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Councillor’s
Communiqué : February 2006 - Issue # 99
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PAVING OF
GRAVELLED ROADS ?
Further to my
article of August 2004 - Issue # 81 -"Review of
Street Priority List"; there is an ever increasing
demand for more paving improvements to our local
gravelled roads. Especially during this
exceptionally warm winter season the frost has
prematurely thawed and the dirt roads have become
virtually impassable. There has been on-going
negotiations between the Provincial Government and
the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities about the
topic of local roads and other related funding
issues (Education, Correctional Services and Public
Housing) that ought not be included in our property
taxes. For more details go to :
www.unsm.ca
and click on the "Fair & Equitable Funding Report"
and the "Supplementary Report on Roads". With a
Federal Gas Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement now in
place with the provinces and municipalities,
hopefully more resources can be leveraged to hasten
a more aggressive upgrading program. As it stands
now there are more than 60 rural streets on the HRM
waiting list for paving. I have been talking with
HRM staff about a further Service Exchange Transfer
Agreement with the Province, in order to have more
of our local roads given over to the municipality to
work on. The outcome of these discussions and their
impact on both the province and HRM have not yet
been finalized. Hopefully this can be worked out
sooner. I appreciate your patience as the process
unfolds. Eastern Shore MLA Bill Dooks and myself
will be having a public meeting to discuss this
matter in further detail on Monday, Feb. 27th at 7
PM at the Lawrencetown Community Centre.
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FLAG DAY &
HERITAGE DAY
Not many
people realize that the Federal Government has
proclaimed February 15th as National Flag of Canada
Day. 41 years ago, the old Red Ensign Flag with the
British Union Jack was replaced with the Red Maple
Leaf. If you want to know more about our flag's
history and some other related trivia, then go to:
www.pch.gc.ca/flag-drapeau
. Let's all proudly display our nations' Maple Leaf
regardless of whoever is elected to be our MP's
and/or Federal Government. Be sure to wave our
Provincial, Municipal and Community Flags too !
As well,
Heritage Day is rapidly approaching. The third
Monday in February each year is set aside for
communities to celebrate local, provincial and
national heritage. The date this year is February
20th, 2006. As rural heritage is often under-played,
it is important to highlight it and bring it better
to the forefront. HRM would like to celebrate its
rural heritage with a Heritage Plaque unveiling.
This year the Railway Museum in Musquodoboit Harbour
will be showcased! It is expected that community
volunteers along with HRM staff will open up the
museum (that is usually closed during this time of
year) to host a special event. A Heritage Plaque
will be unveiled that portrays the relevant history
of the building and community. If there are other
potential heritage properties in the area that ought
to get more promotional prominence, then please
contact our HRM Municipal Heritage Property Program
folks at 490-4436 or at:
www.halifax.ca/planning/herimain.html
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HRM ASSUMES
ANIMAL CONTROL
Effective December 15th, 2005, HRM has assumed
responsibility for the enforcement component of
Animal Control from the Nova Scotia SPCA as an
effort to enhance service provided to its residents.
Citizens with questions or concerns regarding:
- dog attacks and biting
incidents
- lost/found dogs
- dogs running at large
- dog licensing
- excessive barking
- dog defecation
- prohibited animals
should contact the HRM Call
Centre at 490-4000, ( 7:30 AM - 10 PM daily - seven
days a week), or toll-free 1-800-835-6428 in NS. For
more info on HRM Animal Services visit the HRM
website at
www.halifax.ca
. HRM is committed to fostering a community where
people and pets can co exist peacefully. The NS SPCA
will continue to pursue its mandate of preventing
cruelty to animals and promoting respect and humane
care for animals. Concerns regarding animal cruelty
can be registered by calling 835-4798, or toll-free
at 1-888-703-7722. |
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