The Nova Scotia government announced its five-year highway plan this week. (File photo by Rick Conrad)
Queens County roads are getting some attention in the province’s five-year highway improvement plan, announced this week.
Queens MLA Kim Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s Emergency Management and Natural Resources minister, said the work locally will help with climate change.
“Our government is committed to climate-resilient infrastructure,” Masland said in a news release.
“Projects like the shoreline protection on Shore Road are vital to ensuring our roads can withstand future challenges.”
The overall $2.5-billion plan to upgrade highways, roads and bridges across Nova Scotia includes an extra $150 million planned for gravel roads.
New projects added for Queens include:
Construction of shoreline protection on Shore Road in Western Head
Paving 2.3 kilometres of the Long Cove Road in Port Medway from the Port Medway Road easterly to the end of the paved section
Upgrading 2 km of the gravel section of the Long Cove Road
Work on 0.75 km of the Ramey Road in Buckfield from Route 210 northerly to the end of the sand seal
The provincial plan includes more than 160 highway improvement projects across Nova Scotia in the coming year.
Construction timelines will depend on planning and tendering.
Members of Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing join local politicians on Monday as governments announced millions in funding for a co-op housing project in Liverpool. Pictured are QNCH’s Eric Goulden and Susan MacLeod, South Shore-St. Margarets MP Jessica Fancy, Region of Queens Mayor Scott Christian, Queens MLA Kim Masland, QNCH housing consultant Michael Blair, QNCH’s Janice Wentzell, Randi Dickie, housing consultant Earl Mielke and Queens Coun. Jack Fancy. (Rick Conrad)
As crews worked in the background, politicians from all levels of government on Monday officially announced millions in funding for a new co-operative housing development in Liverpool.
South Shore-St. Margarets MP Jessica Fancy, Queens MLA Kim Masland and Region of Queens Mayor Scott Christian were among those on hand for the announcement of $11.91 million from the federal and provincial governments for the development.
Fancy said the federal contribution of $6.96 million in low-interest loans through CMHC’s Co-operative Housing Development Program will help secure affordable housing for many in the area.
“It’s a chance for a fresh start for many, including some of our most vulnerable people in our community.”
Fancy said the Liverpool co-op housing project is one of seven approved across Canada. It’s being built by Bird Construction.
The province is contributing $4.95 million through its Department of Growth and Development.
Masland applauded the “passion, dedication, effort and grit” of the co-op’s board members to make the project a reality.
“Plain and simple, we need more affordable housing in our community, and it is because of organizations like Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing that more people will have a safe and affordable place to call home.”
The co-operative got approval for the federal and provincial funding earlier this year, but Monday’s announcement was the first time they could speak about it publicly.
The Region of Queens sold four lots to the group in 2023 for $1 and rezoned the area to pave the way for the development. It also committed $203,000 for project management and architectural fees.
Other funding includes:
$175,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
$343,500 from the Nova Scotia Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
$400,000 from Efficiency Nova Scotia
$75,000 from the Nova Scotia Community Housing Growth Fund
Mayor Scott Christian said the municipality is looking at other properties it can give to groups like QNCH to help spur more affordable housing in Queens.
“This is a step in the right direction. We all know that we need to do a lot more. We have a lot of folks who need access to affordable, accessible, barrier-free housing, and I commend these folks in terms of their environmental stewardship and working toward net-zero emissions too, because we also need to build homes in a way that’s climate resilient and is appropriate for the future.”
Planning for the project began about four years ago, with most of the work on design and funding happening in the past two and a half years.
The 30 fully accessible apartments will include one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. It will be targeted toward seniors, with about 70 per cent occupancy set aside for older residents, but available for anyone who meets the application criteria.
Rents will be based on income, but the maximum charged for a one-bedroom will be $790 a month, $1,004 for a two-bedroom and $1,100 for a three-bedroom.
Queens County is in desperate need of affordable housing. Data from the 2021 census showed that 35 per cent of renters in Queens spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing.
And 34 per cent of Queens residents have considered leaving the community due to housing issues, according to a report from the South Shore Housing Action Coaltiion.
To keep pace with population growth, the report projected that the county will need 555 new units by 2027.
On Monday, even the project’s construction foreman was interested when he heard about the rents.
Michael Blair, a housing consultant working with the co-op on the Lawrence Street project, said the group’s ultimate goal is to try to build 100 affordable units throughout Queens County.
“We’re thrilled to finally have the funding both by the CMHC through the Co-operative Housing Development Program and through the province with the Nova Scotia Department of Growth and Development announced. Now we’re able to tell the story about the exciting new neighbourhood that we’re building.”
He said the apartments’ net-zero, passive design means that tenants won’t have to worry as much about rising energy costs.
“Building with highly energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, triple-glazed windows, extra insulation, all those things contribute to the long-term sustainability of the co-op, of the neighbourhood, and kind of insulates it to a certain degree from increasing energy costs, which thus make (us) able to keep … (the units) affordable long-term.”
A food bank in North Queens is getting $10,000 grant from the Nova Scotia government to help stock more protein options for its clients.
The Community Food Resource Network in Caledonia will use the funds for their Protein Pick Me Up program, Queens MLA Kim Masland said in a news release Wednesday.
The funding from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage helps stock local food banks with fresh produce, dairy and proteins to help vulnerable families.
“The Community Food Resource Network serves hundreds of families every month in North Queens, and this investment will help them provide the nutritious protein and fresh food that families need,” Masland said in the release.
Operating since 2019, Community Food Resource Network provides about $10,000 worth of food and support each month. The organization also includes a seasonal garden, Muriel’s Closet thrift store, and partnerships with youth groups, schools and other local food banks.
It’s located at 9868 Highway 8 in Caledonia and is open Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. They can be reached at 902-682-3130 or by email at ddawe@ns.sympatico.ca.
Queens MLA and newly appointed Minister of Natural Resources Kim Masland and Premier Tim Houston at the opening of the Steele Athletic Grounds in Liverpool earlier in October. (Rick Conrad)
Queens MLA Kim Masland says she was surprised to get the call to take over the natural resources portfolio, but she says she’s up to the challenge.
“It’s gonna be very busy, very, very busy and for me, my top priority always remains at home, that’s why I was elected. That’s why I ran was for the people of Queens County. It certainly is a privilege to bring their voices and perspectives to the table, but it’s gonna be busy.”
Masland was already the minister of emergency management when Premier Tim Houston announced a cabinet shuffle Tuesday that moved Tory Rushton out of the job and Masland in. Two other longtime cabinet ministers were also dropped from the government’s inner circle.
It’s been less than a year since the province created the standalone Department of Emergency Management. And Masland says she’s been doing a lot of work to get that up and running.
“I have a tremendous amount on my plate right now in building this new department and I know how important resource development is to our premier and to our province so it’s a big lift for me but I know we’ll get there together. Obviously I consider it a privilege, especially considering one of my first mentors through politics was John Leefe, and he once held this portfolio.”
She said she didn’t consider turning down the chance to lead a second department.
“I do like a challenge. I have an extremely strong work ethic, as most people know at home. You know, I’ll give it everything I have like I do with everything that I take on in life, while trying to also find a bit of a balance for family and my friends, but this certainly is gonna be a challenge, but I’m up to it.”
Masland would not say whether the direction of Natural Resources will change with her as minister.
Houston says he wants to make Nova Scotia an “energy superpower” and that the cabinet shuffle will help his government “stay focused on energy and resource development”.
Masland is stepping into Natural Resources at a controversial time.
The Toronto golf course developer behind Cabot Cape Breton wants to take over part of West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.
Former minister Rushton confirmed in early October that department officials and the company would “have a conversation” about the protected public land.
Local residents are fighting any attempt to allow the developer to use any part of the park.
Masland had her first briefings as natural resources minister on Thursday. She says it’s too early for her to comment on the issue.
“I’ve been a minister for a hot minute, so I will be briefed this afternoon,” she said.
“I’m coming in with an open mind. I’m going to listen to the department. I will listen to Nova Scotians and my decision will be made from that, but we need to be looking at development of our natural resources and doing them in an environmentally sustainable way. We’ve said no for way too long and it’s time to start looking at how we can ensure that our province is prosperous, and that people can have a good quality of life and earn a good living in our province.”
