Windsor –“Exceptionally productive”, is how Hants West MLA Chuck Porter described the fall session of the 2007 Nova Scotia Legislature which concluded December 13 with the passage of 32 pieces of legislation along with the introduction of a Throne Speech which I was honored to move at the Premier’s request.

The Throne Speech put forward a Vision for Nova Scotia and outlined five priorities which were: educating to compete; protection of the environment; better roads and infrastructure; safer, healthier communities and shorter wait times in hospitals.

Of the 32 pieces of legislation, key bills involved making our streets and communities safer. Measures introduced and passed included

- increases in penalties to combat street racing
- targetting driver distractions and imposing fines for those using hand-held cellphones and text messaging
- mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds by hospitals
- changes to the Companies Act resulting in about 30,000 hours of paperwork burden annually being reduced by simplifying procedures for registering Nova Scotian companies without losing protections for creditors and minority stakeholders. The amendment contributes to the province's goal of reducing the paperwork burden faced by businesses through the Better Regulation Initiative.
- Changes to the Small Claims Court Act will see general damages in small claims court being increased from $100 to $2,500, the amendments will also give small claims adjudicators the discretion to consider expert reports even if the experts are not available for cross examination
- The Probate Act was amended to allow for handwritten wills supporting a previous amendment to the Wills Act.


The Hants West MLA said, “our government following the June 2006 election promised to work with the opposition parties in the legislature and that is exactly what we did in the passing of
- The Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act


Retail workers now know what days they will have off throughout the year and businesses know what days they must close.
The act prohibits certain retail businesses from opening on eight days throughout the year and they are:
New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day , Christmas Day.
The Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act was passed today, Dec. 13, and takes effect immediately.
1. "We are pleased to support a bill that provides clarity and direction to our retailers and their employees," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour. "Retail workers now know what days they will have off throughout the year and businesses know what days they must close."
The act prohibits certain retail businesses from opening on eight days throughout the year.
They are:
New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day Boxing Day, Easter Sunday, and Thanksgiving Day.
Fines for opening on a designated closing day will be a maximum of $50,000 or the gross sales of the retail business for that day, whichever is greater.

Purcells Cove, NS - The MacDonald government is helping to keep the cultural heritage of Halifax alive with an investment in a local cultural organization, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ron Chisholm said today.

Through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage the Theatre Arts Guild will receive $25,000 in a presentation from Minister Chisholm on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage, the Honourable Bill Dooks. The funding is for capital improvements at the Pond Playhouse in picturesque Purcells Cove.

“Investments like this strengthen our local cultural institutions and keep it alive for future generations,” Progressive Conservative MLA Chisholm said. “I am very pleased our government is supporting fine cultural organizations such as the Theatre Arts Guild and community theatres such as the Pond Playhouse.”

Windsor, NS – Local residents will notice significant construction activity along the sections of Highway 101 being twinned through Hants West this construction season, Hants West MLA Chuck Porter said today.

Following a meeting last week with Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott, Mr. Porter said, “During the 2008 construction season, 5.5 kilometers of the new twinned road bed between Falmouth and Hants Border will be given final grading and paving.”

The leveling and grading of a 7.4 kilometer stretch between St. Croix and Three Mile Plains is scheduled for this year, with paving to follow in 2009. Work on the Halfway River Hantsport Interchange will be completed this year and the widening of Wentworth Road will begin in partnership with the Town of Windsor.

“Besides the continued twinning of Highway 101, Dexter Construction was recently awarded a $1.6 million paving tender for an eight kilometer stretch of Highway 215 between Centre Burlington and Cheverie,” the Progressive Conservative MLA added.

“Premier MacDonald and our government have made a commitment to better connect our Province with better roads and infrastructure. Twinning of Highway 101 is vital economic link for Hants West. I look forward to announcing other construction and road work planned for our communities later this year,” said Mr. Porter.

SYDNEY RIVER, NS - The Eskasoni Elders Group has been granted $10,000 in provincial funding for activities for seniors announced Cape Breton West MLA Alfie MacLeod.

