Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=277282&sc=145

Federal Minister of Industry Tony Clement, right, is shown walking along George Street in Sydney with his chief of staff Bill King following a Wednesday breakfast meeting at the Delta Sydney. Greg McNeil - Cape Breton Post

Clement asked to help fix ferry problems

GREG MCNEIL
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Traffic congestion at the Marine Atlantic terminal in North Sydney quickly became an issue during the federal minister of industry’s breakfast meeting with local business people.

Tony Clement spoke on a broad range of issues during Wednesday’s session, but problems at the ferry terminal came to the forefront when the president of the longshoremen’s association approached the minister before a scrum with the local media.

“The people are getting frustrated,” said Peter Gillis, president of local 1259 of the Atlantic Coast District International Longshoremen’s Association.

“It is to the point where customers are coming there and not even allowed on the property because there is not room to put two, three boatloads of traffic at the same time on the lot.”

In recent weeks, access to Highway 105 entering North Sydney has been restricted due to traffic waiting to enter Marine Atlantic’s terminal in North Sydney.

When Gillis asked him about solutions for the terminal, Clement said the government is listening all the time.

“Certainly, part of my trip here is to hear from Cape Bretoners, from people in the Sydney area, of what their challenges are and how the federal government can be helpful.”

Gillis said terminal upgrades could help Cape Breton take advantage of a booming Newfoundland economy.

“As an employee over there, as well as a union representative, I feel we have to get some of this money brought down into this region and have some the infrastructure changed over there.”

Gillis hopes the concerns will be addressed and not forgotten.

“I hope that he didn’t just put this information on a piece of paper and is going to go lose it on his desk.”

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=277276&sc=152

Residents upset proposed meeting on tar ponds cancelled

ERIN POTTIE
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Residents of Sydney who wanted to learn more about the tar ponds remediation project are upset that a proposed meeting was cancelled.

Wayne McKay of Ashby said he arranged a public meeting after hearing concerns while on the campaign trail as an NDP candidate during the last provincial election.

Specifically, he said residents worried about a letter sent to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality last year that requests a delay in a playground project being developed on Intercolonial Street, to be known as the Wintering Cove Neighbourhood Park.

A line in the letter states, “This current land use does not create a concern with respect to exposure to air contaminants.”

Additional studies would be required to demonstrate whether or not there are risks to users of the park. Those studies, the letter reads, would result in additional cost and delay for the project.

McKay said a meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the McConnell Memorial Library in Sydney to discuss air quality and other concerns.

On Tuesday at about 3 p.m. McKay called Gary Campbell of provincial Crown corporation, Nova Scotia Lands, which is remediating the former steel plant property, to remind him of the meeting.

Campbell returned the phone call at 4:30 and told McKay’s wife he would not be in attendance.

“This lack of showing up at the last second just really, really angered me,” said McKay. “I had been doing everything I could to accommodate both sides to try and come to some kind of resolution here.

“If you talk to the residents, they’ll tell you that they don’t believe anything that anyone from the tar ponds agency says to them. They’ve completely lost faith in the agency and it’s because of things like this happening over and over and over again.”

Campbell said Wednesday that the meeting date was a misunderstanding. He said McKay was asked to gather questions from the residents and that he received a copy of those questions about two weeks ago.

“I never expected we were going to be dealing with six pages of questions, many of which are certainly outside my mandate to deal with and I told him in my e-mail I was in the midst of preparing for two board meetings, both Nova Scotia Lands and SYSCO, and I had hoped to get a week off for vacation the week after,” said Campbell.

Campbell said he told McKay he wasn’t able to answer those questions within the scheduled time frame. He said he assumed there would be no meeting, but said he never used the word cancelled until Tuesday.

Tanya Collier MacDonald, spokesperson with the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, said a meeting was already held for those residents at the McConnell Library in June.

She said the agency is currently in the process of answering the submitted questions.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=277648&sc=149

Volunteers (left to right) Jordan Campbell, Brian Andrea, Mark Boudreau Jr., Francis Clarke, Bruce MacDonald and Mark Boudreau Sr., are among many who helped lay the sods for the new community sports field next to Dr. T. L. Sullivan Junior High School in Florence. Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post

Sports field a school, community project

JULIE COLLINS
The Cape Breton Post

FLORENCE — Many hands make less work and there were volunteers aplenty helping to build the community sports field next to Dr. T. L. Sullivan Junior High School in Florence.

“This development is for the greater Northside community,” said Sullivan principal Bruce MacDonald, who has made the project one of his last official acts before heading for Breton Education Centre in New Waterford for the coming school year. “All the communities that feed into this school should avail themselves to this field.”

Preliminary construction started last fall and MacDonald and his crew of volunteers including teachers and students, were back at it in May before school closed.

“All the engineering work is done, the top soil is in place and we should be finished laying the sod this week,” MacDonald said. “This new field is a welcome addition to the school property and for the community.”

The school raised funds for the project and was able to obtain a few grants from the province. The Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board also kicked in some funding and local contractors supported the project, which cost in the area of $100,000 to build.

The walking track around the perimeter of the field is ready for use. The field, which is fenced and secure, will eventually have lighting.

“We’ve had tremendous help from a host of volunteers including students, teachers and people from the community. Mark Boudreau of Larand Construction contributed a significant amount of equipment and time to the project,” he said.

“There is more emphasis today on physical active living, not just for young people, but for all ages. That is the whole focus of this project, to promote physical fitness.”

The weather over the next few days is expected to be sunny with temperatures expected to reach 26°C.

“We are in for a few hot days and are working on ways to have the field watered so we don’t lose any sods.”

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Marine Atlantic chairman Rob Crosbie says a new fleet renewal strategy is being put together for the federal government which would cost at least $400 million and take many years to complete. Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post file photo

Marine Atlantic says $400 million fleet renewal plan likely next month

The Canadian Press

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. (CP) — The newly reappointed chairman of Marine Atlantic hopes to present a fleet renewal strategy to the federal government next month — but it’s pricey.

The ferry service between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia has come under criticism the past couple of years from passengers upset with delays.

Chairman Rob Crosbie says the newest ferry in the fleet, Atlantic Vision, would have solved the problem with capacity but its own mechanical problems have hampered the service.

Crosbie says a new fleet renewal strategy is being put together for the federal government which would cost at least $400 million and take many years to complete.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams says if that’s the price tag needed for the province’s link to the mainland, so be it.

In the meantime, Williams says the Crown corporation should start concentrating on customer service while they wait for word from Ottawa.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=277640&sc=147

ECMA announces submission deadlines for 2010 event in Sydney

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Award and showcase submissions are now being accepted for the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference taking place in Sydney, March 4-7.

