HRM can help homeowners pay their property taxes through a payment plan or a variety of assistance programs, especially persons with low-income households of $27,000 or less. Deadline for Applications is December 29th. For more details; go to www.halifax.ca/boardscom/bccgrants/ResidentialPropertyTaxPrograms.html.

www.halifax.ca/boardscom/bccgrants/documents/NewsletterMay06.pdf.

Seniors should also check out the NS Property Tax Rebate Program. That Provincial program will provide each qualifying recipient with a 50% rebate of the property taxes paid to a maximum of $400. To find out more information; call 1-877-296-9338 or 424-4500. www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rebates/programs/seniors.asp Application deadline is Dec. 31st.

identified as local priorities back in 2001 & 2002 when I was the Preston MLA. The re-paving of Hwy # 7 in Porters Lake and East Preston with improvements at Upper Partridge River Road to eliminate that blind crest intersection were the last 2 projects to be completed. The other local road priorities were the re-paving of the Myra Road and Mineville Road. The Province also decided to include with this road work the upgrading and paving of O"Connell Drive. But only half the street up to the school's driveway. This street has been very problematic for ongoing routine maintenance since the opening of the school a decade ago. However, the Province did not notify HRM about its intentions until the work had started. This is contrary to the practice of the Provincial Aid to Municipality Program that was re-established back in 2001. When paving improvements are to be done to any "J" Class Subdivision street, the Municipality is to provide its list of prioritized streets. These streets are then paved with funding coming from a predetermined 50/50 cost-share arrangement whereby the abutting property owners pay for half the cost via a local improvement charge. As Councillor, I insisted that HRM make the request to have the entire street paved to the end and have the aims and objectives of the policy enforced. Therefore everyone on the street will be applicable to a frontage rate charge equally. This had to be done to ensure fairness and equality in service to all.

The NS Home for Coloured Children (NSHCC) will be conducting its 75th Annual Broadcast for Funds on Sunday, December 17th from 2-8 PM on Eastlink Television (Channel 10). To mark this special anniversary, the show will be hosted live at Alderney Landing Theatre. The general public are encouraged to come and watch the show live. Admission is "free" but a Free Will / Love Offering will be accepted.

PEACE & GOODWILL TO ALL

PEACE ON EARTH