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.

To book a ride with Queens County Transit, call 902-356-2670 or message them through their Facebook page.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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An undated aerial photo of the former Bowater Mersey plant in Brooklyn. (Queens County Historical Society Photo Collection, housed at the Queens County Museum)

The pulp and paper industry may be making a comeback in Queens County.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced on Thursday that Paper Excellence, which owns Northern Pulp in Pictou County, will be launching a feasibility study into whether it can open a mill in Liverpool.

He was speaking at a news conference in Halifax. His opening remarks were broadcast to a crowd of local politicians, chamber of commerce members and forestry sector workers at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool.

SEE ALSO: Reaction mixed to news of possible new paper mill in Liverpool

The possible new mill in Liverpool is part of a settlement agreement to resolve the company’s $450-million lawsuit against the province.

“The Pictou mill is not reopening,” Houston said. “The province has agreed to support Paper Excellence in the idea of building a new kraft pulp mill in Queens County, in the areas around the former Bowater mill.

“With the support of the region’s forestry sector, the company believes that Liverpool could again support a new mill, and I agree.”

Houston said the company will likely launch the feasibility study in the next few weeks. It is expected to take up to nine months.

“Let’s keep in mind a new mill is not a guarantee. If the company decides not to proceed with the new mill, Nova Scotia’s interests are still accounted for and protected. But if there’s a business case and the company brings forward a project, it could mean an investment of more than $1.4 billion in our economy.”

Bowater, which operated in Brooklyn from 1929 to 2012, employed hundreds of people in Queens County. It was founded as the Mersey Paper Company Limited by industrialist Izaak Walton Killam.

When it closed, it threw 320 people out of work. It also affected people in other industries.

Many of the employees retired or left for jobs in western Canada or elsewhere. The region fell into an economic funk. And it took years for the local economy to begin to recover.

Houston said a new mill would be good news for Queens County and for the province’s 35,000 woodlot owners.

“We are building a stronger economy for Nova Scotians, and a new mill has enormous economic potential. It could kickstart a new chapter for communities along the South Shore and the province’s economy overall.”

Northern Pulp closed its mill at Abercrombie Point, Pictou County, in 2020, after the Nova Scotia government under Stephen McNeil refused its application for a new effluent treatment facility. It had been pumping effluent into nearby Boat Harbour, sparking protests from the Pictou Landing First Nation.

Houston said Thursday that any new mill in Queens County will have to meet modern standards.

“Let me assure you that any project that comes forward will need to meet today’s standards, and will undergo environmental assessments, significant public engagmeent and indigenous consultation. We will also hold the company to a high standard for the Pictou mill site.”

Many of the people at the Astor for the announcement Thursday would not comment afterward. Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland declined to comment. She said all media inquiries were being handled by the premier’s office. 

The forestry workers in attendance did not want to be interviewed, but were happy with the announcement and said that the “industry’s needed some good news”.

Mayor Darlene Norman said she was limited in what she could say publicly. 

“For those who understand the forestry sector, this is a wonderful opportunity for Queens.”

The possibility of a new pulp and paper mill in Queens County came to light this week when CBC reporter Michael Gorman reported on Wednesday that an announcement was imminent.

Kerry Morash worked at Bowater for 19 years and was also the Queens MLA for the Progressive Conservatives from 1999 to 2006. He welcomed the news that the industry might return to the area.

“I think it’s a big opportunity for the community and western Nova Scotia,” he said in an intervew. “And especially when you look at the storm damage that we have and we have a lot of wood laying down in the forest from Pictou to Yarmouth and that’s getting drier and getting ready to catch on fire. If we can clean up the forest and produce a product and make some employment, envrionmentally friendly and sustainbably, it’s all good news.”

Ashley Christian, president of the South Queens Chamber of Commerce, said she wants to make sure a mill is safe and sustainable.

“As long as all environmental regulations are being met and taken really seriously, I think that we in Queens County would welcome industry, we welcome jobs and what that would provide for our community.”

As part of the settlement agreement with the province, Paper Excellence has to top up Northern Pulp pension plans by $30 million to protect the former employees’ pensions. It also has to pay $50 million of its own court costs. 

If the company’s study finds a new mill in Queens County is viable, it will pay the province $15 million to settle its $99 million debt. If it finds a new mill isn’t possible, it would pay the province $30 million and pay $15 million toward the cleanup of the Northern Pulp site.

If the company goes ahead with a new mill, it would seek financing and work with the province and others to get it going.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Queens MLA Kim Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s public works minister, with Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman on Friday at Queens Place Emera Centre after Masland announced more than $2.7 million in funding for Queens County. (Rick Conrad)

A new outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art track and soccer field for Queens County got a lot closer to reality on Friday as Queens MLA Kim Masland announced more than $2.7 million in funding for the region.

Masland, who is also the province’s public works minister, told a crowd at Queens Place Emera Centre that the province will give $2.2 million toward the $7.2-million community pool to be located next to Queens Place.

She also pledged an extra $500,000 for a new all-weather artificial turf soccer field and rubberized track at Liverpool Regional High School. Masland announced $700,000 last fall for the facility. That was before the design was changed to make it an all-weather facility, which would be the first of its kind on the South Shore. That brings the provincial contribution for that project to $1.2 million.

Masland made the funding announcements on behalf of Allan MacMaster, minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage.

“These announcements are all about physical activity, making sure that we have opportunities for people living here and for people who are interested in moving to be part of what we have going on here in Queens. Great investment to keep our youth engaged,” she told reporters afterward.

“People that are moving to our communities, we have new doctors moving here, they have young families. They want to have facilities where their children and where they themselves … can be active. Health care is what we were elected on, and every decision that we make, health care plays a role in.”

Masland also announced the Liverpool Curling Club will get $47,030 for upgrades to its kitchen facilities.

The pool will be a six-lane, 25-metre, zero-entry structure, with a therapy hot tub.

The Region of Queens is contributing $2 million toward the pool, while an anonymous private donor has committed about $3 million.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman said that tenders for work on the pool will be issued soon. And the hope is that construction will begin in spring of 2025, with an anticipated opening in 2026.

“The next call will be the issuing of tenders. All the pre-designs are completed.”

Deborah Herman-Spartinelli is a member of the region’s pool committee and the Queens Community Aquatic Society. She said the provincial funding was “wonderful” news.

“We still need to fundraise for certain aspects. There’s all these things like starter blocks, equipment and the therapy pool and other things that are needed.”

