NS: NoRigs 3 seeks permanent oil and gas ban
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 30, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The NoRigs 3 Coalition of fishermen, fishing groups, environmentalists and Aboriginal groups is calling on the Nova Scotia government for a permanent ban on oil and gas exploration and development on Georges Bank.
Representatives of the NoRigs3 Coalition will meet with Premier Darrell Dexter early in September to press for a permanent ban.
The coalition says such a ban is the only rational choice for the government in light of the exceptional nature of the rich fishing ground and sensitive ecosystem on Georges Bank and in light of ongoing oil spills that prove the industry is not safe and cleanup not easy.
Spills in the last year include the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the West Atlas Montara blowout and spill in the Timor Sea in Australia and the Enbridge oil pipeline spill into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. The coalition notes the spills have done billions of dollars of damage and the full environmental and economic impact of these spills remains unknown.
“The clean-up costs and damage to the Gulf fishing and tourism industries are increasing every day,” says Denny Morrow, NoRigs 3 chairman. “Plus, damage to seabirds, turtles and other non-commercial species can’t even be estimated yet.”
This spring the Nova Scotia government extended a ban on oil and gas exploration and development on Georges Bank to the year 2015. It was to expire in 2012.
But given the proof by the BP spill that the most up-to-date technology for preventing oil pollution were ineffective in the Gulf of Mexico disaster, the NoRigs 3 Coalition will be asking the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments to place a permanent ban on oil and gas development on Georges Bank.
While Georges Bank is a shallow bank, the Georges Bank moratorium lands cover deep water as well. NoRigs 3 says an oil rig blowout on Georges Bank could easily result in similar damage costs of $1 billion per year to Canadian and U.S. fisheries on the Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. The New England tourism industry from Cape Cod to Maine could also be vulnerable if a blowout occurred on the Canadian portion of Georges Bank, as strong, counter clock-wise “gyre” currents on the Bank would likely carry the oil pollutants to Cape Cod and New England shorelines. BP is one of two companies currently holding leases on Georges Bank.
NoRigs3 member and long-time fishing company manager Claude d’Entremont says that at least two blowout disasters over the past 12 months have exposed the myths that oil and gas development technology is risk-free, that the forces of nature can always be controlled and that government regulations can prevent human error and malfeasance from triggering these accidents.
“At least two major spills have occurred in this time,” d’Entremont says, “spilling more 700,000 tons of oil into the sea.”
Mark Butler, policy director with the Ecology Action Centre, adds: “Instead of chasing the very last drops of oil into the most sensitive marine environments like Georges Bank, it is really time for North America to speed up the transition to a renewable energy economy.”
Monday, August 30, 2010
Our Ferry Ridership Looking Good This Year
N.B.-N.S ferry's spike in riders fuels hopes
Last Updated: Saturday, August 28, 2010 | 2:03 PM AT
CBC News
The Princess of Acadia ferry docks in Saint John, N.B. Supporters hope an increase in passengers this year will convince governments to back the survival of the crossing. (CBC)Defenders of the subsidized ferry service that connects New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are hoping a spike in passenger traffic this summer will help save it.
Last week Bay Ferries Ltd. announced that the Princess of Acadia will add three extra crossings weekly between Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S.
There has been a 25 per cent jump in passenger numbers this summer, the company says.
The future of the service is in the hands of the federal and provincial governments. They have promised the crossing will stay open until the end of 2011, with a decision on what happens to the ferry service beyond that coming next fall.
In 2008, the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments paid $2 million each to help with Bay Ferries' operating costs, while the federal government put in $11.1 million.
Firm ongoing funding and a replacement for the federally owned, 1970s-era Princess of Acadia would likely be required to keep the crossing going.
The ferry business is especially important to the small town of Digby, which residents say would experience a huge drop in traffic if the ferry ever shut down.
