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Sydney space tech gives lobster shells a second life
Baited, caught, boxed and boiled. Not much to look forward to. Now the lowly lobster’s discarded shells might be micro-waved dry by a gadget used to keep water out of rocket engines and ground up to make bio-degradable plastics. Bonus (though not for the lobster): the drying process gets rid of the smell.
You’ll never have to buy wine again
A million bucks up front this week can get you vineyards, an award-winning winery and a cellar full of stock. One of Nova Scotia’s oldest wineries, Sainte-Famille won’t be in the family much longer as second-generation operator Tracy Lake said she is selling.
How Jean put a beating on COVID
Jean Vallillee had a plan: buy swanky household items from overstock suppliers and liquidators and sell in a casual, elegant storefront in Yarmouth. Then COVID happened. Then something beautiful. Now she’s doing better than ever.
Jobs, jobs, jobs at Cherubini
Cherubini Metal Works has seven jobs posted right now –Indeed you say—and seven bridges they’re hoping to build on Toronto’s waterfront. The Dartmouth outfit already has a $100-million contract for four of them and is hoping for more.
No raise for you
If money’s a little tight right now, don’t count on getting a pay hike any time soon. Two reports came out this week saying employers don’t have the money or if they do they’re hanging onto it.
Halifax avoids office exodus
Being COVID-free for weeks at a time has allowed Halifax offices to reopen and that’s helped commercial landlords sleep at night. The latest CBRE stats show vacancy rates are actually down in Nova Scotia’s harbour-hugging city, bucking a national trend that’s seen offices emptying.
East Coast eateries toughing it out
They’re still pouring pints at Governor’s Pub in Sydney but restaurant association boss Luc Erjavec says 10 per cent of restaurants are gone for good and many more may be going once outdoor dining is finished. Erjavec and a long list of others are calling on governments to ease seating restrictions in COVID-free Atlantic Canada.
ZURI’s not pulling these weeds
A Newfoundlander with vision, an empty Annapolis Valley call centre and good transportation routes to cannabis-hungry markets in Europe are adding up to as many as 200 jobs at ZURI Inc. in Cornwallis. Here’s their plan to produce pot plants, seeds and oil at the old Convergys facility.
That’s billion, with a capital “B”
So what does $1.8 billion in borrowed money buy you? Apart from job security for public servants, this week’s Newfoundland and Labrador budget lists $100 million for COVID-19 protection, testing and distribution of a vaccine when one is found, $25-a-day day care, small business pandemic relief and a bigger jail in Happy Valley.
Good day, bad day
Goldboro's First Nations first
Black Diamond Group of Calgary has paired up with 13 Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq communities to build onsite food and lodging facilities when and if Pieridae's Goldboro LNG terminal project goes ahead at Goldboro as planned in 2025. The oil and gas sector deal is novel here, but earlier this week TC Energy came to an agreement with five First Nations for an ownership stake in the Keystone XL pipeline project.
Good deed done
Sobeys has kicked in $100,000 for the VON. Nice.
PERSPECTIVES
METHERALL: Halifax port busy but has to up its game
There are some fat stacks down at the Port of Halifax these days. Shipping containers are piled five high and a pier expansion is planned. But competition’s taking aim.
CHARLEBOIS: Eating at the end of the food supply chain can be pricey
It’s been that way for a while. COVID-19 just shone a light on the fact that a lot of groceries cost a lot more on the East Coast. Sylvain Charlebois says there are a few bargains. Peanut butter’s cheap and sugar costs less here than it does in the States. Go figure.
WANGERSKY: Time to at least look the Muskrat Falls elephant in the eye
Costs are growing. The interest on this hoped for and hated megaproject is growing at about $4 a minute and no one has begun in earnest to figure out how to keep it from crushing ratepayers. Russell Wangersky says it’s about time they did.
That’s the Wrap.
Back next Friday. Until then, put a little sugar in your tea. It’ll make you smile and it’s cheaper than a spoonful in Boston.
