Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

[Smevo]

I wish I could say I was surprised...
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...bour-dredging-clock-hits-zero%2C-again/1

The Canadian Press

Premier Darrell Dexter says the province has received no word from Ottawa on proposed Sydney harbour dredging.

Harbour dredging clock hits zero, again


Published on May 28th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The harbour-dredging waiting game continues

Without any formal communication between the Sydney Marine Group and the federal government Friday, it remains an unknown whether a request for $19 million will be secured in time to meet the tight timetable set out by the Dutch firm chosen to dredge an access channel in Sydney harbour.

Boskalis International won the contract as the preferred company to dredge the harbour. Director Harry Sanders told the Cape Breton Post during the Ports Day event earlier this month that the May 28 deadline for the $38-million project was “quite firm.”

Now the Sydney Marine Group and its chair, Jim Wooder, will have to wait until Boskalis decides its next move. It could pull out of the project altogether.

...

Sydney-Victoria Liberal MP Mark Eyking took up the cause in Friday’s question period in the House of Commons. He asked the minister responsible for Nova Scotia, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, the status of the federal government’s commitment, but he didn’t receive a direct response.

...

In a brief email Thursday, a spokesperson for Transport Canada said the federal government is engaged in discussions with the province about the harbour dredging, but no decisions have been made.

But that was contradicted by Premier Darrell Dexter, who said the province has had no further word from the federal government on the file.

...

Dexter said the project will still be on the table even if funding isn’t committed right away.

...

I encourage you to take a gander at the full article.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Ed...cle-1187656/Dexter-scraped-on-dredging/1

Dexter scraped on dredging

Published on May 28th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
[Fred Jackson]

Darrell Dexter sounded a little irritated Friday as he was grilled by reporters about the fate of the proposed dredging project for Sydney harbour.

His frustration is understandable on two counts.

First, he, the premier of Nova Scotia, was unable to advance the story at all beyond where it was the last time he was questioned about it around the time of the previous deadline, May 14. In fact, “nothing has changed,” he said, and “we have not heard anything from the federal government with respect to this project.”

...

“If you believe in the project then you say you’re prepared to fund it or you’re committed to negotiations,” said Dexter. “That’s where we are on it.” And that’s as close as Dexter comes to saying he actually believes in the project and thinks it’s the right priority for Sydney at this time.

In fact, when pressed further, suggested that the timing’s not as urgent as it’s been made out to be. “The project’s not going to disappear,” he said. “There is always the opportunity for this to go forward....”

Well, actually, the project as currently constituted – with a preferred contractor selected and a price agreed upon – will disappear, possibly within days. What won’t disappear is the harbour, but if the trajectory of the project, aimed at this season, fails now, the whole enterprise could very easily revert to dormancy for another two decades – or permanently.

...

The premier’s other reason for annoyance was that the dredging issue threatened to overshadow his good-news announcement about the province’s partnership with Bell Aliant to bring fibre-optic technology to homes and businesses in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

...

It’s the government and Bell Aliant that chose to make the announcement on the second deadline that dredging promoters had set for an answer on government participation. The premier walked right into it, which again raises a question about how top-of-mind the dredging issue really is for decision-makers beyond this region.

...

The bolded quote by Dexter really annoys me, he obviously doesn't have a grasp on what effect these delays have on costs and timelines.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ne-for-Bell-Aliant-fibre-optic-service/1

Cape Breton Regional Municipality to be first in line for Bell Aliant fibre optic service
Province contributes $2 million


Published on May 28th, 2010
Nancy King

SYDNEY — A $2-million forgivable loan from the province will help the Cape Breton Regional Municipality become the first part of the province where homes and businesses will have access to television and Internet via fibre optic technology.

Premier Darrell Dexter and Bell Aliant CEO Karen Sheriff were in Sydney on Friday to make the announcement.

In all, the project will cost $15 million. The network will allow for download speeds of 170 megabits per second and uploads of 30 megabits per second.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...-festivals-held-in-Sydney%2C-Glace-Bay/1

T.J. Colello - Cape Breton Post

Skateboarder Mitch Gray of Sydney rides a rail set up on Charlotte Street in Sydney, Saturday. The demonstration was part of an open street festival, open to pedestrian and non-motorized traffic. The festival was held in conjunction with the Cape Breton R

Open street festivals held in Sydney, Glace Bay


Published on May 29th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A pair of open street festivals were held in both Sydney and Glace Bay Saturday to promote the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s active transportation plan, which launched this month.

The festivals were open to pedestrian and non-motorized traffic and included entertainment, food, children’s games and activities, as well as active transportation demonstrations.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/05/29/ns-sydney-harbour-dredging-deadline.html

A dredged Sydney harbour would allow giant cargo ships too big for most other North American ports.



Dexter presses Ottawa to fund harbour dredging

Last Updated: Saturday, May 29, 2010 | 4:55 PM AT Comments13Recommend10
CBC News


Nova Scotia's premier is putting pressure on the federal government to decide whether it will provide funding to dredge Sydney harbour.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has already agreed to contribute $2 million, but the Nova Scotia government has not yet committed any funds.

Premier Darrell Dexter has repeatedly said he is waiting to hear from Ottawa, since Sydney harbour is a federal responsibility.

Transport Canada told CBC News the federal government is in discussions with the province, but Dexter denies that.

...

In the House of Commons on Friday, a local member of Parliament joined the call for the federal government to fund the project.

"Will the prime minister commit his government to funding the dredging of Sydney harbour so the community has an opportunity to grow and prosper," said Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney-Victoria.

Eyking pointed a finger at Peter MacKay, the senior federal minister for the Atlantic Region,

"This minister who is responsible for Nova Scotia doesn't come across the causeway enough," Eyking said. "He should be there today announcing this much-needed money."

MacKay responded by saying the government has invested millions of dollars in Cape Breton.

...

Again, see my list of projects these millions of dollars were invested in and how overdue they are, and compare the economic impacts of those to this.

