Latest news with #VictoriaCounty
CTV News
10-07-2025
- CTV News
Nova Scotia RCMP seeks man wanted for sexual assault, mischief
Michael Francis Isadore is pictured in this image from Nova Scotia RCMP. The Victoria County District RCMP is trying to track down a man wanted on a provincewide arrest warrant. Police say 43-year-old Michael Francis Isadore of Wagmatcook, N.S., is facing the following charges: sexual assault sexual interference administration of a noxious thing aggravated assault mischief Police say they have made several attempts to find Isadore and are now turning to the public for help. Isadore is described as six-feet-tall and 218 pounds. He has dark brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Victoria County District RCMP at 902-295-2350 or their local police. Anonymous tips can be shared through Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
27-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Money at heart of strained relations between Baddeck and Victoria County: village chair
Budget pressures are causing tension between the village commission in Baddeck, N.S., and Victoria County council, commission chair Jennifer MacDonald says. Last year, the county cancelled all of its long-standing funding agreements with the village and MacDonald said since then, both sides have started trying to work out which level of government is responsible for things like sidewalk snow clearing and sewer and water services. "Everybody wants to make their dollars stretch as far as possible and so, yeah, I think part of it is money and I think part of it is a shifting sense of responsibility and agreements had been in place for a long time and agreements need to be renegotiated because things change over time," MacDonald said Monday after the village commission's annual general meeting. Neither county chief administrative officer Leanne MacEachen nor Warden Jackie Organ returned calls for comment this week. On its website, Victoria County says it is willing to strike an agreement on shared services, but the village needs to come up with a five-year capital plan and supporting financial documents before it can agree on any more funding. MacDonald said the village is willing to work with the county, but a comprehensive capital plan can't be developed before the fall, when an engineer's assessment is due on the village's aging sewer system. The county says in addition to a traditional cost-sharing agreement, both sides need to consider: Property taxes related to village-owned water utility infrastructure. Tipping fees or contributions toward solid waste management. Responsibility for garbage collection within the village. Potential support from the municipality with tax collection, including cost recovery. MacDonald said the village was sharing the cost of some services under long-standing agreements, but the newly elected commission has decided it does not want residents to pay extra for services they already pay for as county taxpayers. Sidewalk snow clearing is a good example, MacDonald said. The village has done that work for years with a financial contribution from the county. But the village does not own the sidewalks, which MacDonald said are a municipal responsibility, according to the provincial Municipal Affairs Department. She said the village indicated last winter it was going to stop providing the service, but the county asked that it be continued for one more year, so the village did that out of concern for the safety of residents. Last year, the service cost the village about $35,000, with the county chipping in $8,000 of that, MacDonald said, adding that other communities get that service paid fully by the county. "That'll have to be another discussion … because it certainly is a service that is provided by the municipality elsewhere and … why is it that the Village of Baddeck tax rate should subsidize that?" Not personal Garbage collection and sewer and water services are also provided to other communities, paid for out of county general funds, which Baddeck taxpayers also pay into, MacDonald said. Money is at the heart of the tension between the village commission and the county council, she said. "Although the relationship is strained, it's certainly not a reflection of relationships between commissioners and councillors being strained," she said. "I think it's just a reflection of different levels of government and their responsibilities and the pressures that everyone feels. I think that's where the tension is, not personally."
CBC
25-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Village of Baddeck cautiously accepting new sewer and water hookups
The village commission in Baddeck, N.S., has lifted a moratorium on new sewer and water hookups that was implemented last year over concerns about the capacity of the Victoria County community's aging infrastructure. Demand for treated water exceeded the wells' regulated withdrawal limits and partially treated sewage sometimes bypassed the treatment plant and went directly into the Bras d'Or Lake. At the village commission's annual general meeting on Monday evening, chair Jennifer MacDonald said development is now cautiously going ahead under the watchful eye of engineers. "We now feel that we do have a limited capacity," she said. "We're still having bypass events. We're still having withdrawal concerns from our wells. We're not in the clear, but we do know that a single family home here and there isn't going to put undue stress on the system." Development was brought to a standstill last year as the community grappled with the cost of repairing systems that were built decades ago. At Monday's village meeting, with about 40 residents in attendance, MacDonald said about 70 per cent of the material being treated by the wastewater system was not coming from homes and businesses, according to water meter readings. She said water is infiltrating the sewage system and the village is trying to figure out where it's coming from. It's most likely rainwater, because rainy weather coincides with capacity issues at the treatment plant, MacDonald said. An engineering report on the wastewater system is expected this fall, which will help the village plan repairs and expansion and determine how much that will all cost, she said. However, the water treatment system is also not efficient, MacDonald said. Expansion is possible An engineering report found most of the water that is treated is not being delivered to homes and businesses. Some of that loss is through leaks and some of it may be through customers receiving unmetered water. MacDonald urged residents who are not receiving a bill to call the village office. She said a recent study found there is plenty of water in the aquifer, so it's possible to expand the treatment and distribution system. The commission chair said the village is gradually getting a handle on its infrastructure needs and is making plans for improvements, which is why new hookups are once again being accepted. "In the interest of not inhibiting development, we're opening those things back up based on a case-by-case basis again," MacDonald said. "Would we have capacity for a large development? Likely not, but single family dwellings and small commercial hookups, we can certainly accommodate those things at this stage."
National Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike
Article content VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia — Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues. Article content Article content 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS. Article content Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client's needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration. Article content 'We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,' said Lewis-Pierrard. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.' Article content 'It's impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,' said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.' Article content Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field. Article content 'None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that's what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,' finished Lewis-Pierrard. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information, please contact: Kathy MacLeod CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator (902) 578-3304 Article content Trish Lewis-Pierrard CUPE 4354 President (902) 317-0136 Article content Article content
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike
VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2025-- Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues. 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS. Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client's needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration. 'We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,' said Lewis-Pierrard. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.' 'It's impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,' said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.' Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field. 'None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that's what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,' finished Lewis-Pierrard. CUPE 4354 is the third CUPE Home Support local to take a positive strike vote. :so/cope491 View source version on CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Kathy MacLeod CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator (902) 578-3304 Trish Lewis-Pierrard CUPE 4354 President (902) 317-0136 Taylor Johnston CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative [email protected] KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANAGED CARE PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT LABOR HEALTH SOURCE: CUPE Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/27/2025 09:35 AM/DISC: 05/27/2025 09:34 AM
