Latest news with #Nova Scotia
CBC
13 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Coxheath Hills residents worried about silence surrounding proposed CBRM copper mine
Social Sharing Residents in the Coxheath Hills area about 10 kilometres southwest of Sydney, N.S., are nervously awaiting word on the status of a proposed copper mine. Nova Copper offered to buy some land two years ago from Cape Breton Regional Municipality for its proposed mining project, but council declined to publicly consider it. Laura MacNeil, president of the Keep Coxheath Clean Association, said residents are worried a copper mine could hurt wildlife and ruin the drinking water. "The community has to be on board and we are simply not," she said in a recent interview. "We refuse to become a sacrifice zone." MacNeil said CBRM council promised consultation with residents two years ago, but is no longer responding to requests for information. "It's really concerning," she said. "We are a group of citizens who have legitimate concerns with this project. It has the potential to poison our drinking water, so we kind of feel like we're yelling into the void." Copper exploration ongoing Copper is a critical mineral needed for batteries, electric motors and renewable energy. According to the Mining Association of Nova Scotia, the first exploration for copper in the Coxheath Hills began in 1878. Nova Copper president Harry Cabrita has said the project is still in its exploration phase and workers are collecting mineral samples over a wide area. According to the Keep Coxheath Clean Association, a freedom of information request with CBRM uncovered a letter from the company to Coun. Esmond (Blue) Marshall last fall. In it, Nova Copper said it would be reaching out to First Nations leaders and creating a community liaison committee "in the weeks to come." No one from Nova Copper would provide an interview, but spokesman Joe Hines said in an email that the company is close to signing an agreement. He did not say what that agreement would mean. Marshall, who represents the Coxheath Hills area on CBRM council, said in a phone call last week that he has not heard anything lately about the proposed mine. Meanwhile, MacNeil called it upsetting that the provincial government is pushing for the development of critical metals like copper. "That was not part of their platform when we were in the election back in the fall, so it's disappointing that they are now deciding without the voters' say that this is the direction we're taking. "We believe in development. We know that's so important. We need jobs in Nova Scotia, but it can't be at any cost." MacNeil said the silence around the project has residents wondering if it is being advanced without public scrutiny. "You know, mining waste is toxic. It can affect entire watersheds. "This is a really serious concern. This is not NIMBYism. This is our water supply. Are we going to be able to drink it? That is a fundamental issue here that nobody seems to be recognizing." Environmental agency ACAP Cape Breton has been collecting data on biodiversity in the area during the month of June for the past two years. Executive director Kathleen Aikens said it's too soon to talk about this year's findings, but last year volunteers found older forests, a variety of trees, plants and animals, as well as an olive-sided flycatcher — a bird considered a species at risk. She said that does not necessarily mean the area needs to be protected and more studies are needed before deciding whether a mine should open there. "Really. it's about having as much information as possible to make good decisions," Aikens said.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Hot weather drying out Nova Scotia crops
Sam Lutz shows the yellowing on leaves on an apple tree in Annapolis Valley. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) Some of Josh Oulton's crops are loving these sun-soaked days in the Annapolis Valley, N.S. 'This fruit is looking really good,' he says as he checks out his peppers and tomatoes. Others in the fields are having a tougher time with the hot, dry conditions. 'Vegetables are 70 per cent water and so if Mother Nature is not doing that for us, then we need to provide that through irrigation and pumps and ponds and wells and streams, and whatever we can get our hands on,' Oulton says. Josh Oulton Josh Oulton checks his tomato plants. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) He figures an inch of rain a week is sufficient for his growing needs, but Oulton says that hasn't been coming. Now, with the ground drying out, he's forced to start watering his plants. 'If you're on some really well drained, sandy soil, yeah, you're looking at dust,' he says. There's trouble in Sam Lutz's apple orchards, too, as some of the leaves are yellowing. 