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...492/Membertou-400-festivities-continue/1

Membertou 400 festivities continue
Membertou students and elders head to site of baptism today

Published on May 30th, 2010
Greg McNeil


SYDNEY — Large celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Membertou are planned across the province.

In Cape Breton a variety of cultural activities join other events in Halifax and Port Royal, N.S., to celebrate the first aboriginal person to be baptized in Canada.

...

They include a four-day journey to the site of the baptism beginning today for Grade 5-6 students from Membertou and their community elders.

The trip will take the group to Kejimkujik National Park in Port Royal where Membertou was baptized.

...

On National Aboriginal Day, June 21, there will be a celebration on the boardwalk behind the civic centre in Sydney. Live entertainment, children’s activities and a free barbecue are planned.

“It is a time to break out of the borders and share National Aboriginal Day with everybody. It is interesting too because that area is the site of the original reserve.”

The following day, a youth leadership gathering for people from all five of Cape Breton’s First Nation communities will take place.

Membertou Corporate Day, set for June 23, will feature the official opening of the community’s new business centre and the ribbon cutting on a new road.

A mass and community feast highlight the anniversary day, June 24, followed by a daylong festival, June 25, that includes 10 hours of entertainment and fireworks.

Artists scheduled to perform include Buffy Sainte-Marie and Lenny Gallant.


...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...erence-will-focus-on-women-in-business/1

Three-day conference will focus on women in business

Published on May 30th, 2010
Nancy King


MEMBERTOU — Women are leading new small business development in Canada, and rates of entrepreneurship among aboriginal women are even higher.

That is why a conference focused on empowering those women and helping them balance their busy work and home lives is needed, says Maureen Carroll, co-ordinator for the Balance 2010 Aboriginal Women in Business Conference, which will take place at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre today through Wednesday.

Approximately 110 First Nation delegates from about 36 communities across the Atlantic provinces are expected to take part.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...Louisbourg-to-be-spruced-up-for-summer/1

Louisbourg to be spruced up for summer

Published on May 31st, 2010
Greg McNeil


LOUISBOURG — A beautification and revitalization partnership is in the midst of shining up one of Cape Breton’s historic towns in time for the tourist season.

Much more than a fresh coat of paint for Louisbourg, the partnership is translating into flower displays, welcome signage, street banners and a taste of the 18th century throughout the town.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...512/Rally-for-harbour-dredging-planned/1

Sydney Marine Group chair Jim Wooder, seen in this file photo, sees dredging of the harbour as the first step in an economic development plan for the region.

Rally for harbour dredging planned

Published on June 1st, 2010
Erin Pottie

SYDNEY — Cape Bretoners are shovel-ready and the Nova Scotia and federal governments are late.

That’s the message of an upcoming rally to support the dredging of Sydney harbour, a project that has missed its contract deadline three timers after failing to secure financial support from Halifax and Ottawa.

...

The rally is set for Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at the Big Fiddle in Sydney, and will feature a performance by the Men of the Deeps.

MacNeil said the rally will include remarks from community, business and labour representatives. Its purpose is to send a message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Darrell Dexter that Cape Breton is still waiting.

People are encouraged to bring a shovel to show that the community is ready to work.

...

Love the sarcasm at the end of this, but I've always loved sarcasm anyway.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Ed...15023/Political-itch-costly-to-scratch/1

Political itch costly to scratch

Published on June 1st, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
[Fred Jackson]


Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking showed off his arithmetic skills in the Commons this week, berating the federal government for not responding to a request for $19 million to help fund the dredging of Sydney harbour.

That works out, Eyking suggested, to just 15 minutes of G8 and G20 summit time later this month – events that will cost Canada roughly a billion bucks to host.

We’ve seen such comparisons before and they can get a little silly. One could go on about the affordable housing units that could be built or the drugs that could be funded if, say, public servants stopped eating in restaurants or hired fewer consultants. But occasionally such comparisons are useful for pointing out how casual government can be about spending boodles of tax dollars for little public benefit while refusing to meet worthy needs.

In that spirit, here’s another comparison. The roughly $16 million spent on the Oliphant inquiry – $14.1 million for the commission and $1.8 million to cover legal fees for former prime minister Brian Mulroney – would very nearly cover the federal cost of dredging. And for that we got virtually nothing except perhaps the thin satisfaction of seeing Mulroney and one or two other players in the dodgy Mulroney-Schreiber circle squirm under the TV lights and wrestle with conveniently spotty memories.

...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper changed his mind and launched the inquiry once it was alleged that his government was trying to hustle Schreiber out of Canada to Germany (where he’s now in prison for tax evasion) to shut him up. Calling the inquiry was Harper’s panicky effort to inoculate his government against the threat of Mulroney-era sleaze when there was no need to do so. Harper was under no serious risk.

But, hey, what’s $16 million to scratch a political itch and make it go away? It’s not as though the government needed it to dredge a harbour or something.

I really don't want this to turn into another Uptown Centre (formerly Fredericton Mall), but this is all eerily familiar.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ydney-Shopping-Centre-short-on-details/1

Owner’s plan to redo Sydney Shopping Centre short on details

Published on June 1st, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The company that owns the Sydney Shopping Centre has announced plans to redevelop the mall.

Crombie REIT issued a press release late Tuesday afternoon saying it will embark on a phased redevelopment plan for the shopping centre that will maintain anchor stores such as Sobeys, Zellers, and Shoppers Drug Mart, “while also blending future development opportunities into the mix.”

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...sted-in-paying-to-hook-up-to-waterline/1

Fatima Drive residents not interested in paying to hook up to waterline

Published on June 1st, 2010
Chris Shannon

SYDNEY RIVER — Residents living on Fatima Drive have shown little interest in paying the construction costs associated with hooking up homes on the street to the municipal water supply.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s water utility sent a survey to 56 homeowners on the street in early May to gauge their interest in extending the waterline to their street, but have the residents pick up one-third of the costs for the capital project.

