Rees' Pieces
August 2010
Summer BBQ Circuit
Traditionally, politicians spend most of their summer going to,
participating in, or hosting BBQ’s to see most of the voters who elected
them.
The BBQ circuit is important for politicians to gauge the electorate’s
feelings to determine what it will take to make their re-election easier.
However, this summer is different.
At the federal level Jack Layton is keeping a low profile sticking close to
home to rest from or get treatment for prostate cancer. Iggy, commandeered
an election style bus, is making a cross Canada trip to establish a closer
linkage with voters to demonstrate he can relate to voters and is here to
stay.
Harper was busy entertaining world leaders at the G-8 and G-20 summits,
which stirred up Toronto residents with murmurings of dislike on the chain
link fence, traffic detours, congestion and police activities. Canada-wide
voters were flabbergasted at the mammoth $1+-Billion cost. Most felt too
much money was spent considering, previous versions in other countries, the
costs were in the range of 90% less, coming in at not much more than
$100-million.
Provincially, the Dexter government is in defensive mode due to
elimination of funding for the “CAT”, which broke the link of Yarmouth being
the province’s gateway to New England; the MLA expense scandal, which
affected all parties and hiking the HST from 13% to 15% when it promised “no
tax increases” during their election campaign.
Stephen McNeil’s Liberals are trying to get their house in order to
demonstrate they are suited to be the next government. The Tories, reeling
from being removed from power, are focusing on choosing their next full time
leader.
Even though it’s summer, the political mood is much different than previous
years. The electorate is angry and ready to pounce on all elected officials.
The UK has a new government and emergence of the Tea Party in USA
demonstrates the depth of the electorate’s anger.
Federally, another temptest struck the tea-pot, when it was revealed the
2011 census would not include the long form, which was imposed upon 20% of
the population.
Opposition party leaders instantly voiced their disapproval and the
electorate had a “ho-hum” response. The matter gained traction with the
resignation of Statistics Canada’s CEO. Voters took notice, because his
resignation was opposite to the governments pronouncements Stats Canada was
onboard.
The former Stats Canada CEO waded into the fray by voicing his objection
saying reliable data could not be collected under the new regime and not one
felony charge had been laid against any individual who refused to complete
the “long form”.
Mark Carney, Bank of Canada Governor added to the furor with his less
than enthusiastic response saying he would keep a close eye on developments
and the provinces are up in arms.
Government officials defending the change are
on the defensive. If body language is any indication, when reporters ask
probing questions, there is an air of having something to hide as to the
reasons why the changes are necessary.
One has to wonder. Was this brought into the public realm at this time,
hoping everyone was interested in BBQ’ing and would not notice, or if the
real reason was to deflect attention away from IGGY’s cross-Canada tour?
Provincially, dislike continues with growing opposition to changes in
forestry practices; presumption the NDP government will permit approval
650,000 tonnes of biomass feedstock to generate electricity in Port
Hawkesbury; NS Power indicating a 12% residential and 18% commercial
increase for electricity; if government will support $140+-million for a new
convention centre in Halifax; selection of a site for a new jail, when
promises had been made to Springhill and Antigonish and let’s not forget
Halifax has a dysfunctional council, a questionable school board and is
going Nowhere fast.
PEI has just announced $17.5-million for a new convention centre to
accommodate 3,000 people. Does that mean Halifax’s proposed $140-million
centre will accommodate 24,000 convention goers? If the project is so
viable, should government inform developers and proponents, if your study
forecasting a tax bonanza of $170-million over 10 years is believable, build
it and we will give you the bonanza annually for 10 years?
With all this on their plate, the electorate is fine tuning its sights to
remove from power current unwanted representatives.
Does this mean it’s “open season” on all elected representatives? Voters
will decide. Who will be left standing?
July 2010
Normally, I can pick one topic, upon which I feel comfortable expounding.
However, recently it has not been easy to focus on just one subject, as
there are several equally important related topics vying for attention.
When I started to dissect several topics, I discovered numerous common
threads, which appeared in many, but not all. Within the last three
generations we have made significant changes within ourselves, which account
for much of what is happening today.
Here is a sampling of the most common hidden agenda converted into words or
phrases: NIMBY (not in my back yard); unwillingness to sacrifice; no one
seems to care; greed; thirst for power, financial chaos, wastefulness and a
shrinking work ethic.
So let’s start on this journey to see where we as a society might be
heading.
During the past 20-25 years NIMBY has become more prevalent. It might be
opposition to locating a landfill site, a half-way house, an apartment
building, or a railway transshipment facility. Regardless of what someone
wants to do, there is opposition. Some of the opposition is founded, other
times it is idealism and lifestyle related.
Think back to how our ancestors suffered and sacrificed. I wonder how in
such a short span of time, we have turned 180 degrees with many unwilling to
sacrifice or work hard. (We want everything today). The financial turmoil of
2008 turned everything upside down. High unemployment has meant less people
paying taxes, hence governments received less money.
When it is necessary for government to tighten
the belt, we’re all happy with that as long as it doesn’t impact us.
Eliminate all highway construction, but still pave my road. Cut back on
healthcare services, but I still want my Emergency Room open 24/7, even if
no one uses it after midnight.
Greed has beset itself upon all of us, we want higher wages, cheaper
products, and to work less for the same or more money. Politicians are not
immune to greed either, as evidenced by recent scandals. The shame is even
those who were not involved and spent taxpayers money wisely did not push to
increase transparency and efficiency. In essence they are partially guilty
for keeping quiet and not putting the taxpayers first.
The financial chaos of 2008-2009 has severely changed the future of many
from the loss of career, or pension plan, savings evaporated and some lost
housing. It has caused many to become less tolerant of those to waste or try
to control without a conscience. Society is angry.
Convenience and wastefulness is taking its toll many ways. We would rather
buy prepared frozen foods, rich in chemicals, lacking in taste and less
nutritional value than enjoy home prepared diets. Add to this, the
wastefulness of packaging, gasoline and time to run around to get the best
deal. No wonder we are becoming an obese society.
If we planted a garden and exchanged a few baskets of fresh produce from our
garden with the chicken farmer next door, would that make a difference? Sure
it would, and we would not need to join a fitness club to stay in shape.
Unfortunately, a majority of the public feels those in power want more power
and will do whatever is necessary to keep or increase their strangle hold.
Hence the power brokers try to keep at bay – the auditor general and others
who look at the appropriateness of systems and transparency.
To top it all off, many elected officials have lost touch with what built this country - the rural areas rich in farmland and natural resources. Not to mention the great leaders who lived in the extremities of the province.
Out-migration to urban areas has been a major
problem for over three decades and has sucked the life out of rural Nova
Scotia. Let’s not forget everything in life comes full-circle. 250 years ago
most of Halifax was uninhabited woodland.
Recently politicians have focused on the urban core at the expense of rural
areas. They need to be mindful of increased public discontent. The public
wants answers and action.
The result of all this is: Like never before, the public is changing from
being cynical to “dam the torpedoes, we want action now”. Those currently in
government need to be concerned. Those elected the next time best make the
right promises, keep them and deliver what the public demands. Times have
changed. Rogue politicians are an endangered species.
June 2010 - It’s been hard to decide
This month, it’s been hard to decide what to include in this column. The
variety of potential topics is long and varied. High on the list have been:
MLA expense accounts; out migration from rural Nova Scotia; perception of
having to hide something, because MP’s are blocking Sheila Fraser’s desire
to open up the book on over $533-million spent by elected MP’s and staff.
Or, I could continue about a subsidy to trappers, or cast my opinion on
Biosolids, which Tom Taggart said, would be the subject matter of his next
column.