The funding will be used for intergenerational seniors activities including crafts, dance, friendly visitation and sharing of traditional wisdom.

"The investments we're making today will benefit seniors in communities across Nova Scotia for years to come," said Progressive Conservative MLA Alfie MacLeod. "Our goal is to address the needs of the province's aging population and we're committed to supporting community-based ideas."

Across Nova Scotia, twenty-eight non-profit organization projects will be supported through the Positive Aging Fund.

“This fund helps community groups create projects that advance Nova Scotia's Strategy for Positive Aging,” said MacLeod. “The strategy is a long-term guide for planning for the aging population, with a focus on the health and community participation.”

The $10,000 provided to the Eskasoni group is the maximum allowable for this fund.

ANTIGONISH, NS - The Antigonish Highland Games and Music on Main are the recipients of grants from the Department of Tourism Culture and Heritage.

Antigonish MLA Angus MacIsaac said today that the grants “represent the government’s confidence in the leadership and value of these events.”

Music on Main’s 2008 concert series received $30,000 in funding from the department to use toward their upcoming third annual season.

The Antigonish Highland Games, in its 145th year, has received a grant of $35,000.

“It’s clear that these events, both old and new, play an important role in making Antigonish a place to visit in the summer,” said MacIsaac. “I’m pleased that my government is able to provide this assistance and help make these events a success again this year.”

HALIFAX, NS - NDP Leader Darrell Dexter should step in and help the residents of Monte Vista and Renfrew Road who have had their democratic rights trampled by one of his MLAs says PC Caucus Chair Pat Dunn.

“It’s an embarrassment for Nova Scotia to have a member of the official opposition abuse his position and subvert the democratic will of his own neighbours,” said Dunn. “John MacDonell’s antics made the front page of the National Post on Monday and the leader of the NDP should demonstrate some leadership and right this wrong.”

"It's been almost a year since the residents wrote to Mr. Dexter for help and he's done nothing about it," added Dunn.

MacDonell and his family own 6 properties on the road. Almost 70 per cent of the road’s residents voted to pave it in a referendum last winter, but the Municipality of East Hants threw out the vote after seeking a new legal ruling that declared each person listed on a property deed can vote rather than the traditional one vote per property. MacDonell, and his brother who is the lawyer for the municipality, secretly stacked 80 new names on the list of eligible voters by adding friends and family to their property deeds.

MacDonell admitted to the National Post that he “one-upped” his neighbours. “This change to the deeds was a loophole they didn't see,” he added.

There are 112 homes on the road and the paving project is estimated at $1.4 million. The province will cost share that amount by 50 per cent. The remaining amount will be split between the residents and the municipality.

“The people who live further up the road have legitimate concerns about the safety of the road,” said Dunn. “The MacDonells, who live at the foot of the road, are depriving their neighbours of their well-earned quality of life.”

Dunn thinks MacDonell’s cheating will come back to haunt him. “MacDonell thinks he was clever to rig the vote, but if his neighbours took the same steps he did and signed up their relatives on their deeds, then he’ll be outvoted in the future.”

“He should be out-voted on Monte Vista Road and voted-out in Hants East,” said Dunn.

-30-

Letter from Residents to Darrell Dexter is attached.
Link to National Post story: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=636595

KENTVILLE - The MacDonald government’s balanced budget focuses on healthy families and safe, prosperous communities, Kings North MLA Mark Parent said today.

Children of low-income working families will benefit from extended prescription drug coverage. More than 33,000 children under the age of 18 will benefit from this $1 million investment.

The province will invest $250,000 on an independent study to better assess and understand the social and economic impacts of gaming in Nova Scotia.

“The devastating effect problem gambling has on individuals and families is a real concern to me,” Mr. Parent said. “I hope this investment moves us a step closer to alleviating the pain gambling can cause.”

Nova Scotia consumers will get an eight per cent rebate on a wide range of fuels used for residential heating, starting January 2007. The rebate will also be applied to residential electricity used for non-heating purposed.

This is a measure that will provide relief to about 400,00 households in Nova Scotia. It is estimated the average household will save about $200 each year.