She says Rushton and she are close, and she’ll rely on him for advice as she learns the Natural Resources portfolio.
“I consider him one of my brothers. Tory has been in this department since the beginning and he has given it everything he has and he is highly respected in the industry. I have some huge, huge shoes, or I’ll say work boots, to fill in minister Rushton, but he is there to support me and to assist me going forward.”
Masland says that even with leading two departments, her focus will still be on Queens County.
“I am a very, very strong constituency MLA. I believe that the MLA needs to be in the constituency and needs to be talking with their constituents so I’m gonna work very very hard to make sure that I maintain that balance. They are my priority above anyone else, but I know I’ve put my entire life to the side to represent the people of Queens and it’s something that humbles me every day and I’m tremendously proud to represent those people, my friends, my neighbors, my family I love Queens County so that’ll be a focus for me to continue.”
Cubicles at Global Empire Corporation’s call centre in Liverpool. File photo: Ed Halverson
Sixty-nine people who used to work for Global Empire Corporation at its Liverpool call centre still haven’t been paid severance after being laid off last March.
After a 14-month investigation, the province ruled in May that the company failed to give proper notice of the layoff under Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code and that the non-unionized workers were entitled to just over five weeks of severance.
It closed its operation in Liverpool shortly after the May 1 ruling.
Debra Lalonde was one of those who lost her job. An official with the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration told her recently that they were unable to collect the severance because Global Empire has no funds or assets in Nova Scotia.
“Come on. Really?” Lalonde says. “How about start protecting employee rights in Nova Scotia so that people living paycheque to paycheque feel protected by the government whose duty is to protect the non-unionized workers that are at risk for abuse from a predatory employer?”
The company says its head office is in Edmonton, so the department asked the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to register the ruling as a judgment of the court.
They then sent that judgement to officials in Alberta to enforce the order on Nova Scotia’s behalf.
Company owner Moe Nashman, however, claims that the company’s assets are in Phoenix, Arizona. So Labour officials say that there are no funds or assets in Nova Scotia or Alberta to collect on.
“No government wants to take accountability when they can’t honour their own legislation, and that’s unfortunate,” Lalonde said.
Lalonde says she and other former employees feel abandoned by the province and the Region of Queens.
Liverpool was the company’s only Canadian location, employing as many as 120 people. It signed a five-year lease with the Region of Queens in December 2021 to move into the municipally owned Business Development Centre.
A Facebook post from the Region of Queens celebrating its lease with Global Empire Corporation.
In late May of this year, a few weeks after the labour board ruling, the municipality hired Global Empire’s former human resources manager.
After Lalonde told two NDP MLAs about the issue at this year’s Labour Day event in Liverpool, Labour critic Paul Wozney raised it in the Nova Scotia legislature with Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Nolan Young.
“Recent labour board cases involving workers at Global Empire Corporation … show that our Labour Standards Code is outdated and makes it hard for workers to collect wages they’ve rightfully earned,” he said. “If this government is acting quickly to help businesses, why is it ignoring workers unprotected from predatory employers?”
Young responded: “Well, I can’t speak about specifics here on the floor for any specific case, we are working hard. We are. Look, we are working hard for workers. We are out there. We are doing things. Um, yeah, leave it there.”
Wozney replied: “I guess governmenting is hard. The fact is, our current legislation means workers are getting robbed. Despite the labour board ruling in their favour, dozens of people are out thousands of dollars in wages, due to legislation that’s been unchanged for five years under this government’s watch. … Workers need protection from wage theft, and their calls have gone ignored. When will this government update one of the weakest Labour Standards Code in the country to ensure workers actually get paid for the work that they’ve done?”
Lalonde says she’s disappointed that Queens MLA Kim Masland didn’t advocate harder for the employees.
“I have reached out to Minister Masland asking what are our next steps? You know, the government failed in protecting our rights. I haven’t heard back from Minister Masland if there are any any further steps to be taken for the 69 of us to be compensated.”
Masland told QCCR recently that she is “certainly concerned for those employees.”
“Those were earnings and they should be paid. My understanding is that this numbered company which is in a foreign land has gone bankrupt. So I’m not really sure how that is going to be retrieved, but do they deserve to be paid? Absolutely. And the company should have stepped up and paid those employees. But they left in the middle of the night.”
She said the government’s hands are tied.
“You can’t expect the province to pay out every business that goes bankrupt and doesn’t pay its employees. That was a private business, it’s not a government entity, there were no government funds that went into that project, so the business has to step up and find the ability to pay.
“My heart breaks for those folks. … We encourage growth, we encourage business to come to our communities. Sadly a government can’t tell a private business how to run their business.”
Lalonde said Masland’s comments are “typical and disappointing.”
“Actually that’s the first I have heard from her. … I think it’s right on par with the government’s lack of accountability for workers’ rights protection.”
She says that former employees are resigned to never being paid. Most workers were making little more than minimum wage, so they can’t afford to hire a lawyer.
Lalonde says she’s owed about $2,800. She’s contacted Nova Scotia’s ombudsman’s office to see if they can help. But she says the workers have little recourse.
“My next job is just to make sure that I don’t let this go without it being noted that our government did not protect our workers’ rights and unfortunately do not want to take any accountability.”
Kim Masland is Nova Scotia’s new minister of natural resources. (Rick Conrad/File)
Queens MLA Kim Masland will be taking on a bigger role in the Nova Scotia government.
Premier Tim Houston announced Tuesday that Masland, who is already minister of emergency management, will add Natural Resources to her duties.
Masland had served as minister of public works and Government House Leader in the Houston government’s first term in office. When they were re-elected last November, she was moved to Emergency Management.
Masland takes over the Department of Natural Resources from Tory Rushton, who was bumped from cabinet in Tuesday’s shuffle.
Houston himself will take over the Energy portfolio from Trevor Boudreau, who is also out of cabinet.
“I want to turn Nova Scotia into an energy superpower,” Houston said in a news release.
“Responsible resource development will power our economy for generations, combat poverty and help Nova Scotians earn more money.”
Becky Druhan is the other Tory MLA out of cabinet. She has been replaced as justice minister by Scott Armstrong.
Masland takes over Natural Resources at a time when the department is under increasing scrutiny for its discussions with Cape Breton golf course developer Cabot Links and Cliffs and its bid for part of West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.
Masland’s cabinet colleague Barbara Adams will also add to her portfolios. She will become minister of opportunities and social development in addition to her roles as deputy premier and minister of seniors and long-term care.
Masland has been a longtime supporter of Houston, backing him in his bid for the party leadership in 2017-18. At an event in Liverpool last week, both Masland and Houston talked about their friendship, and Houston praised Masland for her work as minister and MLA.
Two other Progressive Conservative MLAs will join cabinet for the first time. John A. MacDonald will take over Municipal Affairs, while John White will become minister of housing.
The new cabinet will be sworn in later Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony closed to media.
Queens MLA Kim Masland and Premier Tim Houston take questions at a business luncheon in Liverpool in February 2024. (Rick Conrad file photo)
As hearings continue this week into a proposed expanded fish farm in Queens County, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has softened his stance against aquaculture in Liverpool Bay.
During a question-and-answer session at a business luncheon in Liverpool in February 2024, Houston said he was personally opposed to Kelly Cove Salmon’s plan to expand its operations near Coffin Island, off Beach Meadows Beach, and to add two new sites in Brooklyn and Mersey Point. That would have added 46 more open-net pens and 1.4 million more farmed salmon in Liverpool Bay.
Kelly Cove is a subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture.
“I think some areas are great for aquaculture and I think that some others are maybe not the best place for it,” Houston said last year. “On this specific question on Liverpool Bay, … I personally don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it.”
But this week, Houston told QCCR that he’s more comfortable with the company’s application to add six cages for a 20-pen farm at its Coffin Island site.
“I think at the time the initial proposals were much larger than what is before the board now,” he said in an interview.
“I think there was some acknowledgement of the concerns that I and others had, certainly residents had, and modification, really bringing things down to size. So the board will make their decision now, but I was happy to see some kind of more appropriate sizing being put before the board.”
Queens MLA Kim Masland, however, told QCCR that she is still opposed to the expansion.
“My position’s never changed,” she said in an interview Wednesday. “And I think if you check the record, there is not another MLA that has said that in this province.”
