Regional Collaboration.
Regional Collaboration, simply put, refers to the joining of efforts among various partners to accomplish a specific task, identify opportunities and challenges, work on meaningful projects, or create greater capacity around services that ultimately serve the citizens we represent.
The Town of Port Hawkesbury has made notable strides with our Municipal Neighbors in fostering Municipal Collaboration.
Examples of collaborative efforts include the Eastern District Planning Commission, the Allan J MacEachen Regional Airport, the Landrie Lake Water Utility, and the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network.
Working together towards common goals and enhancing regional development is a wonderful way to accelerate regional growth and prosperity.
The Allan J. MacEachen Regional Airport.
One thing we do really well in Cape Breton and the Strait Region - Is we know how to come together in times of Crisis.
This rang true when a proposal to build a “$18 Million” publicly funded airport by Cabot Links owners was submitted to the Province of Nova Scotia and the Federal Government of Canada.
Click to listen to what the Canadian Federation of Tax Payers had to say about the proposal to build a $18 Million Seasonal Airport in Inverness,
In June of 2019, we discovered there was a private application made to the Provincial and Federal Governments for a publicly funded seasonal airport to be built on behalf of Cabot Links owners. The Municipalities in Eastern Nova Scotia and other Regional/Provincial Stakeholders mobilized out of concern. We all wanted to ensure the interests of our “year-round regional airport” were being fully considered. Were the proposal to proceed, our present service provider, Celtic Air Services, would have lost 80% of jet traffic when golfing clients would be diverted to another airport located one hour’s drive away, and gone bankrupt. Then, municipalities and other air access stakeholders would have been left with no service provider, and eventually, a costly “stranded asset.” On July 25, 2019, the Cabot Links proposal to build an airport in Inverness was cancelled by Federal Minister Bernadette Jordan.
This outcome was the result of lobbying, letters of support, meetings, social media pleas, petitions, and old-fashioned public pressure. Many joined this fight: the Allan J MacEachen Airport Committee (with elected officials from Inverness, Richmond and the Town), local Chambers of Commerce, respected Eskasoni Elder Albert Marshall, Strait of Canso Superport Corporation, the Tax Payers Federation of Canada, the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, the Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia Association, the large majority of Municipalities in Eastern Nova Scotia, as well as a multitude of citizens who signed petitions and were active in writing letters to the editor and social media posts. Without this massive mobilization effort - we’d not have been able to save our Regional airport or the local business that manages it. (NOTE: Inverness County Council remained neutral on the subject, and no motions were made to support/reject the Cabot Links Airport Proposal). See the letters of support on the Allan J MacEachen Regional Airport Website.
The spirit of regional collaboration continues. New ownership models for this air asset is under consideration. It is recognized that the current ownership model does not reflect the regional function of this airport. It is in the best interest of all municipalities and airport stakeholders to continue to fight for the best interests of the Allan J MacEachen Regional Airport, as it is an important transportation asset that is part of our Transportation Hub of Port, Road, Rail, and Air. To lose our regional air asset would greatly disadvantage our economic future.
“When Celtic Air Services was on the line in the summer of 2019, Brenda fought hard for the Allan J MacEachen Regional Airport on behalf of her Council. We fought hard together, for the Town of Port Hawkesbury, and the region. The Allan J Airport is an important all-season regional air asset. Many stakeholders mobilized to ensure the Federal and Provincial Governments were paying attention. The end result was positive for us all, but we can’t rest easy yet. We need to continue to advocate for the best interests of this regional airport.”
— David Morgan, Owner/Operator, Celtic Air Services
The Landrie Lake Water Utility.
The Municipality of the County of Richmond and the Town of Port Hawkesbury have collaborated to take ownership of the Landry Lake Watershed and the Utility. Both Municipalities govern the utility together, and hold meetings to manage business continuity, budget, and strategic planning.
The Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network was established by the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and encompasses Membertou First Nation, Eskasoni First Nation, We’koqma’q First Nation, the Town of Port Hawkesbury, and the counties of Victoria, Richmond, and Inverness.
It is overseen by a board of directors and is administered by the Cape Breton Partnership. Funding is provided by each of the municipal units and the provincial government.
The network’s primary goals are to support the development and attraction of new businesses, and the retention and expansion of existing businesses.
The Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Municipality of the County of Richmond share a newly hired Economic Development Officer to work on economic development initiatives important to both Municipalities.
Cape Breton South Recruiting For Health.
The Municipality of the County of Richmond and the Town of Port Hawkesbury have joined forces with other stakeholders in both the business and health community to be proactive and progressive for the retention and attraction of medical health care Professionals to our region.
The Strait Richmond Housing Matters Coalition.
This Coalition is made up of many stakeholders who believe that all citizens in Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury (and beyond) deserve a safe, accessible home. The members have held public consultation sessions (think tanks) regarding housing matters and continue to identify housing opportunities as well as housing gaps and challenges. This is another example of Municipal Collaboration on the topic of Housing. I chair this coalition with Kalen Long.
Other Partnerships and Shared Services from the 2016-2024 Terms.
•Strait Area Municipalities Shared IT Service Project
•Efficiency Nova Scotia Shared Energy Efficiency Engineer
•Inter-Municipal Agreement on the Sharing of Resource for Water & Wastewater Operation (Landrie Lake Water Utility)
•Shared Service and Capital Purchases (Inverness & Richmond Counties & the Town of Mulgrave)