Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

[Smevo]

Again, this is now old news, but it's as good a place as any to document the lead-up to the announcement.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ted-to-open-purse-for-harbour-dredging/1

PM expected to open purse for harbour dredging
Project to cost at least $38 million

Published on December 9th, 2010
Chris Shannon RSS Feed
Latest News


SYDNEY — Stephen Harper will make his first visit to Cape Breton as prime minister today bearing what’s expected to be a $19-million pledge to finance the dredging of Sydney harbour.

Harper will be joined by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield and Premier Darrell Dexter at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion at 1 p.m.

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The federal government has been noncommittal to this point on whether it supports the plan to dredge the harbour.

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Cape Breton North Tory MLA Cecil Clarke, who intends to run for the Conservatives in the next federal election, held an impromptu news conference at a Sydney hotel to say the dredging file was being pursued as an economic development opportunity, rather than framing it as an infrastructure project.

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During his visit, Harper will also participate in a round table discussion on the economy with local businesspeople among others at Cape Breton Beverages Ltd. in Sydport Industrial Park, said a spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Harper’s press secretary Sara MacIntyre said the discussion scheduled for 3:30 p.m. is part of the government’s consultation process with “ordinary” Canadians in advance of the federal budget that’s due to be delivered early in the new year.

The prime minister will then return to the cruise pavilion at 5 p.m. to deliver a speech at a reception that will cater to the party faithful.

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Kinda sad to lose this just for the whole novelty associated with it.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...LC-moving-two-outlets-to-new-locations/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Workers from APM Construction Services were busy closing up the exterior of an addition to the new No Frills grocery store in Sydney, Thursday, that will house a Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation outlet. The new location for the liquor store will replace...

NSLC moving two outlets to new locations


Published on December 9th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed
Latest News


SYDNEY — Cape Breton is about to lose its only drive-thru liquor store.

The Welton Street location, known for its no need to leave your vehicle aspect, is one of a pair of Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation outlets in Sydney that will soon be moved to new locations.

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Construction is well underway on the drive-thru-less Welton Street location, which will be moved just a short distance away from its current location.

The second location NSLC will move is its outlet on George Street in Sydney.

Perkins said the new Prince Street store that will replace George Street is still in its design phase and has not been tendered for construction yet. However, a tentative opening date has been set for October 2011.

Both store moves will continue a recent NSLC trend.

“The last four or five years, any time we’ve had the opportunity to co-locate our store next to a grocery store, that has been our strategy. It’s added convenience for our customers with the food and beverage a logical link.”

He said locating next to a grocery store has business advantages for NSLC, as well.

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Both locations the NSLC will be departing are rental properties.

Perkins did not have any design specifications of either of the new stores immediately available. However, he did say neither store will offer a drive-thru service.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2010-12-10/article-2035365/Tide-turns-in-Sydney-harbour/1

Laura Jean Grant - Cape Breton Post

In his first visit to Cape Breton, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the federal government will contribute $19 million to the dredging of the Sydney harbour access channel.

Tide turns in Sydney harbour
Feds announce funding to dredge access channel

Published on December 10th, 2010
Nancy King RSS Feed

Latest News


SYDNEY — Prime Minister Stephen Harper made his first visit to Cape Breton on Friday, where he delivered the news that many local business and community leaders had awaited for months: his government will contribute $19 million to the dredging of the Sydney harbour access channel.

The money, which will be provided through Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., will come over the next three months so that work can begin as soon as possible.

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The harbour offers opportunities beyond tourism, Harper said. The dredging project will create jobs in Cape Breton in the long term, he said, adding that new opportunities for shipping will arise with the return of mining jobs to the island. As trade destinations diversify, he said a revitalized Sydney harbour could attract more freight, particularly container traffic.

But before that can happen, the harbour’s access channel needs to be dredged, Harper said.

Premier Darrell Dexter called Friday a great day for Sydney, the municipality and the province. In June, the NDP government committed $15.2 million to the project, contingent on Ottawa coming in with its requested contribution.