Yes, the potential list also included the dire
state of the province’s tourism industry and lack of support to provide
funding for student summer employment. On the bright side was the “Best of
Colchester” initiative organized by the Truro and District Chamber of
Commerce.
Instead of choosing one, I’ve decided to devote a sentence or two to each of
the above. First I will deal with the positive.
Best of Colchester. A fantastic idea by the Truro Chamber permitting businesses and residents to feel good about the business sector in Colchester, which also includes Bible Hill, Truro and Stewiacke. It will be interesting when the people’s choices are announced at the awards ceremony on June 17th.
MLA Expenses. What an embarrassing situation.
It was either deceit or stupidity that infected all parties. If deceit, all
involved should not be above the law. If stupidity, this province is really
in trouble, because a lack of judgment at that level causes voters to wonder
how capable are those in power to lead this otherwise great province. The
worry is the arrogant attitude has infected all parties. Let’s hope current
leaders take a strong hand to rein-in all, including staff.
Out migration. The disappearance of young people from rural Nova Scotia
to more urban areas continues at a rapid pace. Many can assume most
political parties are abandoning rural areas. Might it be because there are
more votes in urban centers?
Blocking Sheila Fraser. What a dumb move. Sure none of us like to be strip searched or to have a microscope planted on our private financial transactions. However, MP’s should remember it is our money, and they work for us. I’m not saying they did anything deceitful or used poor judgment spending our money, but blocking the efforts of the auditor general does nothing more than send the perception there is something to hide. I would have hoped each MP would have welcomed Fraser’s move. It will happen soon, the public will demand it before parliament ends for the summer recess.
Coyotes. I interpret this move as a subsidy to trappers. Now we have to wait until fall to donate $20 of taxpayers’ money. Within a week of MacDonell’s announcement, a coyote was seen on the main thoroughfare in Maitland, about 200 feet from my house.
Biosolids. I’m not experienced on the subject, but unless someone can demonstrate otherwise, I don’t want biosolids spread on agriculture land. Thank heavens; Atlantic Superstore has stated it will not buy produce grown on land that has been treated with Biosolids.
Tourism. If you talk to the operators, they are convinced this year will be another devastating year. Passports, the American economy and terrorism threats will not only keep the Americans away, but the high dollar will see a large number of Canadians spending vacations south of the border.
Student Employment. A large number of students
will not earn the money they need to return to university or college this
fall. Sure the economy is tough, but we need to invest in our youth. Maybe
government should cancel future $42,000.00 press conferences.
It would be interesting to see the results if someone was able to provide a
public opinion, website to gauge public opinion in Nova Scotia. I hear there
is one in the works.
Even though, I don’t like to be negative, some of the above comments needed to be said. In closing on a positive note, go to the computer, log onto www.trurochamber.com and cast a vote for the 25 categories in the Truro Chamber’s “Best of Colchester” contest. If you feel so inclined, Vote for the Shoreline Journal. - Maurice
May 2010 - Pets, children, tourists or
Coyotes?
Increases of coyote attacks on humans has captured a lot of attention
recently and rural residents are concerned. Prominence started with the
mauling death of Taylor Mitchell, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter by a
pack of run-a-muck coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
To understand the problem, step outside at
night. From you verandah you can hear coyotes calling the pack to a late
night feast of recently killed wild game, farm animal or pet. So far only
one human.
Coyotes have become more brazen and are often seen lurking around school
property, or the shores of lakes in cottage country. To put it mildly,
coyotes are everywhere.
The closest problem was in South Maitland. Susan Sinclair was taking a mid
morning stroll along an abandoned railbed, which has become part of the
walking trail system at the Fundy Tidal Interpretive Centre & Lookoff and
the Visitor Information Centre at the end of the Gosse Bridge in South
Maitland.
She was attacked by a coyote, which raced across a small pond up an
embankment to grab her pants, leaving a large bruise on her thigh.
Thankfully she was able to scare it off.
The site is important to the tourism sector. In 2009, the site recorded the
second highest percentage increase in counseling tourists for all the
Visitor Information Centres in Cumberland, Colchester and East Hants areas.
Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell has announced, starting this fall,
a $20 bounty will be paid and trappers will be hired on an on-call basis for
future incidents. Wildlife specialists within his department feel a bounty
will not solve the problem.
One wildlife expert whom I spoke to says that the quickest solution will be
to permit the carrying of centre bore rifles for the purpose of hunting
coyotes. As of March 31st, only a shotgun can be transported in a vehicle. A
shotgun is as effective in killing a coyote as a baseball bat.
Nova Scotia’s problem with coyotes dates back over 20 years During that
time, the province has lost about 80% of its trappers and a similar
proportion of big game hunters. The coyote population could be seriously
exploited if MacDonell would make it easy to obtain a permit to carry a
rifle at this time of year. April and May are the birthing season for
coyotes. A pregnant female killed at this time is equilivant to killing 8-10
coyotes at another time of year.
Trapping will remove about 2,000-2,500 animals per year. What isn’t stated
about trapping is the number of pets who fall victim to the traps or snairs.
Abandoned railways beds are a super highway for coyotes. They can travel
long distances with ease as its also used by deer, rabbits and other prey.
If MacDonell was real serious about reducing coyote attacks on pets or
humans, he would have encouraged 2009 long gun hunters to become involved.
Readily simple to implement: Call a toll free number, provide hunting
license number, rifle model, serial number and the area to be hunted. A
confirmation number could be provided on the phone and the permit sent in
the mail that day. Simple, easy and done within five minutes.
One wanna-be coyote hunter, I spoke to said he could easily hunt and kill
about 100 coyotes a year. If we had 500-1000 long gun hunters involved, we’d
drive the coyotes back from heavier populated areas.
We have about three weeks to get an upper hand on the problem, before
females give birth. In Nova Scotia coyote litters range from 8-15 pups. If
we can take out 1,000 females before mid-May, it’s the same as trapping
8,000-10,000.
The government is dealing with a “hot potato”. I hope members sleep
comfortably. Essentially, their options are pets, children, tourists or
coyotes.
If you agree stronger action must be taken, I suggest you contact your local
MLA, and the district office of Department of Natural Resources.
If you do nothing the next incident could involve a family member, pet or
livestock. If you wish, send me a letter or email and I will ensure your
opinion is delivered to the appropriate people.
Emails can be sent to:
maurice@theshorelinejournal.com
April 2010 - It’s Harder to Trust.
This is going to be one of the most difficult columns to write since they
started appearing 25 years ago. After 46 years in the publishing sector in
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, for the first time in my life, I am near the
breaking point in losing trust in a group of people so important to our
well-being – MLA’s in particular.
Late in 2009, I began developing a list of topics for this space, which would highlight the needs and desires of living in small communities.
It began with realizing the NDP government seemed to be favouring Metro Halifax at the expense of rural Nova Scotia. Not long after I started the outline, other writers and columnists in the dailies and on television were expressing the same thoughts.
January focused on Community Spirit using the initiative of Amanda Langille and associates who promoted “The Thirsty Church” in a nation-wide contest for renovation and development funding through the AVIVA Community Fund.
February’s theme focused on difficulties for volunteers in “It’s the times we’re facing”. Here’s an excerpt from February’s column………. “There is a major difference between worrying the cupboard might be bare and realizing there’s not even a crumb to be had. That’s the position I suggest we are in. Budgets - personal, business and government have been stretched so far, elastic is all but not existent”.
March’s issue, written in early February, moved on to my version of how “Moving towards Sustainability” would be helpful to volunteers achieve goals for their community, whether maintaining a segment / icon of local heritage, or adapting with the times to keep the community vibrant and of interest to those with young families.
This issue outlined how community groups, church organizations, or a citizens group working to better their community should think outside the box, take charge, and convince themselves the community can and should own it’s own destiny.
