You mentioned that this project would be good for the economic development of Pugwash. Why is that a factor?
Pugwash is a wonderful community, and has a history of being a vibrant, wonderful place for people to work, to raise children, and to enjoy the sense of community and togetherness that a small town can engender. The face of Pugwash has changed considerably over the years. Fewer and fewer young families are here. Young people are moving away and not coming back. The unemployment rate is over 50% higher than the rest of the province. Our hospital has only 4 acute care beds, and last year, our elementary school was being considered for possible study for closure, and is still experiencing declining enrolments – between 1994 and 2006, enrolment dropped from 197 students to 137 students; a 30% drop. In the 2007-2008 school year, only 8 students were anticipated to be entering Grade Primary, with only 3 of those students being from the actual village. The enrolment in our high school has declined every year, and is projected to drop from 344 students in 2004 to 271 students in 2010, a drop o