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The dredging project alone will provide 100,000 person-hours of employment, Dexter said. It will then go on to support opportunities for container and shipbuilding and repair facilities, offshore oil and gas-related fabrication and other marine-related business, he said.

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As for critics who say the port won’t be able to compete with other facilities already operating or under development, Morgan said Sydney harbour has historically been regarded as a strategic location along the North American eastern seaboard.

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Currently, some larger coal ships can’t enter Sydney harbour fully loaded, NSP president Rob Bennett said, adding the dredging will change that and allow NSP “to use the assets more efficiently.”

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Sydney Marine Group chair Jim Wooder said now that funding is in place, the group will conclude the contract with the preferred bidder and then proceed with dredging while also ramping up efforts to market the port.

He said an access road should be built this winter, with the dredging occurring in the second half of 2011, working around the fishing season. The group has been in regular contact with Boskalis, Wooder said, and they have a good handle on the costs involved.

The province advanced some of its committed funding so that some preparatory work could proceed.

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Sydney-Victoria Liberal MP Mark Eyking said the announcement came as a result of the co-operation of all three levels of government, the private sector and the community, and no individual should take credit for it.

The announcement had been anticipated for weeks as Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke, who is seeking the federal Conservative nomination in Sydney-Victoria, had said publicly that the prime minister would come to Cape Breton by the end of the year.

Harper said while he wants to see Clarke elected in Sydney-Victoria, the funding commitment wasn’t about trying to buy votes. He said everyone involved made it clear to him the dredging was considered the key project to trigger development in the area.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...-delivers-stump-style-speech-in-Sydney/1

Harper delivers stump-style speech in Sydney


Published on December 10th, 2010
Chris Shannon RSS Feed
Latest News



SYDNEY — He may have said there are no plans to call a spring election, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered an election-style speech Friday evening at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in front of a partisan crowd of nearly 200 local Tory supporters.

Harper wasted little time in attacking his political opponents, using the common refrain of the “Liberal, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois coalition” to bolster Conservative political fortunes.

In an era of unstable minority governments, the only stable option is a majority Conservative government, Harper said, adding he believes Cape Breton can play a part in re-establishing a functional Parliament.

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Cape Breton North Tory MLA Cecil Clarke never strayed far from the limelight at both the announcement of federal funding to dredge Sydney harbour or during Harper’s speech.

It was Clarke, currently seeking the Conservative nomination in the Liberal-held riding of Sydney-Victoria, who promised a visit by Harper several weeks ago in order to save the harbour dredging project, which needed $19 million in federal cash to become a reality.

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Following the event, Clarke denied the dredging announcement was tied to his ambition to unseat Liberal Mark Eyking in the next election.

“(Harper) ... delivered in time to make sure we can move forward and get the community partners together to get the outcome we want,” he said.

“My discussion with the prime minister was very clearly that the best way to depoliticize this is to make the announcement as soon as possible, to allow the community to move ahead and let the partners see the dream and the vision they have for the area can be realized.

“I’d probably say when an election comes around, I’d be glad to have this done because it’ll be speaking to the platform that I’ll be bringing forward and, more importantly, the projects of the future, not one that is now a reality.”

Whenever the federal election is held, Clarke said he’ll be able to tell voters his commitment to an issue will translate into results.

Eyking issued a news release Thursday outlining his actions on the harbour dredging file by counting 14 separate occasions, of which 10 were questions asked in the House of Commons, between 2007 until most recently.

Eyking said it was the public who effectively pressured Ottawa to get behind the economic development initiative.

“Despite the unnecessary delay and the loss of a year, I am pleased the prime minister has announced his government’s share of the funding,” Eyking said in a release.

“People kept the pressure on the decision makers and they deserve the bulk of the credit for this project.”

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While photos could be taken prior to the roundtable discussion, reporters weren’t permitted to ask Harper or anyone else questions.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...-Tree-Park-soon-to-undergo-remediation/1

Pine Tree Park soon to undergo remediation


Published on December 10th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed
Latest News



SYDNEY — Cape Breton is home to yet another multi-million-dollar remediation project.

