Often I write about province-wide issues, such as taking the HST off home heating, or nursing-home care.

Today I want to update you on progress made on some local issues.

First, jake brakes on the Bicentennial Highway. Recently I sent a letter to all Fairview residents living near the BiHi about "jake brakes," those noisy truck engine-brakes that can be such an aggravation in a residential area, especially late at night. We've made some real progress in cutting down the usage of jake brakes on the BiHi. Now, some residents are telling me, we need to do the same for Northwest Arm Drive.

Second, Northwest Arm Drive. On June 8th I hosted a residents' meeting at the Captain Spry Centre, concerning Northwest Arm Drive (NWAD) and related issues. The meeting was directed towards people living along the southern end of NWAD, since that's where most of the concerns come from; but the discussion will be of interest to anyone using NWAD. Detailed minutes of the meeting are available on my website (www.grahamsteele.ca/northwestarmdrive.html) or by calling my office at 453-5556.

Third, Abbott Drive. There are actually two issues on Abbott Drive. West of Ashburn, the issue is flooding on and from the provincial land under the BiHi. With such a wet May, the flooding was as bad as ever. The water is flowing from under Joseph Howe Drive. If we could find the source of the water, we could block it. Unfortunately, this kind of thing gets tied up in a jurisdictional maze between the city, the province and possibly the Water Commission. I will stay on this issue until we find a resolution.

On Abbott Drive east of Ashburn, the issue is storm-damaged trees on the land beside the BiHi. Recently I toured the area with the Department of Transportation's "tree expert," Diane LaRue. I want to thank her very much for her interest and her work in getting together all the players (city, province, NS Power, residents) to solve the problem. The residents will be kept fully informed and asked for their input. If all goes according to plan, some positive changes will be visible in August.

If something is happening on your street or in your neighbourhood that you think I should know about, give me a call. My contact information appears in my ad elsewhere on this page. I share an office with Alexa McDonough, MP for Halifax, and I have an excellent working relationship with Russell Walker, your HRM Councillor. Together, we, your elected representatives, can find a way to address your concerns.

As a final note, on June 23rd I had the privilege of attending the Halifax West High School graduation, held this year at Exhibition Park. To the Class of 2005, my congratulations. And to their proud families, especially, a pat on the back for a job well done.