Latest news with #KentSmith
Hamilton Spectator
17 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Nova Scotia invests in climate change adaptations for its seafood industry
HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government says it will spend $1.73 million to help 22 seafood companies and related organizations reduce their carbon footprints. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith says much of that money will be used to reduce fossil fuel consumption by helping businesses purchase electric motors for fishing vessels and install solar systems, among other things. Among those receiving funding is Asadalia Fisheries in Pictou, N.S., which will receive $250,000 to pay for a hybrid diesel-electric lobster boat. As well, Lobster Hub Inc. in Meteghan Centre, N.S., is getting $100,000 for an energy efficient refrigeration unit for a new lobster pound. Ian McIsaac, president of the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia, says the funding will help make the provinces' processing sector more efficient and productive. Since June 2024, 36 projects have received funding through the provincial Fisheries Department's Energy Efficiency Innovation Fund totalling $3.54 million. The amount remaining in the fund is $2.96 million. The Department will be accepting funding applications for the third round later this year. 'With the many challenges Canada has faced lately, every step in streamlining and modernizing our sector is vital in competing globally and supporting communities and jobs at home,' McIsaac said. 'These investments show that the province understands these challenges and is working to grow the sector.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
20 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
Nova Scotia invests in climate change adaptations for its seafood industry
The Nova Scotia government says it will spend $1.73 million to help 22 seafood companies and related organizations reduce their carbon footprints. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith says much of that money will be used to reduce fossil fuel consumption by helping businesses purchase electric motors for fishing vessels and install solar systems, among other things. There will be a third call for funding applications later this year. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Among those receiving funding is Asadalia Fisheries in Pictou, N.S., which will receive $250,000 to pay for a hybrid diesel-electric lobster boat. As well, Lobster Hub Inc. in Meteghan Centre, N.S., is getting $100,000 for an energy efficient refrigeration unit for a new lobster pound. Ian McIsaac, president of the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia, says the funding will help make the provinces' processing sector more efficient and productive. Story continues below advertisement 'With the many challenges Canada has faced lately, every step in streamlining and modernizing our sector is vital in competing globally and supporting communities and jobs at home,' McIsaac said. 'These investments show that the province understands these challenges and is working to grow the sector.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Nova Scotia announces funding for seafood industry climate change projects
Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Kent Smith, left, executive director fisheries and aquaculture Geordie MacLachlan and deputy fisheries minister Jason Hollet, right, announce the lifting of seafood buyer and licensing moratoriums during a news conference in Halifax on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keith Doucette The Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Efficiency Innovation Fund is spending $1.73 million to support the efforts of 22 seafood companies and related organizations throughout Nova Scotia in lowering their carbon emissions. The funding will go towards projects that range from electrifying vessels to installing solar systems, a news release from the province reads. 'Our seafood sector is a key partner in addressing climate change,' said Kent Smith, minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 'This funding will help seafood organizations in their efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while also helping the industry lower its operational costs.' Efficiency Nova Scotia is administering the three-year fund and will provide a total of $6.5 million to industry climate change projects. 'Nova Scotia's fisheries and aquaculture industry is a cornerstone of our economy, supporting jobs and communities across the province,' said Stephen MacDonald, president and CEO, EfficiencyOne. 'Energy efficiency is a powerful way for organizations in the sector to reduce costs and boost productivity both in the short and long term – and this fund is helping more businesses adopt innovative, energy-efficient practices that support a more resilient and sustainable future. We're excited to see the initiatives from these new fund recipients come to life, driving innovation and sustainability across the sector.' The fund is part of the province's commitment to the Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth. A third call for project funding applications will be announced later this year. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Minister confident in process amid concerns about aquaculture development
