Atlantic NewsMakers

[HALIFAX, NS] Liberals to end use of trust fund: The Nova Scotia Liberal Party made it official yesterday by voting along with the government and other opposition MLAs to pass the new Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act. The provisions of the new Act will forever end the Party’s ability to use a controversial $2.3-million trust fund. The new Act, which will go into effect on January 1, 2010, also changes the rules for political fundraising by banning corporate and union donations. No donor will now be allowed to donate more than $5,000. The Liberal trust fund was a legacy of the Party’s time in power during the 1970s. Charges of illegal tactics and the prosecution of top Liberal fundraisers at the time tainted the trust fund.

[HALIFAX, NS] InNOVAcorp announces Zone 4 round two participants in I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition: Entrepreneurs in the Halifax Regional Municipality confirmed that innovation in Nova Scotia is alive and well with their strong response to InNOVAcorp’s I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition. A total of
25 companies have been chosen by InNOVAcorp to move on to the second round of the competition. Of those 25, the following I-3 participants from zone 4 (Halifax Regional Municipality) have been invited to move ahead:
• Alcaeus Innovations Inc.: Brad Yeadon’s company in Upper Tantallon offers a complete software suite that enables easy distribution and viewing of complex documents on smart phones.
• Carbon Sense Solutions Inc.: Robert Niven’s Halifax company offers an advanced concrete curing technology that improves production economics, material properties and reduces green house gases.
• Clicker Leash Co.: Adina MacRae’s Halifax company offers innovative dog training tools based on the science of animal learning.
• TetherBerry: Tim Burke and Stephen Hankinson, Halifax, offer mobile connectivity solution for laptops via connectivity through BlackBerry.
• VoIP Solutions: Peter Woodford’s Halifax company offers an enhanced 911 solution for Voice over IP (VoIP) enabled telephones.
Entrepreneurs selected to move on to round two are required to submit a full business plan by November 19 to be reviewed by the six-person judging committees in each zone. The three companies in each zone selected to move on in the competition will be announced on December 8.
Each first-place zone winner will receive a $100,000 award package and each second place zone winner will receive a $40,000 award package of seed investment, cash and in-kind contributions for development of their start-up ventures. Award packages will include business building services in the form of marketing, accounting, sales and legal expertise from the I-3 competition partners.
At the end of the competition, one provincial winner will be selected from among the five first place zone winners and awarded a $100,000 seed investment from InNOVAcorp’s HPi™ Microfund.
In total, the competition attracted 133 formal submissions from across Nova Scotia, far exceeding InNOVAcorp’s goal of 100 submissions.

[HALIFAX, NS] Lobster fishery spawns new council: Two years after the idea was first spawned at the Summit of the Atlantic Lobster Industry, the Canadian lobster industry has a new Lobster Council of Canada. The mandate of the Lobster Council will be to enhance the value of the Canadian Lobster Sector in a sustainable fashion by addressing the issues of importance to the industry. One of these important issues is marketing. To address this key element of the industry, the council will lead sustained marketing initiatives regionally, nationally and internationally promoting all segments of the Canadian Lobster industry with sound market research and market intelligence. For many years, the lobster fishery has been Canada’s most valuable fishery and leading seafood exporter. It contributes to the livelihood of more harvesters and sustains more communities than any other species, including communities that are home to processing plants and holding facilities. The initial Board of Directors for the council consists of industry stakeholders who joined together following the Lobster Summit to carry out its recommendations. They will oversee the development of the Council’s By Laws and the establishment of the Council’s office in Halifax. The Coaster

[MILLBROOK, NS] RBC recognizes two aboriginal leaders as Olympic torchbearers: RBC has selected two local aboriginal leaders as 2010 Olympic Torchbearers: Joan Glode, executive director of the Mi’kmaq Family and Children’s Services of N.S. (Shubenacadie); and Chief Lawrence Paul (Millbrook). The Olympic Flame will pass through Truro and Shubenacadie on November 18, 2009. Approximately 12,000 Canadians will carry the flame across the country with millions more cheering and supporting them. The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its journey to Vancouver on October 30, 2009, when the flame arrives in Victoria following a traditional lighting ceremony in Greece. The Olympic Flame will then travel from coast to coast to coast through every province and territory in Canada – spanning 45,000 kilometers and over 1,000 communities over the course of 106 days.