Kristopher Snarby is president of the Queens County Track Society. He said that with Friday’s provincial funding, in addition to $1.8 million from the federal government and $250,000 from the municipality, his group has about $100,000 in fundraising left to do.

“We’re still hopeful that we might be able to get it done by late fall,” Snarby said in an interview.

“From a soccer perspective, it’s great. It allows us to have a longer season. You can play into the winter if you want to, as long as there’s no snow. From a track perspective, the rubberized surface will be fully accessible, a level walking area for seniors, for people with disabilities, and that also can be used year-round as well.”

This is the Houston government’s second significant funding announcement for Queens County in the past two weeks. On April 15, Masland announced $10.7 million for upgraded water and sewer infrastructure that would also be extended to the Mount Pleasant area of Liverpool.

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Nova Scotia Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland with Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman at a funding announcement at the region’s offices on April 15. (Rick Conrad)

Queens MLA Kim Masland will be at Queens Place Emera Centre on Friday at 1 p.m. to announce money for community recreation infrastructure.

Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s public works minister, is making the announcement on behalf of Allan MacMaster, the minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage.

No other details were provided in a news release on Thursday afternoon. Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman will also be at the event.

This will be the second significant funding announcement for Queens County in the past two weeks.

Last Monday, Masland announced $10.7 million in funding for water and sewer upgrades for the region. The municipality is pitching in $10.8 million. The $21.5-million project will extend water and wastewater services to the Mount Pleasant area of Liverpool. That money will also help improve existing water and sewer services to more than 1,200 homes and businesses in the area, and help enhance the amount of water available for firefighting efforts.

That project paved the way for two new private housing developments on more than 60 acres of land. About 325 new housing units will be built for up to 1,200 people.

QCCR will be at the announcement on Friday.

Kim Masland, Queens MLA and Nova Scotia’s public works minister, announces $10.7 million in provincial funding for a $21.5-million water and sewer expansion that gives the green light to two new housing developments in the Liverpool area. (Rick Conrad)

The Nova Scotia government and the Region of Queens are teaming up on a $21.5-million project to extend and improve water and sewer services in the Liverpool area.

Queens MLA Kim Masland on Monday announced $10.7 million in provincial funding to expand water and wastewater service to the Mount Pleasant area. The region will pitch in $10.8 million. 

The project means that two new private housing developments will go ahead on more than 60 acres of land. About 325 new housing units will be built for up to 1,200 people. It will be a mix of sold and rented space. About a third of those units could be affordable housing.

Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s public works minister, made the announcement at the region’s municipal offices in Liverpool on behalf of John Lohr, the minister of municipal affairs and housing. 

“We need this funding, we know our community’s growing, we certainly need affordable and more housing stock within our community,” she said in an interview after the announcement.

“We’re attracting people to our community every day, there are med professionals that want to come here. This is a great project. This will allow us to build more houses.”

Masland said a municipal housing needs assessment found that Queens County needs 555 more housing units by the end of 2027. She said it’s difficult to recruit health care staff to move to the area if there’s nowhere to live.

“We need people building faster. We need homes up, we need places for people to live. We are in a housing crisis in the province and we’re going to do whatever we can to make sure we can help.”

The funding will also improve existing water and sewer services to more than 1,200 homes and businesses in the area, and help improve the amount of water available for firefighting efforts.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman emphasized that the funding will do more than help developers build new homes.

She said the current infrastructure is at or over capacity. The project will improve service for residents in Liverpool, Brooklyn and Milton.

“There are some really crucial repairs that need to be made to our system, so it can expand in all directions. This is not case-specific for specific people.”

The provincial portion of the funding comes from the $102-million Municipal Capital Growth Program. The region applied in December for the funding.

Norman said the region’s finance staff are working now to figure out how the municipal portion will be funded. The region is currently working on its 2024/25 budget.

Adam Grant, the region’s director of engineering and public works, said Monday he hopes the work will be finished in 24 to 36 months.

“So work is already underway. Following the feasibility study, we’ve migrated into some design work preliminary and that’s underway right now, looking at having designs rolled out in the fall and construction starting in the next 12 months ideally.”

The developers behind the two housing projects said Monday they were excited by the news. They’ve lobbied the municipality for the past few years to extend water and sewer services to those areas.

Both projects are near downtown Liverpool.

Larry Cochrane plans an 87-unit development on the old Dauphinee Farm property near Queens General Hospital, which would include a 24-unit apartment building.

He said he will soon begin the design phase of the project.

“I wish it was faster of course, but we’ll take that because there’s lots of work I need to do to get ready to start a project like this.”

Graham van der Pas is a partner with Rumclo Developments. They plan a three-stage development on about 30 acres of land farther up the road from Cochrane’s project.

“We’re very, very excited. We’ve been lobbying for this for the past two years. So it’s amazing.”

The Rumclo development will feature The Point, which will have 124, two-bedroom homes for sale, The Curve, with 22 three-bedroom townhouses, and Birchwood Gardens, 82 affordable rental apartments. Van der Pas said the affordable rentals will be 80 per cent of the median market rate. A one-bedroom would be about $800 a month, a two-bedroom $1,000 and a three-bedroom would rent for $1,200.

A section of The Curve will also be reserved for staff from Queens General Hospital to rent.

“I think a community like this needs it,” van der Pas said. 

“I think what our developments will bring to the town is … a significant amount of property taxes. The revenue will go up there, the economic revenue of people potentially starting businesses, new patrons for the businesses that are already existing. It’s significant.”

Ashley Christian, president of the South Queens Chamber of Commerce, said she’s happy that such a big investment is being made in Queens.

“We have been advocating through the chamber of commerce for more housing for a couple of years. So we’re so excited to see this huge investment, especially made by the municipality, really impressed by that.”

Christian said she’s especially happy that half the funding is coming from the province. She said she hopes that means the project won’t be a big burden on municipal taxpayers.

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Queens MLA Kim Masland. (Rick Conrad photo)

Public Works Minister Kim Masland will be in Liverpool on Monday to announce plans for wastewater upgrades in Queens County.

Masland, who is the MLA for Queens, will be making the announcement on behalf of John Lohr, minister of municipal affairs and housing.

She will be joined by Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman.

The announcement will take place at 1 p.m. at the municipal building at 249 White Point Rd. in Liverpool.

Queens MLA Kim Masland. (Rick Conrad photo)

The Nova Scotia government has given Parks Canada in mainland Nova Scotia $27,250 to help promote sites like Kejimkujik National Park.

Queens MLA Kim Masland said in a news release that the money is part of the Tourism Digital Content Marketing Initiative. It helps organizations create engaging digital marketing campaigns.

