-by Rankin MacDonald
Inverness MLA Allan MacMaster made an unusual early New year visit to Inverness County Council on Monday with a proposal that may change the quality of telecommunicating in the municipality.
“I just wanted to make you aware of something I’ve been working on which is the quality of cell coverage in the county,” MacMaster said.
He said he constantly hears from his constituents about it, which makes it a priority issue for him.
MacMaster said the quality of cell phone coverage may even influence where people choose to live, especially those who work from home.
MacMaster told council that he has been talking to Bell Mobility for over a year and the project he is talking about would be modelled on one that the province, Bell and Victoria County put together in Victoria County to bring better cell service to a large area of that county.
“There are many areas in Inverness County that would benefit from improved cell phone service,” he said. “There are a lot of hills here.”
He said Bell has looked at a number of Inverness County areas trying to identify where there is the greatest need and a cost-effective solution and they came up with Margaree Valley.
MacMaster said there is no service there now and there is an opportunity to locate on a provincial tower.
He said Bell pointed out other areas but this one in Margaree Valley would have the best possibility of being successful.
He was willing to hand over to the county a draft letter of agreement along with cost estimates.
With Inverness County as a partner, there would be a good chance of it happening.
Warden Duart MacAulay agreed that this has been a priority issue for years and while there can never be 100 per cent coverage, there may be large segments that can be better serviced.
MacMaster said the province cost-shared with Victoria County and if there is the will to back it in Inverness County, he can sell the case to the province.
He said it would cost about $160,000, cost-shared with the province and spread over a number of years.
MacAulay said the proposal would have to go to the Audit Committee.
Deputy Warden Alfred Poirier pointed out that better service is also needed in places like Pleasant Bay and Meat Cove.
MacMaster said Margaree Valley is the largest region without service but there is potential for other communities over time to get better service with the same formula.
Other councillors spoke of “spotty” service in their districts and MacAulay said it would be nice to see Bell’s assessments for the rest of the county.
“Lots of areas need better service,” he said. “I’d like to see the big picture.”
MacAulay said he’d like to make the decision as to the areas instead of Bell, but maybe Margaree is the logical choice.
“This is a great initiative to start off the new year,” the warden said.
The council will work with MacMaster on the project to see if it can be a financially viable way to bring better cell service to the county.