Ferry vital to fish-packing
Jim Thurber, who heads a coalition in southwest Nova Scotia that is trying to save the ferry, said the strong summer shows that the ridership is there. He says the passenger numbers can be combined with a recent study by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency that said the ferry service is critical to the region's fish-packing industry.
"It should help in selling the fact that that service needs to remain and be guaranteed long-term," he said.
Stakeholders attribute the increase in passengers to the cancellation in December of the high-speed catamaran ferry that ran between Bar Harbor, Me., and Yarmouth, N.S. That crossing was also subsidized, and when Nova Scotia pulled its funding the crossing was cancelled.
Bay Ferries operated both vessels. People who look for the Bar Harbor crossing online are automatically forwarded to the Digby Ferry.
Digby-based restaurant owner Chris Cogswell said he has noticed the difference this summer.
"It's always been going downhill a bit for the last four years and this year it's actually coming back up the other way, so definitely the ferry traffic is helping for sure," he said.
Last Updated: Saturday, August 28, 2010 | 2:03 PM AT
CBC News
The Princess of Acadia ferry docks in Saint John, N.B. Supporters hope an increase in passengers this year will convince governments to back the survival of the crossing. (CBC)Defenders of the subsidized ferry service that connects New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are hoping a spike in passenger traffic this summer will help save it.
Last week Bay Ferries Ltd. announced that the Princess of Acadia will add three extra crossings weekly between Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S.
There has been a 25 per cent jump in passenger numbers this summer, the company says.
The future of the service is in the hands of the federal and provincial governments. They have promised the crossing will stay open until the end of 2011, with a decision on what happens to the ferry service beyond that coming next fall.
In 2008, the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments paid $2 million each to help with Bay Ferries' operating costs, while the federal government put in $11.1 million.
Firm ongoing funding and a replacement for the federally owned, 1970s-era Princess of Acadia would likely be required to keep the crossing going.
The ferry business is especially important to the small town of Digby, which residents say would experience a huge drop in traffic if the ferry ever shut down.
Ferry vital to fish-packing
Jim Thurber, who heads a coalition in southwest Nova Scotia that is trying to save the ferry, said the strong summer shows that the ridership is there. He says the passenger numbers can be combined with a recent study by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency that said the ferry service is critical to the region's fish-packing industry.
"It should help in selling the fact that that service needs to remain and be guaranteed long-term," he said.
Stakeholders attribute the increase in passengers to the cancellation in December of the high-speed catamaran ferry that ran between Bar Harbor, Me., and Yarmouth, N.S. That crossing was also subsidized, and when Nova Scotia pulled its funding the crossing was cancelled.
Bay Ferries operated both vessels. People who look for the Bar Harbor crossing online are automatically forwarded to the Digby Ferry.
Digby-based restaurant owner Chris Cogswell said he has noticed the difference this summer.
"It's always been going downhill a bit for the last four years and this year it's actually coming back up the other way, so definitely the ferry traffic is helping for sure," he said.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
ADEDA News
Testing The Tides
Fundy Tidal, Inc. of Westport has already announced plans to drop a test turbine in the waters off Digby County this fall to measure the potential for renewable energy from the tides, with hopes to begin commercial operation within three years. The turbine testing will be done in Grand Passage, which separates Long Island and Brier Island along Digby Neck. To bring everyone in the community, as well as interested alternative energy parties from all areas, up-to-date on their plans, Fundy Tidal along with scientists and government officials will be hosting an information session in Westport this Tuesday. It’s certainly a timely initiative, and receiving regional support. This fact was underlined in a recent media interview with the President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy who called for more regional cooperation, and cited tidal power as part of our region’s “unique (energy) diversity in a relatively small footprint”.
A Boost for Boatbuilders
In addition to new ventures underwater, there was good news for those industries in our area which traditionally ride the waves in our marine environment. The federal and provincial governments recently announced funding for a program to help the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association promote and market their products around the world. A spokesperson for one of this area’s leading shipyards, A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd., described the initiative as a significant one in “keeping this important part of our coastal livelihood alive, and greatly appreciated.”
