West Hants and Area News

Fundy layoffs no gift

A downturn in the US housing market and economy has resulted in direct lay-offs for Hants West company Fundy Gypsum. Approximately one-third of the company’s workforce, 46 employees, are expected to lose their job before the Christmas. “We are completely tied to that situation, and right now there is no market for gypsum,” Plant Manager Mike Bishop said. Employees are not being given a return date. With the economic downturn expected to last well into 2009, it could be longer before the market rebounds. USG, Fundy Gypsum’s parent company based out of Chicago, said in late October that it would take additional actions to adjust operations, programs and staffing to adapt to current construction and financial market conditions. "Severe cyclical downturns are always challenging and the necessary staffing decisions are painful, but we are committed to take the actions necessary to weather this recession and position the company for the eventual market rebound," said USG Chairman and CEO William C. Foote. In addition to a $125 million cost reduction program, the company also plans to reduce capital spending from approximately $240 million this year to approximately $50 million in 2009.The company also expects to make an additional capacity reduction of approximately one billion square feet from its wallboard manufacturing network throughout the US. In the meantime, local government representatives here in Hants West are offering to assist the laid-off workers with various tasks, from unemployment forms to uncovering re-training programs. Other layoffs are cutting a swath of unemployment across the province. Telecom giants Aliant are expected to shed up to 300 non-union management positions across the region. auto-parts manufacturer in North Sydney, Magna, and AbatiBowater. The newsprint mill in Brooklyn, Queens county, will shut down for five weeks, starting Dec. 21, affecting approximately 300 employees .Another auto-parts plant in North Sydney, Atlantic Castings, also won't reopen in the new year after its annual holiday shutdown, putting 55 people out of work. [Source: The Chronicle Herald, USG Press Release, CBC.ca]

Related:

See story: Brison next Finance Minister? Under Regional and National Headlines

Wanted: Employers!

Are you aware of the many advantages to hiring an Older Worker? Are you having trouble finding and retaining employees? Would you like to be promoted as an employer who supports the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) There is a wide variety of skills, abilities and experience that the TIOW participants have identified as assets that could benefit many local companies. For 10 weeks, starting on January 12th, 2009, companies could receive a financial allowance to assist in the costs of the employee's wages up to a maximum of $250.00 per week when hiring a TIOW participant. Here is your opportunity to let us know if this would work for your company. We are looking for people to come and speak to our group or to take advantage our program offerings. Please contact Juanita Hiscock at 792-8067 or email jhtrainingservices@gmail.com


Who is hiring?

Windsor and area

Kentville and area

NDP Nominate Gallagher

Hants Shore resident and retired teacher Barbara Gallagher is officially the NDP candidate for Hants West in the next provincial election. “I feel the NDP offers the best alternative to what we have. I believe we are the party who will put families first when it comes to improving the quality of life in Nova Scotia.” Gallagher is well known as the President of CAPE, Citizen Action to Protect the Environment, which meets in Summerville monthly. In her nomination speech, Gallagher addressed a number of issues she wants to advance for the area. Some of these issues include better management of the cost of health care, ensuring a sustainable and secure food supply, improving education, and environmental issues she has personally worked toward, including better management of the province’s natural resources and a legislative ban on uranium mining. “As citizens we will have the opportunity to decide how much emphasis we want to place on the protection of our health. We should be proactive rather than reactive to health needs and environmental issues,” said Gallagher [Source: Avondale Media]


Regional and National Headlines

Bay of Fundy EA

A report that will shape New Brunswick’s approach to tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy was released recently. The report, compiled for the province by Barry Jones of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership group, contains 19 recommendations for Shawn Graham’s government should consider before moving ahead with potential tidal projects on the New Brunswick side of the bay. “The point of the study is to ensure the emerging industry is developed in a sustainable way,” said Jones. According to New Brunswick’s energy minister, Jack Keir, the report studied the impact that tidal projects would have on shipping lanes, tourism and the local fisheries and aquaculture industries. Keir said the government is still determining if the "business case makes sense" for tidal developments in the bay. He contends that tidal technology is not as developed as its renewable energy cousins, such as wind power. "You can almost buy wind farms off the shelf," said Keir. "Tidal power isn't there yet. Not because the site isn't there, but because the technology isn't there.” The Chronicle Herald reported last month that the companies involved in the $59-million tidal test project have fallen behind schedule in their effort to get started in the spring. But Nova Scotia Power (NSP) and its partner, OpenHydro, say they have come up with a way to launch a turbine next year, despite the delays. NSP and OpenHydro are one of three groups of companies involved in a pilot project announced by the provincial government last year to test tidal power technology in the bay. Each turbine is expected to cost $10 million to $15 million. The other successful bidders were Clean Current of British Columbia and Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. of Hantsport.