The Department of National Defence is continuing its work to clean up former CFS Sydney, now known as Pine Tree Park.

The former CFS Sydney underground storage tank remediation project is now in the process of removal and disposal of contaminated soil left over from when the station was in active use.

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DND has awarded a contract for $2.8 million to B.Curry and Sons Construction Limited for the removal and disposal of approximately 30,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at the former base.

The work is expected to be completed by the spring 2011.

Following the backfill, additional remedial work will include site restoration, continued monitoring of the nearby ground water well, and the installation of a ground water treatment system, if required. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2013.

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Other remediation projects underway currently include the Sydney tar ponds and several of the former coal mines sites operated by the Cape Breton Development Corporation.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Ed...cle-2031319/Housing-steady-as-she-goes/1

Housing steady as she goes


Published on December 10th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed



There have been 203 housing starts in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality from the first of January to the end of November this year, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. That includes 124 single-unit dwellings, 76 multiple-unit dwellings and three apartment buildings.

Over the same 11-month period last year, there were 207 housing starts. December of last year saw an additional 19 starts for a total of 226 in 2009. Housing starts for previous years were 230 in 2008 and 224 in 2007.

The Bank of Canada determined the Canadian economy was in recession in December 2008 and suggested the recession was over in July 2009. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the U.S. recession began a year earlier and ended in June 2009.

But as the figures provided by CMHC indicate, housing starts in the CBRM held steady before, during and after the recession.

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The average selling price or value of newly-constructed homes in the CBRM from January until September of this year was $246,000. So, if 220 homes are built this year in the municipality, that’s a total value of around $54 million. And it’s predictable year to year.

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There’s no doubt a building boom would be welcome by many, but with every boom comes the inevitable bust. One just has to look to housing crises in the U.S. and the declawed Celtic Tiger that is Ireland. Borrowers in the U.S. have defaulted on more than $600 billion in mortgages. House prices are down 50 per cent in some parts of Ireland and down 36 per cent across the country. Banks have seized homes across both countries faster than they can sell them.

“Mini-booms” such as the one Cape Breton experienced in the middle of this decade are more manageable.

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This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ck-down-on-speeders-on-twinned-highway/1

Mounties crack down on speeders on twinned highway


Published on December 12th, 2010


SYDNEY — If you’re looking to test out the newly twinned Highway 125 between Balls Creek and Sydney River by putting the pedal to the metal, think again.

The RCMP has stepped up their patrols along the highway since it opened, Dec. 4. They’ve written 40 offence tickets, 30 of which have been for speeding.

Cpl. Ron MacDonald of the RCMP Cape Breton Traffic Services said the new road is safer, straight and well-built, but felt they should step up patrols in case people were tempted to cruise at high speeds.

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MacDonald said the speed limit is 100 kilometres per hour and he would like to see motorists do that speed or less with some construction still taking place.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...quo%3BThis-is-not-new-money%26rsquo%3B/1

‘This is not new money’
Ottawa dipped into ECBC funds for Sydney harbour dredging


Published on December 14th, 2010
Erin Pottie RSS Feed



SYDNEY — Despite the fact that Ottawa funded a Halifax dredging project under the Atlantic Gateway initiative, funds for the Sydney harbour dredging will be sourced from money already earmarked for Cape Breton.

Money to dredge the harbour channel will come from Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., a Crown entity devoted to remediating former mine sites and funding economic development initiatives in Cape Breton.

The vast majority of ECBC’s $19-million contribution to the dredging includes “funds transferred as a result of the integration of the former Cape Breton Development Corporation,” said ECBC spokesperson D.A. Landry.

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Landry said having the allotment taken from ECBC does not affect its ability to fund other projects or fulfil all of their environmental remediation projects and human resources responsibilities.

In 2009, it was announced that federal dollars used for phase two of the south end container terminal infrastructure project in Halifax — which included berth dredging — would come from the federal Building Canada Fund. The Halifax Port Authority, an agent of the Crown, and the federal government jointly invested in the approximately $35-million project.

