WEST PUBNICO, NS - MLA Chris d’Entremont announced provincial funding for three projects in the West Pubnico area today at the Dennis Point Wharf.

DATELINE, NS - Young musicians will get a boost from Argyle MLA Chris d’Entremont this week when he presents the SARMU music group with a cheque for $15,000 on Friday evening.

The Department of Tourism provided the funding for new equipment.

“This weekend is the annual SARMU concert and I’m pleased that I can attend this year with a little something extra,” said d’Entremont. “This group has given so many opportunities to our young musicians. The funds I am presenting are very well deserved.”

The SARMU group gives up-and-coming musical talent a place to showcase their skills. The SARMU group is made up of two schools: Ecole secondaire de Par-en-Bas and Drumlin Heights Consolidated School. The group was created 31 years ago.

TUSKET – Children who attend two local licensed day care centres will have safer places to play outdoors thanks to grants from the MacDonald government, Argyle MLA Chris d’Entremont said today.

Through the Department of Community Service’s Outdoor Play Space program, Papillions and Pissenlits, in West Pubnico, will receive $8522.84 and L'Association des Petits Copains, in Wedgeport, will receive $10, 290.

“By providing safe, outdoor play areas in day care centres, we are encouraging active, healthy habits in our children,” Mr. d’Entremont said. “I’m very pleased our government is providing this grant program.”

The Outdoor Play Space program provides one-time grants that can be used for expenses including landscaping, fencing and equipment. Large play equipment including climbers and swings must be professionally installed to CSA/ULC standards.

The funding is being provided under Nova Scotia's 10-year Early Learning and Child Care Plan.

TUSKET – The MacDonald government is providing $5 million in funding to help volunteer firefighters and emergency response organizations do their dangerous jobs, Argyle MLA Chris d’Entremont said today.

A new initiative unveiled by Premier Rodney MacDonald today is called the Emergency Services Provider Fund. It is a $5 million, one-year provincial program that will provide up to 60 per cent funding for emergency response equipment such as the jaws of life, pumps, hoses and defibrillators. New construction and upgrades to equipment and facilities are also eligible for the program.

“Volunteer firefighters and first responders are an integral part of our rural way of life," Mr. d'Entremont said. "As a volunteer firefighter myself, I am pleased our government is able to help those men and women who work tirelessly each and every day to make our lives more safe."

The Emergency Services Provider Fund is an application-based program that will provide a maximum of $250,000 for eligible projects. Capital costs for new fire trucks and emergency vehicles are not eligible for funding, with the exception of vehicles for ground search and rescue.

Application forms for the Emergency Services Provider Fund will be available online on September 28 at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr . For more information about the program, please call 1-902-424-3858.

TUSKET – Seniors living at Apartment Nova, in Tusket, will soon have safer, easier access to their homes with the installation of an elevator, Argyle MLA Chris d’Entremont said today.

The new elevator is one of 15 new elevators announced by the MacDonald government today. The elevators will cost more than $2 million and are expected by be completed by next spring. With this investment, about 85 percent of available senior citizens’ housing in Nova Scotia will be fully accessible.

“Our government doesn’t believe that seniors should struggle to get into their own homes,” Mr. d’Entremont said. “This elevator is an investment that will increase the quality of life for the residents of Apartment Nova.”

The Department of Community Services, through seven Housing Authorities, provides homes for seniors in 7,700 housing units throughout Nova Scotia.

ARGYLE – Funding from the MacDonald government will allow Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse to keep the past alive, Argyle MLA Chris d’Entremont said today.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage will provide an operative grant of $224,730 to Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse for the fiscal year of 2007-08. This amount represents an increase of $20,430 over last year’s grant.

“This is a museum that allows tourists and local residents to step back in time to see what life was life for Acadiens from the mid-1600s to the late 1800s,” Mr. d’Entremont said. “I am pleased our government has made this investment that will preserve an important chapter in our heritage.”

Le Village is located in West Pubnico on the Lighthouse Route.

