[Stephenville, NL] – Negotiations between the Stephenville Airport Corporation and the Town of Stephenville are continuing with KAZ Aviation even though former employees of its operation in Kissimmee, Florida have come forward with concerns about the firm.

Shawn Tilley, chair of the airport corporation, says a recent teleconference meeting was held with Charles Carroll, company owner, and Steve Bowlin, vice-president of operations for KAZ Aviation, where the situation in Kissimmee was discussed. More »

[OTTAWA, ON] – CMHC reports rising housing starts: The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts reached 196,700 units in February 2010. That’s an increase from an annual rate of 185,400 units in January 2010, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). More »

[HALIFAX, NS] — Thursday’s “stand pat” federal budget likely won’t change life much for Nova Scotians this year, Deputy Premier Frank Corbett said Thursday night.

But future cuts to military spending and a freeze on public service programs could hurt the province long-term, he added. More »

[SYDNEY, NS] — The Marine Atlantic ferry service linking Cape Breton to Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a $175-million cash infusion over the next two years.

The Conservative government announced its infrastructure investment as part of their 2010 financial budget. Minister of State of Transport Rob Merrifield said the money will be used to update the Crown corporation’s fleet and shore facilities. More »

[TRENTON, NS] — The province of Nova Scotia and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Ltd. (DSME) have struck a deal which will resurrect the former TrentonWorks site.

DSME plans to establish a wind turbine tower and blade manufacturing facility at the site, creating hundreds of jobs. The province is investing almost $60-million and getting an equity stake in the Pictou County operation. More »

[LOWER SACKVILLE, NS] — When the province’s MLA expense scandal first broke last month, Lower Sackville resident Bruce Devenne wasted no time setting up a website and an online petition calling for a police investigation.

The petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/BDeVenne/) was up the same day news of MLA expenses hit the media, while the website (http://www.governmentripoff.com) was operational within 72 hours. More »

[SAINT JOHN, NB] — The Telegraph-Journal is reporting that Repsol Energy North America wants to double the quantity of natural gas being shipped from the Canaport terminal in Saint John to New England in 2010-2011. For more information, read the story at: http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/973971

[CHARLOTTETOWN, PE] — “Sea air is intoxicating, please drink responsibly.”

That will be one of the dozens of slogans presented to Internet users this year in an attempt to lure visitors to Prince Edward Island.

The Department of Tourism and Culture rolled out its 2010 marketing, media and public relations plan on Thursday in Charlottetown and it’s a plan that will see the industry veer in a couple of different directions. More »

[MARYSTOWN, NL] — It may sound counterintuitive, but the man at the helm of Ocean Choice International (OCI) is hopeful an exemption that will allow the company to ship more yellowtail flounder to China for processing will mean a brighter future for the processing plant in Marystown.

The provincial government gave the company a one-year exemption earlier this week that will allow it to export yellowtail under 450 grams to China, where it can be processed at a much lower cost. More »

The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC), an independent think-tank dedicated to economic progress in Atlantic Canada, recently released commentary on the 2010 federal budget:

The Conservative government’s fifth budget, tabled Thursday by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, was short on new measures (and transparency which has made it increasingly difficult in recent budgets to decipher new funding and policy directions). More »

Special “Federal Budget Edition” of NewsMakers

Here are some reactions from key industry players…

• Valerie Payn - President, Halifax Chamber of Commerce: Though spending restraints could have been more aggressive, we are happy to see that the budget outlines a clear plan to significantly decrease the deficit. But the federal government has their work cut out for them over the next few years. More »

[HALIFAX, NS] — The Liberals are accusing the provincial government of wasteful jet-setting as another high-ranking NDP officer prepares to fly overseas.

Speaker Charlie Parker heads the office in charge of handling MLA expense reforms. He’s heading to a Council of State Governments meeting in Maine from today to Saturday, then Sunday he flies to England for a 12-day Westminster Seminar on parliamentary practices. More »

[ABERCROMBIE POINT, NS] — CBC News is reporting that Gerard Julien of the Assembly of Mi’kmaq Chiefs is disappointed the government has decided to give a $75-million loan to Northern Pulp mill without attaching the condition that it clean up a toxic waste site in Abercrombie Point. For more information, read the story at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/03/04/ns-pictou-landing-pulp-mill.html

[HALIFAX, NS] — The province has short-listed a consortium of Nova Scotia shipbuilders for construction work to restore the schooner Bluenose II.

The Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance was the successful respondent to a request for interest issued in December. The consortium includes Covey Island Boatworks and Lunenburg Industrial Foundry and Engineering of Lunenburg and Snyder’s Shipyard Limited of Daysprings, Lunenburg County. More »

[HALIFAX, NS] — Bill Estabrooks accepts he has to slash his donations spending, but he isn’t happy about it.

“To put it to you candidly it makes me real damn angry,” said the NDP cabinet minister yesterday.

Estabrooks was the most generous giver amongst MLAs. He spent $29,750 on donations and gifts over the 12 months before the June election, more than any other member. More »