Look up – Look Waaaaaay Up!
Ah, yes, one of the famous welcoming lines from the much loved CBC television children’s show The Friendly Giant. Well, the show’s now long gone – and that’s to be much lamented – but ”Friendly's” opening admonition can still hold true here if you’re visiting nearby Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The Park, in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada recently officially celebrated the designation of “Keji” as Nova Scotia’s first Dark Sky Preserve, committed to protect and preserve the night sky for visitors by applying strict lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution. By the way, there is absolutely no basis to the scurrilous suggestion by some that the much loved TV show met its demise because (my favourite character) Rusty the Rooster always appeared “half in the bag”. (Hey, just a little pun for those of us who knew and loved this wonderful series!).
An Oscar For Smiths Cove
Speaking of children’s entertainment, my home hamlet of Smiths Cove is the setting for a wonderful new children’s book set in that lovely seaside community. Oscar the herring gull is the mischievous hero of a book penned by “Cove” native Roberta Heembrock, who now lives in Calgary. It’s a warm tale of childhood summers on the Basin. And by the way, the human heroine of the story, Grammie Sara – in reality the author’s Aunt Mary Lou - is a friend of mine and one of the most respected and beloved members of our community. From this brief description I bet many of you already know who she is.
This Sporting Life
As I mentioned in my opening, summer may be on its slow slide into autumn, but for sports fans such as me, things are just heating up. Sure, the Canadian, US and college football seasons are swinging into play. But that most venerable, contemplative and analytical of pastimes – yes, I mean baseball - is heading into its home stretch. It’s far and away my favourite sport. I played it passionately as a kid, moving through my youth from third base, to shortstop to second base as my respective competitive leagues strengthened but my throwing arm didn’t. I have faithfully followed my beloved Saint Louis Cardinals for more than a half century and check their overnight results first thing every morning. But I also have to confess that like a lot of folks in Atlantic Canada, I grew up with my ear strained to a sometimes faint radio signal from Boston’s Fenway Park and followed the Red Sox on those long ago summer evenings. But there’s no doubt that the leading BoSox fan in all of our region was a young boy growing up in Freeport, on Long Island. Jim Prime’s new home is today a shine to the fabled Boston franchise and his loyalty has been rewarded. He has just been named as acting lieutenant-governor of Red Sox Nation by the Boston organization. Hard to say why Jim persevered with the Sox while I cemented such loyalty to the Cards, maybe because there was better radio reception on Digby Neck than in Cape Breton. Truth be told – it was the uniforms.
The Annapolis Digby area is full of sports buffs and sporting towns. At the other end of our region from Freeport – in the town of Bridgetown - an active group within the newly formed Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame is now planning to enshrine its first series of nominees. With over a century of local, national and international heroes in its remarkable sports annals they shouldn’t have any trouble developing a long list of candidates.
Material Culture, Agriculture and Cafe Culture
The diversity of offerings that characterize our area is available again this week. If you’re interested in historic homes and beautiful gardens, you can take in the Five Century House Tour in Annapolis Royal. Our area’s farming focus, along with horse shows, ox pulls and great home cooking will be on display this week at the Digby County Exhibition. And if you’re looking for a weekend stop with a more francophone flavour, drop by the newly opened Acadian Centre at the Universite Sainte-Anne in Church Point. You can learn about Acadian history, visit the art gallery and boutique, and taste the assortment of homemade goodies in the charming cafe. Try and get them all in if you can.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Fundy Tidal, Inc. of Westport has already announced plans to drop a test turbine in the waters off Digby County this fall to measure the potential for renewable energy from the tides, with hopes to begin commercial operation within three years. The turbine testing will be done in Grand Passage, which separates Long Island and Brier Island along Digby Neck. To bring everyone in the community, as well as interested alternative energy parties from all areas, up-to-date on their plans, Fundy Tidal along with scientists and government officials will be hosting an information session in Westport this Tuesday. It’s certainly a timely initiative, and receiving regional support. This fact was underlined in a recent media interview with the President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy who called for more regional cooperation, and cited tidal power as part of our region’s “unique (energy) diversity in a relatively small footprint”.