“Kejimkujik is a world-class park that gets thousands of visitors every year. This increased marketing will bring even more tourists to our communities in the future,” Masland said. 

“More tourists means more money for our local businesses. This investment is great news for the residents of Queens County.”

Masland says the funding will help bring even more visitors to Keji and more tourists to shop at Queens County businesses.

Damien Barry was appointed to the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board on Feb. 8. (Louisbourg Seafoods photo)

Nova Scotia’s minister of fisheries and aquaculture has appointed a new member to the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board.

Damien Barry, a lawyer in Sydney and CAO and general counsel for Louisbourg Seafoods, was appointed Feb. 8, according to the government’s website listing members of agencies, boards and commissions.

Barry is originally from Ennis, Ireland. A former family and immigration lawyer with Sampson McPhee Lawyers in Sydney, he was hired by Louisbourg Seafoods in December 2018.

Louisbourg Seafoods is owned by Jim and Lori Kennedy, who started the business in 1984. It deals in snow crab, redfish, northern shrimp, lobster, sea cucumber and blue mussels.

Barry contributed $250 to Liberal candidate Marc Botte in the 2019 byelection in Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg, according to an Elections Nova Scotia candidate disclosure statement.

In an interview with QCCR last week, Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow, who was acting fisheries and aquaculture minister while Kent Smith was out of the country, did not know if another member would be appointed to the board to replace Jean McKenna, who left the board in mid-February.

The review board’s website has not been updated with Barry as a member.

A screengrab of the list of Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board members on the Nova Scotia government website.

McKenna was one of the first three members appointed to the review board in 2017 by the then-Liberal government. She had been its first and only chairwoman until her term expired earlier this month.

She was replaced as chair by Tim Cranston, a lawyer who ran unsuccessfully for the Tories in Halifax Atlantic in the last provincial election.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said last week that there was nothing inappropriate in Cranston’s appointment as chairman. He said McKenna’s term had expired and the board needed a new chair.

The review board was scheduled to begin hearings March 4 into an application from Kelly Cove Salmon, owned by Cooke Aquaculture, to expand its fish farms in Liverpool Bay. Kelly Cove wants to expand its current operation near Coffin Island off Beach Meadows Beach to 20 pens from 14, and add trout to the salmon already farmed there. And it wants to add 40 new pens at two sites off Brooklyn and Mersey Point. It would mean more than 1.8 million salmon and trout being produced, compared

Groups involved in the hearing were surprised when they were sent a “high priority” email from review board clerk Stacy Bruce on Feb. 20, telling them McKenna was no longer with the board and that the March hearing dates would be cancelled.

Along with Kelly Cove Salmon, five groups were granted intervenor status at the hearings: Protect Liverpool Bay, the Region of Queens, the Brooklyn Marina, 22 Lobster Fishermen of Liverpool Bay, and Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, which is representing the Acadia First Nation.

Jamie Simpson of Juniper Law, who is representing the lobster fishermen group, said it’s unusual that “a decision maker who has been significantly part of the process” would leave on the eve of the hearings.

“It’s no small feat to get several days in a row scheduled among the diverse parties here, so it’s a challenge,” Simpson said in an interview last week. “When they had the March dates nailed down it was an accomplishment and to see them cancelled now it’s a shock.”

Houston and Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland have both spoken against the planned expansion. At a business luncheon in Liverpool on Feb. 7, the premier said that while supports aquaculture in Nova Scotia, he was personally opposed to more fish farming in Liverpool Bay.

In an email Monday, board clerk Sayeed Maswod told QCCR to “visit the regularly updated NSARB website for all information related to hearings.”

The review board has been mum on when the hearings will begin, but Simpson told QCCR that dates set for April 2 to 5 at the Best Western Plus in Liverpool are still a go.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Tim Cranston is the new chairman of the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board. (Facebook)

By Rick Conrad

The chairwoman of the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board is out and a new chairman is in.

Groups getting ready for hearings into a proposed fish farm expansion in Liverpool Bay got a surprise this week when they were told chairwoman Jean McKenna is no longer on the board, and that hearings set for March 4 to 8 in Liverpool are cancelled.

Her replacement is Tim Cranston, who was appointed to the board on Feb. 16, 2023, and who ran for the Progressive Conservatives in the last provincial election.

Cranston is a lawyer with 20-plus years’ experience for two marine biotech companies, according to his biography on the review board’s website. He also owned and operated two rockweed leases during that time. And he was the co-founder of Natural Ocean Products.

As a candidate for the Tories in Halifax Atlantic, he lost to Liberal MLA Brendan Maguire.

(Nova Scotia PC Party Facebook page)

Cranston was appointed to the review board for a three-year term by then Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Steve Craig.

Former chairwoman McKenna had been reappointed member and chairwoman at the same time as Cranston. But according to the list of recent appointments to agencies, boards and commissions as of Feb. 16, 2023, her term expired on Feb. 15, 2024. McKenna is still listed as the chairwoman of the Nova Scotia Police Review Board.

Jamie Simpson with Juniper Law represents one of the intervenors, 22 Lobster Fishermen of Liverpool Bay. Simpson said he received a “high priority” email on Tuesday from the board’s clerk telling him that the March hearing dates were cancelled and that McKenna was no longer on the board.

“Certainly, it came out of the blue and at a fairly late stage of planning for this hearing. From my experience, I’ve certainly never seen or heard of a decision maker being switched right where we’re in mid-stride here just getting ready to go into the first scheduled portion of the hearing coming up in early March just a couple of weeks away here. So it was quite surprising, that’s for sure.” 

Simpson said the board gave no reason. The board had also set aside April 2 to 5 for the hearing at the Best Western Plus in Liverpool. Simpson said those dates still stand.

“It’s no small feat to get several days in a row scheduled among all the diverse parties here, so it’s a challenge. So when they had the March dates nailed down it was an accomplishment and to see them cancelled, it’s a shock. But I can only guess that that has to do with the new chair needing time to get up to speed.”  

Kelly Cove Salmon, which is owned by Cooke Aquaculture, applied to the board in 2019 for an expansion of their fish farm operation in Liverpool Bay. 

Kelly Cove wants to increase its farm near Coffin Island to 20 pens from 14 and to include trout as well as salmon. It also wants to set up 40 pens at two new sites off Brooklyn and Mersey Point. It could mean up to 1.8 million farmed salmon in the bay, compared to about 400,000 now.