“An overwhelming number of people didn’t respond (to the survey), which is taken as a ‘No’ vote, and so at this point ... there is certainly very clear indication that the majority of residents on Fatima Drive are not supportive of paying for a water system expansion,” CBRM utility manager Mike MacKeigan said Tuesday.

Of the 29 homeowners who did respond, 11 wanted to move ahead with the water line extension. The deadline to submit surveys to the municipality was Monday.

...

[-Harlington-]

N.S. commits $15.2m to Sydney harbour project

By LAURA FRASER Cape Breton Bureau and The Canadian Press
Tue. Jun 8 - 9:43 AM
SYDNEY — The Nova Scotia government says it will contribute $15.2 million towards a proposed project to dredge Sydney harbour, deputy premier Frank Corbett said this morning.


The announcement comes more than a week after a deadline set by the dredging contractor expired, at which point Premier Darrell Dexter said the province would follow Ottawa's lead on the project.

"It's better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing perfectly," Corbett said when asked about the province's shift in position.

"All too often... we have had to watch our families and our loved ones leave to search employment elsewhere. It's not often that a project comes along that offers the opportunity to change the economic direction of this region.”

Provincial funding is contingent on Ottawa paying the majority of the bill for the deepening of the harbour channel, which will cost a total of $38 million.

The project has already received a promise of $2 million from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and $1 million from Nova Scotia Power.

Corbett says he will lead a delegation to Ottawa in an attempt to secure the federal portion of the funding. Both the provincial Liberals and Tories have said they want to be included in the group.

The Sydney Marine Group, the lead proponent in developing the harbour, has said deepening the channel would allow the largest container ships in the world to dock in the port. It's hoped the dredging project could pave the way for a $200-million container terminal to accommodate those ships.

[Smevo]

^Thanks for posting that Harlington. I'll get to the catch-up when I have more time (hopefully this weekend), and hopefully the feds will have announced their portion by then. Good on the province for putting the heat on, especially considering the letter to the editor from someone in the ECBC department claiming the timelines were too tight, while in the same breath talking up the departments contribution to the ports plan that outlined all this two years ago with the dredging and terminal initially supposed to be completed this year (that letter will be in the catch-up update).

[-Harlington-]

another big project for the sydney area if this and the dredging goes through it might really help the overall economy in cape breton and nova scotia



Shooting for stars in space tourism on Cape Breton
A private launch site is chosen and the province is on board, SHAWNA RICHER writes
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Don’t show this again Article Comments (1) SHAWNA RICHER

HALIFAX — From Thursday's Globe and Mail
Published on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 12:00AM EDT

Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2009 12:39PM EDT


On the unseasonably mild winter day of Jan. 18, Mark James set out from Halifax on a morning's drive to Sydney on Cape Breton Island, laughing under his breath most of the way.

The former Air Force pilot, now an executive with the economic development agency Nova Scotia Business Inc., was meeting with a pair of rocket scientists -- Chirinjeev Kathuria of Chicago and Geoff Sheerin of London, Ont.

The men are partners and chairman and president respectively of the futuristic sounding Chicago-based company PlanetSpace, which hopes to sell space trips as tourism as well as shuttle astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station for the U.S. space agency NASA from a launch pad on the Cape.

That's Cape Breton, not Cape Canaveral.

"They just came in and said here's our vision; would you like to work with us?" Mr. James said yesterday. "I admit it sounded far-fetched at first and pretty far out. But I stopped chuckling 10 minutes into the meeting. I have no doubts now that this is the real deal."

Mr. Sheerin, who has been developing the Canadian Arrow rocket for space tourism, and Mr. Kathuria had already chosen quiet little Cape Breton as the site for an enormous, privately funded launch facility. All they wanted to know was whether the province of Nova Scotia was on board.

It took about two months to hammer out an agreement between the province and the company. The biggest hurdle was settling on a piece of land. It had to be on the coast, a wide-open space essentially in the middle of nowhere.

"Cape Breton was perfect. We knew geographically it made sense," Mr. Sheerin said. "But we had to make sure there was going to be a spot available we could use."

Cape Breton has the same latitude as the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a launch facility in Kazakhstan. The northern location means big savings in fuel costs and the Atlantic Ocean is a good place for falling space junk.

The company estimated it will cost about $150-million to build a launch pad and rocket on the site, which is northwest of Sydney Mines.

Mr. Kathuria said in an interview yesterday he believes the facility could mean 4,000 jobs and as much as $400-million (U.S.) a year in economic spinoff for the region. So far, the province's only involvement has been to pledge 120 hectares of Crown land.

Although it may sound somewhat fanciful, Mr. Kathuria said the facility would see orbital flights similar to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., which brings about $1.4-billion a year and 14,000 jobs to the Sunshine State.

The facility and spacecraft would function as a taxi of sorts for the international space station. NASA could also purchase services from the facility, but the big dream is space tourism.

"We're very enthusiastic," Mr. James said. "The future of space is getting the price per kilo down under $1,000. Once that happens, the opportunities for commercialization are going to be huge."

PlanetSpace has been testing rockets in Ontario and hopes to be ready to launch by late in 2009 or early in 2010.

"Space tourism is heating up across the globe," Mr. Sheerin said. "Orbital flight is going to be very interesting in the future. You could go from Halifax to Vancouver in 40 minutes. It's about time Canada had a domestic launch site."

Mr. James said there are a half-dozen principal investors from the United States, whom he would not name. Mr. Kathuria said he expects more investors from Canada and Europe to join the group in the coming months.

The company was created in response to NASA's requests for bids to shuttle supplies and crews to the space station. NASA is expected to announce a short list of bidders later this week. The project will go ahead even if PlanetSpace isn't chosen, Mr. James said.

Mr. Sheerin began working on the Canadian Arrow for an American competition called X Prize, aimed at building a spacecraft capable of taking people on suborbital flights. He didn't win, but he did make the largest liquid propellant rocket engine ever built in Canada. Mr. Kathuria was a founding director of MirCorp, the first company to send a private citizen into space six years ago.

