Voting Members

Present:     Phil LeBlanc, Norman Pottier, Phil Mooney, Charles LeBlanc, Heather MacDonald, Rachel Pictou, Doris Townsend, Elizabeth Rhuland, Leigh Stoddart, Darian Huskilson, Ronnie LeBlanc, Jean Melanson

 

Regrets:     Rod Rose, Trevor Cunningham, Bob Redding, Alan Lombard, Roger King

 

Non-Voting Members

Present:     Calvin Butler, Stephane Cyr, Patrick Melanson, Gwen LeBlanc, Michelle Blinn, Chris Atwood, Pam Thibault, Frank Anderson

 

Call to Order

Vice-Chair Phil LeBlanc called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.

 

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Charles LeBlanc, seconded by Rachel Pictou that the minutes of the January 20^th, 2010 meeting be accepted as distributed.  Motion Carried.

 

Business Arising from the Minutes

No business

 

Correspondence (copies are distributed to board members prior to meeting)

 

1. Municipality of Argyle

Letter confirming funding of $5,000 for the Museums & Historic Sites Interpretation Specialist Project.

2. Municipality of the District of Yarmouth

Letter confirming funding of $5,000 for the Museums and Historic Sites Interpretation Specialist Project.

3. VON Tri-County

Thank you letter for supporting their successful Christmas Tree Dinner and Auction.

4. Labour Market Brief

Report on the state of the Labour Market on December 2009 and changes year over year in the makeup of the force.

5. Innovacorp

Invitation to the I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition Awards Reception.  The CEO attended where three of the finalists from the region were recognized.

6. Municipality of the District of Shelburne

Copy of letter to Minister Percy Paris requesting assistance in assessing the option for an RDA for all of Shelburne County.

7. Nova Scotia Business Inc

Invitation to an investment announcement for JHS Fishproducts Ltd.

8. Municipality of the District of Barrington

Letter informing of the council’s priorities of the 2010-2011 year.

9. Shelburne County Tourism Development Committee

Letter requesting a meeting to transfer all responsibility for the Shelburne County Tourism Officer from the SWSDA.

10. Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development

Letter from Ian Thompson, Deputy Minister confirming receipt of requested information to assist in the decision regarding the request for a loan guarantee to support continued operations.

11. Municipality of the District of Barrington

Letter from Council noting that the municipality is not prepared to provide a confirmation of funding for the fiscal year 2010-2011.

12. Municipality of the District of Shelburne

Letter from Council informing that they will not be involved in the option proposed for the new regional development authority by SWSDA.

13. Municipality of the District of Shelburne

Letter offering support in terminating the operations of SWSDA.

14. Municipality of the District of Shelburne

Request to provide information on the plans for a new Regional Development Authority.

15. SHYFT

The Supportive Housing Youth Focus Team Committee provided information on their proposed project to set up a homeless shelter in Yarmouth.  They are awaiting funding commitments for operations.

16. Town of Shelburne

Letter confirming Council’s decision not to be member of the new organization under the Regional Community Development Act.

17. Email on I-3 Competition winners in the region:

List of I-3 Competition winners in the region:

• Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties – 1^st place was Xona Games (Yarmouth), 2^nd place was Ocean Leader Fisheries Ltd. (Lower Wedgeport)
• Digby, Annapolis, King’s and Hants counties – 1^st place was Clare Machine Works Ltd. (Meteghan Centre).

18. Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development

Copy of letter to Mayor Phil Mooney (Town of Yarmouth) concerning the role of the department in the sale of CFS Shelburne and commitment to help resolve the outstanding issues with SWSDA.

19. Municipality of the District of Yarmouth

Letter confirming Council’s decision to continue to partner in a new Regional Development Authority under the Regional Community Development Act, effective April 1, 2010.

20. Municipality of the District of Yarmouth

Letter providing the Council’s priorities over the year 2010-2011.

 

21. Municipality of the District of Clare

Letter confirming Council’s decision to continue to partner in a new Regional Development Authority after March 31, 2010.

22. Municipality of the District of Clare

Letter providing the Council’s priorities for action over the year 2010-2011 for the new Business Plan.

23. Colonie de la Jeunesse Acadienne

Letter requesting support to acquire the funding required to complete the rebuilding of the camp.