As the provincial government's public comment period approaches for five proposed aquaculture sites in the Municipality of the District of Argyle, the cabinet minister responsible says he's pleased with the process used to reach this point — despite ongoing concerns from some community members. Kent Smith was responding a day after Fisheries and Aquaculture Department officials heard concerns at public meetings about the multi-year process that led to the creation of the Argyle aquaculture development area. "There's been so much consultation and we have such a robust set of regulations that I'm confident that we're going to land in the right place for the municipality," Smith said in an interview Wednesday. The development area, which includes 53 pre-assessed sites for potential shellfish and plant-based aquaculture, was announced last year. Six sites were put up for bids, with five being awarded to proponents whose applications for licences are now being reviewed before going to a 30-day public comment period. But during one of the meetings Tuesday at a hall in the municipality, some residents said there's been a lack of community input in the selection of the proposed lease sites and they feel that decisions about expanded aquaculture development in the area have already been made. "It's too late, in our view," Chris Thibedeau told officials at the meeting. "I can't see how anything we would say could change the outcome." Department staff walked people through the process to provide feedback, which includes a 30-day window to submit comments via email, letter or online submission form once a lease applicant's proposal is complete and posted on the department website. Comments must relate to one or more of eight factors set out in regulations. They include the optimum use of marine resources; fishery activities in public waters surrounding a proposed operation; public right of navigation; and other users of the waters surrounding a proposed operation. Calls for change People who live within 500 metres of a proposed site are notified by mail when a public comment period is about to open, although some meeting attendees said that buffer doesn't go far enough. "If you're going from the point in the water to the land, that could very well be 500 metres there and so you'd be informing nobody along that shoreline," said Joanne Tulk. Tulk, who has previously worked in the oil and gas industry, was critical of the communication process so far around the development area and said the province is missing an opportunity to get broad community buy-in and help the area's economy. She suggested the 500-metre notification zone for neighbours begin at the shoreline in front of proposed lease sites. "I would love to see this succeed and to do that we have to be informing people properly," she said. "Otherwise, everybody gets upset, people don't understand what's going on and when you don't understand what's going on, then things can get blown out of all proportion, people don't feel heard and then they feel upset." Smith said he'd discuss that suggestion with people in his department. "We don't want people to feel like they're not part of the process or feel like they're being left out, but on the other side of the coin, 500 metres from shore is pretty far out there." Another concern voiced Tuesday was that some of the proposed lease sites fall within the area of the Tusket Islands Wilderness Area. Smith deferred comment on that issue to the province's Environment and Climate Change Department. Officials with that department have yet to respond to a request for information about whether aquaculture around the Tusket Islands is permitted. Meeting participants also took issue with industry members having a hand in suggesting where proposed sites would go before eventually getting to bid on them. But Smith said it only makes sense and is standard practice to enlist industry feedback and ensure that sites are suitable for aquaculture before they are posted for bids to lease. "We don't want people going into an area where we don't have any idea whether or not it's even possible to grow oysters or mussels," he said. 'This has to expand somewhere else' Although department staff said there needs to be a balance to find a way to allow the industry and neighbours to coexist, it was a difficult sell Tuesday. Shellfish aquaculture operations need to be in sheltered areas such as bays and inlets, but some residents said Tuesday they don't want to see them. "I don't want that mess on Salt Bay," said Donna Gaudet. "This has to expand somewhere else." Gaudet said the issue has created a divide among some community members who feel like their concerns are not being addressed. Supporters of the development area, the first of its kind in the province, say it's a way to diversify the local fishery, create jobs and stimulate economic growth for the municipality. Smith said he's satisfied with the level of consultation throughout the process and the public comment period will allow residents to highlight any issues that might have been missed before any leases are awarded. But he noted the initial consultation was several years ago and "a lot of time has passed since then" now that the process has reached consideration of lease applications. He thinks compressing the time in between could help.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Nova Scotia creates more child-care spaces for Eastern Shore
A group of children are pictured playing outside. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia) The government of Nova Scotia will spend approximately $1.9 million to help create 72 new child-care spaces in the Lake Charlotte area of the Halifax Regional Municipality. 'It supports parents in the workforce, strengthens our communities and gives children the best possible start in life,' said Kent Smith, minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 'That's why we're committed to expanding access to childcare options close to home.' The spaces will be at a new centre on Highway 7 that will be operated by the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, said a Thursday news release. This is the 12th project announced under the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's major infrastructure program. Funding is provided through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Nova Scotia signed a five-year extension to child-care agreements worth more than $1 billion, said the release. With more than 2,500 spaces in 41 communities, the president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth said they are the largest provider of licensed, non-profit childcare in the province. 'Opening a new YMCA child-care centre in Lake Charlotte is part of our commitment to supporting families close to home,' said Brian Posavad. 'Since 2021, with support from the Province, the YMCA has created 1,056 new child-care spaces, representing 20 per cent of all new childcare in Nova Scotia.' The province has created almost 7,000 new child-care spaces since 2021, said the release. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
