EXPERIENCE

A graduate from Dalhousie University’s Municipal Governing program, Martin Bell is well versed in Nova Scotia politics. Currently in his sixth term (24th year) as Municipal Councillor for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. (2016 Challenges facing MODL included Broadband Delivery, Business Attraction/Economic Development and Amalgamation.) Since then, he worked towards getting high speed internet throughout district 2 and 95% of all MODL. He worked towards better partnerships with the three towns within MODL.

2000 | Elected to MODL Council representing District 13 (Conquerall Bank, Pleasantville, West Lahave, New Cumberland, Mount Pleasant, Lake Center, Conquerall Mills and part of Hebbville)

2004 | Re-elected to represent District 13

2008 | Elected, representing District 11 after the boundaries were changed.

2009 | Elected to serve as Deputy Mayor for a one-year term

2012 | Elected in the new boundaries of District 2 (West Dublin, Dublin Shore, Mount Pleasant, Lake Centre, New Cumberland, LaHave, Pentz, West LaHave, Pleasantville, Conquerall Bank and part of Conquerall Mills. )

2016 | Re-elected to represent District 2

2017 | Elected to serve as Deputy Mayor for a one-year term.

2020 | Re-elected to represent District 2

2021 | Elected to serve as Deputy Mayor for a one-year term.

HE LISTENS

With a genuine interest in the well-being of his community and its residents, he listens to people and works to bring about great results. This is the philosophy he brings to the job as Councillor for District 2. With over 35 years in pre-hospital care both as a Field Paramedic and as a Medical Dispatcher at the Provincial (911) Medical Dispatch Center he has had to make life critical decisions on a daily basis with split second accuracy. He was one of the first to have received his Emergency Medical Dispatcher Certification with International/Quality Distinction within the Province of Nova Scotia. In 2018 Martin retired from EMC-EHS and dedicated himself as a full time Councillor and continues that today.

HE CARES ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY

He was born in and remained in Nova Scotia. Martin has resided in Conquerall Bank for over 60 years where he and his wife Cheryl of forty-five years, had their three children. As a firm believer in personal community involvement, he has assumed leadership roles both in his local fire department, community and provincial Boards. He has served in senior positions on provincial and national Boards as well. On several occasions he has provided leadership on financial strategies such as his work on the Audit and Finance committees for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation where he served six terms. While serving several years as president of the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association he helped to move the once debt-laden-association forward and into the black again. He has continued his leadership role here for over four decades. Martin served 21 years on the national Board for CVFSA. His work and partnerships with other fire service groups helped to get a federal tax credit for Canadian volunteer firefighters.

For years Martin promoted community groups like the local community fire departments, local home-based businesses and promoted buying local goods and services whenever possible. During the “Your Government, Your Ideas” initiative over the past ten years Martin tried to make sure he was in all areas of the municipality to hear local concerns. This also included attending community events in other districts just to meet the people and engage in conversation.

FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

Martin asked to serve on both the Municipal Audit Committee and Council’s standing committee for finance. He served several years as chairman of the Audit Committee. During this period the municipality did zero borrowing and self-funded capital projects. Martin wanted to ensure MODL promoted debt payments and fund Capital Projects from reserves and operating funds and use partner contributions and grants to fund the rest. His biggest accomplishment was to have Council accept the Global Area Rates for sewer rates. It accomplished two things; first it put all areas on one rate for the same service and two, it is building reserves for future repairs and upgrades. The council also appointed him to serve on the Fire & Emergency Services Committee, where again he pushed for a study to be completed on fire service delivery which was completed. During that study Martin pushed for equal life insurance coverage for all MODL fire departments regardless of one’s community. It took a while to get all departments onboard and with the support of MODL Council a policy was passed to provide equal accident and death insurance for all volunteers in the MODL fire services. Martin also serves on the Municipal Police Advisory Committee, had served on the Public Relations Committee, and chaired the CAO Evaluation committee for several years.

FOCUSED ON ISSUES FACING THE SOUTH SHORE

With his extensive municipal service background and time volunteering for his municipal constituency and province, Martin is focused on engaging and encouraging participation. With his years of talking to constituents and helping them to resolve issues, Martin believes in setting achievable goals and innovative solutions to the issues facing the South Shore and all of Nova Scotia. For nearly four decades Martin has served his community locally and abroad as a volunteer and as an elected Councillor. His work can be seen across Canada in the projects and events he takes on. Martin has said there are two things that will define who you are, your determination when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything. Martin’s practical experience lends comfort to tackling the complexity that is within the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and beyond. In 2017 Martin finished a 35-year career as an EMD-Paramedic answering a different type of call for assistance from the public. He then focused on being a full-time Councillor looking after district 2 but also was seen helping in other districts if needed.

Planning Advisory Committee

After many years of citizens who lived in sub-divisions voicing concerns over private road and municipal road conditions and limiting flag lots Martin took a few terms on this committee, he took abuse from some who wanted to limit open space regarding access or were concerned over what might increase road construction costs but the much-needed updated subdivision by-law came into effect. He admits the final policy was not perfect and needs to be revisited but it did help many who lived in subdivisions. Since then, we have seen improvements in road construction and those serviced by private and municipal roads feel much better.

Visitor Information Centre

After the closing of the Bridgewater Tourist Centre, Martin began to promote the idea of a new cost-shared Visitor Information Centre which would service the needs of the regional interests. This was initiated by Martin through the Tourism Focus Group. After two years of negotiation, a temporary site at Exit 12 was acquired followed by the permanent site which was located at Exit 11 in Blockhouse for 5 years. That site was jointly funded by the Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Martin says that we need more partnerships between local municipal units.

Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation

As a Director for many years, Martin has promoted the concept of LaHave River Watershed Project (2007) in response to public concerns and promoted initial municipal funding through our Wastewater Management Committee. This program continues annually in attempts to try and eradicate negative impacts on our LaHave River and other water bodies.

700 MHz Radio Spectrum

In April of 2006, Martin began an initiative that would take persistence over 9 years to accomplish. The local fire departments were facing increasing costs for radio licensing fees when Industry Canada began selling off the 700MHz radio spectrum to the increasing cellphone market. Martin presented the report to James Rajotte, Edmonton MP and Chairman for Standing Committee with Industry Canada requesting dedicated space for emergency service providers. It needed to be affordable, and it needed to be protected. In April 2015 the Federal Government announced that a Public Safety Broadband Network using 20 MHz of a dedicated 700 MHz radio spectrum would be protected for the fire service and other emergency service providers. (This initiative was worth millions of dollars.)