Nova Scotia Moves --- Keep your fingers crossed

The Province of Nova Scotia fast-tracked a grants and contributions program at the end of 2012.

Nova Scotia Moves is a pilot project with higher than usual contribution levels --- up to $200,000 --- as a 50% contribution from the province.  The municipal or local level must contribute 25-50% of the cost (in-kind or hard cash). 

With only weeks to apply before the first deadline of December 21 --- greater weight was attributed to: "projects or program expansions that are ready for implementation."

At a preliminary meeting a decision was made for County of Kings staff to work quickly with Kentville, New Minas and Wolfville to put together an application to improve active transportation on the old railroad bed that will link Wolfville to Kentville when completed.  The Keiran Pathways Society was designated as a key partner with New Minas as the applicant. 

This society has been the champion of active transportation in the Annapolis Valley.  Its members have generously provided research, policy directives and practical advice.  Another example of how integral volunteers are to the quality of life here in Kings County.

The application was completed and submitted by the deadline. Now we all need to keep our fingers crossed and wait for a successful outcome when the application is considered.  Since part of the work must be completed by March 31, 2013, news is expected soon.  Another application deadline is expected early in 2013.

By-Elections in 2 Kings County Districts

Judge Warner in a 24-page ruling has declared the 2012 elections for the position of municipal councillor for District 8 and 11 of the Municipality of the County of Kings void.

In light of incumbents not having to resign their seats on committees during an election period, Justice Warner posed a rhetorical question:

“What mischief is remedied by having volunteers seek a leave of absence?”

A report on the municipality's next steps with respect to special elections (by-elections) will be coming to the January 8, 2013 meeting of Council.

My hope is that the by-elections will be held sooner, rather than later, to ensure that citizens in these two districts are duly and properly represented.

Click here if to read local coverage of the ruling.

Click here if you would like to read the ruling.

We Won't Forget

On Sunday, November 11, hundreds of people, old, young and in-between, stood at the Kentville cenotaph to solemnly remember.  Laying a wreath on behalf of the residents of Kings County was my first official duty.  Then a solemn procession of family members came forward to lay wreaths for their own loved ones.

Each year brings change to yet another family of a veteran.  Time, like soldiers, marches on.  Fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers who served die.  This year my daughter-in-law Monique Harvie’s beloved grandfather Frank Harvie died.  She and her sister Nicole laid a wreath in his memory. I was honoured to attend the ceremony in their company along with Edna, Frank’s widow.

All of our WWI veterans are now gone, but we are still blessed to have some WWII veterans with us. Their presence at cenotaph brings the reality of war into a sharper, more personal focus.  They represent, in person, the generation that sacrificed, survived, died and were scarred by the horror of it all.

To them we promise that when they are gone, as all the WWI vets now are: “We won’t forget.” The work of each elected representative is possible because of the democracy you protected on our behalf. When I sit at the council table I will remain ever mindful of the privilege you extended to me, and to all of us, to participate in a living, breathing democracy.

Pond in need of protection and care

Residents on North Aldershot Road have a beautiful natural pond on their road.  It should be a haven for wildlife and birds.  

When I took this shot in late afternoon it was beautiful.  As long as you didn't look too closely.  

This pond has been a dumping ground for a wide variety of unwanted things, up to and including a motor bike.  

Residents say they don't receive the help or attention required when it is used as a "dumping pond." That's why they routinely haul things out of this pond themselves.

Would a monitoring device help detect and/or prevent this form of illegal dumping?  And what can be done to restore the pond to better health?  Two questions a councillor can help answer in a bid to find a solution to this ongoing problem.

Growing spinach 49-weeks of the year using NS solar. Honestly.

This county never ceases to amaze me.  This afternoon I dropped in on Ronald Muis on my way down Lakewood Road in Steam Mill.  It was a biting day.  Lots of wind, lots of bright sun, a real chilly one.

I noticed several large low-slung greenhouses in his backyard.  I soon learned that Ronald Muis grows spinach.  In abundance.  And, that last year there were only 3-weeks in the dead of winter when the greenhouses weren't producing.  Ronald sells nearly all his spinach to retailers at the Halifax farm markets.

When I stepped inside it was warm and cozy---a sharp contrast to the temperature outside.  These greenhouses really solely on passive solar heat that flows through the plastic to the soil and plants.  Amazing.  The spinach in this photo is 3-weeks old.  At the far end of the greenhouse a smaller patch of arugula is also growing.