Mr. Sheerin named his arrowhead shaped craft the Silver Dart after the aircraft Alexander Graham Bell designed and built and flew in 1909 from a site nearby in Cape Breton.

"I never thought I'd be launching mine 30 miles from where they launched the first one," he said. "There's a terrific historical symmetry there."

[Smevo]

Starting the catch-up. I might not finish it tonight, but I didn't want to lose the letter from the ECBC CEO.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Le...meline-too-tight-for-dredging-decision/1

Timeline too tight for dredging decision

Published on June 2nd, 2010
Letters to the Editor (The Cape Breton Post)
[ John K. Lynn
chief executive officer, ECBC]

...

The process leading to a financial commitment of this magnitude must be expedited within a timeframe that allows for related issues to be properly addressed. It requires close study and the goodwill and commitment of a host of key stakeholders.

By way of background, ECBC has taken a leadership role on the regional economic development benefits of the commercialization of Sydney harbour. Specifically, ECBC has financially supported the development of the Sydney Harbour Ports Master Plan which originally outlined the business case for the commercialization of Sydney harbour.

In addition, ECBC has helped to fund the environmental assessment process and the permitting and approval process for the dredge of the access channel and the development of an ocean container terminal as well as the creation of a transportation corporation.

ECBC has also worked with the Government of Nova Scotia in offsetting all the technical costs associated with the development of the request for proposals for the dredge of the access channel, including related activities.

...

The project being an unbudgeted item, the federal government is not in a position to work within the timeline of the tendering process that is currently on the table, but that certainly does not close the door for future possibilities to fund this worthwhile project.

...

So, basically, they knew about it two years ago (when it was expected the dredging and terminal would both be complete this year), but the timelines are "too tight" to commit funding.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2010-06-02/article-1218377/ECBC-shuts-door-on-dredging/1

ECBC shuts door on dredging

Published on June 2nd, 2010
Chris Shannon


SYDNEY — Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. has shut the door on any chance the federal government will provide funding for the Sydney harbour dredging project anytime soon.

In an open letter in today’s Cape Breton Post, ECBC chief executive officer John Lynn said the $38-million project is an “unbudgeted item” in the federal budget, which prevents Ottawa from working “within the timeline of the tendering process that is currently on the table.”

...

The federal Crown corporation supported the ports master plan for Sydney harbour, and since then has provided financing for the environmental assessment process, permit approvals and technical costs associated with the request for proposals for the dredging of the access channel, he argued in his letter.

A rally today from 6-7 p.m. next to the Big Fiddle at the Sydney Marine Terminal will bring attention to the importance of dredging to the local economy.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ence-approved-for-new-lounge-in-Sydney/1

Licence approved for new lounge in Sydney

Published on June 2nd, 2010
Nancy King

SYDNEY — The province’s Utility and Review Board has approved a provisional liquor licence for a new lounge.

Club 418 Lounge Ltd. had applied to the Alcohol and Gaming Division for a licence at 418 George St. in April 2009, and the file was submitted to the UARB in March.

The licence was issued to Patrick Thomas Iannetti and Lawrence Edward Leyte, and Iannetti will serve as manager.

...

Among the conditions of the licence are that the 911-square-foot dining room have a maximum capacity of 75 patrons. It also allows for a 629-square-foot lounge with capacity of 52 patrons and a games room with 26 patrons.

...

The company also applied for background music and amplified entertainment, with dancing for the lounge, which was approved on a probationary basis providing the Alcohol and Gaming Division is satisfied measures to ensure compliance with regulations are in place.

The approval will be reviewed after a year to determine whether it should be approved on a permanent basis.

Any change in entertainment offered must be approved by the UARB. The UARB also approved conversion of the dining room to a lounge after 9 p.m., with a maximum capacity of 153 patrons in the converted lounge area after that time.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ure-of-living-in-Cape-Breton-discussed/1

Lure of living in Cape Breton discussed

Published on June 3rd, 2010
Chris Shannon

MEMBERTOU — The next generation of young professionals ready to tackle the world of business sat in plush white and black leather chairs discussing the lure of Cape Breton living.

Jude Long, a 19-year-old student at the Nova Scotia Community College Strait campus, was one of seven panellists debating the reasons why young people have stayed or returned to Cape Breton.

Speaking outside the Next Gen 2010 conference at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre as lunch was coming to a close, the Port Hawkesbury resident revealed that being taken seriously by elders in his community was the most difficult point in having his voice heard.

“I think we need to broaden our horizons, opening our minds to the new generation that’s coming in,” Long said. “I think opening the doors to youth is important instead of saying, ‘No, that’s too risky,’ or, ‘You’re out to lunch.’

The one-day conference targeting 16-40-year-old professionals, entrepreneurs and students was hosted by the Cape Breton Partnership. It focused specifically on the downward population trend of young people choosing to leave the island for better opportunities elsewhere.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...at-Sydney-harbour-to-call-for-dredging/1

Hundreds gather at Sydney harbour to call for dredging

Published on June 4th, 2010
Erin Pottie


SYDNEY - Support for a project to deepen the Sydney harbour channel was almost as big as the ships that are expected to dock at port if the venture becomes a reality.

With the harbour as the backdrop, about 300 people gathered in the cold rain near the Big Fiddle at the Sydney Marine Terminal in downtown Sydney on Thursday to push for harbour development beginning with dredging.

Many people carried shovels, representing a readiness to work, as part of a message rally organizers hope will reach Halifax and Ottawa.

...

Why must you (mis)use the word "hub".
http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Le...0/Cape-Breton-in-line-to-be-energy-hub/1

Cape Breton in line to be energy hub


Published on June 4th, 2010
Letters to the Editor (The Cape Breton Post)
[Bill Estabrooks
Nova Scotia minister of energy]

Transmitting power from Lower Churchill in Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia could make Cape Breton a major energy hub in the not too distant future.