To succeed community development is based on consultation, visionary planning and sustainability to get “buy-in” from the business community combined with networking with elected officials at three levels of government.
However, proposed subjects for this space got derailed.
First it was the high-handed decision by Prime Minister Harper to shut down
parliament until early March, eliminating progress made on legislation on
its way to passage through parliament and Senate. Then, closer to home it
was the constant amateur decisions being made by a newly elected government,
who seemed to be favouring metropolitan areas over rural Nova Scotia.
Provincially, we were promised and elected an NDP government on the strength
they would do things better with increased transparency. Since Robert
Chisholm almost became premier in 1999, we were slowly convinced they would
govern differently.
The NDP were positioned as “squeaky clean” and would change the face of government by bringing it back to the people. Chisholm lost the election because he failed to “come clean” on a driving infraction.
In early February, Auditor General LaPointe released a report, which revealed many MLA’s spent money on things which the electorate found hard to accept. The report didn’t say so, but many voters perceived some MLA’s had been lining their own pockets.
Here’s a capsule of the the outcome to date: Nova Scotians are not seeing the level of change promised or expected; Premier Dexter’s brand has been severely tarnished and Karen Casey, who was not on the auditor general’s list, abandoned a run for the leadership. Karen was thrown under the bus, because it was perceived she did not “rein-in” or defended Richard Hurlburt, in the days, before his resignation as a sitting MLA. The abrupt unexplained resignation of Dave Wilson, MLA, Glace Bay will certainly provide scars on the career of Liberal leader, Stephen McNeil.
The reputation of all MLA’s is now suspect. The electorate is hopping mad, and will eventually make a decision on how they want to be represented.
Here’s one piece of advice for all party leaders: As a leader you must decide whom to serve. Defending one person can take you down, while looking out for 1000’s upon thousands of electors will propel you forward.
March 2010 - Working for Sustainability
In last month’s column, I focused on the problem community groups encounter
with approximately $3.60 per hour wage differential between the amount
community groups must pay summer students and the provincial government
rebate.
I don’t need to explain how hard volunteers work to keep community driven initiatives alive. No matter how hard they work every year more obstacles are put in their way.
Personally, I know how it feels. Groups with which I’m involved are facing the same obstacles: college student wage rebate shortages; liability insurance premiums approaching $3,000.00 and the list gets even longer.
I’ve come to the conclusion unless government makes some drastic changes, community groups involved with the smaller projects will burn themselves out, trying to overcome obstacles dispatched from government.
Volunteer “burn-out” is a problem. Not because volunteers are expected to do so much, but because those not volunteering see what is happening and decline the opportunity to help better their community. As a result those few dedicated volunteers have to do more to keep the initiative on life-support.
All of this is because volunteer groups are dependent on annual renewal of grants to employ students; pay for the liability insurance, or a new roof on the hall. They would be much better served with a multi-year contract to deliver a service to the community.
If governments, municipal or provincial, are serious about wanting to ensure rural Nova Scotia thrives, they need to immediately level the playing field with a new approach. Granted times are touch and money is at a premium. However, this can be done without increasing annual expenditures.
When the community groups thrive, they can be rewarded with more money
depending upon their success. We won’t stop on this analogy now. Hang on,
there’s lots more.
With multi-year financial assistance to take care of the essentials,
community groups are in position to proceed to even greater greatness.
A vibrant, but overworked community group with a great project should consider weaning themselves off government funding, by developing a plan to become self-sustainable within five years.
They need to start or purchase a business.
To succeed the business should be unrelated to the core community project and not be in direct competition to existing local services. Don’t start a convenience store, if there is already one. If the business is the only one of its type in the community, there aren’t many competitive feathers to ruffle.
Let’s look at rural Nova Scotia. Many are family business facing the problem the next generation is not interested, or have relocated to another area.
As a result, the multi-generation family business is in danger of closing. A
community group can salvage the community icon, rejuvenate it and use
profits to support community projects.
Broad-based community support gives it a better chance of thriving. Run
successfully the business generates profits which are earmarked for the
“core” community project which started the whole process.
However, there are danger areas, which need to be solved before they happen: A volunteer board of directors manages the business; staff delivers the services and residents need to support the business. Those same residents, who probably are shareholders must leave the day-to-day business activity to the staff, who report to the board of directors. If they don’t like what is happening complaints go to a shareholders meeting.
The biggest challenge is not raising the money, but rather getting community group volunteers to believe their group should be instrumental in having a profit oriented business associated with their group.
There are plenty of financial instruments to accomplish all of this. The Nova Scotia Co-operative Council with offices in Truro is a good place to start. They can explain a number of options and suggest operating and financing opportunities.
Investors can invest up to $50,000.00 per year and receive $17,500.00 credit on their income tax through the Equity Tax Credit Program.
Converting an overworked volunteer group, operating a interpretive centre or craft shop, to a sustainable community entity is needed to deliver services and survive beyond the next five years.
If you need some thoughts for your group, contact me.
Maurice
February 2010 - The Times We’re Facing
If we go back 24 months, who would have thought the economy would have
tanked in late 2008? Would you have convinced yourself the Progressive
Conservatives would be replaced with a strong majority for Darrel Dexter’s
NDP? In the wildest of imaginations could you envision Obama’s approval
rating would have sunk so low so quickly?
It hard to imagine that less than a month ago it would be warmer in
Newfoundland than it was in central Florida? There are numerous other
subjects we could question or debate.
I haven’t found the answers, so I chalk it up to ‘It’s the Times We’re
Facing’.
With all the banking troubles south of the border, this time last year, we
were nervous about how Canadian Banks would fare. Canadians were losing
their jobs as the auto industry got refinanced. Many worried if they would
be next to the EI office. We weathered the storm even though it was
difficult.
It’s the immediate future which I find troubling.
There is a major difference between worrying the cupboard might be bare and
realizing there’s not even a crumb to be had.
That’s the position I suggest we are in.
Budgets - personal, business and government have been stretched so far,
elastic is all but not existent.
Even when government says the most is 1%, the strength or strangle-hold held
by unionized workers, outside the Capital Region, permitted them to continue
getting wage parity with colleagues in Halifax area.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting parity should have been lost.
However, I am saying, ‘What is fair is fair’. If 2.9% was there six months
ago, it had to be there for the same colleagues in more rural areas.
Labour unrest will be in the headlines for months to come. NSGEU will be
bargaining on behalf of its members. The line is drawn in the sand.
It will be interesting to see who blinks first.
According to economists and the Bank of Canada, the recession is over.
The economy is rebounding. Those at the economic bottom of the scale are
still wondering what is next, and when will they see an improved economy.
Now that I’ve set the stage, here’s where I see troublesome areas of a
province and its citizens going through all the hoops to rebuild the
economy.
The announcements for more stimulus project funding will soon cease.
Money to complete the projects will be spent, but the tap has been turned
off. The next move is up to the private sector.
But that is not all. The worst is yet to come and come it will this summer.
Community groups rely on governments to approve funding for Summer Student
positions. Colleague students working at tourist bureaus, museums get life
support employment courtesy of government funding to the local community
group.
For the past 15 years, I’ve been involved in numerous groups who applied for
and received summer student funding. Deadline for application is January
29th. That is not the problem.
The caveat is the following wording: ‘Applications will be accepted for
positions paying a minimum of $10.50 per hour plus 4% vacation pay and
employer costs’.
I don’t have a problem paying students $10.50 per hour.
The problem exists in that the program wage reimbursement is $8.50 per hour.
Local volunteers must find the other $2.00 per hour, plus approximately
$1.60 in payroll overheads.
The estimated increase in wage costs for 4 summer students for 8 weeks is
approximately $3,200.00. In order open a tourist bureau, the 12 volunteer
members will have to fund raise the funds. $3,200.00 is a lot of bake sales
or 50-50 draws.
