NEW GLASGOW -- A new gym, library, cafeteria and music facilities are coming for the students, teachers and staff at G. R. Saunders Elementary School in Stellarton, thanks to an additional $1.5 million from the MacDonald government, Pictou Centre MLA Pat Dunn said today.

“I am very pleased to see the much needed renovations go forward," Mr. Dunn said. “I am grateful for the commitment of funds from the Department of Education and allowing construction to continue throughout the winter months."

Since June, Mr. Dunn has been in contact with the School Advisory Committee. The Progressive Conservative MLA met several times with Minister Casey and Deputy Minister Dennis Cochrane and brought Premier Rodney MacDonald to the school so he could have first-hand knowledge of the school’s needs.

In May 2005, the Department of Education announced improvements to G.R. Saunders worth $4.5 million. Increases in the cost of materials resulted in the project being scaled back to remain within budget. The additional funding will allow the project to proceed as originally intended.

G. R. Saunders is home to about 370 students in Grades Primary to 6.

In Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, four new schools have been approved and renovations are underway at six schools, including G. R. Saunders. Two new schools opened in the Amherst area last fall.

The Province is investing more than $400 million over eight years to build new schools and support extensive renovation work.

SPRINGHILL – 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.

HALIFAX -- The MacDonald government is taking steps to safeguard the futures of Maple Leaf employees and the long-term economic health of the Annapolis Valley, Progressive Conservative MLAs Mark Parent and David Morse said today.

Recently, 300 employees of Toronto-based Maple Leaf Foods learned they would lose their jobs when they learned the poultry processing plant in Canard would close.

“Our government has moved swiftly to open a transition office that will help Maple Leaf employees prepare to re-enter the work force," Kings South MLA Mr. Morse said. "We hope this will enable these hard working Nova Scotians to find work here in our province.”

The transition office at the plant opened today, January 24, and is being operated in partnership with the Department of Education, Service Canada, the management of Maple Leaf Foods and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Community partnerships will also be established to ensure employees have access to all available supports and services

As part of the transition office, representatives from the Department of Education and Service Canada will be available to answer questions and provide information and support on topics such as employment insurance, career exploration and retraining to name a few.

One priority will be to conduct an employee assessment to develop a profile of age, education and skill levels. Targeted training will help employees upgrade skills to match the needs of the local economy. The office will also work with Maple Leaf Foods management and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union to connect employees and interested employers. The services will be provided at no cost to employees.

“This is a great example of government and the community pulling together to work on a solution that benefits us all,” Kings North MLA Mr. Parent said. “I encourage all those affected by the shut down of the plant to take full advantage of the services available at the transition office.

KENTVILLE -- “Essential as well as delighted,” is the way Kings North MLA Mark Parent described today’s $1 million announcement of a new medical oncology satellite office in Kentville and expanded services in other regions across the province.

Today’s announcement is in keeping with a commitment made by Premier Rodney MacDonald during last spring’s election campaign which was to “Implement innovative solutions, including new financial and human resources to reduce wait times for cancer related illnesses,” said the Kings North MLA.

The announcement by Minister of Health Chris d’Entremont and representatives from Cancer Care Nova Scotia allowing more patients to receive cancer care closer to home will only enhance the already numerous cancer and wellness workshops provided by Valley Regional Health for patients and their support personnel.

Mr. Parent said, “twenty-three Nova Scotians are diagnosed with cancer every day with Kings County in the latest statistics available from Cancer Care Nova Scotia ranking the fourth highest incident rate over a four-year based on an eighteen county survey. 821 cases of invasive cancer were reported in Kings County, 200 of them being prostrate and 146 others from lung cancer.

SPRINGHILL – Nova Scotians who own property that is both a home and a business may qualify for the MacDonald government’s Your Energy Rebate, Cumberland South MLA Murray Scott said today.

Your Energy Rebate is a program designed to help Nova Scotians with rising home energy costs. On December 1, 2006, the government began rebating eight per cent - or the provincial portion of the HST - on home energy costs.

“While Your Energy Rebate does not cover business energy costs, it does cover properties that are both home and business, or mixed-used properties,” Mr. Scott said. “To be eligible, a mixed-use property owner must be responsible for paying home energy costs and their property must be classified as partly ‘residential taxable’.”

Eligible mixed-use property owners must apply for the rebate on all their energy costs, including home heating oil, propane, wood or wood pellets purchased on or after December 1, 2006 and electricity or natural gas bills dated on or after January 1, 2007. One application can be submitted each quarter, with the first application no sooner than April 1, 2007. All receipts from home energy payments, including the supplier HST number, the amount of HST calculated and the nature of the product must be included with the application.

