March 26, 2008

Chamber News

Second Notice of New Members:

DownEast Motel – Windsor, www.downeastmotel.com

Yum Food Limited – Organic Food, Windsor yumfoodslimited@ns.sympatico.ca

New Chamber website: East Hants Chamber of Commerce http://www.ehcc.ca


West Hants and Area News

Minister wants more info

Fundy Gypsum needs to answer a few more questions before the Department of Environment and Labour will approve its request for an expanded quarry on the Avon Peninsula. In an environmental assessment decision announced March 17, Environment and Labour Minister Kings North MLA Mark Parent requested that CGC Inc.-Fundy Gypsum provide a focus report on several elements of their proposal. Parent said in a phone interview that, despite the 750-plus pages of the company’s submission, he did not have enough information to approve or reject the proposed mine extension. “We ask for a focus report when we don’t have enough info on whether it would be environmentally safe to go ahead. When I don’t have enough information, I can’t decide one way or the other.” The Minister will request more information on potential impacts on species at risk, wetlands, surface and groundwater and fish habitat. The presence of several at-risk and one endangered plant species are of concern, he said. In Parent’s response to Fundy Gypsum, the possibility of a federal environmental assessment is noted should fish habitat be found in Shaw Brook. APWPS President Raymond Parker, who lives and farms on the Peninsula adjacent to the proposed footprint says a full survey on the Peninsula must also be done. “There are more sources for fish habitat on the Peninsula than Shaw Brook, but you’d never know that reading the company’s registration document.” Parker added the resident’s group he represents has also asked the Department of Environment and Labour to ensure no further degradation of the baseline until the outcome of the focus report. “We’re pleased provincial staff support this area is worth protecting and that our watershed is at risk, but obviously we’re not pleased by the lack of information the company has been given three years to provide.” (Sources: Hants Journal, Avondale Media)

Panuke Road Quarry EA

Meanwhile, Wednesday is the last day for public comments on the Panuke Road Quarry that is also opposed by many residents in that area, says resident Garth Hazel, a former councillor and spokesperson for the area’s 100 residents. The project was classified by the Province as a Class I, the same as the Fundy Gypsum expansion proposal on the Avon Peninsula, and given the same 10-day window for residents to review. Hazel says his community has faced similar challenges Avon Peninsula residents experienced with the Environmental Assessment process. “Ten days has not been near enough time for us,” says Hazel. “And it hasn’t been easy to access the registration document online. I don’t have high speed and it’s a big document. Some of the language I don’t even understand,” says Hazel. He says he went to two locations in the past week to find the document was given away or unavailable for four days over the Easter weekend. “How can the public properly make comments given these circumstances?” Hazel says that despite complications absorbing the proposal, issues with road safety, dust and contamination of the area’s water supply from Mill Lake have not been properly addressed in the registration document. “Residents are so upset, more upset about this than I’ve seen or heard of in years,” says Hazel. He says he’s hoping to get a meeting with Minister Parent in the near future to plead that the proposal be assessed “openly and fairly”.(Source: Avondale Media)


NS House of Assembly resumes April 24

Speaker Alfie MacLeod gave the 30-day thumbs up for the NS House of Assembly to resume on April 24th, when MacDonald’s Tories bring down what is widely anticipated as a tough budget. All signs show election-readiness is also on the agenda. Elections NS confirms the Returning Officer position for Hants West is still vacant, but has narrowed their search to three equally-qualified candidates and anticipates an appointment soon. Election-style spending and multi-year budget planning announcements are becoming more frequent from government members, although recipients are making it clear more is being made of less. Brooklyn Fire Chief Mark Dearman recently told the Hants Journal that while the Brooklyn Fire Department is grateful for all funding, $250,000 possible funding from the Province “doesn’t go far when they are looking to build a $3 million station.” The community volunteer fire department, recently shut down, was given $89,000 by MLA Chuck Porter last week on behalf of the province. The Premier gave a cheque for $900,000 toward efforts to rebuild Windsor’s curling club after it was destroyed by fire.