The ECMA will present 32 music awards, 17 industry awards and five honorary awards this year. All East Coast artists who have released recordings between June 1, 2008 and Oct. 1, 2009 are eligible to submit to be considered for an East Coast Music Award. All submissions for music and industry awards must be received by Oct. 1.

Submissions are also being accepted until Oct.1 for the Stompin’ Tom Award, recognizing musicians who have made a long-term contribution to the East Coast music industry.

The 2010 event in Cape Breton will also feature the return of the following showcase stages: Rock Stage, Roots Room, Rising Star Stage, Concert Series, Songwriter’s Circle, Bluebird North Showcase and the ECMA Partnered Stages. Submission deadline on all showcase stages is Sept. 16. Artists and groups of all genres are encouraged to apply.

The deadline for several other ECMA programs and showcases are also coming up next month. Submissions are due by Sept. 16 for the Soundwaves Program, designed to connect artists with the ECMA host community through performances in schools and community venues months leading up to the event, as well the discovery stage, a two-day, 12-hour per day musical extravaganza during the ECMA weekend, which is open to all genres of emerging artists.

For more information go to www.ecma.ca.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=278170&sc=152

Neil MacNeil named new CEO of J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport has chosen a Cape Breton native as its new chief executive officer.

A selection committee chose Neil MacNeil out of over 50 applicants, seven of which were interviewed.

John MacKinnon, chair of the selection committee and vice-chair of the airport authority, said the airport’s board of directors were unanimous in their decision.

“We are excited to secure a candidate with Mr. MacNeil's background in the transportation and economic development fields and we look forward to working along with him to promote the airport and the community,” said MacKinnon, in a release.

In his last position, MacNeil was general manager of TIKN Management Inc. in Ottawa, Ont. He has also held various roles with Transport Canada, served as director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Saint John, N.B. and is a former Canadian Navy ship officer.

MacNeil’s portfolio also includes a stint as assistant to the minister of transport from 1980 to 1983, and CEO of both Canada Ports Corporation and Ridley Terminal Inc. from 1997 to 1998 — all within Ottawa.

MacNeil also spent a short period of time as a policy advisor to the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

MacNeil is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University with a bachelor of arts degree and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Dalhousie University.

He will replace former CEO Larry MacPherson, who announced his retirement in June.

MacNeil will begin his duties with the airport authority on Wednesday. He is expected to work under MacPherson, who will finish up his duties in September.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=279410&sc=152

Argyle Street bridge closed

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A short section of Argyle Street between George and Crescent streets became closed to vehicular traffic Wednesday after which an excavator began tearing up pavement and concrete on the bridge spanning the brook that runs into Wentworth Park.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s engineering technologist in charge of the work wasn’t immediately available for comment, Wednesday.

A worker at the site said the project includes replacing asphalt, concrete sidewalks and catch basins on the bridge, and not the bridge structure. He added that the work could take approximately two weeks.

This is a picture of the bridge structure my buddy "SB" took last year. Not bad for almost 90-year old concrete.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=281361&sc=152

Real estate website helps prospective homebuyers with market information

BY CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A Glace Bay native and his two-man team of web developers have been working to create their own niche in the online Canadian real estate market.

Sandy Ward, the chief executive officer of Homezilla.ca, said his website is a one-stop shop for homebuyers to find neighbourhood information.

Prospective buyers can enter an address and find the closest schools, parks, restaurants, bars and demographic information in the vicinity of the home they may want to purchase.

“If people start researching a home 12 months before they actually buy, we’re enabling those people during that year of research to do it faster and easier,” Ward said Wednesday from Cape Breton University, where he’s looking at renting office space for his Internet venture.

Homezilla went live in October 2008 and has been integrating real estate listings for some time. While it has listings for communities across the country, the company is using Vancouver and Nova Scotia as test locations for adding new information to the website.

However, most of Homezilla’s web traffic — about 80,000 visitors a day — come from Ontario, Ward noted.

Up until last month, fellow Cape Bretoners Lawrence Jewells and Robert Myers have been working on website development from their own homes.
Ward, whose job it is to attract real estate companies to work with his company, is based out of Toronto.

He said real estate agents will find the website useful because it’ll answer questions that they likely wouldn’t have at their fingertips: Where is the closest school? What’s the average income of a particular neighbourhood? What’s the population of the area?

“It better enables real estate agents, real estate companies to target their homebuyer,” said Ward, a former engineer manager at Yahoo! Canada.

“(It’s about) giving this data away for free and then collecting all this data completely anonymous, but then selling that data to mortgage companies, mortgage insurance companies and real estate companies for their use.”

The company already has several Cape Breton real estate companies onboard including Catherine E Harvey Realties, Century 21 Bayside Real Estate, Cape Breton-Canso Realty, W. Black and Son Real Estate, Royal Lepage Brennan Realty and Yazer Realty.

Ward said Homezilla is currently looking to hire a business or political science intern as the process of developing the website continues.

[gregnl]

Wow This City Is Growing New Development And Stores If St.john Nb Dont Watch Out Cbrm Might Become A Bigger City

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=282054&sc=145

Work continued on the first of three phases of the water diversion project of the coke ovens brook and wash brook into the north pond of the tar ponds. Officials from the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency hand-delivered responses to questions posed by some residents of north end Sydney, Friday. Residents on Intercolonial Street in particular had concerns of air quality monitoring procedures as the cleanup proceeds near their homes. Submitted by Owen Fitzgerald

Tar ponds agency answers 49 questions posed by Sydney residents

CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A group of residents in north end Sydney finally have answers to a list of 49 questions it posed to the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, many of which concern air quality and safety measures on the cleanup site.

Agency officials hand delivered the responses to residents, many of whom live on Intercolonial Street, adjacent to the tar ponds.

Wayne McKay, a spokesperson for the residents, said Friday he’s glad to finally have the answers to questions that have been gnawing at residents for months.

McKay had yet to hear any feedback from the people he represents, but he did say some of the answers were satisfactory, while other answers required more information because of the technical nature of the responses.

A major concern in the north end is the process of air monitoring and how quickly that information is passed on to the community.

The tar ponds agency said in its response to several questions that it would implement “mitigative measures” that would “ensure the safety of workers, residents and the environment is maintained.”

“I know there’s been large clouds of dust coming out of the site because things haven’t been watered down properly, so there may be some questions that arise out of what they’re actually doing with the mitigative procedures,” McKay said.

The agency said to suppress unacceptable levels of suspended particulate it would use an odour suppressant foam, watering material or a work stoppage.

In the case of an emergency on site, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality would be in charge of leading a large-scale evacuation of the neighbourhood, the agency said.

“The real-time monitoring only happens right on the work site. It doesn’t happen off the work site, so those monitors are every six days for a 24-hour period, which they stated, but the residents aren’t comfortable with that,” McKay said.

Residents on Intercolonial Street became worried earlier this year upon learning the tar ponds agency sent a letter to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in August 2008 requesting a delay in the construction of a playground project on the other side of Intercolonial Street.

