Contract talks with CUPE Local 759 (outside municipal employees) resumed
on Wednesday, November 17, with the two main issues being contracting out
and job security. There are also a dozen or so smaller issues that have
to be worked through and council is hopeful that an agreement can be
reached soon.
Several councillors and senior staff members met with the Municipal
Affairs Minister Angus MacIsaac to discuss the financial difficulties of
the CBRM. During the course of our discussion I asked Mr. MacIsaac about
the provincial government’s commitment to revisit the issue of forced
amalgamations; particularly, that where there have been forced
amalgamations the Municipal Affairs would work with the communities to
find imaginative ways to rekindle the communities sense of identity. Mr.
MacIsaac responded that his department was reviewing this issue. I also
asked what is being done to determine whether further boundary changes
should be made to provide rural areas with rural government. Mr. MacIsaac
responded that this was an issue in the Musquodoboit area of the Halifax
Regional Municipality and that Municipal Affairs would look into the CBRM
where rural communities bordered other municipalities.
I have been asked if the Big Pond Center sign is going back up again. The
sign is on order and will hopefully be standing tall again before
long.
May you and yours enjoy a healthy, happy holiday.
Merry Christmas!
Respectfully submitted,
Ivan Doncaster, Councillor District 14, CBRM Phone: 828-2272