Greenhouses are something I really love.  The smell of them reminds me of taking my 2 toddlers strolling in the afternoon up the road in Greenwich for a visit with Judd and Charlie Pulsifer at their greenhouses.  They loved to see things planted and growing.  I've feeling thankful tonight for the skill of people like Mr. Muis.  We're blessed to have people in our community  who can make so much great stuff grow... Come rain...Come shine.

The privilege of meeting you on the campaign trail

The blessing of doing the work of being a candidate is meeting special people along the way. What other job allows you to knock on every door on a street and speak with your neighbours about the things that matter most to you and to them?  

As I tidy up my desk, reply to emails, and write this blog, I am reminded to give thanks today for those who made me smile, who made me laugh and who demonstrated their support in oh so many ways.  Invitations for me and my campaign workers to step into your homes and out of the rain speaks to the generosity of spirit that exists here in District 3.  I thank each and everyone of you. 

I am also mindful that over the past few weeks I have seen the heartbreak that some of you cope so bravely with. Separation from loved ones when home care is no longer possible is more than tough.  I hope this night brings a restful sleep to everyone I met today.  I sure need that and I'm sure many of you do too!  Tonight may bring dreams of the beautiful and huge carvings I saw today.  You just never know what you will discover on the campaign trail but each day seems to hold a wonderful surprise or two.

Raven's responses to the Chamber of Commerce

Each candidate has been asked to provide 150-word answers to nine questions posed by the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce.  Here are my answers.  The AVCC hopes to publish responses from all Kings and Annapolis County candidates by October 1.

Do you think Kings County or Annapolis County is “open for business”?

To earn the label “open for business” Kings County needs to actively identify, attract and/or welcome new businesses and consumers. Council recently cancelled funds for the Kings County Regional Development Agency in reaction to the federal government’s cutback to local economic development initiatives─an undeserved and unwise move.  This agency helped win the Grand Pre UNESCO world heritage designation─a major boost for Kings tourism. It also negotiated collaboration between the county and towns’ planners for new businesses.

Businesses that can create profit levels sufficient to locate here, stay here, and pay taxes serve their own needs but also the public interest.  These “good businesses” are the type we need to open our doors to. They enhance our commercial tax base, create stable jobs, and provide good wages. They will keep, or bring back, Kings County children from those places where such jobs do exist.  If such jobs are elsewhere─why not here?

What could the county do to improve conditions for small businesses?

Creating clarity is job one. Kings County needs a predetermined support package for establishing or expanding businesses.  Business owners don’t like─and should not have to deal with ambiguity. Ambiguity makes financial planning and borrowing unnecessarily difficult.  Common sense, solid regulations, not red tape, should be our guide.  The county also needs to improve services to small businesses by listening to the voices of experience─small businessmen and women. 

Small business correctly condemns “rescue millions” to “off-shore companies” whose business plans/models result in a recurrent need for government’s financial support.  Small businesses are a better investment in general and the county needs to be a stronger advocate with the province in this regard. I also believe tax incentives must be tied to wage scales/benefits for new businesses.  Clearly those that bring good, stable jobs deserve more support from our tax base than those that employ a minimum wage workforce.

Mink farming is becoming a contentious issue in some neighbourhoods. Do regulations around raising mink need to be changed?

I have limited knowledge of the mink industry other than it presents significant opportunities for economic growth in other counties.   There, fisheries by-products provide a food source to the ranches, industry is relatively unregulated and its expansion has been hotly debated. Mink sewage attracts flies, smells, and has resulted in some mink farms becoming labeled “bad neighbours.”  It appears more stringent regulation is under development and mink farmers have collaborated in this endeavour.  

Additional good news is that provincial and federal funds have been invested to develop ecological uses for minks’ liquid and solid waste.  There is also a growing, stable, profitable market for mink. Demand exceeds supply.  I support the introduction of mink ranches here if they are regulated and operate with solid humane and ecological standards.  Before expansion of this industry we must “have our ducks in a row” so ranches will be in the best neighbour category.

What role do large-scale wind turbines have in the Valley’s future?