A Boost for Boatbuilders
In addition to new ventures underwater, there was good news for those industries in our area which traditionally ride the waves in our marine environment. The federal and provincial governments recently announced funding for a program to help the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association promote and market their products around the world. A spokesperson for one of this area’s leading shipyards, A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd., described the initiative as a significant one in “keeping this important part of our coastal livelihood alive, and greatly appreciated.”
Look up – Look Waaaaaay Up!
Ah, yes, one of the famous welcoming lines from the much loved CBC television children’s show The Friendly Giant. Well, the show’s now long gone – and that’s to be much lamented – but ”Friendly's” opening admonition can still hold true here if you’re visiting nearby Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The Park, in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada recently officially celebrated the designation of “Keji” as Nova Scotia’s first Dark Sky Preserve, committed to protect and preserve the night sky for visitors by applying strict lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution. By the way, there is absolutely no basis to the scurrilous suggestion by some that the much loved TV show met its demise because (my favourite character) Rusty the Rooster always appeared “half in the bag”. (Hey, just a little pun for those of us who knew and loved this wonderful series!).
An Oscar For Smiths Cove
Speaking of children’s entertainment, my home hamlet of Smiths Cove is the setting for a wonderful new children’s book set in that lovely seaside community. Oscar the herring gull is the mischievous hero of a book penned by “Cove” native Roberta Heembrock, who now lives in Calgary. It’s a warm tale of childhood summers on the Basin. And by the way, the human heroine of the story, Grammie Sara – in reality the author’s Aunt Mary Lou - is a friend of mine and one of the most respected and beloved members of our community. From this brief description I bet many of you already know who she is.
This Sporting Life
As I mentioned in my opening, summer may be on its slow slide into autumn, but for sports fans such as me, things are just heating up. Sure, the Canadian, US and college football seasons are swinging into play. But that most venerable, contemplative and analytical of pastimes – yes, I mean baseball - is heading into its home stretch. It’s far and away my favourite sport. I played it passionately as a kid, moving through my youth from third base, to shortstop to second base as my respective competitive leagues strengthened but my throwing arm didn’t. I have faithfully followed my beloved Saint Louis Cardinals for more than a half century and check their overnight results first thing every morning. But I also have to confess that like a lot of folks in Atlantic Canada, I grew up with my ear strained to a sometimes faint radio signal from Boston’s Fenway Park and followed the Red Sox on those long ago summer evenings. But there’s no doubt that the leading BoSox fan in all of our region was a young boy growing up in Freeport, on Long Island. Jim Prime’s new home is today a shine to the fabled Boston franchise and his loyalty has been rewarded. He has just been named as acting lieutenant-governor of Red Sox Nation by the Boston organization. Hard to say why Jim persevered with the Sox while I cemented such loyalty to the Cards, maybe because there was better radio reception on Digby Neck than in Cape Breton. Truth be told – it was the uniforms.
The Annapolis Digby area is full of sports buffs and sporting towns. At the other end of our region from Freeport – in the town of Bridgetown - an active group within the newly formed Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame is now planning to enshrine its first series of nominees. With over a century of local, national and international heroes in its remarkable sports annals they shouldn’t have any trouble developing a long list of candidates.
