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Latest update: 2011 May 22
Chapter 35
1998 April
Index with links to the other chapters
The first use, that I saw, of the new 877 code, was for the new CRTC toll-free telephone line, 1-877-249-CRTC, which officially went into service on 21 May 1998.
BTU means British Thermal Unit (a measure of energy)
1,000,000 BTU = 1.055 GJ
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Written on 30 July 1998: Darrell Dexter's website is still set up as it had been before the election of 24 March. The entry page was last updated on 14 March 1998, more than nineteen weeks ago. Eileen O'Connell's website was last updated on 10 April 1998, more than eight weeks ago. George Archibald's website was last updated at 8:03pm on 24 March, election day, more than eighteen weeks ago. There is nothing to indicate these MLAs have any plans to use their websites as a means of communicating with the people of Nova Scotia during their terms in office. |
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For example, on Saturday, 18 April, the Chronicle-Herald carried a story titled "Tory Critics Named", by Dale Madill: Tory Leader John Hamm released his critic portfolios on Friday, and he, like Premier Russell MacLellan, went with his veterans. The biggest change is in the responsibility for the crucial health portfolio, which Mr. Hamm has taken on himself ... One of the more interesting additions to the Tory benches is Murray Scott, a former police officer who will bring his perspective to a critical area, justice, that is usually dominated by lawyers. He is also responsible for issues affecting human rights and senior citizens. Another notable MLA is Neil LeBlanc, who returns to the House as an opposition member after serving as a cabinet minister in the governments of John Buchanan and Donald Cameron. Defeated in the 1993 election, the Argyle MLA has prepared for his new role in a familiar place, attending a seminar for rookie MLAs earlier this week. He is the critic for fisheries, Acadian affairs, and business and consumer affairs.
Seems to me this is the sort of item that one would expect to show up in the PC Party website, but, as of 22 April, five days after the announcement to the media, there's nothing there. |
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For example, on Saturday, 18 April, the Chronicle-Herald carried a story titled "MacLellan, Chisholm Settle Little", by Dale Madill: ...The two men only reached agreement on settling the contentious issue of choosing a Speaker through creation of a tripartite committee of House leaders ... Mr. Chisholm identified the BST, health and university funding, and P3 school construction as areas where the NDP will stick to its election platform ... "We don't have confidence in this government, and that hasn't changed, so we are not going in there with the idea of propping them up," he said, adding his party's agenda isn't to topple the MacLellan government, either. "We want better government for Nova Scotians. That's our goal." ... Mr. MacLellan said there was also three-party agreement on increasing funding for members' constituency expenses...
Seems to me this is a significant event, worthy of being described as a news release, or perhaps in some other format, in the NDP website, but, as of 22 April, five days later, there's no mention of it. Here's another, from the Chronicle-Herald on Wednesday, 22 April — "Classes Start for NDP Caucus", by Amy Smith: The NDP caucus is headed for political boot camp this weekend. The 19-member caucus will spend Saturday through Monday in Antigonish, learning the ropes of the legislature and other aspects of being a provincial politician. "It's a question of getting people together, getting to know each other," NDP Leader Robert Chisholm said Tuesday ... These MLA-elects will also review tapes of previous sessions of the House. "It's only fair," Mr. Chisholm said. "We have to try and prepare them for each part of their job. "We'll try to run through what it may be like in the legislature." This session of the House will require special preparation in light of the province's current political climate, he said... Seems to me this, too, is a significant event, worthy of mention in the NDP website, but the party apparently does not agree. |
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from Halifax to Europe Fares in Canadian dollars
Three flights weekly |
At this time, Annapolis Valley Radio's website was located at
http://www.glinx.com/vradio/vradio.html (Archived 1998 June 24)
Citizens Coalition to Fight for Street Lights
The Citizens Coalition for the Retention of Streetlights plans to vigourously pursue its objectives of keeping street lights in Cumberland County, said coalition member Phil Stevens during an April 21 press conference. "There's an old children's song that says 'where were you when the lights went out' and I do hope we in Cumberland County do not have to live with this scenario." The coalition, which was formed as a result of the Municipal Council's decision to eliminate street lights in parts of the county, also has some secondary objectives, Stevens outlined. The coalition, a group representing nine communities fighting the user-pay system, wants to make Council accountable to the public and to open up proper communication between Council, the coalition, and the public. "The Warden said the decision was made close to two years ago," Stevens explained. "If this is so, why is it some taxpayers in some areas of the County were given such short notice?" In District One, he explained, two weeks' notice was given for residents to decide if they want to keep the lights or not, and in Joggins, River Hebert, and Lower Cove ten days was given. Council refused earlier requests from groups in District One and Joggins to put the issue on hold, Stevens said, saying they covered everything in a study on the issue. "If they have covered everything in their study, why are the RCMP showing some concern regarding crime and public safety?" The RCMP are concerned, Stevens explained, because the areas where street lights are being shut off surround densely populated areas. If the decision was made two years ago and had been before Council for several years, he wondered why it had not been brought before the voters at election time. If street lights are to be changed over to a user-pay system, Stevens said, it is up to Council to clarify who is a "user". "Street lights are a benefit to all, RCMP, 911 emergency, ... a guide for the Highways Department crews." If the lights go user-pay, Stevens wondered who would absorb the additional cost of collecting power bills and what would be done with delinquent customers. Coalition chair Mark Boon said the coalition believes this issue can be resolved by talking and working with Council to find alternative solutions. Boon said there needs to be a clearer definition of user and user pay. "If you pay for something, you the user have the right to use it," Boon said, but what of the visitors driving through an area? "Are they not using it?" he asked, before wondering if little toll booths would be set up.
Streetlight Coalition Angered by
Being Left in Dark by Municipal Council
| This problem, of how rural street lights should be paid for when some areas have them and others do not, is not really all that difficult to solve. It was solved equitably many years ago, in other municipalities. I have personal knowledge of the area-rate system, which was in effect in the 1960s (and likely long before that) in the Municipality of the District of Chester, which covers the eastern half of Lunenburg County. Chester Municipality then had (and as far as I know still has) a system of area rates for street lights. Any district whose residents wanted street lights and were willing to pay for them, got the lights. Districts whose residents preferred to do without street lights, did not get them and were not taxed for them. A street light district could be anything from a few hundred metres along a highway to a formally-organized area such as the Village of Chester. Since the 1930s, in the Village of Chester, the legally-constituted Village Commissioners applied a special street-lighting tax to the whole village; the Commissioners decided how many street lights were installed, and the power (brightness) and specific location of each light, and the electric company sent the associated bill to the Village Commissioners. Other street-light areas existed as well. For areas outside of the Village of Chester, the Municipal Council staff handled the area rates. As part of the municipal property tax records, a list was maintained specifying precisely which properties were to be taxed for each street light area, and those property tax bills showed a separate item for street lights. For many years, Chester Basin did not have street lights, because a majority of its residents were unwilling to accept the cost. Anyone who looks at the minutes of the Chester Municipal Council during the 1950s and 1960s will find references to street light area rates. |
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Index with links to the other chapters
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W3C CSS Validation Service |