More than 150 residents, businesses and community groups filed written submissions with the board. Five groups were granted intervenor status at the hearings: Protect Liverpool Bay, the Region of Queens, the Brooklyn Marina, 22 Lobster Fishermen of Liverpool Bay, and Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, which is representing the Acadia First Nation.

Joel Richardson, spokesman for Cooke Aquaculture, said Wednesday he was waiting for more information from the board.

“I’m really not offering any additional comment on it. We’ll have our communication with them and we’ll go from there.”

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston came out against the project at an event organized by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce in Liverpool on Feb. 7. 

“I think some areas are great for aquaculture and I think that some others are maybe not the best place for it.

“On this specific question on Liverpool Bay, … I personally don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it. That’s my personal opinion. I respect the process, the independent review board will do their process and will have hearings. They’ll do their thing. But my personal opinion is I don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it.”

Queens MLA Kim Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s public works minister, has spoken against the expansion since she was an Opposition MLA. She also repeated her stand against it at the same event.

Masland submitted a letter to the review board, but it was rejected because it said that it had to be free of the “appearance of any possible influence” by elected officials.

QCCR asked the review board for comment on the delay and on McKenna’s status.

In an email, board clerk Stacy Bruce referred questions about board appointments to the minister of fisheries and aquaculture.

“Information about the upcoming public hearing in Liverpool on applications by Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. Is posted on the Board’s website,” he wrote. 

Bruce said new hearing dates would be posted on the board’s website when they’re available.

A spokesperson for Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith could not be reached Wednesday.

Lawyer Jamie Simpson says that despite the “bizarre” turn of events, he and his clients continue to prepare for the hearings.

“Looking forward to representing the interests of the lobster fishermen with respect to the potential impact of this massive aquaculture site on their livelihoods and also the ability it would have to navigate safely through Liverpool Bay.” 

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Betsy Hartt and Bob Iuliucci, owners of Bear Cove Resources, will make an oral presentation at the upcoming Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board hearing in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

UPDATE 9:25 p.m. Tuesday

The Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board hearing into a proposed fish farm expansion in Liverpool Bay has been delayed until further notice, the board posted on its website Tuesday night.

“The hearing scheduled for March 4-8, 2024, in Liverpool, has been adjourned until further notice,” the notice reads. “New dates will be announced here once these have been determined by the board.”

No reason was given. Elsewhere on the board’s site, chairwoman Jean McKenna’s name has been removed. The new chairman is Tim Cranston, a member of the board and a lawyer “with 20 years+ experience as in-house counsel for two award-winning marine bio-tech companies.”

QCCR has contacted the board with questions about McKenna’s status and the hearing delay.

Meanwhile, more than 150 individuals, businesses and other groups had their comments on the proposed fish farm expansion accepted by the board.

Kelly Cove Salmon, which is owned by Cooke Aquaculture, has applied to expand its operations near Coffin Island and to add two new sites off Brooklyn and Mersey Point.

If successful, Kelly Cove’s operation would grow to 60 pens from its current 14. It would mean about 1.8 million salmon would be farmed in the bay, compared to the current estimated 400,000. Farmed trout would also be added at Coffin Island.

In addition to the written submissions and oral presentations from the public, five groups have been granted intervenor status: Protect Liverpool Bay, the Region of Queens, the Brooklyn Marina, a group of 23 lobster fishermen, and Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, which is representing the Acadia First Nation.

People had until Feb. 12 to submit their comments or ask to make an oral presentation at the hearings. 

Seven people or groups are giving oral presentations, including Bear Cove Resources Storm-cast Seaweed in East Berlin, owned by Bob Iuliucci and Betsy Hartt.

They say they’re worried about the effects of a four-fold increase in salmon and trout farming in the area.

“There’s absolutely no way (the farms are) going to withstand an easterly wind that can bring waves of 10 metres,” Iuliucci said Tuesday in an interview.

“We’ve had storm events (here), in one storm event the shoreline went back about five metres. … A net full of fish, it’s hopeless, it would be really unfortunate for everybody.”

Iuliucci says he’s also worried about what would happen if the new farm sites get caught up in tidal surges, especially given the current problems with flooding at Centennial Park on the Liverpool waterfront.

“We have the park inundated on a regular basis. So now we’re gonna have hundreds of thousands of fish stranded as well and on people’s properties.”

Hartt says their customers ask about whether their compost is affected by the current operation.

“The more their gear gets tossed around, the more their gear gets included in the seaweed we collect. And we get customers asking us questions already. ‘Does the fish farm affect the seaweed? Does that mean that I’m going to get microplastics in the seaweed compost I’m buying from you?’ I let them know at this stage, no. But when you consider the magnification of that project, that is going to be a concern.”

Most of the public feedback the review board received was in written submissions. It accepted 146 letters, which are published on its website. 

Most of those written submissions oppose Kelly Cove’s application. Twelve support it. Among the supporters are the mayor of Shelburne and businesses who have done business with Cooke.

But several other submissions were rejected by the independent board. 

That included two of the area’s politicians. According to a post on the Social Politics Facebook page, Queens MLA Kim Masland had her letter rejected because the board said it must be free of “appearance of any possible influence” by elected officials. 

Masland has spoken out against the project. In her letter, posted on her Facebook page, she said the expansion would harm the environment, tourism, the lobster fishery and residents’ general enjoyment of Beach Meadows Beach. 

Masland could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Premier Tim Houston also came out against the project last week, during a luncheon in Liverpool organized by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce.

The board also rejected submissions from people who were listed as a member of one of the intervenor groups. It ruled that their interests were already being represented. 

Region of Queens District 4 Coun. Vicki Amirault’s area includes Brooklyn and Beach Meadows. She was one of those whose letter was rejected, and she was also told she could not make a presentation at the hearings, because she is already represented by the Region of Queens as an intervenor.

“I’m not very happy about it. I’m the one that’s out and about in the community and I’m the one that’s hearing from my constituents and I believe I should be able to speak on their behalf. 

“I have not heard from anybody yet that is in favour of this expansion.”

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Kim Masland, Queens MLA and Nova Scotia’s Public Works Minister, says chronic ER closures in her riding are worrisome. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

Queens MLA Kim Masland says the Nova Scotia government is making progress in its efforts to keep the emergency department at Queens General Hospital open more often, but she admits there’s more work to do.

“I know right now we’ve been open pretty much 50 per cent of the time which is very, very concerning,” Masland said in an interview this week.

“We need to make sure that our ER is open and available to people when they need it. We’re 30 minutes away from Bridgewater, we’re further away to the next ER.”