According to my sources most summer student funding is directed to
employment in rural or semi-rural areas. With the tap turned off on the
stimulus projects to larger municipalities is there a move afoot to penalize
rural areas even more? Does the Department of Tourism not want to see
tourism thrive in rural areas?
How much harder do volunteers have to work to keep a community initiative
moving along? No point in complaining, ‘It’s the Times, We’re Facing, but we
will eventually have our say.
January 2010 - Community Spirit
History has repeated itself in Londonderry. In 1949 a group of local women, known locally as the “Cheerful Stitchers” completed a two year drive to raise money to build a church. In the fall of 2009, many descendents, friends and former residents of the “Cheerful Stitchers” community ended a two month drive by ensuring the community’s church finished in the Top 25 of the AVIA Insurance Community Fund initiative to receive funding to rejuvenate the church into a much needed community centre.
As Maritimers, we always have a strong sense of community spirit and it always seems to come forth in abundance at Christmas time. We’ve got a global reputation of being the most generous of all Canadians not only of our time, but also forking over money for causes for those less fortunate than ourselves.
However, there is one recent initiative which best demonstrates what people have been saying all along. The Thirsty Church initiative from Londonderry Station is the best example in recent history.
On October 21st, Amanda Langille, and a small group of supporters entered the Londonderry Station Community Church in a national competition organized by AVIA Insurance. For the next six weeks this project put many lives on hold, as the Thirsty Church started to capture national attention.
AVIA Insurance set aside $500,000.00 to be awarded by a panel of judges to community based projects which at the end of public on-line voting succeeded as being the Top 25. The Thirsty Church entry was covered in the Shoreline as the headline story in the December issue. The initial phase of the competition was to reduce hundreds of entries down to 63 for the semi-final round which would accept online voting for a two week period until voting ended at midnight on the night of December 16th.
To the amazement of many, the Thirsty Church gradually gained momentum, and towards the end appeared to be the entire focus of life. When voting ended Thirsty Church did what it needed to do, finishing in the 25th position with 19,030 votes. Not bad for a community of 100 people. Organizers and supporters must now wait until a panel of judges decisions are announced on January 25th.
The Thirsty Church dream is to dig a well, install running water, a wheelchair ramp, and finish the basement complete with modern kitchen facilities in building which was constructed 60 years ago.
Initially, the church was constructed as the result of community spirit of local women who organized, “Cheerful Stitchers” who with their own hands produced enough handcrafts to raise the money to buy the lumber to build a church.
Many of those, who maneuvered the recent initiative into the Top 25, were immediate family descendents of the original creators. Others were former residents of the area, or those who have roots in the immediate area.
In an online comments section of the Thirsty Church entry a total of 1138 comments were posted not only to support the drive, but also to reconnect. To update the church with running water, washrooms, wheelchair ramp and a modern kitchen is estimated to be in the range of $100,000.00.
The “Thirsty Church” project demonstrates what can happen the entire community comes together. It is not anticipated the AVIA fund would pay for the entire repairs, but the momentum created by the contest could be perceived as being the catalyst ensuring the repairs will be completed.
Governments and other organizations can take a lesson or two from the Londonderrians, who have amassed a lot of publicity for the province and particularly West Colchester. It just shows what happens when communities are engaged.
Amanda Langille should receive special recognition for conceiving the idea and seeing it through to an exhausting end. Her dedicated volunteers come a close second. However, it is important to mention three public officials who stepped up to the batters box when needed: Karen Casey, MLA; Tom Taggart, councilor, and Colchester Mayor Bob Taylor. These three strategically made moves, which helped push the project into the Top 25.
Congratulations to all Thirsty Church supporters, who await the January 25th decision from the judges.
December 2009 - H1N1 & Education Problems
There have been times choosing a subject for this column has been a
difficult task. This month has been one of them. Throughout the month, it
appeared the preferred topic would be the H1N1 delivery fiasco.
After careful consideration, this month’s space will occupy two subjects,
H1N1 and our education system.
H1N1 has occupied everyone’s mind; so much so, people are getting weary just
hearing about it. The entire matter has taken on “the sky is falling”
syndrome.
There are four groups of people for whom compassion should be noted.
First, families who have suffered loss of a loved one, or suffered several
illness. Secondly, thousands who were forced to stand in line for hours to
get punctured by a needle. Thirdly, employers facing loss or productivity
from those who are ill or those standing in line so they don’t become ill.
Last, but not least, are the front line people who have been staffing the clinics and puncturing our arms and facing wrath of the public.
Give governments their credit. They are adept at creating a stampede.
They’ve put enough fear in us, that we stampeded into long lineups for 5-6 hours without assurance we would get vaccinated that day. Let’s hope, we never suffer a real emergency or massive disaster. The wheels of government failed and failed drastically to adequately get us vaccinated without a lot of hassle.
They tried to re-invent the wheel. To set up clinics, and have them staffed, why didn’t they call upon Elections Canada to use their infrastructure? Elections Canada has demonstrated it is capable of handling us when we stampede to the polls on one day.
The Elections Canada machinery could have been used to set up clinics at each of the poll locations, get qualified people from the local area to work the “front end”. Local residents could easily have been trained to handle the admissions, while medically qualified people could have punctured us.
The Elections Canada database could have been used to send us mailings specifying where the clinics were located in our area, and when we should appear. No privacy would have been breached, and the matter handled with much less fuss and confusion. And it probably would have been less expensive.
I decided not to use the entire space on H1N1 as I was starting to have cynical thoughts. It crossed mind that perhaps the total focus on H1N1 might have been an attempt to cause us not to think about the economy and the lack of political leadership which if functioning properly would see us all employed and well at the same time.
Now, onto more comments about our education system.
Last month’s column, which is not the first opinion piece questioning our education system, seems to be the leader of the pack in current discussions. Education and its outcomes for younger and older students is a subject debated for decades, but with little more of an outcome than lip service.
No sooner had last month’s column got into the public’s hands, and Stephen Lund, CEO, Nova Scotia Business Inc, opened the can of worms even wider during his address to Truro Chamber of Commerce members.
Lund told the Truro CoC attendees our education system is letting students down. Almost concurrently, Elizabeth Beale, President and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council concluded in her paper to the Economic Advisory Panel report to Nova Scotia Government the improving adult literacy will be “key stimulus to increasing productivity”.
Then, Roger Taylor in his November 12th column in the Chronicle Herald added more fuel to the fire, by adding his comments to the Lund and Beale revelations.
Beale’s comments about the need and only lip service being paid becomes reality in West Colchester with the problems being faced by the Colchester Adult Learning Association (CALA) in their attempt to deliver adult learning program in Great Village.
Program funding for the dozen or so adult students has been cut so drastically, formalized instruction has been cut in half; instructors are volunteering services or expenses, travel and childcare subsidy for students is slashed. To keep going, the program needs the $20,000.00 cut from the budget reinstated.
November 2009 - Are students challenged?
There are several things about our education system I find disturbing. Those concerns might play a significant role to the “root cause” why North America is dropping in Global rankings on the education stage.
A decline in rankings, regardless of the magnitude of the comparative analysis, should be a wake-up call for everyone, especially educators and those who pay the bills. When surveys about education are released “special interest” groups dispute the findings, or say it the model does not apply to our situation.
Perhaps first question I would raise would be: “Is our education system challenging the student? I anticipate the answer would be no way or not enough.
Second question, “Why do we not hear about more students repeating another year because they failed?” Is it because all students are bright, or does not failing students camouflage weaknesses in the educators and make the system look good?
Many professors complain students enter university/ college with less than required reading and math skills. Why?