The letter stated that “this current land use does not create a concern with respect to exposure to air contaminants.”

The agency said additional studies would be required to demonstrate whether or not there are risks to users of the park, if it was completed and open to the public while the tar ponds cleanup remained in high gear.

Those studies, the letter read, would result in additional cost and delay for the (tar ponds cleanup) project.

McKay said it was this letter that had many residents in the neighbourhood thinking if a park was potentially too dangerous for the public to use on a daily basis, then residents who live on the other side of the street may have legitimate contamination fears.

“(Residents) had the question of, ‘How is it possible that there may be a risk to children and people in the park and there’s no risk on the other side of the street?’

“(Residents) just couldn’t understand that and it’s kind of a question I still have.”

He expected residents to meet to review the agency’s responses before possibly sending back followup questions to officials at the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency.

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Motorists lead stop and go life

The Cape Breton Post

Lloyd Hall, project engineer on this summer’s reconstruction job on Highway 4, hopes to have work wrapped up by November. That will be just in time for — you guessed it — winter!

Driving in Canada can be quite an adventure, and a year-round one. In eastern Nova Scotia, even when we escape relatively unscathed from winter snowfall, the roads are often treacherous because of a typical temperature range just around freezing on many days.

When spring comes, there’s the challenge of frost-heaved pavement and potholes on secondary roads and urban streets. Later, the construction crews fan out with guerilla-like precision with the aim of making life as difficult as possible for the motoring public — or so it sometimes seems.

Late in fall you have a chance to pass over some smooth new pavement before hunkering down for the sleet and freezing rain. Next spring the new roadway is still there to be enjoyed, of course, but the construction crews will have set up camp somewhere else — perhaps just a few kilometres along on the same road — with the apparent purpose of ensuring that your trip is not unencumbered.

This has been the situation for several seasons along the heavily travelled Highway 4 from St. Peters to Sydney. Anyone who has travelled the route in recent years would readily agree it has been in dire need of repaving and rebuilding. The work has been stretched out over several years at a spending pace of roughly $4 million a year, and that’s been a source of some frustration.

The multi-year approach means there’s construction, with attendant traffic delays, somewhere on the route every summer. It’s been especially bad at times this season because of a major rebuild and realignment along 6.5 kilometres of the highway between Big Pond and Ben Eoin. The public was amply warned that delays of 45 minutes could be expected on days when blasting was underway but many who commute along the route have no alternative.

Chambers of commerce in the Sydney and Strait areas, together with the community-based Route 4 Highway Committee, have pressed the province to speed up the job and finish it no later than 2012. The best the previous government would pledge was to complete the entire route from St. Peters to Sydney River in 2013.

That was part of an aggressive highway refurbishing and construction program of the previous Conservative government and it remains to be seen what adjustments the new NDP administration will make in those plans.

The new Highway 4, whenever it’s finally completed, will be a strong asset for the island. Tortuous twists and turns are being removed, replaced by gentler curves and less perpendicular hills while the scenic lakeside character of the route is preserved.

Interested groups and the public need to keep up the pressure to get the job done. Unfortunately, motorists will have to put up with a few more summers of hot, annoying waits before the road is brought up to modern standard.

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Originally Posted by gregnl

Wow This City Is Growing New Development And Stores If St.john Nb Dont Watch Out Cbrm Might Become A Bigger City

Welcome gregnl.

While I'm of the opinion that we are most definitely growing again (a point that's still debated), I doubt we'll be taking over SJ anytime soon, not to mention that in most ways we're three cities and a town (or two cities and two towns, depending on your cutoff) within a single municipal boundary (and metro), where SJ is one central city with far-flung suburbs.

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Road work continued on Highway 125 this week as part of a twinning project from Balls Creek to Sydney River. The project began in May. Greg McNeil - Cape Breton Post

Highway twinning project moving along quickly

LAURA JEAN GRANT
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — There has been lots of construction activity along sections of Highway 125 this summer and residents can expect that to continue for several years.

The twinning of Highway 125 from Balls Creek to Sydney River — which is estimated to cost approximately $7.3 million — began in May and work is progressing nicely, according to Lloyd Hall, a project engineer with the provincial Department of Transportation.

“It’s moving along very quickly. We haven’t really had any problems. There’s a few soft spots in the road that we had to dig out and replace with heavy stone but other than that everything else has been going great,” he said.

It’s a busy construction site with about five Department of Transportation staff, an estimated 15-20 employees from the project’s contractor, Alva Construction, and anywhere between 20 and 40 private trucks, on the site at any given time. Crews are working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Hall said work associated with the current tender is expected to be complete by the end of September, at which point the new section of road will be gravelled. Another tender, for realignment and paving work, will then have to be issued by the Transportation Department.

“Whenever the next tender comes out for paving of that project we’ll have to realign the ramps so that everything lines up with the twinning,” he explained.

But the work won’t end at Sydney River.

Patricia Jriege, spokesperson with the Department of Transportation, said the long-term vision is to have the highway twinned all the way to Grand Lake Road by 2015.

“The next phase of twinning Highway 125 will be from Kings Road to Grand Lake Road. We expect to call a tender for this section late next year in 2010 and anticipate that construction would then begin in 2011 and that phase of construction should take three to four years to complete,” she said. “Then once that’s done then the twinning project for Highway 125 would be complete.”

I'd be very surprised to see it finished to GLR by 2015, but I'm hoping it is. I think they already have a tender called for the roundabout at Alexandra St, so I'll be keeping my eye out for tenders for the twinning work next year. I'm scared to see how traffic will be affected through there during construction though, considering they're jersey-barrier twinning that section. I'm expecting major tie-ups for most if not all of the duration of the work, it will be well worth it though.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=283974&sc=152

No decision made yet on possible start date for Donkin mine reopening

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The company seeking to reopen the Donkin coal mine is continuing with the exploration stage and is currently “liaising with key stakeholders,” says Val Istomin, the project manager for Xstrata Coal Donkin Management.

However, Istomin cautions the global recession has had an affect on the world price for coal.

“Given the impact of the global financial crisis upon thermal coal prices, we are closely monitoring the market to determine future customer demand and no decisions have been made regarding a potential start date for the next stage,” said Istomin, responding to an e-mail query by the Post.

He said “various approvals” are needed before the project can move ahead.
The exploration phase is intended to determine if a longwall coal mine would be a commercially viable venture.

Meanwhile, Erdene Resource Development Corp., a Halifax company with a 25 per cent stake in the project with partner Xstrata, said last month it was continuing to work on a $3 million feasibility study for the coal mine.

The company said some tenders have been “provisionally” awarded and there are requests for pricing on items and major contracts associated with the project.