'Things have really started to dry up in June particularly was quite rough. We had about 50 mm of rain for the whole month, but about 60 per cent of that came all in one day,' says Lutz. He is not able to supply water to his orchard because his sources are running dry. Lutz's mature trees with deeper roots are still doing OK but the young ones with shallower root systems aren't growing. 'The trees aren't growing as much as we hoped which delays them filling out and filling their space and will eventually delay them coming into production,' he says. The hot and dry conditions is also causing problems of animals that graze on fields. The grass is either dead or not growing and that's forcing some farmers to start using the hay they had been storing for the winter. Sam Lutz Sam Lutz shows the yellowing on leaves on an apple tree in Annapolis Valley. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Peter MacKinnon: Something has to give for universities that are fighting for their survival
In a recent article in Halifax CityNews, journalist Rachel Morgan asked an important question: can Nova Scotia universities survive the red line? Budget deficits, tuition controls and caps on international student numbers combine to threaten their stability and perhaps, in some cases, their existence. The issues are not for Nova Scotia alone; they are present in all provinces. Article content Article content Though we sometimes speak of universities in generic terms, there are sharp differences among them. Dalhousie University in Halifax is a medical-doctoral institution well known throughout the Atlantic region and across Canada. Other universities in the province vary in size and stature but have more of a local impact, and some are embedded in communities that are dependent upon them, e.g. Acadia in Wolfville, St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, and Cape Breton University in Sydney. Ten universities are a lot in a province with a population approaching 1.1 million, but they are all established institutions with communities that are intent on their survival and success. Article content Article content The hurdles in their way are substantial. In Nova Scotia, as in other provinces, the percentage of budgets from government grants has been steadily declining but the decline has not been met by offsetting fee increases, and provincial governments continue to control tuition, prescribing levels that are insufficient to make up budget shortfalls. Where, historically, universities have been able to set their own tuition fees — for international students — the federal government has intervened to impose caps on their numbers. While the impact among universities varies depending on the extent of their reliance on students from other countries, it is felt by all. Article content Article content Clearly this situation is not sustainable; as the old saying goes, something has to give. Public support has to increase or universities must be given the latitude to make up through tuition the shortfalls between government grants and what they need to do their work well. Governments must recognize this choice and be guided by it. Article content Article content Universities, too, have choices to make. When the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents meets, do they talk about collaboration, rationalizing programs, collective procurement, outreach to business and working in solidarity to achieve better collective bargaining outcomes? Or are they focused on the latest issue or crisis? (I would bet on the latter). They should ask themselves, too, about why the standing of our universities with the public has declined. Canadians are losing confidence in their political neutrality and in what should be their commitment to non-discrimination and freedom of expression. These are not conditions that lead people to press their governments to support more public funding. Article content But despite their shortcomings, our universities are vitally important in shaping the future of Canada. Their futures depend on broad non-partisan support for their missions and activities and, until that support is recovered, they are unlikely to fare better — in Nova Scotia or elsewhere in Canada. Article content
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Musician Points Out Beautiful, Unknown Canadian Destinations
Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Andersen has lived and now lives in unique Canadian towns unknown to most Americans. Matt Andersen Singer-songwriter Matt Andersen has lived in many unique Canadian cities and towns that few Americans are familiar with. American travelers looking for new destinations may want to absorb his knowledge. Andersen, who recently released a new album The Hammer & The Rose , grew up in Perth-Andover, a tiny town that has since been incorporated into Southern Victoria in New Brunswick, Canada. Perth-Andover has about 1,500 residents and is about a 2-hour-and-40-minute drive northwest of Saint John, the province's largest city. The Saint John River runs through Perth-Andover, dividing the Perth side from the Andover side. 'Perth-Andover is quiet and serence and in a beautiful part of the Saint John River Valley,' says Andersen who will be performing August 17 at Mountain Stage in Charleston, West Virginia. 'If you're looking for hustle and bustle, this might not be for you. The area is full of charm that used to bore me as a kid, but now I wish more and more that I could spend my time there. Home cooked meals, local produce and mechanics that won't try to rip you off, because you're from out of town. It's very much a-less-is-more kind of place.' The beauty of the Annapolis Valley vineyards is apparent near Wolfville; Nova Scotia, where singer-songwriter Matt Andersen lives. (Photo by: Dave Reede/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Explore NB, New Brunswick's tourism department, calls Perth-Andover the place 'where people and trails meet' in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors can enjoy many experiences there, the department says. 'Take the self-guided Cultural Walkway tour for a glimpse into the area's Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) English and Scottish heritage,' Explore NB says. 'Depending on the season, you can explore the area with hiking, biking or cross-country skiing excursions on three local trail systems: the International Appalachian Trail, the Trans Canada Trail and the Sentier NB Trail.' The village also sits near great hunting, fishing and wilderness areas, according to the tourism department. Every Saturday in the summer, a local farmers market features 'the best of the region's lands, woods and waters.' Perth-Andover, Andersen says, also hosts some 'world-class events,' including the Larlee Creek Hullabaloo music festival and The Gathering of the Scots, an annual celebration of Scottish culture with various competitions. 'I threw my first caber (a young tree trunk) there many years ago and was part of the evening's entertainment,' Andersen says about The Gathering of the Scots. 'It has since turned into a holdfast in the Highland Games circuit.' Visitors should eat and stay, Explore NB says, at the 13-guestroom Pathsaala Inn & Restaurant, 'a castle-style manor.' If you are going to a festival or just visiting, don't miss Carl's Dairy Bar, Andersen says. 'This place has been here since I was a kid and beyond I assume,' he says. 'The onion rings are the best, and I'm a sucker for the chicken roll.' The Tobique River Trading Company is worth a stop to pick up some local beers and roasted coffee, Andersen says. It is located in a century-old building on a bank of the Saint John River. A few years ago, a four-lane highway was built, and it has provided some apparently unexpected benefits for locals, Andersen says. 'The benefit of the new highway is that the old Trans Canada Highway is left alone to the locals,' he says. 'You can drive along the Saint John River and take in its splendor without having to worry about a car riding your bumper while trying to get a prized lobster trap home.' About a 40-minute drive northeast of Perth-Andover is Plaster Rock, a town that hosts the World Pond Hockey Championships. 'It is just what it sounds like,' Andersen remarks. 'Teams from all over the world compete in the tournament that takes place on a frozen lake. It's about as Canadian as you can get.' The Tobique River flows through Plaster Rock and is known for its fishing and wildlife. 'If you visit at the right time of year, you can go on the hunt for fiddleheads—a local fern that lands on supper plates every spring,' Andersen says. 'You'll love them or hate them, though it is commonly agreed that the best way to love them is with more than the daily recommended dose of butter and a few splashes of vinegar.' About a 40-minute drive south of Perth-Andover, the town of Hartland is home to the world's longest covered bridge. The Hartland Covered Bridge is about 427 yards long and opened uncovered, according to Parks Canada, in 1901. A spring ice jam washed out two spans in 1920. By early 1922, the bridge was repaired and fully covered, with a walkway added in the 1940s. A six-minute drive from the bridge is the home of Covered Bridge Potato Chips, which offers tours and sells more than 30 types of chips in its gift shop. 'They make some of the best kettle-style chips,' Andersen says. 'Go for the creamy dill.' Nearby is the McCain Foods factory in Florenceville. The company, known globally for its French fries, has annual revenues of $16 billion Canadian, according to the company's website. 'I worked there in my days before going full-time as a musician,' Andersen recalls. 'You're in potato country now. Stop into Potato World to see where McCain's products are sent all over the world and dig into some fresh-cooked French fries.' Potato World says it is 'two acres of state-of-the-art hands-on displays, educational video theaters and antique machinery. Finish off your visit with tasty fries, baked potato soup, chocolate potato cake, potato smoothie and many more tasty treats!' Abot a six-hour drive from the factory where he once worked, Andersen lives today in another province, Nova Scotia. He resides in Wolfville, about an hour's drive north of Halifax. 