She pointed to efforts by the Queens General Hospital Foundation and Nova Scotia Health recruiters to bring more health care workers to the area.

“We are making progress. We’ve recruited six (ER and family practice) doctors in the last year which is absolutely fabulous. But it’s a staffing issue. We need to make sure that we can recruit and then retain. So we’ll keep working at it.”

Masland and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston were asked about the ER closures during a Q&A session at an event in Liverpool on Wednesday organized by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce.

The ER in Liverpool was closed all last weekend. And this week, it is open most days only from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It will be closed all day Saturday. According to Nova Scotia Health, the ER was closed for part or all of the day for 13 days in November, 15 in December and 15 in January. A Nova Scotia Health official told QCCR in January that the Queens General ER needs 10 more nurses to be open more often. 

Houston told the crowd Wednesday that the province has made many changes to how health care is delivered. He pointed to the expanded scope of practice for many health care workers, including pharmacists, nurse practitioners and others who are now able to do more of the duties once restricted to doctors.

“Our pharmacies did, since we started opening up this access path, almost 19,000 strep tests over the last three or four months. I can tell you where pretty much every one of those 19,000 people would have went if not for a pharmacy.

“So we’re really trying to mobilize everyone. … Then we can take a little bit of pressure off everyone else. And if we can take a little pressure off everyone else, then we can start to attract more people who want to be part of an innovative, leading edge health care system.”

Houston said that while there’s no quick fix, it’s important that people know that they don’t always have to wait in an ER for treatment.

“So we want to make sure that everyone knows where they can go to access the health care that they need. And it might be the emergency department and we want it to be open, but it doesn’t always have to be the emergency department for everything … when there’s something else that will work just as effectively.”

Masland says the province’s focus is on recruiting more health care professionals to the area.

“We’re very committed to improving health care and that’s where our focus is going to remain.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Kim Masland, Queens MLA and Nova Scotia Public Works Minister, and Premier Tim Houston take questions at a business luncheon in Liverpool on Wednesday. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

Opponents of a proposed fish farm expansion near Liverpool got a big morale boost on Wednesday as Premier Tim Houston told a business luncheon that he personally opposes the plan for more fish farms in Liverpool Bay.

“I think some areas are great for aquaculture and I think that some others are maybe not the best place for it.

“On this specific question on Liverpool Bay, if I say some places I think are suitable and some aren’t, I personally don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it,” Houston said to applause.

“That’s my personal opinion. I respect the process, an independent review board will do their process and will have hearings. They’ll do their thing. But my personal opinion is that I don’t think Liverpool Bay is a suitable place for it.”

About 80 Queens County businesspeople and others were at the Best Western Plus in Liverpool for the event, which was organized by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce, and featured the premier and Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland.

The premier’s comments came during a wide-ranging question and answer session, in response to a question about Kelly Cove Salmon’s application to expand its operations near Coffin Island, and to add two new sites off Brooklyn and Mersey Point. 

If successful, Kelly Cove’s operation would grow to 60 pens from its current 14. It would mean about 1.8 million salmon would be farmed in the bay, compared to the current estimated 400,000. Kelly Cove would also farm trout at its operation at Coffin Island. 

The Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board has public hearings scheduled for Liverpool beginning March 4. 

The grassroots group Protect Liverpool Bay is one of five groups granted intervenor status at the hearing. The others are the Region of Queens, the Brooklyn Marina, a group of 23 lobster fishermen, and Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, which is representing the Acadia First Nation.

In an interview afterward, Houston said he wanted to make sure those gathered for the event knew where he stood personally.

“The review board will do their process and we certainly respect that process, but on a personal level I believe that there are places where aquaculture makes sense and great opportunities in this province. There are other places where it doesn’t make sense. And I don’t think Liverpool Bay is one where it makes the best sense.”

“The hearings will start in March, people will have their chance to have their say. That’s my personal opinion. There will be many other opinions shared through that process and the board will take those all in and look at the science and make their decision. I just thought for this room here, it was important that they knew where I personally stood.”

Masland repeated her opposition to the fish farm expansion. She had spoken against it as an opposition MLA.

“I think my position has been communicated very well from the very beginning,” she told the crowd. “I take this job as your MLAs very seriously and I always take the time to listen to the constituents within the area I represent.”

In an interview, she said she was happy with the premier’s comments.

“We do have a process that needs to be followed. I do understand that. But certainly we have a premier who listens, and understands and respects the value of people’s voices in the community and I think that was shown today by his comment.”

Jeff Nickerson, business development manager for Cooke Aquaculture, which owns Kelly Cove Salmon, was at the event on Wednesday. He did not want to comment on the premier’s remarks. He referred media questions to Cooke spokesman Joel Richardson.

“We’ve been going through the provincial review process for the Liverpool Bay project for many years, since we first submitted the application in 2019 and we look forward to going through the government’s review process,” Richardson said in an interview.

“As the applicant that is bringing the Liverpool Bay project forward, we appreciate that the premier respects the aquaculture review board process.”

Brian Muldoon, president of Protect Liverpool Bay, said he was surprised at the premier’s comments. Protect Liverpool Bay is one of five intervenors at the upcoming hearing.

“I was really impressed. I didn’t expect that he would come out and actually say personally that he is against having open net pen fish farms here in Liverpool Bay.”

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman said she understands it’s only the premier’s personal opinion, but that it is welcome news.

“It’s wonderful to know that he believes they are not suited for our bay,” she said in an interview.

“I think his personal views and the separation from the ARB are very distinct but it does sort of give you that at least the premier understands and is of our same mindset.”

Members of the public can also have their say on Kelly Cove’s application. The review board is accepting public submissions until Feb. 12.

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Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Queens MLA Kim Masland will be speaking at a luncheon in Liverpool on Feb. 7. (Tim Houston Facebook page)

By Rick Conrad

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Queens MLA Kim Masland will be speaking at a luncheon organized by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 7.

The two-hour event is being held at the Best Western Plus in Liverpool. The chamber says it’s a “prime opportunity” for Queens County’s business leaders and others to talk with the two politicians about the area’s future.

Houston and Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s minister of public works, will speak about rural economic development. In addition to the speeches, the event will feature success stories from local businesses.

Attendees will get to ask Houston and Masland questions in a Q&A session. The chamber wants questions submitted no later than Feb. 1 to secretary@southqueenschamber.com.

Tickets for the event are $30 plus tax and are available through Eventbrite or by following links through the South Queens Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Queens MLA Kim Masland. Photo Ed Halverson

By Rick Conrad

The Nova Scotia government is contributing more than $20,000 to physical activity projects in Queens County.