Recent media coverage gave the mistaken impression that government somehow favoured an alternate route.

This is incorrect, both technically and strategically.

We are in active discussions right now with our Atlantic partners to share the potential clean hydro power from Lower Churchill. That power could come via Quebec and New Brunswick, or through Newfoundland to Nova Scotia and beyond.

In either situation, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia would share a subsea cable.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Ed...69/Deadlines-dissolve-but-game-goes-on/1

Deadlines dissolve but game goes on

Published on June 4th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
[Fred Jackson]

So let’s exhale slowly and take a reading on where the Sydney harbour dredging project stands.

Credit must go this week to John Lynn, chief executive officer of Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, for moving along the story, if not the project.

Whether on his own volition alone or with prompting from federal political masters, Lynn issued a letter to the Cape Breton Post timed for publication Thursday, the day of the public rally at the Big Fiddle on the Sydney waterfront in support of the dredging plan. His contentious statement is that because dredging is an “unbudgeted item” and a complex one for Ottawa, “the federal government is not in a position to work within the timeline of the tendering process that is currently on the table, but that certainly does not close the door for future possibilities to fund this worthwhile project.”

...

What Lynn terms the “artificial timeline” was running out, and whether or not there was any new official termination date this was the timeline Ottawa was unable to meet. In a subsequent interview on CBC Radio, however, Lynn insisted a federal decision could come in an hour, a day, a week, a month, and there was still a chance the project could go ahead this season.

...

Further to deadlines, it is presumed that in a formal call for proposals the companies spending money to respond will get an answer at the end. Prices and undertakings don’t stand forever in any business, and certainly not from one year to the next. ECBC, as Lynn is at pains to point out, has been an advocate for the commercialization of Sydney harbour and a substantive supporter of the process to plan that out, which has brought us to this moment. ECBC, as the liaison link to the federal government, had to know where this was going. It was never unreasonable, and it isn’t now, to expect an answer from government on whether dredging can go ahead in 2010.

...

[Smevo]

The Post's story on the dredging announcement posted earlier by Harlington. (posted for timeline purposes)

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...contributes-%2415M-to-harbour-dredging/1

Deputy Premier Frank Corbett announced the province will contribute a maximum of $15.2 million toward the dredging of Sydney harbour in a Delta Sydney hotel conference room Tuesday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Province contributes $15M to harbour dredging


Published on June 8th, 2010
Nancy King



SYDNEY — The province will contribute a maximum of $15.2 million toward the dredging of Sydney harbour, Deputy Premier Frank Corbett announced Tuesday.

The commitment is contingent on the federal government contributing its requested $19 million to the project.

The move came after a second deadline set by the Dutch contractor to come up with the $38 million the work will cost. It also came after Premier Darrell Dexter repeatedly said the province had no intention of backing Ottawa into a corner on the file.

“It’s not often that a project comes along that offers the opportunity to change the economic direction of this region. Today, here in Cape Breton, we believe we have that opportunity,” Corbett told an overflow crowd to a Delta Sydney hotel conference room, which gave him a standing ovation after he shared the news.

...

As for the apparent change in direction from the province, Corbett said they saw the momentum the project was gathering and were afraid it would be lost.

...

The funds will come out of general revenues, probably mostly from Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

Corbett said the Sydney Marine Group’s business case for the project includes not only the development of a container terminal, but also a shipbuilding and repair facility, an increase in offshore oil- and gas-related manufacturing and fabrication work and attracting other marine-related business to the area.

“Can anyone in this room remember a time when opposition members of the provincial legislature, federal members of the federal Parliament, CBRM, the business community, labour have all agreed on what project we should have to move forward?” he asked.

...

Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking raised the dredging project in the House of Commons Tuesday afternoon, calling on Ottawa to commit its portion of the funding. He said dredging the harbour would expand the port’s ability to act as an engine of economic development for the entire region.

...

[Smevo]

This is happening today (16th)? I'll have to be sure to check for updates later tonight.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...55/Dredging-meetings-set-for-next-week/1

Dredging meetings set for next week

Published on June 9th, 2010
Nancy King

SYDNEY — A delegation from the province will be in Ottawa a week from today to meet with federal ministers to seek funding for the dredging of Sydney harbour.

Deputy Premier Frank Corbett said Wednesday he’s received confirmation from Keith Ashfield, minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, for a meeting that afternoon. Following that session, Peter MacKay, Nova Scotia’s representative in federal cabinet, will try to fit them into his schedule. Corbett is waiting for confirmation from Transport Minister John Baird’s office.

...

The Liberal caucus has agreed to send a delegate and Corbett said he had a call in to the Progressive Conservative caucus and he thinks it will likely send Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke. He said CBRM Mayor John Morgan could hopefully accompany them, as he is very supportive of the project.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...nt-for-federal-money-to-dredge-harbour/1

CBRM will become applicant for federal money to dredge harbour

Published on June 9th, 2010
Nancy King

SYDNEY — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will serve as the applicant for federal funds to dredge the access channel to Sydney harbour on behalf of the Sydney Marine Group, Mayor John Morgan says.

Morgan said there are a number of different federal programs under which the dredging project could obtain funding, some of which wouldn’t be able to offer funds to a private sector organization like the marine group.

The proponents of the dredging are seeking $19 million from the federal government. On Tuesday, the province announced its $15.2-million stake in the $38-million project, contingent on the federal money.

...

Morgan said he’s not concerned at this point that the arrangement could expose the CBRM to any responsibility for any cost overruns associated with the dredging.

He noted it’s likely that if the federal government does agree to fund the project, it will want an assurance that the work will be completed within the funding envelope. Once funding is secured, Morgan said the marine group and CBRM will have to go back to preferred bidder the Dutch-based Boskalis to confirm the contract cost. Boskalis and marine group CEO Jim Wooder have warned that the later into the winter the work runs, the more costly it could become.

...