[AMHERST, NS] Plan for retirement with parents in mind: A Canadian Press story in the Amherst Daily News says longer lifespans mean retirement plans need to be able to support not just ourselves, but maybe our parents as well. Read the whole story at http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=296908&sc=498.

[AMHERST, NS] Outdoor rink could be a go: It appears as though an outdoor rink in the West Highlands part of town could be a reality this winter. Amherst has agreed to enter into discussions with the Amherst Lions Club about converting the tennis courts on Cornwall Avenue into an outdoor rink, but council wants a few concerns addressed by the club before giving it the green light. Temporary boards would be installed around the perimeter of the fence that surrounds the courts while the fire department would be asked to flood the property so ice could be made. If the plan goes ahead, Community and Economic Development Director Roger MacIsaac says it would be up to the Lions to handle maintenance and ensure those using the facility have proper equipment. The Lions would also be responsible for liability insurance on the property and it would be their responsibility to make sure the property is secure when it’s not in use. If the project is successful, the Lions could consider establishing a permanent facility somewhere in the community. Darrell Cole, The Amherst Daily News

[SYDNEY, NS] Sydney coming up short in stimulus funds: The Chronicle Herald is reporting that Sydney is not getting its fair share of a $1 billion program intended to help small towns hit by the failure of pulp mills, auto plants and other industries impacted by the global recession. Read the full story at http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1148999.html.

[STELLARTON, NS] Stellarton has good year, financially: The Town of Stellarton finished the 2008/2009 fiscal year in good health. The town ended up with net revenues of $877,000. The town had revenues of $8.284 million compared to budgeted revenues of $8.059 million. On the other side of the ledger, expenditures were $7.407 million, compared to budgeted expenditures of $7.119 million. The overage in expenditures were due to a few key items, including the police pension top up at the end of March. The town’s reserve funds stand at $4.8 million. The News

[LABRADOR CITY, NL] New course for millwrightscoming: There’s block training on the way for millwright apprentices in Labrador West. Richard Sawyer, campus administrator for the local College of the North Atlantic, says he received official word the millwright program had been accredited last week, so block training is starting at the campus Oct. 27. Sawyer says no trades programs at the college have ever been accredited before. The campus only started offering trades two years ago and he hopes now that the millwright course has passed muster, the electrician and welding courses won’t be far behind. CNA is only offering one block of training right now in the millwright program – Block 3 – but if it goes well, there may be more added later. Sawyer says there will probably be more than enough students to fill up the first class - IOC has guaranteed 12; the maximum capacity is 15 and there’s no cost associated with the course. The eight-week program will run until Dec. 18 and, if there’s still a need after Christmas, it may be offered again. Pam Morrissey, The Aurora

[CORNER BROOK, NL] Community organizations will be hands-on: A pair of community groups, heavily involved in recreation and leisure, are encouraged by the city’s approach to developing a master plan and look forward to a hands-on involvement in shaping its future. The Corner Brook Stream Development Corporation and the Humber Community YMCA are planning active roles in the public consultation process for the recreation master plan by making people aware and getting them involved. The development corporation will also be undergoing a public consultation process to help shape its own direction over the next five years. It has been taking on more green space development projects, like Margaret Bowater Park, Captain Cook’s Monument and Bartlett’s Point in recent years. Tract Consulting will be contacting a number of community groups and setting up individual meetings, but there will also be opportunity for separate public consultations. The first of those will be held Nov. 5 at the Pepsi Centre. Cory Hurley, The Western Star

