L'Arche Antigonish community leader Gus Leuschner (left), family member of a future L'Arche resident Jim Lovett and current resident Donny MacIntosh (right) met with Premier Darrell Dexter and Antigonish MLA Maurice Smith last week. The province recently approved funding to assist with a new L'Arche home on Hawthorne Street. (Heather MacAdam photo)
The premier visited the Antigonish area last week to see some local projects being supported by the province. Darrell Dexter said he was in Antigonish for several reasons, including discussing recently approved funding for a new L’Arche home with local group members. Dexter and Antigonish MLA Maurice Smith met with L’Arche community leader Gus Leuschner, family member of a future L’Arche resident Jim Lovett and current resident Donny MacIntosh. Smith said the government recently announced funding through the Department of Community Services to build a new L’Arche home on Hawthorne Street in Antigonish that will accommodate eight people. He added details on the project will be released in the coming weeks. “[We talked about] what it means to families in this community to have that kind of a resource,” Dexter said. “We’re very pleased that it looks likely that this will now open in April or May of next year and it will be another great project that we will have completed.” Dexter said they discussed the tendering process, timeframes and what L’Arche means to the wider Antigonish community. “This is a family-based concept where people are going to feel comfortable, they’re going to feel valued and cared for.” While in Antigonish Dexter also visited Rivers Bend Wood Products Inc., a business the province has supported. “I’m going to have a chance to go in and do a little tour of the facility and see what the product is that they’re producing. It’s generally an opportunity for me to get to see a company that we’re doing some assistance with but also one that is part of the economic landscape of the area.” Paul van de Weil of Rivers Bend said the company has received support through Nova Scotia Business Inc. and the Manufacturing and Processing Credit through Economic and Rural Development. During the premier’s visit they discussed a new forest the province is working on. “We talked about some of the concerns we have about clear cutting hardwood,” van de Weil said. “Another thing he was going to look at for us is the fact that Nova Scotia hardwoods can’t be used in Nova Scotia schools. The way the rules are now only American companies can put their hardwood flooring in Nova Scotia schools.” Other projects in the area receiving provincial support are the canal bridge on the east end of Main Street and the twinning of Highway 104. “What I get when I go around are people are saying they’ve never seen so much highway and paving work as what’s been going on around the province,” Dexter said. “We’re pleased to be getting on with that trying to cure some of the infrastructure deficit that has existed in the province. There’s a long way to go but we’re making a pretty good start on it.” Smith added the RK MacDonald Nursing Home project is also supported provincially. “We announced that in May, I think,” he said. Dexter added there is nothing new to report on the jail. Earlier this month Nova Scotia justice minister Ross Landry announced the Antigonish County location was one of three contenders for the 100-cell facility. Sites in Thorburn, Pictou County and Debert, Colchester County are also in the running. “I think everything that is known about it is known,” Dexter said. “They’re looking to analyze each one of the sites to make sure that when we make the final selection that it’s the best overall site.” He added the decision about where a jail should be located isn’t a political one. “But one that serves the best interest of the corrections system.” Smith said a day doesn’t go by the he doesn’t “have a call out to someone or in from someone” about the jail project. “[We need] people to co-operate and pull in the same direction and I think it’s effective when you do that.” With notes for Corey LeBlanc
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