West Hants looking to leave Valley REN partnership, gives one-year notice
West Hants Regional Municipality is planning to pull out of its partnership with a regional business development organization effective next year.
However, the Valley Regional Enterprise Network (REN) chairman is hopeful they will reconsider before 2022.
On Feb. 23, following a private council discussion, West Hants councillors voted in favour of severing ties with the Valley Regional Enterprise Network.
“All councillors are looking for efficiencies around cost. It’s really cost versus value.”
No discussion was conducted in public, only a motion was presented, which directed the chief administrative officer to provide notice to the Valley Regional Enterprise Network of the municipality's intention to leave the service effective March 31, 2022.
CAO Mark Phillips confirmed in a phone interview Feb. 25 that council has given notice.
“All councillors are looking for efficiencies around cost. It's really cost versus value,” said Phillips of the decision.
Although the Valley REN has grown since its inception in 2014, Phillips said council feels West Hants is investment-ready and has the tools it needs to get the job done.
“But I think at this time, the measurable impacts of the REN aren't felt at a scale that council was satisfied with,” said Phillips.
“They do recognize some of the programs and some of the activity that exists. The REN has been active in updating this council in what their activities are, but it's just not meeting the expectations that they have. That's the simplest way to put it.”
The Valley REN, which incorporated in 2014 following the dissolution of the provincial Regional Development
Authorities, is a publiclyfunded organization that supports and promotes the local economic development of Glooscap First Nation, the Municipality of the County of Kings, West Hants Regional Municipality, and the towns of Berwick, Kentville and Middleton. These entities help fund the organization. That funding is matched by the Province of Nova Scotia.
Phillips said West Hants Regional Municipality contributes approximately $67,500 annually.
The REN's purpose is to help drive Annapolis Valley economic development opportunities that will benefit businesses, residents and visitors.
On April 1, 2019, the
Town of Wolfville left the Valley REN.
Gerard d'Entremont, the Valley REN board chairman, said in an email interview that they learned of the municipality's decision on Feb. 24.
“Although we are disappointed, we are committed to serving the Annapolis Valley region. We will continue to work and promote the entire region as part of that effort,” said d'Entremont.
“The role of regional economic development has never been more critical than it is now as we start to move into recovery from COVID19. Through strong collaboration and our comparative advantages, our region can come out stronger and better than ever.”
Phillips said West Hants is well-positioned right now and doesn't believe they will be missing out on any opportunities by leaving the REN.
“We are currently experiencing growth and continual inquiries in both in the commercial world and the residential world, particularly in the residential world,” said Phillips.
The board chairman noted that the municipality will remain a participating member of the Valley REN for the duration of the 2020-21 fiscal year and for the full 2021-22 fiscal year, at which point they can withdraw or decide to remain a participating member.
He said there will be no immediate impact on the REN's operations and that they
“will continue to pursue our collaborative projects in promoting the region's economic vitality.”
This isn't the first time West Hants councillors have voted to part ways with a local economic development authority. In 2011, three years prior to the formation of the Valley REN, the former Municipality of the District of West Hants left the Hants Regional Development Authority, after months of questions and concerns regarding its competency. The former towns of Windsor and Hantsport stayed on board until its demise. The Municipality of East Hants stayed with the RDA until 2013.
Mark Phillips West Hants Regional Municipality CAO
LONG-TERM
Hayes said people may wonder how they will know if the far-UVC research project is successful since there’s so much disinfecting already occurring.
“This is a double-blind study,” said Hayes.
Of the three ‘neighbourhoods’ located within the Windsor Elms, two are participating in the study; one will be equipped with the far-UVC lights, one will be equipped with lights that appear to be far-UVC lights.
The third neighbourhood won’t have the devices installed.
She said staff and patients won’t know which neighbourhood has the placebo lighting and which one has the activated light technology.
“Even with all the measures we currently have in place, will there be a further reduction in potential virus outbreaks as a result of the lights?” she asked, indicating she’s excited to learn the answer.
“If you look at, even preCOVID, influenza alone, many frail and elderly in longterm care succumb to influenza every year. If we could impact that, wouldn’t that be great?”
Hayes said the study will impact 72 residents — each neighbourhood consists of 36 residents — plus staff, so between 100 and 150 people in total.
A press release from Research Nova Scotia noted the study will not only focus on the effectiveness of far-UVC light but “the research will also evaluate how residents and staff respond to the UV lights and how costs compare to other available infection prevention options.”
Hayes said staff are not overly concerned with the exposure of far-UVC lighting, however, they will be monitoring for adverse reactions.
“All the studies to date say that’s not enough to penetrate human skin or have any effect on the eyes,” said Hayes. “But because it is a frail population and it is a new study, one of the roles of the research nurse is to be monitoring for any redness or eye sensitivity to light that the residents or staff might have.”
She said they will be taking an abundance of caution to ensure everyone’s safety.
The lighting will not be located inside residents’ rooms, rather in high traffic areas, like dining rooms and corridors. The lights, which are about the size of smoke detectors, will be ceiling mounted.
Hayes said they’re in the process of forming an advisory council comprised of staff, residents, patients’ family members, and board members. They will look at the questions and concerns surrounding this new technology.
“That data is actually the qualitative piece because if you think about implementing this down the road, more broadly, you want to know or be able to anticipate what the concerns might be, what some of the expectations might be so that you can address those things for successful implementation,” she said.
Hayes is hopeful the devices will be installed within the next few weeks.
“Long-term care is very open and accepting of innovation. We have a lot of talent… and a focus on continuous quality improvement in this province in long-term care.
It’s really, really exciting to be a part of this,” said Hayes.
“We like being part of that cutting-edge.”
INNOVATION AT ROOT OF PROJECT
Windsor Elms Village has not experienced an outbreak of COVID-19. Northwood, however, experienced a large outbreak at the Halifax campus in April and May of 2020. Fifty-three people died as a result of the pandemic at
Northwood.
In a press release, Janet Simm, the president and CEO of Northwood Care Inc., said they are pleased to take part in the study.
“Determining the effectiveness of UV light to assist in the prevention of infections in a long-term setting is essential. We hope we can include this additional tool in our strategies to prevent the introduction and spread of infections within our very vulnerable population,” Simm said in the press release.
This research project is being supported by Research Nova Scotia and designed by Nova Scotia Health. It carries a price tag of $1.7 million and is part of the 20 COVIDrelated research projects that received funding since March 2020. The press release indicated provincial funding was allocated from the initial $50-million contribution to the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Response Council administered by Dalhousie University.
“Supporting research projects that can have a direct
impact on reducing the prevalence of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia is of particular importance,” said Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy, the vice president of Research, Innovation, and Discovery and chief nurse executive with Nova Scotia Health, in a press release.
“This study on far-UVC lighting has the potential, in the future, to be introduced as an additional measure as part of infection prevention and control programs in health care facilities to ensure the health of Nova Scotians. We are pleased to be working with Northwood and Windsor Elms Village on this innovative research.”
Once the data is collected and reviewed, a final report will be made public.