Kim Masland, Nova Scotia’s minister of emergency management, announced more help this week for emergency services personnel to buy equipment. (Rick Conrad)

Volunteer fire departments and ground search and rescue groups will get more help from the Nova Scotia government to buy equipment.

Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland recently announced an increase of $2.8 million to the emergency services provider fund, which also provides funds for hazardous materials units. That fund is now at $4 million.

Individual groups can apply for up $30,000, up from $20,000 last year. Up to 90 per cent of costs will now be covered, an increase from 75 per cent. Applications are open until July 30.

A new regional category will allow multiple groups from the same area to apply for funding. Up to $200,000 is available in that category. Applications are open Sept. 1 to Oct. 14.

Masland told QCCR this week the new funding is in addition to reviews the department is doing around the province with fire departments and search and rescue groups to find out what kinds of support they need.

“With the frequency and strength of storms that we’re seeing, our fire departments are responding to calls that they’ve never responded to before, like swift water rescues, our ground search and rescues, it seems like every week, I’m hearing of our ground search and rescues doing a rescue call. So we know that everyone is struggling for funds so we’ve actually doubled the emergency services provider fund this year.

“We’re just working on how we can get services out there better. … Whatever it may be to make sure we’re setting them up for success.”

Organizations can also now apply for funding every two years instead of every three.

Listen to an audio clip of Kim Masland here:

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Region of Queens Municipality administration building. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

Fire trucks and Airbnbs are on the agenda as Region of Queens council meets Tuesday evening in Milton.

Council has four meetings a year in a community facility in a different part of Queens County. Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Milton Community Hall, 168 Tupper St., Milton.

Councillors will discuss a policy to help the county’s five fire departments with vehicle purchases according to a set schedule.

The current schedule expired last year. And council will be discussing a new timetable that will expire in 2035. 

The Mill Village fire department has asked the region for $275,000 in loan payments over 10 years toward a new $711,810 fire truck.

Under the proposed new funding arrangment,  the maximum amounts available to fire departments for the next two fiscal years for new equipment would remain at $275,000 for pumpers, tankers and aerial trucks and $100,000 for rescue and utility vehicles.

From 2026/27 to 2034/35, those amounts would increase to $425,000 for new trucks and $200,000 for rescue vehicles.

The amounts would be reviewed with fire chiefs every two years.

Also on council’s agenda Tuesday evening, owners of short-term rentals in Queens County may get a chance to have their say on a tourism accommodation levy.

The Nova Scotia government made it possible in 2022 for municipalities to tax all tourist lodging up to a maximum of three per cent.

Since last April, all short-term rentals must sign up with a provincial registry. They must also follow municipal land-use bylaws.

According to a staff report to council, a three per cent levy could raise about $240,000 per year. The extra revenue would go toward boosting local tourism efforts.

But first, staff is suggesting that the region consult the owners of such properties.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com