He noted the municipality entered into a similar arrangement with the community group behind the construction of the new Northside civic centre. The community group retained the lead on the project while the CBRM facilitated the flow of funding.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ntial-graphite-mine-in-Frenchvale-area/1

Legwork continues on potential graphite mine in Frenchvale area

Published on June 9th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post


FRENCHVALE — Mount Cameron Minerals, a Sydney-based mineral exploration company, will continue research this summer on a potential graphite mine for the Frenchvale area.

Mount Cameron Minerals president John Wightman and chief process engineer Dr. Ian Flint met with residents of Frenchvale and surrounding area Tuesday at the Frenchvale fire hall.

“The community has concerns and we are trying to address those concerns,” Wightman said. “People are mainly concerned about traffic on Frenchvale Road and it will take time to address that issue. The chances that this project will go full scale to a mine are still fairly low, but we are hopeful it will happen.”

Wightman said it wouldn’t be just mining that would take place on site, but the actual processing of the material and refining and manufacturing of end use projects.

...

According to Wightman, his company is leading edge with respect to the type of technology the it hopes to get involved with in providing materials for the manufacturing of lithium iron batteries for hybrid and electric cars.

“Although most of the talk has been the fact that we are looking at lithium iron batteries, there is as much ultra-grade graphite in a lithium iron battery as there is lithium, but the world sources of this grade of graphite are very limited,” he said. “We will be going into an area that has great market demand with very limited supply, and that augers well for the success of the project and is why it is important to have the community behind it.”

Mount Cameron Mineral’s focus over the next few months will be research into the removal of graphite from the host rock.

In August, the company will be doing some standard mineral exploration, doing diamond drill holes to find out where the better grade graphite material is and whether there is enough to warrant going further.

...

One of the things I miss about being back east is how easy it was to find this stuff. Glenfiddich is a good substitute, Glen Breton is ever so slightly better imho, and Glen Breton Ice is just unique in a very good way. I'm going to have to stock up on this stuff next time I get home.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2010-06-09/article-1246483/Triumph-of-the-spirit/1

Bob Scott, Glenora Distillery vice-president, David Copp, barrister, Lauchie MacLean, Glenora president, and Ryan Joseph of Famous Folks marketing toast Battle of the Glen single-malt whisky. Greg McNeil – Cape Breton Post


Triumph of the spirit
Glenora toasts legal victory with Battle of the Glen single-malt whisky

Published on June 9th, 2010
Greg McNeil


GLENVILLE — Nine years of fight can be found in every bottle and detailed on the special commemorative packaging of the latest product from Glenora Distillery.

Launched Wednesday with the help of a rousing ceilidh, the 15-year-old single-malt whisky Battle of the Glen was called a tribute to victory at the end of a nearly decade-long naming rights battle between the small Cape Breton company and the multi-national Scotch Whisky Association.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...moved-for-efficiency-purposes%3A-chief/1

Police forensic ident unit must be moved for efficiency purposes: chief

Published on June 10th, 2010
Chris Shannon


SYDNEY — Moving the forensic identification unit closer to headquarters has become a necessity rather than just a problem of “workflow and function” for the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.

Chief Myles Burke said his officers spend too much time on the road travelling from office to office creating an “extremely inefficient” way of operating a modern police force.

The forensic ident unit was moved to the Civic Centre in downtown Sydney from its East Division office in Glace Bay several years ago because of unsuitable working conditions in the aging facility.

Now, Burke said it’s time to move the unit closer to police headquarters on Grand Lake Road so officers can collaborate with their counterparts in the major crime unit. The vast majority of police exhibits remain at East Division, however.

...

Burke said moving the forensic unit to the emergency centre is a short-term, three- to five-year “fix.” It must be the first step in tackling problems with other buildings, he added.

A more permanent solution remains centralizing most police units under one roof, he said.

CBRM engineering staff will examine the force’s buildings and its needs looking into the future, and report back to the police commission in the fall.

Last November Burke presented a detailed plan to build a $21-million police headquarters and close the existing stations in North Sydney, Glace Bay and Sydney.

However, the large-scale plan came too late to apply for the last of the federal stimulus cash available and needed more discussion beyond the CBRM budget presented to council in April.

...

[Smevo]

Apparently the delegation goes tomorrow, oops.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Ed...1272367/Patience-needed-on-port-future/1

Patience needed on port future

Published on June 11th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
[Fred Jackson]


No one should count Sydney harbour’s chickens before an official hatching but the omens are looking more favourable that the federal government will approve its contribution to the $38-million project.

The all-party provincial delegation scheduled to storm Ottawa on Thursday will underline the consensus behind this project at the Nova Scotia end, and a reciprocal gesture would be for the Conservative government to make the relevant senior ministers available to meet the group.

Other encouraging news accompanying the provincial government’s commitment Tuesday of its $15.2-million of dredging money is that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has agreed to be the official applicant for the project. That suggests the federal process has reached the stage of assembling a prospective financing package and working through the legal and bureaucratic details of how it would be delivered.

...

No one promised a container terminal but people can’t be blamed for remembering it as a promise, going back to the unveiling of the Sydney ports master plan in January 2008 which conjured just such a vision. The “commercialization of Sydney harbour,” while a safer promise because success is undefined, is too vague to focus people’s imagination.

This is not to suggest that a container terminal is off the table. Any such proposition is exceedingly complex, and if there’s one thing the public should be skeptical of it’s one-dimensional prognostications, whether from armchair commodores or even recognized shipping industry experts. We’ve all heard something of the sort: Sydney will never get a container terminal because... [fill in the blank] – because it’s prone to seasonal drift ice, because the railway’s not up to snuff, because the recession knocked back growth in world shipping, because Halifax has unused capacity, and so on.

Some of these factors may be relevant but it’s idle conjecture to pluck one or two and declare those to be deal-breakers without plunging into the hard-headed analysis that any investor would have to do before committing hundreds of millions of dollars to such a scheme. Right now, the only sure deal-breaker is too shallow a channel.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...des-new-approach-to-caring-for-seniors/1

Celtic Court provides new approach to caring for seniors

Published on June 11th, 2010
Nancy King

SYDNEY — Residents and staff at Celtic Court opened its doors to the community Friday to celebrate its official opening.