“Rising home heating costs are a concern for all of us,” Mr. Parent explained. “This rebate program will take the bite out of winter for many Nova Scotians. I appreciate the hard work the Women’s Institutes of Nova Scotia did to raise this issue and me and with the government.”

The Department of Transportation and Public Works’ overall capital budget for 2006-2007 has been increased by almost $39 million to about $199.1 million. About $172.2 million of that amount is targeted to make improvements to the roads, bridges and highways.

In addition, the province will continue to channel taxes raised from motor vehicle licensing and motive fuel taxes to highway construction and maintenance.

Other highlights of budget 2006 include:

- $1.2 million investment in Nova Scotia’s student debt reduction program;
- $40 million in capital grants to district health authorities – $38 million for hospital improvements and $2 million for medical equipment; and
- the gradual lowering of personal income tax.

WINDSOR – The MacDonald government has called a tender to repave a section of Scotch Village Station Road, Hants West MLA Chuck Porter said today.

The tender is to repave a 0.5 kilometre section of Scotch Village Station Road, from Route 225 to North River in Scotch Village. This section is part of a project that will also see 7.2 kilometres of repaving on Walton Woods Road, from North River Road to the West Hants Municipal Land fill and 0.5 kilometres of repaving on North River Road from Station Road to Walton Woods Road.

“Good, well-maintained roads are essential in rural Nova Scotia,” Mr. Porter said. “They strengthen our social and economic ties to other communities and other provinces. I am very pleased to see these improvements moving ahead.”

The Department of Transportation and Public Works' highways division manages more than 23,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia. It maintains 4,100 bridges and operates seven provincial ferries. Staff provide services from district offices in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.

LUNENBURG – Lunenburg MLA Michael Baker today reminded Lunenburg County residents that the deadline to apply for the 2007 Cap Assessment Program is Saturday, September 30.

The Cap Assessment Program (CAP) is designed to protect Nova Scotia property owners from dramatic increases in market value by limiting or capping annual taxable assessment increases in eligible properties.

“The financial pressure caused by high property assessments is an issue that has affected many families on the South Shore,” Mr. Baker said. “CAP is our government’s way of easing the pressure and providing more stable assessment values.”

In order to qualify for an assessment cap, your property must:
- be at least 50 per cent owned by a Nova Scotia resident
- be classified as taxable residential or taxable vacant resource property
- have an increase in market value assessment great than the CAP percentage, excluding any new assessment value as a result of construction or renovations to the property
- have not transferred, or if transferred, then only to certain close relatives such as a spouse, child, grandchild, great grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother or sister. The property may also be transferred to family trusts or farm cooperatives and remain eligible.

Mr. Baker noted that property owners who may be eligible only need to complete the application once as it is maintained for future years. Property owners who own more than one property must submit an application for each property that they want to be considered for CAP.

For more information about CAP, go to the Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations website at http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/asmt/cap/default.asp .

TRURO - The MacDonald government today made a $ 9.7 million investment aimed at helping the agricultural industry become more competitive and sustainable, Cumberland South MLA Murray Scott said today.

There are three elements to the investment: the Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund, debt relief and direct income support. The goal will be to transition the industry to a model of prosperity and self sufficiency based on sound business planning and debt reduction.

“I am very pleased our government is moving to strengthen the agricultural industry with this significant investment," Mr. Scott said. “I am confident that it will help farmers get and stay competitive in a changing market.”

Beginning April 1, 2007, the investment fund will offer $1.5 million, over four years, to projects with a strong business case that inspire growth and aim toward transition.

Also beginning in April, $6.2 million will be available to retire producer debt under the ruminant loan support program and the Pork Nova Scotia program. To be eligible, applicants must complete either a business plan that points to profitability; move to a new business model or product; have a succession plan; or an exit plan.

The third element of the investment is up to $2 million for direct income support for non-supply managed producers.

Since 2003, Progressive Conservative governments have provided programming of more than $70 million. In fact, Nova Scotia has done more per capita for farmers than any other province east of Alberta.