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Asked why infrastructure funding wasn’t made available for Sydney harbour, Gauthier referred to a letter federal Transport Minister Chuck Strahl sent to Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor John Morgan, stating the owners and users of harbours are responsible for their improvements, and Transport Canada wouldn't finance the dredging.

However, both politicians and proponents of the harbour argue the harbour is a federal responsibility.

Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria Mark Eyking said Ottawa is taking money allocated to Cape Breton for other purposes.

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Cape Breton Canso MP Rodger Cuzner said while he’s happy money has been found for the project, it would’ve been more appropriate to fund the dredging as an infrastructure project, not as an economic development project.

“This was access to a harbour and it should have been addressed under the (Atlantic) Gateway program,” he said.

Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke, who had been pushing for dredging dollars, said because the project was looked at as an economic development project, it was decided the harbour would be dredged with ECBC funds, provided it didn’t impact any of the Crown corporation’s existing commitments.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Living/201...ociety-takes-ownership-of-new-building/1

Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post

James White and Daniel Gallaway, carpenters with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, install moulding on the front counter of the library in North Sydney’s the new Heritage and Cultural Centre.

Historical society takes ownership of new building


Published on December 14th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed


NORTH SYDNEY — The North Sydney Historical Society has taken ownership of the new Heritage and Cultural Centre from the contractor, Joneljim Concrete Construction Ltd.

The society was formed in 1980 to preserve the heritage of this seafaring community and develop a heritage centre.

Two tenants, MLA Cecil Clarke and the North Sydney Seniors and Pensioners, have moved into their new quarters on the lower level. The Business Improvement Development Association (BIDA) will also be on the lower level, along with the North Sydney Historical Museum office.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...-Dawn-on-Laurentian-Energy-acquisition/1

SYDNEY — New Dawn Enterprises Ltd. has formed a three-person advisory committee to acquire the assets of Laurentian Energy Corp.

The move is designed to assist the non-profit community development organization with restructuring Laurentian’s business operations to improve the prospects of future port development.

It has already forwarded an acquisition proposal to Laurentian shareholders. If it is accepted, the offer would see New Dawn directly involved in port development.

One of Laurentian’s key assets is a significant tract of property on the southwest arm of Sydney harbour complete with a railway connector. It’s expected this part of the harbour will be integral in the building of an international container terminal. The company owns and operates Sydport Industrial Park, which purchased it from Enterprise Cape Breton Corp.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...h-imported-components-for-nursing-home/1

Laura Jean Grant - Cape Breton Post

Members of Carpenters Union Local 1588 staged an information picket at the entrance to a construction site of a new seniors retirement home on Kenwood Drive in Sydney. A truck bearing some of the product that union members are upset about can be seen...

Carpenters unhappy with imported components for nursing home
Local 1588 members stage information picket at site of new seniors retirement home


Published on December 23rd, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed



SYDNEY — Members of a local carpenters union have taken exception to how a local developer is constructing part of a new retirement home.

About 40 members of the Carpenters Union Local 1588 staged an information picket Thursday morning at the entrance to a construction site where a new seniors retirement home is being built. Parkland Retirement is being constructed by Shannex Health Care, next door to the Shannex Harbourstone Health Care Facility, located off Kenwood Drive in Sydney. The construction work is being managed by BBL Design Build Solutions.

Joe Wilson, acting president of Local 1588, said they’re upset that the exterior walls for the new building are being put together in another province and then shipped here.

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Labourers, iron workers, and other unionized construction workers were manning the information picket Thursday but Wilson said they were not stopping any employees from going to the existing Harbourstone facility or the construction site. However, it did appear that some construction workers were choosing not to cross the information picket.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...cts-on-Cape-Breton%26rsquo%3Bs-economy/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Darrell Dexter

Dexter reflects on Cape Breton’s economy



Published on December 28th, 2010
Chris Shannon RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Beyond the dredging of Sydney harbour, private-sector involvement will be essential for the Sydney Marine Group to acquire any additional funds from the province.

That was the message from Premier Darrell Dexter in a year-end interview with the Cape Breton Post last week on what the partnership of local business entities must do to attract more investment from the public purse.