'Like many moves people make, I followed my heart to Wolfville,' he explains. 'Got it broke and found another reason to stay. It has become home over the last 20 years.' Wolfville is nestled in the Annapolis Valley. 'It's where our vineyards are and a good portion of our farmland,' Andersen says. 'From spring to fall, we're spoiled with an abundance of fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables. The road to my house is lined with roadside stands with produce at the end of the driveways and a cash box and a price list. We're spoiled.' About a 35-minute drive north of Wolfville, Andersen recommends visitors go to Cape Split Provincial Park. 'Cape Split is a gorgeous hike that will give you beautiful views of the Bay of Fundy,' he exclaims. Why does one prefer living in Wolfville over Halifax, a city teeming with local musicians? 'I'm a country kid,' Andersen replies. 'I grew up with great neighbors, but you'd have to dig out the binoculars to get a good look at them. Wolfville still has lots of space. I live on a seven-acre lot. It's quiet when you need quiet and dark when you need dark. The supply of local produce and meat is a huge plus. We know where our money is going when we drop it into the boxes by the road. My place is only about 45 minutes to Halifax or the airport. That's perfect by me.'
CBC
22-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.S. housing construction starts must double for next decade to restore affordability: CMHC
The pace of housing construction starts in Nova Scotia needs to more than double for the next decade in order to restore affordability to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation report. Canada's housing agency estimates that the province's current rate of housing starts is about 5,400 a year. According to the report, Nova Scotia will need to average more than 12,500 starts annually between 2025 and 2035. "We need [supply for] rental, we need home ownership, we need everything across the board," said CMHC deputy chief economist Aled ab Iorwerth. He said it will be a challenge to hit the housing starts needed. In the last few years, people in the construction industry have reported labour shortages that are having an impact on projects. "It's a stretch goal, but that's why we need everybody [governments and the private sector] to work together on this," ab Iorwerth said. He said governments need to make development processes more efficient while builders and developers need to find ways to improve productivity through approaches like prefab manufacturing. The CMHC's latest update on housing supply gaps looks at what it would take to return house prices to being either no higher than 30 per cent of average gross household income or no higher than 2019 levels in less affordable regions. The report's regional breakdowns show Ontario and Nova Scotia have the most significant supply gaps by province, while Montreal faces the largest gap of any major city. Affordable housing researcher Catherine Leviten-Reid said the type of housing we build in the future matters and isn't something addressed in the report. Some experts, including Leviten-Reid, have said more non-market housing like those owned by governments or non-profits is needed to ensure a more affordable housing system. "Those providers are not profit-seeking and so they're not going to be charging the same kind of high rents as our for-profit housing developers are," said Leviten-Reid, an associate professor at Cape Breton University. "Why not tackle the affordability issue by increasing supply specifically within those non-market sectors?" Leviten-Reid added that regulations should also be considered, like vacancy control to prevent affordable apartments from being pushed to much higher market rents when new tenants move in. Ab Iorwerth agrees more support is needed for low-income households, adding that "middle-class Canadians are also feeling the pinch and more housing is needed to get them … back to affordability." If Nova Scotia can ramp up housing construction, the CMHC estimates home prices could fall from an average of about $511,000 to under $406,000 by the end of 2035. Rents could be six per cent lower than where they're currently projected to be by that time. The CMHC has changed its target of affordability when making projections about supply gaps. "Restoring affordability to levels last seen two decades ago isn't realistic, especially after the post-pandemic price surge," the report said. It notes the new threshold of restoring affordability to pre-pandemic levels is not an official government target, but illustrates the scale of the challenge of making housing affordable.