Martock Estates at the Home Show

If you’re heading out to the Home Show this weekend at Exhibition Park, don’t forget to stop by and say hello to Stan and Patti Boyd of Martock Property Developments. The couple will be showing and telling about Martock Estates, a new subdivision on the way to Ski Martock they co-manage with Bob Yuille. “There are lots of people from the Metro area who are looking for places to live in rural areas with good values, says Stan. “We know they will be attracted to what we’re offering here.” Lots are available starting at $34,999 and are all engineered and approved for septic. http://www.martockestates.ca
 

Spitfire celebrates 5th Anniversary

A five year-old is a little young to be pulling pints, but not in this case! The Spitfire Arms Alehouse on Water Street in Windsor welcomes friends to celebrate at their fifth anniversary party on Saturday April 19, 2008. They’ll be cutting a special birthday cake and showing customers how much they are appreciated. Good friend HAL BRUCE is making a special musical appearance to commemorate this milestone, (unfortunately no Coronation Street stars could make it.) It’s not just a pub, it’s a place of remembrance. http://www.spitfirearms.com

Ring of Fire

Organizing the "Windsor Ring of Fire" Motorcycle Rally planned for Friday June 13th - Sunday June 15th is in full swing. You are invited to participate in what is certain to be an amazing weekend for this major motorcycling and lifestyle event in Historic Downtown Windsor. The group’s website has attracted enquiries from as far away as Ontario. Please contact Troy Kirkby (The Spitfire Arms) or Richard Cole (Doolys) for additional information, volunteering or to register for vendor spaces. Email windsorROF@gmail.com or visit online www.windsorROF.com


Regional and National Headlines

Environment & Labour Divorce

It’s not an April Fool’s joke: After almost 8 years of unification under John Hamm’s government, the Department of Environment and Labour make their split official on April 1 as outlined in the government’s Speech from the Throne last October. Some staff have been busy packing up boxes to make way for potentially a new Minister’s office and transition plans are underway to untangle the departments on paper. “Right now they’re just separating the business plans and budgets,” May said. “All the operations, all of the public delivery of programs for both areas will still happen from offices on Terminal Road for the foreseeable future.” What could remain unknown for a while longer is how the Premier plans on handling the department portfolios. Currently, Minister Mark Parent and Deputy Minister Vanstone continue to effectively head up the department under both areas, which could continue until the conclusion of the Legislature’s Spring sitting. Should the Tory minority be allowed to pass its budget a third time by opposition parties, the Premier could then shuffle his cabinet and/or appoint a backbencher to handle a junior portfolio under the Department of Labour to ease the Minister and Deputy Minister’s heavy workload. Cabinet ministers continue to cover for Human Resources Minister Carolyn Bolivar-Getson who still remains on medical leave after a fall that left her unconscious for a half hour at her home in December. (Source: Avondale Media)

N.S. minimum wage goes up May 1

Nova Scotians who earn the minimum wage can look forward to yearly increases beginning May 1st after the provincial government last week accepted the recommendations of a panel set up to review the minimum wage. The panel said the minimum wage — now set at $7.60 per hour — should be increased every year until 2010. The first 50-cent per hour pay increase will take effect on May 1. Labour Minister Mark Parent said the wage has to go up because of a shortage of workers. He said he doesn't expect employers to oppose an increase with their usual argument that a minimum wage hike would create more unemployment. "But that's not going to be the case. It's not the case now; not the case in the foreseeable future." Increasing the minimum wage is the right thing to do, Parent said. he minimum wage will jump to $9.65 per hour by Oct. 1, 2010. After March 31, 2011, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index. The increases are as follows:

• May 1, 2008: $8.10.

• April 1, 2009: $8.60.

• April 1, 2010: $9.20.

• Oct. 1, 2010: $9.65.

CN Rail sued over overtime rules

Canadian National Railway was sued on Tuesday for allegedly failing to pay overtime to Canadian employees by classifying them as management. The lawsuit alleges the railway broke Canadian labour law by requiring the "first line supervisors" to work hundreds of hours each year for which they were not properly paid. (Reuters)

Canadian Prescription Drug Sales Sluggish

Year-end 2007 data released this week by IMS Health, the world's leading provider of market intelligence to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, reported the slowest Canadian prescription drug growth rate in a decade on sales of almost $19 billion into Canadian drugstores and hospitals. In 2007, the Canadian pharmaceutical market experienced a 6.3 percent increase in sales of prescription medications, or about two percentage points less than the average growth rate of 8.4 percent recorded between 2002 and 2006.