24. Town of Yarmouth

Letter of support for the Chick’s with Sticks Female Hockey Tournament as an annual event in the region.

25. Town of Yarmouth

Letter of support for the bid to host the Nova Scotia Music Week in 2010, after the positive impact achieved in the community from the 2009 event.

26. Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development

Letter from Minister Percy Paris concerning the decision of the Government of Nova Scotia not to provide a subsidy for the ferry operation for 2010.

27. Population Forum

Article on session to identify solutions to population decline and worker shortages between NSARDA, UNSM and NS Chambers of Commerce.

28. Municipality of the District of Clare

Copy of letter to Minister Percy Paris committing their involvement in a new RDA under the Regional Community Development Act.

29. Population Forum

Article on the population forum held by a partnerships between NSARDA, UNSM and NS Chambers of Commerce.

30. NS Department of Health

Letter to inform the department that the SWSDA will not be administering this project beyond March 31, 2010 and that the Municipality of the District of Barrington is interested in continuing this project.

31. MP Greg Kerr

Invitation to an announcement on behalf of Health Canada for funding of a program to curb drug use among youth in rural Nova Scotia.

32. Nova Scotia Tourism Culture & Heritage

Meeting agenda to plan for 2010 season with recent changes to transportation.

33. Service Canada

Announcement by MP Greg Kerr of funding for $77,000 to assist with individuals in Yarmouth County who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

34. Nova Scotia Office of Immigration

Invitation to participate in a one-day workshop on issues and opportunities to serve immigrants.  The CEO is a panelist for the sesson.

35. Shelburne Reenactment Association

Thank you email for help in identifying funding sources to develop the group and encourage younger people to join.

36. Municipality of the District of Argyle

Copy of letter to Minister Percy Paris committing to be partner in a new RDA incorporated under the Regional Community Development Act.

37. Town of Lockeport

Copy of letter to Minister Percy Paris committing to be a partner in a new RDA incorporated under the Regional Community Development Act.

38. Service Canada

Copy of Labour Market Brief for January 2010 for Nova Scotia.

39. Music Nova Scotia

Copy of report on Nova Scotia Music Week 2009 held in Yarmouth, noting it was the most successful to date and identifying the economic impact of the week.

40. Municipality of the District of Yarmouth

Copy of letter to Minister Percy Paris committing to be partner in a new RDA incorporated under the Regional Community Development Act.

 

Elizabeth asked if we received a copy of the final Southwestern Nova Scotia Transportation Study.  The CEO replied that we had not received it yet.

Financial Statements

The CEO provided copies of the Receiver General payroll and HST remittances for review and replied to questions in the financial statements.  He noted that the financial statement is for in-house use, not public distribution.  He also noted that we continue to cut expenses where possible.

 

Charles LeBlanc moved and Darian Huskilson seconded a motion to approve the financial statements to January 31, 2010 and remittances.  Motion Carried.

Executive Committee Report

No Report

Other Committee Report

Bylaws Committee has completed the by-laws and submitted a request for

incorporation of an RDA under the Regional Community Development Act. 

The Business Plan was approved by the committee for submission by March 5,

2010.  The budget is being finalized for the plan.

Staff Report

Darian Huskilson moved and Leigh Stoddart seconded a motion to place the staff report on the website for public information on our activities.  Motion Carried.

New Business

Discussion of the receipt and release of the Ombudsman’s Report.  The document was dated Friday February 19, marked confidential.  The SWSDA office received its copy on Monday, February 22.  It was posted online the same day.  The CEO has asked the Office of the Ombudsman why the document was marked “Confidential.”  The reply was that Mr. Bishop changed his mind and will provide a written rationale for that decision to SWSDA.

 

There were 12 recommendations (4 for SWSDA; 8 for Economic and Rural Development.  All are being acted upon including a review by Ernst & Young of our governance policies and administrative processes).

 

The board must reply to this report by March 31, 2010.

 

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on March 17, 2010 at 10:00am in the SWSDA Boardroom.

 

In Camera Session

Darian Huskilson moved and Leigh Stoddart seconded a motion to go “In Camera”.  Motion Carried.

 

Norman Pottier moved and Elizabeth Rhuland seconded a motion to go out of “In Camera”.  Motion Carried.

Meeting Adjourned