Queens MLA Kim Masland announced the $23,435 in funding for various initiatives in the Region of Queens. 

“The support for the Region of Queens Municipality is a great opportunity to encourage more active lifestyles across our community,” Masland said Thursday in a news release. 

“It’s encouraging to see such diverse initiatives being implemented, promoting health and wellness for all.”

The money comes from the Active Communities Fund, part of the Nova Scotia government’s strategy to boost physical activity in the province.

It will be up to the municipality to decide which programs receive the funding.

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Queens MLA Kim Masland. Photo Ed Halverson

Residents of North Queens will soon have a new long-term care home to call their own.

Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works and MLA for Queens, on behalf of Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barbara Adams, made the announcement Tuesday November 28.

People living in and around Caledonia, will have access to a new, modern long-term care facility with the replacement of the North Queens Nursing Home.

The new North Queens Nursing Home is expected to replace the existing home when it opens in 2032.

The new facility will provide care for close to 50 seniors with single rooms, each with its own private washroom.

In a statement Masland says eventually everyone needs some help and the new home will be a resource for families when they need it.

“At some point, almost of us will have a loved one in need of long-term care,” said Minister Masland. “We are planning today to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place so that everyone we care about can have a safe and welcoming place to receive the care they need, when they need it.”

The North Queens Nursing Home replacement is part of the recent addition of 2,200 rooms to the Province’s long-term care infrastructure plan.The provincial government is promising more announcements about locations of new and replacement rooms are coming in the next few weeks.

Those announcements can’t come too soon. As of Nov 15, there were just over 1,700 people waiting at home for placement in long-term care.

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(L-R)Christopher Clarke, Kim Masland, Darlene Norman and Andrew MacVicar at the groundbreaking for the new Queens long term care facility. Photo Ed Halverson

Years of wrangling to get financing and another two years of planning culminated in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the site of the new Queens long-term care home.

Public Works Minister and MLA for Queens Kim Masland and Mayor Darlene Norman joined Queens Manor Executive Director Andrew MacVicar and Board Chair Christopher Clarke at the podium to announce the first physical steps to building the new facility across the parking lot from Queens Place.

In her remarks, Masland said providing a new long-term care home is the reason she got into politics.

“I know Christopher, when he came to me we started talking about this in 2017 when I was elected and I said if I ever make government I’ll make you one promise and it’s the only promise I’m going to make anyone and that is I will deliver the funds for a new long-term care facility in Queens, and here we are.”

Once completed, the new care home will replace the county’s two existing facilities, the privately run Queens Manor and the Region of Queens’ Hillsview Acres.

Norman says the municipal facility has served its purpose for decades and with the new care home, residents have a lot to look forward to.

“It’s been part of the Region for so long, there will be many that will miss it. But to know that the residents are moving into a new facility surrounded by people and children and playgrounds and skate parks and life, it’s a wonderful thing.”

Combined, the aging facilities can currently accommodate 90 residents while the new home will increase that capacity by 22 bringing the total number of available beds in Queens up to 112.

MacVicar says the building is designed with the most modern best practices in mind and was the result of much consultation between residents, staff and professional architects.

“We were very keen to include the people who will use the facility on a day-to-day basis, hands on. So, we included people who work in laundry, people who work in the kitchen, our CCAs our nurses, our environmental staff, our residents, family input, all the way up to board input, and just overall community input. There are a lot of hands and a lot of minds that were involved in the creation of the plan.”

Construction of the new Queens long term care home gets underway. Photo Ed Halverson

Clarke says he’s worked since 2013 to get a new long-term care facility for Queens and is delighted the province stepped up to secure financing.

“It’s a little under $100 million. Nova Scotia Housing is financing the project for the Queens Manor board. We will own the facility. It will be mortgaged, I suspect, over 40 years so we repay Nova Scotia Housing to pay down that mortgage.”

The new, as yet unnamed long-term care home is scheduled to open in 2026.

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Minister Kim Masland announces funding for new athletic facilities at Liverpool Regional High. Photo Ed Halverson

New athletic facilities and a walking trail are coming to Liverpool Regional High School.

Public Works Minister and MLA for Queens Kim Masland announced a combined $2.75 million from three levels of government to replace the school’s existing soccer field with artificial turf and build a 400-metre-long gravel running track.

The new artificial turf field will resolve long-standing issues with drainage.

At Friday’s announcement Masland said Queens has a history of producing world-class athletes and construction of the new field will support future athletes by allowing them to train closer to home.

“The big thing for us is we want to make sure that we’re providing a facility that people can use in our community. We have amazing athletes. We talked a little bit today about Sarah Mitton and [in] the announcement we talk about our special Olympians,” said Masland. “Many of our athletes have to travel to Bridgewater to be able to adequately train, so this will be able to keep people home and also bring people here for events.”

LRHS Principal Todd Symes says the effort to replace the school field began about six or seven years ago.

“Students always went to other schools and were kind of jealous or envious of facilities in other schools had and then logistically, a lot of our students had to travel to participate, to have the same advantages that a lot of other areas already had,” said Symes. “So, the students themselves came up with an idea. They came up with the design to come up with a plan and they were adamant that they wanted something done. So, we had students that were with us for 3-4 years. They worked the whole time they were here to engage community members, to draw designs, to work with staff members, to initiate development of a non-profit society and they were the ones who started the dream.”

Symes says the current funding will build the track and field and students will be approaching the community to help raise another $200,000 to realize the entire vision, including a Mi’kmaw learning trail.

Masland says the tender to replace the track and field will be released later this fall and the new field is expected to be completed in 2024.

Damaged retaining wall on Shore Rd in Western Head. Photo Ed Halverson

Also announced Friday was $1 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments to protect two stretches of Shore Rd in Western Head which are dealing with erosion and flooding.

Work will include reinforcing an existing retaining wall and excavating existing rock and gravel to provide more protection against the effects of climate change.

Masland says work on that project will be performed by local Public Works staff beginning this fall and finishing in spring of 2024.

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Public Works Minister and MLA for Queens Kim Masland calls the scope of the damage from the July 21 rainfall unprecedented.

In an interview with QCCR, Masland says the storm closed 114 roads across the province, 27 of those in the Western District.

As a result, over 200 public works staff and 40 private contracting crews were mobilized to begin rebuilding that crucial infrastructure.

Masland said, “I will tell you I as the minister of public works I have never been more impressed and more proud of the people that work for this department and the contractors who worked so hard to do what they had to do.”

