ARICHAT - Years of population decline have suddenly halted in Richmond County, but the long-awaited increase is leading the county into what its warden describes as a "housing crunch."

Amanda Mombourquette provided an update on Richmond County's housing situation at this week's regular meeting of Richmond Municipal Council, which came only days after the council met with representatives of Nova Scotia's Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH).

Between 2021 and 2022, the county's population rose by 0.6 percent, which contributed to a 40 percent rise in households across the municipality during the same period. 

However, Warden Mombourquette also reported a shortfall of 370 housing units in Richmond County, and she warned that this shortfall is expected to increase to 515 housing units by 2027. She added that this is partly due to a sluggish annual rate of 50 building permits issued within the county. 

To combat these issues and address the ongoing problem of a lack of affordable housing in the Strait Area, Mombourquette announced five concepts that she is hoping to see council and municipal staff develop into a full-blown Richmond Housing Strategy within the coming months. 

Also on this week's edition of TELILE 24/7:

* 15:42 - This spring's removal of the Port Royal Bridge will continue, as confirmed in a letter sent to Richmond Municipal Council by Nova Scotia Public Works Minister Kim Masland. The municipal councillor for the area, District Two's Michael Diggdon, and Warden Amanda Mombourquette both say they are "satisfied" with this response from the minister and described the bridge removal as "inevitable."

* 20:34 - Richmond municipal staff will investigate the possibility of supporting the Operation Veterans Build program at Royal Canadian Legion Isle Madame Branch 150. Designed to encourage veterans to build picnic tables together, the program came to the council table courtesy of Deputy Warden Shawn Samson.

* 24:26: The head of the Cape Breton Transgender Network, Veronica Merryfield, previews Trans Day of Visibility activities in Cape Breton and discusses her upcoming meeting with Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness regarding gender-affirming care. 

* 46:25 - Richmond Municipal Council has approved a combined $10,000 in funding for community groups around the county. This includes $5,000 for renovations at the Isle Madame New Horizons for Seniors building, $4,000 for a waterfall-style operation for the Isle Madame Garden Club, and $1,000 that will enable the Richmond County Literacy Network to continue its presentation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.