As E-news reported last spring, Minas Basin won the contract to build a tidal energy test facility worth $12 million to $14 million. The facility is a large part of the project includes designing and operating a structure to receive electricity from the turbines and process data. But delays occurred in selecting an ideal test spot, and underwater cable will not be installed until 2010. Minas Basin also won the right to test a turbine in the Bay of Fundy, but its plan has run into trouble. The Chronicle Herald reported that Minas Basin president Scott Travers confirmed the company’s original plan to launch an underwater electric kite has been scrapped. Mr. Travers said that in the next few weeks Minas Basin and a new partner will announce a substitute for the underwater electric kite, which uses turbines that move like kites that are anchored to the bottom by a cable and controlled by computer. Minas Basin decided to dump the underwater electric kite mainly because of "the requirement to be sufficiently confident of technical development to meet demonstration facility target dates," said Mr. Travers said in his email. The group has chosen the Minas Passage area of the Minas Channel west of Parrsboro as the best spot for the demonstration site. [Sources: The Telegraph Journal, The Chronicle Herald]
IT Jobs

About 200 full-time IT jobs are coming to Dartmouth. The New Brunswick-based IT firm Professional Quality Assurance Ltd. is expanding to Nova Scotia over the next five years. Employees at the independent software testing company will make an average annual salary of $45,000, including benefits. Nova Scotia Business Inc., the province’s private-sector-led business development agency, is supporting the growth with a five-year payroll rebate of up to $1.89 million. The province is also providing $600,000 for recruitment and training. [Source: Metro]

Green Mobility Capital Grants

In partnership with the Ecology Action Centre, Conserve Nova Scotia is investing $200,000 in the Green Mobility Capital Grants program. Through the program, towns, municipalities and community groups can access grants of up to $25,000 for environmentally friendly, community-based transportation projects that encourage energy efficiency on the road. Grants will be awarded to support sustainable transportation infrastructure projects including:

• The purchase of an accessible van, feeder bus, or car-share program vehicle

• The construction of a trail connecting a neighbourhood to a transit terminal

• The purchase of bike racks for transit vehicles

• The installation of bike racks

• The creation of a pedestrian zone, bike lane, or car-free area

• The installation of share the road signs.

For more information and applications, please contact Jennifer Scott,

902-429-0924 or 902-757-1640 or click here.

McKenzie re-appointed to CTC

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), today announced the reappointment of Ms. Michele McKenzie as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CTC. "I am pleased to welcome Ms. McKenzie as President and CEO of the CTC for a second mandate and know that her senior management experience at the CTC will continue to help guide the Commission over the next few years," said Minister Clement. Ms. McKenzie has been President and CEO of the CTC since January 2004. She has had a long career in destination marketing, and immediately prior to joining CTC, served for 4 years as Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. In this capacity, she was the Regional Public Sector representative for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador on the CTC Board of Directors. She served as Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee and was a member of the Executive and Human Resources Committees. For further information on the CTC, visit its website at http://www.canada.travel

Scratch and sue

Atlantic Canadians now qualify to join a class action lawsuit launched in Western Canada over the practice of continuing to sell scratch tickets even after the top prizes have been won. Last month the Merchant Law Group filed the lawsuit against the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, and the firm has now filed a statement of claim in Halifax against Atlantic Lotto. The class action lawsuit has not yet been certified, and none of its claims have been tested in court. Last week Atlantic Lotto told CBC News it keeps most scratch tickets in circulation after the top prizes have been won. The public can keep track of which top prizes are still available on the company's website. [Source: cbc.ca]

Consumer Tips

Phonebusters

Phone scams are targeting the Annapolis Valley. or to report deceptive telemarketing activity or get more information about current scams, visit www.phonebusters.com or call 1-888-495-8501.

Gas Gouge

The MacDonald government recently announced that.gas regulation is working in Nova Scotia To calculate the difference between what you're paying for a litre of gas & what economist Hugh MacKenzie says you should be paying, run your local price through his Gas Gouge Meter http://www.gasgouge.ca. And for his most recent article ("Gas Price Gouge: The Sequel"), click here.


Calendar of Events

When you schedule your business events, please also email them to info@whcc.ca.

Don’t forget to check out the federal and municipal election events under West Hants news!
Province-wide events

Monday, December 8th - APCC special quarterly membership meeting
This one-day event being held in Beresford, New Brunswick, will provide Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce members and the general public with a focus on the timely topic of transportation. For more information, contact info@whcc.ca.

Tuesday, December 9th - EKCC December Quarterly and Annual Turkey Dinner
12 noon at the Kentville Fire Hall, Kentville

Wednesday, December 10th- Planning for a High Speed Future Workshop
Explore your current knowledge of the Broadband Rural Nova Scotia initiative and to learn how it will affect you and your West Hants community. This workshop will be held on at the Windsor Regional Library, 145 Albert Street in Windsor from 1:00 – 4:30 pm. Space is limited, please contact the Kings - West Hants C@P Association, 798-3945.

Thursday, December 11th - Central Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce
President's Wine and Cheese Event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Falcourt Inn, Nictaux

Thursday, December 11th Western Kings Board of Trade Annual Christmas Reception
from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Berwick Lions Hall, Berwick

Saturday, December 13th - Four Seasons Orchestra 7th Christmas Extravaganza
Fountain Centre, Kings Edgehill School. 7 p.m. Tickets are available from Moe’s Music Sales, Windsor Home Hardware and Dorian Hall Academy, or at the door. For more information about the Four Seasons Community Orchestra, please contact Roger Taylor at (902) 798-0732 or dhamusic@ns.sympatico.ca.


Chuckles

The latest group to reunite in Ottawa guaranteed to bring the House down?
The New Libs on the Bloc.


E-News info:

Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be published on December 16th Please submit your business news, event or announcement by December 12th. Every two weeks, E-News is distributed to - and read by – over 300 local business contacts throughout the Windsor-West Hants area. If your business has news or events you would like to share with our readers, please call our Newsletter Editor, Heather Desveaux on 790-4009 or email info@whcc.ca