TRURO - Truro and District Chamber of Commerce president Don Hay and executive director Tim Tucker met with Colchester North MLA Karen Casey on Wednesday to discuss business issues.
This get-together was the first of several the chamber is planning this summer with local MLAs and local MP Scott Armstrong.
Items discussed with Casey included increasing power rates and concern surrounding the agreement to get the NewPage plant in Port Hawkesbury back up and running.
"While we hate to see businesses in any part of the province close their doors, we are fearful that any agreement to keep this plant, or others, open will be paid for by smaller businesses and consumers," said Hay in a news release. "Neither have the ability to negotiate power agreements, which also raises the issue of fairness."
Others issues discussed include worker's compensation rates and the duration of claims, both of which are among the highest in the country in Nova Scotia, cuts to the education system and the impact on employers, as well as opportunities and challenges in the Debert Industrial Park.
