Atlantic NewsMakers: Regional Council discontinues tax reform process

[HALIFAX, NS] – Regional Council discontinues tax reform process: Following a close debate, Halifax Regional Council’s Committee of the Whole voted 13 to 10 against a motion to continue to explore moving off the current assessment-based property tax system. The voted down alternative would have seen residents taxed on the basis of which services they receive. However, this isn’t the end of the tax reform process. New alternatives will now be sought. – Daily Business Buzz

[OTTAWA, ON] – Nova Scotia proclaimed Canada’s University Capital in Ottawa: A marketing campaign highlighting the world-class offerings of Nova Scotia universities was unveiled yesterday at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The campaign markets Nova Scotia as “Canada’s University Capital” to prospective students and their parents. An interactive Website gives visitors an opportunity to meet a professor from each university and access links to further explore what they have to offer. A province steeped in a tradition of education, Nova Scotia remains a destination of choice for out-of-province and international students. More than 16,000 out-of-province students and more than 4,000 international students from 100 countries were enrolled in programs in 2009. Visit the campaign online at www.universitycapital.ca. – Daily Business Buzz

[HALIFAX, NS] – Halifax for Haiti concert features top east coast talent: The line-up of talent slated for the Halifax for Haiti benefit concert the Halifax Metro Centre on February 8 is now set, says the show’s producer Brookes Diamond. Joining DRUM!, the line-up now includes: Anna Ludlow, Blou, Bruce Guthro, Carmen Townsend, Charlie A’Court, Christina Martin, Classified, Gillian Boucher, J.P. Cormier, Joel Plaskett, Lennie Gallant, Linda Carvery, Matt Minglewood, Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Old Man Luedecke, Rawlins Cross, Rebekah Higgs, Rhapsody Quintet, Scott Macmillan, Squid, Sung Ha Shin-Bouey, The Stanfields and Thom Swift. All tickets to the Halifax for Haiti benefit concert are $20 and available online at www.ticketatlantic.com, at the Ticket Atlantic box office, charge by phone at 451-1221 or at any of the 17 participating Atlantic Superstores. – Daily Business Buzz

[HALIFAX, NS] – Unique Haiti fundraiser targets businesses, entrepreneurs: Maritimers are being offered a chance to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti and advance their professional and personal development skills while they do it. ‘Speak Out For Haiti’ is a fund-raiser with a difference. In exchange for a small donation to the earthquake relief effort, participants will get a chance to attend leadership and personal development workshops with some of the best coaches and speakers in Canada. The sessions will range from professional development opportunities in leadership to personal development skills like stress management and personal energy management. The event is a joint effort by members of CAPS, the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, and MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Atlantic Canada Chapter, as well as local industry partners. Supporting this initiative are our sponsors, Pier 21, RCR Hospitality Group, Sound Systems + and Ascendant Communications. Thanks to them, all proceeds will be going to the Red Cross. – Daily Business Buzz

[ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, NS] – Federal government supports upgrades for Historic Gardens: A project that will enable the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Society to upgrade the Gardens will soon be underway, thanks to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF). The ICF is investing $38,760 to support a series of repairs and upgrades to the Annapolis Historic Gardens. This project will assist the Society to strengthen its infrastructure. Several historical buildings and related infrastructure will be repaired and upgraded, including two buildings dating back to the early-to-mid-1800s, the Acadian House, a reconstructed 1671 dwelling, and the Gardens’ entrance building. The project repairs and improvements will increase energy efficiency and sustainability, by, among other things, adding attic insulation, sealing air and roof leaks and replacing windows. The provincial government, through Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage, is investing an additional $1000 in the project. – Daily Business Buzz

[HALIFAX, NS] – AIMS provides updated analysis of NB Power MOU: The Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) has published “The Modified New Brunswick-Quebec Memorandum of Understanding on NB Power: An Updated Analysis” by Gordon L. Weil, president of Standard Energy Company of Maine. This updated analysis reviews the changes announced by the New Brunswick government on January 20, but does not take a position on whether New Brunswick should approve the final agreement that will be based on the modified MOU. In fact, that agreement may differ from what is now understood to be the terns of the deal. The analysis is based on Weil’s experience extending over 30 years in matters relating to the electric industry. The updated analysis can be found at www.AIMS.ca/library/ModifiedNBPowerMOU.pdf. – Daily Business Buzz

[CHARLOTTETOWN, PE] – Feds invest $62.4 million in regional R&D: Research and development across Atlantic Canada is benefiting from an important federal investment of $62.4 million under Round VII of the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF). In Prince Edward Island, a total of seven R&D projects, representing both private and public sector research, will benefit from $12.3 million in AIF support in this round. The projects selected for AIF funding in Prince Edward Island include an anti-cancer drug treatment, an online/browser-based decision support system to help veterinarians with daily diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic decisions, and the examination of oil seed waste products with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The seven projects selected for AIF funding in Prince Edward Island include:
• Nature’s Crops International Limited (Kensington). Project: Products derived from commercial oilseed crop.
• Chemaphor Inc. (Charlottetown). Project: Natural, non-antibiotic products enhancing food-animal products.
• University of Prince Edward Island - Atlantic Veterinary College (Charlottetown). Project: Biomedical Infrared Technologies.
• LISI Therapeutics Inc. (Charlottetown). Project: Development of an innovative, advanced cancer drug therapy.
• Timeless Technologies (2007) Inc. (Charlottetown). Project: Decision support and learning systems for veterinary medicine.
• University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown). Project: Discovery Space.
• University of Prince Edward Island - Atlantic Veterinary College (Charlottetown). Project: Veterinary laboratory quality assurance program.
• Phyterra Yeast Inc. (Charlottetown). Project: Production of novel yeast strains to help wine producers prevent the kind of spoilage that often occurs during the fermentation process. – Daily Business Buzz

[PARSONS POND, NL] – Nalcor to begin Parsons Pond drilling within weeks: Nalcor Energy will start drilling in the Parsons Pond area in the next two to three weeks, says Jim Keating, vice president of the oil and gas sector of the energy company. Keating said the company will definitely be drilling by Feb. 12, the end-date of Nalcor’s exploration permit. Nalcor has acquired an average 67 per cent working interest in three onshore exploration permits near Parsons Pond on the Northern Peninsula. Everything is ready to go, such as the approval of plans and budgets for the partners, safety plans, environment and well-planning construction being in place. The road to the new drilling location is in the process of being widened and strengthened, with local contractors already on the scene preparing the site for the rig. – Katherine Hudson, The Western Star