MOPC YEAR in Review

·        Council proclaims January as African Heritage Month and flies the Pan-African flag. Residents, residents, and community groups were encouraged to participate in activities and celebrations and to take the opportunity to reflect on the story of Nova Scotia’s vibrant African Nova Scotia community.

·        Council agrees it will apply to the federal government’s Universal Broadband Fund and commits $72 million to its rural internet project.

·        Acknowledgments were given by Council to staff who recently received long service awards.

·        Council proclaims February 14-21 as Women’s Institute Week and acknowledged the good work that this community group does both locally and globally through community service and involvement, education, and personal and leadership development.

·        Council agrees to send a letter on behalf of Brookfield Road residents to the provincial government asking that the road be included for upgrading and paving in the 2021-2022 budget year.  The residents of Brookville Road had signed a letter and petition asking for Council to support its request to the province.

·        The Little Harbour Pickleball Group made a presentation to Council to update it on the work being done at the community centre to create three outdoor pickleball courts. The project is expected to bring the community together and allow people of all ages to enjoy a recreational sport.

·        Council says it is pleased to hear the provincial government will be building a roundabout at the Abercrombie intersection. It agreed to send a letter to the province thanking it for including it in its capital budget.

·        Ann Munro of Eden Lake, Pictou County is the Municipality of Pictou County’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year. Ann was nominated for this award by The Garden of Eden Community Centre. She was the driving force behind the capital project of upgrading the Community Centre and she worked tirelessly throughout the entire process.  The centre is now accessible and is a great asset to the small rural community.

·        Council proclaims March 26 as Purple Day to raise awareness of epilepsy in Canada.  Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, estimated to affect over 50 million people worldwide and 42 people in Canada are diagnosed every day.

·        Presentations were made by Pictou County Solid Waste on the services its offers and the forestry sector which spoke about the economic impact of the closing of Northern Pulp.

·        Covid update from the Riverview Home Corporation and the fact that it has not had an outbreak of the virus in its building in Riverton or its group homes. The Riverview Home Corporation is working towards the provincial goal of moving residents to smaller group homes in the community. 

·        Council proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Lyme disease is a serious illness caused by the bite of a black-legged tick infected by a specific bacterium. Awareness, education and practicing preventative measures such as daily tick checks and proper tick removal, can help reduce your chances of contracting tick-borne diseases.

·        The provincial government responded to Council’s request to review its Highways Policy to determine if changes can be made regarding the placement of electronic speed signs.

·        Council announces that the MOPC will receive $4.46 million from the federal government for its rural internet project.  The funding is from the rapid response component of the Universal Broadband Fund. 

·        A presentation by the administrator of Valley View Villa who provided an update on the home’s operations. Staff reported it has taken steps to reduce the spread of COVID, including establishing a COVID building to isolate a resident who might be infected by the virus. 

·        The MOPC Climate Change Advisory Committee presents its vision statement to Council which states it will mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero.   Council also approved recommendations from the committee that asked for a complete inventory of corporate energy usage and identifying annual goals for reducing the use of fossil fuels by 2031. It also recommended that the MOPC research and cost the purchase and installation of electric charging stations in key locations throughout the MOPC.

·        Council does the first reading of amendments to its municipal planning strategy.  This bylaw addresses wind turbine development. 

·        Council debates recommendations from the Fire Liaison Committee and moved that it accept the Abercrombie proposal that addresses a new funding solution, and a second motion was approved to hire a fire services coordinator.

·        Council will send a letter to the provincial government asking for the establishment of a a dialysis clinic at the Aberdeen Hospital.

Council acknowledged that Central West River/ Saltsprings resident Logan Crosby was selected 20th overall by the Halifax Mooseheads in the first round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s entry draft.

·        Council receives an update on its rural internet project which addressed the need for the MOPC to hire a resource person for the project. 

·        Council proclaims September 27 to Oct. 3 as Right to Know Week.  The week is a celebration of the right of citizens to access information in policy formulation, ensure fairness in government decision making and permit the airing and reconciliation of divergent views.

·        Council approves its utility budget for 2021/22 for the fiscal period of $492,900.  It also approved the rating and collection of area rates for streetlights, hydrant fire protection and sewer maintenance fees for the fiscal period of 2021/22.

Council established its Accessibility Advisory Committee which is made up of elected and non-elected members.

·        Council approves a General Service Area Boundary Change for properties on the Old Pictou Road to the Hodson General Service, in accordance with the Municipality’s General Service Area Boundaries Policy.  The change was made after residents stated they believe they were incorrectly identified with a particular General Service Area that does not match what they consider to be their historical community of record.   For example, residents in the community of Bigney believe they are more closely connected to Hodson and consider it their community of record.