President Obama is on record as wanting a students spending more time each day in the classroom, plus a longer school year. Sure such actions, regardless if in USA or rural Nova Scotia would cost more money. Spending more money might not be a bad thing, as long as the desired outcome is achieved.
North America will continue to lose jobs, and over time suffer a lower standard of living if we don’t start overhauling education systems. An improved education system will also bring improvements in the general health of our population. Education and health are intertwined and both benefit if managed and delivered properly.
Obtaining the desired outcome to education negotiations is nothing more than a power struggle, between professionals, who want a greater package, and government trying to keep a lid on spending. Seldom do the parents/ guardians get opportunity for their individual small voices to be heard. However, that must change.
When agreements are reached it signifies a negotiated settlement, not what is best for the population as a whole.
As a start Nova Scotia, preferably Canada, needs one set of exams to measure how well the education system is working. To those who oppose, please tell us why?
First step is universal curriculum. If laid out in the teachers manual, each
educator would know exactly what to teach. Provincial exams should be held
on the same day province-wide. The exam for all grades should be no more
than one hour, covering the total curriculum.
The purpose is not to add pressure students, but for each school board, or
individual school to have a measuring stick to access the quality of
delivery. In guessing some of the results, I would bet my money schools in
smaller areas would far outshine larger complexes.
Sure it would pit school against school, or board against board, but soon, parents and government would know the strengths and weaknesses. Within five years, we would see significant changes, including higher marks across the province because all of a sudden it was competitive environment.
A province wide exam is one litmus test which can be implemented for very
little cost. Design of the exam is critical. Retired educators would be
asked or “volunteered” to serve as markers. And yes, they can be
volunteered, in the same way as we must show up for jury duty.
You might think these and other suggestions are harsh. Perhaps so, however,
“tough love” is the best place to start. Not just on the students, but
classroom educators, their bosses right up to senior staff and Minister of
Education.
Parents must be become involved as well. They must get involved in their child’s education and demand a certain outcome.
Do we want to risk our children’s future by entering university with a grade six reading level or be under educated in math? What instrument do we have to measure the quality of education are children are receiving? To my knowledge there is no instrument to measure outcome. Hence no accountability.
Summary: Our students are not challenged, because they know they will go on to the next grade regardless of how much or how little work they do.
October 2009 - Living Beyond Our Means
I always try to be positive, and rarely do I get on my “high horse”, but recently several things have occurred, which causes me to conclude, we have our priorities in the wrong place.
If we are in our sixties, we need only to think back to the stories related to us by our parents about life during the dirty 30’s. If we are under 50, we need to reflect on the life of our grandparents during the World War I or life in the 20’s and then the destructive 30’s.
After accessing what they told us, we need to understand why they were so frugal, resourceful and in some cases hide money in the mattress. Yet even though family fortunes were lost in the “Great Depression”, they were able to rebound, amassing sizable family estates. Their hard work, dedication to family, and acquiring their own property accounted for the successes they were able to pass along to Siblings.
In the translations from generation to generation a significant amount has been lost. Primarily these losses would include: work ethic, dedication to saving, living within our means, and expectations of what is due to us.
The depression was particularly sorrowful because there was little in the way of “social safety nets”. Thank heavens, our socialization has introduced safety nets, but they have come at a human price.
The safety nets have taught us to strive for more, and not worry about the future, because if the economy or we falter, we will be saved. In fact we have come to expect the safety nets will maintain our lifestyle and we don’t need to make any sacrifices.
We’ve lost the desire or ability to fend for
ourselves, and if “we can’t make it”, then government and society must
“maintain us in the life to which we have become accustomed”.
As one wonders if we are living beyond our means, the time is appropriate to
do some self analysis.
Even though the world has been involved in an economic meltdown for the past year, we are still clamouring to “get more” and fail to realize all these wants must be paid back, and often at a time we can ill afford.
The provincial budget introduced last Thursday proves the point.
Here we are, as families or a community,
struggling each month to keep our head above water and we persist in
“wanting more” and blaming our elected officials if we don’t get it.
It doesn’t make a bit of difference if we are talking about municipal,
provincial or federal representatives.
Let me use this point to illustrate how we have faltered.
Since the turn of the decade, basically starting in 2003 until last year, Nova Scotia has been enjoying hundreds of millions of dollars annual as Royalty taxes from natural gas. Did we contact elected officials and ask them to “save for a rainy day”? No we wanted the money squandered on things we could have done without.
Some will disagree with me. However, if it had not been for natural gas, how would we have lived? What would we have done?
We can always blame government and the public service for a lot of things. However, we certainly can’t blame them for spending the money.
We’ve trained them that if they don’t give us what we want, we’ll vote them out of office at the first opportunity. So in order for them to keep their jobs, they must succumb to our wishes.
Nova Scotians must make radical changes in their
“wish list” and now is the time to start. We have a majority government so
it should be four years before we head back to the polls.
In the meantime, as voters, we need to deliver a message to all elected
officials: We’ll vote you out of office if you don’t reduce government
expenditures: Spend only on necessities; don’t give any wage increases to
the public sector; ensure everyone lives within their means.
If the nearly one million of us adopt this attitude, within a decade, we
would be one of the most prosperous provinces in Canada. We have the
resources and we should not give them away.
September 2009 - New Activities Needed
For many years, I’ve tried to encourage volunteers in small communities to
look beyond expending their efforts simply for maintenance of buildings or
other short-term crisis. As I was assisting Dorothy with her t-shirt
business, at events in small communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
were required.
The more I travelled, the more I began to realize I have been on the right page for many years. The coastal area encompassed by Advocate Harbour along the shore to Truro has so many undeveloped assets, that it is amazing. It is those assets that cause “tourists” to really enjoy the time spent in the area.
The problem with suggesting to volunteers and community groups is they are already overloaded and with dwindling numbers far too few are doing too much of the work. However if they are going to significantly improve the economy they must find a way to work on events which attract large crowds and can make money, and pay wages.
Two types of community events which seem to be a
big hit are motorcycle rallies and music weekends. The more interesting ones
I’ve seen are ones hosted by small rural communities.
Events of these types are important because they bring a lot of people to
the area causing economic spin-offs for every type of business to benefit.
Let me give you a few samples.
At the end of June we attended the Shediac Flea Market, previously known as the Moncton Flea Market. Attendance was hampered by heavy rain showers on each of the four days, but the vendors were there, and ready to sell. Even though it rained, there were still about 15,000 people paying to enter the selling grounds. A successful private sector event operated by two married couples.
In mid-July it was a “Newfie” weekend at Stewiacke River Park. There must have been over 500 travel trailers, RV’s, and tents. People who have attended regularly indicated only about half of the normal crowd was there. The event is a family owned initiative.
At the end of July, we attended the first annual Cape Breton BikeFest in Sydney, which attracted approximately 3,000 motorcycles. While in Sydney, we learned about a new event “Rage in the Gage” the first annual motorcycle rally in Gagetown New Brunswick.
The following weekend we were off to Gagetown, as vendors for t-shirts the location was the Queens County Exhibition grounds with rough camping provided in an adjoining field. There were upwards of 1,000 motorcycles, lots of music and plenty of activities provided as the result of a volunteer community organization.
The community of Middle Musquodoboit, which has hosted the Halifax County Exhibition for 125 years attracted 7,500 people on Friday night for a truck pull.
This coming weekend, we are off to Digby to attend the 5th Annual Wharf Rat Rally, which in 2008 attracted 15,000 motorcycles. This year they anticipate 25,000 bikes and a total of 100,000 people over a five day period in a town of 2,000.
The outline of the various events we have attended this summer was not to boast about our travels, but to illustrate some of the events held in small communities very similar to the Cobequid Shore.
