CBRM News

Mayor and Council going to Halifax to oppose Bill 340

October 20, 2023 

Mayor and Council going to Halifax to oppose Bill 340 

- Nova Scotia’s second largest municipality says province has failed to negotiate a fair deal with CBRM
- Mayor and Council say Houston government has no solutions for housing and transit crisis 

SYDNEY, NS - - The Mayor and City Council members of Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) have taken a firm stance against the provincial government's proposed Bill 340, the Municipal Reform Act. They will be speaking at the Law Amendments Committee meeting in Halifax on Monday to voice their concerns about the legislation and a proposed new deal with municipalities that threatens to reduce CBRM's equalization funding. 

Speaking at a press conference held at City Hall in downtown Sydney, Mayor Amanda McDougall and Council members expressed their strong opposition to the proposed reforms and the government's handling of critical issues, particularly housing and transit. 

"We are grappling with a pressing housing and transit crisis that need significant solutions, but the province's response has been anything but adequate," stated Mayor McDougall. "The Premier pledged a better deal for CBRM, but his proposed plan leaves us with less." 

Read more ...

Transit Cape Breton expanding service to Westmount, Coxheath and Howie Centre 

August 25, 2023 

Transit Cape Breton expanding service to Westmount, Coxheath and Howie Centre 

Effective September 5, new routes to service high density areas 

SYDNEY, NS – Transit Cape Breton is adding four new or expanded routes including new service to Howie Centre, Coxheath and Westmount. 

A new Route 2 will transform the Sydney-Glace Bay express into a scheduled service leaving each community on the half hour. The service stops at Cineplex, CBU, Walmart and the Mayflower Mall. 

New Route 6 Westmount also includes service to the Cantley Village area of Coxheath Road. This run will leave Sydney, travel through Sydney River, along Westmount Road, around through Murphy Road, come back through Westmount Road, across to Coxheath Road and use the highway to return to Sydney River Mall and back to Sydney.Route Fare for this route will follow the structure of: Westmount to Sydney River – 1 Zone ($1.25), Westmount to Sydney – 2 Zones ($2.25), Westmount to CBU – 3 Zones ($3.25), Westmount to Glace Bay – 4 Zones ($4.25) 

Read more ...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: TRANSIT ROUTE 5 EFFECTIVE THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 until further notice

August 23, 2023

Due to provincial government bridge work in North Sydney area, Transit is required to re-route in North Sydney in the downtown core as well as around the highway overpass at Marine Atlantic.

NS Department of Public Works cannot confirm an estimated time of completion Therefore Transit Cape Breton is rerouting the buses temporarily until all work is complete.The bus travelling from Sydney to the Northside will travel through Seaview Drive, Queen St, Commercial St to King Street and into the Northside Mall. From this point it will then travel via Hwy 125 to Exit 1 towards the Ferry terminal. The bus will then turn off Tobin Road, travel through the Northside Industrial Park, turning left on Convent to make its way back to Service Road/Shore Road in North Sydney and Sydney Mines and continue on as normal.

Read more ...

Water main break disrupting pressure in Sydney/Whitney Pier

Wednesday August 23, 2023

7:30 am


A significant water main break has occurred in the downtown Sydney area. This will lead to low or no water pressure in parts of downtown and as far as Whitney Pier.
Traffic detours will be in place around the Wentworth Park area of George Street.

More information to come.

Transit Delays anticipated on Saturday, August 5

TRANSIT NOTICE:

Transit service will experience delays mid-day on Saturday, August 5, due to parade activity in downtown Sydney.
Expect transit to experience delays around 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm.

CBRM Traffic Notice

July 14, 2023 
CBRM Traffic Notices

Prince Street from George Street to the Esplanade will be closed to vehicular traffic from Monday, July 17th  to Thursday July 20th  from 7:00am to 5:30 pm daily. Local traffic will be allowed through to Bentinck from George. The street will be open at night. Staff will be on site to assist pedestrians.

Wentworth Street from the Esplanade to Bentinck Street will be closed to traffic on Monday, July 17th only from 7:00 am until noon. Staff will be on site to assist. 

-30-

CBRM Forward public hearing July 20, 2023

July 5, 2023

The Council of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has scheduled a Public Hearing to consider the adoption of a new Municipal Planning Strategy and associated Land Use By-law and Subdivision By-law.

The Public Hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. To review the proposed planning documents, please visit www.cbrmforward.ca

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed amendment is welcome to make a presentation at the Public Hearing or make a written submission via email. The deadline for written submissions is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 17th.

Submissions must include your full name and address for the public record.
Requests for further information and statement submissions can be directed to the Planning Department.
Phone: (902) 563-5088
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Free Canada Day transit services

June 28, 2023

Transit Cape Breton will provide free Canada Day service to the evening's festivities at Open Hearth Park. Handi-Trans clients can also call to book.

4:00pm Buses Leave Glace Bay, New Waterford, Sydney Mines for Open Hearth Park
5:30pm Buses leave Glace Bay, New Waterford, Sydney Mines for Open Hearth Park
7:30 pm Buses leave Glace Bay, New Waterford, Sydney Mines for Open Hearth Park

8:30pm Buses Leave OHP and complete a full route back to original locations (start dropping off people)

*Fireworks start at 10:00 pm

More details:

Read more ...

Municipal Canada Day Events

CBRM Municipal Canada Day event - Open Hearth Park 4 pm to 10 pm on July 1, 2023

Other events:

WHITNEY PIER
9:00AM - 1:00PM
Branch 128 Royal Canadian Legion - breakfast, cake, children's activities

NEW WATERFORD
11:00AM - 4:30PM
Rose Schwartz Park-  music, games and children's activities

NORTH SYDNEY
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Smelt Brook Park - atv rides, children's games, facepainting

GLACE BAY
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Glace Bay Fitness Park - music, bbq, games for all ages

WESTMOUNT
1:00 - 4:00PM
Petersfield Provincial Park - bounce tent, mall of science, games, music, & more

MARION BRIDGE
1:00PM Parade through community &Scavenger Hunt
1:00 - 5:00PM MacPherson's Field. children's and family games
7:30 - 10:00PM. Marion Bridge boat parade and fireworks

LOUISBOURG
2:00 - 4:30PM
S&L Railway Station -cake, music, bounce house, bbq, & more

OHP

 

CBRM advancing plans to establish a UARB-regulated water/wastewater commission

June 13, 2023

SYDNEY, NS -   CBRM Council has moved a step forward in the establishment of a new governance and operational structure for water and wastewater in CBRM. The CBRM Water Utility and CBRM Wastewater Department are in process of becoming a UARB-regulated commission named the CBRM Water and Wastewater Commission. 

The changes planned will modify how the delivery of water and removal of wastewater are funded. The new model will be entirely based on customer usage. Currently, the system is a combination of customer use billing and property tax billing. 

“Under the new model, residents will no longer see a sewer charge on their tax bill.  The cost of wastewater collection and treatment services will appear as a separate line item on their water bill,” said Greg Campbell, Manager of Technical Support Services – Utilities at CBRM. The new Commission will apply to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) to set rates. The next step in the project’s progress is a rate study to determine the appropriate rate for the service delivery. 

The CBRM Water Utility provides treated water to residential and commercial customers.  Current customers are billed by water usage as recorded by their in-home meter.  The operations of the CBRM Wastewater department are supported by taxes. All residential and commercial taxpayers on municipal wastewater systems pay a “sewer rate” of .191 per $100 of assessment. 

Read more ...