Bear River to ask feds for funds

Representatives of the community say they have had problems for years with water, sewage, road restrictions, and sidewalk snow removal.

Bear River straddles the boundaries of Annapolis and Digby counties and its residents say the community is traditionally shortchanged in terms of municipal services because of its geography. “Bear River is not incorporated and having no town council must rely on its neighbours for some form of local governance,” village businessman Rob Buckland-Nicks said in a letter to the community. “In short, we are sometimes reduced to searching for crumbs from two well-set tables.”

Buckland-Nicks says the Bear River group will provide Kerr with information about the community’s needs, and the benefits they will derive from improved infrastructure. “Who knows? This kind of funding may never come this way again,” said Buckland-Nicks.

Ottawa’s recent budget designated funds for infrastructure, including $1 billion over two years to expedite new "ready-to-go" provincial, territorial and municipal projects.

Bear River is a tourism destination, but unfortunately has no consistent fresh water, said Buckland-Nicks. The situation is challenging for businesses, particularly restaurateurs.

At least 12 homes direct their wastewater either towards or directly into local waterways because sewer lines from the municipalities of Digby and Annapolis stop short of their homes.

Although Bear River’s roads are cleared, salted and sanded by the transportation department, road shoulders that should function as walkways are left to receive the snow plowed from the roads.

Residents say this means people walk on the roads rather than the sidewalks in winter, and this is a safety concern.

Buckland-Nicks says the town bridge had so much ice and snow on it this winter that it took 14 volunteers eight hours to clear it.

He says Kerr really needs to be made aware of the challenges that Bear River people face, since the community of more than 800 voters is in his riding.

The municipalities of Digby and Annapolis would still need to be involved since federal funds are for municipal projects and Bear River is not an incorporated municipal unit.