Industrial wind turbine development has been suspended in Kings. I support that. When it’s re-addressed a full scale consultation is promised.  It’s now time for us to turn our attention to developing a green energy plan that’s a good fit for all of us.  I believe alternatives to “big wind” will provide better, longer term economic value.  We can look at best practices regarding green energy in rural communities around the globe and adapt those to our particular needs. Doing this in close consultation with citizens, small businesses, and community organizations will make us successful. Many residents and businesses are engaged on both sides of this debate.  Together we can create a custom plan that suits who we are, where we are.  We need to take a close look at do-able smaller-scale strategies to help our residents reduce their energy costs thus benefiting us rather than “big wind.”

Do you think the level of municipal taxation in the county is fair in relation to the level of services offered?

Certainly not in many areas of North Kentville. There, homes paying regular tax rates see county water lines by-pass their homes.  Residents living on Z-roads cannot get their roads graded or sand-sealed.  Busy, narrow residential streets are dilapidated… Sidewalks are absent… Children are in danger.  It’s been a mess for “long many a year” with no-one paying any attention to requests for help.  At the same time our county wastes, on my estimate, at least 10% of our annual $40Million municipal tax base on unnecessary expenditures. 

Developers/builders find council services incompatible with their needs…Too quick to tax before building begins… Too slow to provide inspection services once building has begun… Ready to create obstacles… Slow in providing solutions.  We need to abolish the residential taxes that must be paid by developers on building lots once a subdivision is approved until such time as a house is begun and/or completed.

Is there enough industrial land available at this time? How could any perceived deficit be addressed?

The RDA and CBCL consultants recently produced recommendations regarding industrial sites (Kings County recently de-funded the RDA).  It is my understanding that several optional sites are noted all relatively close to Highway 101 and serving Kings County from East to West. 

My perspective is that industrial growth, for both regulatory and infrastructure efficiency, is best located in a few rather than many locations and in closer rather than further proximity to the main highway.  This has the additional benefit of fewer residential neighbourhoods being located close to industrial sites or being passed through by heavy traffic.  The next council will have to make sound decisions regarding approval of sites.  Three or four could be the best balance to ensure that residents who work at sites do not have long distances to travel to access the jobs located there.

Agricultural land zoning has generated long and difficult debates over the past decade in Kings County. What do you think the county should do to balance protecting farmland and encouraging development?

Farming is the heart and soul of who we are in Kings County.  The health of this county is defined by what we do to preserve farmland for future farmers. 

Supporting farmers in the work they do means buying local for many of us. That’s not enough. Council must work harder to convince the province to act on the recommendations of the Agricultural Land Review Committee. Those recommendations should already be leading us toward a stronger farm economy.

I initiated and helped organize the first annual event to raise money for the Annapolis Valley Farmland Trust.  Over 200 people attended.  The trust’s focus is purchasing easements from farmers who want to retire so land remains in the agricultural district. My commitment is to the strongest protection possible for farmland.  Opening doors to farmland development is counter-intuitive to preservation. The current council has not appreciated that concept, the next council must.

What are your thoughts with respect to aquaculture in the Bay of Fundy?

I am strongly opposed to aquaculture in the Bay of Fundy where a profitable, historical and sustainable lobster fishery exists and the flow of wild Atlantic salmon to our rivers is beginning to recover.  Independent research shows that open aquaculture is a fraught with serious problems.

On the other hand, land-based fish farming holds great economic possibilities for Kings County.  Sustainable Blue is located only 45-minutes from Kings County in Centre Burlington, Hants County.  There, fish are raised using proprietary water treatment technology.  The marketplace is proving to be ready for fresh disease free, drug free, organic salmon and other species.  This company’s product is sold in advance of its readiness for market.  This is the kind of aquaculture needed in Kings County.  Safe.  Sustainable. Innovative. 

When we find things that we cannot/should not do, council has a responsibility to lead with regard to what we can do.

What is your personal stand on the issue of cell towers in the county?

Increasingly more residents in the county are relying on cell phones as their primary means of communications.  Businesses are more mobile and more efficient because of cell phone technology.  We need a dependable network of cell towers to provide effective service.

However, caution needs to be taken with regard to the location of cell phone towers.  The scientific community is divided on the potential impacts of the type of radiation emitted by cell towers. However, it is widely accepted that adverse effects are not significant for most people.  Kings County needs to work with cell tower owners to negotiate locations that place towers at distances from homes and work sites that exceed the minimum guidelines.