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“First of all, the private sector has to be there. If there are (investors) prepared to invest the money that it would take to set up a container terminal, then obviously we would want to make sure there was the infrastructure there to support that,” the premier said.

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Xstrata Canada, currently working to reopen the Donkin mine in 2013 or early 2014, hasn’t closed the door on shipping coal by rail to the harbour. Its only other alternative is the use of barges to transport coal from the Donkin shoreline to waiting transport ships in deeper water.

Dexter said there are obvious partnerships the Sydney Marine Group can forge to bring business into a revitalized port of Sydney, and Xstrata is one of the possibilities.

“A container pier might be one, but if that isn’t one then you look at ship repair, those other kinds of industrial harbour-related industries.

“The way that this was sold by the Sydney Marine Group was to say, ‘Give us the opportunity and we will take advantage of that opportunity to grow the economy of the island.’

“For me, people say this is a gamble, and I say it’s simply a gamble worth taking.”

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“It is fundamentally different than other pieces of infrastructure as we see it having a long-term economic viability to it that differentiates (the rail line) from other pieces of infrastructure, and that’s why we continue to support it,” the premier said.

However, he cautioned a long-term strategy for the rail system must be sought.

“We are being, I would suggest, pretty patient with that.”

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“I think Cape Breton has to become one of the economic engines of the province if we’re going to be successful,” Dexter said.

That doesn’t mean diverting money away from Halifax, he added.

“You have many emerging business leaders (in Cape Breton). You look at success stories like AG (Research) and you look at Protocase. There are many examples of these small companies that have built themselves from the ground up.

“Having a successful Halifax does not mean every other place has to be unsuccessful. In fact, I believe it means the opposite. We have to find ways to build a stronger economy in other parts of the province. Halifax is healthier when the rest of the province is healthier.”


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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...eview-biosphere-submission-in-February/1

International committee to review biosphere submission in February

Published on December 29th, 2010
Nancy King RSS Feed

SYDNEY — A local group’s submission to designate the Bras d’Or Lake and its surrounding watershed a biosphere reserve will go before an international committee for review in February.

The Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Reserve Association has been working on the initiative for several years. Its 321-page nomination document was sent to the biosphere committee of the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Ottawa in June and was subsequently passed, with the association receiving what chair Teresa MacNeil described as very positive feedback.

After receiving approval from the Canadian commission, the document went on to UNESCO in Paris for consideration.

“It’s an international committee so they assemble people from all over to judge these things from all over the world,” MacNeil said.

The final stage will be its ratification by UNESCO in June.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...c-partnership-with-First-Nation-groups/1

CBU forms economic partnership with First Nation groups

Published on January 5th, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Cape Breton University and the island’s five First Nations communities, along with its Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office, have formed a partnership that will focus on creating economic opportunities in the field of energy and environmental sustainability.

Officials with the developing CBU Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment say the collaboration includes band chiefs and councils and seeks to engage local Mi’kmaq in the centre’s research and development efforts.

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Currently, the construction of the $20-million environmental research centre is well underway. The facility is expected to open sometime this spring.

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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/01/05/blue-puttees-ferry-arrives-105.html

The MV Blue Puttees arrived in Port aux Basques Wednesday. (Paul Pigott/CBC)

New Marine Atlantic ferry arrives

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 5, 2011 | 11:26 PM AT
CBC News

The newest ferry intended to help turn fortunes around for beleaguered Marine Atlantic arrived in Canada Wednesday, as the Crown corporation prepared for a launch later this year.

The MV Blue Puttees — one of two reconditioned Swedish ferries acquired last year — arrived in Port aux Basques in southwestern Newfoundland, one of the terminals Marine Atlantic uses for connections to Nova Scotia.

The Blue Puttees, named after the first soldiers in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment to enlist in the First World War, will be able to carry about 1,000 passengers and has about 300 beds.

Both the Blue Puttees and a sister vessel, the MV Highlanders, will be able to carry significantly more cars and trucks than two vessels that Marine Atlantic is retiring.