The home, located on St. Anthony Drive, is one of nine new Shannex nursing homes across the province to have opened over the past year or so to hold opening ceremonies on the same day, linked via webcast.

The first residents of Celtic Court moved in Sept. 16. It’s now home to 36 seniors. In all, the nine new homes have 431 new beds.

The homes were all constructed under a new approach, involving smaller buildings with a more homey atmosphere.

...

The province’s new design standards call for one-storey buildings. They have private rooms and bathrooms and there are rooms available for couples. They also have other features, such as hair salons.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ay-celebration-tackles-issues-of-today/1

Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post

Evelyn MacLeod, a granddaughter of William Davis, and two of his great-great-grandchildren, Katie and Brandon MacDonald, lay a wreath during Davis Day ceremonies Friday at Miner’s Memorial Park in Sydney Mines.

Davis Day celebration tackles issues of today


Published on June 11th, 2010
Nancy King


SYDNEY MINES — An event that took place 85 years ago still has strong connections today.

Davis Day ceremonies in Sydney Mines, Friday were more political than in years past with numerous mentions of the proposed dredging of Sydney harbour by union officials, politicians and the clergy.

...

Coal mining in Cape Breton ended officially in 2001, with the closure of Prince in Point Aconi. Since that time, a partnership of Erdene Gold Inc. and Xstrata Coal Donkin Ltd., known as the Donkin Coal Alliance, is researching production at the Donkin site.

The annual Davis Day observance, with an ecumenical church service and wreath-laying at Miner’s Memorial Park, marked the 85th anniversary of the death of William Davis on June 11, 1925, when he was shot and killed near New Waterford, during a strike over wages.

Davis Day also honours miners who have lost their lives in area coal mines over the years.

...

Burchell said any platform that people have today that has a conscience, use that platform to send messages to Ottawa and Halifax that things have to change.

“The money they are spending in Ottawa is ridiculous and yet we’re fighting to get $17 million to help the economic development of Cape Breton Island. It’s time people took back their country.”

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Living/201...-fund-washrooms-at-Glace-Bay-ballfield/1

Sharon Montgomery-Dupe - Cape Breton Post

Kevin Saccary (left), vice-chair of the Glace Bay Recreation Association, Mary Lynn MacPhee, senior engineering technologist for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and Nick Bonnar, chair of the association, go over plans for two washrooms the municipa

Regional municipality to fund washrooms at Glace Bay ballfield

Published on June 11th, 2010
Sharon Montgomery-Dupe

GLACE BAY — Things are about to get more comfortable at a local ball park.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is providing funding for washrooms at the Moosehead Commons South Street Ball Park on Seaview Street.

...

Saccary, who is also vice-chair of the Glace Bay Recreation Association formed to oversee the park, said throughout the years there have been major tournaments here, however there were no washroom facilities to accommodate the large number of people.

...

He said the project was approved and washrooms will be built on each side of the building at a cost of $40,000-$50,000.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...l-festival-part-of-clipper-festivities/1

T.J. Colello - Cape Breton Post

Joe Gillis of Sydney is shown dressed in traditional polish folk costume between two mannequins at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney, Saturday. Gillis, a member of the Pagoria Polish Folk Ensemble, was taking part in a multicultural festival mark

Multicultural festival part of clipper festivities


Published on June 12th, 2010
T.J. Colello

SYDNEY — A multicultural festival is being held at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney today (Saturday) as part of the 09-10 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race stop over.

The event includes live music and dance, arts and crafts, food sales and displays.

There will also be day-long dockside events and activities, featuring animators from the Fortress of Louisbourg firing cannons, Mi’kmaq dancers and displays, children’s activities and viewing of the clipper yachts.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/2010-...-clippers-with-eagle-awards%2C-feather/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul, left, presented Jan Ridd, captain of the clipper ship Cape Breton Island: Nova Scotia’s Masterpiece, with an eagle feather during trophy presentations for Race 11 in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race i

Membertou chief honours clippers with eagle awards, feather


Published on June 14th, 2010
Erin Pottie

SYDNEY — Less than a year ago, Membertou Chief Terry Paul gave Cape Breton Island: Nova Scotia’s Masterpiece a ceremonial sendoff in La Rochelle, France, as it set out on its second trial in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race.

And on Monday, skipper Jan Ridd of England, and 17 crew members were welcomed to their ship’s namesake by the First Nations leader, who presented the Cape Breton team with an eagle feather — one of the highest honours bestowed by the Mi’kmaq people.

Canada’s only entry in the world yacht competition was also given a key to the city by Mayor John Morgan of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and a clipper trophy for finishing third on a short leg from New York to Sydney.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/2010-...ds-12-councillors-and-a-mayor-for-CBRM/1

Consultant recommends 12 councillors and a mayor for CBRM

Published on June 14th, 2010
Chris Shannon

SYDNEY — A consultant hired by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is recommending council reduce its size to 12 councillors and a mayor.

Stantec Inc. is also calling for council to draw the boundaries of new municipal districts to incorporate rural and suburban areas, and in some cases, urban areas.

Using complex mathematical formulas and public opinion through a telephone survey, the consulting firm determined 12.5 members should make up the next council following the October 2012 municipal election.

The cost savings will be “extremely modest,” the report stated.

...

CBRM councillors are the second highest paid in the province, making approximately $40,000 a year.

...

Sydney area Coun. Derek Mombourquette suggested an entirely different format that could possibly ease workload while having concerns properly addressed.

“Let’s break it up into divisions. Let’s say central, north, east, and rural components, with two or three councillors that are elected at-large in those divisions.

“A lot of the discussion you hear in the community about parochialism is that it’s there and it has always been there. In looking at some sort of at-large system, which we’re not allowed to have right now, but it’s a good debate to have, it forces the politicians to work together.”