A three-member panel of the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board began hearings on Tuesday in Bridgewater.
Panel chairman Damien Barry told the hearing that on July 18, the board granted Kelly Cove’s request to split the three applications. The company asked the board to proceed with the Coffin Island boundary amendment and leave the applications for two new farms “in abeyance”.
Lawyers are representing six groups at the tribunal, including Kelly Cove Salmon, the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Region of Queens, community group Protect Liverpool Bay, 22 Lobster Fishermen of Liverpool Bay and the Wasoqopa’q First Nation.
Queens County residents opposed to the application were upset that the board didn’t hold hearings in Liverpool.
As the hearing began, Barry said the board tried to find a suitable location in Liverpool for the dates that were set aside. But nothing was available.
When asked on Wednesday, Masland said she was also upset when she found out the hearings were going to be held in Bridgewater.
“I immediately went and met with the minister of fisheries and aquaculture in person, expressed my displeasure and asked for the reasons why and asked him to investigate it. Again, ARB is independent from government, but he did look into it.
“Do I feel that they should have changed the date? Absolutely. It should have been held here in the community and where the fish farm expansion is going, and the minister knows that.”
The hearings are expected to continue until Friday afternoon at the Days Inn in Bridgewater. People can register here to watch a livestream of the proceedings.
Kristopher Snarby, Region of Queens Mayor Scott Christian, Queens MLA Kim Masland, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Olympian Sarah Mitton were among those at the official opening of the Steele Athletic Grounds in Liverpool on Wednesday. (Rick Conrad)
The South Shore’s first turf field and rubberized track officially opened in Liverpool on Wednesday with a new name and lots of community enthusiasm.
The $3.5-million facility at Liverpool Regional High School will be called the Steele Athletic Grounds after a $100,000 donation from Steele Auto Group.
Hundreds of people including Olympian Sarah Mitton, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, Queens MLA Kim Masland and Region of Queens Mayor Scott Christian turned out for the ribbon cutting.
The Queens County Track Society spearheaded the project that began in 2018.
“It will be a place where both youth and adults can train and dream, where teams can compete and where a community can come together to celebrate with sport and achievement,” president Kristopher Snarby told the hundreds of students and others gathered for the event.
“Today’s grand opening is more than just a ribbon cutting, it’s the start of a new chapter for recreation, health and community pride in Queens County and across the South Shore.”
Snarby thanked the many people and organizations in the community that made the track and field a reality. The federal government contributed $1.8 million, the province gave $1.2 million and the Region of Queens granted $250,000, with local donors and sponsors chipping in another $250,000.
Snarby said after the event that thanks to the 10-year agreement with Steele Auto Group, the society has about $1,000 left over to put toward future improvements like seating and security cameras.
“Most people are bringing their own chairs, but we would like to have some seating, that’s probably the next thing. The other thing are security cameras, that’s probably the top priority. We need to get security cameras up and we’re putting things in place to get that done.”
In addition to the all-weather track and soccer field, the fully lighted facility also features an area for the long and triple jumps. A new shot put circle and area have also been installed next to the high school. The complex is open to everybody in the community.
“It’s getting a lot of use, the soccer kids are loving the field,” Snarby said. “Track doesn’t start until the spring, so the track hasn’t had like a lot of training but the cross-country team does use it to train as well and just the general public using it for walking and … to have some recreation.”
Masland said she was overwhelmed to see the facility completed and open.
“To actually stand on this field today, to see the kids out there really enjoying it, just an amazing day for me,” she said in an interview. “It’s been something that’s been very close to my heart since becoming elected in 2017. Glad I could be part of the project and work with such amazing dedicated folks with the society. This is a game changer for our athletes, for our community and for our students.”
Mitton is a champion shot putter who was a high school student in Liverpool more than 10 years ago. She said the state-of-the-art facility will help young athletes excel.
Before it opened, local track and field athletes had to leave the community to train or use the bus loop around the school.
“This is such an incredible thing for the kids that go to school in this area,” Mitton told QCCR.
“Anyone in the community can use this, whether it’s for just a healthy active lifestyle, a project like this can really change the lives of many people in the community. … I learned a lot not having a facility like this, but I think like this would have eliminated a lot of barriers for me. I drove to and from Bridgewater three or four times a week as a kid once I started joining a club and to have something like this here I think would have been a lot easier and maybe my progress could have been a little bit faster.
“But to have something like this, if you’re interested in throwing shot put, you can just come up and do it whenever you want like in the evenings, it just opens the door for kids to have the same opportunities other athletes and kids have in other communities on the South Shore and around Nova Scotia.”
The facility is operated by the Queens County Track Society and maintained by the South Shore Regional Centre for Education.
The society is selling annual memberships of $25 which entitle people to use the track whenever it’s available. More information can be found on the Liverpool community track and field Facebook page.
Thomas Raddall Provincial Park near Port Joli, Queens County, is one of 16 provincial parks getting upgrades. (Nova Scotia Provincial Parks)
The Nova Scotia government is committing $100,000 for upgrades to Thomas Raddall Provincial Park in Port Joli.
The money will help improve the park’s entrance building and water system, according to a news release from the governing Progressive Conservatives.
“We’re making smart upgrades that protect these beautiful spaces and make them easier and more enjoyable to access,” Queens MLA Kim Masland said in the release.
The work at Thomas Raddall is part of the province’s $13.8-million capital plan to improve infrastructure at 16 provincial parks, including water and sewer system upgrades at camping parks, washroom improvements, trail enhancements and parking lot redevelopments, according to the release.
More than 1 million people visited provincial parks in 2024.
Matt Smith of North Queens Active Living describes the new track and soccer field project at North Queens Community School in Caledonia to Queens MLA Kim Masland. (Rick Conrad)
Supporters of a long-awaited new soccer field and track at North Queens Community School in Caledonia cleared the final hurdle on Friday afternoon as Queens MLA Kim Masland announced the Nova Scotia government’s grant of $800,000 toward the $1.1 million project.
The Region of Queens had earlier committed $250,000 and a local resident donated land worth $7,500 to expand the field.
“This is absolutely a change maker for our students and our community,” Masland said in an interview after the announcement at the school.
“Our students will now have the opportunity to train at home, to be able to compete in sports that they’ve never been able to compete in before because they didn’t have the place to train. This is about investing in rural communities, this is about investing in our youth, and I’m just so excited about this project.”
The 325-metre gravel track and regulation-sized natural soccer field will mean that the 235 students from pre-Primary to Grade 12 will be able to stay in their community to train and compete. Now, students must travel to Bridgewater or Liverpool or even farther away to Mahone Bay to participate in outdoor school sports.
A concept drawing of the new soccer field and track at North Queens Community School. (North Queens Active Living)
It will also mean that the school will have a place to hold outdoor physical education classes again. As part of the project, its outdoor classroom will also be freshened up, along with a new canopy built by students in the school’s high school construction trades program.
Jake Flemming will be entering Grade 7 at the school in September. He’s on the volleyball and basketball teams and he throws javelin. He said he’s looking forward to using the new facility.
“I think it’s pretty good because hopefully it will help our stuff because we had to kind of practise inside a few times,” he said.
Principal Cindy Arsenault said it’s not safe for kids to use the field because it’s in such bad shape. It’s especially treacherous after it rains because it doesn’t drain properly, and years of damage from ATVs using the field have left holes in the turf.
“So you end up with giant mucky puddles all over, and plus there’s holes because ATVs are here so we have kids stepping in the water and twisting their ankle or falling,” she told QCCR on Friday afternoon.
She said the new fenced facility will get more kids engaged in school sports, which will help lower absenteeism.
“It allows us to bring in some additional sports and some additional things that our kids have been asking for. We could do rugby and some other similar sports, bring back soccer. It means an opportunity not even during school but off school (hours) for families to come and play here and do picnics and we can now start hosting things instead of us driving all the time.
“So for our kids it’s a benefit, they can be involved where they couldn’t before. Now they can come and be on their home field and be participating in sports.”
The new field and track aren’t just for the school to use, it will also be available for the whole community.
Alyssa Short, president of the North Queens Active Living Society, said she and other group members have worked for the past six years to make the new field a reality, though the need for a new field and track goes back decades.