Masland says the crews are working long hours to get the province’s road system back in order as quickly as they can.

She says the day after the storm she was out with the province’s chief engineer at 7:30 in the morning to survey the extent of the impact.

“When we came down through the [Highway] 103, I just could not believe what I was seeing. It was, I mean I’ve seen the damage of flooding in Cape Breton when we had that storm, hurricane, I’ve seen, I’ve seen a lot in this department,” said Masland. “Actually my Deputy tells me that as a minister I have seen more in this department in two years than they have experienced in 20.”

Masland says as new construction projects are undertaken in Nova Scotia, roads are being built stronger, culverts are bigger, and bridges are built higher to contend with the increasing severity of the storms.

While she can’t provide an exact timeline when all roads and structures will be repaired Masland says everyone in the department is working diligently.

“We’re doing the best we can as quickly as we can.”

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Minister of Public Works, Queens MLA Kim Masland. Photo Ed Halverson

Drivers in Nova Scotia will notice some new signals on the roads in the coming weeks.

Automated flagging machines will now be seen at road construction sites around the province.

Public Works Minister Kim Masland says the new machines will make those sites safer for workers.

“You do not have someone standing on the side of the road with a sign, you have a flagging device,” said Masland. “So, if something’s going to get hit, it’s going to be this device and not a human.”

The new machines are not permitted on 100-series highways and will be limited to roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or less travelled by fewer than 200 cars per hour.

The flagging device consists of a flag, one red light and one yellow light.

The signals used by the machine will be familiar to motorists. When the gate is raised, and the yellow light is flashing drivers should proceed with caution. When the gate is up and showing a solid yellow light prepare to stop and when the gate is down, and the light is red traffic must stop.

Masland says the devices are in use all over the country and have a proven safety record. The devices used here will be manufactured by Dartmouth based company Site 20/20.

The Public Works minister says it’s important to note these machines won’t be replacing existing workers.

“Especially with the amount of construction that we have in the province right now there certainly is a shortage of flaggers in our province. This is in no way to try to replace people or take jobs away from people. That is something that I would never support,” said Masland. “These automatic flagging devices so they still would need to be calibrated they need to be set up to the scene of which these flagging devices would look after.”

Masland says the new flagging devices will give contractors one more tool in their toolbox to keep people safe on the job.

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Announcement of Adult Day/Respite Care program at Queens County Home Support. Photo QCCR staff

Two months after it was announced, a program designed to provide desperately needed relief to caregivers has yet to launch.

On Feb 13 an event held by the Queens Home Care Society to celebrate the new Adult Day/Respite Care program was attended by Minister of Seniors and Long Term Care Barbara Adams, Kim Masland, the MLA for Queens/Minister of Public Works, Board Chair of Queens Home for Special Care Society Christopher Clarke and Albert Doucet Chair of Queens General Hospital Foundation.

The program was to begin two weeks later in a newly renovated location at 266 Main Street in Liverpool.

The province invested $500,000 in the program but two months on, the Region of Queens is being blamed for not issuing building permits.

Building owner Jerry Thibault says the trouble started when he began renovating the space in September of 2022.

“As soon as you get your framing up you call for a framing inspection, it’s the first inspection you do. So, I called them, and I said I need a framing inspection before I put my gyprock on and I was told I don’t have a building permit. I said yeah, I got it here in my hand and they said, well bring it up and will take a look. So, I took it up and they said no that’s not a building permit that’s a development permit which allows you to apply for a building permit,” said Thibault.

“So, it was my mistake at the start and I’m free to admit that but the fact that, you know I wasn’t trying to cheat them, I actually called for framing inspection.”

Thibault says the inspector told him to apply for a building permit right away, and he needed to confirm the fire separation requirements, but construction could continue in the meantime.

Thibault says the next time he heard from the inspector was February 10, three days before the planned launch event.

After some back and forth with the building inspector, Thibault agreed to provide the Region with designs guaranteed by an engineer.

He says the designs should be in the inspectors hand this week.

Executive Director of the Queens Home Care Society Annette Hartlen says the Adult Day/Respite Care program is desperately needed.

“[We] wanted to focus on people that don’t currently meet the criteria for the adult day program, the wonderful program that currently runs here in Queens County at the Manor. We definitely didn’t want to duplicate or step on their toes because they’re offering, you know, an awesome program there. So, we decided we would, yes, we’ll offer an adult day program we’ll offer a respite program, but we wanted to focus on high needs clients.”

Hartlen says while they wait to open the doors, the staff have been working on programming and are ready to welcome clients.

She is hopeful the occupancy permit issue can be resolved quickly.

A spokesperson for the Department of Seniors and Long-term care says despite the delay, the province is committed to funding the day program.

The Region of Queens was contacted but declined to provide comment for this story.

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Barry Barnet, executive director of ATVNS and Minister Kim Masland. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

Off road vehicles have found a home on the province’s highways following the introduction of the new Road Trails Act in the legislature Friday.

The new legislation will provide riders with improved trail connections and better access to services like gas stations and restaurants.

The act follows on the work of a pilot project that has been in place in seven communities across Nova Scotia since 2018.

Public Works Minister and MLA for Queens Kim Masland says the pilot demonstrated that roads can be safely shared by all.

“Five years, think about that. Most pilot projects are not for five years,” said Masland. “So, the data that was collected during that time, the stakeholder outreach, the relationships that were built, I don’t foresee any tremendous issues.”

Under the introduced act, riders travelling the highways are required to have a valid driver’s licence, insurance, registration, and a licence plate.

It will be up to each municipality to determine through their bylaws, on which roads they wish to allow off-highway vehicles.

Masland says she would like to see this effort extend across the province so people can enjoy the natural beauty Nova Scotia has to offer.

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Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman with Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland. Photo courtesy Communications Nova Scotia

The Region of Queens received $2.6 million in joint funding for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades.

Member of Parliament for Halifax West Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Public Works Kim Masland, and Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman, were on hand at Queens Place Monday to announce the contributions from all three levels of government.

The federal government is investing $1,046,800, the province is kicking in another $872,333 and the Region of Queens is contributing the remaining $697,867.

The money will be used to upgrade and replace water, sanitary, and storm sewer lines.

Part of the funding will go to decommissioning the existing combined sewer outfall in the Waterloo East sewershed boundary and ending the generational practice of pumping wastewater into the bay.

A new wastewater pumping station, forcemain, and a storm sewer outfall will also be included in the project.

The stormwater system is being designed to withstand 100-year storm water levels.