Erdene is expected to conclude its feasibility study once Xstrata is able to secure long-term domestic and international sales agreements.

According to the province, the Donkin mine project is expected to take three years.

The site will be prepared in the first year, followed by coal extraction, using continuous mining, in the second and third years.

As part of the process, Xstrata has established a community liaison committee that will communicate with the public.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=284247&sc=145

CBRM resubmits $23-million stimulus plan to Ottawa

CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — This fall residents in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality could see plenty of road work and upgrades to other essential municipal infrastructure if Ottawa approves the newly resubmitted $23-million stimulus plan.

It’s a big if considering the construction season is quickly coming to an end, says the CBRM’s acting director of engineering and public works Wayne MacDonald.

The municipality’s first application — based mostly on roadwork — was estimated to cost $12 million, but was rejected by the federal government because it wasn’t considered to be a long-term investment for the CBRM.

MacDonald said the CBRM submitted a second, more extensive, application last week totalling about $23 million, which would be cost-shared among the three levels of government.

It included a more detailed description of work on the water, wastewater and storm sewer systems in the municipality.

“The second application grows from the original plan to include ... the water, storm sewer, and wastewater components that weren’t really described in the first application because originally we were told there were no real restrictions, so I didn’t see a need to explain every detail about what each project entailed,” MacDonald said.

The province had approved the CBRM’s first application, and it also approved this amended infrastructure plan, he said.

But without a timeline coming from the office of John Baird, the minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, MacDonald said projects can’t move ahead.

However, he noted the public works department has a plan to begin work as soon as they’ve been given the green light.

But time is of the essence.

“You’ll see machines moving all across CBRM,” he said.

“Because of the underground infrastructure, there’s a lot of digging up and replacing pipes. That work is certainly time consuming ... but we won’t be opening up any projects that we’re not confident we can complete.

“We’re in September and there’s not much more time left. You may get a few weeks in November, and that’s it for this year.”

The stimulus funding is part of the Build Canada Fund, which was designed to help municipalities rebuild crumbling infrastructure.

Adding the stimulus cash as part of the fund was a way for the government to speed up the timeframe in which municipalities received the money to start projects, MacDonald said.

If approved, each level of government will be responsible for about $8 million in spending over a two-year period. Municipalities must be able to complete the projects by March 2011 to qualify.

MacDonald said money had been set aside in the municipal budget for the fund but it’s unclear whether that will entirely cover the CBRM’s share.

“There might be a small amount needed to cover off this year’s costs.

“Depending on how it rolls out, there is an opportunity that if we didn’t have our share, we could lower our amount and increase the amount of federal funding up to 50 per cent. There are ways and means to do that.”

The Halifax Regional Municipality had its first application to build a multi-surface ice rink in Bedford turned down as well. And Friday, the HRM learned its second application totalling more than $20 million, which consisted mostly of extensive roadwork, was also rejected.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=285889&sc=145

Ottawa, N.S. announce nearly $100 million for infrastructure projects

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Dozens of projects across the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will benefit from a Sunday afternoon government funding announcement.

Bill Estabrooks, provincial minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, and Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced the almost $100 million Ottawa and Nova Scotia will contribute to infrastructure projects across the province.

The money will be used on construction and rehabilitation projects on highways and bridges, including 20 projects in the CBRM, which will receive money from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

Projects include upgrades to Point Pleasant Park in Halifax Regional Municipality and water main upgrades to Victoria Road in Whitney Pier.
Federal funding for these projects totals $15.1 million with a matching contribution from the province and the municipalities.

The roundabout and ramp modifications on Alexandra Street in Sydney are also among 71 highway and municipal projects to get federal funding.

The $4-billion ISF is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The fund invests in provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects being built during this year’s and next year’s construction seasons.

In addition to the announced projects, the provincial and federal governments have set aside an additional $4 million each in funding for water and wastewater projects across the province.

Specific projects will be identified following discussions with municipalities.

Yay, the first noticeable sign of the SR to GLR twinning looks like it will be in place by the time I get home again.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=285897&sc=149

Cape Breton Cancer Centre expansion generating excitement

GREG MCNEIL
The Cape Breton Post

By Greg McNeil
Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — In time concrete footings and mechanical fabrication near the Cape Breton Regional Hospital will become much needed support for local cancer patients.

For now, the signs of construction are all that is visible of the anticipated expansion of the Cape Breton Cancer Centre.

Although construction is only in its early stages, Greg Boone, spokesperson for the Cape Breton District Health Authority, said the community is getting excited about the project.

“There has been a lot of time, energy and expertise put into the project at the local level,” said Boone.

“And it continues to be put into the project. That adds to the excitement and the anticipation. The cancer centre plays an important role in the overall level of programs and services that we provide in the district.”

The expansion actually began with an official sod turning in April with then Premier Rodney MacDonald. Since then important equipment has been added to the centre such as a CT simulator and work to accommodate it.

The most recent activity began in late August and initially included locating the underground services, excavating for the foundation and installing fencing around the work area.

“Usually these types of projects would work in phases. When we are expanding an existing service, program or facility, we are still continuing to provide patient care. The goal is to minimize the disruption to patients and staff as much as possible. That is the challenge related to this type of project.”

Co-operation from the public has been encouraging during construction, he said.

This includes modification of the ambulance emergency entrance and exit to suit the fencing set up for construction. Signage and ramps were installed to accommodate the change.

Currently traffic on the existing roadway at the front of the hospital is not being affected. The contractor is using a new temporary access to the construction site which helps reduce any additional congestion.

Boone said the district also continues to be encouraged and impressed by support from the major capital campaign underway by the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation to raise expansion funds.

“It is a reflection of the generosity of Cape Bretoners who stepped up to contribute to the construction of the original centre. The support continues and the community embraces it.”

Donors who have contributed to the foundation were recognized during a Sunday afternoon luncheon at the regional hospital cafeteria.

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Council votes against governance plan

ERIN POTTIE
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Only Mayor John Morgan and Coun. Jim MacLeod voted Tuesday to adopt a plan for self-governance recommended by Cape Breton Regional Municipality staff.

Coun. Ray Paruch was among the 15 councillors who voted against the plan.
“There’s got to be a better way rather than separating from the province of Nova Scotia,” said Paruch, after hearing Cape Breton University professor Tom Urbaniak voice concerns that to transfer all authority to the region “should be greeted with skepticism and perhaps and even trepidation.”

During the monthly council meeting, the municipality’s economic development manager John Whalley presented the findings of his Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, which was released in July.

The report was commissioned as part of a federal gas tax transfer agreement requirement. The five-year agreement, which expires next year, requires all Canadian municipalities to submit a draft plan by the end of the year. A final report must be completed by March 31, 2010.

The report argues that the region must be served by one government to be sustainable, stating that the CBRM has not been sustainable for the past five decades.