To grow tourism, improve the economy, and re-vitalize the Cobequid Shore area a series of similar events need to be organized. For instance Debert Industrial Park and adjacent lands would be an ideal location for a major flea market. Sussex, which I had not mentioned, recently attracted 900 vendors and in the vicinity of 60,000 people over three days. The crowds were down due to an Acadian Festival in Caraquet, which attracted 45,000.
Economy with the Recreation Centre would be an ideal location for a music festival weekend. Parrsboro with its municipal infrastructure could easily host a major event, which could draw up to 20,000 – 25,000 people over a three day weekend.
Just think of the economic spinoffs if several summer events could be organized along the shore. There’s at least 8 possible weekends in July and August.
If Gagetown can do it with rough camping, any community along the shore could easily replicate the efforts. To bring any or all these events to reality, just takes the initiatives of community volunteers.
Will anyone develop a vision to bring some new events to reality for 2010 or 2011?
August 2009 - Are Radiation Emissions
Harmful?
I had another column for this month almost completed, when on Sunday
evening, I accidentally ended up watching 16 x 9, a documentary on Global
television. It immediately captured my attention because it was talking
about radiation emissions, which are causing health problems.
The main focus was the small flouscient energy efficient light bulbs, which
look exactly like the ones promoted during the Christmas season by Nova
Scotia Power a couple of years ago. Apparently the main problem is the
mercury contained in the bulbs, emits ultra violet rays similar to those
from the sun.
I missed the first 10 minutes of the program,
but the remainder of the program was enough to motivate Dorothy and me to
commit to remove any of the bulbs within the next week.
Several people who had unexplainable health issues were interviewed. Try as
they did, the documentary team were unable to even get an interview with the
Canadian Minister of Health, but after more than two weeks, were granted an
interview. My analysis of the statement made by the government
representative is they will conduct some tests and abide by the test
results.
During the first few minutes of my viewing, I remembered we used to see
signs in restaurants and cooking areas warning pregnant women and those with
a pacemaker, a microwave was in use.
Back to the television documentary, one woman interviewed suffers from Lupus, and was further confronted with itching, red blotches, and hive-like welts. The program showed an expert testing one of the bulbs in her bedside table lamp. That particular bulb was emitting at the rate of 800+, when an acceptable level was in the range of 50.
The program further stated there is no legislation or guidelines in Canada on acceptable UV emission standards; however, there is enacted legislation in Britain. Not getting very far in getting answers to their questions form Canadian government authorities, the documentary team looked to Britain for answers.
One British expert explained that people who are super sensitive to light, even those who suffer from migraines, would be more likely to be affected than others who were more resistant. Health problems like Lupus, and other similar ailments, would make a person more susceptible to light, and the bulbs could further aggravate such sensitivities.
In another segment of the program, light bulbs in a horse barn were changed back to the indescant bulbs, when a horse or the horses and staff started suffering unexplained aliments. The camera showed one beautiful horse, and after the commercial, the owner was feeding the horse a handful of grain, and commenting about him/her feeling better.
All of this causes me to wonder, if some of the migraine-suffering students could be connected to lighting in the schools? Are staff, who work long hard hours in the classrooms also suffering the affects from radiation-emitting light fixtures?
With Thomas Edison incasdent light bulbs to be banned from use in 2012, are we going to have a better light bulb, or would our health be better off with a kerosene lamp, or for families to sit in the dark to achieve better health.
How much testing did Nova Scotia Power conduct on the new bulbs before they were promoting in a partnership with the provincial government. If they didn’t do any testing, did they ask for results of research into potential problems?
If results finally show, the new energy
efficient bulbs are emitting UV radiation higher than permitted; will Nova
Scotia Power be equally aggressive to assist us to change back?
All of this brings to mind a question to which I don’t have an answer. Does
dirty electricity exist? Are there potentially harmful side affects from
other appliances in hour homes, could the electrical wires coming into our
homes be harmful? When I see a “so called” professional testing a regular
electrical wall outlet and getting high readings, I have to wonder.
I’m going to try to get a copy of Global’s 16 x 9 Documentary, and then follow up with some professionals I know, as well as ask pertinent questions of professionals within the public service.
I’d be interested in receiving comments from readers, who saw the program, or are knowledgeable about the subject.
July 2009 - The power of Number 7
Wow, times are changing quickly and the pace will continue non-stop for a
while.
That makes it difficult for us humans. The one thing we don’t like is
change, but adjust we must. Last year has brought about more change than we
have seen in the previous decade.
Many times change, although resisted, is good, but very little of what we
have been experiencing is not good. In fact it is downright destructive.
A year ago, we were still riding high with over a dozen years of
unprecedented growth. The warning signals were there, but we either failed
to notice them, or ignored them completely, because we did not want to
experience additional change.
If we think back 25-30 years, we experienced economic turmoil in the late
70’s with high interest rates; in the mid-80’s a rocky road appeared again;
in the 90’s business economic turmoil was nipping at our heels again.
As we look back, it seems like the folklore tradition that everything
happens in seven year cycles. If so, we need to mark our calendar, for when
the next period of rapid change, good or bad, besets upon us.
In Canada a bit more than two years ago, Asset Backed Paper Bonds collapsed.
Many financial institutions and large volume investors lost the buttons off
their shirt, if not, the entire shirt.
Purdy Crawford, formerly of Sobeys fame, headed a government committee to
solve the matter. Many institutional investors are still licking their
wounds.
It’s now almost two years since other financial products were unable to
complete their IPO’s (Initial public offerings). Not wanting to face the
music, those failures were blamed on the quality of the products rather than
trouble brewing below the surface. Banks started to tighten up lending
practices about a year before, most of us realized what was happening.
South of the border the financial meltdown started about 15 months ago, with
the sub-prime mortgages, but not many said anything. It’s my belief those
who were in the know, or should have known, stayed quiet because of greed.
Greed would permit them to strategize how they could reduce their exposure
to turmoil.
Of course, greed was not limited to those professionals. It was rampant
amongst us normal people. Homeowners were basking in the fact, their
property was increasing in value, and they soon would be able to pull out
their equity, selling at a high price, enabling them to buy a larger more
extravagant property, with very little equity, and do it all over again.
Greed is all that it was. No one should
expect to double their money on residential real estate within five years,
if they paid fair market value in the beginning. Greed caused many to be
blind-to-the-fact, and in come cases it bordered on stupidity.
I, turned 62 last week, and don’t profess to know much about economics, but
I’ve been around long enough to know what goes up, eventually comes down,
and what is down will eventually go up.
The number seven or its multiples always seems to play a part. If someone
has the time to research Canadian life since 1939, look for things
(anything, not just financial) happening in cycles of 7, 14 and 21.
For a practice run, make a note of important things in your life regardless
of when they happened. Make sure you pick things that are positive and
negative. Then see what numerical cycles evolve.
At the beginning I mentioned change and the
pace of change. The fact we now have an NDP government is not surprising,
when we look at history, and the # 7 principle. What happened recently and
how much everyone wanted change is a natural progression.
Governed either by Conservatives or Liberals, many feel neither of them have
really done much to effect massive changes in Nova Scotia. In fact, some
people quietly blame them for the state we are in.
Demanding change and the economy to be corrected once and for all, people
decided to vote for massive political change. I’m not saying Dexter’s NDP
will get it correctly, but people voted for change, and now they have it.
The proving ground is four years, plus.
June 2009 - Treading Carefully
Writing this month’s version of Rees’ Pieces is like treading water. When
treading, you don’t go forward, neither do I wish to put my foot in my
mouth, change feet, or do something which will offend people. As long as I
can be fair and meaningful, I’ll be happy.
The fact that we have a provincial election on June 9th, makes this one of the harder opinion pieces, I have written for the Shoreline Journal and as equally as hard as many of similar columns, I have written over the years.