Material Culture, Agriculture and Cafe Culture
The diversity of offerings that characterize our area is available again this week. If you’re interested in historic homes and beautiful gardens, you can take in the Five Century House Tour in Annapolis Royal. Our area’s farming focus, along with horse shows, ox pulls and great home cooking will be on display this week at the Digby County Exhibition. And if you’re looking for a weekend stop with a more francophone flavour, drop by the newly opened Acadian Centre at the Universite Sainte-Anne in Church Point. You can learn about Acadian history, visit the art gallery and boutique, and taste the assortment of homemade goodies in the charming cafe. Try and get them all in if you can.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Labels:
ADEDA news
Spirited Meeting in Sandy Cove
Fish farm foes make points
Opponents ‘had to take over meeting’
By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Sat, Aug 28 - 4:53 AM
Andy Moir is a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group opposing proposed fish farms in the Digby Neck area. (Jim Meek)
Opponents of two controversial fish farms in the Digby Neck area had their say at a meeting Thursday night but still want more public consultation.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department held an open house in Sandy Cove, where project foes insisted on expressing their concerns.
"It was a pretty interesting meeting," Andy Moir, a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group, said in an interview Friday.
"We told them that we weren’t interested in the meet-and-greet-style format, that we wanted to ask our questions and hear the answers."
The 150 people, including many local fishermen and representatives of the Bear River First Nation, gathered outside and walked in together. They then demanded to make their statements and ask their questions.
"Basically, we had to take over the meeting," said Moir, a resident of Freeport.
He said the group made its presentations in two hours.
Moir said the community wants more public consultation on a proposal submitted by Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., a division of Cooke Aquaculture of New Brunswick, to operate two salmon farms in St. Marys Bay, Digby County.
Celeste Sulliman, spokeswoman for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, said the meeting was useful and productive.
"The process that we went in with was not the process that we ended up utilizing," she said of the meeting in an interview Friday.
"We responded to the wishes of the community. They really wanted a forum where they could ask questions publicly."
Sulliman said the department will continue to take written submissions. She added that while there is public opposition, there are also supporters.
"We will continue to assess all the submissions, along with the science and the facts," she said.
Cooke Aquaculture wants the two fish farms operational by next spring.
The proposed farms total 84 hectares and are under government review. Written submissions will be accepted until Sept. 16. If approved, it would be the largest salmon farm in the province. The two 42-hectare sites — one at Freeport, the other at Grand Passage — would each see one million salmon raised and harvested every three years, Mike Szemerda, vice-president of salt water operations for Cooke Aquaculture, said in a recent interview.
The company maintains the farms will create 20 jobs, but opponents say it is more likely about 10 jobs would result.
It already operates one fish farm in the area, between Briar and Long islands.
About 80 per cent of the approximately 1,000 residents in that area signed a petition against it. Residents are concerned about pollution from the fish farms, interference with the lobster fishery and the possible impact on whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Opponents ‘had to take over meeting’
By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Sat, Aug 28 - 4:53 AM
Andy Moir is a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group opposing proposed fish farms in the Digby Neck area. (Jim Meek)
Opponents of two controversial fish farms in the Digby Neck area had their say at a meeting Thursday night but still want more public consultation.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department held an open house in Sandy Cove, where project foes insisted on expressing their concerns.
"It was a pretty interesting meeting," Andy Moir, a member of the Save Our Bays lobby group, said in an interview Friday.
"We told them that we weren’t interested in the meet-and-greet-style format, that we wanted to ask our questions and hear the answers."
The 150 people, including many local fishermen and representatives of the Bear River First Nation, gathered outside and walked in together. They then demanded to make their statements and ask their questions.
"Basically, we had to take over the meeting," said Moir, a resident of Freeport.
He said the group made its presentations in two hours.
Moir said the community wants more public consultation on a proposal submitted by Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., a division of Cooke Aquaculture of New Brunswick, to operate two salmon farms in St. Marys Bay, Digby County.
Celeste Sulliman, spokeswoman for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, said the meeting was useful and productive.
"The process that we went in with was not the process that we ended up utilizing," she said of the meeting in an interview Friday.
"We responded to the wishes of the community. They really wanted a forum where they could ask questions publicly."
Sulliman said the department will continue to take written submissions. She added that while there is public opposition, there are also supporters.
"We will continue to assess all the submissions, along with the science and the facts," she said.
Cooke Aquaculture wants the two fish farms operational by next spring.
