Transport

Rail corridor, second berth, Sydney, NS, 2019.09.25 (Spectator Photo)

Port of Sydney May Buy Rail Corridor Near Second Berth

September 25, 2019 at 12:08 pm

The Port of Sydney Development Corporation is “discussing” the possible purchase of “rail corridor adjacent to the second berth lands,” with Genesee & Wyoming (G&W), the US-based company that owns the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS). Christina Lamey of the Port of Sydney confirmed the discussions forRead More

Rail Subsidy Rides On Port Development

Rail Subsidy Rides On Port Development

September 25, 2019 at 12:06 pm

“December will likely be the decision month about the future of a subsidy preserving Cape Breton’s rail line,” Cape Breton Post, 19 September 2019   Do you get the feeling we’re being allowed to listen in on a private conversation between Nova Scotia Business Minister (and Glace Bay MLA) Geoff MacLellan,Read More

Arresting Development?

Arresting Development?

August 21, 2019 at 1:31 pm

On 9 August 2019, the Nunavut sheriff’s office, acting on a statement of claim and warrant from the Federal Court in Halifax, “arrested” the Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS) Resolute — a cruise ship operated by One Ocean Expeditions (OOE). The incident was made public on August 19, by CBCRead More

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

August 21, 2019 at 1:27 pm

Sea change A spectator (you know who you are) pointed me to this item from the tender for architectural and engineering services for the new Marconi Campus on the Sydney waterfront (before, I might add, it was also picked up on by the Cape Breton Post): Climate risks include increasedRead More

The Mystery of the Closed Lane

The Mystery of the Closed Lane

August 7, 2019 at 12:34 pm

Two aspects of my summers past are relevant to the story I’m about to share: first, as a kid, I used to devour Nancy Drew mysteries (hence the title of this article) and always had a hankering to solve mysteries. Second (and more recently), for what seemed like a veryRead More

Airport sign, free stock photo.

Letter to the Editor: Port Hawkesbury’s Lobbyist

August 7, 2019 at 12:30 pm

Dear Editor, For the record, on June 17 the Town of Port Hawkesbury registered an Ottawa-addressed Greg Maceachern as a consultant lobbyist with respect to the Allan J. MacEachen Port Hawkesbury Airport regarding infrastructure and transportation matters concerning regional development. In essence, the mayor of Port Hawkesbury is using localRead More

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

July 10, 2019 at 11:17 am

Donkin The Donkin Mine saga took an unexpected turn last week with the sudden death of coal baron (and Kameron Collieries owner) Chris Cline in a helicopter crash. Weirdly, this was followed almost immediately by (yet another) rock fall in the mine itself. Fortunately — yet again — nobody wasRead More

Airport sign, free stock photo.

Considering the Case for an Inverness Airport

June 26, 2019 at 12:23 pm

You would have to be completely foolhardy to question the brain trust that has formed to support spending public money to build an airport in Inverness but foolhardy’s my middle name so — hold my beer. The group — consisting of former premiers, businesspeople, consultants and Mary Tulle — hasRead More

Solving Halifax’s Port-Related Truck Problem?

Solving Halifax’s Port-Related Truck Problem?

June 26, 2019 at 12:21 pm

Editor’s Note: Given that the mayor of our municipality has spent much of his time in office — and thousands of public dollars — promoting a Port of Sydney container terminal, the Spectator feels all Nova Scotia port news is of interest to its readers. So when Halifax-based reporter RickRead More

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

June 21, 2019 at 9:04 am

Complex systems Former Nova Scotia health minister Maureen MacDonald took to Facebook this week to express frustration with some of the recent criticism she’s seen leveled at the province’s healthcare system. She took particular issue with a speech given at a healthcare rally in Halifax by Paula Minnikin, a formerRead More