NORTH SYDNEY – The MacDonald government made good on an election promise today when Premier MacDonald and Health Minister Chris d’Entremont announced that about 40 new long term care beds will be located in the Northside area, Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke said.

In addition to the 125 new long-term beds already under weigh in the Cape Breton District Health Authority, another 88 will be added through today’s announcement. Approximately 40 of these 213 beds will be in the Northside area.

Premier MacDonald and Minister d’Entremont also announced that nine aging long term care facilities will be replaced and that 46 beds will be opened almost immediately to help relieve current pressures. Both measures are part of Nova Scotia’s Continuing Care Strategy.

“I've worked hard with community stakeholders in response to the needs of our citizens who require quality care close to home,” Mr. Clarke said. “This is great news for the Northside and I am appreciative of the many dedicated volunteer community leaders and care professionals who have worked and waited patiently for this positive outcome.”

The government used the most up-to-date evidence and information from the District Health Authorities to determine where the new long term beds are most needed. The process for deciding where the new beds will be located took into account factors including population trends, the number of people waiting at home and in hospital for long term care beds, the health of seniors and demand for and supply of long term care services.

Contracts for the new beds will be awarded in an RFP process that will begin in April 2007.

“This news is comforting for those anticipating or waiting for a long term care bed. Many families and individuals will now have certainty about my government's commitment towards continued care improvements for the Northside,” the Progressive Conservative MLA said. “I'm also encouraged by the millions for construction jobs and 70 new care positions that will be provide meaningful employment.”

The Continuing Care Strategy is a 10-year plan to enhance and expand Nova Scotia’s continuing care system. The aim of the MacDonald government is to provide all Nova Scotians with a place they can call home.

YARMOUTH – The MacDonald government is expanding it’s support for the Yarmouth County Trails Development Association (YCTDA).

Today, Yarmouth MLA Richard Hurlburt and Argyle MLA Chris d’Entremont announced the Department of Health Promotion and Protection would provide an additional $100,000 for the Yarmouth County Trails Development Association. The funding will supplement the $200,000 already announced by the Progressive Conservative government this spring and federal support for the project.

“This additional funding will allow the extensive plans of the YCTDA to become reality,” said Mr. Hurlburt. “Much work has already been completed by the organization resulting in a good deal of trail being available for multi purpose use.”

The improved trail system will ensure residents and visitors to Yarmouth County will have a safe and enjoyable place to keep fit.

“This is good news for all of the area, especially the Tusket and Argyle areas,” said Mr. d'Entremont. “A large portion of the trails network runs through the Municipality. Completion of the trail will mean increased opportunity for safe, healthy activity and increased opportunity for eco- activities.”

TUSKET - Nova Scotians can now apply to receive their eight per cent energy rebate, Chris d'Entremont said today.

Applications for Your Energy Rebate will be available at all Access Nova Scotia centres, and on the Internet, as of this week. Your Energy Rebate program is expected to save each Nova Scotian household an average of $200 per year.

Your Energy Rebate is the province's program to help people with household energy costs by rebating the provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). People who use wood, wood pellets, cylinder propane, kerosene, and coal, need to apply for the rebate.

"I'm happy the government has moved forward on this iniative to help Nova Scotians with their increasing home energy cost," d'Entremont said. "This is especially helpful in rural areas like Yarmouth County, where many homes use wood as a source of energy."

For other home energy products, such as oil heat or natural gas, the eight per cent rebate should automatically come off bills dated Dec. 1 and later. For electricity and natural gas, the eight per cent rebate should come off bills dated Jan. 1, 2007 and later.

Nova Scotians who buy wood, wood pellets, coal, cylinder propane or kerosene for home heating Dec. 1 and later, must submit receipts and a Your Energy Rebate application to Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations for the eight per cent rebate. Applications are available at any Access Nova Scotia centre, online at www.yourenergyrebate.ns.ca or by calling 1-800-670-4357.