“I have young children here and I know that the impact that it’s going to have on their lives is going to be incredible,” she said, “and I can see for all of their friends growing up with access to something like this it’s going to make such a big difference in their lives and I know for the community at large, there are so many people excited about this and who are going to take full advantage of this and it’s going to have a huge impact.”
Short expects work to begin this summer. She said she hopes the track and soccer field will be ready by the spring.
With a new rubberized track and artificial turf soccer field set to open soon at Liverpool Regional High School, Queens County athletes and community members will soon have two new facilities.
Masland said that will help young athletes from the area follow in the footsteps of Queens County Olympians like Jenna Martin and Sarah Mitton.
“We’re developing future athletes. If we think about Liverpool, we think about our Sarah; if we think about North Queens, we think about our Jenna. And there’s more Sarahs and there’s more Jennas and we have to make sure we have the place for them to grow and to train.”
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.
Region of Queens Coun. Stewart Jenkins, Queens MLA Kim Masland and Greenfield and District Fire Chief Moyal Conrad at a funding announcement Monday about improvements at the fire hall. (Rick Conrad)
The Greenfield and District Fire Department will get much-needed improvements to its fire hall, with $600,000 in provincial funding announced Monday by Queens MLA and Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland.
“This funding will help ensure that the people who protect this area have the space and the infrastructure that they need,” Masland said at an event at the hall.
The support was part of almost $800,000 Masland announced for projects in Queens County at the Greenfield fire hall.
The Greenfield department is planning a $1.1- to $1.3-million renovation and expansion to its fire hall and emergency bays.
The work will ensure that the bays are the correct size for modern fire trucks. It will also create a dedicated bay for its rescue truck. Now, firefighters have to spend extra time driving a fire truck out of the bay to access the rescue truck.
The whole building is also getting a facelift, with new steel siding and other exterior improvements.
Renovations to the fire hall will make it even more useful as a community hall and a registered comfort centre.
Along with additional, expanded and accessible washrooms and separate shower rooms, the kitchen is getting a major facelift. At the fire hall’s popular fundraising breakfasts, volunteers can serve up to 300 people. With a new commercial kitchen, they will be able to serve more than 100 people an hour.
Chief Moyal Conrad told QCCR it will be the first time in 35 years that the fire hall has had significant work done.
“This will mean for us as a fire department it’s going to make my firemen safer, be able to respond faster and hopefully put a little more pride into their community with a new structure and all this gear potentially we could get out of this grant.”
The provincial contribution is on top of $200,000 from the Region of Queens Municipality and about $125,000 from the fire department’s own fundraising efforts.
Conrad said the department will raise the rest of the money.
Stewart Jenkins, a local business owner and municipal councillor for the area, is acting as the project manager for the hall overhaul.
He said the work will begin in a couple of weeks and be mostly finished by Christmas and likely wrapped up by April.
Jenkins said the work is vital to ensure the fire hall can continue to support the community.
“It’s an important factor that we get the trucks out of the bays faster and especially the specific trucks that need to go can go immediately. And as far as the hall imporvements, it’s to become a centre for people if they need it. If there are power outages or whatnot, they can stay close to home and still get fed and showered and taken care of.”
Masland also announced $187,143.35 in funding from the province on Monday for groups maintaining trails in Queens.
The Queens Rails to Trails Association will get $144,345 for work on the Hunts Point Trail, including brushing, ditching, resurfacing and culvert replacement. The group will also get a total of $25,034 in an annual maintenance grant to look after various trails in Queens.
The Queens County ATV Association is receiving $17,763.75 for development of the new Deep Brook Trail, which will stretch from Highway 8 to River Road in Milton.
Queens MLA Kim Masland announced funding for six groups in Queens County on Thursday. (Rick Conrad / File photo)
Businesses and community groups in Queens County will get almost $80,000 in provincial funding.
Queens MLA Kim Masland announced the funding on Thursday from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage for six different organizations.
The funding ranges from $25,834 to Rosefinch Mercantile in Port Medway for an accessible path and wheelchair lift to $4,250 to Mersey River Chalets in Caledonia for upgrades to the roll-in shower.
“These investments are making Queens a more accessible and vibrant place to connect,” Queens MLA Kim Masland said in a news release.
“By investing in restorations and accessibility infrastructure, we’re ensuring our community spaces are inclusive and full of life, bringing people together across our region.”
The projects are supported by a series of programs from the department, which provide grants to improve accessibility, upgrade community infrastructure and promote recreation.
Here’s how the $78,624 in funding was divided among the groups:
Rosefinch Creative Inc., Port Medway: $25,834 for an accessible path and wheelchair lift.
Region of Queens Municipality: $25,000 for accessible railings and upgrades to the compressor panel and sound system at Queens Place Emera Centre.
Little Red South West School House Society, South West Port Mouton: $12,540 for the restoration of the historic schoolhouse.
Pleasant River Community Hall Society: $6,000 for heat pumps, the stage, and replacing a ramp.
North Queens Board of Trade, Caledonia: $5,000 for a new entry to Caledonia Park.
Mersey River Chalets, Caledonia: $4,250 for upgrades to the roll-in shower.
Sherman Nunes of Liverpool watches on Saturday as his kids Luke and Lisa play in the new children’s area of the Thomas H. Raddall Library. (Rick Conrad)
The Thomas H. Raddall Library officially opened its doors on Saturday, as about 70 people helped usher in a new chapter for the Liverpool branch.
The library has been open for about six weeks in its new interim home at 54 Harley Umphrey Dr. People were impressed with the new digs, with some hoping the library stays where it is, with others wishing for a permanent location closer to downtown.
The event on Saturday featured local and provincial politicians, as well as many library staff.
The Region of Queens budgeted up to $1.26 million on renovations to the space in the municipally owned Liverpool Business Development Centre off White Point Road. The library had to leave the Rossignol Cultural Centre in downtown Liverpool by Dec. 31 because the building’s owner Sherman Hines was selling the building.
Tom Raddall and his family have allowed South Shore Public Libraries to continue to use the famed Nova Scotia author’s name on the Liverpool branch for another five years.
Raddall said he’s happy the library is in a better, newer space.
“Hopefully, it’s a step in the right direction,” he told QCCR. “Certainly it’s in a far better space than it was before. The location has been a controversial one over the years. But this library needed to be in a newer spot and this will suit the purpose until another one is built in the appropriate location.”
Many residents were concerned that the new location isn’t easy to walk to, with no sidewalks and limited lighting.
Region of Queens Mayor Scott Christian said that he’s excited about the new space, with its expanded program rooms, commercial kitchen and children’s section.
“The plans are to make this space as great as we can make it. And we need to, as a community and as a council, figure out what makes sense in terms of either bringing a future library closer to town or bringing town closer to this library
Christian said it’s too early to say what the future holds for a more permanent location. But he said the region has to work out its priorities for the next few years, and address whether Liverpool needs a new, multipurpose community centre which could include meeting space, a gymnasium and the library.
“I think the focus right now, both for the folks at South Shore (Public) Libraries and also for the Region of Queens staff and the work that they’ve done to make the built environment really work, is to figure out how, for now, to make this the best space that we can make it.
“And the space is great in there, so it’s what do we need to do with the surrounding environment to remove barriers, … make sure that users who want to be accessing the space are provided that opportunity.”
Queens MLA Kim Masland said she would support a request for provincial funding for a new space for the library. But she said Saturday that she was impressed with its interim location.
“I think today we see as many people that are here, lots of smiling faces, lots of people really excited about this. This is also an interim facility here for now and so hopefully we’ll see a new library built in town, that would certainly be my wish someday. But we’re here for now and this is certainly a great interim facility.”
Lin Ireland of Liverpool was one of the many local library lovers taking it all in on Saturday.
“I think this is great,” she said. “It’s going to be used. And people complain about the location but I don’t think it’s all that far out. … I’m happy with it right where it is. A lot of money went into building this and why not leave it here?”
Susan McGibbon of Liverpool said her gardening club had their first meeting in the new branch a couple of weeks ago, and turnout was double their usual attendance. While she likes the new larger, brighter space, she hopes the region can build a new space in a more central location.
“I don’t think there was another option, and I think they’ve done a good job making it a good option,” McGibbon said.
“Do I think we need another location that’s part of a community hub? Yes, absolutely. And I think a new library committee getting struck is going to happen very soon, so that work can get going.”
