(Thursday, February 9, 2012) - HRM's bargaining team returned to the table Wednesday with representatives for the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508 and the conciliator, but the union would not budge on its $10 million proposal. Talks reached an impasse this ,
“Our residents are anxious to see buses and ferries back in service and believe an affordable resolution to this work stoppage should be reached,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “Residents are the ones negatively impacted and feeling the brunt of this continued work stoppage.”
In accordance with the revised mandate provided by Council yesterday, HRM today tabled a new proposal that includes a lump sum payment equivalent to 2.5 per cent of wages in the first year, a 3 per cent wage increase in the second year, and a 2 per cent wage increase in the third year. The wage increases would be offset by efficiencies gained through an improved scheduling system—known as ‘rostering’—that would reduce excessive overtime costs by packaging work in week-long blocks, as well as through wage restructuring for incoming transit operators.
The latest union proposal contains wage increases of 2.5 percent, 3 percent, 2.75 percent,, and no changes to the current scheduling practice, which allows transit operators to choose each shift they work in a week and leads to 80-100 shifts per week that need to be filled largely with overtime. Wage restructuring for new operators was also rejected.
"Getting back to the table and making real progress towards a solution will only happen if ATU is sincerely willing to work with HRM to find ways to be more efficient," said Metro Transit Director Eddie Robar. “Make no mistake: contrary to ATU's claims, it is about the money."With the savings from rostering and stepped-in wage increases for new transit operators, HRM's offer is valued at $2.1 million - $6.7 million less than the proposal tabled by the ATU.
“Residents realize that there are only three ways to recover transit costs: operational efficiencies, the fare box, and on the backs of taxpayers. HRM cannot agree to terms that would further unduly increase the tax burden of residents,” said Mayor Kelly. “HRM taxpayers already pay more than 50 percent of the current transit costs, which represents an annual investment of more than $36 million.”
Metro Transit customers are advised to check the Metro Transit portion of the HRM website at www.halifax.ca/metrotransit for updated information. Information will also be shared by @hfxtransit on Twitter and through the HRM call centre at 490-4000.
Metro Transit is the primary transportation service provider in HRM and the largest transit system in Atlantic Canada, comprised of over 300 buses and three ferries. In addition to its conventional fixed route system with 61 routes, including the premium MetroLink and MetroX services, it operates three Community Transit routes, the harbour ferry service and the door-to-door Access-A-Bus service for persons with disabilities.
Contact:
Tiffany Chase
HRM Corporate Communications
490-5057
Looking for another way to travel during the strike?
www.hrmsmarttrip.ca
In response to the service disruption with regard to Metro Transit, I would like to remind residents that the lower parking lot in Point Pleasant Park is available for parking free of charge during the day. The size of the lot will allow for many cars, and its proximity to downtown allows for commuters to park there, and walk to their downtown destinations.
A new initiative to supporting our
community.
RAMAR a builder of single-family homes and
a leading home renovation company,
have recently launched the Home Sweeter Home contest and are donating a life-changing $100,000 home renovation to one deserving homeowner. This contest is not about luck of the draw - it’s about need. The winner will be selected based on how the renovation would improve their quality of life.
If you know someone who could benefit from the Home
Sweeter Home contest, encourage them to enter.
All of the details are available on Ramar's
Home Sweeter Home Facebook page:
http://homesweeterhome.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=6804373c16af478cda
713764b&id=91f594f69f&e=8a9ac538ec
Launch of a new initiative in support of our
community
Ramar is a premiere builder of single-family homes, as well as
a leading home renovation company. Unfortunately, not everyone is able
to enjoy a safe, comfortable home. There are many homeowners in need,
who are not in a position to repair or upgrade their homes.
Recently, Ramar launched the "Home Sweeter Home" contest and are donating
a life-changing $100,000 home renovation to one deserving homeowner.
This contest is not about luck of the draw - it’s about need. The
winner will be selected based on how the renovation would improve their
quality of life.
If you know of someone who could benefit from the Home
Sweeter Home contest, encourage them to enter. Details are available on Ramar's
Home Sweeter Home
Facebook page: http://homesweeterhome.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=6804373c16af478cda713764b&id=91f594f69f&e=8a9ac538ec
Your assistance could help change a life.
District 13 residents invited to join Point Pleasant Park Artist-in-Residence Friday Afternoons
Lisa Lipton, artist-in-residence at the Gatekeeper’s Lodge, Point Pleasant Park until March 31st, is developing BLAST BEATS, a project which investigates the history and spirituality of drumming. Lisa is preparing to stage the project in Halifax, and during her residency she is creating textile-based components for a performance, practising drumming rituals, and conducting research on drumming and collective beats.
Residents are invited to drop by the Lodge and take part in double drumming sessions with the artist Friday afternoons from noon - 4 p.m. until March 30th. During the sessions, participants will share their drumming experiences and drum with the artist. The Gatekeeper’s Lodge is located in Point Pleasant Park at 5718 Point Pleasant Drive.