In other words, the CBRM should become its own province in all but name. It also suggests eliminating arm’s-length bodies such as the CBU board of governors and the Cape Breton District Health Authority, which would instead be run under direct control of regional politicians.

“The CBRM report offers no road map to address the urgent social, economic, infrastructure and ecological needs of this region,” said Urbaniak. “It does not advise local leaders how to gather the wisdom and creativity of our communities in order to take interim and concrete steps, knowing that self-government for the CBRM would be the culmination of a lengthy and complicated negotiation.”

Morgan said the report was a preliminary step in self-governance and did not detail how it would be implemented.

“This issue won’t die here,” said Morgan. “It can’t die with these people around this table because the facts of the report were true. The community will continue to implode, and feel-good statements — even plans that are not implemented by a provincial government — they will not change the circumstances. So it will inevitably come back again and again until there’s substantive change in the region.”

Morgan said another option is the CBRM’s lawsuit against the province in the Supreme Court of Canada.

In late August, the Department of Justice filed a response to the Supreme Court of Canada lawsuit.

The municipality argues that under Section 36 of the Constitution Act, the province is obligated to provide a reasonably comparable level of services to residents for comparable taxation, and that the province has underfunded CBRM by $20 million a year, dating back to municipal amalgamation in 1995.

“Right now the only thing that we have to hang our hats on is that litigation, if we can be successful with that,” said Morgan. “But if not, all indications (are) that it has to come back to us governing ourselves, because otherwise our resources will continue to be drained away from this region.”

To date there has been no precedent set on the argument under Section 36 in the Supreme Court of Canada.

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Councillor says report didn’t consider opinions of council

ERIN POTTIE
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Regional councillor Dave LeBlanc said he couldn’t support a municipal staff document advocating self-governance which left the opinions of council out of the equation.

“I think if there had of been a debate on the subject at some point, maybe there would have been a different feeling,” he said Wednesday, the day after council rejected the report by a vote of 15-2. “I really can’t say — but there was no debate on it.”

LeBlanc seconded the motion by Coun. Ray Paruch to reject the report which suggests Cape Breton seek to take on many of the powers of a province.

Only Mayor John Morgan and Coun. Jim MacLeod favoured the accompanying recommendation to hold a plebiscite on the proposal.

“It’s quite obvious that the mayor and most of council are on different sides of this issue,” said LeBlanc.

“We’re on different sides of this issue, yes, but I don’t see it as us against him. We just disagree.”

Cape Breton University professor Tom Urbaniak, who was given an impromptu opportunity to speak during the council meeting, said that while the report recognizes a need for a comprehensive plan it is too abstract.

“I don’t envy the people who are serving in elected office now,” he said in a later interview.

“This is not the end of the story; this is only the beginning of what has to be a significant renewal in this community. The province should also not be let off the hook. Really, there is a need for significant change.

“The decentralization of services has been referenced. It’s unacceptable that the second largest urban region in Nova Scotia is not the headquarters for any department or agency.”

LeBlanc noted that councillors were offered two-hour sessions last week to discuss the report with its author, CBRM economic development manager John Whalley. LeBlanc said he doesn’t think self-governance is a plebiscite issue.

“I think there’s a plebiscite that’s held every four years and it’s called an election,” explained LeBlanc, who thinks council should keep “hammering away” at the financial and economic issues with provincial and federal governments.

On Tuesday, Morgan said Premier Darrell Dexter seems more open than his predecessors to a discussion with CBRM.

“But at the same time I think you’d have to really stretch things to say that he’s identified the severity of the circumstances in Cape Breton, or that’s he’s identified any intention to take substantive action toward the region,” the mayor added.

“I still hope that he will.”

Morgan said that regardless of whether council agrees on self-governance, it does seem to agree that the region is not sustainable under present circumstances.

In the Integrated Community Sustainability report, Whalley asserts that the region has not been sustainable for five decades.

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Project process needs fixing

The Cape Breton Post

So, here’s a question about municipal infrastructure projects triggered by economic stimulus spending on the part of senior governments. If the cost is supposed to be shared equally three ways, how come Ottawa, most removed from the scene, gets to make the project-by-project calls all by itself, without explanation?

Shouldn’t 33 cents on the dollar entitle the federal government to a 33 per cent say, if it insists on having a hand in deciding between similar projects in Sydney versus Glace Bay, or Louisbourg versus North Sydney?

As Cape Breton-Canso Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner describes the process, it’s up to Ottawa to play Santa Claus, picking from lists according to who’s been naughty or nice — or whatever other criteria are brought to bear. “Everyone is putting in all the projects, hoping for the federal government to make the decisions. And sometimes when someone else is making the decisions they are not necessarily the ones you want to see made.”

There have been process difficulties with these shared-cost programs since Ottawa announced its infrastructure push in the January budget. Applicants got mixed signals on what types of work would be funded, resulting in unexpected rejections or weeks of delays.

Back in the spring, Cape Breton University cried foul after its proposed Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment failed to make the cut. Later, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s $12 million infrastructure list was rejected and had to be resubmitted in elaborated form, but now Ottawa has approved $11.3 million from a new list while nearly excluding the entire east division of the municipality, from New Waterford to Louisbourg.

Regional councillors from those districts are upset, and Glace Bay Liberal MLA Dave Wilson is, to use his vernacular, “pissed.” They have cause to be puzzled and disgruntled. “This whole thing smacks of politics to me,” Wilson adds. Federally, the whole of Cape Breton is represented by Liberals, but provincially the region is divvied up among all three parties.

Without adopting any conspiracy theories, however, it looks like the process is simply unworkable and the surprising thing is that here we are in September, having missed the 2009 summer construction season, and no one seems to understand how these decisions are being made or by whom.

Shouldn’t the governments that are paying two-thirds of the cost put their foot down and insist that the municipalities that originate the projects and will have to carry them out at least be consulted about which items on submitted lists should be approved?

Why, in particular, has the provincial government been so passive in this process, or has it really been pulling strings and pinning any unpopular results on an impenetrable federal bureaucracy?

Growing pains are to be expected, and three-level programs are never simple to manage. But this is ridiculous and unacceptable. Clarity and transparency are needed.

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Cape Breton University president John Harker, left, and Joe Shannon, chair of the CBU endowment campaign, unveil a wall bearing the names of campaign donors who have increased the size of the endowment fund from $7 million in 2005 to $15 million today. Nancy King - Cape Breton Post

CBU honours donors, launches campaign to assist student athletes

NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A marble wall bearing the names of donors who have helped Cape Breton University double its endowment fund was unveiled Friday, while a new effort to assist student athletes was officially launched.

Staff, donors and others gathered at the university’s great hall, where the wall was unveiled by CBU president John Harker and businessman and endowment campaign chair Joe Shannon.

“This wall will be a living wall, we are going to continue campaigning, continue to try and protect the future with our present efforts,” Harker said.