Sherman Nunes of Liverpool was at the library on Saturday with his four-year-old Lisa and his two-year-old Luke, as they played in the new children’s area.
“It’s beautiful, it’s spacious, it has a lot of light. I’ve been to the previous library. This is a step up. It’s very nice.
“We like to take the kids out, and previously we did not have an indoor space around here in Liverpool, where we could take them out for a day or something, so we had to drive up to Bridgewater. But I think with this new addition, it would be nice to get them over here every weekend, especially so that they can run around, read some books, play with the toys. As you can see, they’re already occupied.”
The Thomas H. Raddall Library is open six days a week and closed on Mondays. Queens County Transit offers free rides to and from the library. That service runs every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from the market shelter beside Hell Bay Brewing.
Chris Wolfe, chief of the North Queens Fire Association, speaks at a public meeting on Monday evening. (Rick Conrad)
When Mya Uhlman’s father needed medical help last August, her mother called 911 and expected her local fire department to respond.
They were still waiting 20 minutes later, so Uhlman’s mother called again. The 911 dispatcher told her the North Queens Fire Department was on its way. Uhlman’s parents live less than 10 minutes from the fire hall in West Caledonia.
“And they never, ever showed up,” Uhlman told QCCR. “She ended up calling a relative that lived close by to be with her because she was by herself. … So when I inquired about it, I was told (North Queens) were never paged.
“The ambulance did arrive eventually. It was around 40 minutes before the ambulance did arrive. My father is OK, but it was serious at the time.
“When my mother explicity asked for the North Queens Fire Department, they should have automatically been dispatched with no questions asked.”
Uhlman’s story and others were why Chief Chris Wolfe called a public meeting at the North Queens fire hall in Caledonia on Monday night.
About 100 residents, firefighters and other first responders from as far away as Yarmouth met to air their concerns about their local fire departments not being called to medical emergencies.
Chief Wolfe sounded the alarm on Facebook in February after another resident called 911 and the dispatcher didn’t notify Wolfe’s department. Instead, that person was still waiting for an ambulance when Wolfe’s deputy chief found out about it and had 911 page the fire department.
Volunteer firefighters around Nova Scotia take medical first responder training. The type of call they can respond to depends on the level their department signs up for. North Queens has 18 people trained to respond to almost any level of medical call.
Wolfe said that 111 of 198 of their calls last year were medical emergencies.
“My mandate is not to give up until we find a solution to this problem of not being paged for certain calls within our communities, because North Queens residents depend on us.”
He contacted Queens MLA Kim Masland to help organize the meeting with officials from the Department of Health and Wellness, Emergency Health Services, and Emergency Medical Care, which has the contract to operate ambulance and 911 service in Nova Scotia.
Masland, who is also the minister of emergency management, told those at the meeting to be frank with their concerns. And she also told people to continue to contact her and other MLAs.
“I want to make sure that we land where we need to land because what has been happening is not acceptable.”
Representatives from EHS and Emergency Medical Care explained how the system works and the challenges in deploying the right resources in a timely way.
But people like Mya Uhlman wanted to know why their local fire departments wouldn’t be told about a call, especially if the person in distress requested it. A first responder with North Queens also demanded to know why dispatchers would deny that request.
Before officials could answer his question, first responders from the Liverpool, Pubnico and Woods Harbour fire departments also spoke up and said the same thing is happening in their areas.
Jeff Fraser, senior executive director of the emergency health services branch with Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness, said dispatchers have to follow certain models.
“I’m not so sure we should be denying that. I actually didn’t realize that was happening in that manner.”
Gordon Peckham, who is the vice-president of operations with EMC, said he didn’t know why that’s happening, but that it shouldn’t.
After the meeting, Uhlman said she hopes officials change how and when they notify local fire departments.
“In a way it made me feel a little better to know it wasn’t only us. But at the same time, it really made me feel awful that this is happening in so many places and so many particularly rural community members are not getting the services they need in a timely fashion.”
Masland said she believes some progress was made at the meeting.
“There were things that were said here tonight that I could see they were raising the eyebrows of people here from EHS. And I think it’s important whenever you have communication that’s when you can start to resolve issues, and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
Chief Wolfe told QCCR that provincial officials promised to work on some of the issues raised and return in six to eight weeks for another public meeting.
“The community did well supporting us, showing up. They voiced their concerns. Most of the concerns voiced we were aware of. I’m hoping that EMC will take it seriously and we’ll get things resolved.
“You could see the reactions with some of the public talking there that there were things going on that they weren’t even aware of. And I believe that within the next day or two, they’ll be taking those things into consideration and addressing them right away.”
The North Queens Fire Association bought a new rescue truck in December 2023 to respond to medical emergencies and other calls. (North Queens Fire Association Facebook page)
The fire chief in North Queens wants answers about why his department isn’t being called to more medical emergencies in the community.
Chris Wolfe, who leads the volunteer-run North Queens Fire Association in Caledonia, says he’s worried that residents aren’t getting the help they need and someone could die because of it.
“We’re supposed to get called for pretty well anything that the ambulance will come out to North Queens for and that hasn’t been the case here lately,” he told QCCR.
“My concern is that the community’s not getting the help that they need when they need help the most. You take an ambulance takes an hour basically get to North Queens and even longer if you’re in a storm, so potentially somebody could be lying there for an hour without medical help.”
That’s why Wolfe has organized a public meeting on March 3 at 7 p.m. at the North Queens Fire Hall in Caledonia at 9793 Highway 8.
He’s invited officials from Emergency Medical Care and Emergency Health Services, as well as Queens MLA Kim Masland, who is also the minister of emergency management, and Health Minister Michelle Thompson. Wolfe is also encouraging residents to attend.
Wolfe expressed his frustration in a recent Facebook post. He also posted last August asking residents to contact him if they’ve called 911 in the past expecting the fire department to respond.
A post on the North Queens Fire Association Facebook page from Chief Chris Wolfe.
“I’ve previously had meetings with EMC and EHS and we’ve talked about it and I thought things were going to get straightened out but obviously they didn’t and we did have one particular call there the night before I posted that and the individual was lying outside in the snow and they weren’t going to page the fire department for it.
“We ended up going over on our own terms and dealing with it till EHS arrived so that was my pet peeve that sent me to put the post on Facebook.”
Emergency Health Services contracts out ambulance and paramedic service in Nova Scotia to Emergency Medical Care, which is owned by Medavie Blue Cross. EMC also operates the province’s 911 call centre.
EMC officials declined an interview request. A spokesman said in an emailed statement that they “are committed to continuing the conversation to address” the fire department’s concerns.
Wolfe said 18 of the first responders at his department are certified under the Medical First Response Program, which trains people to care for someone who is injured. He said they responded to 111 medical calls last year, which account for between 65 and 75 per cent of what they do.
But he said they could potentially respond to more calls and more quickly than EHS, if only they knew about them.
It’s a situation that rural fire departments are dealing with around the province, he says.
“When you become an MFR agency you choose what level of response you want to be and where we’re so far from a hospital or anything like that we choose to be non-urgent and that means that we give anybody the help that needs it for any type of scenario.”
He says he’s not looking for a quick fix, but he hopes the meeting helps.
“I don’t expect everybody to come (to the meeting) with answers. It’s not going to be fixed overnight.
“The purpose of the March 3rd meeting would be to get everybody there, address what the problems are, take everybody’s concerns from the public, put that all together and then go back to the drawing board and say, ‘Look we know this is what’s wrong, what options do we have to fix this, how can the volunteer fire service and MFRs help us out,’ and then maybe have another public meeting maybe three to four weeks later and come back to the drawing board and tell people what was found out and how things are going to be addressed.
“The more people that show up, the better it will be. And hopefully we can get things addressed and make things better for all of Nova Scotia.”
Kim Masland was re-elected Tuesday as MLA for Queens in Nova Scotia’s provincial election. (Rick Conrad)
UPDATED Nov. 27, 4 p.m.
It’s a threepeat for Kim Masland, who will once again represent the riding of Queens in the Nova Scotia legislature.
The Liverpool resident easily won re-election on Tuesday night. It’s her third win in a row.
Masland told QCCR on Tuesday night that she doesn’t take any election for granted.
“It’s fabulous, I’m just so grateful to the voters of Queens who have put their trust in me to represent them again in the Nova Scotia legislature,” she said.