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[Smevo]

I'm going to try to get some pictures and a real update done as soon as I get back to Calgary in a week and a half, but here's a rundown of what I've seen so far.

-The new CSE at CBU looks like it's going to be a fairly impressive addition to the University. It's a different take on architecture for CBU, one of the bonuses of young universities not have a "everything must look the same" policy on new buildings.

- The Membertou Hotel is on the second floor, and there's site clearing activity on the new access road (Churchill Dr) near the hospital end for a new development, though I'm not sure what yet.

- The new senior's residence is topped out at Harbourview (can't remember the name and too lazy to look back a couple of posts at the moment), and it looks to be only 3 floors.

- There's equipment on site for the new overpass at George St, but that's the only clue so far that the Hwy 125 twinning project is moving into it's final stage.

- I'm disappointed with the fitness centre on Prince St. It looks ok from the side directly facing Prince St even though it's only 1 storey, but coming down the hill from George St (a very visible side that should have been better considered obviously), the first thing you see is corrugated steel siding.

- And at the opposite end of the spectrum, the YMCA is onto the front side (Charlotte St) renovations, and includes wood cladding. This one just got a whole lot sexier.

- The Vista heights renovations are using that baby blue colour for the outside cladding. I'm still not a huge fan, but it does actually look a whole lot better than the old stuff.

- Garth Wilson Dr (SPAR Rd Power Centre) is now open. I'd expect development to move in the same fashion it has been there, with the same company running both the Mayflower Mall and the Power Centre. Grand Lake Crossings looks nearly full (only got a glance at it) and looks like your typical strip mall. This area is more interesting for the increased retail offerings in the area than for architectural value. In other words, it's your typical power centre.

That's it for now. I'll add stuff as I see it, but I'm only here until Wednesday, unfortunately. After that it's back to Fredericton for a week. I already spent a couple of days there, hoping to get pictures but I'll save my synopsis until I get a chance to see more. Unfortunately, I'm a lot less mobile there than I am here.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ords-fourth-consecutive-year-of-growth/1

Sydney airport records fourth consecutive year of growth

Published on January 10th, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Investments in capital improvements have resulted in a significant and sustained increase in passenger traffic at J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport, said Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Sean Coyle.

“The chamber and other organizations have been working in an effort to assist the airport and its ability to provide increased transit for both business and consumer travellers,” Coyle said in a release issued Monday.

He said the chamber received the positive report from airport chief executive officer Neil McNeil.

The total passenger volume in 2010 was 131,000 — an increase of 8,000 passengers since 2004. It’s the fourth consecutive year of growth for McCurdy Airport.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...market-remains-strong%2C-says-industry/1

Fewer new homes, but island’s real estate market remains strong, says industry

Published on January 10th, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Despite a small decrease in the number of homes sold, the Cape Breton region’s residential real estate market remains strong, according to an industry spokesperson.

There were less homes sold in the Cape Breton region (defined as the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and Victoria County) in 2010 than the previous year, but the area did see an increase of five per cent in the average sale price of homes that were sold.

According to information provided by the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors, a total of 580 homes were sold in the Cape Breton region in 2010, down from 602 in 2009. However the average price of homes sold on the island went up more than $5,000 — from $111,239 in 2009 to $116,853 in 2010. The number of listings remained virtually unchanged last year, with 1,426 homes listed on the market, compared to 1,428 the year before.

“I don’t think that’s any different than it is in a lot of other areas,” said Robert Wambolt, a St. Peter’s-based realtor and a past-president of the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors, in analyzing the 2010 numbers.

“You get highs and lows in the markets, and you get drops and you get increases, but I don’t think it’s anything reflective. I think the market in Cape Breton has been strong the last number of years and I think it’s still strong. That (decrease in home sales) is a very minute adjustment in the market. When you see the sales price still increasing, that’s a good indicator of how strong the market is.”

Wambolt said the Cape Breton region is also more than holding its own in comparison to other regions of Nova Scotia.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Living/201...raising-surpasses-%241-million-in-cash/1

Civic centre fundraising surpasses $1 million in cash


Published on January 12th, 2011
Julie Collins RSS Feed

NORTH SYDNEY — Support for the Northside Civic Centre is coming in the form of dollars from the general public.