When the Future First Campaign was launched in 2005, CBU’s endowment fund was $7 million, and it could offer about $350,000-$400,000 a year in scholarships and bursaries.

The intention of the campaign was to double the endowment fund within five years — something that was actually achieved in the first 10 months. As a result, last year CBU offered $1.4 million in scholarships and bursaries, despite the economic downturn.

Shannon said he’s not bothered when students decide they want to leave the island in order to pursue educational opportunities, but he is bothered when students who want to stay at home are lured off-island by more lucrative offers, something CBU couldn’t compete with prior to the endowment campaign.

With the success of the Future First endowment campaign, CBU is also launching a new effort, the Creating Champions Campaign, to raise $2 million to support scholarships and bursaries for student athletes.

Part of that effort is a memorial scholarship for Connor Timmons, a former CBU soccer player from South Bar who was killed earlier this year in a car accident.

Shannon noted athletics are important to university life, and the new athletic endowment campaign is a significant step for CBU.

“We don’t want any other universities taking students from us, and we don’t want them taking our trophies from us,” he said.

Timmons was remembered not only as a talented athlete and good student, but as someone who was passionate about helping others and who left an impact on all who met him.

“When young people know that we’re out there supporting them, that we’re encouraging them, they begin to believe in their own worth.”

“They begin to develop their own gifts and talents and to share those with communities, and then everyone benefits,” said Ness Timmons, Connor’s father, who is a soccer coach at CBU.

“It’s a wonderful way to continue his dream of helping others to realize their dreams,” added Jari-Ann Timmons, Connor’s mother.

Glen LeBlanc, chief financial officer with Bell Aliant, who has agreed to chair the athletic endowment fund, kicked it off by making a $10,000 personal donation on behalf of his family.

LeBlanc, a former member of the university’s men’s soccer team, called the campaign the next phase in supporting the growth and pursuit of excellence at CBU. He noted sports can instil in young people the skills they need to achieve success, and by supporting their education, the university is building future leaders.

Athletic accomplishments can help in student recruitment and in building brand recognition for CBU, he said.

Kari Everett, a member of the women’s basketball team and a scholarship recipient, noted the award relieved financial strain for her, allowing her to concentrate on her athletics and academics.

It has also given her the freedom to spend part of her time in the summers volunteering, rather than working full-time.

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Aboriginal company awarded contract for tar ponds material processing facility

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — An aboriginal company has been awarded a $3.1-million contract to operate and maintain a material processing facility for the Sydney tar ponds and coke ovens cleanup.

Mikjikj Enterprises Ltd. of Eskasoni, in a joint venture with Harbour Tech Services Inc. of Sydney, was awarded the multi-year contract as part of the aboriginal set-aside signed in 2008 by federal and provincial governments and Membertou on behalf of all First Nations communities in Cape Breton.

The facility will begin operations in October and run until the cleanup is complete. The contract will employ five people, who will also be responsible for decommissioning the building.

“You’ll have different contractors come in and they’ll make sure that once they leave the building that they’re cleaned before they go on public streets,” said Tanya Collier-MacDonald of the role of the contract workers.

She said employees will also maintain the building’s amenities block where contract workers will get showered and change into their street clothes.

Set-aside contracts have allowed companies with majority aboriginal ownership and control to benefit from the cleanup work.

Aboriginal companies must have at least 51 per cent aboriginal ownership and control for eligibility and if there are more than five full-time employees, one-third must be aboriginal.

Local company Joneljim Construction began building the $8.7-million material processing facility in 2008. All construction vehicles entering or leaving the site will pass through the building. Also, material and debris from remediation will be graded, sorted, and washed in the facility.

In January 2007, the government of Canada and province of Nova Scotia committed $400 million to ensure the tar ponds and coke ovens cleanup is completed by 2014.

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Capers debut new digs this weekend
Opposition comes from N.B. universities

The Cape Breton Post

By Greg MacVicar
Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The Cape Breton University Capers soccer teams will be showing off their brand spanking new artificial turf field this weekend as they host a pair of New Brunswick squads in the Capers’ respective home openers.

“We’re really excited with that,” said Capers men’s head coach Robbie Chiasson. “The field is in great condition and they’ve done a great job with allowing us to get on there and train and play. We couldn’t be happier.”

The turf field is one of the first components completed at the $8 million-plus Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex under development behind CBU.

The Capers teams will host the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds, Saturday, with the women taking to the field at 3 p.m., followed by the men at 5:15 p.m. Sunday, the CBU squads will host the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues, with the ladies first at 1 p.m. and the men playing at 3:15 p.m.

The Capers women, ranked No. 7 in the country, hold a record of 2-1-1, for seven points, after two weekends of play, good enough for the No. 2 spot of 10 teams in Atlantic University Sport standings.

The CBU squad split a close pair of 1-0 matches against the Memorial Sea-Hawks in Newfoundland last weekend. The weekend before, Sept.
12-13, they blanked the St. Mary’s Huskies 3-0 after playing to a 0-0 draw against the Dalhousie Tigers in their season opener.

“We faced some stiff competition right away and we knew the first two weekends would really give us a good indication of where we were going to fit this year and we’re pleased with the play,” said Ness Timmons, head coach of the Capers women. “The starters are raring to go after being away for the last two weeks. They’ve been dying to get home and settle into a game.”

Timmons added that the Capers could be a little stronger offensively.

“Our defence has been very solid,” he said. “We’ve only allowed one goal in four games. We’re comfortable at the back. But I think we could score some more goals.”

Fifth-year Caper Jessica MacDermid played nets in the squad’s first three games this season and rookie Mara Kremenovic fulfilled goaltending duties in the fourth match.

“We had to have somebody in here soon to groom for the future, Timmons said of Kremenovic, a native of Thunder Bay, Ont. “She’s a former provincial player for Ontario. And she’s a quality keeper.”

Timmons said the last-place UNB women (0-4-0) will be hungry for points and the third-place Moncton squad (2-1-1), with whom the Capers are tied for points at seven, have improved over last season and should prove to be balanced competition.

The CBU men’s squad have a record of 1-1-2, for five points, placing them sixth of 10 AUS teams. The Capers posted a 4-1 victory and a 2-2 tie versus the Sea-Hawks in Mount Pearl, N.L. last weekend. Sept. 13, the Cape Breton men played to 0-0 tie against St. Mary’s after getting nipped 1-0 by Dalhousie in their 2009 season opener, Sept. 12.

“Last Sunday we reached a level we were really happy with,” Chiasson said of the 4-1 victory. “We were dominant and everything started to click.
We’ve probably been the more dominant team in all the games we played.
But it’s been a matter of finishing. If we can start putting some wins on the column, we’ll be much happier.”

