in the industrial park cluster through heat exchangers.
The heat source generated would provide at least 80 per cent of the heat required by clients using oil as their primary heat.
It is expected that the wind farm would offset the energy usage of the heat pumps as well as offset around 90 per cent of the electrical energy used by clients.
The projected cost for the development of the ocean source heating system and wind turbines is $8.5-million.
“It is going to cost a lot of money to do it but we are hoping to get a lot of people to help across all levels of government,” said Cox.
The project planning estimates that 75 to 80 per cent of the total capital costs could be provided through outside sources.
In order to draw in clients, the tenants would have to save at least 10 per cent in their annual energy costs, the municipality predicts.
“Any business that has a high energy usage could save millions,” explained Cox.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Annapolis/Digby Events
Good day, Kathleen —
Well, we all just got one hour’s less sleep but, on the bright side, Spring is just around the corner. Here in Annapolis Digby, this mild weather gives us a great reason to get a head start on the tourism season. Whether you’re in the business of welcoming visitors to our region, or you’re seeing an otherwise familiar landscape with new eyes, Spring is the season of discovery. Let’s make the most of it!
DIGBY FERRY LIKELY TO PICK UP CAT TRAFFIC
With the termination of the CAT service, bus tour companies are now looking at entering Nova Scotia via the Princess of Acadia. To determine how best to meet this opportunity, and to discover some new ones, Destination Southwest Nova Association is holding an Industry Stakeholder Session this afternoon, at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre, from 1:00 - 5:00 PM. We urge all local tourism operators and related businesses to attend.
DISCOVER GEMS IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD
The 5th Annual Annapolis Digby Tourism Showcase is a great opportunity for exhibitors to promote their products and services locally. And there’s still time to register as a vendor! For attendees, it’s a chance to experience the diversity of what our area has to offer while enjoying some great shopping. So, on Saturday, March 27, don’t miss this opportunity to support local artisans, retailers and service providers. This year, you can also enjoy presentations on gardening and community beautification.
GETTING A JUMP ON THE COMPETITION
In the Spring of 2009, we launched Golf & Gardens, a tourism initiative focussed primarily on the Halifax marketplace designed to put Annapolis Digby on the map as a mini-break destination, taking full advantage of the early season our region offers. This year, we’re expanding the billboard campaign to include two additional urban markets, doubling the media run, and redesigning the G&G website so that visitors can easily find and click on specific G&G packages.
MAY DAY: FARM MARKETS GEARING UP
There’s a new farm market on our horizon, sprouting up in the lovely seaside village of Hampton! The big kick-off is scheduled for May 21 with plans to offer lots of fresh, local foods. And while we’re on the subject of fresh food, a student lunch program promoting locally sourced produce was launched this week at two Lawrencetown schools.
DON’T MISS THE BIG FACE-OFF
Book your seat now for Social Media Face-Off, a forum to be lead by Terri McCulloch of the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership! She’ll be talking about the pros and cons of twitter, facebook and blogging — which is right for you and your business? Terri will help put you on the right social media track.
Speaking of big face-offs, join the entire population of Lawrencetown tonight at the firehall, as the community rallies to be named one of CBC Hockeyville’s Top 12 finalists! And on the weekend, don’t miss an opportunity to see Juno award winning recording artist Morgan Davis in Bear River.
Well, we all just got one hour’s less sleep but, on the bright side, Spring is just around the corner. Here in Annapolis Digby, this mild weather gives us a great reason to get a head start on the tourism season. Whether you’re in the business of welcoming visitors to our region, or you’re seeing an otherwise familiar landscape with new eyes, Spring is the season of discovery. Let’s make the most of it!
DIGBY FERRY LIKELY TO PICK UP CAT TRAFFIC
With the termination of the CAT service, bus tour companies are now looking at entering Nova Scotia via the Princess of Acadia. To determine how best to meet this opportunity, and to discover some new ones, Destination Southwest Nova Association is holding an Industry Stakeholder Session this afternoon, at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre, from 1:00 - 5:00 PM. We urge all local tourism operators and related businesses to attend.