[CORNER BROOK, NL] Seniors happy home heating rebate to return: Glenys Brown is happy the provincial government is working on the home heating rebate program for this year. The 62-year-old Corner Brook resident calls herself an in-between senior, receiving Canada Pension, but not the old age supplement so she knows a fixed income has a lot to cover. She has a fibre glass oil tank and sometimes that’s hard to fill up, while keeping the necessities of life going. Brown considers the home heating rebate a token, but said it is good news the program will continue again this year. “It helps a little,” she says. “It certainly doesn’t pay for the oil because the oil is expensive.” Cliff Wells, The Western Star

[LONG HARBOUR, NL] Layoffs at Long Harbour plant site: Pennecon Heavy Civil laid off about 40 night-shift employees working at the site of the planned Long Harbour processing plant Tuesday, Oct.13. Bob Carter, spokesman for Vale Inco Newfoundland and Labrador, says Pennecon scaled back on its nighttime operations at the site. Pennecon, a contractor to Vale Inco since April, has about 370 employees as part of site-clearing operations in Long Harbour. The company is also building access roads throughout the site. Carter says Pennecon will continue that work through the fall and into winter in preparation for construction next spring of Vale Inco’s US$2.2-billion hydromet nickel processing plant. Contracts to build the facility have yet to be awarded. Demolition, removal of concrete foundations and soil cleanup at the site’s port wrapped up last week. In total, about 450 people are working at the Long Harbour site. The Charter

[BAIE VERTE, NL] Water quality a key priority for council: The town council of Baie Verte is putting water quality high on their list of priorities. The beginning of the town’s estimated $3 million water treatment project started three years ago when an underground water storage tank, which holds 300,000 gallons, was built. The project is multilaterally funded, with council paying 20 per cent of the total cost, and the federal and provincial governments paying the balance. The next stage is the installation of a modern micron water filtration system, which should begin in November. The town has been on a boil order for roughly a month. The facility, located at the beginning of town, will also accommodate a new emergency generator to ensure the accessibility of water during prolonged power outages. To further improve the water quality for residents, council is in the final phase of tenders to move the intake pipe to a larger pond. By relocating the intake pipe, it will decrease the size of their watershed area and all impurities making its way into the water supply by means of runoff will be eliminated. Billy Canning, The Nor’wester

[CAPE ST. GEORGE, NL] Cape St. George moving ahead with water, trail projects: The Town of Cape St. George is expanding its central water system and upgrading access to the resettled community of Loretto. The town had been approved for $230,000 in low-cost loans from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program for the two projects. The funding will allow the town to cover its share of both projects, with about half the interest rate of a loan from a traditional bank. Both projects will move ahead without substantially raising taxes. The overall cost of the water project is estimated at $2.1 million. The water project encompasses an area about six kilometres west of Roses Brook, servicing both existing homeowners and future developments. The area of Cape St. George east of Roses Brook already has serviced water. The project would also allow the town to install fire hydrants in that area, so homeowners’ insurance costs would drop an estimated 20 per cent. Funding for upgrades for a road and bridge leading to the resettled community of Loretto is coming from an investment of $103,000 by the federal government’s Community Adjustment Fund. The town’s share, around $20,000, comes from the CMHC funding. It will also include the installation of a comprehensive walking trail in the area, which would cover about four kilometres after exiting 386 or 557 Oceanview Dr. Christopher Vaughan, The Georgian

[CHARLOTTETOWN, PE] Human Rights Commission still accepting nominations: The Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission is reminding Islanders that there is still time to make nominations for the annual Award for the Advancement of Human Rights. The award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations that have made significant contributions toward the advancement of human rights on Prince Edward Island. Last year’s recipient was Barbara Fanning, who is well known for her work with People First. She has been instrumental in establishing local groups across the province and her work has allowed her to draw public attention to issues such as institutionalization, violence, livable income and employment. The selection of the recipient of the Award is based on exceptional achievement on a volunteer basis to promote human rights and equality in Prince Edward Island as defined in the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Act. Nomination forms are available on the PEI Human Rights Commission’s website (www.peihumanrights.ca) and at Access PEI sites throughout the Province. The closing date for nominations is October 30, 2009, with the presentation of the award taking place during the celebration of International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2009. Anyone requiring additional information should contact Lorraine Buell at 902-368-4180.