The proposed farms total 84 hectares and are under government review. Written submissions will be accepted until Sept. 16. If approved, it would be the largest salmon farm in the province. The two 42-hectare sites — one at Freeport, the other at Grand Passage — would each see one million salmon raised and harvested every three years, Mike Szemerda, vice-president of salt water operations for Cooke Aquaculture, said in a recent interview.
The company maintains the farms will create 20 jobs, but opponents say it is more likely about 10 jobs would result.
It already operates one fish farm in the area, between Briar and Long islands.
About 80 per cent of the approximately 1,000 residents in that area signed a petition against it. Residents are concerned about pollution from the fish farms, interference with the lobster fishery and the possible impact on whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Young Farmers in N.S.
NS: Ten-year strategy necessary for survival, say farmers
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Hants Journal, August 27, 2010
[WINDSOR, NS] — Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Chuck Porter is cautiously optimistic following the announcement of a new government program that will aim to support young farmers who are eager to enter Nova Scotia’s commercial farming industry.
Porter, who believes that barriers to entry in the farming market have slowed growth in Nova Scotia’s agricultural production, is pleased with the announcement, but still questions the NDP government’s promise of a $900,000, 10-year agriculture strategy.
“The ‘ThinkFarm’ strategy is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Porter. “However, the NDP are doing nothing to support current and established farmers who are struggling to maintain their operations on a daily basis.”
Current farmers were promised a new farming strategy dating back to the 2009 general election campaign.
Porter, who met with dairy farmers last week, says that farmers can no longer wait.
“This strategy is critical to the long-term competitiveness and profitability of our farmers,” said Porter. “Nova Scotia’s Federation of Agriculture said back in April that they required the strategy now.”
Porter is encouraging Agriculture Minister John MacDonell to pursue the ThinkFarm initiative aggressively in light of a 2008 policy paper by the Young Farmers of Nova Scotia. The paper shows that commercial farm businesses in Nova Scotia will require a minimum of $500,000 of initial capital by this year.
“I understand that any investment takes time to mature,” said Porter. “But our farmers deserve better. I will not let this government off the hook when it comes to developing a long-term, viable solution to our agricultural issues here in Nova Scotia.”
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Hants Journal, August 27, 2010
[WINDSOR, NS] — Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Chuck Porter is cautiously optimistic following the announcement of a new government program that will aim to support young farmers who are eager to enter Nova Scotia’s commercial farming industry.
Porter, who believes that barriers to entry in the farming market have slowed growth in Nova Scotia’s agricultural production, is pleased with the announcement, but still questions the NDP government’s promise of a $900,000, 10-year agriculture strategy.
“The ‘ThinkFarm’ strategy is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Porter. “However, the NDP are doing nothing to support current and established farmers who are struggling to maintain their operations on a daily basis.”
Current farmers were promised a new farming strategy dating back to the 2009 general election campaign.
Porter, who met with dairy farmers last week, says that farmers can no longer wait.
“This strategy is critical to the long-term competitiveness and profitability of our farmers,” said Porter. “Nova Scotia’s Federation of Agriculture said back in April that they required the strategy now.”
Porter is encouraging Agriculture Minister John MacDonell to pursue the ThinkFarm initiative aggressively in light of a 2008 policy paper by the Young Farmers of Nova Scotia. The paper shows that commercial farm businesses in Nova Scotia will require a minimum of $500,000 of initial capital by this year.
“I understand that any investment takes time to mature,” said Porter. “But our farmers deserve better. I will not let this government off the hook when it comes to developing a long-term, viable solution to our agricultural issues here in Nova Scotia.”
Yarmouth Industrial Commission Acquires Ferry Terminal
NS: Control of Yarmouth ferry terminal comes home
By Michael Gorman, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 27, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — Control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal is going to the community.
West Nova MP Greg Kerr delivered the news to area municipal leaders on Thursday, saying this clears the path for pursuing an operator for 2011.
“The months of patience have paid off,” he said.
