Finance Minister Tight-Lipped on Reversal of Non-Resident Property Tax Hike

STRAIT AREA - This week's edition of TELILE 24/7 opens with on update on the provincial government's recent scrapping of a plan to increase property taxes for non-resident property owners around Nova Scotia. 

At 1:23, we learn that Finance Minister Allan MacMaster has "respectfully declined" to speak to Telile about the decision, only three weeks after appearing on TELILE 24/7 to defend the property tax increases and a new two per cent deed transfer tax levied on land owned by non-Nova Scotia residents. Finance Department spokesperson Gary Andrea has instead told Telile that "as the Premier stated, the reputation of our province is more important than any policy, and that is why the government is no longer moving forward with the non-resident property tax."

Richmond Warden Amanda Mombourquette praised the decision of Premier Tim Houston and his government to drop these measures, and described the new deed transfer tax for non-resident property owners as "a compromise we can all live with."

Also this week on TELILE 24/7: 

6:00 - Richmond County officials praise Bell Aliant representatives for listening to their concerns about land-lines that are unusable during power outages in communities found in the county's northeastern and western portions, and express optimism that the company will also take action on poor cellular and internet service in these communities. 

12:04 - Port Hawkesbury Deputy Mayor Jason Aucoin, also the chair of the town's Planning Advisory Committee, explains three recent motions regarding rezoning that could alleviate the town's housing crunch while also allowing new businesses to set up shop on the Port Hawkesbury waterfront. 

25:34 - In the wake of a month-long suspension with pay for Richmond District Two Councillor Michael Diggdon, Richmond officials seek answers from the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, about the limits placed on municipalities to deal with councillors who violate municipal codes of conduct. 

30:38 - Provincial Agriculture Minister and Guysborough-Tracadie MLA Greg Morrow gives details of his new Youth Council for Agriculture and talks about the latest addition to Nova Scotia's Community Pastures program. 

43:16 - The discussion from the latest regular monthly meeting of Richmond Municipal Council, regarding a request from organizers of the Zenergy Electronic Dance Music Festival in West Bay Road to provide exemptions from the county's Noise By-Law that would allow the music to continue after midnight when the event touches down at Inspiration Point Lodge during the third weekend of June.