[Smevo]

From Thursday's Cape Breton Post.

N.S. premier floats idea of container terminal in C.B.

Would be built on the Strait of Canso

Section: Business

By James Keller, The Canadian Press
A shipping container terminal could be built on the Strait of Canso if the Atlantic Gateway concept is embraced to funnel international trade through Nova Scotia, Premier Rodney MacDonald said Wednesday.

While MacDonald wouldn't say whether he was referring to any specific proposal, his comments follow speculation that Halifax-based Trident Holdings Inc., is in talks to build a terminal on the western side of the Strait.

"It (the Atlantic Gateway) could mean, I believe, a new container terminal at some point in the Strait," MacDonald told the Nova Scotia Chambers of Commerce in Halifax.

"It will mean more jobs and more opportunity for importing and exporting."

A spokesman for Trident Holdings wasn't available for comment, and the company has said little about its potential plans.

Several local officials confirmed that Trident was looking at the possibility of building a container terminal at the provincially owned Melford industrial land reserve.

"For us, it's the sort of development that we have been pursuing for several years," said Gordon MacDonald of the Guysborough County Regional Development Authority.

The strait that separates Cape Breton from mainland Nova Scotia is deeper than Halifax harbour and could potentially handle larger post-Panamax ships that the Nova Scotia capital cannot.

The premier has been lobbying Ottawa to create an Atlantic Gateway, investing millions of dollars in infrastructure to increase trade from Asia and Europe.

MacDonald has called on Ottawa to back his $400-million plan, but hasn't received a commitment.

The concept is modeled after the Western Gateway, a $591-million plan announced last October that would upgrade ports, roads and rails in British Columbia to improve trading access to Asia-Pacific markets.

On Wednesday, MacDonald said the federal government needs to make a decision when it tables its budget on March 19.

"We're doing our part on the gateway," he told reporters. "My conversations with the prime minister have gone extremely well. I'm quite hopeful that we'll see that recognition in the budget."

MacDonald said a terminal would require infrastructure improvements, including highway upgrades, to transport the containers

Good news that the turnaround is real

Home sweet home

Housing market on the rise in Cape Breton

Section: Cape Breton

By Wes Stewart,
A healthy Cape Breton housing market continues to grow stronger as empty nesters move into smaller accommodations and confident young families put down permanent roots instead of renting, realtor Doug Phillips said Wednesday.

"When you look at the average price across the province, which is $169,000, compared to the average price of $89,000 (Cape Breton Highland region) it is still cheaper to buy a house and to live here which is kind of terrific," said Philips, a realtor with Coldwell Banker David Butts Realty.

Buyers are selling larger two-storey homes as they approach retirement and downsizing to a bungalow.

"We are seeing young people who are deciding to stay here, they are saying this is where we want to be and raise our family."

That young buyer is willing to pay a higher price for a home that they don't have to upgrade, he said.

Phillips is president of the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors, which released January sales through the multiple listing service showing a 24 per cent increase provincially compared to a year ago.

"The market has been terrific for this time of the year," when it is generally slow after Christmas.

In Cape Breton, realtors sold 42 in January compared to 21 a year ago.

Phillips attributed the buoyant market to the mild weather, low interest rates and the positive signs in the Cape Breton economy.

"There are people who are buying who normally would say we are not sure we are going to be here forever so we are going to rent."

They are saying they like the lifestyle, the housing prices and things are happening in Cape Breton so they are deciding to invest in a home, Phillips said.

Cape Breton region covers Cape Breton and Victoria counties; the Highland region is Richmond, Inverness, Guysborough and Antigonish counties.

Phillips said the Cape Breton market is strong and prices are rising.

"Over the past few years we are seeing a good 20-25 per cent increase in residential prices. A three-bedroom bungalow that would have sold in the $80,000 range four or five years ago is selling between $110,000 and $130,000."

Phillips said in Cape Breton the market at the moment is being driven by demand for three bedroom homes in the $150,000-$160,000 range.