One of the key contributing factors to 2007 market growth moderation was a significant increase in use of generic products due to patent expiries of several major brand-name products. In 2007, the sharpest year-over-year decline in sales to drug stores and hospitals was recorded by brand-name pharmaceutical companies. Excluding biotechnology products, sales growth in the brand-name sector was only 1.4 percent last year, and in stark contrast to sales of generic drugs, which grew 20.9 percent as a significant number of branded pharmaceuticals lost exclusivity. Sales growth in 2007 also was affected by a number of product withdrawals and numerous drug safety bulletins issued by Health Canada. Other mitigating factors included a very modest uptake of new products and protracted, ongoing delays in acquiring public formulary market access. (Note:The NS government recently implemented family Pharmacare program. http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/pharmacare.)

Did You Know? (Source: www.imshealthcanada.com/media.)

• In 2007, 422.6 million prescriptions were dispensed in Canada.

• Cardiovasculars ranked as the leading therapy class by dispensed prescription volume in 2007, followed by psychotherapeutics (anti-depressants) and gastrointestinal/genitourinary drugs.

• 48 percent of all prescriptions filled in Canada are dispensed with a generic drug, 52 percent by a brand-name medication.

• Unchanged from 2006, the three leading reasons for 3.5 million recorded physician visits in Canada were hypertension (high-blood pressure), routine exams and diabetes.
   

Business Events List:

March 26th - Exploring Your Entrepreneurial Potential Workshop
Ladies, are you contemplating starting your own business? Discover if you’ve got what it takes to be in business. You will leave the session with a better understanding of your potential as an entrepreneur by learning self-assessment techniques. You’ll also learn about resources to help you get started in business. Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. The Meadows - Main floor, Mount Saint Vincent University, Centre for Women in Business. Cost: $20 + HST for CWB members, $25 + HST for non-members. Email: cwb@msvu.ca  or phone: 902-457-6449 or toll-free outside Metro: 1-888-776-9022

March 26th - The Honourable Peter G. MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of National Defence, and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) on the significance of the Atlantic Gateway. Please join us to learn more about the Atlantic road to prosperity at the Marriott Halifax Harbourfront Hotel 5:30 p.m- 10:00 p.m. This event presented by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada – Atlantic Chapter (AmCham Atlantic) and other Industry Partners: Aerospace and Defence Industry Association of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Gateway Council and the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce. Tickets $100 - $125 plus HST For more details contact 446-8162 or visit http://www.amchamcanada.ca/atlantic

March 27th Hiring for Success
Bluteau DeVenney & Company presents a seminar discussing how to hire the right people, attract and retain top talent in your organization on Thursday, March 27 from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Boardroom, 656 Windmill Road. Free to Chamber members, registration is required. Contact Craig Stevens at Bluteau Devenney to RSVP or receive further information: craig@bluteaudevenney.com, phone 425-0467.

March 27th: East Hants Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting
Milford Recreation Centre, #2 Highway, Milford, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $32.95 (members) and $37.95 (non-members) plus HST  www.ehcc.ca 

April 3rd: Windsor CO-OP Revival
Members of the former Windsor CO-OP and interested community members are invited to a meeting at the Three Mile Plains Community Hall at 7 pm to review a recent NS Co-operative Council study which indicates a high interest and need to bring back the Windsor location.
 

April 4, 2008 – Green Business Workshops
Save energy and money by improving eco-efficiency 9:00am-3:00pm  Wandlyn Inn, Coldbrook, NS Cost is $10 per person. To register  Call (902) 461-6704 or email eecentre@dal.ca

 
Chuckles:

"It was so cold last week that I saw several lawyers with their hands in their own pockets."

E-News info:

E-News Deadline - Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be published on April 8th. You are invited to submit your business news, event or announcement by April 4th.