Wayne Ryan, the Northside Civic Centre Society vice-chair, said they have taken in over $1 million in cash.

“We are putting a dent in the $2.2 million in community funds needed for the project, but there is still a significant amount left to raise.”

The items the society is still fundraising for are a Zamboni, skate-sharpening machine, flooring for the walking track and furniture for the centre, to name a few.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...2113627/Steel-Museum-dream-still-alive/1

Steel Museum dream still alive
Science and steel are the focal points for a new museum proposal for the local area.


Published on January 13th, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed



SYDNEY — Science and steel are the focal points for a new museum proposal for the local area.

The Sydney Steel Museum is the dream of a group working to ensure the legacy of steel production in Cape Breton is remembered by future generations.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ts-%242M-to-create-affordable-housing-/1

From left, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, John Aylward of Venture Solutions, and Cape Breton Nova MLA Gordie Gosse speak after Dexter announced Sunday that Nova Scotia will be spending $2 million to build affordable homes in the Sydney area over the next year. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

N.S. invests $2M to create affordable housing


Published on January 16th, 2011
Erin Pottie RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Nova Scotia will spend $2 million over the next year to build affordable homes for low-income earners in the Sydney area.

At a small reception at the Grand Lake Road emergency services station on Sunday, Premier Darrell Dexter said the soon-to-be tendered construction projects will benefit about 15 families. A proponent of the project is Venture Solutions, a Sydport-based company.

Dexter said the province will build semi-detached dwellings and triplexes that will create homes for families and seniors with low incomes.

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Dexter said the details of what the housing will look like will be revealed as the project progresses.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...path-linking-Sydney-and-Reserve-Mines-/1

Traffic zips along Grand Lake Road near Cape Breton University, Sunday. Steve Wadden – Cape Breton Post

Public will be asked for input on path linking Sydney and Reserve Mines


Published on January 23rd, 2011
Chris Shannon RSS Feed

SYDNEY — A multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists linking Sydney to Reserve Mines may be years from fruition, but meetings scheduled for month’s end will ask for the public’s input into the design and location of the active transportation link.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality identified the 10-kilometre pathway as one of the “signature” projects of its active transportation plan, which was set into motion in 2008.

Rick McCready, who heads CBRM’s staff involvement in the active transportation plan, said the project is in its very early stages.

“At this point we’re going out to the general public inviting their input, and whether they think it’s a good idea, where they think it should go,” McCready said.

Conceptual drawings will be available for the public to view, he added.

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He said many cyclists are reluctant to bike along Grand Lake Road, which turns into the Sydney-Glace Bay Highway, due to a narrow shoulder and speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour.

The first meeting on the pathway will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Jan. 31 at Tompkins Memorial Library in Reserve Mines.

A session will also take place in the Sydney Credit Union Boardroom in the Great Hall of Cape Breton University on Jan. 31 from 4-8 p.m. A formal presentation of the path will be presented from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The storm date is set for the next day.

The third meeting will be held at the Mayflower Mall on Feb. 1 from 1-3 p.m.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...l%2C-convent-on-the-market-for-%241.2M/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Real estate signs are now scattered about the Holy Angels High School and convent property in Sydney, which has been listed for sale for a total price of $1,235,000.


Holy Angels school, convent on the market for $1.2M



Published on January 25th, 2011
Chris Hayes RSS Feed



SYDNEY — Holy Angels High School and convent as well as the 2.5 acres of land on which the buildings sit have been listed for sale for a total price of $1,235,000.

Coldwell Banker David Butts Realty in Sydney which is handling the sale says in its listing that the history attached to the property is “amazing” and the potential for a new owner is broad.

Holy Angels is currently the only all-girls public high school in Atlantic Canada.

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board had been leasing the school building from the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame, which said last year that it intends to sell the property.