“I do not take the position of MLA lightly. I know it comes with great responsibility and I’m just absolutely humbled and consider myself very blessed to once again represent the people of Queens. And I will keep working hard for us.”
The former Public Works minister and government House leader will again be part of a Progressive Conservative majority government.
Masland garnered 79.93 per cent of the vote. Turnout in Queens was 46.91 per cent.
In the 2021 election, Masland won the riding with 70.4 per cent of the vote. Turnout in 2021 was 57.8 per cent.
Liberal Cathy De Rome of Beach Meadows was in second, while the NDP’s Brian Skabar was in third.
De Rome told QCCR on Wednesday that she wasn’t surprised by Masland’s win and she wishes her well.
“I was so happy to be able to talk to so many people and the response I received and the encouragement was very positive. Unfortunately, all the words of encouragement did not translate into more votes. … And hey, we knew it was an uphill battle from the get-go. We were disappointed but yet we’re pleased with what we did.”
Skabar could not be reached for comment.
The Progressive Conservatives under leader Tim Houston won their second majority government with 43 seats. The NDP will form the official Opposition with nine seats, while the Liberals held onto two.
Masland said she knocked on more than 6,000 doors and logged more 880,000 steps during the campaign.
She credited her team with working hard to put her back in the legislature.
“I had an absolutely amazing team behind me here in Queens County. My campaign manager is Grant Webber, he’s been with me since the beginning.
“And you can’t win an election campaign by yourself. It takes hard work, it takes people believing in you. The people on my team they put their lives on hold to be part of this team for the benefit of Queens County, their own community. I’m very grateful for them and really glad that I can spend this evening celebrating with my team and my family.”
She said the late John Leefe, who was a longtime PC MLA for Queens and a former mayor of the Region of Queens, gave her advice that has stuck with her.
“As my dear friend and mentor John Leefe always said to me, you run a campaign as if you’re one vote behind. And that is how we have run this campaign. We never give up. We did not stop until the polls closed tonight, and I’m just very, very pleased with the campaign that we’ve run here.”
Turnout across the province appears to be lower than in 2021. Elections Nova Scotia hasn’t released official numbers yet, but it appears that turnout was around 45 per cent, compared to 55.1 per cent in 2021.
Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday in Nova Scotia’s provincial election. (Rick Conrad)
UPDATED NOV. 26, 10:10 a.m.
Election Day is Tuesday in Nova Scotia, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
But many Nova Scotians have already voted, though early numbers are down from the 2021 election.
According to Elections Nova Scotia, 160,698 people have voted in early, advance and community polls at returning offices around the province. That also includes write-in ballots.
In the 2021 provincial election, 176,793 votes were cast early. But in 2017, that number was 118,623.
As of Sunday, there were 788,427 registered voters in Nova Scotia.
According to Elections Nova Scotia, 1,950 of 9,270 eligible voters have cast ballots in early voting in Queens.
Election officials did not mail out individual voter information cards this year because of concerns about the impending Canada Post strike.
Naomi Shelton is the spokesperson for Elections Nova Scotia.
She said voter cards would have been mailed out beginning Nov. 14. Postal workers hit the picket lines on Nov. 15.
“So we wanted to make sure we had one clear path, one clear message for voters,” Shelton said in an interview. “So instead we put together a voter awareness campaign. So that is a multimedia campaign that has radio ads, a variety of traditional print mediums as well as social ads.”
Three people are running in the riding of Queens. Incumbent PC MLA Kim Masland is trying to win her third election in a row. She’s being challenged by Liberal Cathy De Rome and New Democrat Brian Skabar.
If you’re not sure where to vote in your community, you can use the Where Do I Vote tool on the Elections Nova Scotia homepage or call 1-800-565-1504. Or you can vote at the Queens returning office in the post office building on Market Street.
Liberal Cathy De Rome, PC incumbent Kim Masland and New Democrat Brian Skabar are running in Queens in the Nova Scotia election. (Rick Conrad, Nova Scotia NDP)
The two people hoping to unseat popular MLA Kim Masland in Queens admit it’s an uphill battle, but they say they’ve been hearing good things from voters.
Cathy De Rome is running for the Liberals and Brian Skabar is trying to take the seat back for the NDP in Tuesday’s provincial election.
Masland is trying for a repeat in a riding she captured in 2021 for the Progressive Conservatives with 70 per cent of the vote. Before that, the riding was Queens-Shelburne, which Masland won in 2017 with almost 44 per cent of the vote.
Election Day is Tues., Nov. 26. But Queens County residents can vote early at the returning office on Market Street in Liverpool or at the North Queens Fire Hall in Caledonia.
When the election was called on Oct. 27, the Tories had 34 seats, the Liberals had 14, the NDP had 6 and there was one independent.
De Rome lives in Beach Meadows and is a retired elementary school teacher. She’s also the president of the Queens Liberal association. Skabar is originally from Amherst, but now lives near Caledonia. He is a retired social worker and a former NDP MLA for Cumberland North.
De Rome and Skabar say that they know it’s going to be tough to defeat Masland. But they say it’s important to run.
“Our democracy is only as strong as the people who participate in it,” De Rome said in a recent interview. “And I want people to become involved and find out what the issues are and how they can work at participating and hopefully making things better.
“Kim is very popular and she has been doing it a long time. But just maybe it’s time for a change.”
Skabar says he’s knocked on 40 to 50 doors a day during the campaign. And even though he’s new to the area, he says he’s been getting positive feedback.
“To my surprise, only having been here for two years, either people in Queens County are really, really kind, 0r I might have half a chance,” he said in an interview.
“Three out of five doors that I knock one are supportive of New Democrats. Our incumbent here is quite popular individually but I don’t think people are really crazy about Tim Houston.”
Masland could not be reached for an interview. But in a video posted on her Facebook page, she said she’s knocked on more than 5,000 doors in the campaign.
She also posted that the Houston government has hired more doctors, helped build more affordable housing, and made record investments in road and bridge infrastructure.
De Rome says that while many voters say they’re not happy with the state of health care, housing and affordability, they haven’t asked her much about she or the Liberals plan to address it.
“People will complain. When the other day I said to a man, ‘Do you have any questions?’ He said no. And so I said, ‘Are you happy with things?’ ‘Not really’. So it just didn’t quite make sense.”
De Rome points to the Liberal plan to build more homes using the co-operative housing model, open more collaborative care clinics around the province, and to forgive part of certain health-care workers’ student loans for up to five years.
“We are getting more doctors, it seems, but people are still having long waits in emergency. … To sit in emergency for nine-plus hours to have a prescription renewed is ridiculous.”
The NDP had been a force in the traditionally Conservative riding of Queens from 2006 to 2013. Sterling Belliveau hung on to the seat for the party in 2013 when it was changed to Queens-Shelburne.
But the NDP haven’t had much of a presence since Belliveau retired before the 2017 election.
Skabar says he’s hearing from voters who are upset about Premier Tim Houston’s early election call. He says voters have told him they like some parts of the PC plan. But they wonder why the party needed an election to do that.
Skabar adds that Masland has done a good job getting roadwork done in Queens County.
“I only just met Kim last week at the community dinner here in Caledonia. And really, what’s not to like? Actually, she’s a good member. But the government that she represents is not doing a good job for Nova Scotia.”
The Liberals’ De Rome says that no matter which party people support, she hopes they get out and vote.
“I would consider it an honour if they chose to elect me. I’ve never thought of doing this, but I am enjoying it. People have been very receptive when I’ve talked to them. … I hope people take the chance to get out and vote. It’s important. Go out and vote, put your X in the spot where you think would do the most good.”
You can vote early at the returning office in your area until 8 p.m. on Friday or until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Monday.
If you don’t know where your Election Day voting location is, you can use the Where do I Vote tool on the Elections Nova Scotia website at electionsnovascotia.ca or call 1-800-565-1504. Polls will be open on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nova Scotia Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland announces cell service upgrades on Wednesday in Greenfield with Service Nova Scotia Minister Colton LeBlanc. (Rick Conrad)
It’s going to take a couple of years, but residents of Greenfield are finally getting cell service.
The Nova Scotia government is building 27 new telecommunication towers in unserved areas around the province at a cost of $18.6 million.
Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland made the announcement on Wednesday at the Greenfield Fire Hall in north Queens.