In the over 40 years, I have been involved with publications, throughout the Maritimes, I have always strived to ensure several topics were handled carefully. The diligence to ensure care was taken is not just from the editorial side, but also from the slant or perception of a particular slant taken in the stories from a variety of writers.
I started to cut my teeth in journalism and
publishing, in the early 60’s, in my hometown of Woodstock, New Brunswick.
It was a newer weekly, going up against a much older established paper,
which was very political, and also very strong affiliations with the Baptist
community.
Management decided if they were going to gain market share, they would have
to stay politically neutral and not show religious favourites. How
successful that worked impressed me right from the start. From a business
perspective, it gave us a good warm feeling to not show favourites, and to
be accepted by everyone.
Then as society moved along, around the world, especially in the United States, more attention was being paid to the colour of a person’s skin. A similar level of independence evolved, and in some cases, news was reported as news. Sure we did take some heat for bringing racial issues out into the public, but being fair to all, seemed to be the right thing to do.
Within the past 15-20 years the subject of sexual orientation rose to the surface and started to receive more balanced coverage, and a topic which was discussed at the coffee houses. Sexual orientation, in some ways was the most contentious, but I had matured enough to recognize fairness to all was the best policy.
As a result, when I launched my first publication in 1986, I vowed that these four topics would always be handled with the greatest of cautions. With small communities and a rural lifestyle which exist along the Cobequid Shore, there is nothing which would rile up the readers more than a paper taking a firm stand on any of these subjects.
In last fall’s federal and municipal
election, I wrote each candidate and assured them everyone would be treated
equally and fairly. I have done the same in this election and it makes me
feel good to carry that message to the candidates, political parties, and
readers alike.
As a result you will not find me or the Shoreline Journal favouring one
party, or candidate over the other. Nor, would I use the privileges, I enjoy
as publisher, to cast my personal opinions upon readers.
This issue is the largest issue of the Shoreline Journal in recent history, if not since its beginnings in 1994. While working on the tourism section, which has grown beyond expectations, I have spent a lot of time on the internet trying to find a comprehensive list of festivals and events along the shore for this summer.
I’ll admit I was very disappointed that a lot of church suppers, and events like the renowned Blueberry Festival activities along the shore could not be found. We’ve printed the listings we could find.
So I guess my message to community event organizers is to be sure to plan early and get the message out. If it is our intention to grow tourism along the shore and attract new visitors, we have to give them more reasons to come visit us than good roads, beautiful scenery, or friendly people. They want to attend local events, have us feed them, and to buy our crafts.
Central Nova Tourism has been encouraging people to send in list of events early, so they can be printed in tourism publications, listed on the website, and used to market our areas to a global community, who would like to come visit us.
So next year, let’s make sure we all plan events early. If you don’t know where to send them, send to me, and I will take it upon myself to make the contacts to have events listed free of charge.
After all, it’s only fair to the large number of volunteers to see many new faces at the events.
May 2009 - It’s Embarrassing
When I was a youngster, Canadians and those who came here to visit wanted to
see RCMP officers dressed in their red serge. Back in the 50’s and 60’s the
image of an RCMP officer mounted on a sleek looking horse was an icon.
That was Canada. That is what visitors wanted; having their picture taken with an RCMP officer to many was a highlight of their visit to Canada. We felt proud that visitors held them in such high regard.
Oh my, how things have changed.
I’m not sure when it all started, perhaps in the “hippie” days of the 70’s. In that era, teachers still had a leather strap in their desk drawer and knew how to use it. Now we’d get thrown in jail for spanking our own “little monster”, who really needed some correction, and I don’t mean “time out”.
Things have gradually gotten worse, but within the past five years the rate of decline has been racing at break-neck speed. Often many of us complain the judicial system is too soft on criminals. More often than not, many people say law enforcement personnel are too highly paid for what we get in return. But it’s hard to complain about what they do or don’t do, because more often than not, they feel betrayed by the ease at which criminals either get off with a light sentence, or are set free.
RCMP and city police officials were always rated as being in good physical shape and could win any scrap which came their way. But not so in recent times, they seem to be hiding behind the infamous “Tazer”. Watching events evolve in British Columbia makes one wonder if the four constables are telling their own version of the truth, or if they are relating versions which might appear to be protecting a system, which is rotten to the core.
Without a doubt, the honour of being an RCMP constable is not what it once was. I’ve talked to a few of them, and they are down right embarrassed and would get out if they could find a profession which was somewhat equal in pay. Today’s public perception is taking its toll on municipal forces as well.
I don’t know about you, but the number of clerical errors, which have resulted in nearly a dozen criminals being set free is not the image which Nova Scotia should be creating. It didn’t make me feel proud, when the two most recent incidents were included in the national newscast on both CTV and CBC.
Then to have another newscast indicating the problem will be corrected by taping telephone calls, having a supervisor check all documents and adding another “tick-off” box to the already lengthy docket.
How stupid and bureaucratic can we be? Wouldn’t it be much simpler to implement a policy, that if a prisoner is transported to court he or she is to be brought back to the institution in which they have been confined? If they are to be released, let it happen there and they can take their meager belongings with them.
We treat our confined inmates well. They are
not tortured. They are well fed, warmer than if they were living on their
own, get good medical treatment, perhaps better than those of us who are
paying the taxes to house them and to have them supervised with qualified
people.
Enough is enough.
It’s time government officials elected or the public service became accountable doing things to protect us who are on the outside; do things in a way which are economical and make us proud of our judicial system.
Catch and Release is fine for the Department of Fisheries, not for criminals, who should be paying their debt to society by having their activities confined and away from us the law abiding public.
Operating a finely tuned, professional judicial system is what, we the public demand and deserve. We expect a government which has a true Minister of Justice. We don’t need a Minister of Catch and Release, in charge of a system, so attractive that Conrad Black is trying to get transferred here.
Stop embarrassing us.
April 2009 - Potholes still here;
Recession forgotten
When the weather starts to get spring-like, as it has the past week or so,
one starts to think about the three week period when the outdoors looks very
drab and dirty, but quickly it changes. Birds start arriving, deer are
roaming farther out into the fields, and almost overnight winter is gone.
When I was a toddler, one of the first signs of spring was impassable country roads, when vehicles sank to their axles. Up went a couple of potato barrels and a cedar fence rail, the blockade was in place until the farmer took it down.
We’re in that season now. Fewer birds arrive each year, roadbeds are not pools of mud, but the craters and potholes make the roads almost as impassable or more dangerous. In those days, a team of horses could pull you out or around the impassable areas, now it takes a wrecker and a few hundred repair dollars.
At this stage in our life, after destroying a tire, or bending another rim, on the way to or from work, we arrive at our destination in a depressed state, angry that our highways are in such deplorable condition.
However, residents of West Colchester who travel Highway # 2 are luckier than most. Thanks to the efforts of highway personnel and a lot of credit to Karen Casey, from the Glenholme corner to the bottom of the mountain near the county line, we have great highway.
In fact, Highway # 2 is in better overall condition than many sections of Hwy 104 between Cobequid Pass and Amherst. Hwy #102 Truro to Halifax has sections which are much more difficult to navigate than anything along West Colchester’s # 2.
Regardless of more or fewer potholes, Nova Scotians, or shall I say Atlantic Canadians, are much better off than other parts of this Great Country. Alberta is forecasting a deficit as the economy tumbles, with the price of a barrel of oil plummeting faster than our softwood industry.
Meanwhile Ontario, once the boastful generator of high paid manufacturing jobs, faces trauma similar to fishermen in Newfoundland when the cod disappeared. In the United States 50% of all personal bankruptcies are linked to healthcare costs. Canada is lucky, although wait times might be longer than we want; our families are not driven to financial despair.