He said the first-place UNB men (2-0-2) and the eighth-place Moncton team (1-3-0) have polar playing styles.

“They’re two completely different teams,” he said. “UNB is traditionally a big, strong team that you have to battle with physically. And Moncton is more of a finesse, highly skilled team. So, you kind of take a completely different strategy against both. But we’re dictating our play to them regardless of who we play.”

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Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway Peter MacKay, left, and Wayne Follett, president and CEO of Marine Atlantic, visited the site where a newly designed $9.5-million docking facility will be built at Marine Atlantic’s North Sydney terminal, Thursday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Marine Atlantic lands double dock

JULIE COLLINS
The Cape Breton Post

NORTH SYDNEY — Ottawa is pumping $9.5 million through its Infrastructure Stimulus Fund into improvements to Marine Atlantic’s docking facilities in North Sydney.

Customers, employees and union representatives were on hand for Thursday’s announcement by Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Gateway Peter MacKay.

Dock repairs to the North Sydney terminal include adding a second level to the alternate dock.

“Not only will a second dock level and safety structure result in local jobs in the short term, but the improvements will cut ferry wait times over the long term and enhance ferry services,” MacKay said. “This type of infrastructure has an immediate impact on the local economy.”

The construction phase, which is expected to take about a year, could employ more than 100 people.

MacKay added that the ferry service running between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia supports tourism and business operations and allows for efficient travel between the two provinces.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister John Baird was scheduled to attend Thursday’s announcement but was called away.

Wayne Follett, Marine Atlantic president and CEO, said building the second level of the alternate dock is a strategic investment that will help meet customers’ expectations.

“Our ships are all bi-level and the ability to load and unload two simultaneously will augment our capacity and reduce turnaround times, something we really need at Marine Atlantic,” Follett said.

Marine Atlantic currently has one bi-level dock and an alternate dock. At times, ships have had to wait in the channel causing delays and extended turnaround times.

Most of the design work is complete and Follett expects to soon proceed with the tendering process.

“We’ll award this contract, if not before Christmas, than in the winter and will ensure the work is complete prior to the 2011 season.”

Rob Crosbie, chairman of Marine Atlantic’s board of directors, said companies that import and export goods to Newfoundland and Labrador depend on the ferry service.

“It’s no secret that Marine Atlantic’s fleet and shore infrastructure is in need of re-investment,” Crosbie said. “We are pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting this upgrade to our infrastructure. This investment, along with recent investments in a second dock in Port aux Basques and the charter of the MV Atlantic Vision, are of considerable assistance as we strive to meet the growing traffic demands and improving reliability and service levels to meet these demands by Marine Atlantic’s customer base.”

North Sydney-area Counc. Gordon MacLeod said the ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland needs many things, but a second docking facility is a priority.

“This is good for the Northside and for this province because it shows the long-term commitment the federal government has to this service,” MacLeod said. “It is tremendous that the federal government recognizes this service as a continuation of the Trans-Canada (Highway) and are willing to put those kind of dollars in place to improve the ferry service.”

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No mere mortar
Fortress of Louisbourg gets 251-year-old, 11,000-lb mortar

NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

LOUISBOURG — Officials at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site are celebrating the return of a 251-year-old mortar that guarded the town during two sieges.

With its bed, the mortar, now on display in the lower level of the visitor reception centre, weighs more than 11,000 pounds.

“I often marvel that there was the capability to make such things, bring them over here and then when (they) are here, transport them in an age when you’re basically depending on people power and animal power,” said historian Sandy Balcom.

Following the second siege of Louisbourg 1758, the British removed two matching large iron mortars, a type of 18th-century artillery, which had been cast in France. There would have been nine other mortars of similar size at the fortress, and five smaller ones, as well as other types of artillery.

Louisbourg played an important role in the early history of Canada, twice coming under siege from the British, Balcom said, with the second siege in 1758 being particularly significant as it opened the seaway that the British used to attack Quebec the following year.

“The capture of Louisbourg is a very significant event in the Seven Years War, which has a lot to do with Canada’s formation and this piece was here at that siege, it actually was used in the defence of Louisbourg, so you can come here and look at this piece and just imagine the events that it’s been a witness to,” Balcom said.

It’s unclear where else the mortar may have gone during that war, he added. The mortars ended up in Halifax for many years, where they were found on either side of the entrance to the Halifax Citadel.

One of the matching pair of mortars was later transferred to the Canadian War Museum. The second mortar was moved to Royal Artillery Park near the Halifax Citadel, and was recently on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to mark the 250th anniversary of Louisbourg’s second siege.

It is now at Louisbourg on a long-term loan from the Department of National Defence.

Balcom said, given the artifact’s age, it is in excellent condition, and items like it are rare.

The term of the loan is for five years, but Balcom said he’s hopeful that once officials see “how appropriate it is here,” that it will be extended into the distant future.

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Work halted at former steel plant site

ERIN POTTIE
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Remediation work at the former Sydney steel plant site has been halted following a strong odour that wafted through a Whitney Pier neighbourhood this week.

The provincial Crown corporation Nova Scotia Lands Inc., which is responsible for remediating and redeveloping the remainder of the steel plant properties, was told to cease work at an area known as the “high dump” until a plan for odour control and improvements to air monitoring is submitted to the provincial Department of Environment.

“With the incident yesterday we just want to be cautious going forward,” said Jason Catoul, an inspector specialist from Nova Scotia Environment.
“They do have approval for the work that’s going on onsite but because of the concern that was raised yesterday and the odour that was created, we’ve asked for, and they’ve agreed to submit, a more detailed work plan.”

At least four complaints were reported Wednesday by residents living on the east side of the former Sysco site, including Dominion Street resident Kelly Grant.

Grant was working in his yard when he noticed a strange smell and said it appeared almost as a haze over the area.

Gary Campbell, president of Nova Scotia Lands Inc. said Wednesday, workers were solidifying coal tar byproduct shipped over from Newfoundland and a combination of winds and wind direction and warm temperatures caused an odour to travel the area.

Campbell said the coal tar that workers are processing are remnants of Cape Breton’s once booming steel industry. The material had originally been sent to Newfoundland to power a paper mill that has since shut down.

“There was about a tanker load of it and there’s another about half a load yet to come,” said Campbell. “If we ship material away and it can’t be used... if they don’t have a way to use it... then it would be sent back here.”

To allow the liquid to flow from the tanker truck it had to be warmed, said Campbell. That heat, plus mixing material with other solidifying materials such as fly ash can create more heat, which can cause an odour, said Campbell.

About half-a-day or a full-day of work is left to complete the coal tar solidification.

Approximately 30,000 litres of the byproduct will be treated onsite with another 15,000 litres to be shipped from Newfoundland.

Environment officials said Nova Scotia Lands Inc. does have an air monitoring program but no exceedance was recorded Wednesday at the fence line of the property.