She was joined by Colton LeBlanc, minister of Service Nova Scotia, municipal politicians and representatives from Build Nova Scotia and Rogers.
Masland said reliable cell service is a necessity and a matter of safety.
“We are adding to what is already the largest investment ever in cellular infrastructure by a provincial government. We are investing an additional $18.6 million to build 27 new provincially owned telecommunication towers.”
Last October, the province launched the $47.3-million Cellular for Nova Scotia Program. The province also announced $3.3 million last year to build four trunked mobile radio towers, which first responders use for emergency communication. The new funding brings the total investment to $69.2 million.
The province is also partnering with Rogers to upgrade infrastructure at 27 existing sites and connect them to the Rogers network.
“This will significantly improve connectivity for Nova Scotians over the next two years,” Masland said. “It’s what our province needs to keep pace with technology and population growth while improving safety in rural communities.”
The overall program is expected to connect more than 12,000 unserved civic addresses, which represents about 62 per cent of the more than 20,000 identified in a 2022 Cell Gap Study. It will also connect 562 kilometres of unserved primary roadways, or 56 per cent of the 1,010 kilometres of the unserved roadways.
The first four towers will be up by spring 2025, with the remaining new and upgraded sites ready between summer 2025 and spring 2027.
Some areas of the province, like Greenfield, are cellular dead zones. Residents and businesses have to rely on landlines or Wi-Fi calling.
The Greenfield work is expected to be completed by fall of 2026.
Fire Chief Moyal Conrad called it a “game changer” for rural fire departments.
“The public is going to be so much more protected with cell service in rural areas and with us being able to do our job easier and better,” he told reporters after the announcement.
Conrad said improvements to the mobile trunked radio network will also help departments like his serve their communities better.
“That trunk radio that’s what we do all our communications on. … All vital information goes across that. The Nova Scotia government is giving us (volunteer fire departments) all new radios this year, that’s another $100 million they’re sticking out there for us.
“This is very, very, very good news.”
Conrad said the lack of reliable cell service also affects recruitment efforts, at a time when it’s tough enough for rural departments to find volunteers.
“If you signed up today to be a fireman and you never got to a call, you’re not going to be very interested in coming. So the cell service, we’ll be able to put out more information. People will be able to know when there’s a call and they’re going to be able to respond.”
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman said the municipality had been putting money aside in a special reserve fund to build their own tower for Greenfield, or to try to partner with the neighbouring Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.
“This is absolutely amazing, not only for Queens but for all rural counties, all rural places that do not have cell coverage which is so very, very vital.”
Masland told reporters that it’s taken a while to address lack of cell service in some areas because of the difficulty in doing the work in many rural areas of the province. She likened it to climbing Mount Everest.
“This is just the beginning. We’re working concurrently, not waiting to make sure that we can keep climbing. This is going to take time. We are finally a government that has put its teeth into this problem and we’re going to solve it.
“We’ll get these 27 up and like I said, we’re not stopping, we’re going to continue to climb to the top and we’re going to make sure that Nova Scotians have the cellular service they deserve.”
The 27 new towers will be added to the more than 60 the province already owns. Under its agreement with Rogers, the government is pitching in 80 per cent of the cost, while Rogers will pick up the remaining 20 per cent or about $3.7 million.
The ultimate goal is to have 99 per cent coverage for basic voice call service and up to 85 per cent coverage for high-definition service for things like high-quality audio or video, internet browsing, email and streaming.
Masland said the province will also be applying to the federal government for help with some of the cost.
The South Shore Open Doors Association will receive $25,000 in provincial funding to help those who are housing insecure.
The South Shore Open Doors Association will receive $25,000 from the Nova Scotia government to help people in Queens and Lunenburg counties in precarious housing situations.
It’s part of a total of $500,000 in one-time funding announced this week for community groups across the province.
“Our government continues to invest in initiatives that support vulnerable Nova Scotians,” Queens MLA Kim Masland said in a news release.
“This funding is another step in assisting our residents who require safe and affordable housing.”
The money will be used to assist with costs such as rental arrears, overdue power bills and other expenses that could affect someone’s ability to get or maintain housing, according to the release.
People will also be directed to other supports and services to help in the long term.
Road crews were working on the Mount Pleasant Road repaving on Thursday in Brooklyn. (Rick Conrad)
It’s that time of year again. The sounds of trucks and heavy machinery along with the smells of freshly laid asphalt will be popping up around Queens County as road work season gets underway.
Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland said Thursday that more than $20 million is being spent this summer and fall on sprucing up roads and bridges around the county.
It’s part of the $583 million the government is setting aside for road and bridge work around the province this year.
“We have been very successful in advocating for some roads. But also, we have some very poor quality roads here,” Masland said.
“We are certainly getting our fair share (of work) this year. It seems like there’s never enough money to do all of the road work. But I certainly feel as MLA and certainly as minister that we’re playing catchup on some of these roads.”
Masland said that many roads in Queens County appeared to have been neglected when the Tim Houston government took over in 2021.
“I’m really happy with the work we’ve been able to do since becoming government.”
Some of that work has already begun. The 1.6-kilometre stretch of Mount Pleasant Road in Brooklyn is being repaved. That counts for about $1 million.
“That’s needed some work for a while. That’s one of the roads I really advocated for,” Masland says.
Queens MLA Kim Masland. (Rick Conrad photo)
About $8 million will be spent on ongoing work to replace the Pleasant River Bridge in North Queens.
And the long-rumoured repaving project for the Brooklyn Shore Road is slated to begin this summer, Masland says. That’s 5.5 kilometres at a cost of about $3 million from Brooklyn Wharf Road to Eastern Shore Road.
Known locally as the “shore road”, it’s the scenic route to the popular Beach Meadows Beach.
“That will be done this summer. Very, very bad road. When you drive that, you’re literally having to go over on the opposite side of the road.
“With the Brooklyn Shore Road, it has deteriorated very badly and it’s a safety issue now, so that’s why they have brought that forward as a candidate to be repaved.”
Masland says officials from her department are always driving and inspecting roads and bridges in their areas. She says that as MLA and as minister, she also nominates projects after hearing from constituents.
“The public are the ones that really drive concerns. I actually go drive many of these roads myself. If somebody calls me with a complaint about a road, I go and drive that road myself.”
Masland said the gravel road work budget this year is about $55 million, more than double what it was in 2021. And the province has also increased the bridge rehabilitation budget to $60 million. And her department is devoting $22 million toward the rural impact mitigation fund, which handles things like pavement patching and brush cutting.
“So it shows you the costs of doing these projects. They are not cheap. So to try to manage people’s expectations is certainly very difficult. Everybody’s road that they travel on is the most important. And that’s what makes it very difficult. … If I could pave everyone’s road, I would certainly pave everyone’s road because i understand that the road you travel on is the one that’s important to you.
“But there’s just not enough money to pave every road.”
She said she’s also happy to see the ongoing Highway 103 twinning project, which now reaches from Halifax to Hubbards.
“Many people from Queens certainly travel the 103 to Halifax for medical appointments, school. It just blows my mind the amount of close collisions that almost happen every day. Twinning does save lives. It is costly but you can’t put a price on a life. “
Masland says that although maintaining roads and bridges is expensive, she’s proud of the work her department is doing.
“I’m just really glad where we are now. The team’s doing great work. Our maintenance supervisor is out there talking to people, thinking outside the box on how to resolve issues and to try to get work elevated, and Queens County should be very proud of that.”
List of road and bridge projects in Queens County this summer and fall:
Brooklyn Shore Road, from Brooklyn Wharf Road to Eastern Shore Road
Mount Pleasant Road, from Trunk 3 to Brooklyn Shore Road
Reinstating two segments of retaining wall along Shore Road
Old Port Mouton Road: from Highway 103 Exit 20A to end of service
Old Westfield Road: from Trunk 8 easterly
Carters Beach Road and parking lot upgrades
East Port L’Hebert road repaving
Albany New Road, rebuilding gravel road
Trunk 3: from Broad River Road easterly to White Point Road
Mike Murphy of Mersey Seafoods announces the company’s sponsorship of the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials, beginning Dec. 30 at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad)
As one of the people bringing the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials to Liverpool in December, you’d expect Greg Thorbourne to love the sport.
