CBRM News

Three municipalities ready to form Regional Enterprise Network

June 24, 2013

ARICHAT, RICHMOND CO., NS - Three Cape Breton municipalities will move forward, together, to establish a Regional Enterprise Network. The Municipality of the County of Richmond, the Municipality of the County of Victoria and Cape Breton Regional Municipality are writing to the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal relations to inform him of their decision.

At a council meeting in Richmond County tonight, council voted to join Victoria County and CBRM in establishing a Regional Enterprise Network.

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CBRM Council will meet in July and August

June 18, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – Cape Breton Regional Municipality Council will hold scheduled public meetings in July and August. Mayor Cecil Clarke says the tradition of summer recess will end because Council is moving forward on the significant issues facing the municipality.

"As a Council, we have decided that we must keep moving forward on major initiatives during these months," said Clarke. "We are advancing the agenda outlined in the Reorganization Plan for Positive Change."

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Cape Breton Regional Municipality to welcome HMCS Glace Bay

June 10, 2013

SYDNEY, NS - HMCS Glace Bay will visit the port of Sydney on June 14-17. The public will have several opportunities to tour the ship and members of the crew will be visiting local charities to lend assistance.

HMCS Glace Bay is scheduled to arrive dockside at 6 pm on Friday, June 14. Mayor Cecil Clarke says members of the public are welcome and encouraged to greet the ship as it arrives.

Mayor Clarke and members of Council will also be on hand at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion to greet the officers and crew.

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Municipality to seek federal and provincial funding for Gabarus seawall proposal

June 7, 2013

SYDNEY, NS –The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is putting forward a cost sharing proposal to the federal and provincial governments to move forward on repairs to the Gabarus seawall.

"We are very concerned that no action will be taken in advance of the hurricane season. Mayor Cecil Clarke and council are putting forward a proposal for consideration and seeking federal and provincial participation," said District 7 Councillor Ivan Doncaster.

Doncaster says the Municipality is submitting the proposal in writing to ECBC and the provincial Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

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Mayor applauds provincial commitment to CBRM capital plan

April 23, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – SYDNEY, NS – Mayor Cecil Clarke said today's announcement by the Nova Scotia government to commit to cost sharing with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is "an important and critical next step to improved outcomes for the only city outside of our province's capital".

"I'm pleased that we have reached this point through respectful and strategic discussions with the Province," said Clarke. "I am looking forward to partnering with Minister MacDonell to present a common, co-operative approach to the federal government in Ottawa."

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Statement on the passing of Rita MacNeil from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

April 17, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – Flags will fly at half-mast at Cape Breton Regional Municipality in honour of the life of Cape Breton singer and songwriter Rita MacNeil.

Mayor Cecil Clarke said MacNeil's influence and success inspired many.

"Her humble and soft-spoken approach, even during great fame, endeared her to all. She was beloved by so many. On behalf of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, I offer our sympathies today to her family and friends."

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Mayor Savage to address special meeting of council, luncheon in Sydney

April 14, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – The Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality will address a special council meeting of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on April 18 and a luncheon event at Centre 200 on April 19.

CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke invited Mayor Mike Savage to speak to council and discuss opportunities for cooperation and economic development. Mayor Savage's visit is the first of its kind since the regional municipalities were created.
Clarke said he believes CBRM and HRM are partners in developing economic opportunities.

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Positive statements not backed by financial commitment

CBRM needs province to come to the table sooner than 2014

April 4, 2013

SYDNEY, NS - The Finance Minister's budget address spoke positively of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's five-year capital plan and looked ahead to working with the municipality in 2014, but CBRM officials are disappointed that there is no funding commitment this year.

"A year from now may be too little, too late," said Deputy Mayor Kevin Saccary. "The positive statements are encouraging but our problems are immediate."

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Mayor and Council seek firm commitment to five-year $300 million capital plan

March 28, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is seeking a firm commitment from the provincial government for the region's cost-shared capital plan in next week's budget.

In a speech to a Sydney Chamber of Commerce luncheon today, Mayor Cecil Clarke listed over a dozen infrastructure projects that are on the municipality's priority list to comply with wastewater regulations.

"We have dozens upon dozens of projects. $454 million in total. A 20 per cent share of all Atlantic Canadian projects," said Clarke. "The five-year, $300 million plan we have proposed is responsible, achievable and necessary. It is now time for the provincial government to commit to partnering with us to move forward. The consequences of inaction is the failure of service delivery, as we now see with our inability to fund road construction."

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Municipality to consider funding application to provincial and federal governments for seawall repairs

March 24, 2013

SYDNEY, NS - Mayor Cecil Clarke said today that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will be asked to formally apply for federal and provincial cost-shared funding for repairs to the Gabarus seawall.

"We have met with Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, MP Rodger Cuzner and MLA Alfie MacLeod and I feel we have an opening now to take a next step," said Clarke. "The Minister indicated he would look within government for funding on the basis that seawall repairs are a cost-shared project with all three levels of government. We are moving forward on that basis."

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