The coming May, through HRM Open Projects, Lipton will remount Window Ballet, a collaborative, performance-based project which crosses boundaries between the fields of music, theatre and visual arts.
For more information about the HRM Residency Initiative and Open Projects visit www.halifax.ca/culture, or Siobhan Wiggans, HRM
Arts Programmer,
490-5739.
Peninsula Community Council - February 13, 2012
The next meeting of Peninsula Community Council is scheduled for Monday, February 13, 2012. For your reference, an Agenda and reports can be viewed at:
http://www.halifax.ca/Commcoun/pcc/February132012PeninsulaCommunityCouncilAgenda-HRM.html
The ALS Society of Nova Scotia - The Bucket List Dreams Night
What would you do if you still could? Would you clean the house or build a sandcastle with a child? Would you choose the same career path or try a different one? Would you paint the house or paint a picture? Would you write a complaint letter or write a love note to someone special? Would you work overtime or take that adventure vacation?
Would you drive a sedan or a sports car?
Bucket Artists include CTV’s Liz Rigney and Tina Simpkin, MP’s Megan Leslie and Kelly Regan, Police Chief Frank Beazley, HRM Councillor Sue Uteck, MLA Jamie Baillie and many more!
Have a singing lesson with Liz Rigney and perform on CTV’s Morning Live, be a CTV weather forecaster, train for a marathon, see a Winnipeg Jet’s game.
The ALS Society of Nova Scotia want to raise awareness and money for people and their families living with ALS. They want to remind people that life is precious, so they are hosting The Bucket List Dreams Night, a movie night, featuring a showing of... you guessed it... The Bucket List movie, with
Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. And yes, there will be popcorn, ...no healthy snacks!
Before and after the movie, the ALS Society of Nova Scotia are hosting a very unique silent auction.
Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Time: 5:30 Reception & Movie at 6:30pm
Place: Empire Theatre, Bayers Lake
Tickets: $50 each - includes popcorn & pop.
Call 454-3636 for Tickets Today.
ALS Society of Nova Scotia, careandhope[at]alsns.ca, www.alsns.ca
Twoonies from Toubabs Fundraising Campaign
Jakob Conrad is 10 years old and already thinking about ways that he can make a difference. For the second year in a row, Jakob’s Twoonies from Toubabs fundraising campaign will help fund lifesaving education and health initiatives in The Gambia. The campaign sells original Valentine’s Day cards and all proceeds are donated to Nova Scotia-Gambia Association.
“I learned that people there [in The Gambia, West Africa], have so little, but are so happy. And here we have so much, but always want more.” says Jakob, a Halifax native.
Twoonies For Toubabs started last year, when Jakob expressed his interest to visit the small West African country. His mother, Cathy Conrad, Acting Executive Director for NSGA at the time, knew that Jakob would come away from the experience with an enriched perspective on life. Twoonies from Toubabs was Jakob’s way of giving back. ‘Toubab” is a Gambian term for foreigners, and Jakob coined the name by himself. He started his campaign by selling Valentine’s Day cards and raised almost $3000.00 for the NSGA in 2011.
Jakob’s passion to raise money for health and education in The Gambia continues this year. Twoonies from Toubabs features six new Valentine’s Day cards at a cost of $2 each or 6 for $10. His goal is to raise $2000.00. Minuteman Press Halifax has generously donated the printing cost for all Valentine’s cards for the second year in row.
“The NSGA sincerely appreciates Jakob’s generosity. This money has gone such a long way to enhancing the education of so many youth across the country. I am so impressed that someone so young has such a big heart.” says Muhammed Ngallan, Executive Director of NSGA.
To hear Jakob talking about his first experience in The Gambia last year, along with photos from his trip, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYdU1qUT2T0.Visit the 2012
Twoonies for Toubab Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/309443455767397/
You can learn more information about last year’s campaign at: www.wix.com/toubabs/twoonies.
To learn more about NSGA visit: www.novascotiagambia.ca
To purchase Valentine’s Cards please contact:
Nova Scotia – Gambia Association
1574 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS, B3J-2B3
(902) 423-1360
info@novascotiagambia.ca
New Initiative Fights Crime One Coffee at a Time
On January 28th, Halifax Regional Police, Dalhousie University Security and Coburg Coffee announced an initiative aimed at fighting crime one coffee at a time.
Each coffee and other hot beverage served at Coburg Coffee over the next several months will feature a sleeve showcasing a crime prevention tip. The sleeves include one of three crime prevention tips aimed at changing people’s behaviour to decrease break and enters, thefts from motor vehicles and liquor-related offences.
This initiative is part of the overall HRM Public Safety Strategy which sees police using new and innovative ways to reach out to citizens. Over the last year, Halifax Regional Police has included crime prevention messages on Metro Transit bus ads and car air fresheners, launched a number of social media campaigns to educate citizens about the incidence of different crime types and created an on-line video series.
Check out HRP’s crime prevention and public safety initiatives at halifax.ca, facebook.com/HalifaxRegionalPolice, Twitter@HfxRegPolice and youtube.com/HfxRegPolice. You can also visit the HRM Public Safety Officer’s blog at spotlightonpublicsafety.wordpress.com. For information on Dalhousie University Security, check out Twitter@DalSecurity.