·        Council agrees to enter into a 4-year collective agreement with the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union. The agreement is with MOPC staff.

·        Council approves its 2021/22 operating budget for 2021/22 for the amount of $18,736,617 and approved the tax rate of $0.8155 per $100 assessment for residential and resource property and at $1.8255 per $100 of assessment for commercial property.  It also approved the rates for the fire levy and the New Scotland Business Park.

·        The MOPC appoints a fire inspector on an interim basis until a full-time position can be filled. 

·        Council requests an update on its recreation strategy.

·        Council agrees to put a discussion about rural transit funding on a future agenda. 

·        Council declares Oct. 18-24 as Waste Reduction Week in Canada. The week reaffirms the MOPC’s commitment to waste reduction, resource conservation and community education for sustainable living.

·        A dangerous and unsightly premise hearing for the property of 6333 East River West Side Road, Eureka and a resolution was passed for the demolition.

·        Amendments to the MOPC’s Municipal Planning Strategy were approved following a second reading.

·        Council agrees to send a thank you letter to the Nova Scotia Nurses Union in appreciation for the work done by health care providers.

·        Council is told that there are no plans for a dialysis unit in the Aberdeen Hospital and agreed to write a letter to the three local MLAs and provincial minister of health to request more dialysis seats in Pictou County.

·        Council discussed vaccination policies for firefighters and community organizations such as small arenas.  It agreed to show leadership by passing a motion that requires Council to adopt its own proof of vaccine policy in regard to elected and committee members. 

·        Council proclaims November 3 as Show your 4-H Colours Day in Pictou County.  4-H in Canada has appositive youth development formula that builds responsible, caring and contributing young people that are empowered to be successful through a supportive structure.

·        Council hears a presentation from the Mass Casualty Commission which is required to establish what happened leading up to, during, and after the mass casualty of April 18 and 19, 2020 in Nova Scotia. The commission must also review certain defined issues that provide context to understand why and how the mass casualty occurred. The commission must produce a report that includes findings, lessons, and resulting recommendations to help keep Canadian communities safer in the future.

·        Council declares November 13 -19 in honour of Transgender Day of Remembrance which was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. A vigil commemorated all of the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

·        The MOPC has adopted policy changes that will make it more environmentally conscious when it does business. Its Climate Change Advisory Committee has reviewed the MOPC’s policies and bylaws to ensure it is doing its part to help ease the climate crisis as well as drafting a new bylaw that provides residents with financing options if they want to install solar panel systems on their homes. Policy changes include requiring that when the MOPC issues tenders for municipal vehicles, the specifications will include a preference for zero greenhouse gas admission vehicles unless operational requirements for the vehicle clearly exclude the specifications. It will also ensure that procurement decisions contribute to the goal of net-zero municipal operations by 2030. Changes were also adopted in its Municipal Grants Program Policy that state the MOPC shall recognize and support the efforts of community organizations to provide environmental programs to benefit municipal residents.

·        MOPC Council will once again be asking the provincial government to review its requirements for electronic speed signs.

·        Council agreed to send in a list of sites it would like to see electronic speed signs placed between May and October, including areas that don’t meet provincial requirements. The province requires the signs be placed in areas where there is a change in the speed limit, but District 3 Coun. Darla MacKeil said there are other places they need to be.

·        A group of Pictou County residents has a new vision for health care that it believes will complement current services. Sue Arsenault and Dominic Boyd, members of the Pictou County Community Health Centre Working Group, spoke to MOPC Council Monday about plans to create a community health centre that would fill the gaps being felt in the current health care system.

·        MOPC Council is asking the province to drop the speed limit entering the new Trenton/Abercombie Road roundabout. District 9 Coun. Peter Boyles said he has heard from residents who are concerned that the speed limit entering the new roundabout is still at 80 km. Council agreed to send a letter to the province’s minister of public works as well as local MLAS for a reduction in speed at the site.

·        The Municipality of Pictou County has written to the provincial government asking if Develop Nova Scotia will reconsider supporting its rural broadband project.  The letter was sent in response to a recent auditor general’s report that criticized Develop Nova Scotia’s handling of funds handed out to telecommunication companies to improve internet services with no accountability of how the money is spent.

·        Council will be sending a letter of support to the province continuing to fund insulin pumps for people 25 years and over. District 4 Coun. Mary Elliott said other provinces have eliminated the age cap and she wants Nova Scotia to do the same. The insulin pump is a small computer that delivers insulation throughout the day or when additional doses are needed.

·        The Municipality of Pictou County has approved a motion to send $10,000 to help people affected by the disastrous flooding in British Columbia.