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CBRM to hold special meeting after rejection of staff-written report

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Cape Breton Regional Municipality council will gather for a special meeting following the overwhelming rejection of a staff-written report.

Municipal clerk Bernie White said council will meet to discuss a draft sustainability plan to be submitted to the federal government by the end of 2009.

As part of a five-year gas tax transfer agreement, which expires next year, all Canadian municipalities must submit a final report by March 31, 2010.

During a regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday, council rejected recommendations found in the report by a vote of 15-2.

Only Mayor John Morgan and Coun. Jim MacLeod favoured the recommendations, which included holding a plebiscite to decide whether or not to proceed with plans for self-governance.

The report also suggests eliminating arm’s-length bodies such as the Cape Breton University board of governors and the Cape Breton District Health Authority, which would instead be run by regional politicians.

“The council is meeting now to come together before the deadline, I guess, to come up with a go-forward plan as to what they wish to have incorporated from a council’s perspective as well,” said White.

On the day following the council vote, regional councillor Dave LeBlanc told the Cape Breton Post he could not support a document that left out the option of councillors.

He also noted the report was never debated in a formal setting and that councillors were never asked to provide their opinion.

LeBlanc said instead, he wants council to work with the province and keep “hammering away” at getting a better equalization deal.

The special meeting of council is scheduled for a possible date of Sept. 30, beginning at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Also on the agenda is a discussion of minor referrals from the CBRM’s water utility committee.

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Cape Breton software company receives $400,000-plus grant

BY NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A Cape Breton software development and consulting company will receive more than $400,000 to expand its educational games and simulations product line.

The funding is intended to help Sydney-based MediaSpark Inc. develop new products to benefit educators and entrepreneurs. The funding announcement was made Friday by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).

MediaSpark CEO Mathew Georghiou said the $438,478 contribution from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) will go to support research and development, producing new products as well as existing products.

“It’s all around our GoVenture educational games and simulations,” he said.

The growing company recently hired five new people, bringing its staff level to about 17, which Georghiou said was partially due to the NRC grant.

MediaSpark is a leader in educational games and simulations and has won awards and attracted customers from around the world. The company’s focus is in the areas of business, entrepreneurship and financial literacy education.

Nearly all of the company’s revenues come from outside of Canada, Georghiou noted. Operating from Sydney can be challenging, but the ability to obtain research and development funding from NRC is helpful.

“This project will allow a Cape Breton company to bring new software to market that will help businesses, trainers and educators, which will be good for the local economy,” MacKay said in a news release.

Georghiou said that the NRC’s local representative Dave Martell has been extremely helpful to MediaSpark and to other entrepreneurs in the area.

“Investing in science and technology is critical for developing highly skilled people and improving the long-term competitiveness of Canadian firms,” said NRC president Dr. Pierre Coulombe.

NRC-IRAP provides a range of technical and business-oriented advisory services along with financial support services to qualified innovative Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.

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All about Membertou, business hall of famers, and chit chat

Fred Jackson
The Cape Breton Post

When Joe Shannon introduced Membertou Chief Terry Paul during the induction ceremonies of the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame dinner last week, he accurately portrayed the accomplishments of a community leader.

Shannon, also a member of the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame who has a long list of accomplishments, didn’t have a speaking note when he spoke about Paul’s achievements.

Earlier this month the Membertou chief was recognized by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality for 25 years in elected office. This is an enormous feat and I had an interesting chat with Paul following the hall of fame induction.

There’s no question Paul is a humble individual who is a good listener. Just like a great coach who surrounds himself with the best people, Paul is quick to tell you the success of Membertou has been a team effort.

During the event, the mood was high and people were talking about the potential expansion that is planned for Membertou. A 33,000 square-foot, $3.5-million business centre is planned to open next May. There’s also talk about a hotel and hockey arena.

Living up to its name

Membertou is certainly living up to its name. Membertou is named after Henri Membertou who died Sept. 18, 1611 who was Grand Chief of the Mi’kmaq First Nations tribe situated near Port Royal, site of the first French settlement in Acadia. Membertou was said to be a tall, strong man when he first met Jacques Cartier, which would mean that he was probably born in the early years of the 16th century. Records show that he lived to be 100 years old.

Next year is the 400th anniversary of Membertou’s baptism. On June 24, 1610, (Saint John the Baptist Day), Membertou became the first native leader to be baptised by the French, as a sign of alliance and good faith.
Jessé Fléché, a priest, also baptized all 21 members of Membertou’s immediate family. It was then that Membertou was given the baptismal name Henri, after the late king of France, Henri IV.

Did you know

Membertou First Nation was created in 1925 when the native people were forced off their land, which was originally on Kings Road, and was known as the Kings Road Reserve.

Some of the last people to move to Membertou from the Kings Road Reserve were Noel Moore, Louis Smith and John McEwan.

The first chief of the new reserve in Membertou was Ben Christmas, who tried to keep his people on the original Kings Road Reserve.

More on hall of fame

The 2009 inductees into the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame all had their unique ways of doing business and this was highlighted and evident during the induction ceremony. The awards recognize the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding business leaders to perpetuate and inspire the values of entrepreneurial spirit, personal integrity and community leadership.

Nelson Latimer, Marjorie Fougere, Terry Paul, Jim Wilkie and the late Greg Lynch certainly lived up to those standards. It was a wonderful event but organizers certainly should look at ways of reducing the length of the proceedings. It was a little too long, but the night belongs to the inductees and I’m sure organizers will review the time element.

Chit chat

Sidney Bruce Meloney, 84, a former member of the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame, died this week. Meloney, who was inducted into the hall of fame last year, had an outstanding business carreer and was a community volunteer. After the Second World War, Meloney joined the family shoe retail business and spent over 50 successful years operating stores in North Sydney and Sydney. My condolences to the Meloney family.

Raise-a-Reader, the Cape Breton Post-sponsored fundraiser which is part of a national effort by Canwest Global Communications Corp. to improve reading levels throughout the country, was a major success across Cape Breton. The Raise-a-Reader program has raised $12.7 million for literacy organizations across Canada since it began in 2002.

An amazing $6,996 was raised across Cape Breton and Canwest has added another $6,000 for a total of $12,996. This is great news and this money will be awarded in 2010.

Two employees from the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office in Membertou are in the Northwest Territories attending a national aboriginal training conference with the Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership.

Sixteen aboriginal communities from across Canada will be delivering this unique aboriginal training program and they are there to learn and share best practices when it comes to economic development, training and economic partnerships. Owen Fitzgerald, executive director of the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office and Alyssia Jeddore, training support-job coach are attending the conference in Yellowknife. This is certainly a worthwhile program.

Farside of me

For the believer, there is no question; for the non-believer, there is no answer.

Famous quotation

Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.
Francis Bacon