“I used to hate mixed doubles,” he told a crowd on Monday at the Liverpool Curling Club.
“I thought, ‘Who the hell would ever play that game?’”
But after working at the last two national mixed doubles curling events, the longtime booster of curling in Queens County was quickly converted.
“Watching the calibre of curling, the shots made, the number of rocks in play, I don’t think there’s a better game in this world than mixed doubles.”
Thorbourne, chairman of the Liverpool Championship Host Society, was speaking at an event at the curling club Monday to kick off the volunteer recruitment effort for the mixed doubles curling trials planned for Dec. 30 to Jan. 4 at Queens Place Emera Centre.
The host society has been working on securing the trials since last June.
It’s the first of three major qualifying events in Nova Scotia for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Wolfville is hosting the full-team Canadian pre-trials in October 2025, and Halifax will host the Canadian curling trials in November 2025.
Sixteen teams will compete in Liverpool for the chance to represent Canada in mixed doubles curling in Italy.
Queens MLA Kim Masland speaks at an event at the Liverpool Curling Club on Monday to kick off volunteer recruitment for the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials in December in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad)
About 50 people turned out for the event in Liverpool on Monday, including Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland, Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman and Liverpool native Jill Brothers, who skipped Canada to a silver medal at the 2004 world junior championships.
Thorbourne said he’d like to have about 150 volunteers for the event. Liverpool hosted the 2021 pre-trial curling trials, where the volunteer numbers were lower because of Covid.
“Normally, we have between 135 and 150. With Covid the last time, we were down around 85 so this time we’re looking at getting back up so that people don’t have to spend as many hours on site as they did the last time.”
He said they’re already getting calls from across Canada from people who want to volunteer.
“Last week, I got two calls from B.C., three from Ontario, a couple from up North, a few from Alberta, the Prairies. This is the first of three Olympic trial events in Nova Scotia. So a lot of these people will come here and get trained, work here and move forward.”
Mike Murphy, chief financial and chief operating officer of Mersey Seafoods, also announced the Liverpool company’s sponsorship of the $255,000 event.
“We want to be part of the community and we want to give back to the community when we can,” he said in an interview. “And we think events like this are really good to showcase Liverpool, the South Shore, Queens County. It puts us on the world stage. People show up from all over Nova Scotia, Canada, all over the world and we think it’s great to showcase our community.”
The value of the sponsorship was not disclosed, but Thorbourne said later that it is “substantial”. The Region of Queens has also committed $19,140 to the event. Thorbourne said they are working on other sponsorships too.
Many people at Monday’s kickoff were signing up to volunteer. Valerie Lantz of Liverpool was one of them.
This will be her third curling event in Liverpool. She volunteered at the 2021 pre-trials and the 2019 World Junior Curling Championships.
“I was a curler, … so that’s what brings me to this. Now that I’m retired i can spend the time doing this sort of thing and i thoroughly enjoy it.”
She said the event will bring much-needed business to the community at a slow time of year.
“This will put people in rooms in hotels and in restaurants. And mixed curling, it’s such a high-energy fast sport, I think it will create new patrons to the event.”
Lantz said that volunteering at the curling trials in December will be worth your time.
“You’ll meet people not only from Liverpool volunteering but people from probably around the province. It’s just so much fun. And you get to see some great curling.”
Nova Scotia’s Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland. (Rick Conrad photo)
Like many longtime Queens County residents, MLA Kim Masland lived through the closure of the Bowater mill in Liverpool in 2012.
“When we lost Bowater, it was a huge blow, to not only Liverpool but to Queens County and to the western end of the province,” Masland said Wednesday.
The Nova Scotia government announced last Thursday that Paper Excellence Canada, the company that operated the former Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County, is looking at the possibility of opening a new mill in Queens County.
The company plans to conduct a feasibility study that could take nine months. It’s part of an agreement between the province and Paper Excellence to settle the company’s $450-million lawsuit it filed after the mill shut down in 2020.
Premier Tim Houston and Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton said last week that a new mill would fulfill a need identified in a 2018 report on forestry practices by Prof. William Lahey. It found that demand for forestry products in the western end of the province was seriously affected by the closure of Bowater and Northern Pulp.
Houston said that a new mill would represent a $1.4-billion investment.
Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s public works minister, has heard from a lot of constituents about the possibility of Liverpool becoming a mill town once again.
“When we look at the reputation of Northern Pulp in Pictou, it wasn’t great,” she says.
“Environmental standards have certainly changed, environmental reporting has certainly changed. I am a rural country girl who grew up and was supported through our industries aof forestry, farming and fishing. I believe in all of them. I believe that in our province and in Queens County we can still continue that. But everything that we do does need to be done with the highest, and I mean the highest, of standards, environmentally. And that will be government’s job to make sure that if this does go ahead that all of those standards are being met.”
Masland told QCCR on Wednesday that opinions seem to be evenly split between concern about the environment and the potential for employment that a new kraft pulp mill would bring to Queens County.
“I do believe that we as a forestry sector do have the ability to supply a mill. This is tremendous economic benefit to our community, but I also understand that economic benefit and the health of a community, one can’t outweigh the other.”
She said that while people are concerned about the smell and about Northern Pulp’s environmental record, it’s also clear that residents, woodlot owners and the forestry sector in general would benefit greatly from a mill.
“Let’s think about this. In Liverpool right now, Queens County has one of the highest poverty levels in Nova Scotia. We have no industry. We have a small industry in a sawmill. We have no industry, we have tourism, fabulous, we have two wonderful resorts that offer great employment, but we really do not have any industry for people in our community. People are struggling and people deserve to have an opportunity that others have had.”
Masland said that she won’t commit to supporting a Northern Pulp mill in Queens County until she sees the results of the feasibility study.
“I would want to see the feasibility study before I would support anything. I’m not going to say I’m going to support something unless I have all the information. I’ve never done that.”
Bill Smyth and Alex Doggett of Queens County Transit with one of the new hybrid SUVs the non-profit society bought with funding from the federal and provincial governments. (Queens County Transit Facebook page)
Queens County Transit has received government funding to expand its fleet and to keep up with the growing demand for its service.
The non-profit based in Liverpool has bought two new hybrid SUVs, thanks to $116,293 in funding from the federal and provincial governments.
Alex Doggett is the chairman of the Queens County Transit Society.
“It came at a very opportune time for us. We were in this condition where we were refusing rides because we didn’t have enough vans and drivers.”
The new vehicles have been on the road since early April, Doggett said. The service now has eight vehicles, five of which are wheelchair-accessible vans.
“By having the two vehicles, we’re able to keep up with most of the requests, not all of them,” he said. “It’s quite amazing how busy the vans are.”
Queens County Transit gave more than 8,000 rides last year. In April alone, their fleet was out 700 times.
The service has been operating since 2018, when it started with three vehicles. It provides a relatively low-cost transportation option for anyone in Queens County. But it’s become an important resource for seniors and those on low incomes.
The federal government chipped in $93,034 through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund with the Nova Scotia government contributing the remaining 20 per cent, or $23,259.
Kim Masland, Nova Scotia’s public works minister and the MLA for Queens, said at an announcement on Friday that the funding will make a big difference in the community.
“I am so proud to support you. I have never been more proud and humbled to be the MLA for an area that is just growing more and more every day. And the big thing we take away every night is our hearts. The people’s hearts in this community are absolutely incredible and they open them up and do the right thing every day for the people that surround them.”
Doggett said the service survives thanks to government funding like this and support from the community. The Region of Queens municipality also committed $48,500 in funding to the service for this fiscal year.
“What it means is that we didn’t have to go into a fundraising situation, going to the public,” he said. “Where we’re non-profit, it gets very tight at the end of the fiscal year for us and it’s always great to have these types of programs.”
He said the cost of gas has doubled in the past year and maintenance costs have also risen.
“It’s really been quite an undertaking and hopefully it will continue into the future.”
Doggett said Queens County Transit is always looking for new volunteers and board members to help ensure the service thrives for a long time.
“We’re at the point a number of us are seniors and it’s time to get some younger blood in to carry on with this. Some of us are getting to the point where we’re probably going to be stepping down and hopefully get other people to come in and take over.”
The society has its annual general meeting scheduled for June 18 at 10 a.m. at their headquarters at 31 Milton Rd. in Liverpool.