For generations, when one sector of our economy failed, or took a nosedive, our heads bobbed above the surface somewhere else. We embraced High Tech; boutique manufacturing, whether it be aerospace or the offshore and tourism initiatives.
Even though we have never experienced the
highs, we never got swallowed up in the real depths of a depression. Some
say Atlantic Canadians are “bottom feeders”, because our economy has always
hovered near the bottom. Our resourcefulness has always seen us through.
We do have two areas of our economy which are very troublesome.
Tourism will suffer the most in the short-term. Alberta’s downturn, Ontario’s abandonment of manufacturing, combined with USA’s sub-prime mortgage meltdown, which lead to a global crisis, simply means a lot of people will not be travelling this year.
We can come to the aid of our fellow operators, if we encourage family and friends to travel within Atlantic Canada.
Education is the one with the largest and longest lasting negative impact. Our demographics have changed. We do not have enough younger people coming into the education system; yet, government is bent on building more and bigger schools. Instead of spending hundreds of millions on new larger schools, why not renovate existing schools and, if necessary, transport some of the students from suburbs to rural high schools instead of students travelling the other way.
Regardless of what all the pundits say, all the money which this provincial government could spend will not rid us of pothole after pothole. I don’t see a time, when our highways will be in a state of repair of which all of us are proud.
Unfortunately, some of the same potholes will be there, long after this recession has become a faint memory and that is what will cause rural communities to crumble. Fix the roads and rural areas will regenerate.
February 2009 - Hope, belief, confidence.
Sure, there are many things wrong with our economy. It’s bad and going to
get worse. From an internal perspective, not much of our current situation
need to have happened, if during the past year, Canadians had been blessed
with astute politicians and media focusing on something other than
negativity and an un-needed election.
Granted, I am part of the media and no, I am not shooting myself in the foot. The mainstream media, whether it is print, radio, television or internet blogs spend their time focusing on negativity, whether it is transportation-related accidents, forest fires, earthquakes, sub-prime mortgages, or a meltdown of the stock market.
When is the last time the lead story in any of the media was something positive, a “good news” story about success somewhere on this great earth? Honestly, I can’t remember it ever happening.
Since Labour Day, we have been bombarded with: sub-prime mortgage fiasco in the USA; then $700+-billion bailing out banks and financial institutions. Next in line were the auto manufacturers looking for $34-billion.
No matter how strong our constitution, after
a while simple folks like us will commence to lose confidence. We console
our thoughts by saying all these high paid people can’t be wrong.
They are correct, I’m wrong; we are heading for a recession. I best sell all
my stock and other assets put the money in the mattress, even though it’s
half of what it was a year ago.
That is where negative media takes us. It destroys our confidence. We stop
believing we will be able to survive to see the positive outcome. Once we
stop believing, we are really on the slippery slope toward rock bottom.
Then, we see everything negative and without hope. Our politicians have
taken us to the point of “no hope”.
There have been numerous surveys about the level of, or lack of confidence in the economy and how it affected retail sales. In reality, in 2008, we spent more at the Festival of Shopping than we did last year. It was on the backs of beleaguered retailers trying to get rid of inventory with mid-winter end-of-season deep-discounting prior to Christmas.
There will be fewer retailers around for the summer and fall selections, and the selections will be limited to mass-produced imported items. Remaining will be fewer “big box” and “national chains”. In the process, we lose many locally owned independent retailers.
Federal or provincial governments can try all the stimulation they want, but this economy is not going to turn positive for a long while. MP’s and MLA’s will probably increase debt with uneconomical and ill-advised projects, which will not lead us to prosperity. The return to good times will occur when consumers say, “This is enough”.
The antics in Ottawa, prior to Christmas, demonstrated nothing but child games and a complete lack of leadership. Perhaps, it reached a point where something had to happen or question period in parliament would have more mudslinging than before.
In the meantime, the Canadian economy sinks to lower levels for an additional six weeks. There is no need for our economy to reach the depths of despair facing our friends south of the border.
Government could, but won’t fix the problem easily and quickly.
My recipe is come clean with the electorate.
Tell them we are in for a rough time, but together we will succeed. Obama
won his historic election because of “Yes We Can!”
His direct approach will soon show positive results. Most Americans are
waiting for a new attitude to deliver Hope.
The Canadian road to success is restoring Hope, Belief and Confidence. With hope we will start to believe. Once we start to believe, we will venture toward restoring confidence. These three tools will determine how quickly the economy will recover.
Governments should reduce the amount of stimulation to large companies and focus on working with the electorate with a “Yes We Can” attitude and do it without a lot of “bailouts” or tax concessions. Three good places to start would massive public or social housing projects; transportation infrastructure and loan guarantees to ensure credit facilities exist for small business, as they are the creators of jobs anyway.
January 2009 - Rees’ Pieces
As I mentioned here last month, life might not be all that bad in West
Colchester, but that does not mean we can throw caution to the wind. We need
to hunker down, and do what we can to deal with a failing economy. It the
“Yes We Can” attitude.
While we try to save anyway we can, the provincial government, and the idiots in Ottawa are talking about spending their way out of a recession. I’m not an economist, but recognize, operating expenditures must be cut to the bone. Governments must set the example. After revamping themselves to spend taxation dollars efficiently and effectively, they need to find ways to stimulate the economy.
Stimulation expenditures might well include broad-based infrastructure projects. Lord knows we need better highways, and improvements in other areas. With all the talk about what to do and how much to spend, not much media has been allocated to find ways to reduce sending mega-dollars to oil producing countries and building our economy from within.
Over the last 18 months a lot has been said
about wind power and several projects requiring multi-millions of dollars
have been announced. Collapse of global financial markets has put several
projects in jeopardy or scheduling will be delayed for three to five years.
Our ability to increase green energy will be hampered and we will continue
to spend hundreds of millions or billions on importing oil in all it
formats. Not a positive outlook.
However, I have a suggestion, which could achieve all the above, plus provide an excellent opportunity for Nova Scotians to make sound financial investments.
Why not put the best and brightest brains to work to develop an investment opportunity to finance all the wind farms with Nova Scotia dollars?
Here’s the way I would do it.
Fifteen or so years ago, Frank MacKenna stated that each year over $600-million of new RRSP contributions from Atlantic Canadians left the area for investment elsewhere. Now is the time to find government backed investments so we can still do the RRSP bit, but ensure the money stays within the province.
Currently we have the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDIF), which the government guarantees a portion of the individual’s investment should it fail within four years. Other parts of the program include the taxpayer receiving a 30% tax credit up to $3,000.00. If the taxpayer lives outside of HRM, when all instruments of the program are fulfilled, only 20% of the original investment is at risk. Basically, that is the portion which the government guarantees should there be a financial failure of the business.
While the idiots in Ottawa are completing their sandbox games, Nova Scotians could be busy laying the groundwork for our financial future.
There is a way for a number of CEDIF’s to be developed individually, each owning a small share of a particular wind farm. Most of the wind farm projects got started with CEDIF’s but most sold out to better financed developers, of which many now can not find the millions of dollars to take the proposed wind farms to production.
Now is the time to bring these alternative energy projects back to where they belong. In the hands of Nova Scotians.
If we move quickly, we could be operational before the February 2009 RRSP deadline and all the wind farm projects announced in 2008, could be moving to implementation and be financed without any debt.
If the MacDonald government would identify projects, this investment template could be used to finance almost anything needed. It would stimulate the economy, so much so, we would grow the economy, while other provinces were dealing with a recession.
There is sufficient private investment capital available to repave every highway in Nova Scotia over the next decade; to build a few jails, develop much-needed communication systems for fire and ambulance services and have money left over.
It will be interesting to see if any of those who are elected or in the public service pick up on this enough to call me for some additional discussion. They can reach me at 902-647-2968.