HRP launches Online Crime Prevention Video Series
by Cst Brian Palmeter, HRP
Public Information Officer
Halifax Regional Police is trying new ways to educate the public on what they can do to prevent becoming victims of crime. Building on the momentum of the in-person Crime Prevention Series meetings held in the fall, HRP has launched an Online Crime Prevention Video Series which can be found on YouTube at www.youtube.com/hfxregpolice.
In the first video of the series, Community Response Officer George Farmer shares simple tips that will help homeowners and renters protect their homes from thieves. The series will cover other topics including theft from vehicles, internet safety and cyber bullying, seniors’ and personal safety, and fraud and identity theft.
HRP also took to their Twitter and Facebook pages, December 13 - 23 and reported every residential break and enter that took place in HRP jurisdiction during the previous 24 hours. The intent is to educate the public on the frequency of this crime and the importance of taking easy steps to protect your home from thieves.
This isn’t the first time HRP has turned to social media to fight crime. A similar campaign, focused on theft from vehicles, was launched in August 2011. “Though we didn’t see a dramatic reduction in the number of thefts from vehicles, we’ve received feedback from citizens telling us they have changed their behaviour because of the campaign,” says Chief Beazley. HRP is hopeful that the video series and B&E social media campaign will do the same.
Watch for updates on HRP’s Twitter and Facebook pages:
www.facebook.com/HalifaxRegionalPolice
www.twitter.com/HfxRegPolice
Each year Halifax Regional Council recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and groups who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs in HRM communities. HRM is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Volunteer Awards. Nominations are accepted in three categories: Adult, Youth (ages 13-19), and Community Group. Nomination criteria and applications can be found online at www.halifax.ca/volunteerservices.
Successful nominees from District 13 (and other Districts) will be notified in March 2012, and will be invited to attend a ceremony and reception on April 18, 2012, where the Mayor and I will officially present the District 13 awards. The award ceremony coincides with, and is in celebration of, National Volunteer Week, April 15-April 21, 2012.
From those selected to receive an HRM Volunteer Award, ten representatives will be sent on to the Provincial Volunteer Awards. The deadline for nominations for the 2012 awards is Friday, December 16, 2011. To find out more information about the awards, nomination criteria and to nominate someone who’s made a difference in our community, visit www.halifax.ca/volunteerservices.
HRM Expands Blue Bag Recycling
HRM would like to advise residents that its blue bag program is expanding to include all plastics.
Effective September 1st, HRM residents will be able to place all plastic containers in the blue bag. This means all yogurt, margarine, and ice cream containers, ketchup, beverage containers and detergent bottles can go in the blue bag for recycling - no more looking for codes on the bottom. Just make sure they are clean, empty and to put all the caps in the garbage. Styrofoam also goes in the garbage.
Solid Waste Resources also recently created a video, which tours HRM’s recycling and compost facilities. Please visit our ‘Recycling, Composting and Garbage’ Playlist on YouTube: www.youtube.com/HRMNovaScotia.
For more details on the enhanced program and “What Goes Where”, visit www.halifax.ca/recycle or call 490-4000.
Tax and Tax Burden – Residential and Commercial Benchmarks
HRM Finance receives inquiries on a regular basis from people looking for information on how HRM’s taxes compare – both to other cities and within HRM. In early 2011, new information on commercial taxation was obtained from Colliers International (Atlantic).
This benchmarking work is a step in supporting the Economic Prosperity community outcome, a part of HRM’s Corporate Plan, and the 2011-2016 Economic Strategy. The data is found at www.halifax.ca/revenue/tax/benchmark.
Summary of Findings
- Average HRM property taxes on single-family homes compare well with many other cities across Canada [Caution: Although taxes (on average) may be lower, individuals moving to Halifax from other cities in Canada could find their taxes higher in Halifax, depending on specific locations (within the two cities) and the specific age/size/quality of homes bought and sold.]
- Average HRM property taxes on office buildings are in the “middle of the pack”
- Average HRM property taxes on industrial buildings are highest of the 20 cities surveyed
- Average property taxes on Class ‘A’ Office space* (within HRM) are highest in downtown Halifax
- Average property taxes on Class ‘B’ Office space* (within HRM) are highest in Dartmouth, outside the Regional Centre – this would include Burnside and City of Lakes business parks
- Average property taxes on retail spaces are highest in Regional Malls,
i.e. MicMac Mall and Halifax Shopping Centre
- other retail trends are unclear with taxes mixed relative to property size and location
Coyote Sightings in Point Pleasant Park
Many of you have contacted me regarding Coyote sightings in and around Point Pleasant Park. Staff is currently working with the Department of Natural Resources regarding Coyote Management employed by similar parks across the country. At this point there has been no reason to kill this animal and our current focus still remains on awareness, education and coexistence.
Councillor Sue Uteck
Halifax Regional Municipality
District 13, Northwest Arm - South End
Cell: 221-7651
Office: 490-4050
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