To get an application form or to ask questions about Your Energy Rebate, visit any Access Nova Scotia centre, check out www.yourenergyrebate.ns.ca, e-mail yourenergyrebate@gov.ns.ca or call 1-800-670-4357.

WINDSOR – Seniors living in the Centennial complex in Windsor will soon have easier access to their homes with the installation of an elevator, Hants West MLA Chuck Porter announced today, on behalf of Community Services Minister Judy Streatch.

"We are helping seniors to remain in their homes longer," said Mr. Porter. "Installing an elevator will support an improved quality of life for people living in the Centennial complex by providing easier and safer access to their homes."

Centennial is a two-storey, 20 unit building. Total investment for the elevator installation is expected to be about $150,000, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007.

"The MacDonald government continues to work to ensure our seniors are living in accessible and affordable homes," said Mr. Porter. "Installing an elevator in Centennial will really help our seniors who are having challenges climbing stairs and are not able to find other accommodations in the community."

The Department of Community Services, through seven Housing Authorities, provides homes for more than 9,000 seniors in 7,700 housing units throughout Nova Scotia. Over the next year, government plans to install up to 13 new elevators in senior citizen’s housing. These efforts will increase accessibility for seniors, bringing the number of accessible units to approximately 90 per cent of available senior citizen’s housing in Nova Scotia.

WINDSOR – Local residents will soon have a safer, better journey thanks to improvements that are scheduled for Route 215, Hants West MLA Chuck Porter said today.

The tender calls for 7.1 kilometres westerly from Sherman Lake Road.

“In the election campaign, I committed getting this project done,” Mr. Porter said. “I am very pleased that the MacDonald government is delivering on that promise.”

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.

SPRINGHILL – The MacDonald government is helping to make improvements at St. David’s Presbyterian Church Hall in Springhill, Cumberland South MLA Murray Scott said today.

Through the Community Recreation Capital Grant Program at the Department of Health Promotion and Protection, St. David’s Presbyterian Church will receive up to $3,000 to complete renovations at the hall.

“Church halls like this one are places where residents gather for all kinds of community activities,” Mr. Scott said. “I am very pleased our government contributed to making St. David’s Hall a better, safer gathering place.”

The Community Recreation Capital Grant Program (CRCG) assists with the development of small scale indoor and outdoor capital recreation projects. CRCG program funding must be used for public, community recreation purposes, items of a permanent, nonconsumable, capital nature and projects where the need for financial assistance is demonstrated.

YARMOUTH – The MacDonald government is providing financial support to help two local organizations continue operating, Yarmouth MLA Richard Hurlburt said today.

Through the Operating Assistance for Cultural Organizations program at the Department of Tourism, the Yarmouth Arts Regional Council will receive $30,000 towards the cost of administration, core programs and services for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

In addition, the Firefighters’ Museum Society will receive an operating grant of $73,920, an increase of $6,720 over last year’s grant.

“Museums and cultural organizations make our communities stronger, more diverse and more interesting,” Mr. Hurlburt said. “They also play an important role in our local tourism industry.”

The Operating Assistance for Cultural Organizations program is designed to enhance stability within cultural organizations that develop and sustain Nova Scotia’s cultural community. Support is provided to organizations which produce cultural products, own and/or manage cultural facilities, provide services to the cultural sector and produce or present cultural festivals or events. Such organizations are fundamental to the vitality and long-term health of cultural life in Nova Scotia.

GUYSBOROUGH – Two local tourist destinations will be enhanced thanks to investments from the MacDonald government, Guysborough-Sheet Harbour MLA Ron Chisholm said today.

Through the Tourism Destination Development Investment Program at the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, the #5 RADAR Unit Queensport/Cole Harbour Association will receive $8,892 for the development of the RADAR Base Trails Enhancement Project.

The Tor Bay Acadian Society will receive $8,000 through the same program for the development of the Tor Bay Acadian Interpretation Project. This funding is provided in partnership with the Office of Acadian Affairs through the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on French-language Services with Heritage Canada.

“Investments like these allow tourism operators to develop and improve upon local destinations and improve the local economy,” Mr. Chisholm said.

The Tourism Destination Development Investment Program is intended to support the development and enhancement of tourism attractions, sites and experiences that build on our competitive product strengths to ultimately strengthen destinations in Nova Scotia.