Although the process required much effort, Kerr said the ability of area municipal units to act with one voice — not to mention take the lead on the effort — last December when it was announced that The CAT ferry service would not continue, played a major role in the final outcome.
“When the municipalities agreed to formalize one voice in the area, that’s really what made the difference.”
West Nova MP Greg Kerr addresses municipal leaders Thursday with news that control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal would be going to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission. — Michael Gorman photo
Kerr said he expects the terminal lease to be formally signed over to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission (YAIC), the group leading the effort to restore ferry service, some time in September.
Dave Whiting, acting CEO of the YAIC, said they can now go ahead with formally pursuing an operator. Whiting said the timeline remains good to have ferry service restored in time for the 2011 season and he expects to have more news in October.
The next step, said Whiting, is to put out a formal request for proposals to determine what operators are interested and determine what ports in Maine are in play.
Both Kerr and Whiting said potential opportunities for greater partnerships with the U.S. need to be pursued but Whiting said that is something that will come once they determine what ports are legitimately interested. That also applies to what kind of involvement should be expected from the other side in terms of support for the service.
The community controlling the terminal opens the door for other opportunities in the area, although Whiting would not elaborate on those at this time. It also puts to rest, said Kerr, any concerns about the loss of customs services in the area.
Kerr stressed the need to document the impacts of no ferry service on the community this season to make the case for why it is so important, as well as stressing the importance of the link between the province and the United States in general.
By Michael Gorman, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Yarmouth County Vanguard, August 27, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — Control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal is going to the community.
West Nova MP Greg Kerr delivered the news to area municipal leaders on Thursday, saying this clears the path for pursuing an operator for 2011.
“The months of patience have paid off,” he said.
Although the process required much effort, Kerr said the ability of area municipal units to act with one voice — not to mention take the lead on the effort — last December when it was announced that The CAT ferry service would not continue, played a major role in the final outcome.
“When the municipalities agreed to formalize one voice in the area, that’s really what made the difference.”
West Nova MP Greg Kerr addresses municipal leaders Thursday with news that control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal would be going to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission. — Michael Gorman photo
Kerr said he expects the terminal lease to be formally signed over to the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission (YAIC), the group leading the effort to restore ferry service, some time in September.
Dave Whiting, acting CEO of the YAIC, said they can now go ahead with formally pursuing an operator. Whiting said the timeline remains good to have ferry service restored in time for the 2011 season and he expects to have more news in October.
The next step, said Whiting, is to put out a formal request for proposals to determine what operators are interested and determine what ports in Maine are in play.
Both Kerr and Whiting said potential opportunities for greater partnerships with the U.S. need to be pursued but Whiting said that is something that will come once they determine what ports are legitimately interested. That also applies to what kind of involvement should be expected from the other side in terms of support for the service.
The community controlling the terminal opens the door for other opportunities in the area, although Whiting would not elaborate on those at this time. It also puts to rest, said Kerr, any concerns about the loss of customs services in the area.
Kerr stressed the need to document the impacts of no ferry service on the community this season to make the case for why it is so important, as well as stressing the importance of the link between the province and the United States in general.
Labels:
Yarmouth ferry terminal
A Spirited Group at Meeting in Sandy Cove
....About 150 or so, wanting a conventional,old-fashioned sit-down meeting- and had tiold then so, were greeted by the same old thing that we got....THE 150 walked out, regrouped, and re-entered and DEMANDED.....
And Andys' group got what it wanted...... Questions and Answers, audible>>>Everyone could hear.
Andy said it was clear that the experts,so-called, didn't have all too many answers....Goooooood for them...There is some community around afterall, at least on the Islands......d
d Anyway, good on them!
And Andys' group got what it wanted...... Questions and Answers, audible>>>Everyone could hear.
Andy said it was clear that the experts,so-called, didn't have all too many answers....Goooooood for them...There is some community around afterall, at least on the Islands......d
d Anyway, good on them!
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