DISCOVER GEMS IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD
The 5th Annual Annapolis Digby Tourism Showcase is a great opportunity for exhibitors to promote their products and services locally. And there’s still time to register as a vendor! For attendees, it’s a chance to experience the diversity of what our area has to offer while enjoying some great shopping. So, on Saturday, March 27, don’t miss this opportunity to support local artisans, retailers and service providers. This year, you can also enjoy presentations on gardening and community beautification.
GETTING A JUMP ON THE COMPETITION
In the Spring of 2009, we launched Golf & Gardens, a tourism initiative focussed primarily on the Halifax marketplace designed to put Annapolis Digby on the map as a mini-break destination, taking full advantage of the early season our region offers. This year, we’re expanding the billboard campaign to include two additional urban markets, doubling the media run, and redesigning the G&G website so that visitors can easily find and click on specific G&G packages.
MAY DAY: FARM MARKETS GEARING UP
There’s a new farm market on our horizon, sprouting up in the lovely seaside village of Hampton! The big kick-off is scheduled for May 21 with plans to offer lots of fresh, local foods. And while we’re on the subject of fresh food, a student lunch program promoting locally sourced produce was launched this week at two Lawrencetown schools.
DON’T MISS THE BIG FACE-OFF
Book your seat now for Social Media Face-Off, a forum to be lead by Terri McCulloch of the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership! She’ll be talking about the pros and cons of twitter, facebook and blogging — which is right for you and your business? Terri will help put you on the right social media track.
Speaking of big face-offs, join the entire population of Lawrencetown tonight at the firehall, as the community rallies to be named one of CBC Hockeyville’s Top 12 finalists! And on the weekend, don’t miss an opportunity to see Juno award winning recording artist Morgan Davis in Bear River.
Labels:
ADEDA Nova Scotia events
Global WIND Warming
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wind Turbines Were Supposed to Stop Global Warming, Right? [Greg Pollowitz]
MIT says land-based wind farms warm the planet. TG Daily:
Opponents of land-based wind farms have a new ally in the form of MIT. Researchers there say that, far from mitigating global warming, land-based wind turbines actually increase the temperature around them.
With the US Department of Energy expecting wind power to account for a fifth of the US’s electricity supply by 2030, the team used a climate model to analyze the effects of millions of wind turbines on the climate.
Such a massive deployment could indeed make a difference, they found — though not necessarily a welcome one.
Ron Prinn, TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric Science, and principal research scientist Chien Wang of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences suggest that using wind turbines to meet 10 percent of global energy demand in 2100 could cause temperatures to rise by one degree Celsius in the regions on land where they're installed.
Wind Turbines Were Supposed to Stop Global Warming, Right? [Greg Pollowitz]
MIT says land-based wind farms warm the planet. TG Daily:
Opponents of land-based wind farms have a new ally in the form of MIT. Researchers there say that, far from mitigating global warming, land-based wind turbines actually increase the temperature around them.
With the US Department of Energy expecting wind power to account for a fifth of the US’s electricity supply by 2030, the team used a climate model to analyze the effects of millions of wind turbines on the climate.
Such a massive deployment could indeed make a difference, they found — though not necessarily a welcome one.
Ron Prinn, TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric Science, and principal research scientist Chien Wang of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences suggest that using wind turbines to meet 10 percent of global energy demand in 2100 could cause temperatures to rise by one degree Celsius in the regions on land where they're installed.
Labels:
wind turbines global warming
Schools Under Discussion
From the Digby Courier
Report creates doubts about future of Digby Neck, Westport elementary school
By Tina Comeau Transcontinental Media
Topics : Islands Consolidated School , Westport elementary school , Tri-County Regional School Board , Brier Island , Long Island , Yarmouth The second phase of a school utilization report presented last week to Tri-County Regional School Board concludes that a new school should be built to replace the existing Islands Consolidated School.
The report also says the board should consider that building a new school to replace Islands Consolidated School could mean closing Digby Neck Consolidated School. However, no school can be recommended for closure until after a year-long school review process is carried out, and this isn’t expected to happen in the near future.