The province doesn’t allow regional municipalities to elect councillors at-large.

...

In terms of representation per capita, CBRM ranks fairly high.

CBRM, on average, has one councillor for about 6,000 residents, which ranks it in 23rd place for most representation.

By area though, the municipality has relatively low representation in terms of geographic area with its councillors serving the seventh largest municipality in Canada.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...6rsquo%3Bs-obese%2C-inactive-residents/1

New centre takes aim at Cape Breton’s obese, inactive residents

Published on June 14th, 2010
Greg McNeil

SYDNEY — The newest battle ground against alarming trends of obesity and inactive people in Cape Breton has officially opened.

While children played outside on a synthetic track and with soccer matches simultaneously underway under the dome covered pitch, officials cut the ribbon on the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex, Monday.

...

The $10-million complex on the Cape Breton University Campus includes a 57,780-square-foot air supported dome, a full size soccer turf field, an all-weather eight-lane track, beach volleyball courts and a community fitness centre.

Lynk said the new piece of infrastructure could help attract families as well as high-end sporting events to Cape Breton.

It also includes a population health centre where experts from around the island will work with others from across the country to understand and overcome barriers to improving health.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...r-race-is-also-about-trade%2C-commerce/1

Clipper race is also about trade, commerce
Seafood conference set for Thursday at MTCC

Published on June 14th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post


SYDNEY — Cape Breton’s involvement in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race could provide trade opportunities for local companies, and some of those channels will be explored during a seafood conference at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre Thursday.

A 20-person delegation from the United Kingdom is in Cape Breton to take part in the conference, looking to build on a memorandum of understanding between Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and similar agencies in the U.K.’s Hull and Humber region and Qingdao in China. The three regions are represented in the Clipper race.

Throughout the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, there have been a number of Cape Breton companies that have travelled to Singapore and China to explore trade opportunities in those markets, noted spokesperson Jonathan Levy.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...Cape-Bretoners-make-their-voices-heard/1

MP suggests Cape Bretoners make their voices heard

Published on June 15th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post


SYDNEY — Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking is asking people to contact the Ottawa offices of Conservative cabinet ministers in order to support a delegation of provincial and municipal representatives going to Ottawa, Thursday.

Deputy Premier Frank Corbett, Mayor John Morgan and MLAs Manning MacDonald, Gordie Gosse and Cecil Clarke will arrive in Ottawa, Thursday for meetings with Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Minister Keith Ashfield and possibly other ministers to lobby for federal funding for dredging of Sydney harbour.

Prior to that session, they will be meeting with Eyking and Cape Breton-Canso MP Rodger Cuzner.

...

Eyking is encouraging people to contact any of the following:

‰ Prime Minister Stephen Harper: 613-992-4211, [email protected]

‰ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield: 613-992-1067, [email protected]

‰Nova Scotia Minister Peter MacKay: 613-992-6022, [email protected]

‰Infrastructure Minister John Baird: 613-996-0984, [email protected]

The Sydney harbour initiative also has a Facebook site at www.facebook

.com/group.php?gid=127643290600899.


...

Personal Note: If you're using e-mail, send a cc to Eyking and/or Cuzner if possible so they know just how many people are trying to contact the Conservatives.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...CBRM-council-rejects-downsizing-report/1

CBRM council rejects downsizing report
Must now decide whether to tinker with district boundary lines

Published on June 16th, 2010
Chris Shannon


The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will submit a council of 16 members, plus a mayor, to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board following its rejection of a consultant's report Tuesday night calling for the reduction of council size by four councillors.

The vote held after midnight produced a 11-6 vote against the report. Only Mayor John Morgan, and councillors Derek Mombourquette, Kim Desveaux, Dave LeBlanc, George MacDonald, and Ray Paruch supported the recommended option of 12 councillors, plus a mayor.

The debate lasted for about three hours. Several councillors slammed consultant John Heseltine for a report that stated there was “no statistical consensus” on what’s the correct size for a municipal body.

...

With council deciding to keep the status quo, it must now be decided whether municipal district boundaries should be changed at all.


...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/2010-...on-gets-hearing-but-no-money-from-feds/1

The Canadian Press

Rodger Cuzner, the MP for Cape Breton Canso, lashes out at the Conservative government as the issue of funding to dredge Sydney harbour is raised during question period in the House of Common, Thursday.

Dredging delegation gets hearing but no money from feds


Published on June 17th, 2010
Nancy King


OTTAWA — A delegation of Cape Breton politicians seeking funding from Ottawa for the dredging of Sydney harbour came away from a meeting with federal ministers with a promise to stay in touch but no commitments of money.

The group, led by Nova Scotia Deputy Premier Frank Corbett, which included local MLAs from all three parties and Mayor John Morgan, of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, spent about an hour Thursday afternoon meeting with National Revenue Minister Keith Ashfield, who is also the minister for ACOA, and Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who is also the minister responsible for Nova Scotia.

...

MacKay was quite knowledgeable about the project, Corbett said. Ashfield was to a lesser degree, but he had been fully briefed, he added.

...

The contractor has said the project’s price tag could rise, the farther into the winter the work is pushed.

Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking raised the issue again in question period Thursday.

“Time is of the essence,” he said. “If the federal government continues to delay, the contractor’s going to pull anchor and move on. So I’m asking the minister, once again, when will this government commit to dredging Sydney harbour?”

Ashfield said it was important to note that in the past year $43 million in federal funds have been spent in Cape Breton.

“I’m very pleased to meet with the committee this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, after a request two weeks (ago), we have them here this afternoon,” he said.

Cape Breton-Canso MP Rodger Cuzner rose and said there’s been no voice in the federal government on the file.

“Where’s it tied up, either the prime minister’s not listening or you’re not speaking, one or the other. He (Eyking) did his job, you do yours,” Cuzner said.

In a phone interview from Ottawa, Cuzner said there has been no willingness shown by the Harper government to play its role on the file.

...

And this $43M was spent on....nevermind, beating a dead horse.