As a result, the lease will end June 30.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...Bs-a-need-for-second-cruise-ship-berth/1

Transport minister says there’s a need for second cruise ship berth
Ports corporation encouraged to work on a more concrete plan, business case


Published on January 26th, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed


SYDNEY — The Sydney Ports Corporation briefed Robert Merrifield, the federal minister of state for transport, Wednesday on the need for a second berth to maintain and add to cruise ship visits.

Merrifield, who met with port officials as well as some other Cape Bretoners at a roundtable-style session, said the plan for another berth appears to be in its infancy stage and it would be premature to talk about any federal government role at this time.

Merrifield encouraged the Sydney Ports Corporation to work on a more concrete plan and business case with dollar figures attached.

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Bernadette MacNeil, the corporation’s cruise marketing and development manager, said after the session with the minister that a second berth, which could be an extension to the existing berth, is required to maintain the cruise ship business that already exists given the trend to larger and larger vessels, as well as to increase that number of ship visits.

Royal Caribbean Cruises, for example, made four attempts before successfully being able to book four future cruise ship visits at times when a berth would be available, she said. Cruise ship passengers may feel slighted if they are required to drop anchor in the harbour to be ferried back and forth to Sydney on smaller tender boats, she said.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...port-minister-holds-roundtable-session/1

From left ,Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke and Rob Merrifield, federal minister of state for transport, wrap up a pre-budget session held in North Sydney Wednesday with a cross-section of stakeholders including representatives from the fields of business, health and education. Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post

Marine Atlantic main topic as transport minister holds roundtable session


Published on January 26th, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed

NORTH SYDNEY — Rob Merrifield, federal minister of state for transport, was in North Sydney Wednesday to meet with business and community as part of pre-budget discussions.

An area of concern for businesses and commercial operators over the past few years has been ferry service to Newfoundland.

“When the prime minister first asked me to come into cabinet, what he asked me to do was to come to Marine Atlantic to see what could be done. I was absolutely appalled when I saw the state of Marine Atlantic — it was on life support. Previous governments had just let it deteriorate to an unbelievable state.”

He added that the federal government has since put almost $1 billion into Marine Atlantic in onshore improvements and fleet renewal.

Ottawa has earmarked $30 million for a new terminal in North Sydney. The terminals in both Port aux Basques and Argentia are presently being refurbished.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...-dates-to-discuss-municipal-boundaries/1

Board sets dates to discuss municipal boundaries

Published on January 28th, 2011
Chris Shannon RSS Feed

SYDNEY — The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board has set the date for a hearing into the district boundaries of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

The CBRM submitted its application to the province’s utility regulator in November, with a recommendation to maintain the current size of council at 16 councillors plus a mayor.

CBRM council voted 7-6 during its monthly meeting Nov. 16 to keep the status quo despite the fact its own consultant, Stantec Inc., called for a slimmed down municipal body of 12 members.

The public hearing scheduled for May 30 will begin at 9:30 a.m. in council chambers at the Civic Centre in Sydney.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...n-developing-port-governance-structure/1

CBRM wants lead role in developing port governance structure

Published on Febuary 1st, 2011
Chris Shannon RSS Feed

SYDNEY — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has made it clear it wants transparent discussions in the development of Sydney harbour.

A report delivered by CBRM economic development manager John Whalley pointed the finger at Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. for indicating meetings of a newly formed management committee overseeing port development will be confidential.Whalley said emphatically that a closed-door meeting “isn’t the way we operate.”“(Harbour dredging) needs to be in a public forum. It’s too important to be in a private meeting,” he said.The committee met once in mid-January and went on to decide its mandate, Whalley added.Among its functions outlined in Whalley’s report are the establishment of criteria for work to be tendered that’s compliant with the funding agencies’ requirements, a review of actual costs incurred and compared to the budget to ensure the overall project remains within the funding allotment, and the development of a communications protocol and discipline for reporting and issuing statements in respect to the dredging project.The committee was also scheduled to meet Jan. 28.Jim Wooder, chair of the Sydney Marine Group, has been selected by ECBC as project manager and will hold overall responsibility for the project, from planning through to execution, monitoring and control.

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