Minister Masland says improvements in these systems will go a long way to supporting development and bringing new residents to Queens.

While those are important issues, she says her larger concern is for cleaning up the harbour.

“The big thing for me with this project is it’s very important that we have a healthy liveable harbour,” said Masland. “And this funding today will certainly make sure that we can replace and upgrade that inadequate infrastructure, and definitely outdated infrastructure that has been there for way too long.”

Mayor Darlene Norman says the Region of Queens has been steadily working on replacing that outdated infrastructure since amalgamation in 1996.

She says the application for this project was submitted in 2021 and the Region is ready to begin when weather permits.

“We’ve been waiting to do it. It was just a matter of $2.6 million is a lot of money,” said Norman.

The project is shovel-ready and will take place in two phases over this year and next.

Norman says the municipality recognizes residents of Waterloo Street will be inconvenienced over the next two years and the Region will keep them informed every step of the way.

The mayor says there are still many areas of Queens County with issues around water and wastewater that need to be addressed.

“First, we have to correct the outfalls and keep our Liverpool Bay healthy. I mean outfalls and oceans is just, I mean major outfalls are just so wrong,” said Norman. “And then we look forward to parts of our county which are in peril if they have unhealthy drinking water so, this is one part of a very big puzzle that needs to be put together.”

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Queens General Hospital. Photo Ed Halverson

The provincial government is providing almost $35,000 to the South Shore Multicultural Association to help attract and retain healthcare workers in Queens and Lunenburg counties.

The association will use the funding for settlement materials and to support events to integrate and connect new healthcare professionals in the community.

A list of proposed events includes activities such as family and beach days, canoeing, biking, tai chi, nature walks, cooking, painting and more.

The South Shore Multicultural Association is one of 28 groups across Nova Scotia that will benefit from the new $2 million Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund.

In a statement on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, Queens MLA Kim Masland said, “Creating a connection between healthcare workers and their community is key.”

She goes on to say, “The warm and welcome environment that the South Shore Multicultural Association is providing in its communities will be invaluable in the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers.”

Executive Director, of the South Shore Multicultural Association Anne Fownes said, “Participation in recreational and leisure activities is a wonderful way for newcomers and their families to have fun, make meaningful connections, and settle into their new communities.”

The new fund is part of the recruitment and retention initiatives outlined in the government’s Action for Health, the Province’s plan to improve healthcare.

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Community Food Cruise volunteers. Photo courtesy Kim Masland’s office

Once again, Queens County came out in a big way last weekend to support the community food cruise.

The annual event organized by Queens MLA Kim Masland and a small group of volunteers parks an RCMP cruiser at the Liverpool Superstore to accept donations for the Queens County Food bank.

This year residents opened their hearts and wallets to cram 1,512 food items into the cruiser along with $1,361.13 in cash, cheques, and gift cards.

The event pulls many groups in the community together to support the Food Bank.

RCMP Community Policing Officer Cst. Winsor, brought the cruiser, Superstore hosts the event in their parking lot and their employees pre-package donation bags for purchase, Queens County Transit provided a van and driver to collect the donations that wouldn’t fit in the cruiser, and a small but mighty team of volunteers including Annette Burke, Al Steele and Masland’s Constituency Assistant Sam Scobey helped collect donations.

Masland expressed her gratitude for everyone involved in a post on social media saying, “The dedicated volunteers of Queens County Foodbank were full of smiles and tears as we rolled up to their doors with a full van. They very quickly went to work on a Saturday afternoon to fill their shelves.”

Masland summed up the event by saying, “It was a cold day, but our hearts were full of warmth, friendship and giving. This is Christmas to me. “

Donations can made to the Queens County Food Bank anytime by dropping items in bins located at the Liverpool Superstore and Sobeys locations or by contacting them by phone or  through their Facebook page.

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Queens MLA Kim Masland with members and users of Queens County Transit. Photo Ed Halverson

Queens County Transit will not increase their fares despite rising inflation thanks to a one-time funding bump from the federal and provincial governments.

The organization received $46,617 as part of $10.9 million being distributed to transit operators in Nova Scotia.

Chairperson of Queens County Transit Tara Smith says the money couldn’t come at a better time as they’ve just added a sixth vehicle to their fleet.

“We do have a little bit of money there to hold us through during tough times because gas is probably going to go up and down and we have to be ready for that, and we have to still be able to provide our service,” said Smith. “We do have six vehicles now on the road so we’ve had an increase in insurance, increase in tires, our vehicles are on the road constantly so, we were really happy to be able to provide that service but we don’t want it to cost the people of Queens county anymore, so really good news.”

Queens MLA and Public Works Minister Kim Masland made the announcement outside the Queens County Transit office.

As the former Seniors Safety Coordinator with the RCMP, Masland remembers speaking with organizers as they were developing Queens County Transit about how so many people need reliable and affordable transportation .

“I hear daily from constituents within Queens that are sharing their stories with me that they’ve used Queens County transit to take them to their dialysis employments weekly, that they’ve used Queens County transit to take them to medical appointments in Halifax. I’ve heard stories about needing to use Queens County transit to get to the airport to go visit gravely ill relatives,” said Masland. “It just plays such an important role in our community and it’s so valuable and I’m just so proud of where we are with our transit system here in Queens County.”

The federal government is investing $750 million to help municipalities across the country maintain transit service levels as ridership declines due to the pandemic.

To access the funding, provinces had to match the federal contribution in transit investments and support improvements in housing supply.

Of the $10.9 million, the largest operator in the province Halifax Transit received $8.65 million with the remainder divided among 20 community transit operators and seven other fixed-route operators.

The funding was distributed based on overall transit ridership, but the province was permitted some discretion so that all operators received a nominal amount.

Smith says during the height of the pandemic they had to reduce the number of people travelling in a vehicle but since people have become more comfortable living with COVID-19 Queens County Transit has seen their ridership increase dramatically.

“In March of this year, we were pleased to see that our ridership reached 5,000 people, 5,000 rides within our last year, so that’s great,” said Smith. “When we had talked about our projection over the course of our future in Queens County, we had looked at 10 years we would have a ridership of 5,000 people and you know, we did that in one year.”

From humble beginnings around a table as an idea in 2018 Queens County Transit now has six vehicles including what Smith believes to be the first hybrid gas/electric wheelchair accessible vehicle in a transit fleet in Nova Scotia.

Smith is pleased that in such a short span of time, Queens has gone from the last county in Nova Scotia without transit to one with a reliable and supported transit organization that will continue to grow to meet the needs of its residents.

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