Former educator Jim Gunn, the consultant who prepared the report, says there is no urgency for the board to consider these scenarios within the next year. Still, he concludes that a consultation process should occur within the next two or three years.
Report creates doubts about future of Digby Neck, Westport elementary school
By Tina Comeau Transcontinental Media
Topics : Islands Consolidated School , Westport elementary school , Tri-County Regional School Board , Brier Island , Long Island , Yarmouth The second phase of a school utilization report presented last week to Tri-County Regional School Board concludes that a new school should be built to replace the existing Islands Consolidated School.
The report also says the board should consider that building a new school to replace Islands Consolidated School could mean closing Digby Neck Consolidated School. However, no school can be recommended for closure until after a year-long school review process is carried out, and this isn’t expected to happen in the near future.
Former educator Jim Gunn, the consultant who prepared the report, says there is no urgency for the board to consider these scenarios within the next year. Still, he concludes that a consultation process should occur within the next two or three years.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Convergys on Hiring Campaign
NS: Convergys hiring drive shifts into high gear
By Lawrence Powell, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Annapolis County Spectator, March 15, 2010
[CORNWALLIS, NS] — Convergys Corporation, Annapolis County’s largest employer, is ramping up its customer management staff and is embarking on a hiring campaign that is bringing the company to Lawrencetown and Middleton.
Convergys said it is hiring for full- and part-time on-site and home agent positions for its contact centre in Cornwallis. Due to its successful work-at-home pilot, the company will add 50 home agents through May 2010. Convergys provides customer service support for clients in the telecommunications industry.
Potential employees were invited to attend one of three job information sessions, including a March 9 session held at the library in Lawrencetown and an upcoming session March 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rosa M. Harvey Library in Middleton. A third session is planned for March 23 at the Library in Weymouth from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Because Convergys is a global company, these positions will provide an excellent opportunity for residents of the Digby and Annapolis counties seeking jobs that offer excellent benefits and pay incentives,” said Wendy Reid-Saulnier, site leader for the Convergys site in Cornwallis. “We are especially pleased to offer home agent positions, which provide an ideal option for stay-at-home parents needing a second income to help pay bills, students facing high tuition costs, or retirees who wish to augment their retirement savings.”
Convergys said it offers both on-site and work-at-home employees comprehensive training, competitive wages, plus incentives and benefits including tuition reimbursement, and paid and unpaid time off. About six weeks of training will be provided for the on-site positions. Home agents will train and work at the Cornwallis contact centre for at least three months before they begin working from home.
By Lawrence Powell, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Annapolis County Spectator, March 15, 2010
[CORNWALLIS, NS] — Convergys Corporation, Annapolis County’s largest employer, is ramping up its customer management staff and is embarking on a hiring campaign that is bringing the company to Lawrencetown and Middleton.
Convergys said it is hiring for full- and part-time on-site and home agent positions for its contact centre in Cornwallis. Due to its successful work-at-home pilot, the company will add 50 home agents through May 2010. Convergys provides customer service support for clients in the telecommunications industry.
Potential employees were invited to attend one of three job information sessions, including a March 9 session held at the library in Lawrencetown and an upcoming session March 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rosa M. Harvey Library in Middleton. A third session is planned for March 23 at the Library in Weymouth from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Because Convergys is a global company, these positions will provide an excellent opportunity for residents of the Digby and Annapolis counties seeking jobs that offer excellent benefits and pay incentives,” said Wendy Reid-Saulnier, site leader for the Convergys site in Cornwallis. “We are especially pleased to offer home agent positions, which provide an ideal option for stay-at-home parents needing a second income to help pay bills, students facing high tuition costs, or retirees who wish to augment their retirement savings.”
Convergys said it offers both on-site and work-at-home employees comprehensive training, competitive wages, plus incentives and benefits including tuition reimbursement, and paid and unpaid time off. About six weeks of training will be provided for the on-site positions. Home agents will train and work at the Cornwallis contact centre for at least three months before they begin working from home.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Community Pot Luck
There will be a community pot luck supper Tuesday March 16 at 6 pm at Little River Baptist Church. Bring your favourite dish and a friend or neighbour!
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