CBRM News

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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Survey says: Jobs are the top priority of residents

March 20, 2013

Mayor Clarke says municipal government is focused on economic development

Seeks support from province to move capital plan forward
SYDNEY, NS – Cape Breton's 17.5 per cent unemployment rate is the top concern of residents surveyed as part of the CBRM's extensive budget consultation. When asked "What is the biggest issue or challenge facing CBRM today?" the answer "Unemployment" was the top choice of most residents.

As part of an extensive budget consultation process in recent months, 300 CBRM residents were surveyed by telephone and an additional 205 filled out surveys as part of the budget consultation meetings held in each of the municipality's 12 districts. The budget consultation was the first of its kind for CBRM and is part of the region's Reorganization Plan for Positive Change.

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Two-day budget consultation session to be held at council chambers

March 10, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – Community stakeholder groups are invited to a special two-day budget consultation to be held in Council Chambers at the Civic Centre, 320 Esplanade, on March 18 and 19. Mayor Cecil Clarke, CBRM councillors and Interim CAO Marie Walsh will be in attendance.

The public budget consultation meetings are part of the CBRM's Reorganization Plan for Positive Change.

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Mayor seeks meeting with Premier, Regional Minister on Cape Breton economy

March 10, 2013

SYDNEY, NS – New employment numbers released Friday are a "wake up call" says Mayor Cecil Clarke, and he is seeking a meeting with Premier Darrell Dexter and Minister Peter MacKay to move forward on a new plan for the CBRM.

Cape Breton's unemployment rate is at 17.5 per cent. According to Statistics Canada, there were 48,600 people employed in Cape Breton and 10,300 people looking for work, compared to 52,700 employed and 8,600 unemployed a year ago.

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