page 3 page 10 Inverness County Coig to perform pages 15 and 16 lifeguards praised at Shannon Studio Cape Breton West Islanders for heroism on February 17 split on the weekend porthawkesburyreporter.com Vol. 41, No. 4 January 24, 2018 117623 Doctors re-examine payment model by Melanie Holder The Reporter “Neither system allows you to have the [email protected] time that you need with patients and also get remunerated appropriately for that,” STRAIT AREA: Doctors Nova Scotia said Vohra. (DNS) is taking a closer look at how fam- “What we support is the starting of a ily physicians in the province are com- blended payment model, which basically pensated for their work. takes the best of both worlds.” On January 6, more than 25 family Vohra pointed out that Nova Scotia doctors from throughout the province continues to be one of the lowest paid met in Dartmouth to discuss what can be provinces for family physicians and done to support family medicine in Nova among the highest taxed. Scotia. “It leaves Nova Scotia a less attractive “We need some solutions as to how place to be recruited unless we fi nd mod- to help the healthcare system not only els that actually promote work-lifestyle retain and recruit physicians, but also balance, provide appropriate compensa- incentivise comprehensive family prac- tion, and allow physicians to be part of tice,” said D r. Manoj Vohra, president of the building processes of it,” said Vohra. DNS. The next step for DNS is to meet with A focus of the meeting was how doc- provincial government and the Nova tors are compensated and what type of Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) to bring payment models have been implemented forward its recommendations. by other provinces, such as New Bruns- Doctor Michel Chiasson, a family phy- wick. Vohra said currently, doctors in sician in Cheticamp, did not attend the Photo by Dana MacPhail Touesnard Nova Scotia are compensated either January meeting but says it is important Clare Mombourquette (left) and Raya Landry, members of the Richmond Highlanders through a fee-for-service model, which for the payment model to balance effi - dance troupe, performed a special dance to the Ed Sheeran song, “Nancy Mulligan,” as pays based on the number of treatments ciency with quality of care. well as a sword dance (pictured) during the annual Robbie Burns Dinner at the St. Peter’s provided, or a salary model, which pays Lions Hall on January 20. For more on the Robbie Burns Dinner, see pages 26 and 28. a fi xed amount regardless of the number of patients a doctor sees. Continued on page 12 Province met with Cabot Golf about third golf course by Grant McDaniel The Reporter the idea of setting-up a third Parks Act,” he said. “If a pro- not part of the McNeil govern- [email protected] course in South West Mabou posal to request use of the pro- ment or Cabot Golf, the informa- has a number of supporters, as vincial park land, or adjacent tion he has largely comes from MABOU: The saga of Cabot Donald last summer, in which he evidenced by a recently-created Crown land, were to come to the media reports. Golf ’s local development con- indicated that he planned to raise Facebook group called “Support department, there would be an “I’d like to see what piece of tinued last week as an offi cial the topic in community discus- for Potential West Mabou Golf assessment to determine if such land Cabot is interested in,” with the provincial government sions. In early December, Mac- Course Development.” a proposal could even be consid- MacMaster said. “A t some point, confi rmed a meeting took place Donald and Ben Cowan Dewar Inverness Municipal Council ered. it should be made public so that between developers and the prov- [who owns Cabot Golf with Mike also discussed the matter, and the “Then an extensive review pro- everyone knows what their inten- ince relating to a golf course be- Keiser] met with departmental general feeling around council cess would follow.” tions are.” ing set up in the area of a local representatives to provide an in- chambers was that, until more Nunn mentioned that, years provincial park. formal, verbal outline of their information is disclosed, the ago, Cabot asked the department “The department has not re- ideas about potential for a golf municipality is hard-pressed to about use of Crown land at Stra- PRICE: $1.55 +HST ceived a formal request regard- course in the area of the park. make any statements on the mat- thlorne for an air strip. However, ing a detailed proposal for a golf “No assessment of a proposal ter. the fi eld’s length and direction course in, or adjacent to, the West or decision has been made.” While speculation circulates, were not adequate for that pur- Mabou Beach Provincial Park,” Talk of Cabot Golf setting up Nunn maintains the province pose. said Bruce Nunn, media relations a third course in the area of the is not currently considering re- Allan MacMaster, Progressive advisor for the Department of provincial park has generated a moval of West Mabou Beach’s Conservative MLA for Inverness Natural Resources (DNR). “The good deal of discussion. The West designation as a park. County, spoke to The Reporter department received a single Mabou Beach Committee has “The park continues to be last Thursday about the matter. phone call from Mabou resident been vocal about protecting the protected and managed under He said he’s been hearing from and former premier Rodney Mac- provincial park area. 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Box 6934 • Port Hawkesbury, NS St Peter’s - 902.535-2485 2 Oce (902) 625-1644 (across from Wal*Mart) Toll Free: 1-877-669-6683 127869 Cel (902) 227-7197 Phone Wanda 625-2951 12669 www.burnsvision.com 117621 www.capebretonrealty.com 2 THE REPORTER JANUARY 24, 2018 Nova Scotia Works Municipalities celebrates 18 months support addition by Melanie Holder The Reporter of Unama’ki to [email protected] Causeway sign SYDNEY: A year-and-a-half after employment services centres across the province were united under Nova Scotia Works, the organization is refl ecting on how the by Matt Draper The Reporter change has impacted local job seekers. [email protected] January marks the 18-month anniversary of Nova Sco- tia’s newly restructured employment services system. ANTIGONISH: A pair of local councils is supporting According to a January 16 news release from the Depart- a municipal partner in a drive to change signage at the ment of Labour and Advanced Education, more than Canso Causeway. 22,000 Nova Scotians have received employment services Last week, both Antigonish Town and County Councils through the network of 49 centres across the province. offered their support for a letter issued by Port Hawkes- “I think it has certainly resulted in a more consistent Photo by Melanie Holder bury Town Council which is asking Nova Scotia Premier and standardized approach to delivering a more inclu- The staff of Island Employment in Port Hawkesbury is ready and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Stephen McNeil add sive service,” said Jane Orrell, executive director for to help job seekers in the Strait area with their employment Unama’ki (the Mi’kmaq name for Cape Breton) to the sign Island Employment, a Nova Scotia Works Employment needs. Some members of the team are (from the left): Jean welcoming visitors to the island. Services Centre. Hart, Chris Cook, Jean Chisholm, and Josette Marchand. “We supported the letter for sure,” said Antigonish Island Employment has offi ces in Port Hawkesbury, County Warden Owen McCarron. “We just see it as an ex- Inverness, Cheticamp and Sydney, and offers services in certifi cation or are in what we call the pathway to certi- tension of the relationship that we have with Paq’tnkek Arichat and St. Peter’s. The program currently provides fi cation,” Orrell said. “So, right n ow, we have 17 people and we think it’s a good thing.” nearly 1,400 clients in Cape Breton with resume and job within our organization who have completed the certifi - Antigonish CAO Jeffery Lawrence said the town sup- search advice. It also offers a variety of workshops, ca- cation process.” ported the letter as a means of supporting First Nations reer planning assistance, and help accessing funding for Nova Scotia Works has also developed an employer en- communities across the province. training. gagement service to help match job seekers with employ- “It makes a lot of sense that they be included on a sign On the mainland, Career Connections offi ces in Antig- er’s needs, develop recruitment plans, and provide other on the bridge entering Cape Breton,” said Lawrence.